The Ultimate Rome City Guide
Have you ever walked into a city and immediately thought: I am never leaving? Rome did that to me. Every corner is a film set, every crumbling wall has a story older than anything you have ever stood next to, and the wine bars serve aperitivos so generous that dinner becomes optional. Rome is a two-hour flight from Amsterdam, which means there is absolutely no excuse not to go. I have written down all my favourite spots, hidden gems and honest tips to make this Rome city guide as useful as possible for your trip to the Eternal City.
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Rome city guide: practical tips before you go
Visit between April and June or in September and October for the best combination of good weather and manageable crowds. July and August are hot and hectic: temperatures can easily climb past 40 degrees in the afternoon, which makes sightseeing genuinely uncomfortable. Whatever time of year you visit, always book your Colosseum and Vatican tickets in advance. The queues without pre-booked tickets are long enough to ruin your day.
Plan for at least five full days to explore Rome at a relaxed pace. We stayed at the beautiful Hoxton. Arriving in Trastevere with a local guide for a neighbourhood foodie walk is one of the best ways to get your bearings quickly.
BOOK YOUR COLOSSEUM SKIP-THE-LINE TOUR
Rome city guide: best breakfast, brunch and lunch
Écru is a vegan and vegetarian raw food spot and art gallery that serves my favourite turmeric latte in Rome, alongside homemade cashew yoghurt. The kind of place you linger in longer than planned. Barnum serves the best coffee I had during my entire visit, plus delicious homemade pastas and salads that are ideal for a proper lunch. Coromandel is famous for its brunch and always requires a reservation, so book ahead.
Breakfast at Écru | Rome city guide
Ex Circus is a great spot for a latte and laptop session, though the brunch is equally popular. Escosazio does the best smoothies in the city, alongside organic bites and sandwiches. Ginger has excellent açaí bowls, salads and fresh juices. L’Antica Salumeria is an authentic trattoria where the older gentlemen behind the counter have clearly been working there all their lives and love offering little tastings of what they sell. The homemade truffle sausage is extraordinary and the sandwiches are outstanding. You will not leave empty-handed. Finally, La Bottega del Caffè is a beautiful spot in the heart of Monti with good prices and excellent salads.
Rome city guide: best coffee
Barnum also wins the prize for the best iced coffee in the city. Sant’Eustacio is a traditional coffee bar with delicious homemade cookies. Note that sitting outside costs slightly more than ordering at the bar inside, which is standard practice across Rome. Order at the counter like a local and save the terrace for a glass of wine later.
Stay connected from the moment you land with a Saily eSIM, downloaded in minutes before departure so you can navigate the city instantly without hunting for a SIM card at the airport.
Rome city guide: best dinner
We only had one proper sit-down dinner during our stay, because the aperitivos in Rome are genuinely, spectacularly filling. Osteria da Zi Umberto in Trastevere serves authentic Italian dishes with wonderful atmosphere. Order the stuffed zucchini flowers. Other spots worth adding to your list: T-Burger Station and Bar (looked excellent, ran out of time), Etablì and InCucina.
Rome city guide: best ice cream and dessert
Gelateria Giolitti is the oldest ice cream shop in the city and it absolutely lives up to the reputation. With over 50 flavours the choice is overwhelming, but the queue gives you time to decide. Worth every minute of the wait. Gelateria de Viale in Trastevere and Frigidarium are both excellent alternatives. For something completely different, Mr. 100 Tiramisu serves one hundred flavours of tiramisu, or a tasting of three if you cannot decide. Gym tomorrow.
Giolitti ice cream. The second photo shows the busy interior of the shop | Rome city guide
Rome city guide: best wine bars
Cul de Sac is the oldest enoteca in Rome, with a wonderful Primitivo and an extensive charcuterie menu. Order the truffle cheese. I went back twice. Vino e Olio is a cosy gem we stumbled upon by accident, where we were the only tourists and the Friday evening vibe with locals was genuinely lovely. Birra e Sale is another solid option worth adding to your evening itinerary.
Cul de Sac | Rome city guide
Rome city guide: best cocktails and nightlife
Cajo e Gajo in Trastevere serves dangerous cocktails with an extremely friendly team. We were the last to leave. Jerry Thomas Speakeasy and Fluid are both worth a visit, and Bar del Fico is a local favourite with a huge terrace, a laid-back atmosphere and excellent people-watching. The Trastevere neighbourhood in general is a paradise for craft beer lovers, with specialty bars tucked into almost every side street. We spent most evenings in this area and never ran out of reasons to stay.
Stunning boutique hotels in rome
For those who prefer a more luxurious stay, two beautiful options are worth adding to your list. Umiltà 36 is a five-star boutique hotel a short walk from the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, with rooms that blend Art Deco with contemporary design and a rooftop bar that is worth the visit alone. Opened in 2024 and located just two minutes from the Trevi Fountain, Je Rome Hotel is the standout property of the Ner Collection: 29 beautifully renovated rooms, a cocktail bar and restaurant on the ground floor, and a location that puts everything within walking distance.
Rome city guide: sightseeing tips
Visit all the major tourist attractions as early in the morning as possible. This way you avoid the largest crowds and the worst of the afternoon heat, which can reach over 40 degrees in summer. The Colosseum is one of those places where a guided tour makes an enormous difference: the history behind the gladiatorial games, the engineering and the stories your guide tells bring the whole site to life in a way that a self-guided visit simply cannot match. Book your skip-the-line tickets well in advance, especially in summer.
THE BEST WAY TO VISIT THE VATICAN
Rome city guide: frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Rome?
Five full days gives you enough time to see the major sights, explore neighbourhoods like Trastevere and Monti at a relaxed pace and still have evenings free for long dinners and wine bars. Three days is the absolute minimum if you want to cover the highlights without rushing.
What is the best time of year to visit Rome?
April, May, September and October are the sweet spot: pleasant temperatures, manageable crowds and everything open. July and August are very hot and extremely busy. Winter is quiet and mild, with shorter queues at all the major sites.
Do you need to book the Colosseum in advance?
Yes, always. The queues for walk-up tickets can be several hours long, particularly in summer. Book a guided tour with skip-the-line access through GetYourGuide and go early in the morning to beat both the crowds and the heat.
Which neighbourhood is best to stay in Rome?
Trastevere is charming, lively and full of excellent restaurants and bars. Monti is slightly quieter and very photogenic. Both are within easy walking distance of the main sights and have a genuinely local atmosphere that the area around the Colosseum lacks.
What is the best hidden gem in Rome?
The wine bar Vino e Olio, which we found entirely by accident on a Friday evening in Trastevere. No tourists, excellent wine, locals only and one of the best atmospheres of the entire trip. Also: Sant’Eustacio il Caffè for a traditional Roman coffee experience that very few visitors prioritise.
- Find the best hotels in Rome at Booking.com
- Book tours and skip-the-line tickets at GetYourGuide.com
- Get your eSIM at Saily
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