The best things to do in Rome

When in Rome, make sure you bring sensible walking shoes and a healthy appetite

Step back in time in Rome.

A visit to Rome is all about la dolce vita, the sweet life.

The Italian capital is a place to enjoy excess and indulge in history and culture, food and wine, shopping, architecture, and vibrant street life.

And while the attractions don’t change much in this ancient metropolis, a destination now said to be one of the world’s oldest named settlements, there are still new things to be found by those who know just where to look.

So pack your smartest walking shoes, and a pair of trousers with an elastic waist and schedule a stay in the Eternal City.

Trevi Fountain in Rome. Picture: iStock

SEE

The iconic attractions in Rome’s tourist heart – the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the Colosseum – will endure but it’s the neighbourhoods around the Centro Storico proving popular with travellers keen to see a slice of the city life sans tourists.

Monti’s pretty 18th-century streets are becoming a bohemian hub for designers, coffee lovers and vintage stores while gritty Testaccio is home to a thriving food scene and the Centrale Montemartini museum now occupying what was once an urban power station.

Testaccio Market is a traditional covered market, Volpetti  is a celebrated Testaccio deli, and Porto Fluviale  is the enclave’s trendy food emporium in what was once Rome’s wholesale market.

During the warmer months movies are shown alfresco most nights on Tiber Island as part of Estate Romano while the Castel Sant’Angelo, which was built around 123AD, has less crowds than other ancient museums but it just as enthralling.

A suite at the newly opened Six Senses Rome.

STAY

In the wake of the Covid epidemic, the Eternal City has seen a boom in new properties opening. Some of our high-end faves include the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori and Six Senses Rome. 

To not have gelato in Rome is irresponsible.

EAT

Gelato is a competitive sport in Rome and two of the heavyweights we simply can't walk by without stopping include Gelateria del Teatro (which also has a pastry and chocoloate shop) and Fatamorgana  (which now has global outlets and offers stellar traditionals like pistachio plus out there creations like hazelnut and tequila reposado sorbet).

When it comes to uniquely Roman dining Armando al Pantheon is a friendly family-run trattoria near the Pantheon that has been serving traditional Roman cuisine since 1961. If you think that track record is impressive,  La Campana is the capital’s oldest restaurant doing business since 1518.

To enjoy a view across the city while dining try La Pergola at Rome Cavalieri, which has three Michelin stars. For something newer, check out our list of the best places to eat in Rome in 2023. Some highlights include Roscioli, Hotel de Russieand L'Antica Enoteca. 

Down the Spanish Steps and straight ahead for Via Condotti.

SHOP

While Rome’s two famous shopping streets sit at the heart of the capital –Via Condotti for luxury labels and Via del Corso for high-street stores – there’s more to the city than these famous strips with Via del Governo Vecchio the spot for bespoke boutiques and vintage stores.

McArthurGlen Castel Romano is a designer outlet with 140 stores offering up to 70 per cent discounts while Eataly  occupies three floors of an old air terminal and sells anything and everything to do with Italian food and drink.

Rome skyline. Picture: iStock

INSIDER TIP

The best way to savour Rome’s authentic atmosphere is to walk through its streets and neighbourhoods and along the river Tevere. (Tiber). Stroll up to the Gianicolo hill and reach the Basilica of St Peter’s, or cross the Tevere and go along Lungotevere Aventino where you will enjoy a beautiful view and meet a picturesque staircase which leads to Giardino degli Aranci which is a stunning terrace facing Rome and the church of Santa Sabina.

 

Originally published as The best things to do in Rome