There’s no place on earth quite like Rome. Historic, exciting, chaotic and enthralling, Italy’s ‘Eternal City’ throbs with a passion that is highly contagious.
It’s a city for all your senses, as sights, sounds and smells surround you wherever you go. Mouth-watering food is everywhere, from delicious ice-cream vendors selling their famous ‘Tartufo’ to the trattories and pizzeries serving up traditional Italian cuisine.
As you’d expect, history and culture is everywhere and sometimes, quite literally, beneath your very feet. To see for yourself, visit the churches of San Clemente and Santi Giovanni e Paulo. Both have fascinating underground excavations that allow you to walk on original Roman roads, and even explore genuine Roman homes.
For something a little more conventional, make sure you stop off at the enormous Colusseum; Gladiator, eat your heart out! Other must-sees include the ornate and beautiful Trevi Fountain, immortalised by Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, the ancient Pantheon, and the sweeping Spanish Steps where tourists and locals gather to mingle.
Of course, no trip to Rome would be complete without visiting the Vatican, an independent Papal State and location of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Castel Sant'Angelo. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Pope himself.
All that sightseeing could leave you breathless, so make sure you stop off for a spot or R&R at the romantic Piazza Navona. Watch the street performers strut their stuff, grab an Expresso from one of the café bars, or simply take your seat at a restaurant` in the neighbouring Via del Governo Vecchio and enjoy an authentic and affordable bite to eat.
The city is blessed with a warm Mediterranean climate, making Rome particularly pleasant to visit in autumn and spring. In August, it’s hot and sticky and most of the locals head for the coast to escape the heat. As a result, many shops and bars close during this summer break and the streets are strangely quiet. For this reason, some people prefer to visit Rome at this time of year.
Whenever you come, thanks to its energy, excitement, culture and passion, Rome is a city you’ll never tire of. And because you can hop on a low cost flight from many UK airports, it’s a destination you can visit again and again and again.
Read the full Rome guide
