Rome, Italy

Rome isn’t the city that impressed me most, if I’m honest — it’s basically a city full of ruins, an unpopular opinion maybe, but that’s how I felt. What it did give me was a reason to walk: around 30,000 steps a day, because there’s so much to see, and I genuinely wanted to walk it all, try the pasta, and take in the monuments along the way.

Time of Year I Visited

I went in October, and it was already warm. During the day I needed short sleeve t-shirts — it was quite hot. At night, maybe a light jacket.

Did I Feel Safe?

I had to be careful of pickpockets. There are also a few classic street scams worth knowing about, nothing to be paranoid over, just aware. Some men will approach you in a friendly way, tie a bracelet on your wrist as a “gift,” and then ask for money. Others dress up in costume — pirates, gladiators, that kind of thing — near tourist sites, encourage you to take a photo together, and then demand payment afterward. Easy to avoid once you know it’s coming, but it can catch you off guard the first time.

Where I Stayed

Monti 66 Hotel: Good price, excellent location in Monti — walking distance to the Colosseum, Forum, and a short walk to the historic centre.

Things to Consider

The Vatican: It’s worth booking skip-the-line tickets. I bought mine through GetYourGuide. The regular queues are extremely long, even if you go early — better to spend a bit more on skip-the-line and skip the wait entirely. It’s also one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen — feels like walking through a museum. You can’t miss it.

St. Peter’s Basilica: I bought a ticket here, thinking it would get me in faster. It didn’t — the free entrance moved much quicker. Lesson learned: I should have read up beforehand on whether paying was actually worth it.

Trevi Fountain: I went at 8am. There were some people, but not too many — it was fine. You don’t need to go super early; 8am worked well.

Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola: A church in Campo Marzio that you absolutely cannot skip — it has a ceiling painting that’s incredible.

The Colosseum: I bought my ticket in advance, which you should definitely do. I also bought the add-on for the Arena Floor access, and honestly, it didn’t make the slightest sense. It’s a tiny little section you can see, and unless you’re a huge Gladiator fan or really into that specific history, it’s not worth the extra cost — even if you’ve already bought entry to the Colosseum itself.

What I Ate

In general, if you walk a little away from the main attractions, you can find much better and cheaper food.

Osteria Paddy: Near the Vatican — I had a cacio e pepe and a warm ricotta and pear cake that was spectacular. Great price, really good quality food.

Pizza Trilussa: In Trastevere — if you feel like something quick and cheap to eat on the go, it’s a great option.

Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè: The best espresso I’ve had in Rome — and Rome takes its coffee seriously. This is the café where Julia Roberts filmed a scene for Eat, Pray, Love.

Tornarello: I went here and liked the food, but what I loved most was the tiramisù — I think it’s the best tiramisù I’ve had to this day.

Al42: A small place, you have to queue, but it has a really good carbonara worth trying. They’re very kind when they serve you — I believe it’s actually the owner who attends to customers himself.

How Long Did I Stay?

4 days. There’s a lot to see and a lot to walk — I think 4 days is the minimum if you want to actually cover the city properly.

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