7-Day Rome Guide

Skip-the-line tour of the arena, underground chambers, and top tier. Book the 'Full Experience' ticket for underground access.

Included with Colosseum ticket. Walk the Via Sacra, see the Temple of Saturn, then climb Palatine Hill for panoramic views.

Legendary deli in Centro Storico. Try the carbonara or the burrata with anchovies.

Walk the ancient chariot-racing track, then climb Aventine Hill for the famous keyhole view of St. Peter's dome through the Knights of Malta gate.

Cocktails and free buffet in a literary lounge near the Pantheon.

Free entry. Arrive early to see the oculus light beam before crowds. The world's best-preserved Roman building.

Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. Beautiful but touristy — admire and move on.

Three Caravaggio paintings for free. The Calling of Saint Matthew is worth the trip alone.

Rome's best fried rice balls. Get the classic 'al telefono' with mozzarella.

Hidden gem — private palace with works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Titian. Never crowded.

Trastevere institution for Roman classics. Queue starts at 18:30 — no reservations.

Book the early-morning entry (7:15 AM) for the smallest crowds. Rush through the galleries to reach the Sistine Chapel first, then loop back.

Free entry. See Michelangelo's Pietà (first chapel on the right). Climb the dome for €8 (551 steps) — the view is extraordinary.

Gabriele Bonci's legendary pizza al taglio. Creative toppings on impossibly light dough.

Former papal fortress with panoramic terrace. Great views of St. Peter's at sunset.

Eat where Vatican workers eat. Try Osteria dell'Ingegno for modern Roman cuisine.

Wander the cobblestone streets before tourists arrive. Visit Santa Maria in Trastevere — Rome's oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Walk up for the best panoramic view of Rome. Watch the daily cannon firing at noon.

Try carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes) at Nonna Betta.

Rome's 'other' amphitheater and ancient Roman ruins integrated into medieval buildings.

Learn to make pasta from scratch. Roman classics: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana.

Reservation mandatory. Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, Caravaggio's David, Canova's Pauline Bonaparte. Two-hour timed slots.

Rent a rowboat on the lake (€5/20min) or rent bikes to explore. Find the hidden Raphael temple.

Gourmet pinsa (Roman-style pizza with longer fermentation). Light, crispy, incredible.

Walk from the Pincian terrace down through Piazza del Popolo, then via the Trident to the Spanish Steps.

Rome's best artisan gelato. Try the Kentucky (tobacco and dark chocolate) or Pinolo e Basilico.

Take the Roma-Lido line from Piramide station. 30 minutes, covered by metro ticket.

Rome's ancient port city — better preserved and far less crowded than Pompeii. See the theater, thermopolium (ancient fast-food counter), and stunning mosaics.

Pack panini from Rome — there's a nice grassy area near the theater.

Back on the Roma-Lido line to Piramide.

The real Roman neighborhood. Try Trapizzino for pizza-pocket street food.

The cacio e pepe here is legendary — they tableside-prepare it. Book ahead.

Rome's coolest neighborhood. Vintage shops, indie boutiques, street art.

Three layers of history — 12th-century basilica built over a 4th-century church built over a 1st-century Mithraic temple. Mind-blowing.

Wine bar with excellent pasta and local wines. Casual, affordable.

Save this for last. Throw a coin (right hand, over left shoulder). Less crowded in early afternoon than evening.

Stock up on Italian coffee, dried pasta, and limoncello. Via del Boschetto in Monti has the best shops.