Rome Luxury Travel Guide

We saw almost all of Rome, on foot, in three days, and it wouldn’t have been possible without good walking shoes and thick socks. If you enjoy sightseeing or photography, or just like going at your own pace and want to save money, skip the tours you’ll see signs everywhere for and have the adventure of a lifetime in the Eternal City.

About Rome

Rome, known as the Eternal City, is the capital city of Italy, and was once the center of power in the region, when the Roman Empire was at its height around 117 CE, during which time the Roman Empire spanned from Spain up into parts of the United Kingdom, all the way over into what is now modern day Turkey and parts of the Middle East, and down into Northern Africa, as far as Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. The city where Roman Mythology was created, and the city that surrounds the heart of the Catholic Church, Vatican City, Rome has been a major world power for nearly 3,000 years. Visiting this ancient city gave us the opportunity to see things we’d previously only read about in history books, like the Roman Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, and many other ancient historical sites. Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of ancient architecture, or just looking for a beautiful European city to visit, Rome has something for absolutely everyone, and is easy to navigate, making it one of my favorite places I’ve ever been.

I’ve studied a little Italian on my own and could read the signs and menus, but we could get around easily even without my basic Italian knowledge, because most signs were in both Italian and English, and every restaurant we went to asked if we’d prefer to speak in English or Italian, and they all had English menus. If you’re nervous about visiting a country that speaks a language other than English, bringing along an Italian phrasebook and dictionary should be more than enough to get by. When we encountered other travelers or people who spoke Italian, they were more than happy to practice their English with us, so as with anywhere, ask politely if people are willing to speak English with you, and you should have no trouble getting what you need and finding your way around. If all else fails, find a map in English (ask your hotel’s concierge), and plan your route. Just about everything in Rome can be seen on foot if you have a sturdy pair of walking shoes and a full day to dedicate to sightseeing!

When to Visit & What to Wear

Rome rarely sees temperatures below 50º F / 10º C nor do temperatures often surpass 80ºF / 27º C, which means that there’s never a bad time to visit. When we were here in April, it was a bit chilly in the morning, and by mid-day it was comfortable enough to wear a sundress and tights.

Most people in Rome wore plain colored clothes in neutrals like browns, whites, and blacks, as well as blues and greens. I never saw Italian people wearing neon colors or loud patterns (other than navy and white stripes), nor did I see anyone who was from the area wearing flip-flops. Many Italian women wore sundresses and light sweaters or shawls with sandals, and the men typically wore button-up shirts and khakis. Some historical sites will not allow men or women inside if their shoulders or knees are exposed, so if it’s hot enough to wear shorts, I recommend bringing a pair of pants or tights with you and a light jacket or sweater so that you can see the inside of the incredible churches and museums that have dress codes.

We saw almost the entire city, on foot, in three days, and it wouldn’t have been possible without good walking shoes and thick socks. If you enjoy sightseeing or photography, or just like going at your own pace and want to save money, skip the tours you’ll see signs everywhere for and go on foot. You may miss out on tour guide’s insights to the area, but Rome is a fantastic city to explore independently, because there is so much to see and learn that by going around outside of a tour group ensures you can see whatever you want and spend as much time as you’d like at each spot.

Where to Stay

We loved staying at the Starhotels Metropole Roma near Termini Station. Our room was beautiful and had a great view of the area, everything was clean and elegant, plus it was conveniently located a 6 minute walk around the corner from Termini Station, which is the train station we arrived in from Venice. The Trevi Fountain, The staff spoke English and were very willing to help us put together the perfect itinerary for our stay in Rome, plus they helped us ensure we wouldn’t get lost or miss out on any of the sites. We had everything we needed at our hotel, and our room was silent, we couldn’t hear anyone else coming or going inside the hotel.

What to See in Rome

Stay tuned for our full-day itinerary to see how we were able to see everything we wanted in Rome and Vatican City on foot, without wasting time, getting lost, paying for tours, or missing anything! Below are some of the things we saw that were absolutely stunning.

Before your visit, if you’re interested in archaeology and history, do a Google search for active archaeological digs in the city (there are always many digs happening simultaneously). Some dig sites will have free tours available. We went to a dig where they were unearthing brass, copper, and gold horse and chariot statues they believed were likely commissioned by Cleopatra for Julius Caesar, which was incredible!

Area Sacra
Arch of Constantine
Arco di Tito
Castel Sant’ Angelo (St. Angelo’s Castle) aka Hadrian’s Mausoleum
Fontona de la Barcaccia
Fontana dei Fiumi
Historic City Center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II aka Altare de la Patria
Palatine Hill
Palazzo Montecitorio
Palazzo Senatorio
Piazza Navona
Piazza dei Tribunali
Piazza del Popolo
Porto Pia
Roman Colosseum 
Roman Forum
San Giovanni dei Fiorentini
The Spanish Steps 
Trevi Fountain
Vatican City
Villa Borghese & Gardens

Where to Eat

Crab Ristorante (Upscale Seafood and Pasta)
Fa-bío Organics (Organic Salads, Organic Wraps and Sandwhiches)
Il Granet Restaurant & Terraces (Gorgeous outdoor seating spot, perfect for dinner)
Mirabelle (Beautiful dining with award-winning dishes and an incredible view of the city, pasta, meat, seafood, and vegetarian and gluten free options)
Rome Cavalieri Pergola at Waldorf Astoria (Upscale dining with an incredible view of the city)

Day Trips from Rome

Florence
Lake Como
Naples
Pompeii
Tivoli
Vatican City

I hope you have the opportunity to visit Rome at least once in your life because it is truly a classic vacation destination, full of history, incredible architecture, and impossibly delicious food.

Until next time!

xAnnie Fairfax
Follow Me for More: @AnnieFairfax