Rome was such a dream come true. I've been there twice now, so I hope you find this post helpful if you're planning a visit! In this post, you'll find some fun facts about Rome, what we did, and where we ate with the hope that it'll help you plan your future travels!
Last February, I booked a trip to Rome with one of my best friends, Pinzoh, who is also my next-door neighbor and best friend since Elementary School. In February, you can get a nonstop flight from JFK to Rome for under $500. During this particular trip, we spent a long weekend in Amsterdam but, I promise it's a great time to go if you are on a budget. February is an ideal and affordable time to go to Rome. Also for a New Yorker the weather is perfect. It's typically 60 degrees. Coming from the cold east coast, it feels fantastic to go out in a dress and feel the sunshine.
In Rome, we stayed at Residenza Termini. We each had a large bedroom with a Queen bed. We paid a total of $250 each for five nights. The apartment also had a kitchen and large living room. Honestly, we were shocked by how amazing the place was. It was located right by the train station. Which is a little out of the center, but during this entire trip, we walked everywhere and only took a taxi one night back to the hotel. I'd recommend this place to anyone—especially a group of friends or even a family.
DAY 1:
Our first day in Rome, we went to Pizzium for lunch. Honestly, I still dream about that pizza and salad. Now going to Italy twice I can say the food in Rome is spectacular. Afterward, we head to explore some of the free things you can do in Rome. Especially for travelers on a budget, this is a great city. First, we went to the Trevi Fountain. It was somewhat sad, but the whole bottom level was closed off to tourists, so we could only look at it from a distance during our entire trip. Then we went to the Pantheon. I went to school for art education and after the two-semester of art history. The Pantheon always left a significant impression on me. Did you know that rain occasionally falls into the building, but the floor is slanted and drains the water if it manages to hit the floor. The Pantheon was also built to honor all gods.
Afterward, we went gelato at Giolitti. Honestly, this place doesn't mess around inside looks very retro. I won't lie. We visited this gelato place three times. The next time I landed in Rome, it was the first place I went to once I got off the plane. Might I add it was 10 am.
Finally, we went to see the Spanish steps. It was a beautiful view but also the most crowded area we visited during our trip. It was slightly overwhelming.
DAY 2:
We spent the entire day exploring the Colosseum. Before every trip I take, I book all the museums and sights before leaving the USA. For the Colosseum, we booked our tour with The Roman Guy. It was a small tour that gave us access to the Underground, Arena floor, and the top level. I highly recommend booking a trip with a guide. Our tickets also included access for the Roman Forum, which we visited another day.
For lunch, we visited Oppio Cafe, which if you are lucky, you can get a seat outside facing the Colosseum. For a very touristy area, I was shocked the food was excellent. I highly recommend this place, especially if you are trying to get a quick bite before or after your tour.
The Roman Forum closes 1 hour before sunset because we did not know this. We walked up to the entrance to realize it was closed. Rome is such a beautiful place because every corner is a hidden gem. We managed to get a private tour for free of a church overlooking the forum. It had a beautiful garden which I had to take photos inside. Finally, we ended our day with the best dinner Osteria Da Fortunata. We went around 5 pm, and it was tranquil inside. Most people do not eat until 8 or 9 pm in Italy. Due to jetlag, we were eating very fresh meals. I am a huge foodie, and everything in Rome was amazing. Always avoid the places with photos outside their restaurant. I sometimes know when you are near tourist locations, you have no other choice but try to take the time to ask the locals where they go. The best restaurants menus typically are not in english!
DAY 3:
We woke up at the crack of dawn to visit the Vatican before it officially opens. Again purchasing our tickets before leaving the USA. It was a quick tour only 3 hours long. You could easily spend the entire day at the Vatican, but my friend is Buddhist, and I did not feel like I needed to impose my religion on him. Although he even said he was thankful for the experience because the architecture and history were worth seeing. The tour was book through The Roman Guy. Our tour guide also did a fantastic job making sure he just stated the facts and did not put impose his religious beliefs on us. He did give us a speech about Michelangelo's statue, Pieta, which I will probably remember for the rest of my life. He said this statue didn't mean much to him until he saw his mother holding his brother when he was dying from cancer. I never thought of the statue from this perspective. I always just thought of it as Mary and her son. Never as a mother holding her son while he is dying. I get the chills every time I think of our guide and his story. We got to enter the sixth chapel before everyone else. Which was a delightful experience. Inside was just us and 8 other people who were apart of our small tour. The fact that I got to pretty much experience the entire place to myself changed the whole experience. You are not allowed to take photos inside the chapel. Yes, I had to break the rules. If you are in Rome and are not religious I still recommend the Vatican. It's truly an experience. Also, pay a little more for that early morning tour. It's worth it. We then decided to walk up the dome. I will say I am not the most athletic person so I was struggling. My friend Pinzoh wasn't. It's also very claustrophobic. I still recommend doing it especially if you are young and able. If you are with young kids or older family members, I'd probably skip this one.
We left the Vatican by lunch and still had the entire afternoon. We were able to go to the Roman Forum, which was a fantastic way to spend the afternoon. It's all outdoors and very relaxing. You can never really tell if there is a ton of people inside because its an ample open space. That night was Valentine's Day, so we did not have a crazy dinner planned because we knew that the restaurants would be super busy. We just went to a spot right by our hotel.
DAY 4:
We took a lovely day trip to the Amalfi coast and Pompeii. We booked a small group tour with Viator. I highly recommend this website. I have never had a bad experience. Also, it's a nice way to travel further distances without having to book a car. During our trip to Amalfi, we went to Sorrento, I was sad we weren't going to Positano. The tour guide told us the reason why we went to Sorrento was that more shops and restaurants are open during the winter. During my time in Sorrento, I got to take a ton of photos. It was nice to get out of Rome and see a city that was a little less touristy.
We spend the afternoon in Pompeii, and for me, this was way better than my original expectations. The tour of Pompeii was my friend's idea, and I honestly wasn't that excited about it. I wasn't very educated about the site Pompeii site before the trip. I knew it was a place destroyed by volcano eruptions and learned briefly about it in history classes. This tour was fantastic. It was very empty when we went which I guess is not normal. The tour guide said this is usually packed even during the winter. We got to see how fast food was around 2,000 years ago. Also, original signs and art that have been recovered. Overall, even if you're not a history buff, still make a trip to Pompeii. I would go back and spend more time in Pompeii.
DAY 5:
Our final full day in Rome, we booked a wine tour through Airbnb. The tour was in Frascati, Italy. To get there, you do need to go on a train. We booked our train ticket before leaving the United States. The train ticket was only 2.10 euros. It also was maybe only a 30-40 minute ride. Our tour was with Max. The moment we got to Frascati, Max greeted us with open arms. He was honestly so kind. We went to some of the local shops and got to try some samples. I felt like I was in a movie when I was walking the streets with Max because he knew everyone in town. It was nice to get out of the large city of Rome and see how people in smaller cities live. After stopping at a few local places, we went to the winery: Antiche Terre Tuscolane, a small wine cooperative made up of three family-run wineries. The vineyard located in a valley where winemaking can be dated back to at least 1000 B.C. During the tour, we were able even to see where they hid Jews during World War II. Honestly, this was something people typically do not think about while in Italy. So it was amazing to see how these families saved many people's lives. They even would offer the Nazi's wine to make sure they would not check their cellars. We ended the trip with lunch in an authentic Italian Grandmothers home. The meal was extraordinary. I won't lie. I am a very picky eater, but they had something for everyone. Also, it was nice to meet other tourists. Some people I still follow and chat with on Instagram today. Wine truly brings people together.
Once returning to Rome, we did some shopping for our families. I will not lie. I brought back 30 lbs worth of wine, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and other treats. All my clothing went in a carry on Longchamp bag. I just wrote down everything I brought through customs. Finally, we ended our trip with dinner at Da Enzo al 29. We got their 1 hr before they opened in hopes of even get seated for the night. You can make reservations, but people do it way in advance. We heard about this spot from many locals. We did manage to get a table, and I ate so much. I'm pretty sure I went into a coma. I had to try as many things as possible because everyone had different suggestions. If you are in Rome, I highly recommend fried artichokes. Its something I think about all the time. I know some restaurants in NYC try to make them, but it has never tasted the same as the ones in Rome.