Top 10 Things To Do In Rome On Your First Visit

Iconic, historical and fascinating, Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. If historical sites, stunning architecture and great food tickles your fancy, then I’m sure you’ll want to be travelling to Roma in the near future. I fell in love with the city on my recent four day stint in Winter, and hopefully it will cast its spell on you too.

“Rome has not seen a modern building in more than half a century. It is a city frozen in time.” - Richard Meier

Here are my top 10 things I highly recommend doing, seeing and experiencing on your first visit to Rome:

Visit the wondrous Colosseum

The perfect first stop and one of the most iconic ancient sites in Rome if not the world, the Colosseum is a must see. Opened in 80 A.D., holding around 50,000 spectators, it was home to many gladiator fights and entertainment. As you wander through, I’d highly recommend using the headset so you can learn about the history and events that took place right where you are standing! And like any popular tourist site, get here early to skip the lines or you will sorely regret it!

Walk through the Roman Forum

At the centre of the city next to the Colosseum lies the fascinating Roman Forum site, scattered with ruins of ancient temples, basilicas and public spaces. You could easily spend a few hours wandering around here, as it covers such a large area, and I definitely would recommend getting up high to truly admire this remarkable site.

Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain

Another must see attraction, the Fontana di Trevi is a dramatic, stunning masterpiece, and is one you might want to arrive early to. Crowds flock to the fountain daily to throw a coin over their shoulder for good luck, but really it’s just a lovely spot to sit and admire this work of art.

Head over to a new country - The Vatican City!

The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope, and one of the main reasons tourists visit Rome. Fun fact - it’s actually considered to be a country! Inside you’ll find 11 museums, including Michelangelo’s famous restored Sistine Chapel. I would highly recommend climbing up the dome of St Peter’s Basilica for insane 360 degrees views over the city.

Eat eat eat!

What would a trip to one of the food capitals of the world be if you didn’t stuff your face everyday?! You can’t go wrong with pizza, pasta and gelato, just make sure you don’t eat at restaurants near the big tourist attractions, or at restaurants with waiters standing outside annoying you to try their food. I’d highly recommend trying Venchi gelato by the way - it’s right near the Trevi Fountain!

Wander along the river

Probably one of my favourite things we did in Rome, wandering along the river up to the Vatican amongst the Autumn leaves was a great way to see the city. Passing stunning buildings, watching local life go by and walking over some pretty stunning bridges, it’s a nice, peaceful part of the city - in Winter it was anyway!

Climb the Spanish Steps

A must see when in Rome, especially for those wanting to have their ‘Lizzie McGuire moment’. Built in 1723-1725 in a beautiful, butterfly design, the steps are a great place to sit and watch the locals and tourists pass by. I’d highly recommend getting there early in the morning if you want to climb up them without dodging tourists every step of the way!

Bask in the beauty that is Altare della Patria

My favourite building in all of Rome (and there are a lot of beautiful buildings!) Isn’t she stunning? It’s known by many names, even ‘the wedding cake’ or ‘the typewriter’, but its actual name translates to ‘Altar of the Fatherland’. The rooftop provides stunning panoramic views, while in the basement you’ll find the Museum of the Risorgimento.

Find the mysterious Aventine keyhole view

Probably not on every first time visitor’s list, but it’s definitely something different and fun to find! As you wander up Aventine Hill, find the Austrian Embassy, and along a green door you’ll find the famous keyhole. Have a peep and your eyeball will be treated to a view of the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica dome sitting end the end of a row of perfectly manicured hedges!

Then watch the sunset over Rome from Parco Savelli

Wander back down the hill just a few minutes and through the gates to Parco Savelli, a pristine park with amazing views over the city. It’s an ideal spot to watch the sunset or simply relax, have a picnic and soak in the Roman sun.

Here are the rest of my photos to get you inspired:

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HAVE YOU FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ROME? OR ARE YOU HOPING TO VISIT SOON?

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