It is the end of summer, but I still feel the warm sun rays on my skin. Pink and red flowers are spread everywhere around Rome. And the river is rushing along. I see impressing architectures in front of me – and every single one has something special on its own. Pretentious. Nostalgic. Ancient. This beautiful city was the first of three stops on my Italy trip and my first time there at all.

All in all, I’ve spent 3 days in Rome, 2 days in Naples and 8 full days on the wonderful island Ischia. Because I fell in love with the Eternal City, I want to dedicate this post just to Rome.

 

 

I was very impressed by Italy’s romantic capital. Since I’ve never been there before, I had no clue what to expect. I always go to cities and countries with as few expectations as possible. That way, I won’t be disappointed in the end. But with Rome, there was no chance to get disappointed.

On the contrary, my first impression of Rome was absolutely fascinating. Whether there is the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica or the giant Colosseum: the Eternal City is a love-letter to itself and has so much more to give than the famous landmarks. You can see it in every corner and although it has lots of ancient ruins and centuries of history, Italy’s oldest city is still very modern and vibrant today – and definitely worth a visit! 

 

 

 

 

What to see in Rome

1. Vatican City incl. the St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City is an own country (44 hectares) located in the city of Rome)
2. Villa Borghese (It is the third-largest park/garden in Rome and offers beautiful buildings, temples, a big pond, and interesting museums)
3. Spanish Steps (The steps are located by the famous Piazza di Spagna and are close to the Villa Borghese)
4. Castel Sant’Angelo (It was once the tallest building in Rome. Now you have a beautiful view to the St. Peter’s Basilica, especially by night)
5. Giardino degli Aranci (The “Orange Garden” offers a magnificent view over the city of Rome)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to eat in Rome

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza of course! I spent the first night in the restaurant called Enoteca e Taverna Capranica not far away from the Fontana del Pantheon and had a good salad and pizza. A hedge isolates the restaurant from the hustle and bustle of the touristic pedestrian area, so you have more privacy. 

I would say the best ice cream you can get is at the Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop Venchi, THE hotspot in Rome. They also have delicious Crepes, but the highlight was the chocolate waterfall. Definitely a must-do!

 

 

 

 

A really nice district to walk around is the area close to the Orto Botanico di Roma, a beautiful botanic garden. You will find cute little restaurants there with authentic Italian flair. I had dinner for example at the Da Gildo restaurant and ordered gnocchi all Romana. It was beyond delicious. Just walk around this district and get inspired. You definitely won’t starve!

 

 

Where to stay

Of course, you can stay in any hotel you want. But to feel the culture and the Roman mentality, I suggest Airbnb. I stayed with Antonella in this accommodation.

It does not just have more rooms in one apartment so you feel like you live in a hotel; it also has a huge rooftop balcony from where you have a wonderful view of the district. I usually breakfast there in the sun which was awesome and a great start into the day. Although the clean rooms are spartanly furnished, you find everything you need. There are two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a big living room.

If you want something closer to the city center, just have a look at booking.com. Use the search box below and find the perfect hotel you are looking for.

 

Booking.com

 

 

In puncto public transportation, you need less than 10 minutes to the metro which brings you in only 6 minutes to the Central Station. You see, this apartment was definitely a good choice and I can highly recommend it to everyone who likes an authentic Roman apartment a little offside the busy city center.

Enough dreaming about Rome. Have you ever been to this beautiful city? And do you have any recommendations or favorite spots to share? Let me know! I’m excited about your comments.

 

 

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