Rome Tourism And Travel Guide

Widely known as ‘Roma’ (in Latin and Italian), the city of Rome is probably as old as time. It is a city of history, of art, of love; as visible in its name itself. When you reverse ‘Roma’ you get ‘Amor,’ which means love in Italian! The timelessness of Rome permeates in everything from its art to food to people to buildings. Therefore people flock to this city from world over, and have been doing so since time immemorial.

To experience tourism in Rome with all your heart, you have our travel guide right here!

The best way to go from India to Rome is by flight, and there are plenty of them. Trains are also a good bet from around Europe, to reach Rome.

By Air:

The Leonardo da Vinci Airport of Rome is the prime hub for fights coming to Italy from all over the world. From India, regular flights ply that take you from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to Rome with Air France, Air India and Lufthansa.

By Road:

You can drive into Rome from anywhere in Italy, with the Autostrada del Sole that runs up and down the country and rims the city of Rome through the Ring Road. 

By Rail:

Rome, being the capital of Italy, is a major hub for trains coming in from all over Europe. Eurail trains are the best bet if you want to reach Rome from anywhere, be it Paris, Milan, London, Amsterdam or Berlin. Roma Termini is the main station of Rome.

Getting Around:

Rome is not a very big city to traverse, but still you have many modes of public transport - from metro trains to buses, trams to taxis from the Taxi Stands. Ubers are also available in Rome now so you can download an app and get going.

Rome is really not a very summery destination as the season brings too much heat to enjoy the city. Hence spring and autumn are better times to visit.

Spring (March to May):

Spring is the best season to visit Rome, even though most travel brochures point you to summer. The reason being, spring is not as stifling and hot as summer, and the locals haven’t yet closed their shops and cafes to go down for a summer break themselves. So you get to experience Rome in all its glory, with a mild temperature of 12-15°C.

Summer (June to September):

Summer sees too much touristy crowd in Rome, and why not? Europe is a hotspot during summer so the Europe Tour crowd spills into Rome. The temperature shoots to 30+°C by July and many local business are closed, including some great family owned restaurants and boutiques. 

Autumn (October to November):

A Roman autumn is good but not too great, as mild rainfall and chill disrupts some fun. While the month of October is good for excursions in the city, November sees chilly winds picking up. This is a good time to wear layers of woollens and hold a cup of cappuccino but not good to enjoy the sights without some fog.

Winter (December to February):

It hardly ever snows in Rome, but everything is cold and rainy on a regular basis. Hence this is not the best time to visit the city, unless you want to experience the festival of Christmas in Rome. 

Tour the Vatican:

Tourists come to Rome for many things, the foremost being the Vatican City. It is the world’s smallest country, located within Rome, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Here you will be awed by all those things you probably saw in Dan Brown books and movies, from the Vatican Museums to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basilica to the Vatican Library.

Admire the Ruins of Roman Forum:

The Roman Forum dates back 2500 years and was once a bustling hub of ancient Rome. A centre for marketplace and government offices, today the Roman Forum is in ruins and attracts tourism from far and wide. A great place to immerse yourself in the city’s history and get yourself some stunning photos.

Photoshoot on the Spanish Steps:

The Spanish steps, 138 in number, lead you from the Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, culminating at the Trinità dei Monti church. People come and sit on the side of these steps and see the hustle bustle of Rome, or just take photos with the backdrop of Roman baroque buildings and blossoms of flowers, or simply just use them for commute. You must do a long photoshoot here!

Explore Trastevere:

The Trastevere neighbourhood of Rome is that part of the city which is beyond River Tiber. Here you will find the more suburban part of Rome, with a BoHo vibe to match the ochre homes and graffiti-painted walls. Find family owned boutiques here, small chic cafes and a very cool nightlife to entertain you.

Throw a Coin in the Trevi Fountain:

The Trevi Fountain sits right in the middle of Piazza Navona, studded with the statue of God Neptune and his tritons in the centre. Its pale blue water flows back into the well and people believe dropping coins in the fountain grant you your heart’s desire. So do try it, and drop 2 coins; 1 for your wish and 1 to come back to Rome.

The Italians love their pasta and pizza, and the Romans are no different; only, they have their own signature dishes. Head to the Trastevere district for some amazing pizza. You will get terrace seating and a view to die for, with fresh wood baked pizzas, large servings of pastas and yummy wine. Some dishes to try in Rome include Rigatoni Carbonara, Supplì (a fried snack), Maritozzi (sweet buns), and cannoli. Other than these, do not miss the lovely espressos and cappuccinos, fried artichokes (autumn and winter season), tiramisu, panini and the king of all foods - gelato (light and airy Italian ice cream).

Rome is one of the best shopping destinations in all of Italy. With the number of luxury brands that originated here, you would think Rome is as sophisticated as Paris and Milan when it comes to fashion. Go to the Prati area, known for its shopping boulevards and tree-lined streets that have hi-fi shops. The best streets for shopping brands (luxury and high street) are Via Dei Condotti and Via condotti. You will get all your Gucci, Armani, Dolce Gabbana and Prada dreams here. Sales come to Rome in the months of January and July every year so plan your trip accordingly if shopping is your goal.