Rome

We stayed in Rome for 5 days.

Home:

AirBNB super close to the Colosseum.

https://airbnb.com/rooms/8232347?s=9&user_id=12844700&ref_device_id=50fa239f664416cc78a02ff4a035f56f31567902

Transportation:

We got a 72-hour pass from the metro station that works with buses too. The metro here isn’t as good as other countries in Europe due to the fact the every time they start building a new line, they run into new ruins and they have to stop.

Sights by day:

Day 1

Once we got situated at our place we started exploring the city and walking around without a plan to see what we could find.

Colloseum from the outside – Our place was right around the corner so we would walk by this view every day on our way to the train station.

Trevi Fountain- Recently was renovated and paid for by Fendi so it was like new again.

Spanish Steps – There was a restoration going on so we didn’t get to walk on them but they were right past the Trevi Fountain.

Day 2

We spent the majority of the first day at the Vatican. Make sure to book your tours in advance to skip the lines (the lines are crazy long!!!). We booked this tour through Viator (http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Skip-the-Line-Vatican-Museums-Walking-Tour-including-Sistine-Chapel-Raphaels-Rooms-and-St-Peters/d511-3731VATICAN). This was a great tour which covered all the major highlights of the Vatican.

Museum – They walk you through and explain several paintings and artistry

Sistine Chapel- They don’t allow pictures to be taken while your in the room but, the original Michelangelo is there.

St Peter’s Basilica – This place is huge and beautiful (like Shaina lol)

Day 3

We spent the entire day in Florence. Check out my other post for more details on what we ate, drank and the sights we saw there.

Day 4

This was our day to visit the Colosseum inside and the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You will need to buy tickets for these but, 12 Euros gets you into all three. TIP: Buy your tickets at either the Palatine Hill or Roman Forum entrance and you skip the huge line for tickets at the Colosseum.

Roman Forum – Take your time and enjoy the views

Colosseum

Day 5

This was the day we planned to take our engagement photos. The photographer knew all the best spots and finished our session near the Pantheon.

Pantheon

Piazza Navona

Food:

Here are some highlights of the restaurants we ate at.

Ristochicco (https://www.yelp.com/biz/ristochicco-roma)

This place near the Vatican so eat here after your tour. This is a family owned authentic Italian restaurant. This is not like the other touristy places that serve pizza and pasta. We ordered:

Homemade Gnocchi
Seafood Spaghetti (the best in the world)
Recommended Wine was Rippassa 2012

Osteria Angelino dal 1899 (https://www.yelp.com/biz/osteria-angelino-dal-1899-roma)

This place is right across from the Collosseum. The food was way better than we expected. We ordered:

Trippa alla Romana (Roman Style Tripe)
Bistecca ai ferri (Grilled Beef steak)

Drinks:

Coffee

Tazza d’Oro (https://www.yelp.com/biz/tazza-d-oro-roma-2) was the best coffee we had in Rome. Always packed with people as they claim to be “el major del mundo” or the best in the world. We ordered the expresso and were not disappointed.

Alchohol

Via Ostiense Area

We like the area near Via Ostiense which is a popular street for food and bars we came to drink but ending up eating a little while we waited for friends. This would be a cool area to have dinner at and go bar hopping. Also not far from major Metro stations.

Our Italian friends let us know that they do thinks a little differently when going out for a night of drinking since most bars don’t close or close really late.

Meet up for dinner
Have an aperitif(drink before a meal). They recommend a Spritz
Have wine with your meal
Maybe dessert
Start the real drinking (mixed drinks are popular but, we stuck to the shots)

Spritz

Porto Fluviale (https://www.yelp.com/biz/porto-fluviale-roma)

We liked this place as it had a cool atmosphere and was located in Via Ostiense. It is divided into a bar, restaurant and pizzeria. Take your pick.

Doppio zero (https://www.yelp.com/biz/00-doppio-zero-roma-2)

This was also near Via Ostiense. Here we got to try Grappa which is an Italian liquor

Trastevere Area

We went here around 1am and there were so many people outside and inside bars. We grabbed a beer at one place and went outside to hang out with the crowds. Come here ready to have a good time.