The Eternal City – Rome has been drawing crowds for over 3,000 years! Where else can you chuck a coin in the Trevi Fountain, gawp at gladiator arenas, and gleefully say “when in Rome” ?

Rome Highlights

• Ancient wonders galore – from the Colosseum to the Pantheon, you're literally stepping back in time

• Vatican spectacular – home to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and enough Renaissance art to make your head spin

• Pasta paradise – this is where carbonara, amatriciana, and cacio e pepe were born (and they taste better than your local fave)

• Neighbourhood vibes – each district has its own personality, from hipster Trastevere to posh Prati

• Budget brilliance – loads of free attractions, cheap public transport, and proper Italian street food for pennies

Good to Know - Holidays to Rome 2026

• ☀️ Rome is a year-round destination. Summers hit 28-35°C (hot and busy), spring and autumn are the sweet spot at 15-25°C with fewer crowds. Even winter stays mild at 8-14°C and is brilliant for cheap city breaks.

• 💶 Rome uses the Euro. An espresso costs about €1-1.50, a pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) around €3-5, and a sit-down meal for two in Trastevere about €40-60 including wine. Public transport is €2 for a single ticket.

• 🏛️ The first Sunday of every month, all state-owned museums and sites are free to enter - including the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Borghese Gallery. Get there early because everyone else knows this too.

What are the best sights to see on your holidays to Rome?

When in Rome… you do everything! This ancient city is basically one giant open-air museum, sprinkled with espresso bars, gelato stands, and gladiator selfies waiting to happen. Whether you’re here to toss a coin in the Trevi or channel your inner Russell Crowe, these sights are a must-see on your city break to Rome.

• The Colosseum – the big one, the icon, the “I came, I saw, I took 300 photos” landmark. Once home to gladiators and emperors, it’s now one of the most jaw-dropping historical sites on the planet. Bonus tip: book a skip-the-line ticket unless you really fancy queuing in the Italian sun.

• The Vatican City – technically its own country, but we’ll let that slide. Home to St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and enough art to make your camera battery weep. Even if you’re not into art, that ceiling is worth the neck ache.

• Trevi Fountain – grab a gelato, make a wish and toss a coin (right hand over left shoulder, of course). Legend says one coin means a return to Rome, two means love, and three… means you’re moving there. Ciao, bella!

• Pantheon – it’s over 2,000 years old and still standing strong - not bad, right? This temple-turned-church has one of the largest domes in the world and a hole in the roof (on purpose), so if it rains, you’re in for a magical moment.

• Piazza Navona – a lively square filled with street performers, fountains, and that Italian energy that makes you want to linger with a spritz in hand. Perfect for people-watching and soaking up la dolce vita.

🏖️ Where to Stay on your Rome Holidays 2026/2027

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• The Colosseum and Monti area is the most practical family base. You're walking distance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Trevi Fountain, connected to everywhere by metro, and the neighbourhood has loads of affordable trattorias and gelaterias. Hotels here tend to be better value than right in the historic centre and the sights are on your doorstep.

• The Vatican and Prati area is another strong family pick. It's quieter and more residential than the tourist centre, with wide pavements and good restaurants that locals actually use. Walking distance to St Peter's and the Vatican Museums, with metro connections to everything else.

• Termini station area works if you want maximum connectivity on a budget. It's Rome's main transport hub so you're linked to everything by metro, bus and train. Loads of affordable hotels and eateries, and walking distance to the Colosseum, Santa Maria Maggiore and the Monti neighbourhood.

💑 Couples

• Trastevere is the most romantic neighbourhood in Rome. Cobbled streets with twinkling lights, ivy-covered trattorias, live music drifting from bars and a proper bohemian atmosphere. It's across the river from the main tourist sights but walkable to everything, and the food scene here is some of the best in the city.

• The Spanish Steps and Trevi area is classic romantic Rome. Boutique shopping on Via Veneto and Via Condotti, gelato by the fountain, rooftop aperitivo bars with views across the rooftops. More expensive, but if you're celebrating something it's worth every euro.

🎉 Groups

• The Colosseum and Monti district is the best group base. Rome's oldest rione has a buzzing bar scene, vintage shops, street art and some of the best nightlife in the city. Walking distance to the Colosseum and Termini, with wine bars and cocktail spots on Via del Serpenti that stay open late without the tourist prices.

• San Lorenzo (near Termini) is Rome's student quarter - edgier, cheaper and with a proper local nightlife scene. Craft beer bars, street food, live music venues and a grittier atmosphere. It's where young Romans actually go out.

🗣️ Local Lingo

• Ciao (CHOW) - Hello / Goodbye

• Grazie (GRAT-see-eh) - Thank you

• Per favore (per fa-VO-reh) - Please

• Un caffe, per favore (oon ka-FEH per fa-VO-reh) - An espresso, please

• Salute! (sa-LOO-teh) - Cheers!

• Il conto, per favore (eel KON-toh per fa-VO-reh) - The bill, please

• Quanto costa? (KWAN-toh KOS-ta) - How much does it cost?

🏨 Rome Hotels 2026/2027

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Best Roma - A centrally located hotel near Termini station, walking distance to the Colosseum and the main sights. Affordable, well connected by public transport and surrounded by reasonably priced restaurants. Good value base for a family city break.

• Hotel San Giovanni Roma - A 4-star in the Appio Latino district with 82 rooms, a breakfast buffet and a lobby bar. A bit further from the main tourist crush but well connected by metro. Good for families who want a quieter base.

• Colosseum Corner - A small, well-located apartment-style stay right by the Colosseum with a kitchenette in every room - handy for feeding kids on your own schedule. Five minutes to the Colosseum, six to the Roman Forum, and Termini station is a short walk for metro connections.

💑 Couples

• UNAHotels Trastevere Roma - A modern hotel in the heart of Trastevere with a rooftop terrace, garden and on-site restaurant. The most romantic neighbourhood in Rome is right outside the door - cobbled streets, candlelit trattorias and a walk across Ponte Sisto to Campo de' Fiori.

• Capo d'Africa - A stylish hotel right by the Colosseum with a rooftop terrace overlooking the ancient ruins. You wake up to gladiator views. Walking distance to the Roman Forum, Monti's wine bars and the best of ancient Rome.

• Hotel Trecento - A boutique hotel near the Trevi Fountain with custom-made furniture by Italian craftsmen, hand-painted details and rooms with 60-80 inch screens and cinema-quality sound. Seven minutes' walk to the Trevi Fountain, eight to the Pantheon and Spanish Steps.

🎉 Groups

• Hotel Ripa Roma - A hotel in the heart of Trastevere with easy access to the neighbourhood's bars, restaurants and late-night scene. Walking distance to Campo de' Fiori (great for a group night out) and well connected to the rest of Rome. Reasonably priced for the location.

• Corot - A no-frills but comfortable hotel right next to Termini station (100m away). 28 rooms, a bar, a terrace and a breakfast buffet. Cheap, central and connected - a practical group base where you'll spend your money on the city rather than the hotel.

• B&B Roma Trastevere - An 81-room eco-friendly hotel on the edge of Trastevere with 24-hour reception and a car park. Walking distance to Campo de' Fiori, Navona and the Jewish Quarter nightlife. Good value for a group who want to be near the action without paying Trastevere centre prices.

• Six Senses Rome - One of the world's most prestigious hotel brands, right in the historic centre near Navona and the Trevi Fountain. In-room coffee machines, a spa and that Six Senses attention to detail. Five minutes' walk to the Pantheon, 10 to the Spanish Steps.

✨ Luxury

• Palazzo Manfredi - Direct Colosseum views from some rooms and a Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant. Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection. If you're going to splash out in Rome, this is where you do it.

💰 Value

• Fragrance St Peter Hotel - A budget-friendly pick in the Prati neighbourhood near the Vatican. Away from the tourist chaos but with metro connections to everywhere. The area has excellent restaurants that locals actually use, and you're a short walk from St Peter's Basilica.

👉 See all Rome hotels

🗺️ Rome Holidays 2026/2027 - Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• 🏛️ The Colosseum is the must-do - kids love the gladiator history and the sheer scale of the place. Book skip-the-line tickets in advance or you'll be queuing for hours. The Roman Forum is right next door and included in the same ticket.

• 🌳 Villa Borghese Gardens is Rome's biggest park with cycling, rowing boats on the lake, a puppet theatre, a small zoo and a picnic-perfect setting. A proper breather after a morning of sightseeing.

• 🏺 Ostia Antica is an ancient Roman port town about 30 minutes from the city centre by train. Less crowded than Pompeii, cheaper and kids can run around the ruins freely - it's like a treasure hunt through a 2,000-year-old town.

• 🍕 Rome is one of the easiest cities in the world to feed kids. Pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) costs a few euros from any street corner, supplì (fried rice balls) are everywhere, and gelato is never more than five minutes away. Gelateria del Teatro near Piazza Navona does a strawberry and basil flavour that's properly good.

💑 Couples

• 🌅 Trastevere after dark is pure romance. Cross Ponte Sisto at sunset, get lost in the cobbled streets, and end up at a candlelit trattoria with a bottle of local wine and a plate of cacio e pepe. No booking, no plan - just wander and see where the evening takes you.

• 🏰 The Aventine Hill keyhole is one of Rome's best-kept secrets. Peep through a tiny door on the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta for a perfectly framed view of St Peter's Dome through a tree-lined avenue. Then walk to the nearby Orange Garden for panoramic sunset views across the city.

• 🎨 The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are a must, but go early (first entry, around 8am) to beat the crowds. Standing under that ceiling with space to actually look up properly is a completely different experience.

• 🍝 For a proper Roman food experience, try the Jewish Quarter. Carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes) are a Rome original, and the trattorias here are some of the most authentic in the city. Follow it with a stroll along the Tiber.

🎉 Groups

• ⚔️ The Gladiator School of Rome is a properly unique group activity. Throw on a tunic, pick up real weapons and learn ancient fighting techniques. They even run tournaments. Ridiculous and brilliant in equal measure.

• 🍕 A street food crawl through Trastevere and Campo de' Fiori is the best group dinner plan. Supplì from a street vendor, pizza al taglio from a hole-in-the-wall, carciofi from the Jewish Quarter and gelato for dessert. Cheaper and more fun than a sit-down restaurant for a big group.

• 🏛️ Underground Rome is a properly impressive group outing. Beneath the streets near the Trevi Fountain there's an entire first-century apartment complex and a still-working aqueduct, discovered in the 1990s. Guided tours run regularly and it's a side of Rome most tourists never see.

• 🍷 The Colosseum and Monti neighbourhood is the best group nightlife area. Wine bars, craft cocktail spots and late-night trattorias in Rome's oldest district, without the tourist prices of the centre. Start at a bar on Via Nazionale and see where the evening goes.

🌍 More Italy

• Italy - from the Amalfi Coast to the lakes, la dolce vita at its finest

• Sardinia - white sand beaches, turquoise water and rugged mountain scenery on Italy's second-largest island

• Sicily - ancient Greek temples, Mount Etna, arancini and some of the best food in the Mediterranean

• Sorrento & Amalfi Coast - lemon groves, clifftop villages, Vesuvius views and ferries to Capri and Pompeii

• Lake Garda - Italy's biggest lake with mountain-backed towns like Sirmione, Gardaland theme park and day trips to Verona

• Lake Como - elegant villas, mountain backdrops and ferry-hopping between Como and Bellagio

• Tuscany - rolling vineyards, medieval hilltop towns, Florence's Renaissance art and the Leaning Tower of Pisa

• Venice - canals, gondolas, St Mark's Square and one of the most unique cities on earth

• Naples - the birthplace of pizza, gateway to Pompeii and Vesuvius, and proper chaotic Italian charm

• Puglia - trulli houses, olive groves, Lecce's baroque architecture and Italy's best value beach holidays

• Milan - fashion capital, the Duomo, the Last Supper and aperitivo in the Navigli district