[Tips]

• Stay near Termini Station. Super convenient to most tourist sites
• Be prepared to walk or figure out the busses. The metro doesn’t cover a lot of places.
• Reserve your front of the line passes for the Vatican and Colosseum (including Roman Forum and Palatine Hill). Trust me, the tour is worth it.
• Eat gelato every day. It’s a lot cheaper (and more delicious) than in the US.
• All churches are free. Check out the AMAZING paintings and sculptures.
• Bring a water bottle. There’s a ton of free water fountains throughout all the attractions.

Day 1

As I was dropping off my luggage at my hostel, I was lucky they let me check in early since I desperately needed to rest. They also gave me a bottle of wine as a welcome to Italy gift as well! I rested a bit but was impatient because I was starving so started off by going to a pasta place nearby.

Afterwards, I headed out to sightsee all the incredible plazas and fountains in Rome! I ended up walking a lot and got back later than I wanted, but it was worth everything I encountered. P.S. If you love fresh meats, make sure you go to a Prosciutteria! I guarantee you’ll fall in love.

Morning: Arrive & travel to hostel

[Sorry, no picture here. It’s okay, onto the food…]

Afternoon: Lunch near hostel, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza di Spagna, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Evening: Prosciutteria, Gelato

  

 

  

Day 2

My second day was my first tour in Europe and I was SO glad I bought the front of the line pass that includes a guided tour. Without my guide, I would have just breezed by (maybe not in the crowds) and not understand much of what I was looking at.

After a long day of touring, of course I had to go get pizza of 6 varieties! Because I had a late lunch and wasn’t too hungry, I skipped dinner and went straight to gelato for dessert instead.

Morning: Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Afternoon: Lunch, Castel Sant’Angelo

  

  

  

Evening: Gelato

  

Day 3

On this day, I didn’t to have too much planned. My friend had recommended I go to the Trastesvere area, which I manged to get to eventually, but not before asking a French lady how to get there. Apparently, she was also going to a church in the same area so I invited myself to join her. She was super sweet and explained to me what we were looking at.

Afterwards, I ventured off on my own to get more meat platters and hit up a couple markets as well. The markets were way smaller than I expected and I wasn’t hungry so I quickly browsed and moved on. I stumbled upon Piazza Novana and went into another church that everyone else was going into. Then I walked back to the metro (a pretty far walk) and rested before going out to dinner and had more gelato.

Morning: Santa Maria Church in Trastesvere, Trastesvere Area

  

  

  

Afternoon: Lunch at Prosciutteria, Campo di’ Fiori, Piazza Navona

  

  

  

  

Evening: Dinner & Gelato

 

 

Day 4

Morning: Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum

So grateful for another front of the line pass as I got another guided tour of the Colosseum. They actually closed it off to the line a bit because they had their max of 30k people inside! While the Colosseum was cool, I enjoyed the Roman Forum and Palentine Hill more. So much history and such breathtaking sights! I thought that was the most impressive area in Rome, and Rome is already extremely impressive!

By this day, I was extremely tired and have just about finished all my touristy stuff so I quickly grabbed a late lunch, rested at my hostel, and then went out to our last dinner in Rome with a couple hostel mates. It was fun being able to meet new people and not having to eat by myself all the time!

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

Afternoon: Rest

Evening: Dinner & Dessert