Rome

Vintage markets, Monti backstreets & Trastevere evenings

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Rome is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Panthéon, Mercato Monti and Colosseum. Food lovers should not miss Da Enzo al 29 and Roscioli. Below you will find 51 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Rome at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Panthéon and Mercato Monti
Where to stay: Trastevere and Pantheon
Local picks: 51 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Rome

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Rome: Best Neighborhoods (by a Local)Where to stay in Rome? A local ranks the best neighbourhoods for first-timers, from the Centro Storico and Monti to…

Local tipsHow Many Days Do You Need in Rome? A Local’s Honest AnswerHow many days do you need in Rome? A local breaks down the ideal trip length, from a rushed one…

Local tipsHipster Shopping in Rome: Monti, Vintage and Indie DesignSkip the souvenir stalls. Where stylish Romans really shop, from Monti boutiques to weekend vintage at Mercato Monti.

Where to stay in Rome

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Monti

Ai Tre Scalini

A cosy, ivy-fronted wine bar in the heart of hip Monti, pouring since 1895. Squeeze in for Italian wines by the glass, cheese and salumi boards and hearty daily specials, in one of Rome’s most atmospheric little rooms.

Pantheon

Armando al Pantheon

A family-run institution steps from the Pantheon, serving faithful Roman classics since 1961 in a snug wood-panelled room. Tiny and enduringly popular – reservations are essential.

★ 4.6

Aventino

Baths of Caracalla

The colossal, surprisingly peaceful ruins of a third-century imperial bath complex, its towering brick walls still hinting at the scale of Roman leisure. A calm alternative to the busier sites – and a magical open-air opera stage in summer.

★ 4.5

Borgo

Borgo Pio

A charming cobbled pedestrian street a stone’s throw from St Peter’s, lined with trattorias, wine bars and little shops – a surprisingly village-like pocket of calm right by the Vatican. Lovely for a wander and a plate of pasta away from the crowds.

Campo de' Fiori

Campo de’ Fiori Market

By morning a bustling fruit, veg and flower market; by night a lively square of bars beneath the brooding statue of philosopher Giordano Bruno. One of the few central piazzas without a church – and all the livelier for it.

★ 4.3

Campidoglio

Capitoline Museums

The world’s oldest public museums, set around Michelangelo’s elegant Campidoglio square. Inside: the she-wolf of Rome, colossal statue fragments and grand painting galleries, plus a terrace looking over the Forum.

★ 4.6

Piazza del Popolo

Casa Montani

A tiny, lavish townhouse B&B by Piazza del Popolo with just a handful of individually designed rooms and doting, personal service. For travellers who want boutique intimacy rather than a big hotel.

★ 4.7

Ponte

Castel Sant’Angelo

Hadrian’s cylindrical mausoleum turned papal fortress, linked to the Vatican by a secret passage. Spiral up through its halls to a rooftop terrace with one of the finest views in Rome.

★ 4.6

Via Appia / Centro

Catacombs & Crypts Tour

Descend into the eerie early-Christian catacombs carved beneath Rome, where the dead were buried in miles of tunnels. Guided tours explain the history and symbolism – some pair it with the bone-lined Capuchin crypt.

★ 4.6

Colosseo

Colosseum

Rome’s mighty first-century amphitheatre, where 50,000 spectators once watched gladiatorial games. A timed ticket (ideally with the arena floor or underground) gets you inside the greatest monument of the ancient world – book ahead to skip the long queues.

★ 4.8

Colosseo

Colosseum Underground & Arena Tour

Go beyond the standard ticket with a guided tour onto the reconstructed arena floor and down into the underground hypogeum where gladiators and animals once waited. The best way to grasp how the amphitheatre actually worked.

★ 4.8

Trastevere

Da Enzo al 29

A tiny, much-loved Trastevere trattoria that locals name first for classic Roman pasta – carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana – plus meatballs, artichokes and tiramisu. It doesn’t take bookings and the queue is real, so turn up early.

★ 4.7

Campo de' Fiori

Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara

A no-frills Roman institution behind Campo de’ Fiori devoted to one glorious thing: filetti di baccalà – golden, deep-fried fillets of salt cod. Order a couple with puntarelle and a carafe of white. Evenings only, and gloriously unchanged.

Centro Storico

Enoteca Corsi

A wonderfully old-school wine-shop-and-trattoria near the Pantheon, run by the same family for generations, with a tiny handwritten menu of Roman classics that changes daily. Cheap, honest and utterly local – go for lunch.

Villa Borghese

Galleria Borghese

A jewel-box gallery inside the Borghese gardens, home to breathtaking Bernini sculptures and Caravaggio paintings. Entry is by compulsory timed slot, which keeps it blissfully uncrowded – reserve ahead.

★ 4.8

Esquilino

Generator Rome

A design-forward hostel near Termini with both dorms and private rooms, a buzzy bar and regular events – the easy, affordable pick for younger travellers and anyone who likes to meet people on the road.

★ 4.2

Before you go

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Rome travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Rome?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Rome at a relaxed pace. See our Rome itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Rome?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Rome guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Rome?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Rome?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Rome is worth visiting year-round.