Europe · Italy
Why visit Rome?
Rome is an experience of layering. A 2,000-year-old Roman temple becomes a church becomes a piazza with a Renaissance fountain. You turn a corner and the Colosseum fills your entire field of vision. You eat carbonara in a restaurant that has been making the same recipe since 1948. This is not a museum — it is a living city where Western civilisation is simply the backdrop to daily life.
The key is booking ahead and getting up early. The Colosseum sells out days in advance. The Vatican queue without pre-booking is two hours. The Spanish Steps at 7am are completely empty. Trastevere on a Tuesday evening is the best version of Rome.
Key Info
10% at restaurants — leave cash on the table
Weather
Summer (Jul–Aug) — very hot, very crowded, expensive
Spring and autumn are ideal. Christmas is atmospheric and quiet.
Health
Tap water safe — and excellent quality from nasoni street fountains
No vaccines required
Transport
✈️ FCO Fiumicino (30 min train) / CIA Ciampino (budget airlines)
Compact historic centre — walk most things. Metro for outer areas.
Emergency
👮 Police113
🚑 Ambulance118
🔥 Fire115