3 Days of Magic in Rome, Italy
ROME WAS THE START OF MY EUROPEAN JOURNEY AND I WOULDN'T OF STARTED IT ANY OTHER WAY! ROME IS A THRIVING CITY WITH SO MUCH TO SEE, TRY, AND EXPERIENCE. IT'S ALSO THE GREAT PLACE TO START IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME TRAVELING TO EUROPE.
EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH, THERE IS A PLETHORA OF A NEVER ENDING SIGHTS TO SEE, THE TRANSPORTATION IS GREAT AND IT WASN'T SUPER OVERWHELMING. WHILE ROME DOES HAVE A BAD REP OF PICK POCKETING, JUST STAY AWARE AND YOU SHOULD BE FINE.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE YOU GO, ROME HAS A LOT, I MEAN A LOT OF TOURISTS, SO BE PREPARED FOR THAT AND BE RESPECTFUL TO THE NATIVES AND THEIR COUNTRY. SOME TOURISTS CAN BE SO FOCUSED ON GETTING THAT PERFECT SHOT THAT THEY END UP BEING RUDE TO OTHERS, SO JUST STAY CONSCIOUS.
IN THIS ARTICLE WE WILL LIST PLACES TO STAY, TOP SIGHTS TO SEE, VEGAN PLACES TO EAT, AND EVEN SOME TIPS AND TRICKS.
ALSO ENJOY A 3 DAY ROME ITINERARY. THE ITINERARY IS LISTED BELOW AND I'VE INCLUDED TIPS AND RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DOWNLOAD IT AND EDIT IT TO MAKE IT THE TRIP OF YOUR DREAMS! OR MAYBE IT'S ALREADY ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WERE LOOKING FOR AND YOU CAN USE AS IS!
WHERE TO STAY
THE YELLOW
THIS HOSTEL IS KNOWN AS THE PARTY HOSTEL, SO IF YOU WANT A LOT OF QUIET AND DON'T DO THE YOUNG PEOPLE DRINKING SCENE, THIS PLACE ISN'T FOR YOU. I STAYED HERE AND PERSONALLY LOVED IT! I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF DRINKING AND GOING OUT, BUT IT WAS NICE TO SIT DOWNSTAIRS AND MEET PEOPLE DURING THE FIRST STOP OF MY TRIP. THE YELLOW HAS A GREAT LOCATION, RIGHT NEAR TREMINI AND A FAIRLY CLOSE WALK TO THE COLOSSEUM. IT IS ALSO RIGHT NEXT TO A GROCERY STORE WHICH IS A GREAT PERK IF YOU COOK YOUR OWN FOOD WHILE TRAVELING. ANOTHER GREAT PERK TO THIS HOSTEL IS THAT THEY SERVE FREE PASTA EVERY AFTERNOON! THAT'S RIGHT, FREE!
GENERATOR ROME
THIS POSHTEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST IN ROME AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE CHECKING IT OUT FOR MYSELF NEXT TIME I AM THERE. THIS HOSTEL IS LOCATED IN ROME'S ESQUILINO DISTRICT WHICH IS KNOWN FOR ITS TRADITIONAL OLD SCHOOL VIBES AND IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED RIGHT NOW TO A FOOD MARKET WHERE YOU CAN GET SOME OF ITALY'S AMAZING LOCAL PRODUCTS. NOT AS CENTRAL WHEN IT COMES TO MONUMENTS, BUT WORTH IT FOR AN EXPERIENCE OF A LESS TOURISTY ROME [IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE]!
WHERE TO EAT - VEGAN
ROSEMARY
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* NEAR TREMINI
* VEGAN OPTIONS
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO GRAB BREAKFAST OR LUNCH ON YOUR WAY TO CHECK OUT THE SITES, THIS PLACE IS SUPER CLOSE TO TREMINI AND HAS SOME TASTY OPTIONS!
RIFUGIO ROMANO
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* VEGAN OPTIONS
* LUNCH & DINNER
* TRADITIONAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT
LOTS OF OPTIONS FROM VEGAN PIZZA, TO PASTAS, BRUSCHETTA, AND EVEN SOME DELICIOUS DESSERTS! THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A PLACE I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THAT NIGHT YOU WANT SOME TRADITIONAL ITALIAN FROM A NICE RESTAURANT.
ROMEOW CAT BISTROT
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* 100% VEGAN
* BREAKFAST, LUNCH & LATE-NIGHT
* RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
NOT YOUR AVERAGE CAT CAFE THIS A REFINED VEGAN BISTRO THAT OFFERS HEALTHY BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND A GOOD AFTERNOON SNACK. BECAUSE AS IF CATS WEREN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU HAPPY, NOW YOU CAN HAVE SOME BOMB ASS, HEALTHY, VEGAN FOOD WHILE PLAYING WITH THEM.
IL BORGO VERDE
* 100% VEGAN
* ORGANIC FOOD & WINE BAR
A TRUE ITALIAN WINE BAR, THIS SPOTS MENU IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND OFFERS RAW OPTIONS AS WELL. DEFINITELY TRY IF YOU'RE FEELING FANCY AND WANT TO TREAT YOURSELF TO A NICE GLASS OF ITALIAN WINE.
3 DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1
TO START, TAKE SOME DEEP BREATHS, EAT A GOOD MEAL, BRING YOUR WATER BOTTLE AND WHEN YOU'RE WALKING FROM PLACE TO PLACE, REMEMBER TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE, ENJOY THE CHAOS, ADMIRE THE STREET ART.
COLOSSEUM & ARCH OF CONSTANTINE - YOU CAN SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR ROMA PASS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE FOR THE COLOSSEUM OR TRY TO MAKE IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. ALTHOUGH I'D RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU'RE GOING DURING THE SUMMER YOU SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT AND GO EARLY. IT GETS VERY HOT MIDDAY. THE GREAT NEWS IS YOU DON'T NEED A TICKET TO SEE THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE AND SHE IS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE COLOSSEUM SO ENJOY!
ROMAN FORUM & PALATINE HILL YOU CAN BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AND IF YOU'RE INTO THEY HAVE A 'SKIP THE LINE' VERSION THAT GETS YOU INTO THE COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM AND PALATINE HILL.
CAPITOLINE MUSEUM THESE MUSEUMS WERE OPENED IN 1734 AND IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED TO BE THE FIRST MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD. IT IS A PAIR AND THERE ARE TWO BUILDINGS BUT YOU ONLY NEED ONE TICKET.
DAY 2
TREVI FOUNTAIN
THIS IS THE MOST FAMOUS FOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD, YOU MAY REMEMBER IS FROM THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE. TREVI FOUNTAIN IS A MUST WALK THROUGH! THERE IS TONS OF SHOPPING AND CUTE RESTAURANTS AROUND SO RELAX WITH A BOOK AND GRAB AN ESPRESSO IF YOU HAVE TIME.
PANTHEON
THE PANTHEON IS A FORMER ROMAN TEMPLE. AND A FEW WEIRD FACTS ABOUT IT IS THE FIRST PANTHEON WAS BUILT IN 27BC BUT IT BURNT DOWN IN THE GREAT FIRE OF 80AD. THEN A SECOND PANTHEON WAS BUILT BUT BURNED DOWN IN 110 AD FROM A FIRE AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. THE BUILDING WE ALL VIEW NOW IS ACTUALLY THE THIRD TO BE BUILT!
THE VATICAN - THE SISTINE CHAPEL & ST. PETE'S BASILICA
THE SISTINE CHAPEL ALONE IS WORTH GOING IN TO THE VATICAN FOR, BUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND ART THAT WENT INTO DESIGNING THE CITY IS A MUST SEE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE WEARING AN OUTFIT THAT COVERS YOUR SHOULDERS AND YOUR KNEES.
PIAZZA NAVONA & CAMPO DE FIORI
THIS IS A CUTE PUBLIC PLAZA WITH THE CAMPO DE FIORI MARKET RIGHT THERE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOUVENIRS DEFINITELY SHOP AROUND THESE SQUARES. I'D GO AFTER THE VATICAN THOUGHT JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TIME AND ARE STILL UP FOR IT.
DAY 3
PIAZZA DI SPAGNA & THE SPANISH STEPS
START YOUR MORNING OFF AND ENJOY YOUR LAST DAY IN ROME AT THE PIAZZA DI SPAGNA, ONE OF ROME'S MOST FAMOUS SQUARES AND IS RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPANISH STEPS. GET SOME GELATO AND ESPRESSO LIKE A TRUE ITALIAN.
VILLA BORGHESE GARDEN
THIS GARDEN HOLDS SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING PLACES SUCH AS THE PINCIO TERRACE VIEWPOINT, THE TEMPLE OF DIANA, AND THE TEMPLE OF AESCULAPIUS. DEFINITELY SPEND SOME TIME HERE AND BRING A BOOK OR TWO.
BORGHESE GALLERY & MUSEUM
ALSO IN THE VILLA BORGHESE, I WOULD LEAVE YOURSELF SOME TIME TO EXPLORE THIS MUSEUM.
TIPS & TRICKS
BE SAFE AND STAY VIGILANT IN ROME. THIS CITY HAS ONE OF THE WORST REPUTATIONS OF ALL FOR PICK POCKETING. I CAUGHT ONE GUY TRYING TO SNEAK UP INTO MY BACKPACK BUT MY INTUITION FLARED UP AND TOLD ME TO TURN AROUND AND SURE ENOUGH HE WAS THERE AND I HAD CAUGHT HIM JUST IN TIME! I TURNED AN BEGAN INSANELY YELLING AT HIM WHICH MADE HIM RUN AWAY, SO JUST STAY AWARE.
ROMA PASS - I USED THE 72 HOUR PASS IT WORKED GREAT! I GOT FREE ENTRANCE TO MUSEUMS OF MY CHOICE, WAS ABLE TO SET UP APPOINTMENTS AND EVEN SKIP LINES. THIS PASS ALSO WORKS FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT! THIS IS MY NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPLORING ROME AND WILL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
GOING TO BE IN ROME FOR LONGER? CHECK OUT OUR POST ON 22 THINGS TO DO IN ROME!