Travel & Hotspots

Rome for novices*

Oh la la, those Roman men, what characters they are. Proud of their city Rome, which they believe is the most beautiful city in the world. And they have a point. Last weekend, my fiancé and I traveled for the first time in our lives to the Italian capital and were deeply impressed. Everywhere you look, you see old buildings that make our canal belt look like a Vinex neighborhood. A thousand years is nothing in Rome. Some structures even date back to before Christ. And then there's the overwhelming number of shops, restaurants, and parks... Rome can therefore be quite challenging. Luckily, we received good tips from other Rome travelers and my friend Patrizia, who was born and raised in Rome. (By the way, Patrizia is hilarious. Quote from her: ‘Of course we arrrrre not perfect... But we arrrrre close.’). Here are our tips so you can make the most of your first trip to Rome.

– ‘What kind of white wine do you have?’

– ‘The best wine.’

The must-see

The Colosseum, of course! When you consider that humanity viewed it as entertainment two thousand years ago to watch innocent people being torn apart by bears, or innocent exotic animals being slaughtered ‘live’, then perhaps the world isn't doing so badly after all. Since everyone goes to the Colosseum, it's wise to book your tickets online in advance. Another tip: go in the afternoon. Strangely enough, everyone always goes everywhere in the morning. Going in the afternoon saves a lot of pushing and crowding.

Vatican City

You must see the Sistine Chapel, but what I actually found more enjoyable was the museum with the millennia-old Egyptian art. Prepare to shuffle for hours in a crowd through various rooms and exhibitions until you reach that chapel. Again, online booking and going in the afternoon applies here. Even faster: book your tickets via www.rome-museum.com. You gather at a hotel around the corner from the museum. A guide leads you into the museum, skipping all the other lines. At the entrance, you say goodbye. It costs a bit more than a regular ticket, but it definitely saves at least half an hour waiting in line in the morning.

Restaurants

Here too, there is far too much choice. Most restaurants also offer a similar menu and similar service. Just check TripAdvisor for something nearby that has been rated reasonably well. Since it's nice to have a destination, here are a few addresses where we ate:

Lunch

La Casetta Della Madonna

This is the cutest little lunch spot in the trendy Monti district. You eat homemade lasagna in a lovely little square. The quote at the top of this page is from the owner of this restaurant. He was right!

Via Della Madonna dei Monti, 62, 00184 Roma, Italy, tel.: +39 366 655 7863.

Baylon Cafè

At some point, all the pasta gets a bit too much, and then you're glad you can deviate to the hipster café Baylon in the nightlife district Trastevere. Think: men with plucked eyebrows and beards, who make great coffee and smoothies.

Via di San Francesco a Ripa, 151, 00153 Roma, Italy, tel.: +39 06 581 4275.

Panino Divino

Here too, bearded Italian men make the most wonderful sandwiches in Rome. Their specialty is porchetta. Now, I usually scream when I hear the word pork, but you really have to try this. Divine. It's a tiny little shop, but that makes it all the more charming. They also have take-out meats for home. Via dei Gracchi, 11/a, Roma, Italy, tel.: +39 06 397 37803.

Dinner

Ar Galletto

This restaurant is opposite the French embassy. The food is traditional but good. Order the fried zucchini flowers; they were spectacular! Very friendly service.

Piazza Farnese, 104, Roma, Italy, tel.: +39 06 686 1714.

Molo 10

Once again, a good alternative to all the pasta and pizza madness. Molo 10 is slightly outside the heart of Rome. Here, you won't find tourists, but Roman connoisseurs.

Via dei Prati della Farnesina, 10, 00135 Roma, Italy, tel.: +39 06 333 6166.

Emma

Super thin pizzas in a restaurant without red checkered tablecloths. Yeah!

Via Monte della Farina, 28/29 00186 Roma, Italy, tel.: +39 06 64760475.

Other super handy tips:

Car2Go

You have no idea how handy this is! We were already members of Car2Go in Amsterdam, and to our surprise, our Car2Go card also worked in Rome. You check your app for a nearby Car2Go Smart, reserve it online, wave your card, and drive away. Then you park it in another location, wave your card again, and walk away.

Don't wear heels

You can buy beautiful shoes in Rome, but you can't wear them. All the streets are paved with cobblestones, making it impossible to walk. Expect significant muscle pain after a few days of walking on uneven roads.

Shopping

To be honest, I find this a bit disappointing. Yes, there is a huge shopping district around Via del Corso, but expect to find mainly brands you can buy anywhere in the world, especially with Swarovski-studded blouses in colors that suit no one (like lilac. I mean: lilac. Who wears that?). Additionally, the shop staff looks at you as if you are a Neanderthal who crawled out of a cave and won't buy anything there (which is also true).

Cool off at Villa Borghese

When we were there, it was 34 degrees every day. To avoid becoming completely exhausted, we occasionally took a Villa Borghese break. We would drive to the beautiful park, find a little grassy area, preferably with a fountain, and relax in the shade. With a book and an ice cream. If it's not blisteringly hot, it's also fun to rent Segways.

*beginners

Written by Marion Pauw