Escape to Rome: these are the best insider tips 2025

Rome is for me like Paris. I can go a hundred times and never get bored. I even lived there (four months, but it counts) and still wish to return. I am often asked for insider tips about Rome, what to visit in the most beautiful city in the world, so here I share them. These are tested and personally experienced city trip tips in Rome.

1. Sleeping in Rome: here you stay

I haven't tried all the hotels in Rome (there are so many and since we lived there, we often stayed at friends' houses), but I have one that meets all our expectations. So if you stay there, you don't need to look any further. It's called **Hotel Forum**. It's not modern at all. If you're looking for something with contemporary style, this is not your hotel. But it's classic, you can drive there (something unique in Rome, as you can't enter the historic center without permission) and when you leave the hotel, you're right next to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. It's quite affordable, has a rooftop bar, and you have breakfast in an incredible open space with views of all the ancient ruins.
hotelforum.com

2. The best restaurants in Rome according to a local (myself)

In Rome, the food is wonderful, but be careful: Roman cuisine is a humble cuisine by origin, where a lot of offal and parts of the animal that are usually considered “less noble” are used. The Romans were not rich and made use of the pieces that others discarded. The curious thing is that they prepared them so well that even the Pope started asking for “poor people's food” when he heard so many praises.
Personally, I don't enjoy beef tripe, kidneys, or tripe much, so keep a culinary dictionary handy when reviewing the menu.

That said: you can eat spectacularly in Rome. If you want something traditional, I recommend Checco er Carettiere in Trastevere (the “Jordaan” of Rome).
checcoercarettiere.it – The best thing is to sit in their patio. I have already reserved and I know what I will order.

Another one of my favorites is Gusto (gusto.it), which is behind the shopping streets. If the weather permits, reserve outside, fuori, to enjoy the terrace. Inside, there is a pizzeria and a more formal area, depending on the moment. It's perfect if you're looking for something less traditional and with a modern touch. Tip: they also have nice gifts. We still use the kitchen apron that some Roman friends gave us years ago.

And my personal favorite: Trattoria Monti, in the Monti neighborhood (yes, that's why I named my dog Monti). This summer I will return and it's been a while since I've been, but before it was run by two brothers with their mother. She cooked what she found that day at the market and they served everything with love. We've taken friends there and every time they go to Rome, they repeat.
Trattoria Monti, Via di San Vito 13.

For a drink, go to Campo dei Fiori: you can sit for hours and watch the spectacle of the city.

3. Culture in Rome: must-see places

Colosseum + Palatine

Of course, you will want to go to the Colosseum. The line is very long. My advice: buy the ticket for the Palatine (one of the seven hills of Rome, near the Colosseum), with which you will also have access to the Colosseum and avoid the line. You will thank me later. If a gladiator approaches you for a photo, say no. He will pose happily and then ask you for 50 euros. You will thank me later II.

Galleria Borghese

The Galleria Borghese is perhaps the most beautiful museum I have ever been to. You can see works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Lippi, and more, and then stroll through the park.

The Vatican and the papal palace

Confession: I have never been to the Sistine Chapel. The line was endless and I don't know tricks to skip it. But entering the Vatican City and visiting the basilica is already an unforgettable experience. The grandeur, the beauty, the nuns and priests: it's impressive. Maybe you will go early and tell me how beautiful the Sistine Chapel is in person.

Santa Maria Maggiore

A beautiful church near Termini station (and near Trattoria Monti, so you can combine it) where you will see wonderful mosaics, a staircase by Bernini, and the tombs of several popes: Clement VIII, Clement IX, Nicholas IV, Paul V, Pius V, and Sixtus V. The famous artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Saint Jerome are also buried there. Since you are in the area, take the opportunity to stop by an AS Roma store and buy the jersey of your favorite player.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Perfect after strolling through Trastevere: cross the bridge to **Castel Sant’Angelo**. This castle plays an important role in *Angels and Demons* and in the final act of the opera *Tosca*. It was built after a procession in which God was asked to end the plague, when it is said that the Archangel Michael appeared and sheathed his sword, indicating the end of the epidemic. To give thanks, Pope Pius II built this chapel. In my memory, the entrance was free and you have spectacular views of the city.

Piazza Navona, Fontana di Trevi, and Pantheon

Stroll through Piazza Navona, throw a coin in the Fontana di Trevi, and admire the light that enters the Pantheon.

4. Extra tips for your getaway to Rome

• Rent a Vespa and go up to Gianicolo, my favorite place in the world.
• Explore Testaccio, once a slaughterhouse area, now a very cool neighborhood.
• Go shopping in Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti.
• Be impressed when entering Piazza del Popolo.

Summary: your city trip tips in Rome

• Stay at **Hotel Forum**: central and classic, and maybe we'll see each other there.
• Eat at local favorites: **Checco er Carettiere, Gusto, and Trattoria Monti** (try the truffle ravioli).
• Tip to avoid lines at the Colosseum using the ticket to the Palatine: you will thank me.
• Visit the Galleria Borghese, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Castel Sant’Angelo and take photos.
• Enjoy a ride on a Vespa, discover Testaccio, treat yourself to shopping, and have your moment at Piazza del Popolo (there's an amazing restaurant there, impossible to miss).