Weekend in Rome: here are the best insider tips for 2025.

For me, Rome is like Paris. I could go there a hundred times and never get bored. I even lived there – just four months, but still – and I continue to miss it. People often ask me for insider tips about Rome, about what to do in the most beautiful city in the world, so here they are. All tested and personally experienced: authentic advice for your city trip to Rome.

1. Sleeping in Rome: where to stay

I haven't tried all the hotels in Rome – there are really many, and since we lived there, we often stayed with friends when we returned – but there is one that meets all our expectations. If you stay there, you don't need to look any further. The hotel is called **Hotel Forum**. It's not trendy, in fact. So if you're looking for a fashionable place, better avoid it. But it's classic, you can drive there (a rarity in Rome, because you can't enter the historic center without a permit) and as soon as you step out of the hotel, you find yourself right in front of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. It's also quite affordable, has a rooftop bar, and you have breakfast in a beautiful bright room with a view of the ancient ruins.
hotelforum.com

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

In Rome, the food is excellent, but be careful: Roman cuisine originated as poor cuisine, often using offal and cuts considered “scraps.” The Romans weren't rich, so they used what others discarded. The funny thing is that they cooked it so well that even the Pope started asking for these “poor” dishes he heard so much about.
Personally, I'm not crazy about veal intestines, kidneys, tripe, or cow stomachs, so keep a small culinary dictionary handy when looking at the menu.

That said: in Rome, you can eat divinely. If you want something traditional, I recommend going to Checco er Carettiere in Trastevere – which is a bit like the Jordaan of Rome.
checcoercarettiere.it – Their patio is my favorite spot. I've already booked and I know what I'll order.

Another one of my favorites is Gusto (gusto.it), which is located just behind the shopping streets. If the weather permits, book a table outside. It's wonderful to be on the terrace. Inside, there's a pizzeria and a more formal area, choose whichever you prefer based on the moment. It's perfect if you're in the mood for something less traditional and more modern. Tip: they also have very nice gift ideas. We still use the apron that Roman friends gave us years ago.

Then, a personal passion: Trattoria Monti, in the Monti district (yes, I named our dog Monti for this reason). I'll be going back this summer, it's been a while, so I don't know if it's still the same, but when I used to go, it was run by two brothers and their mother. She cooked with whatever she found at the market that day, and they served each dish with love. We brought friends there who now, every time they return to Rome, go back.
Trattoria Monti, Via di San Vito 13.

For a drink, go to Campo dei Fiori: you can sit there for hours watching the city's show.

3. Culture in Rome: must-see attractions

Colosseum + Palatine

Of course, you'll want to visit the Colosseum. The line to get in is long. My advice: buy a ticket for the Palatine (one of the seven hills of Rome, near the Colosseum) and with the same ticket, you'll also have access to the Colosseum, skipping the line. Thank me later. If a gladiator approaches you to offer a photo, say no. He'll pose with you all smiley and then ask you for 50 euros. Thank me later II.

Galleria Borghese

The Borghese Gallery is perhaps the most beautiful museum I've ever visited. You can admire works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Lippi, and many others, and then stroll through the wonderful park.

The Vatican and the Papal Palace

Confession: I've never entered the Sistine Chapel. The line was too long and unfortunately, I don't know any shortcuts. But entering the Vatican and visiting the Basilica is an experience you won't easily forget. The grandeur, the beauty, the nuns and priests – it's incredible. And maybe you'll go there soon and tell me how magnificent the Sistine Chapel is in person.

Santa Maria Maggiore

A beautiful and large church near Termini station (and close to Trattoria Monti – so you can combine them) where you can see beautiful mosaics, a staircase by Bernini, and the tombs of several Popes: Clement VIII, Clement IX, Nicholas IV, Paul V, Pius V, and Sixtus V. Here are also buried the artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Saint Jerome. While you're there, stop by one of the AS Roma stores and get the jersey of your favorite player.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Perfect after a walk in Trastevere: cross the bridge and reach **Castel Sant’Angelo**. This castle plays an important role in *Angels and Demons* and in the last act of the opera *Tosca*. It was built after a procession in which people asked God to stop the plague, when the Archangel Michael would appear and sheathe his sword, a sign that the epidemic would end. To thank God and the Archangel, Pope Pius II had the chapel built. If I remember correctly, the entrance was free and the view of the city is spectacular.

Piazza Navona, Fontana di Trevi & Pantheon

Go to Piazza Navona, toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, and admire the magical light that enters the Pantheon.

4. Extra tips for your city trip to Rome

• Rent a Vespa and go up to Gianicolo – my favorite place in the world.
• Explore Testaccio, once a slaughterhouse district, now a super cool area.
• Shop around Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti.
• Prepare to be amazed when you enter Piazza del Popolo.

In summary: your tips for a city trip to Rome

• Sleep at Hotel Forum – central and classic, maybe we'll see each other there.
• Eat at the favorite spots: Checco er Carettiere, Gusto, and Trattoria Monti, order the truffle ravioli.
• Skip the line for the Colosseum by going through the Palatine, you'll thank me.
• Visit the Borghese Gallery, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Castel Sant’Angelo and take lots of photos.
• Ride a Vespa, visit Testaccio, shop, and have a magical moment at Piazza del Popolo (there's also an incredible restaurant there, impossible to go wrong).