Rome City Trip: Here Are the Best Insider Tips for 2025

Rome is like Paris for me. I could go there a hundred times and never get bored. I even lived there – just four months, but still – and I keep longing to return. People often ask me for insider tips on what to do when they’re in the most beautiful city in the world, so here they are. All personally tested and experienced, my best Rome city trip tips for you.

1. Sleeping in Rome: where to stay

I haven’t tested every hotel in Rome – there are simply too many, and since we lived there, we often stayed with friends when visiting – but I do have one hotel that ticks all our boxes. So if you’re there, you don’t need to look any further. It’s called **Hotel Forum**. It’s not trendy, far from it. So if that’s what you’re looking for, this might not be your place. But it’s classic, you can get there by car (a rarity in Rome, as you can’t enter the *centro storico* without a permit), and as soon as you step outside, you’re right by the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. It’s reasonably priced, has a rooftop bar, and you get to have breakfast in a beautiful, open space with views of the ancient ruins.
hotelforum.com

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

Of course, you’ll eat well in Rome, but keep in mind: Roman cuisine is traditionally a “poor man’s cuisine,” using a lot of offal and other “rejected” cuts of meat. The Romans were not wealthy and made use of what others considered lesser cuts. The funny thing is, they prepared it so well that even the Pope eventually started requesting this “poor man’s food” after hearing so many rave stories about it.
Personally, I’m not thrilled about calf intestines, kidneys, tripe, or cow’s stomach, so keep your culinary dictionary handy when checking the menu.

That said, you can eat exceptionally well in Rome. If you want traditional, go to Checco er Carettiere in Trastevere – which is like Rome’s Jordaan.
checcoercarettiere.it – I especially love their patio. I’ve already booked a table and know exactly what I’m going to order.

Another favorite is Gusto (gusto.it), which you’ll find just behind the shopping streets. If the weather allows, I’d recommend reserving a table outside, fuori. It’s wonderful sitting on the terrace. Inside, there’s a pizzeria and a more formal dining area. Choose what suits the moment. It’s the perfect choice if you’re in the mood for something a bit less traditional and a bit more modern. Tip: they also have lovely gifts. We still use the apron our friends from Rome gave us years ago.

Then, a personal favorite: Trattoria Monti, in the Monti district (yes, we actually named our dog Monti after this place). I’m going there again this summer and haven’t been in a while, so I don’t know if everything is exactly the same, but back then, it was run by two brothers and their mother. She would cook whatever she found fresh at the market that day, and the brothers served everything with care. We’ve taken friends there who now return every time they’re in Rome.
Trattoria Monti, Via di San Vito 13.

For drinks, head to Campo dei Fiori – you can sit there for hours, watching the city’s lively spectacle.

3. Culture in Rome: must-see highlights

Colosseum + Palatine Hill

Of course, you’ll want to visit the Colosseum. The line to get in is long. My tip: buy a ticket for the Palatine Hill – one of Rome’s seven hills, right next to the Colosseum – which will also give you access to the Colosseum, allowing you to skip the long line. Thank me later. If a gladiator approaches you offering a photo, say no. He’ll happily pose with you and then casually ask for 50 euros. Thank me later II.

Galleria Borghese

The Galleria Borghese might just be the most beautiful museum I’ve ever visited. You’ll see works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Lippi, and more, and you can immediately stroll through the stunning park.

The Vatican and Papal Palace

Slightly embarrassing confession: I’ve never been inside the Sistine Chapel. The line was too long, and unfortunately, I don’t know any shortcuts. But just walking into Vatican City and entering the basilica is an unforgettable experience. The grandeur, the beauty, the nuns and priests – it’s incredible. And who knows, maybe you’ll go early and later tell me how breathtaking the Sistine Chapel is in person.

Santa Maria Maggiore

A beautiful, large church near Termini station (and near Trattoria Monti – perfect for combining the visit) where you’ll see stunning mosaics, a staircase by Bernini, and the tombs of various 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 here. While you’re in the area, I’d also recommend popping into an AS Roma store to grab a shirt of your favorite player.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Perfect after a stroll through Trastevere: just cross the bridge to reach **Castel Sant’Angelo**. This fortress plays a major role in *Angels & Demons* and in the final act of the opera *Tosca*. It was built after a procession during which people prayed to God to end the plague, when the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared and sheathed his sword, a sign that the epidemic would end. To thank God and the Archangel, Pope Pius II had this chapel built. As I recall, entry was free, and the view over the city is fantastic.

Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain & Pantheon

Head to Piazza Navona, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and take a moment to admire the stunning light inside the Pantheon.

4. Extra tips for your Rome city trip

• Rent a Vespa and ride up to Gianicolo – my absolute favorite place on earth.
• Explore Testaccio, once the slaughterhouse district, now a super cool neighborhood.
• Shop around Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti.
• Prepare to be awestruck when you step into Piazza del Popolo.

Summary: your Rome city trip tips

• Stay at Hotel Forum – central and classic, and who knows, you might bump into me there.
• Eat at local favorites: Checco er Carettiere, Gusto, and Trattoria Monti, and be sure to order the truffle ravioli.
• Skip-the-line tip for the Colosseum via the Palatine Hill – you’ll thank me later.
• Visit Galleria Borghese, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Castel Sant’Angelo and take lots of photos!
• Vespa ride, Testaccio exploration, shopping, and a Piazza del Popolo moment (there’s an amazing restaurant there, you can’t miss it).