Rome travel blog
Stories, tips and honest takes for every kind of Rome traveller — first-timers, couples, families, foodies and day-trippers exploring Lazio and central Italy
24 hours in Rome from a cruise ship — the honest logistics
Docking at Civitavecchia gives you a narrow window in Rome. Here's how to use 6-8 hours well, what you cannot realistically see, and where to spend the
Cycling the Appian Way: what no one tells you before you go
The ancient road is genuinely spectacular but the logistics are trickier than the Instagram posts suggest. Here is what to know before you pedal.
The best day trips from Rome you can do entirely by train
Florence, Orvieto, Tivoli, Pompeii, and more — which Rome day trips actually work by train, and which are better left to a guided tour.
The best gelato in Rome — and how to spot the tourist traps
Rome's best gelato is often one street off the main drag. Here's how to identify the real thing, where to find it, and which famous spots to avoid.
The best rooftop bars in Rome — and the ones to skip
Rome's rooftop bars ranked honestly — great views, acceptable drinks, tourist-trap prices, and the ones that are genuinely worth the elevator ride.
The best time to visit Trevi Fountain (and it's earlier than you think)
Trevi Fountain at midday in July is a wall of bodies. Trevi at 06:30 on a Tuesday in October is something else entirely. Here is exactly when to go.
The best views of Rome — ranked honestly
Rome's skyline is best seen from Gianicolo, the Pincio terrace, and the Aventine keyhole. Here's the honest ranking with no rooftop bar fluff.
Following Caravaggio through Rome's churches — a self-guided trail
Seven Roman churches hold the finest Caravaggio paintings in existence. Here's the honest guide to finding them, free of charge, on foot.
Five Roman pastas explained — what they are, where to eat them, and what to avoid
Cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, gricia, coda alla vaccinara — the five pastas that define Roman cooking, explained honestly.
Free things to do in Rome — the honest list for 2026
Rome's genuinely free attractions — churches, piazzas, viewpoints, and the nasoni — plus what costs money and what's pretending to be free.
How to avoid Colosseum crowds — the honest version
Practical strategies for visiting the Colosseum without standing in a two-hour queue. Booking windows, timing, and what the tour operators won't tell you.
Is the Roma Pass worth it in 2026? An honest assessment
Roma Pass 48h vs 72h — what's included, what the hidden requirements are, and whether it saves money for most visitors. Real numbers, no fluff.
Is the Colosseum underground worth the extra cost? An honest verdict
The hypogeum adds 12–18 euros and requires booking weeks ahead. Here is an honest look at what you actually get, and who should prioritise it.
The keyhole on the Aventine that perfectly frames St Peter's dome
A free, little-known keyhole on the Aventine hill frames St Peter's dome perfectly. What it is, where to find it, and what else is nearby.
Rome's nasoni: the free drinking fountains that locals use every day
Rome has over 2,500 free drinking fountains called nasoni. Here's how they work, where to find the best ones, and why you should ditch the bottled water.
Rome 3-day budget breakdown: what things actually cost in 2026
A realistic euro-by-euro breakdown of what a 3-day Rome trip costs at budget, mid-range, and comfortable levels, with honest notes on where to save and
Rome's aperitivo scene: where to drink before dinner and why it matters
Aperitivo in Rome is not a buffet deal — it's a ritual with its own rules. Where to go in Pigneto, Monti, and Prati, and what to order when you get there.
Rome coffee rules — what to order, when, and how not to embarrass yourself
Rome's coffee culture has firm, unwritten rules. No cappuccino after a meal. Stand at the bar. Here's what locals actually do and why it tastes better.
Rome first-timer mistakes: the ones that actually ruin trips
Not booking the Colosseum in advance. Trusting the restaurant next to the Pantheon. Sitting down at a café near a major sight. Here is what goes wrong for
Rome's hidden churches and their forgotten masterpieces
Seven Roman churches that most visitors walk past, each containing masterworks by Caravaggio, Raphael, Pinturicchio, and others. Free entry, no queues.
Rome in August — what no one tells you before you go
August in Rome means 32–38°C heat, Ferragosto closures, and thinner crowds at the monuments. Here's what to expect and how to make it work.
The Jewish Ghetto: Rome's most overlooked food neighbourhood
Carciofi alla giudia, ricotta-filled pastries, and 2,000 years of layered history in Rome's smallest and most underrated neighbourhood.
Rome on a rainy day: the honest guide to wet-weather Rome
Rain in Rome is not a disaster. Underground sites, covered markets, church interiors, and the right museums make for an unexpectedly good day.
Packing mistakes people make before a trip to Rome
The shoes that ruin the third day, the adapter you don't need, and other packing errors that cost you comfort in Rome.
A street food crawl through Rome: what to eat, where, and in what order
From supplì in Testaccio to pizza al taglio near Campo de' Fiori, a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to eating Rome's best street food without a
Rome vs Florence vs Venice vs Naples — which should you visit first?
Choosing between Italy's major cities depends on what you want. Here's an honest comparison of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples for first-time visitors.
Rome with a baby — what actually works and what to abandon
Rome with a baby under 12 months is doable but needs honest planning. Cobblestones, heat, crowds, and nap logistics — what works and what to give up
What a Sunday in Rome actually looks like
Free museum entry, Porta Portese chaos, church bells, and half the city shuttered. What really happens in Rome on a Sunday.
An evening walk through Trastevere — no itinerary required
Trastevere is Rome's most atmospheric neighbourhood after dark. This is what an unhurried evening walk through it actually looks like.
Where locals eat in Testaccio — Rome's most honest food neighbourhood
Testaccio is where Romans go when they want to eat well without performing for tourists. Here's what to order, where to sit, and what to skip.