By rail
Roma Termini, high-speed trains to Florence, ~1.5 h
Europe · Italy
Rome, Italy
Ancient ruins, fountains and la dolce vita
Getting there
By air
Rome Fiumicino (FCO), ~30 km
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Colosseum
The Roman Forum
The Vatican and St Peter's
The Pantheon
Things to do
The Colosseum and the Forum
The Vatican Museums
Evenings in Trastevere
A coin in the Trevi Fountain
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes, shoulders covered for churches
A quieter corner
The Aventine Keyhole's view of St Peter's
Questions travellers ask
When should I visit Rome, and what should I wear?
April to June and September to October — warm, not scorching. Wear comfortable shoes, and keep your shoulders covered for churches.
What are Rome's must-sees?
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican and St Peter's, and the Pantheon. Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, spend an evening in Trastevere, and look through the Aventine Keyhole at St Peter's.
What should I eat in Rome?
Carbonara, cacio e pepe, supplì and plenty of gelato.
Which airport serves Rome?
Rome Fiumicino (FCO), about 30 km out. From Roma Termini, high-speed trains reach Florence in about 1.5 hours.
About Rome
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
Rome, the capital of Italy and of the Lazio region, lies on the Tiber river in the central-western part of the peninsula, about 24 km inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea, and grew up on its famous seven hills.
History
According to Roman tradition the city was founded in 753 BC, and it grew from a kingdom into a republic and then the capital of an empire that ruled the Mediterranean world. After the empire fell in the west, Rome became the seat of the popes and capital of the Papal States, which Renaissance and Baroque popes filled with churches and fountains, and in 1871 it became the capital of united Italy.
People
Romans speak Italian, and many also use the local Romanesco dialect. The city's cooking rests on simple dishes such as carbonara, cacio e pepe and amatriciana, along with the fried artichokes of the old Jewish quarter, and each 21 April Rome marks its legendary birthday with parades in ancient Roman costume.
Known for
- The Colosseum and the Roman Forum
- The Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica
- The Pantheon
- The Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona
- Carbonara, cacio e pepe and supplì
Did you know?
Built under the emperor Hadrian and dedicated around AD 126, the Pantheon still has the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, and it has served as a church since the 7th century.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.