Pizza! Pizza! Well, maybe not the first thing on our list of the best things to do in Rome, but it is close. Naples, the birthplace of pizza, has more pizzerias than restaurants. Here we have one favourite: Pizzeria da Michele in Via dei Tribunali. The wait can be long, but it is a perfect opportunity to enjoy your favourite Italian drink: an espresso or cappuccino.

Top Places to Visit & Best Things to Do in Rome:

# 1: Roman Forum

With the Colosseum at one end and the Roman Forum at the other, it is easy to take for granted that the most famous landmark in Rome is in between. Not to worry, though, all you need to do is walk a few blocks north on Via del Corso, and you’ll see it. The ancient marble forum was once home to the Senate of Rome but today houses a museum dedicated to ancient Roman life.

If time allows, consider visiting the Roman Forum after dark. Believe it or not, many ancient ruins are illuminated to show their historic beauty at night.

# 2: Pantheon

One of the most impressive buildings in all of Rome is located along a quiet and secluded street named Piazza della Rotonda. The Pantheon was originally built in 27 BC as a temple dedicated to all the Roman gods and goddesses. Today, it is a church dedicated to St. Mary and is the best-preserved building from Ancient Rome.

# 3: Colosseum

The Colosseum, an ancient Roman amphitheatre that could host over 50,000 spectators, is one of the most impressive ancient structures on Earth. Guided tours are great, but you can also save by purchasing Colosseum Tickets at the Ticket Office in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano near the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

# 4: The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is not the most famous in Rome, but it is one of the most beautiful. The fountain sits in a piazza named after the architect who designed it: Bernini. If you’ve got time, stop by his namesake church, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Here you’ll also find one of Rome’s many fountains: The Fontana del Moro, better known as “The Moor Fountain. Its pretty hard to miss.

Two things you should never do at the Trevi Fountain: not try and make the coin flip and not try to tip your water over an old lady (which area police are especially known for).

# 5: Piazza Navona

The Campo de Fiori is a small square between Piazza Navona and Via del Corso. Here you’ll find one of the finest markets in all of Rome — Campo Dei Fiori Market. The square is also home to three beautiful fountains: Fontana del Moro (“The Moor Fountain” or “Fountain of the Four Rivers”), Fontana del Nettuno, and Fontana delle Tartarughe (“Turtle Fountain”).

Also located along Via del Corso is Palazzo Chigi-Odescalchi.

What to eat:

This is one of the best places to eat in Rome as so many different types of restaurants surround you. Our favourite place to eat is at number 54 in Via del Corso: La Taverna di Giulietta. We’ve enjoyed everything from pan-fried scallops (our favourite) to a tasty risotto alla Pescatore.

Restaurants:

The first night we stayed in Rome, we stopped by La Taverna di Giulietta around 10 p.m. and had a very good meal with a bottle of wine. The next morning, we headed to our hotel in Saint Peter’s Square to do some shopping in the Vatican Museum, but since it was noon when we left La Taverna di Giulietta, our tummies were growling, and the nearby restaurant was hopping. We decided to try the restaurant and were not disappointed.

The Corso is lined with all kinds of touristy shops and restaurants. With so many choices, picking out the best ones can be hard. Here are a few of our favourites:

Bar San Calisto –

A great place for a famous gelato at a good price.

  • A great place for a famous gelato at a good price. All Antico Vinaio – We always stop by All’Antico Vinaio on our way back from the Vatican, especially around dinner time. They have really good food at reasonable prices, and it is located in Piazza San Calisto.
  • We always stop by All’Antico Vinaio on our way back from the Vatican, especially around dinner time. They have really good food at reasonable prices, and it is located in Piazza San Calisto. Pizzeria del Fico – A simple but great pizzeria located a block from the Vittorio Emanuele Monument. Expect to wait as it’s usually packed with diners.
  • A simple but great pizzeria located a block from the Vittorio Emanuele Monument. Expect to wait as it’s usually packed with diners.

Transportation:

Rome is probably one of the most difficult places in Europe to get around. The subway system is so small that it’s hard to find a map, and there are just a few bus lines in the city. If you’re looking for a taxi, we suggest the yellow taxis since they seem more honest than other taxi drivers. Roman taxis are also very expensive and should be avoided altogether.

Taxis:

Rome has many taxi stands, but there is virtually no signage directing you to a taxi stand. If you’re planning on walking to your destination and don’t want to risk a traffic light or the busy streets, we suggest taking a taxi in the company of someone who knows what they are doing. You can find taxis in all of the city’s major areas, especially near Termini Station (the main train station).

The price from the Vatican to the Spanish Steps is about 10 euros, but double that at night.

If you’re planning on using a metrocard, purchase it from a tobacconist and deposit enough money into the slot on the turnstiles before entering. The machine accepts bills, coins and credit cards. Just tap on your metro card and follow the signs to your station.

We have found the best way to get around Rome is using a combination of the metro and buses. The best time to take these lines is in the morning since they’re less crowded then.

Metro:

Rome’s metro runs on three different lines that serve all of Rome’s major attractions and its main train station (Termini). The metro is run by Roma Lido (which solely serves the Colosseo, Vittorio Emanuele Monument and Termini) and ATAC (which also serves the Vatican).

Rome Metro Stations

Stazione Termini (The Central Rome Train Station-Termini and Colosseo) – Located on Via dei Fori Imperiali, this station is where you’ll buy your ticket. It’s a huge venue with lots of signs directing you to the right gates to exit. If you’re looking for the ATAC line, head to the lower level.

– Located on Via dei Fori Imperiali, this station is where you’ll buy your ticket. It’s a huge venue with lots of signs directing you to the right gates to exit. If you’re looking for the ATAC line, head to the lower level.

Where to buy colosseum tickets:

The Colosseum is the first stop on the metro line, so follow the signs that say “Colosseo.” The price of a ticket ranges depending on how you want to be seated:

Parterre – The least expensive tickets and a great place to sit. These are farther away from the action but have an excellent view.

16-27€

Prima Fila – Front row! These are more expensive but offer an even better view.

– Front row! These are more expensive but offer an even better view.

35-45€

Vittorio Emanuele Monument: The stop for this monument is located just past the Colosseum station on the same line. The monument is a short walk from the metro station, so it’s a bit of a hike, but it’s worth the views along Via dei Fori Imperiali.

– The stop for this monument is located just past the Colosseum station on the same line.

Apart from these, you can also explore Colosseum at an underground level which is quite unexplored by people. You can take Colosseum Underground Tour and enjoy the amazing experience.

There are several options if you’re looking to have an amazing time in Rome. It’s a big city with many cuisines, sights and transportation options. We highly recommend spending at least a few days in the Eternal City because it truly is one of the most beautiful cities on Earth and a must-visit destination for travellers to Italy.

Ref: https://www.insideexpress.co/best-things-to-do-in-rome-a-guide-for-first-time-visitors-in-the-eternal-city/