Rome Travel Guide for First Timers: What to See, Do & Skip
- Akshay Umashankar
- Dec 29, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 2
We landed in Rome in October, and what a vibe! Warm days, cool nights, and a city that feels like it’s buzzing 24/7. Public transport? Absolute lifesaver. It’s busy, efficient, and gets you everywhere you need to go. We highly recommend sticking to public transport!
First Stop: The Colosseum
Ah, the Colosseum. The moment you see it, you just stop and stare. It’s massive, iconic, and dripping with history. Pro tip: Book tickets way in advance, even in October, we barely managed to snag ours two weeks ahead. Your ticket includes the Roman Forum, which is basically ancient Rome’s heart. It's massive in size and will need plenty hours to cover . If you can, splurge on a guided tour (around €70 via GetYourGuide or Viator). Otherwise, it’s just a big stadium you don’t fully understand. Trust me, the stories make it come alive.
Food Heaven: Trastevere
If Rome had a soul, it would be Trastevere. This neighborhood is pure magic - cobblestone streets, cozy vibes, and food that’ll ruin you for life.
Tonnarello: Instagram-famous and worth every bite.
Otello: Dessert heaven.
Trapizzino: Pizza in a cone. Yes, you read that right. Stuffed with fillings. Yum yum yum.
And don’t forget the house wine. Moderately priced, insanely good.
Bonus tip: We found a delicious place with budget friendly prices and the dishes we're few of the best and the staff extremely friendly and hospitable. The pesto pasta and Mushroom Risotto was heaven!! Worth checking out : Ristorante e Pizzeria ''SAPORI DI ROMA''
The Classics
Trevi Fountain: The Trevi Fountain is a legendary Baroque masterpiece, completed in 1762 by Nicola Salvi and Giuseppe Pannini, fed by the ancient Aqua Vergine aqueduct that has supplied water to Rome since 19 BC. It’s one of the most breathtaking fountains I’ve ever seen. Keep in mind it's always buzzing with crowds, regardless the time of the day, but absolutely worth every step. Make sure to toss that coin!
Trevi Fountain Fun fact: During high season, coins worth almost 100K is retrieved from the fountain via a special coin picking machine and the proceeds are sent to the Vatican.
Pantheon: The Pantheon is one of Rome’s most extraordinary landmarks, originally built by Marcus Agrippa (The same person who built the acquaducts) and later rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD, with its massive concrete dome still the largest unreinforced one in the world. Nearly 2,000 years on, it remains awe-inspiring. As always in Italy, expect massive crowds, but standing beneath the oculus as light pours in is an experience you won’t forget.
Spanish Steps: The Spanish Steps are one of those places where Rome just slows you down. It was built in the 18th century, they connect Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church above.
Tip: Grab an Aperol nearby, sit back, and watch life pass by: tourists, locals, laughter, chaos… it’s Rome at its most effortlessly romantic!
Vatican museum: The Vatican Museums are overwhelming in the best possible way, home to centuries of priceless art and yes, the lines are long, so booking well in advance is a must. You can explore on your own with an audio guide or opt for a guided tour, but either way don’t miss the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and of course Michelangelo’s jaw-dropping Sistine Chapel ceiling, which alone makes the visit unforgettable.
Tip: Do not underestimate the crowds and the wait. Also, it's quite the walk inside the museum even if you only want to see only the Sistine chapel, so wear comfortable shoes.
St Peter's Basilica: St. Peter’s Basilica is nothing short of monumental. It's one of the largest and most awe-inspiring churches in the world, built over centuries by masters like Michelangelo and Bernini. Entry is free but the queues can be long, so go early, dress modestly, and if you’re up for it, climb the dome for unbeatable views over Vatican City and Rome beyond.
Tip: The climb to the dome is included in the ticket, but mind you, it's quite the climb.
Experiences
We booked an evening walking tour. We did a 3-hour one via GetYourGuide - Colosseum, Pantheon, Campo de’ Fiori under the night lights. Pure magic. There are also a few free walking tours, where you can pay as you wish to the guide, but it was sold out for us. Links for both are here:
Where we stayed
Forget overpriced hotels near the center. We stayed at Hu Roma Camping in Town, about 40 minutes from the city center. One train + one bus, and you’re there. And get this, we had a luxury tent (yes, a tent!) for €50 a night. Honestly, you wouldn’t even know it was a tent.
Total steal. It's a safe and massive property filled with energy from all ages! They do have fun events, massive pools, DJ sets etc but it was off season when we reached so there really wasn't much going on! But it still was quite full.
Link to stay: Stay in Rome with 20% off! |
What We Learned
Rome = walking. Lots of it. So ditch the fancy shoes and go for comfort. Your legs will thank you. It's an easy 30,000 steps a day. So get them feet massage! Also, we wouldn't advise using car as parking can get super expensive super quickly. The public transportation is quite good and reliable.
General caution
Like most tourist destinations, petty theft is part of crowded location. While we came away with no incident, we could definitely spot a few looking for opportunity specially inside the trains, so be slightly cautious. However, there aren't any violent incidents in Rome, so it's quite safe for all.
Final Thoughts
Rome isn’t just a city- it’s a living museum. Five days weren’t enough, and we still have day trips to share (coming soon!). If you love history, food, and vibrant streets, Rome will steal your heart. Just bring comfy shoes, you’ll walk a LOT. We can't wait to go back. Happy travels!
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