Planning a trip to Rome, Italy, is hard! We understand you: one could spend a lifetime in the Eternal City, and still have unticked boxes of amazing attractions to visit. But for us, weekend travellers, time is of the essence! So here is our best advice about unusual things to do in Rome, local authentic food, and travel tips.
If you are planning to spend a few more days in southern Italy, consider another city full of attractions and surprises: find here 18 reasons to visit Naples!
Do you prefer Tuscany instead? Then have a look at this awesome 10-day Italy itinerary with arrival and departure from Rome.
Lesser-known attraction: Terme di Caracalla
Of course, the Colosseum and the Vatican are the must-visit. But what other attraction can provide a window into the Ancient Roman world, possibly without the crazy crowd? The Baths of Caracalla (map).
This incredible thermal establishment, built in 212-216 AD, included pools of different temperatures, saunas, gyms, a garden, and a library. It was able to welcome up to 6000 people in a day!
Modern excavations and restoration started in 1824; some of the sculptures and mosaics are now displayed in famous museums. Nowadays, it’s just shocking to raise your eyes to the top of the brick walls, soaring above grand arches, and imagine the domes that used to cover them almost two thousand years ago.
TOP TIP: Get the Virtual Reality guide! With only 7 euro per person, you get to listen to interesting explanations (available in different languages) while admiring in the visor a rendering of how the Baths used to look like: the marble floor, the sculptures and fountains, the pools and mosaics… everything is so much more real. It makes such a difference! (In February we didn’t need to book, but during spring and summer perhaps it’s safer to book it online – it’s called “Audio-Video-Guide” or IVD, or Video Virtual Guide or Caracalla 4D).
I also recommend this post about the Archeological Park of Ostia Antica, it looks like the perfect place to appreciate ancient Roman beauty and history outside of the crowded beaten paths.
Authentic local food: pasta alla carbonara
Did you know that Carbonara is Rome’s typical pasta? The original recipe includes egg yolk, guanciale (a specific type of cured meat), pecorino cheese, and pepper. I know you will be tempted by pizza and pasta and plenty of other delicacies from all over Italy, but carbonara is THE one thing you should taste in Rome!
TOP TIP: Plenty of restaurants cook excellent pasta alla carbonara. We recommend Tonnarello, Roma sparita, and Le mani in pasta (map), all three in Trastevere (we had lunch at the latter, where also other types of pasta were absolutely delicious). In general, it’s safer to book a table in advance.
Sightseeing tip: walking
Even though Rome is really large, it is absolutely worth walking around, instead of using public transportation. You just need comfortable shoes, and you will not regret it!
In between the attractions you will choose to visit, you will be surprised with endless fountains, sculptures, churches, squares, beautiful buildings and picturesque streets. Walking is the perfect way to enjoy the atmosphere of Rome!
Find more tips and follow a wonderful Rome itinerary with these gorgeous Instagrammable spots in Rome.
If you’re on a tight budget, check out these free things to do in Rome.
TOP TIP: If you do not wish to take part in a walking tour, at least plan your itinerary cleverly, as a succession of sights in a reasonable line. Start from your accommodation and create a circle; or proceed in a line and come back by public transport; or reach the farthest attraction by public transport and come back on foot (example: our itinerary by night, perfect to admire the Forum and the ruins, the Altar of the Fatherland, and then enjoy some nightlife at Campo de’ Fiori).
Off the beaten path: Trastevere
Just South of Vatican city is the beautiful neighbourhood of Trastevere – literally “on the other side of the Tiber river”. It’s the perfect escape from the noise and crowd of the city centre: quiet cobblestoned alleys with laundry hanged, hip bars at night, a great view from Gianicolo Hill, and of course plenty of magnificent churches and villas to admire.
TOP TIP: Craving some more time away from the crowd? Consider a bike tour! If we had just one more day in Rome, we would have gone on Via Appia Antica, “the Appian way”, or to see the ancient aqueducts at Parco degli Acquedotti. They look really epic!
Practical tip: Roma pass
Enjoying a trip for us means finding the sweet spot between efficient plans and spontaneity (like this time in Venice). The Roma pass is the most convenient tool for this. It includes unlimited transportation on buses, metro and tram; free access to one or two museums; discounted entrance to any other museum; and lots of other benefits. We already knew we wanted to use the entrance for the Baths of Caracalla, and we already knew more or less how many trips on public transport we were going to make; for the rest of the 48 hours we spent in Rome, the Roma pass created a wonderful feeling of freedom and open possibilities, as we knew that whatever we would choose to do, we would make use of the discounts.
TOP TIP: I recommend walking, but then I also recommend the Roma pass for public transport. Why the contradiction? Well, public transport in Rome does not have a wonderful reputation. Metro stops can be closed for malfunctioning, buses can be late for traffic, protests, visits of public officials… So overall, don’t count on public transport too much, especially if your schedule is tight: be ready with a plan B.
Conclusion
These unusual things to do in Rome surely made our city break more entertaining and memorable. We hope our advice was useful to you! Let us know in the comments 🙂