Rome City Break — Colosseum, Vatican & La Dolce Vita
Rome
Holidays
The greatest open-air museum in the world — the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the best pasta on earth
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Flight Time
2h30 from London; direct flights from most UK airports
Best Time
March–May and October–November — avoid July–August heat and crowds
Country
Italy
Suppliers
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Rome Holiday Guide
Rome is the greatest open-air museum in the world — a city where 2,800 years of history are layered on top of each other, where you can eat lunch beside a 2,000-year-old temple and have an aperitivo in a piazza that has been the centre of Roman life since the Renaissance. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are all within a few kilometres of each other — and all extraordinary.
But Rome is more than its monuments. The food is exceptional — cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, supplì (fried rice balls), pizza al taglio (by the slice) and gelato are all Roman inventions, and the city has some of the best restaurants in Italy. The neighbourhoods of Trastevere, Testaccio, Pigneto and Prati are all worth exploring beyond the tourist trail.
Rome is 2h30 from London by air and has direct flights from most UK airports. It is one of the most visited cities in the world — book the major sights (Colosseum, Vatican Museums) well in advance to avoid queuing for hours.
Popular Areas in Rome
Average Temperatures
Jan
12°C
Feb
13°C
Mar
16°C
Apr
19°C
May
24°C
Jun
28°C
Jul
31°C
Aug
31°C
Sep
27°C
Oct
22°C
Nov
16°C
Dec
12°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Rome
The ancient monuments, Renaissance masterpieces, baroque fountains and extraordinary food that make Rome the greatest city in the world.
The Colosseum & Roman Forum — Ancient Rome
The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) is the most iconic building in the world — a 50,000-seat arena built in AD 70–80 where gladiators fought, wild animals were hunted and public executions were staged. The Roman Forum, adjacent to the Colosseum, is the heart of ancient Rome — the temples, basilicas and triumphal arches of the city that ruled the world for 500 years. Book tickets online well in advance — the combined Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill ticket sells out. Avoid the touts outside selling 'skip the line' tickets.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
The Vatican Museums are one of the greatest museum complexes in the world — 54 galleries of art accumulated by the popes over 500 years, culminating in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling (painted 1508–1512) and The Last Judgement (1536–1541). The Gallery of Maps, the Raphael Rooms and the Pinacoteca are all extraordinary. Book tickets online well in advance — the Vatican Museums sell out completely in summer. The early morning entry (before 9am) is the best time to see the Sistine Chapel with fewer crowds.
The Pantheon — The Best-Preserved Roman Building
The Pantheon, built by Emperor Hadrian around AD 125, is the best-preserved building from ancient Rome and one of the most influential buildings in the history of architecture. The 43-metre concrete dome (with its 9-metre oculus open to the sky) was the largest in the world for 1,300 years. The Pantheon is free to enter (a small reservation fee applies) and is one of the few major Roman monuments that does not require advance booking. The Piazza della Rotonda outside is excellent for people-watching.
Trevi Fountain & the Spanish Steps
The Trevi Fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762, is the largest and most spectacular Baroque fountain in Rome — a theatrical composition of Neptune, tritons and sea horses that fills an entire palazzo facade. Throwing a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand is said to guarantee a return to Rome. The Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti), 10 minutes' walk away, are the widest staircase in Europe — 135 steps leading to the Trinità dei Monti church, with views over the rooftops of Rome.
Trastevere — Rome's Most Charming Neighbourhood
Trastevere ('across the Tiber') is the most charming and authentic neighbourhood in Rome — a maze of cobbled streets, ivy-covered buildings, medieval churches and the best restaurants and bars in the city. The Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (12th century, with extraordinary mosaics) is the oldest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The neighbourhood is best explored in the evening — the restaurants and bars fill up from 8pm and the atmosphere is magical.
Borghese Gallery — Bernini & Caravaggio
The Borghese Gallery, in the Villa Borghese park above the Spanish Steps, is the finest small museum in Rome — a collection of extraordinary Baroque sculpture (Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpina, David) and paintings (Caravaggio's Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Raphael's Deposition) assembled by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the early 17th century. Entry is strictly limited to 360 visitors per 2-hour slot — book online months in advance. The Villa Borghese park is excellent for a picnic.
Testaccio — Rome's Food Neighbourhood
Testaccio, south of the Aventine Hill, is Rome's most authentic food neighbourhood — a working-class district built around the former slaughterhouse (now a contemporary art centre) that gave rise to Rome's offal-based cuisine (coda alla vaccinara, rigatoni con la pajata, trippa alla romana). The Testaccio Market is the best food market in Rome. The neighbourhood has excellent trattorias, pizza al taglio shops and the best supplì (fried rice balls) in the city. The Protestant Cemetery (where Keats and Shelley are buried) is nearby.
Roman Food — Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara & Gelato
Roman cuisine is one of the great regional cuisines of Italy — simple, robust and deeply satisfying. Cacio e pepe (pasta with pecorino and black pepper), carbonara (pasta with egg, guanciale and pecorino), amatriciana (pasta with tomato, guanciale and pecorino), carciofi alla romana (artichokes), supplì (fried rice balls with mozzarella) and pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice, sold by weight) are the classics. Gelato in Rome is extraordinary — look for shops that make their own (artigianale) rather than the fluorescent mounds in tourist areas.
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Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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