Rome

When I traveled to Rome, I was only able to visit for 3 days/2 nights, but I made sure that I made the most of my time!

Day 1:

I arrived in Rome around 12:00PM, and took the bus to The Yellow Hostel. From the moment I checked in, the staff was amazing. I arrived earlier than my check-in time, however the staff quickly got my room ready, and helped me settle in. After putting my things away, the staff recommended that I grab some food from Mamma Angela

After eating dinner, I decided to sign up for the walking Sunset Tour with my hostel. This was an easy and fun way to meet other people staying at my hostel. Our tour guide was great, she was super knowledgeable and took us to: Piazza Barberini, Fontana del Tritone, The Fountain of Three Bees, The Trevi Fountain, Santa Maria della Minerva (Elefantino), Piazza Sant’ Eustacchio (Cupola Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza), Piazza Navona, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Sant’Agnese in Agone, Montecitorio, Column of Marcus Aurelius, Via Condotti, The Spanish Steps, and Trinità dei Monti.

After our tour, some of us decided to walk to Terrazza del Pincio to watch the sunset before heading back to the hostel.

When we got back to the hostel we all decided to change, then meet back at the hostel bar. While enjoying drinks, and the live music, my new friends told me all the tricks of getting around the city. After a long night listening to music, and checking out the hostel club, I decided it was time to go to bed.

Day 2:

I woke up early, and enjoyed a lovely breakfast outside at the hostel restaurant. After breakfast, I walked toward the bus station for my day out in Rome. I started by heading towards the Vatican. I got there around 11:30AM, and I wish I had gotten there sooner (it was SO BUSY by the time I got there). I decided to sign up for a tour (the line to get into the Vatican museum with a tour seemed to move much faster).

Looking back, I wish I had researched tours prior to my trip, I am sure I could have found a cheaper option. I have also had good experiences with Rick Steves’ Audio tours. If you want to explore on your own, I suggest downloading his app and listening to his St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel audio tours. They come with a map, and are a fun way to explore on your on. I also recommend wearing clothes that cover your shoulders and are long enough to go past your knees. While you will see many people who tour the museum in shorts and tank tops, I felt better knowing that I was being respectful of the dress code.

After my tour, I went on the hunt for the restaurant Magnolia that a friend recommended. I ordered the Pollo Alla Romana (chicken with tomato and peppers), and enjoyed a delicious meal and a great conversation with the couple at the table next to me.

I shared with them my sweet tooth, and they recommended that I try Frigidarium for gelato. I definitely recommend them, my gelato was SO GOOD. I walked to Piazza Navona and explored the square while enjoying my gelato.

It was still pretty early, so I decided to see some of the classics: the Pantheon, the Altare della Patria, and the Colosseum.

 

Once I got back from my day out, my friends from the hostel and I decided to get some dinner. We grabbed some pizza from Bonci. Their pizza was SO GOOD. They come in shareable slices, so I suggest buying multiple styles and splitting them with friends.

Day 3:

As anyone who has been here knows, Rome is a HUGE tourist destination. That means it is hard to get good pictures of your favorite attractions without being surrounded by fellow tourists. I suggest waking up early to see Rome before the hustle and the bustle of the day (I headed out around 7:00AM). I am by no means a morning person, but walking the streets of Rome alone was well worth sacrificing a couple hours of sleep.

I got back earlier than I expected, so I decided to sign up for the All Over Tour with my hostel. I ended up being the only person signed up for this tour, so I got a very personal experience. During our tour, we stopped at: Circo Massimo, Palantine hill, Aventine hill, Garden of Oranges, the Mouth of Truth, Forum Boarium, the Theater of Marcellus, the Jewish Ghetto, Largo di Torre Argentina, the Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Trajans Column, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum.

My favorite part of the tour was definitely the Giardino Aranci (Orange Garden).

We stopped for lunch at Pizzicheria Romana right next to the Pantheon. The tour also included gelato at Giolitti (this was not my favorite gelato, but it was still pretty good). We ended our tour at the Colosseum.

After I got back from my tour, I packed my things and headed out to catch the train to Florence.