4 Days In Rome: Things To Know Before You Go

Like all the other cities we visited on our first Eurotrip, our experience of Rome was on the express side. There is so much to see and do in this marvellous city yet we were lucky enough to explore many of the main attractions in this short time.

STAY

Our hotel The Eurostars International Palace had a luxurious entrance, free breakfast and was centrally located; walking distance from the train station, some of the most popular sites (Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill) as well as a long line of shops and restaurants.

GETTING AROUND

We managed to do most of our travelling on foot, however, if a site was more than a 35 minute walk away we'd often hop in an Uber to save time. We found that Ubers in Rome were much more affordable, accomodating & luxurious than what we had experienced in Sydney.

In our short trip, we managed to see all the aforementioned sights as well as Vatican City either on our own or with small group walking tours.

My top 3 favourite places of interest were the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum & Vatican City.

LA FONTAINE DE TREVI

Like many of the Roman landmarks, it is free to gaze upon the Trevi Fountain. For this reason it makes sense that the place is constantly buzzing with tourists. Though you will never see it alone, I advise to go as early as possible in the morning for less of a crowd and also make sure you see it at night when it's illuminated. While you're there, make sure you visit Don Nino for their unrivalled (in my books) gelato! My absolute favourite Italian dessert is the ricotta cannoli and they have this as a gelato flavour!

TIP: AVOID PEOPLE CARRYING ROSES & DO NOT ACCEPT ONE IF IT IS OFFERED TO YOU, ONCE YOU DO THEY WILL TRY DEMAND A PRETTY PENNY FROM YOUR PARTNER OR YOURSELF.

THE COLOSSEUM

I'd dreamed of visiting this monumental structure since I was a child. There was something so alluring about it's size and age that was incomparable to anything we have at home. Hearing of the history while walking through the grounds was a powerful and reverent experience.

TIP: Pay to skip the long lines via get your guide & check the reviews first if you choose a guided tour*

* I definitely recommend getting a tour guide to fully appreciate this landmark while you explore, however we chose a tour that included the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill all in one go and had the misfortune of being stuck with one of the most wearisome tour guides imaginable. After the Colosseum we were constantly looking at ways to escape the group without being rude but alas, we were one of the few who remained til the end out of pity for our (perfectly kind, just very bland) guide.

VATICAN CIty

There is true beauty to behold here. The fine art and architecture of the hallways, Sistine Chapel and Basilica are fascinatingly detailed and awe-inspiring. There is so much to see and appreciate. We chose to skip the lines again, this time with a self-guided audio tour of St Peter's Basilica. We loved this option as it allowed us to move along at our own pace and be informed only on the things that struck our interest. The hours of work that went into creating these things is still unimaginable to me.