Ciao Bella!

So, you booked your flight to the incredible city of Rome, Italy. Whether you have been to Rome before or are gallivanting there for the first time, this guide will guarantee you a fabulous weekend with the best food, sights, and stays, as well as movie recommendations to prepare for the day ahead! Pack your weekend bag, your sleeping eye mask, your outlet converters and good walking shoes because a roman holiday is in your future.

Pre-flight musts:

Check government websites for current COVID restrictions and mandatory testing. You don’t want to get all the way to the airport to find out you don’t have the right forms and tests to board the flight. Be sure to pack extra face masks, sanitizing wipes, and we recommend printing out all your forms and tests incase your phone dies during travel. On the plane try to get as much rest as possible so you can hit the ground running, but if you are having trouble falling asleep, put on Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Alternatively, you can brush up on your Italian.

If you only learn 5 phrases in Italian, these are the ones that will serve you the best during your stay:

Hello – Ciao

Goodbye – Arrivederci

Thank you- Grazie

Good morning - Buon giorno

Good night - Buona sera

Welcome to Rome or Benvenuto a Roma, as the Romans say!

Where to stay: J.K. Place Rome, The St. Regis, Palazzo Manfredi, Fendi Private Suites, Hotel da la Ville & AirBNB

Arrive to Rome - Day 1:

If you are arriving from America, hopefully you got a decent night’s sleep on the plane and are ready to hit the ground running, but in the case that you didn’t we recommend going straight from the airport to the hotel and checking in. Once checked in, enjoy your first delicious Italian meal and go for a long stroll to stretch out your legs after a long flight. If you are exhausted, now would be the time to have a short nap so that you can wake back up for dinner.  This will help your jet lag tremendously!  The worst thing you could do is fall asleep in the early evening and then wake up at 3am hungry, jet lagged and out of whack. So seriously, arrive, eat, stroll, nap and then go out to dinner. By the next day you will be on the same time schedule as the rest of the city.

Where to eat lunch: We believe your first meal should be one of your best, so we recommend making a reservation and ordering the carbonara pasta at Poldo e Gianna Osteria. It is without a doubt the best carbonara in all of Rome.

What to see on your stroll: Window shop or shop up Via dei Condotti and be sure to stop into the handbag store, Francesco Rogani. They only have one store in the world and do not sell online but have the most beautiful handbags! At the end of the street are the famous Spanish Steps. If you have enough energy, it is really lovely to get a cocktail at Hotel de la Ville’s Cielo Terrace. You can see over all of Rome while sipping a delicious cocktail or beverage.

Where to eat dinner: Dal Bolognese, be sure to have a recommendation. This restaurant is very famous and is incredibly authentic. It sits right on Piazza del Popolo and has an incredible view if you can score a table outside. Don’t worry, they have heaters.

What to watch in the evening to prep for the next day: Gladiator or The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Day 2: Colosseum/ Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Good morning, hopefully you are feeling rested and excited for the amazing day ahead in Rome. When exploring a new city, especially in Europe, we highly recommend arranging for a tour guide. Tour guides in Europe are highly trained and the wealth of knowledge that you will take away will make it worth every penny. The other huge plus for hiring a tour guide is that they get to skip the lines or have early entry to the locations. We recommend waking up and getting a quick breakfast and setting up a tour of the Colosseum and the Ancient Roman City, first thing in the morning. You will be the first ones in the Colosseum and get to see it for all its glory, incredible architecture, and history. This tour will likely take you 3 hours and you will be hungry after.

Where to have lunch: AROMA restaurant at Palazzo Manfredi, it has the best view of the Colosseum with an incredible meal! After lunch walk over to the Mouth of Truth, to have your Roman Holiday moment. The legend says that the mouth will bite off the hand of a liar or anyone that utter a lie while their hand is in its mouth.

Where to have dinner: Pierluigi, the oldest seafood restaurant in Rome! Since 1938, Pierluigi has been serving the freshest seafood and has a very impressive wine offering.

What to watch in the evening: The Two Popes or Angels & Demons

Day 3: Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter's Basilica & Square, Castel Sant’ Angelo & Villa Borghese

We know you are on vacation, but you know the saying, the early bird gets the worm… Sorry RH Family, but this is another early morning but SO worth it and worth hiring a private tour guide for, even if it is to pass the long lines. Arrange early morning room service of coffee and a little nibble and be off to visit Vatican City before the sun rises. You will get to see the Sistine Chapel, official residence of the pope and the home of Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement. We recommend starting your tour here before the crowds arrive and then ending it at St. Peter's Basilica. The incredible dome can be seen from throughout Rome and stands out on the Roman skyline, as it is the third tallest dome in the world. If you are not scared of heights, you can climb up it!

In the afternoon, cross back over the Tiber River and visit Villa Borghese. The gardens are spectacular!

Where to have dinner: Tartufi & Friends, is a no brainer if you are a truffle lover! They have a wide array of plates, so if you don’t love truffles, there are plenty of other options.

Day 4: Monuments & Museums

You are probably exhausted at this point, so take the day to stroll and see iconic landmarks and piazzas. Begin your final day by doing a wonder through the incredible The Doria Pamphilj Gallery. It is spectacular, and then make a wish at the Trevi Fountain. Following, walk to the Pantheon which was completed in 125 AD!  

Where to have lunch: Trattoria Al Moro or Armando al Pantheon are the best two restaurants in this area, and you cannot go wrong with either but make sure to have a reservation!  Both are old school, authentic Italian restaurants.

After lunch, wander through Piazza Navona, an incredible public square and visit Museo di Roma - Palazzo Braschi, where there is a Klimt exhibition until March 27th, 2022.

Where to have dinner: For your final meal, it wouldn’t be a trip to Rome without a meal at Salumeria Roscioli. We highly recommend the cacio e pepe!