Rome was one of my favorite cities so far. I fell in love with it, even though I spent only a weekend there in 2016. A couple of years later, in 2024, when I got the chance, I revisited it again for a short weekend break.

If you ask me what is the best time to visit the Eternal City, I will tell you right away it’s WINTER!

But why? Let me give you a couple of reasons:

• It is off-season – between November and April (except Christmas and New Year’s), and there are much fewer crowds.  Even though there were significantly more people during our second visit, it still did not compare to summer. Thanks to that the city seems calmer and you don’t have to stress that much. Just walk around and enjoy the views. And you can actually have a chance to take pictures without too many people in the background.
• It’s not cold –I know it’s winter, but it’s Italy, which means it is still relatively warm. I visited Rome both times at the end of January, and the temperature was around 15°C —19°C —warm enough for me to walk in shorts.
• cheap plane tickets – I paid 60 Euros both ways (in 2024). Prices during the high seasons are much higher, so it’s an excellent way to save some money.
• cheap hotels  –  Hotels are so much cheaper because of not that many people.

Now that we have established that winter is a great time to visit, the next question is, what is worth visiting? Both times, I spent three days in Rome and tried to see as much as possible with my limited time. I have revisited some locations and added a couple more on my next visit. So here we go 🙂

Colosseum

The Colosseum or Coliseum is also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. It is the largest amphitheater ever built. The Colosseum could hold around 70,000 spectators, and it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles (even mock sea battles! ), animal hunts, and executions. In the Middle Ages, it was used for housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, and a Christian shrine. Because of all those different functions through centuries, it has managed to be preserved until now.

Be aware that there is a long queue at the Colosseum because it can only accommodate 3000 visitors at a time and has a security check. The best way to beat the queue is to order tickets online ahead of time. Unless you are visiting on the first Sunday of the month – during Free Sunday – then you have to pick the ticket near the Colosseum. (More about free tickets further down). Regardless of whether it is a free ticket or a paid one, you will get a scheduled time to enter the Colosseum.

When ordering the tickets, I chose an option: “Colosseum, Underground and Third Ring tours“. That was a great choice, as we were allowed into the parts where other tourists were not allowed to go 🙂 We saw how the gladiators were transported up to a stage and how the Colosseum functioned underground. Later, we admired the whole monument from the 3rd floor. So, instead of a hundred people trying to take selfies, we were only around 20. And that made a huge difference! This option is a little bit more expensive but totally worth the price.

On our second visit, during Free Sunday, tickets to the third floor were unavailable. As a result, we ended up walking with everyone else. Pro tip – if you want more space for yourself and your pictures, walk further down. Everyone starts taking pictures as soon as they see the stage, resulting in many people in the same spot. A little further down, there weren’t many people, so I managed to take my pictures comfortably.

Domus Aurea

The Golden House of Nero was the BEST attraction that I went to. It is a truly amazing, undiscovered gem of Rome that few people know about.

Why did it leave such an impression on me?

It was the first time I was in an ancient ruin that wasn’t ruined 🙂 The amazing history of that place allowed the palace to be almost untouched, and instead of only some old pillars and pieces of mosaic, you ventured into the palace, which looked the same as it did 2000 years ago! Well, almost the same 🙂

So, what is the history of the place?

It was built by Nero right after a very convenient fire that, for some reason, destroyed exactly the place where the palace was supposed to be standing 🙂 He aimed to build the most splendid palace in history. The rooms were laminated in gold leaf (hence the name “Golden House”) and filled with marble. He even had a private artificial lake where the Colosseum is now standing. Right after the construction was finished, Nero died. Because he was really disliked and unpopular, the next emperors tried to distance themself from him. That’s why they have taken out everything valuable from the building, filled it with dirt and stones, and built a public bathhouse and another palace on top of it. It was forgotten for centuries until, at some point in the 16th century, someone found a hole in the ground and decided to check it out. Afterwards, it remained forgotten until the 19th century when people rediscovered it again.

Tours

The tours are only available on the weekends (Friday to Sunday), and space is limited. If you are interested, book it online ahead of time. You can do it on their website. The reason why it is only open for such a short time is that they are still working on digging up the palace and restoring it, so in the future, much more should be available to the public. But even now this is the best place to go if you love ancient history and architecture!

Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum

Throughout the ages, the Palatine was the preferred residence of emperors and aristocrats, adorned with lavish palaces and gardens. Exploring its ruins today, one can imagine the opulence and power that once emanated from this place, from the grandeur of the Flavian Palace to the elegance of the House of Livia. The hill was also a vital religious and cultural center, home to ancient sanctuaries and temples.

The ticket to the Colosseum also covers a single non-scheduled entry (within 24 hours) to Palatine Hill. You must go through the security check, so reserve time for that. A Pro tip – the entrance to Palatine Hill next to the Colosseum is usually quite busy. Walk 200 m from that entrance to Portale Vignola entrance – we went in without any wait time, even though the other entrance had an hour of queue.

Altar of the Fatherland

The Altar of the Fatherland, also known as the “Vittoriano,” was inaugurated in 1911 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. Beyond its tribute to the first king of Italy, the Vittoriano also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, added after World War I, to honor the fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown.

Be sure to climb to the top; the panoramic terraces offer some of the most breathtaking views of Rome, stretching from the Roman Forum to the Colosseum and beyond.

Pantheon

The Pantheon in Rome is a remarkable feat of ancient architecture and engineering. Originally built around 27 B.C. by Marcus Agrippa and later rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around 126 A.D., the Pantheon has endured through the ages, remarkably well-preserved and still in use today. Its name, deriving from the Greek words “pan” meaning “all” and “theos” meaning “gods,” suggests its initial purpose as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome.

Over the centuries, the Pantheon has served various roles, most notably being converted into the church of Santa Maria ad Martyres in the 7th century, which has helped in its preservation. It is also the final resting place for several important figures in Italian history.

To this day, Pantheon continues to function as a church, with masses and weddings held there, in addition to being a major tourist attraction.

The entrance ticket can be purchased online at www.museiitaliani.it or at the entrance.

Trevi Fountain

It is the most beautiful fountain I have ever seen. Make sure to toss a coin into the fountain! Tradition says that you will revisit the Eternal City if you do that. Beware, though, it is very crowded regardless of how early or late you go.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family around 123-139 AD. Since then, the structure has undergone numerous transformations throughout its history, serving various roles as a fortress, a residence, a prison, and now a museum. By the 14th century, it had become a critical part of the Papal defense strategy. A fortified corridor, the Passetto di Borgo, was built to connect the castle directly to Vatican City, offering popes a secure escape route in times of danger.

Its name, “Castel Sant’Angelo,” derives from a legend that in 590 AD, the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague in Rome, hence the statue of an angel atop the structure.

From the top of the fortress, there is an amazing view of Rome and Vatican City.

Vatican City

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica stands as one of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture and one of the largest churches in the world. It is considered a central symbol of the Catholic Church and a major pilgrimage site, believed to be the burial site of Saint Peter, one of Christ’s Apostles and the first Pope, whose tomb is said to lie directly beneath the high altar.

The current Basilica was constructed over a span of more than a century, with its cornerstone laid in 1506 and completion in 1626. It was built over the old St. Peter’s Basilica site, originally commissioned by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. The construction of the new Basilica involved some of the most distinguished architects of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

St. Peter’s Basilica is home to numerous works of art, including three of the most admired Renaissance sculptures: Michelangelo’s Pieta, the only work he ever signed; Bernini’s Baldachin, a monumental bronze canopy that marks the Papal Altar; and his Chair of Saint Peter, an elaborate throne encasing a wooden chair that is traditionally considered Saint Peter’s own.

St. Peter’s Basilica was the most spectacular church I have ever been to! It was so richly decorated that I felt more like being in a palace than a church. Many people forget to look up, so don’t make that mistake – the ceilings are breathtaking.

If you like nice panoramic views, climb up the “cupola.” You can take a lift part of the way, but truthfully, it’s cheaper and almost faster to climb all the way up.

Be sure to get there early. There are usually queues for the security check and metal detector check. During our recent visit in February 2024, we waited around 40 minutes before getting inside. As it is an active place of worship, regular masses and celebrations are happening. Check out the timetable on the official website.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums boast an impressive array of art and artifacts, including ancient Roman statues, Renaissance masterpieces, and Egyptian mummies. The collection spans several millennia, featuring works from the Etruscan, Egyptian, and ancient Roman cultures alongside rooms dedicated to religious art.

Among the many treasures of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel stands out as a pinnacle of Renaissance art. Its ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, features the iconic Creation of Adam alongside a series of other frescoes depicting biblical scenes and figures. The Last Judgment, also by Michelangelo, covers the altar wall and is considered one of his finest works. The chapel serves not only as a museum space but also as a functioning chapel and the site of the Papal conclave, where new popes are elected.

You could take pictures everywhere except the Sistine Chapel – I guess too many people, and if they were allowed to take pictures, we would never move forward, and an even bigger traffic jam would form. We have noticed that the majority of tourists take only the main path, rarely venturing further into some smaller corridors. Thanks to that, we were often alone, having enough space to look through different artifacts. Similarly to St. Peter’s Basilica, the ceilings are breathtaking. Take your time to look at them – I don’t think I have ever seen more elaborate and beautiful ceilings.

You can book tickets via the Vatican’s official website to skip the lines. The only catch is the booking system is in Italian – it took us a while to get the tickets as we had to translate the page, there were some reloading prblems and they wanted a lot of info 🙂

Vatican City is open on Sundays, but the Vatican Museums are closed except the last Sunday of each month when entry is free from 9 am to 2 pm.

Plazas and streets of Rome

Rome is one of those cities where you can truly feel the pulse of history with every step you take. Wander its ancient streets, gelato in hand, and as you walk, you will stumble upon majestic plazas that tell tales of yesteryears. It’s not just about checking off sites from your travel list; it’s about letting the city reveal itself to you, one charming square at a time.

Some famous plazas are Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, and Piazza del Campidoglio.

Churches

Rome wouldn’t be Rome without many churches 🙂 Some of them are richly decorated and are really nice to look at. While walking, try to check some out 🙂

Basilica of San Clemente

The Basilica of San Clemente is a true hidden gem. What makes San Clemente extraordinary is its three-tiered complex: the present basilica, built during the Middle Ages (circa 12th century), sits atop an earlier 4th-century church, which in turn lies over a 1st-century Roman building and a Mithraic temple. If you have some time, I strongly encourage you to check out the place. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to take pictures in most of the building, but believe me, it was worth the visit.

Museum and Crypt of Capuchins

It is definitely an interesting place to visit. You walk through the corridor filled with the bones of the monks arranged into chandeliers and other wall decorations. When you leave, you have this weird, creepy feeling.

I was a tiny bit disappointed, as I thought I would be much bigger. However, when you realize how many spines they had to use for one room, you will be really impressed or horrified.

 

Free Sunday

All year, Italian state sites and monuments are free for everyone on the first Sunday of every month (Domenica al Museo initiative). This is true across Italy and includes also other well-known sites. To learn which sites are offered for free, visit this website. The offer does not include exhibitions that are subject to ticket fee. 

The only site in Rome that requires advance booking is the Galleria Borghese. All the other sites are first-come, first-served.

By accident, we ended up in Rome during one of those free weekends. While it was cool that we could get free entrance to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, it also meant that there were humongous queues and a lot of people—though we are not sure if the crowds are like that usually in February or if that was the result of free Sunday.

Pro tip: If you want to visit the Colosseum, arrive early—the number of tickets is restricted, and you get timed entry. There are also two ticket offices where you can pick up your free ticket. The majority of people queue at number 1 at Piazza Del Colosseo. You should go a little further to ticket office 2 at Largo Della Salara Vecchia. We arrived at 10.30 – so past the ticket office’s opening time and after only a 15-minute wait, we managed to get tickets to the Colosseum at 11:30. When we went to the Piazza Del Colosseo, the queue was warping around 90% length of Colosseum – it looked like 2-3 hours of wait.

 

The Vatican is a separate state from Italy, so it does not participate in Rome Free Sunday; however, Vatican Museums are also free on the last Sunday of every month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (final entry at 12:30 p.m.), provided this does not coincide with holidays like Easter Sunday, June 29 (Sts. Peter and Paul), and Christmas Day.

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It is impossible to see all of Rome during a single weekend, but that is just the beginning 🙂 I am sure, after the short visit, you will want to come back again – I did – and because you tossed the coin into the Trevi Fountain, you definitely will!

 

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