The Daisybutter Travel Guide to Rome, Italy
Apparently, I’m going through a real Italy moment. After our anniversary trip to Milan last November (undocumented on the blog, as I want to savour those memories for myself!), my boyfriend and I visited Rome for my birthday in early March. Then, my Mum decided she’d like to visit too and we went on a mother-and-daughters trip straight back to Rome in mid-April. So, with two incredible Rome trips under my belt, I wanted to put together a Daisybutter travel guide to this wonderful city.
Abundantly rich in history and jam-packed with sights, food and a gloriously friendly vibe, Rome has fast become one of my favourite European city. I know what they mean when they say it’s a place you’ll want to visit again and again. Two trips in and I can already think of plenty more things I’d like to do the next time I’m lucky enough to visit. That being said, Rome is a surprisingly compact city and it’s definitely a very walkable city. There’s a great metro network, but I haven’t yet tried it.
See & Do
Colosseum
If there’s one thing I recommend scheduling in, it’s a tour of the Colosseum. My boyfriend and I booked tickets that included queue jump for the Colosseum, as well as entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which I couldn’t recommend more. Inside the Colosseum, there’s a brilliant exhibit in the museum and, of course, you get to wander the Colosseum itself. We spent hours here just soaking up the views and taking in the magnitude of the history.
Palatine Hill
Across from the Colosseum is Palatine Hill, which we also thoroughly recommend! I think it was the highlight of our trip: you can enjoy gorgeous panoramic views once at the top (there’s a terrace!), but the gardens are beautiful too. There’s an orange tree orchard, olive trees everywhere and even ring-necked parakeets flying about! My boyfriend skipped this on his first visit to Rome, but when we explored it together, we both agreed it was definitely worth the visit.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of Rome’s most iconic temples and converted sites. The domed ceiling is impressive and grand, and its oculus is really cool to look at as well! Plus, it’s centrally located en route to other Roman sights.
Trevi Fountain
When my boyfriend and I went to Rome, we stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb, an antique apartment literally steps away from the Trevi Fountain. As such, the fountain feels so special to me! The 18th-century fountain itself is just magnificent – it’s made from travertine and is honestly far grander than you’d expect. Take some spare change: if you throw a coin into the water using your right hand over your left shoulder, you are sure to return to Rome (or have a genie grant your wish or choice!). One coin signifies a speedy return to Rome, the second, romance, and the third, marriage.
According to my good friend Wikipedia, the fountain itself is at the junction of three roads (‘tre vie’) and marks the terminal point of the modern Acqua Vergine, a revived aqueduct that supplied water to ancient Rome.
Beside the main fountain is a small fountain: another tradition involves couples drinking from this to ensure fidelity throughout their relationship and marriage.
The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are a huge tourist destination and it’s easy to see why.
You’ll likely only spend 15-20 minutes here, but they’re lovely to look at and the view at the top is a must.
La Terrazza Del Gianicolo
If there’s one thing about us, it’s that we like a little hike or walk to get to a good viewpoint. La Terrazza Del Gianicolo did just that, offering a stunning vantage point to view Rome and with a little walk for good measure. It’s on the Vatican City side of the river, making it a great place to stop and watch the sunset after a day exploring the Vatican. It’s also beside the arty Trastevere area, full of little boutiques, wide piazzas to sit in and restaurants (I share a recommendation below!).
Villa Borghese
My Mum, sister and I spent a Sunday afternoon strolling Villa Borghese, a beautiful park and gardens beside the villa itself. Here you can walk, picnic, spot parakeets amongst beautiful trees, hire bikes and karts, dine at restaurants, and more. It also offers gorgeous views of the city. All in all, a wonderful way to spend a spring (or summer!) afternoon.
Vatican City
My boyfriend and I of course booked a tour of the Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. We booked tickets through GetYourGuide which were very reasonable for a guided tour: it was SO informative and we got a pretty good amount of time in each area. I’m still fascinated by the smallest country in the world…!
Eat & Drink
Origano Trevi
I am beyond glad to have discovered this restaurant chain because the food is delicious, service welcoming and there is a plentiful vegan selection. My MO isn’t always a vegan restaurant, especially if I’m travelling with non-vegans. Thanks to my multiple visits here, I can confirm that their spaghetti cacio e pepe, rigatoni all’amatriciana and gnocchi alla Sorrentina are all delicious. Plus, don’t forget to order some supplì, the Roman iteration of arancini – my boyfriend and I are obsessed!
Chegelato Gelateria
While there are vegan gelato options scattered throughout the city, I really liked heading to Chegelato on both of my trips, since the vegan gelato elsewhere is often really just sorbet. At Chegelato, there’s always several dairy-free options including a delicious dark chocolate and rum, and their banana and cassis flavour. It’s nearby the Pantheon and Piazza Navona – perfectly located if you ask me.
Col Cavolo
Tucked away down a side street, Col Cavolo is an all-vegan eatery that focuses on organic and homemade dishes. It’s a super casual spot and we had a delicious lasagne here.
Buddy VEGY
I didn’t manage to make it the well-located Buddy VEGY restaurant but a downpour of rain made it possible – and essential – for me to order it via Uber Eats to my hotel room. I opted for their Würstel pizza and their classic tiramisu and it was absolutely incredible. Highly recommend!
Il Margutta
After exploring nearby Villa Borghese and its park, we headed to Il Margutta for lunch and were pleasantly surprised that they offer a daily brunch buffet. On the whole, I’m not a huge fan of buffets, but this spot is upmarket and modern and it’s a huge novelty to have so many options to try. Il Margutta is a vegetarian restaurant, so just ask about their vegan dishes for the brunch, while the a la carte menu in the evening is labelled.
Tonnarello
Tonnarello is one of those oft-spoken about Roman restaurants and its branches in Trastevere are known to boast huge queues around the clock. Since my sister was desperate to try this spot, we queued 30 minutes in pouring rain and… we weren’t disappointed! The restaurant specialises in tonnarelli pasta, which isn’t vegan, but the staff were more than happy to accommodate an off-menu dish for me. Their focaccia is vegan, however, and is the best bread I’ve ever eaten. If you’re travelling with non-vegans, I would totally hit this place up.
Rosemary
This little restaurant is situated nearby the main train terminal, so it was the perfect spot for my boyfriend and I to grab brunch before we travelled to the airport on our last day. There’s vegan options and the staff here are so friendly! Plus, the restaurant is entirely plastic-free and they offer a vegan-friendly sushi and Japanese menu in the evenings.
Giolitti
My final foodie recommendation is Giolitti, an ancient Roman glacier founded in 1890. This place came highly recommended and, as such, you can expect queues up and down the street. We queued a short while and were met with a chaotic ticket system inside but the gelato is definitely worth it! There are SO many flavours and even several vegan-friendly options.
Stay & Relax
Our ‘Antiques’ Airbnb Apartment
For my birthday trip, we stayed at this stunning antiques apartment just steps away from the Trevi Fountain. It’s absolutely beautiful inside and there’s a little kitchen inside, for breakfast and coffee prep. We loved our stay here and found it incredibly practical in terms of getting around the city, as well as for late afternoon trips back for a quick rest and ‘fit change.
Suites by Chloe
On the other hand, my Mum, sister and I stayed at Suites by Chloe, a serviced hotel for our trip. Similarly located, this one is great for a smaller space if you’re just resting your head. They have a coffee bar at the front and our suite had a sweet little balcony on which to enjoy a morning sip.
Enjoy your trips to Rome, friends!