Christmas Markets in Rome

By Go City Expert

There’s no better time to visit the Eternal City than during the festive, winter months. As the city is lit up from the decorative street lights and shop windows, there’s an unbeatable sense of festive cheer throughout the city. Although not famous for its Christmas Markets as a tradition, you can still celebrate in the streets of Rome, find those last minute gifts and stuff yourself full of seasonal delicacies. The best places to go to get in the Christmas spirit when in Rome are; 1) Piazza Navona Piazza Navona is the only dedicated Christmas Market in Rome and pops up annually at the beginning of December and runs until the 6th January, the Epiphany. Attracting thousands of locals and tourists alike, the Navona market is family friendly with games and rides, including a carousel for children. You can walk through the stalls admiring handcrafted goods and savour roasted chestnuts and porchetta sandwiches for a true taste of an Italian Christmas. Other activities include fortune telling and the traditional La Befana, who arrives on the final day of the market to hand out gifts for the children. Piazza Navona, 00186 Rome 2) Campo dei Fiori This market isn’t entirely Christmas-themed, as it runs throughout the year, but it is Rome’s oldest serving market – founded in 1861. Open every morning except Sundays, Campo dei Fiori market is famed for its local produce, artisanal knick-knacks and funny shaped pasta. At Christmas you can find festive-inspired gifts and goods and it’s the perfect place to shop for foodies. Nestled in the heart of the historic centre, and only a short walk from the Coliseum, you can walk through the cobbled streets and get a true sense of Rome in all its festive celebrations. Piazza Campo Dei Fiori, 00186 Rome 3) Porta Portese If you’re after a real bargain-hunting Christmas market and bartered down Christmas gifts, head to Porta Portese in the Trastevere district to sort through the stalls of vintage clothing, handbags and novelty items. Best for the practiced shopper, this flea market is extensive and stretches through the old gate walls that date back to 1644. It’s the only market in Rome open on a Sunday and is a great place for any last minute gifts. With an undeniable Christmas feeling, you’ll be sure to snap up a discount and have fun in the process! While you’re near, why not stop off at the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum and queue jump to the front with free entry. Via di Porta Portese, 00153 Roma Make the most of your trip to Rome over Christmas with an OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card. Not only can you tick some of the most iconic historic monuments off your bucket list, but you can travel around Rome for free making all these things to do that bit easier!

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Rome Travel Expert

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Is the Rome Pass worth it?

If you’re lucky enough to be holidaying in Rome this year then you’ll be planning some serious sightseeing. You’ve packed your camera, got your comfy shoes ready, but you’re missing that extra something to really make everything that bit easier... What will tick that final box on your trip to Rome? An OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass of course! The Rome Pass is a no-brainer when you’re visiting the Eternal City. But is it worth it? It’s the key into all of the top historic attractions, museums and landmarks that you cannot miss when you’re in town, so read on to see how you can take your Rome vacation to the next level with the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass. The Rome Pass package includes: 1. Free entry into the Vatican City sights, including Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel and St John in the Lateran; as well as a free audio guide at St Peter’s Basilica 2. Fast Track Entry at Vatican City sights meaning you won’t have to wait in line (which can be particularly long during the popular summer months) 3. Free entry into 2 more attractions, including the Coliseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Capitoline Museums and many more... 4. Free 3-day bus tour ticket to hop on and off at your leisure and take in the sights from the comfort of your own seat (plus commentary!) 5. Discounted entry to all the other museum in Rome with the Roma Pass 6. Free travel around Rome for three days with the Roma Pass to get between your attractions with ease The beauty of the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass is that once you’ve got it, you can forget about everything else. It’s your all-inclusive ticket into top Rome attractions meaning you won’t have to worry about carrying around loose change for admission, and you can get from A to B with ease on the metro, trams and buses with your unlimited three day travelcard to make sure you've ticked off all the sights before you have to fly home. So if you're still asking if the Rome Pass is worth it, the answer is: yes! Where to buy the Roma Pass If you’re looking for where to buy the Rome Pass, it’s simple. Online! We’re the only place where you can buy this exclusive sightseeing package that takes care of all your needs whilst visiting the city. The Rome Pass is collection only, which means you don't have to worry about shipping or delivery costs, you just pre-order, download our free guidebook (in multiple languages) and start planning your holiday up to 12 months in advance. Then, when you arrive in Rome, simply head to one of the two central pick-up points to collect your sightseeing Rome Pass and you can begin your sightseeing adventure. It really couldn’t be easier. Discover Rome with the Roma Pass.
Go City Expert
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Discover Rome's famous film locations

Rome has played host to numerous Hollywood blockbusters and cult films for decades. With its streets drenched in history and its inescapably intimate (yet chaotic) setting, it’s the perfect location for any movie – be it romantic, moody or thrilling. It all started with the cinematic movement, Neorealism, which addressed the changing political situations of the middle of the 20th century. With power struggles and money struggles, the city made for an appropriate setting – plus, scattered with beautiful actors and cobbled streets, it couldn't help but work towards the creation of a picture-perfect film. Follow our itinerary to create your own Hollywood backdrop whilst visiting Rome: Trevi Fountain Rome’s best loved fountain, the Trevi Fountain, has been the backdrop to many cult films both old and new. Considered a Baroque masterpiece and the largest fountain in Rome, it’s a honey pot for locals and visitors alike who go to throw a coin into its basin, to make a wish to return to the city in the future. Superstitions aside, it’s an impressive landmark in central Rome - who doesn't remember that iconic scene in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita when Anita Eckberg take an impromptu dip. Yes, that one! Spanish Steps Just around the corner from the Trevi Fountain are the Spanish Steps which have featured in many celebrated films. The one that propelled Hepburn into Hollywood stardom was the classic Roman Holiday - one of the best visual guides to the city there is. With a wide range of backdrops, you can’t forget the scene in which she sits on the Spanish Steps to eat her ice cream. Did you know, a few streets behind the Spanish Steps is the address where her on-screen love Gregory Peck lived in the film too. In real life, Federico Fellini only lived a few doors up! Coliseum The Coliseum is one of Rome’s most loved landmarks and an icon of the Ancient Empire. Still standing over 2000 years on, the Coliseum has featured in many popular films over the years, but none as much as Gladiator. Ok, the film set was a man-made construction, but through the film you can really learn about how the Coliseum looked in all its glory and the role it played in Roman society at the time. Today you can still explore the ancient ruins and Roman Forum yourself with free entry with the Roma Pass. Castel Sant’angelo From old classics to modern masterpieces, Castel Sant’angelo is Rome’s impressive fortress overlooking the River Tiber. Its sheer scale and size makes it the perfect backdrop for some impressive footage and you’ll find it’s been used in a number of films, but more recently Darran Brown’s spiritual thriller, Angels and Demons, where its neighbouring Piazza del Popolo also featured as one of Tom Hanks’ first clues. Trastevere This much loved neighbourhood across the river is one of Rome’s most quaint and intimate areas. A maze of cobbled streets and piazzas it’s truly Roman in its terracotta hues and local ambiance. In Woody Allan’s To Rome with Love, it’s home to one of his main characters and you’ll also recognise it as a local haunt of Julia Robert’s character, Elizabeth Gilbert in the adaptation of the bestselling Eat, Pray, Love. Create your own movie this holiday and set your own backdrops with the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card .
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Can't-Miss Cultural Attractions in Rome

Bask in the glory of Roman creativity with the best cultural attractions in Rome below. With thousands of years of history, including being the centre of the Roman Empire, it's no surprise that Rome is full of incredible architectural structures, each with their own story to tell. We've scoured the city to find some of the capital's best landmarks you won't want to miss, from mausoleums and historical museums to ancient Roman sites and more, National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo Castel Sant'Angelo has had many lives as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, a papal fortress, prison, and now finally as a historical museum open to the Roman public. This stark structure owes its name to a vision that Pope Gregory the Great had, in which the Archangel Michael appeared to him on top of Hadrian's tomb, sheathing his sword to signal the end of a plague. A sculpture of the Archangel now sits atop the museum. With an impressive permanent collection of medieval relics, paintings and sculptures, it's a great way to experience and learn about Rome's long tradition of culture and military excellence. Capitoline Museums Seen in films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley, these archeological museums are testament to the enduring power of ancient Roman art. Spread across three buildings and a piazza designed by Michelangelo, it has persisted as a significant site of Roman creativity since 1471. It features many beautiful works such as a symbolic bronze statue of The She-Wolf, who plays an important role in Rome's origin myth in which she raised the city's founders Romulus and Remus. The Coliseum This gigantic circular structure has captured the imaginations of people worldwide, with complex theatrical performances alongside violent gladiator battles taking place on its stage. At 2000 years old, the landmark continues to stand and remains a must-visit for visitors to Rome who can learn about its history and dive into its network of underground tunnels for more exhibits. MAXXI While Rome might be best known for its historical architecture and Renaissance works, the contemporary art museum MAXXI shines a light on the best in Italian contemporary art. Designed by famed architect Zaha Hadid, its exhibits showcase the best in modern art and architecture and is a refreshing break from centuries-old works. Sistine Chapel Venture into the Vatican City and make your way to one of Michelangelo's greatest artistic accomplishments - the Sistine Chapel. With breathtaking hand-painted ceiling frescoes depicting The Last Judgment and works by Botticelli lining its walls, it's not only a significant religious site but a cultural one worth seeing. Roman Forum See the legacy of ancient architecture at the Roman Forum, which was formerly a collection of buildings including a marketplace, the House of Augustus (home to Julius Caesar's heir) and the Temple of Romulus. While it's mainly in ruins, the remains of its frescoes, pillars and architecture still remains incredible to witness. Borghese Gallery See the works of artistic virtuosos Caravaggio, Botticelli and Raphael at the Borghese Gallery, a converted villa which now serves as one of Rome's most beautiful museums. Comprised mainly of the Borghese family's personal collection which includes hundreds of sculptures and paintings, it's an oasis of calm away from the hustle of Rome and its grounds boast stunning gardens. Vatican Museums Located just a stone's throw from the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums are a site of great importance for the Catholic tradition as well as the art world. With exhibits dedicated to the history of the Vatican City as well as a 9 mile long collection of artwork dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, its most noted for its sublime Raphael rooms by the entrance with frescoes by Raphael and Michelangelo. Museum of Rome Discover the artistic history of Italy's capital at the Museum of Rome, located in the halls of the Palazzo Braschi. Not only is the structure a stunning example of Roman Baroque architecture, its exhibits chart the course of Rome's continually evolving creative scene from the Middle Ages to 20th Century. Keats-Shelley House Take a break from art history and dive into the world of literature. Rome was beloved by the famous Romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats, the latter of whom made Rome his final resting place at the age of 25. Keats' modest dwellings have since been transformed into a museum with the most extensive collection of works, letters, paintings and memorabilia relating to the two literary greats in the world.
Megan Hills
The Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - Fast Track & Reserved Entry

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