A Solo-Traveller's Guide to Rome

By Megan Hills

Heading out on your own? Here's a solo-traveller's guide to Rome to help you along.

Rome is a city that rewards travellers taking on its incredible sights and culture on their own, with so much to see and do. It always helps to be prepared before heading anywhere new however and we've put together a little solo-traveller's guide to Rome for anyone aspiring to their own Eat, Pray, Love adventure below.

Getting Around

Rome has a pretty advanced public transport system, though walking is the best way to see the city and really get a feel for the infectious atmosphere of the place. With public buses running 24 hours across the best tourist attractions, tourists can buy tickets that cover rides on the buses and metro (which isn't that extensive, with only a few lines). Taxis are also a popular way to get around, however mind that some drivers are known to scam unsuspecting tourists so keep an eye on the metre as you zoom through the streets. If you want to see the sights without the stress of navigating the city, there's a great Hop On Hop Off bus tour that departs from Termini Station and St. Peter's Basillica. Spanning places like the Coliseum, Circus Maximus and Piazza Navona, it's an easy way to explore the city and the ride also provides audio commentary on the key landmarks you'll pass.

Staying Safe

While Rome is generally safe, tourists are routinely subject to scams and pickpocketing so it helps to be vigilant when travelling. Make sure you know where your valuables are at all time, especially around big tourist sites and in busy crowds. As mentioned earlier, sometimes taxi drivers will try for a little more money than they should by adjusting metres or using other scams so it's worth keeping an eye out for that.

Cultural Stops

Rome overflows with culture and history, with stunning works of architecture and rich museums adding splashes of colour to the diverse city. Religion and art are closely intertwined in the capital and it's no secret that the Vatican City frequently tops every tourist's list, with Michelangelo's stunning frescoes at the Sistine Chapel and the towering structure of St Peter's Basilica set to amaze. Diving even further back into the city's past, travellers can trace the legacy of ancient Rome at places like the Coliseum and the Capitoline Museums providing a glimpse of its glorious past.

Culinary Experiences

If you're travelling to Italy, foregoing that no-carb diet is a given. Cheesy pastas are a must when coming to Rome (which happens to be the birthplace of carbonara) and particular dishes include bucatini al'amatriciana, a kind of pasta which is hollow all the way through and cooked with tomatoes, peppers and pancetta, as well as the simple comforts of a plate of cacio e pepe, a Pecorino Romano cheese and pepper dish. Other unexpected treats include deep fried artichokes, popularised by the city's Jewish community, and the city's predilection towards offal - a delight for adventurous eaters. Wine connoisseurs will be absolutely at home in the capital, with numerous high quality bottles stocked at every restaurant and wine tastings available for those looking to hone their knowledge. Looking for some culinary inspiration for your trip? Check out our Top 10 Rome Foods you must try!
Megan Hills
Rome Travel Expert

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Our Easy Guide to Vatican City

Beat the holiday crowds and make your vacation a blessed one with our sightseeing guide to Vatican City. If the idea of queuing to hours and elbowing through crowds of people doesn't sound like too much fun... then you're in luck! With the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass, you can skip the queues and head straight to the amazing landmarks in Vatican City. From the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica to the Vatican Museums and more, here's our easy-to-follow guide to Vatican City. Sistine Chapel Not only is the Sistine Chapel a grand place of worship, it also houses some of the world's finest Renaissance art. Drawing its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, the man who oversaw its construction, the chapel is part of the Vatican Museums and is always bustling with tourists. Famous master artists such as Botticelli were commissioned to create works for the chapel, including Michelangelo whose detailed ceiling frescoes and The Last Judgment never fails to amaze all those who pass through its doors. Opening hours: 10am - 6pm Highlights: The ceiling and painting The Last Judgment by Michelangelo, Temptation of Christ and Trial of Moses by Botticelli St Peter's Basilica As one of the largest churches in the world, St Peter's Basilica is an icon of the Vatican City and is easily spotted by its elaborate dome designed by Michelangelo. With enough room for 20,000 people, it was built to honour Saint Peter after his crucifixion in 324AD and his tomb still remains in the scavi (grottoes) beneath the basilica, alongside beloved popes. Aside from its impressive standing in the religious community, it also boasts an incredible view from its dome of the city well worth climbing the stairs for. Keep an eye out for the general audiences with the Pope on Wednesdays at 10am - you'll need to sort out tickets in advance which can be found at the basilica, but they're free. Opening hours: 7am - 7pm daily, April - September; 7am - 6pm, October - March Highlights: The view from Michelangelo's dome, Vatican grottoes, general audiences with the Pope, Michelangelo's Piéta Basilica of St John Lateran Situated beyond the Vatican City's limits, the Basilica of St John Lateran is the oldest in Rome and also one of its most important as it houses the official papal throne. While the Pope technically spends most of his time in the Vatican City at St Peter's Basilica, the cathedral is still worth the visit and impressive in its own right with Baroque statues of the apostles adorning its hall. It is also said to house a part of the table from Jesus' last supper, as well as his blood. Venture across the road to the Holy Stairs, the steps of Pontius Pilate's palace that Jesus descended following the trial that led to his crucifixion which can only be climbed on your knees. Opening hours: 7am - 7pm, with the exception of winter months 7am - 6pm Highlights: Papal tombs and throne, holy relics, Holy Stairs, apostle statues Vatican Museums Tackling the Vatican Museums is no small task with over twenty distinct sections and notoriously long lines, however it's a must-visit for any traveller in the Vatican City. Started by Pope Julius II in the early 1500s with just a small collection of statues, it has since become a sprawling epicenter of art and religious iconography spanning centuries and countries. The Raphael Rooms, located at the entrance, herald the unbelievable mastery and beauty of the works to come and a photo of the iconic spiral staircase is mandatory. Opening Hours: Ticket office, 9am - 4pm; museums, 9am - 6pm Highlights: Raphael rooms, spiral staircase, Egyptian museum, Vatican Historical Museum
Megan Hills
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Top 10 Things to Eat in Rome

You certainly won’t go hungry on your visit to Rome. It’s a city that loves its food and boasts some of the best pizzerias and gelaterias in Italy. We get a bit excited when we think about local delicacies in Rome, so we decided to put our heads together and pick our top 10 things to eat in Rome. So treat it like a bitesize bucket list of food. From little tomato-y arancini rice balls, to spaghetti alle vongole; chilled sorbets and fried anything – here is our best of the best, in no particular order... Pizza Now there’s no doubt that pizza is a bit of a non-mover on anyone’s top 10. A staple on any holiday to Rome, you can get pizza al taglio – which literally means slice – to takeaway with you, or sit down to an orbit of soft dough and all manner of toppings, from savoury to sweet. One of our favourites is a pizza bianca which is without tomato sauce and sometimes just sprinkled with salt. Arancini These little rice balls actually originate from Sicily but are a popular snack and served in most pizzerias. They’re a perfect accompaniment to any quick meal and a much healthier ‘fast food’ option when you’re on the go. Oozing with mozzarella and bound together with a breadcrumb outside, they are little balls of tomato rice heaven! Fritti The Roman’s love their fried food and will fry even vegetables! This may sound like any healthy-eater’s nightmare but it is delicious. Thanks to the Roman’s affinity with good food and quality olive oils they are never greasy so we recommend you opt for baccala (salt cod) or fiori di zucca (fried zucchini flowers) the next time you’re in a restaurant. Spaghetti alle vongole Vongole are little clams and are served as a speciality spaghetti dish in Rome and further south in Campania. Served in the shell, the main flavours in the dish are oil, garlic, parsley and maybe a splash of white wine – or if you opt for the rosso version just add tomatoes and fresh basil. Delicious if you like both pasta and seafood! Gelato Now this is an overarching theme in any food bloggers account of Rome. Blessed with some of the mouth-watering gelaterias in Rome, you won’t go short of a sweet creamy gelato, or refreshing sorbet. With flavours like hazelnut and espresso, to mango and kiwi, you can mix and match it all to your palette’s content! Roman Artichokes Carciofi (artichokes) are a big deal in Rome. They are such a staple vegetable that they have even been given a protected status by the EU! They are often fried, fritti style, or mixed into dishes like pasta and pizza. You can also indulge in ‘Jewish style artichokes’ which are fried so lightly they melt in your mouth. Saltimbocca One of the most popular dishes in Rome for both locals and tourists is saltimbocca, which literally means ‘jumping in the mouth’ – alluding to the pleasant sensations you’ll get whilst eating it! Typically it’s a meat dish, which can vary in chicken, which is its most common for, or, lamb. Garnished with prosciutto, mozzarella, sage and spinach, it’s a winning combination of flavours! Bucatini all'amatriciana One of the most Roman of all pasta shapes is the bucatini shape, a thick spaghetti like pasta but with a hollow centre. It’s great for scooping up the delicious cheesy sauces that run through its middle – so not one for those counting calories! It’s often served all’amatriciana, tomatoes, pepperoncino and guanciale (pigs cheek). Delicious! Coda alla vaccinara Oxtail soup is a hearty, meaty Roman delicacy that’s not to be missed. Local to the city, specifically from Arenula, the hub of Rome’s slaughterhouses, the butchers would sell their offal to local trattorias who would create dishes out of them – one of them being coda alla vaccinara – which is made by braising the tail of the cow and serving with stewed vegetables, celery, onion and seasonal herbs. Chicory Winter chicory, puntarelle, is another popular vegetable in Rome and is often found served on its own with a sprinkling of olive oil, anchovy and salt, served either raw or cooked. It’s a refreshing, bitter crunchy vegetable and a great accompaniment to salads or meatier dishes. One to try at home! image credit: Naotake Murayama - Flickr
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Best Bars for Aperitivo in Rome

Forget your regular happy hours, here's where to enjoy aperitivo in Rome Aperitivo in Rome is a cultural pastime, with people all over the capital spilling out of offices and into trendy bars and restaurants. With affordably priced drinks and lush buffets piled high with Roman dishes, there's no end of places that put their own distinctive spin on aperitivo from jazzing things up with an extensive cocktail list or stepping up their recipe game. If you're travelling to the city, it's worth joining in the tradition at some of the best places for aperitivo in Rome below. Image via Freni e Frizoni Freni e Frizoni Converted from an old mechanic's garage, this effortlessly trendy aperitivo bar in the heart of the hip and happening Trastevere Neighbourhood. With a young eclectic crowd that spills out onto the piazza outside, it derives its name 'brakes and clutches' from its past life. Its team of mixologists make a mean cocktail and it has a large buffet serving up couscous, pizzas, bruschetta and vegetarian dishes. I wish mondays could always be like this.. #roma #rome #italy #italia #italygram #monday #mondays #drink #drinks #delicious #travelgram #travel #explore #traveler #travelingram #ig_daily #igtravel #ig_shotz #ig_europe #ig_italia #instapic A post shared by Irina Bykovskaya (@laitalianka) on Apr 3, 2017 at 10:11am PDT Salotto42 Specialising in aperitivo, Salotto42 is a great bar within throwing distance of the Piazza di Pietra. Founded by a Swedish supermodel, the entire space is filled with Swedish design touches and its shelves are stacked with curated art magazines and indie books, making it an Instagram goldmine for those looking for their next great shot. Curl up on one of its cosy couches with a sophisticated cocktail and blend in with its stylish clientele as the bar comes to life during aperitivo hour. While it's a little strapped for room, as the night draws on people spill onto the piazza with wine glasses and bar snacks in hand. Friday night. #photooftheday A post shared by Simone Bottaro (@simonebottaro) on Mar 24, 2017 at 4:43pm PDT Doppio Zeroo This welcoming bar and restaurant has a killer aperitivo offer for those on a budget - for just €10-12 you can snag yourself an alcoholic drink and pile your plate high at their all you can eat buffet. Think couscous, pasta, grilled vegetables and even a cheeky nutella pizza for dessert. Converted from an old bakery, it's a popular choice for locals and packs up quick so it's worth making a reservation if you don't want to hang around for half an hour. Image via Momart facebook Momart It's impossible not to fall in love with Momart's romantic design, from its moody dark flooring to its sprawling veranda, but particularly its aperitivo offering that starts from 6pm. People from all over Rome come here for its buffet which includes pizzas served fresh out of their wood fire ovens, pasta, salads and naturally its selection of alcoholic offerings. Popular with students from nearby universities, it generally caters to a younger crowd. I weekend sotto al portico di Piazza Augusto Imperatore sono i migliori della città. ____________________________________ #gustopizzeria #gustoristorante #gusto #piazzaaugustoimperatore #bestplacetogo #brunch #eatanddrink #rome #brunchinrome #romanity #italianrestaurant #italianfod #romefood #mangiarearoma #mangiareitaliano #loverome #centrostoricoroma #architecture #bestrestaurantinrome A post shared by Follow GUSTO_ROMA (@gusto_roma) on Feb 25, 2017 at 1:43am PST Gusto Gusto is all things to all people: a wine bar, a restaurant, a pizzeria, a bookshop and an awesome place for aperitivo. This trendy joint with its exposed brick walls and industrial details is always filled with customers and its unlimited aperitivo buffet is particularly high in demand, serving up pizzette, arancini and more. Affordably priced, there's also a great selection of cocktails and an extensive wine list to enjoy.
Megan Hills
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