Rome, with its vast expanse, demanded serious preparation: I delved into guidebooks, scoured blogs, and sought advice from seasoned travellers. Everything seemed simple—landmarks in the center are compactly located, and you can easily see them all in a day. Though overall, I had a great day, there are still things that slightly tarnished the experience.
Let me start with what I did right:
1. Went to Rome, even if only for one day
Initially, I doubted whether it was worth visiting Rome for just one day, but after the trip, I can unequivocally say yes, it’s worth it. I traveled to Rome from Ferrara, and the train journey took me three hours one way. The trip was comfortable – you can either admire the scenery or take a nap as the train runs smoothly with few stops. To avoid oversleeping and missing Rome (the train was heading to Naples), I set an alarm on my phone. Getting around Rome was easy, and comfortable for strolling, and there was plenty of tasty food.
Of course, my trip to Rome was very, very short; it would be better to spend at least a week here. But I managed to see several iconic landmarks and now have an idea of what this city looks like. In general, if you have the opportunity to go even for a few hours, you should go.
2. Traveled in February
I visited Rome in early February, and that turned out to be the right decision. Firstly, the weather was wonderful: sunny and warm, reaching up to +17°C, while in my country, it was -6°C. I strolled around Rome comfortably in just a light jacket. Secondly, there weren’t many tourists yet. While in April or August, judging by numerous photos, there are crowds of tourists, in February, it was almost deserted – by Rome’s standards.
Of course, I would have liked to see Rome adorned with wisteria flowers—it blooms there at the end of March, but I’ll save that pleasure for next time!
3. Avoided standing in lines
While planning my route, I resisted the temptation to book a tour of the Vatican. It’s a very interesting activity, and I really wanted to go, but by sheer willpower, I left it for the future. Even with online tickets, I would still have to stand in line for a while, and the tour itself takes time. Instead, I focused solely on exploring the outside.
The temptation struck me again when I saw that the line to enter St. Peter’s Basilica wasn’t long – I could have gone through it in half an hour. But I didn’t join this line either, and that was the right decision. Time spent in Rome is priceless, and wasting it in lines is inexcusable. If I go to Rome for a couple of days, I will definitely buy tickets to popular museums online in advance. Although they are often sold online with a small markup, I will save a lot of time and effort.
4. Knew of toilet locations beforehand
I looked ahead to find where there were paid and free toilets on my route. When you’re on the spot, they’re not always easy to find, and you’ll have to spend time searching. For example, I could easily have missed the large free toilet on Piazza San Pietro – if you’re facing the cathedral, it’s on your left. And I didn’t even have to stand in line.
5. Avoided buying bottled water
I brought a small bottle of water with me and refilled it at the fountains scattered throughout the city. It’s clean and safe water; the locals actively consume it themselves.
6. Skipped planning a specific restaurant visit
Love planning and researching in advance. So, I wanted to mark out one or two places to grab a bite to eat. But I abandoned this idea. And that was the right thing to do. In Rome, there are plenty of cafes, bistros, and restaurants, and I had no trouble eating when I felt hungry. The place was outdoors, and the food was excellent. If had chosen a restaurant in advance, I would have spent time looking for it.
Moving on to what I did wrong:
1. Planned too much
Usually, I walk a lot and see many things. So, my list for Rome looked like this:
- Piazza San Pietro
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- St. Angelo Bridge and Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
- Piazza Navona
- Pantheon
- Piazza di Spagna Skipped
- Trevi Fountain
- Monument to Victor Emmanuel II Skipped
- Campidoglio Skipped
- Roman Forum Skipped
- Colosseum
All of them are on the way from the Vatican to Termini train station, from where I was leaving. Friends who had already been to Rome said that such a route would take two hours, including lunch.
Yes, this route can indeed be completed in two hours if you just walk past them. However, for me, such an amount of impressions turned out to be overwhelming.
Every landmark in Rome is mind-blowing. For example, I spent more than an hour at St. Peter’s Square—simply admiring and taking photos. It took me 40 minutes at Navona Square – I walked around it from all sides, admired the fountain and the buildings, and went inside the cathedral.
As a result, I changed the route and skipped several planned places. Instead, I took a bus to the last point—the Colosseum.
2. Forgot about pickpockets
I’ve heard many times that pickpockets operate in Rome, but the atmosphere was so comfortable and relaxing that I completely forgot about it. The bus I took was crowded. After a couple of stops, I got off and saw that the zipper on my backpack was fully open, something that had never happened before. Pickpockets took out something resembling a wallet, but it turned out to be… a small box with some band-aids. Phew! Of course, the Eternal City can dizzy anyone, so don’t lose your vigilance!
3. Arrived late
Since I lived far from Rome, I arrived on the first train – I was in Rome by half past eleven. And even at that time, it wasn’t crowded yet. So if you have the opportunity, come early in the morning. Seven to nine in the morning is the best time to stroll around Rome. It’s already light, and you’ll enjoy the true atmosphere of the city.
4. Didn’t study the metro map
The metro in Rome seemed simple and convenient to me, although at first, I got confused and took the wrong line. It’s all because I didn’t even glance at the map of the metro before the trip. However, I don’t know if it’s a downside – by taking another line, I lost 10 minutes, but I heard a musician playing the cymbals. I had never heard the sound of this wonderful instrument before and enjoyed it.
5. Only walked in the center
Since I came for just one day, I planned to see only the center. Of course, if I had more time, I would definitely visit an authentic market – Porta Portese on Sunday, Borguetto Flaminio and Piazza Verdi with their old beautiful things, or I would go to the suburbs—Viterbo, Tivoli, or somewhere else. I’ll leave these plans for next time!
Afterword: Rome is a beautiful and comfortable city. Even if you only have a few hours, be sure to go see it.
