Cecilia’s City Center Guide

Cecilia
Cecilia’s City Center Guide

Sightseeing

These are the biggest attractions in Rome, we start out with our own personal tip and then some more basic info about the site.
Pro Tip: If you can, take the night tour. The Colosseum is way cooler all lit up in the dark and a little less crowded! The next best option is to take an actual tour and go underground. This is a serious hot take, but honestly it wouldn't be the end of the world if you skip going inside and instead grab a drink in the park Colle Appio right next to it. Basic entrance is €12, under 18 is free. Includes entrance to the Roman Forum as well. Add €2 if you call or buy online. Discount available if you're from an EU country!
2613 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Coliseo
1 Piazza del Colosseo
2613 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: If you can, take the night tour. The Colosseum is way cooler all lit up in the dark and a little less crowded! The next best option is to take an actual tour and go underground. This is a serious hot take, but honestly it wouldn't be the end of the world if you skip going inside and instead grab a drink in the park Colle Appio right next to it. Basic entrance is €12, under 18 is free. Includes entrance to the Roman Forum as well. Add €2 if you call or buy online. Discount available if you're from an EU country!
Pro Tip: If possible, come here early in the morning or later. Around lunchtime, it can get SUPER hot and there is no cover! Absolutely worth checking it out ground level. €12, Under 18 is free. Includes entrance to the Colosseum as well. Add €2 if you call or buy online. Opens everyday at 8:30am, closes one hour before sunset.
422 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Roman Forum
5/6 Via della Salara Vecchia
422 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: If possible, come here early in the morning or later. Around lunchtime, it can get SUPER hot and there is no cover! Absolutely worth checking it out ground level. €12, Under 18 is free. Includes entrance to the Colosseum as well. Add €2 if you call or buy online. Opens everyday at 8:30am, closes one hour before sunset.
Pro tip: try to get the last tour of the day. Its always gonna be crowded, but not quite as much at night. Maybe this is because everywhere you read says to go super early? One ticket gets you access to the entire Vatican Museum, with the Sistine Chapel being the final room of the experience. €16 adults, €8 for children or students. Open Mon-Sat 9am - 6pm. Also open the last Sunday of each month, with free admission that day. The line will be extremely long however so use caution!
294 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Capilla Sixtina
294 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro tip: try to get the last tour of the day. Its always gonna be crowded, but not quite as much at night. Maybe this is because everywhere you read says to go super early? One ticket gets you access to the entire Vatican Museum, with the Sistine Chapel being the final room of the experience. €16 adults, €8 for children or students. Open Mon-Sat 9am - 6pm. Also open the last Sunday of each month, with free admission that day. The line will be extremely long however so use caution!
Pro Tip: If you want an overhead view of the fountain, go into the clothes shop "United Colors of Benneton" that is right behind it. Go upstairs to snap a photo from the window! Its the only public place to get an arial view. Free. Try to go super late in the evening, or super early in the morning for non-existent crowds. Otherwise just elbow through the crowd and grab some gelato at one of the shops (any one you pick will be seriously good).
1461 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fuente de Trevi
Piazza di Trevi
1461 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: If you want an overhead view of the fountain, go into the clothes shop "United Colors of Benneton" that is right behind it. Go upstairs to snap a photo from the window! Its the only public place to get an arial view. Free. Try to go super late in the evening, or super early in the morning for non-existent crowds. Otherwise just elbow through the crowd and grab some gelato at one of the shops (any one you pick will be seriously good).
Pro Tip: If you somehow find yourself stuck in a rainstorm in the city center, RUN to the Pantheon. Seeing the rain fall through the center of the dome is nothing short of magical. This was the most visited site in Rome last year! Absolutely worth a visit. Also, Raphael's tomb is there. 2020 would be his 500th birthday, so every day this year they are putting a rose on his tomb in honor. Free. Open Mon-Sat, 8:30-7:00.
1342 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Panthon
Piazza della Rotonda
1342 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: If you somehow find yourself stuck in a rainstorm in the city center, RUN to the Pantheon. Seeing the rain fall through the center of the dome is nothing short of magical. This was the most visited site in Rome last year! Absolutely worth a visit. Also, Raphael's tomb is there. 2020 would be his 500th birthday, so every day this year they are putting a rose on his tomb in honor. Free. Open Mon-Sat, 8:30-7:00.
Pro Tip: Don't sit on the steps, or the guards will yell at you! The surrounding area is full of high-end fashion stores as well.
206 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Escalinata Española
Piazza di Spagna
206 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: Don't sit on the steps, or the guards will yell at you! The surrounding area is full of high-end fashion stores as well.
Pro Tip: This is a must visit all year-round, but especially around Christmas time. The square turns into the best market in Rome! The piazza is home to two incredible sculptures by the best competing sculptors of all time: Bernini and Borromini. During the day, there are all kinds of independent artists selling their wares, as well as cafes to grab a drink.
1722 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Plaza Navona
Piazza Navona
1722 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: This is a must visit all year-round, but especially around Christmas time. The square turns into the best market in Rome! The piazza is home to two incredible sculptures by the best competing sculptors of all time: Bernini and Borromini. During the day, there are all kinds of independent artists selling their wares, as well as cafes to grab a drink.
Pro Tip: You MUST visit this around sunset, the colors bouncing off the river are incredible. As a bonus, Ponte Sisto leads you to the doorstep of one of the coolest neighborhoods of Rome, Trastevere. Full of restaurants and bars, with cobblestone narrow streets and a fun vibe. Its super close to the city center and right on the river! Definitely worth the short walk.
66 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ponte Sisto
Piazza Trilussa
66 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pro Tip: You MUST visit this around sunset, the colors bouncing off the river are incredible. As a bonus, Ponte Sisto leads you to the doorstep of one of the coolest neighborhoods of Rome, Trastevere. Full of restaurants and bars, with cobblestone narrow streets and a fun vibe. Its super close to the city center and right on the river! Definitely worth the short walk.

Favorite Food Spots

There are tons of restaurants and bars with great reviews on google, but for real what do tourists know?? We tell you the best spots that wont rip you off. As always, follow the universal rule of "if theres a big poster with pictures, or a display of food out front, don't go". That being said, if you find a great spot LET US KNOW!! We wanna try too!
PIZZA: Very large, busy spot on the outskirts of Trastevere. Super popular with Romans, they also have excellent "supli" here, which is a fried rice ball with different toppings inside.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ai Marmi
53-59 Viale di Trastevere
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
PIZZA: Very large, busy spot on the outskirts of Trastevere. Super popular with Romans, they also have excellent "supli" here, which is a fried rice ball with different toppings inside.
PIZZA: This one is tucked away in a discreet alleyway in Trastevere. Legendary pizza here!
217 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dar Poeta
45 Vicolo del Bologna
217 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
PIZZA: This one is tucked away in a discreet alleyway in Trastevere. Legendary pizza here!
PIZZA: The perfect example of Roman style pizzeria. Paper thin, delicious and savory pies available here. My favorite in the city center. There will probably be a line!
196 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Montecarlo
13 Vicolo Savelli
196 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
PIZZA: The perfect example of Roman style pizzeria. Paper thin, delicious and savory pies available here. My favorite in the city center. There will probably be a line!
UPSCALE: You will need a reservation. Very nice dishes and simple ambiance.
49 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pianostrada
22 Via delle Zoccolette
49 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
UPSCALE: You will need a reservation. Very nice dishes and simple ambiance.
DRINKS: Super close to Piazza Navona, they have a great combination of food and drinks, without being insanely overpriced.
255 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bar del Fico - gypsy style cool
34 Via della Pace
255 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
DRINKS: Super close to Piazza Navona, they have a great combination of food and drinks, without being insanely overpriced.
FRIED FISH: This is the type of place you'd probably never notice if you werent told about it. These guys specialize in a Roman appetizer called "baccala", which is a crispy little fried fish fillet. Perfect snack at night, these guys do it the best in a city where they have it everywhere.
87 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara
88 Largo dei Librari
87 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
FRIED FISH: This is the type of place you'd probably never notice if you werent told about it. These guys specialize in a Roman appetizer called "baccala", which is a crispy little fried fish fillet. Perfect snack at night, these guys do it the best in a city where they have it everywhere.
ROOFTOP BAR: This place is awesome. Super pricey, but great views.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hotel Raphaël
2 Largo Febo
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
ROOFTOP BAR: This place is awesome. Super pricey, but great views.
ROOFTOP BAR: Great views. Pricey. But worth it as well, if its open.
Minerva roof garden
69 Piazza della Minerva
ROOFTOP BAR: Great views. Pricey. But worth it as well, if its open.
ROOFTOP BAR: This one is a little less well known. As with all rooftop bars, expect to splurge a little on pricing.
La Terrazza del Cesàri
89/a Via di Pietra
ROOFTOP BAR: This one is a little less well known. As with all rooftop bars, expect to splurge a little on pricing.

Neighborhoods

If you want to go clubbing, this is the area to go.
105 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Garbatella
105 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
If you want to go clubbing, this is the area to go.
Great place for aperitivo, right by the city center. One of our favorite neighborhoods!
1330 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Trastevere
1330 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Great place for aperitivo, right by the city center. One of our favorite neighborhoods!
Awesome area full of boutique little shops and vintage stores. Kind of a trendy, hipster-ish area. Also some really nice, mid-priced restaurants and bars.
399 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rione Monti
399 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Awesome area full of boutique little shops and vintage stores. Kind of a trendy, hipster-ish area. Also some really nice, mid-priced restaurants and bars.
Our neighborhood! Check out the other guide for more details.
60 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pigneto
60 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Our neighborhood! Check out the other guide for more details.
Lots of clothes shopping here, many well-known chains all on a long street. If you like little wine bars and tiny restaurants, you'll be in heaven.
71 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Prati
71 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lots of clothes shopping here, many well-known chains all on a long street. If you like little wine bars and tiny restaurants, you'll be in heaven.

Consejos para la ciudad

Costumbres y cultura

Drink coffee standing at the bar

Standing at the bar and drinking like an Italian means there is a limit on how much they can charge you for a coffee (1 euro). If you sit, they can charge whatever they want-which could result in an insanely overpriced cappuccino!
Costumbres y cultura

Use the deli counter at the grocery!

We always see people making the mistake of getting the plastic packaged prosciutto or the refrigerator bag of mozzarella. NEVER buy them! They are more expensive and taste way worse. Go to the deli counter to get both of these items. They probably wont speak English, but they will be friendly and will figure it out. Just point if you have to, its worth it!