Getting There

• Car: From Naples, take A1 north (direction "Roma").  Get off on either Roma Sud (if you're going to the south end of Rome, like the Appian Way, Ostiense, Trastevere...) or stay on until Roma Est (which leads you to A24 and most destinations in central Rome).  Autostrada tolls are €11.30 (as of 2009).  Parking can be difficult, but you can often find street parking even in crowded neighborhoods; one "lot" that is literally across from the Colosseum is at 41°53.44'N 12°29.66'E.
• Park and Ride:  A cheap parking option that avoids driving through downtown Rome is using a parcheggio di scambio (park and ride lot) and then riding the metro in.  See Rome Parking Lots page for more information.  For those driving to/from Tuscany, Rick Steves recommends parking your car at the free lot in Orvieto and taking the train south to Rome.
• Train: Take a train from one of the major train stations in or around Naples.  See the train page for more information.
• Bus: Marozzi runs a 4-hour bus from Roma Tiburtina to Sorrento for around €17.50.  Curreri runs a similar 3.5-hour bus six days a week for €16.
• Airplane:  You can also fly from Capodichinio, but since that gets you only to one of the airports (which are both outside the city center), this only makes sense if you are meeting a connecting flight.  Note that there are two airports.

Major Sites

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  The Colosseum
  Colosseum - the famous amphitheater where gladiators fought, this "colossal" structure is a symbol of the city.  €11 combo ticket with Palatine Hill (see below)...getting your ticket at Palatine Hill is good way to beat the lines.  Open every day from 9 until 1 hour before sunset. (Wikitravel Colosseum page has more.)
  
• Roman Forum and Palatine Hill - ancient Rome's main square, packed with history and fascinating ruins.  8:30-7, closes at 5 in winter, last entry 1 hour before closing.
  
• Pantheon - a shrine erected to "all" (pan) the "gods" (theos) by the Romans, this is one of the best-preserved parts of ancient Rome, and inspired all manner of domes including the US Capitol Building.  M-Sat 8:30-7:30, Sun 9-6, holidays 9-1, closed during Mass Sat 5 and Sun 10:30.
• Outdoor Piazzas (Piazza Navonna, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Campo de' Fiori) - great hangouts day or night, it is especially fun to walk between them late at night in the summer.
• Vatican (St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel) - see the Vatican page for more on this tiny country rich with art and religiosity, including tips on seeing the Pope.
• Borghese Galleries and Gardens - in a beautifully furnished and decorated estate in a park, see some of the most amazing Bernini statues.  Note that a reservation is required (usually a day in advance in the high season, same day possible during the low season).  Entry times for 2 hour tour every day at 9, 11, 1, 3, and 5; closed Mon.
  
• Appian Way and Catacombs - the ancient Roman road that linked Rome with southern Italy (including Naples, via the Domitiana), where early Christian catacombs dot the countryside just outside the city walls.
• Other Cool Ancient Roman Stuff - The Colosseum, Forum, and Pantheon form the trifecta of the best-preserved Ancient ruins, but other cool ruins and statues are around the city:
• Baths of Caracalla
• National Museum
• Capitoline Museums
• Trajan's Market/Forum & Column
• Marcus Aurelius's Column
• Pompey's Theater - where Caesar was actually stabbed, now home to a cat shelter
• Ara Pacis
• Other Cool Churches - apart from St. Peter's Basilica, there are bunch of other cool churches with interesting stuff:
• Sant'Ignazio - just E of the Pantheon, has a cool "fake" dome and other trompe l'oeil paintings
• San Pietro in Vincoli - just N of the Colosseum, houses chains that supposedly bound St. Peter, and Michelangelo's Moses
• Santa Maria Sopra Minerva - behind the Pantheon, this has a Michelangelo statue ("Christ the Redeemer")...also has a funny "Pulcino" statue of an elephant outside, supporting an Egyptian obelisk on its back
• San Clemente - E of the Colosseum; like a layer cake, this church has a Medieval church on top, a paleo-Christian church below it, and a Roman house/temple below that.
• Santa Maria della Vittoria - just N of Repubblica (not far from Termini), this houses Bernini's Ecstacy of St. Theresa...probably the most erotic art you'll ever see in a church
• Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri - on Piazza della Repubblica, this church was converted from Diocletian's baths by Michelangelo and has a cool astronomical "meridian line".
• Santa Maria della Concezione - N of Piazza Barberini, has a spooky crypt filled with artistically-arranged bones of Cappuchin monks
• Santa Maria in Cosmedin - SW of the Roman Forum, near the Tevere; outside is the Bocca della Verità ("Mouth of Truth"), made famous in the film Roman Holiday (line up with the Japanese tourists for a photo)...inside is a very old church whose altar is a converted Roman bathtub
• Santa Sabina - in the posh, seemingly secluded Aventine neighborhood S of the Roman Forum, the church isn't much to write home about but has nice gardens allowing you a chance to escape from the hustle of the city; also don't miss the "secret keyhole" view just up the street through the gardens of the Knights of Malta.
• Outside of Rome - the old Roman port of Ostia has some fascinating ruins; also an hour south of Rome near Anzio is the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial.

Restaurants

• Colline Emiliane - near Via Veneto off Piazza Barberini, wonderful Emilia-Romagna cuisine, Frommer's says it is "about the best pasta you'll find in Rome", T-Sun 12:45-2:45PM, T-Sat 7:45-10:45PM, Via Avignonesi 22, 06-4817538
• Piccolo Abruzzo - Northest of Via Veneto near Villa Borghese, good Abruzzo cuisine, especially salamis, Via Sicilia 237, Alessandro 328-835-1154 or 06-42820176, 12-16, 19-1:30, open Sun www.piccoloabruzzo.it  Also check out the Brancaleone osteria/pizzeria across the street, run by the same family, Via Sicilia 170, 06-4871776.
• Trattoria der Pallaro - near Campo de'Fiori, 22 euro fixed price meal of filling, simple home-style favorites, "you eat what we feed you"!, recommended by Rick Steves, Largo del Pallaro 15, 12-3 and 7-mid, 06-6880-1488
• Il Bocconcino, via Ostilia 23, about 2 blocks E of the Colosseum, Roman classics and slow food favorites, ~€28, 06 7707 9175, 12.30-3.30, 7.30-11.30, closed W, 3wks Aug, rec'd by Time Out.
• Enoteca Corsi - lunch-only restaurant 3 blocks southeast of Pantheon near Gesu church, praised by many writers including Frommer's and Time Out, great value M-Sat 12-15
• Osteria dell'Arco - excellent Roman cuisine cooked with flair, not far from Villa Borghese, excellent Time Out review, Via G. Pagliari 11, 06-8548438, osteria@tiscali.it, closed Sun and Sat lunch.
• Da Felice - renowned for having some of the best Roman food in the city, especially cacio e pepe (pasta with pecorino and pepper), they feature everyday favorites as well as a rotating menu of daily specials.  Don't miss the tiramisu, either!  In Testaccio (near Metro Piramide), Via Mastro Giorgio 29, 06-574-6800, make reservations early. Recommended by Time Out.
• Sora Margherita, Piazza delle Cinque Scole 30, Jewish Quarter, this classic hole-in-the-wall features cheap Roman Jewish cooking--highly recommended, get reservations early!, ~€20, 06-687-4216, 12:45-2:45, 8-11:30, closed Fri lunch, Sun, Aug, Sat (Apr-Sep) and Mon (Oct-Mar), rec'd by Time Out, Lonely Planet.
• Mexican: La Cucaracha. There are several Mexican restaurants in Rome. Most are overpriced for mediocre food, although La Cucaracha is fairly good.  Lots of traditional and spicy Mexican fare to choose from, as well as a nice cocktail menu. Via Mocenigo 10a, at Via Candia (Vatican Museum area, easy to integrate as a stop while sightseeing in Rome), 06-397-463-73; open every evening. It has mixed reviews on places like trip advisor - but you'll notice that the bad review are all from Italians ... probably because most Italians don't appreciate spicy food!
  
• Other good restaurants, organized by neighborhood

Gelaterie

• Gelateria Giolitti - a few blocks north of the Pantheon, lots of delicious flavors.  Via degli Uffici del Vicario 40, 06-699-1243.  Open every day 7-2 am.
• San Crispino Gelateria - a more "snooty" place (no tastings, no cones, less flavors) but the gelato is fantastic and always fresh/seasonal.  Honey vanilla San Crispino flavor is delicious and nearly always available.  Near Trevi Fountain, via della Panetteria 42.  They have a couple other franchise outposts, including at Fiumicino Terminal A and Piazza della Maddalena 3 north of the Pantheon.  Noon-12:30 AM or 1:30 AM on Fri/Sat, closed Tues in autumn/winter.  Featured in the book Eat, Pray, Love.
• Gelateria Gracchi - great gelato in the Prati neighborhood near the Vatican, just south of the Lepanto metro stop.  via dei Gracchi 272, 06-321-6668.  (Note: the nearby, much-recommended Gelateria Pellacchia is now closed!)
• Gelateria del Teatro - super-fresh gelato with innovative flavors west of Piazza Navona; if you get there early enough you can watch them make it. Via de San Simone 70 (off Via dei Coronari), 06-454-74880
• For more recommended gelaterie, see Katie Parla's Budget Travel article and blog posting, as well as an article about non-Crispino gelaterie

Travel Tips

Tour groups

Events, Information, and Resources