I am going to spoil this now, if you are expecting this post to make Rome seem like the best city on earth, then stop now (but thanks for the view though). I was not a massive fan of Rome when I was there, however, as I reflect on my time in Rome I did enjoy the city and what it had to offer.
But I thought I would put together this piece to show off the three places in Rome I actually liked (admittedly one is in another country, but that’s besides the point).
To view flight information from Glasgow to Rome please click here.
If you just want to read about a specific one then click on the relevant link.
Without any more delay, here is a brief guide to the main sites.
Vatican City
Yes before somebody says it, I know it is officially a different country and should not be on this list, but you have to go to Rome in order to get there so here it is.
Officially the smallest country in the world the Vatican is located within Rome and is somewhere everyone should see.
As you can imagine, there isn’t much to do here, but it is somewhere you should still visit.
Most people I have spoken to about it have all said they went to see the buildings.
Normally there is a large military presence, but no security checks for people entering, however, should their be an event on then your bags will be searched.
We visited during the afternoon and during the evening. If you are visiting and can do this then I recommend it, however, if you are unable then I recommend going just as it is going dark.
How to Reach the Vatican
Due to it’s location you can walk to the Vatican from Rome. The walk from the city centre takes approximately 45 minutes. It should be noted that on Apple Maps it will warn you that the route crosses International Borders, do not worry as the border is nothing more than a sign thanks to the Schengen Area.
If you are taking the metro the closest station is “Ottaviano“. This station is located on Linea A and the journey time from the city centre of Rome is less than 10 minutes. From the metro walk down street “Via Ottaviano” until you reach Saint Peter’s Square.
The Colosseum
Out of everywhere in Rome, this was the one I was most surprised by. I was expecting the Colosseum to be full of tourist scams and to be massively overpriced.
In reality, there were very few tourist scams thanks to a noticeable police and military presence.
We decided not to go inside as we had not booked tickets in advance and had multiple things to see in a short period of time.
As with anywhere that attracts tourists people want their photo taken. This means you might not get the shot you want immediately, however, be patient as you will still get it.
How to Reach the Colosseum
The walk from the City Centre to the Colosseum takes approximately 20 minutes and is straightforward.
If you decide to take the metro to the Colosseum there is a regular service on Linea B. Travel to the station Colosseo and exit the train. From there it is a 90 second walk to the Colosseum. In my experience the Metro will be busy so take care of your belongings at all times.
Trevi Fountain
“It’s not what I expected” – 95% of people who were there.
The Trevi fountain itself was actually really impressive to look at. However, we went during the day and at night and it was crowded with people.
People were sitting on the edge, which the police were fine with, however, they did intervene when people sat on the fountain itself, particularly those with food.
I’m sure you are aware of the tradition of throwing coins into the fountain for good luck. From what I have been told the number of coins you throw means something:
- 1 coin – you will return to Rome
- 2 coins – you will marry an Italian
- 3 coins – you will marry your partner
I did not throw any as I am in no rush to return to Rome, don’t plan on marrying anyone and don’t have a partner. If you do throw coins these are collected by the city and shared amongst local charities.
How to reach the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is actually in the centre of Rome, meaning it is likely to be within a 15 minute walk of your hotel.
The closest metro station to the Trevi Fountain is Barberini. Located on Linea A it is approximately 3 minutes away from the main train station. From the metro station it is a 10 minute walk to the fountain.
Some things to note about Rome’s Public Transport.
Below are some of the main points you should be aware of when it comes to using the public transport within Rome.
- The metro runs between 0530 and 2330 Sunday – Thursday
- The metro runs between 0530 and 0130 Friday & Saturday
There are 4 main tickets you should be concerned about, these are;
One Way Ticket – Valid for 75 minutes from activation. You can transfer as many times as you like within the metro system.
It will cost 1.50 euros.
MetroBus 24 hours – Valid from activation until midnight the same day it allows unlimited use of the Public Transport systems within Rome.
It will cost 7 euros
MetroBus 48 hours – Valid for 48 hours from activation it allows unlimited use of the Public Transport systems within Rome.
It will cost 12.50 euros
MetroBus 72 hours – Valid for 72 hours from activation it allows unlimited use of the Public Transport systems within Rome.
It will cost 18 euros
Should you be in Rome for more than 7 days a weekly pass is available for 24 euros.
Should you fail to produce a valid ticket when asked by a member of staff a 50 euro fine will be issued.
Connect with me on Social Media
George Nugent Travels 
Leave a comment