Last updated: September 2026
Rome holidays put you at the heart of one of the world’s great cities, a place where nearly three thousand years of history unfold on every street corner. The Italian capital is unlike anywhere else on earth — ancient ruins rise between baroque fountains, Renaissance churches shelter Caravaggio masterpieces, and the scent of fresh espresso and wood-fired pizza drifts through cobbled alleyways at all hours. A holiday in Rome is a feast for all the senses and an experience that stays with you for life.
Rome earns its nickname as the Eternal City many times over. Nowhere else on earth can you walk from a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre to a piazza designed by Bernini, pop into a church to see a Michelangelo sculpture and then sit down to the best cacio e pepe of your life — all within a single afternoon. The city is also a superb gateway destination, with excellent transport links to the rest of Italy and beyond. Whether you are here for two days or two weeks, Rome will leave you wanting more.
Rome enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The most comfortable times to visit are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are warm but the summer crowds have yet to arrive or have already departed. July and August can be swelteringly hot, though the city empties slightly as locals head to the coast.
The Colosseum is Rome’s most iconic monument and one of the greatest architectural achievements of the ancient world. Built in AD 70–80, it held up to 80,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Immediately adjacent, the Roman Forum was the beating heart of ancient Rome — a sprawling complex of temples, basilicas and public spaces that served as the political, religious and commercial centre of the Roman Empire. The nearby Palatine Hill offers panoramic views over both sites.
The Vatican City, the world’s smallest sovereign state, is home to two of the most visited attractions on earth. St Peter’s Basilica, the centre of the Catholic faith, is a breathtaking work of Renaissance and baroque architecture crowned by Michelangelo’s magnificent dome. Climbing to the top of the dome rewards visitors with one of Rome’s finest panoramas. The Vatican Museums contain one of the world’s greatest art collections, with the Sistine Chapel — its ceiling painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 — as the undisputed centrepiece.
The Trevi Fountain is Rome’s most exuberant baroque monument, a theatrical cascade of marble figures and rushing water that draws enormous crowds day and night. The tradition of throwing a coin into the fountain to ensure a return to Rome is one most visitors cannot resist. A short walk away, the Spanish Steps lead up from the Piazza di Spagna in a graceful curve of 135 travertine steps, lined with flower sellers and overlooked by the Trinità dei Monti church.
The Pantheon is perhaps Rome’s most perfectly preserved ancient monument. Built as a temple to all the gods around AD 125, it features an extraordinary unreinforced concrete dome that remains one of the most remarkable engineering achievements in history. The oculus at its apex — a circular opening 8.7 metres in diameter — is the building’s only source of natural light and one of the most dramatic architectural experiences in Rome.
Trastevere is Rome’s most characterful neighbourhood — a tangle of narrow medieval streets, ivy-draped buildings and neighbourhood piazzas filled with the sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses. By day it is home to the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere; by evening it transforms into one of Rome’s most atmospheric dining and drinking destinations.
Testaccio is Rome’s food district, a working-class neighbourhood that has maintained its authentic Roman identity while becoming increasingly popular with visitors in the know. The covered market is a brilliant place to eat lunch, and the area’s restaurants serve the best examples of traditional Roman cucina povera — offal dishes, cacio e pepe, carbonara and amatriciana.
The elegant Prati district, just across the Tiber from the Vatican, offers a more residential side of Rome with wide tree-lined boulevards, excellent restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere. It makes an ideal base for visiting the Vatican and is well connected to the rest of the city by metro and bus.
Roman cuisine is robust, flavourful and deeply traditional. The city’s signature pastas — cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana and gricia — are made with just a handful of ingredients but demand real skill to execute properly. Pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) makes a perfect quick lunch, while supplì (fried rice balls) and artichokes alla romana are beloved Roman street foods. For dessert, a cone of gelato from a reputable gelateria is non-negotiable.
Coffee culture in Rome is serious business. Romans drink their espresso standing at the bar, often in a matter of seconds, and a properly made Roman espresso is a short, intense, perfectly balanced shot. Avoid the tourist traps around the major attractions and seek out the bars where locals gather for a far superior — and considerably cheaper — cup.
Rome is served by two international airports. Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) is the main hub, located approximately 35 kilometres southwest of the city centre and well connected by train, coach and taxi. Rome Ciampino, a smaller airport to the southeast of the city, handles a significant volume of budget airline traffic. Direct flights operate from airports throughout the UK, with flight times of approximately two and a half hours. British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair and ITA Airways all serve Rome year-round.
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The Vatican Museums represent one of the world’s greatest art collections — 54 galleries containing the accumulated acquisitions of 2,000 years of papal patronage. The route through the museums culminates in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling (1508–12) and the Last Judgement wall fresco (1536–41) represent the high point of Western Renaissance art. The queue for walk-up entry to the Vatican Museums can stretch three or four hours — pre-booked timed entry tickets are essential for all Rome holidays visiting in peak season (April–October). St Peter’s Basilica itself — the largest church in the world, with Michelangelo’s Pietà in the first chapel, Bernini’s extraordinary Baldachin over the papal altar, and the 136-metre dome that dominates Rome’s skyline — is free to enter. Allow half a day for the museums and a further hour for the basilica and dome ascent.
Roman cuisine is one of Italy’s most distinctive regional traditions, built on the cucina povera (peasant kitchen) of the city’s working-class neighbourhoods. The classic Roman pasta dishes — cacio e pepe (pecorino, black pepper, rigatoni), carbonara (guanciale, egg, pecorino, spaghetti), amatriciana (guanciale, tomato, pecorino, bucatini), gricia (guanciale, pecorino, rigatoni) — each use minimal ingredients to extraordinary effect and are fiercely defended against adulteration. Coda alla vaccinara (braised oxtail), carciofi alla romana (braised artichokes), and the Jewish-Roman cuisine of the Ghetto neighbourhood (fried artichokes alla giudia, filetti di baccalà) add further dimensions. The traditional Roman trattoria — paper tablecloths, handwritten menu, neighbourhood clientele — delivers the best of this cuisine at affordable prices. Trastevere, the Testaccio market neighbourhood and the area around Campo de’ Fiori are the best hunting grounds for authentic Rome holiday dining.
Rome’s neighbourhoods repay extended exploration well beyond the headline monuments. Trastevere — across the Tiber from the historic centre — is Rome’s most atmospheric medieval neighbourhood, with narrow lanes, ivy-covered buildings and some of the city’s best restaurants. The Prati neighbourhood adjacent to the Vatican offers outstanding mid-range dining and is significantly less crowded than the tourist centre. The Pigneto and Ostiense areas are Rome’s most creative and fashionable for bars and contemporary restaurants. Allow at least 4–5 days for a first Rome holiday to absorb the full scale of the ancient, medieval and Baroque city without exhaustion.
Rome’s climate makes it a year-round destination. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October) are ideal — comfortable temperatures, manageable crowds and all attractions fully open. Summer (June–August) is hot (32–38°C), extremely busy and requires early morning sightseeing. Winter Rome offers the most atmospheric low-season experience, with the Christmas and New Year illuminations transforming the city.
Rome’s connection to the UK is served by numerous airlines from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and regional airports to Fiumicino (FCO) and Ciampino (CIA) airports, with flight times of 2.5 hours. Fiumicino is connected to Rome Termini by the Leonardo Express train (30 minutes). Travel insurance covering medical expenses is recommended, as healthcare costs for tourists in Italy, while generally reasonable, can mount quickly for hospitalised care.
Most visitors find that three to four days gives them enough time to cover Rome’s major highlights comfortably without feeling rushed. A week or more allows you to explore the city’s many neighbourhoods, take day trips to Ostia Antica, Tivoli or the Castelli Romani, and truly absorb the city at a Roman pace. Even two days is enough for the absolute highlights if you plan carefully.
Rome is generally a very safe destination for tourists. The main concerns are petty theft and pickpocketing, particularly around major tourist attractions, on public transport and at busy markets. Keep your belongings secure, be aware of your surroundings and use common sense — the same precautions you would take in any major European city.
Rome’s historic centre is largely walkable, and many of the major sights are within comfortable walking distance of each other. The metro has two main lines (A and B) that serve many key destinations, and buses and trams cover the wider city. Taxis are widely available and relatively affordable. Many visitors find that comfortable walking shoes are their most important piece of equipment in Rome.
The Vatican Museums are extremely popular and queues without advance booking can be several hours long, particularly in peak season. It is strongly recommended to book entry tickets and any guided tours well in advance online. Early morning or late afternoon visits tend to be slightly less crowded than midday.
Rome’s churches, including St Peter’s Basilica, require visitors to have covered shoulders and knees. Scarves or sarongs carried in your bag make a useful solution if you are visiting in hot weather. The dress code is strictly enforced at St Peter’s and at many of the major basilicas, so it is important to plan accordingly.
If you book a flight-inclusive Rome package through a UK ATOL-licensed tour operator, your money is fully protected if the company fails before or during your trip. Our holiday protection guide explains ATOL, ABTA and Section 75 in plain English.
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