Visiting Europe from Jamaica is no easy feat, as you may have noticed in my previous article on how to obtain a Schengen visa as a Jamaican passport holder. That being said, my husband and I decided to make Europe our first wedding anniversary trip– albeit two months late due to PTO issues, and our anniversary falling in peak travel season. We had two weeks to explore the continent and handpicked four cities from our bucket lists. Rome was our first stop, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it raised the bar impossibly high for the other cities we’d eventually explore. Rome, the Eternal City and Cradle of Western Civilization, seamlessly blends old with new– modern city living co-existing with ancient ruins from BC. I fell in love with the city but Rome, like everywhere else, has its issues too which I’ll get into soon. Today, let’s talk about how to experience the best of Rome in three days, especially as a first timer.
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Best Time to Visit Rome
The best time to visit Rome is during spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is generally pleasant for sightseeing, walking tours and exploring the city’s historic landmarks. It was mostly warm during my visit in late September, with daytime temperatures averaging 25°C. Spring and autumn also experience smaller crowds than summer which is peak travel season, but the crowds in late September were still ridiculous in my opinion. Winter (December to March) in Rome is generally cooler and quieter, with fewer tourists and potentially lower accommodation prices, making it a good option for budget-conscious travelers. For the best balance of comfortable weather, manageable crowds and sightseeing opportunities, aim for May, early June or late September like I did.
Pro Tip: Book travel insurance before your trip.
Where to Stay in Rome
The best area to stay in Rome depends on your budget and travel style. The historic centre (Centro Storico) is an excellent choice for first-time visitors who want to explore Rome’s major attractions on foot, as the city is quite walkable. Staying near the Pantheon, Piazza Navona or Trevi Fountain puts you within walking distance of many iconic landmarks, restaurants and charming streets, although accommodation tends to be more expensive. Monti and Celio are great alternatives for their trendy cafés, local restaurants and proximity to the Colosseum, while Trastevere offers a lively atmosphere, cobblestone streets and excellent dining options. I stayed at a clean and comfortable Airbnb in Celio which was 10-minutes’ walk from the Colosseum, and 25-minutes’ walk from the Roma Termini train station. It costed US$146 per night for two persons, and our host was wonderful. For budget-conscious travelers, Termini has a wider range of affordable hotels and convenient public transport connections. But, if you’re visiting Rome for only three days like I did, Monti and Celio are my top picks to save money, minimize travel time and make the most of your trip.
My 3 Day Rome Itinerary
I flew from Toronto with Air Transat, and arrived at the Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) Airport in Rome one Sunday afternoon after an eight hour flight. At the airport, we bought train tickets to Roma Termini for 14 euros each, then walked to our Airbnb. After a smooth check-in process, we were ready to hit the road. We had managed to sleep on the flight and weren’t too tired. One of my close friends who migrated to London had flown in to meet us, so we caught up while roaming the streets of Rome (some pun intended). Now for the exciting part, what did I get up to in Rome?
- Day 1: the Colosseum (exterior), Centro Storico (Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon), a few churches. We ate pizza slices and arancini from a takeaway cafe, and ended the night with gelato.
- Day 2: Colosseum & Roman Forum (Skip-the-line walking tour), Jewish Quarter, Trastevere. More gelato, and lasagna for lunch.
- Day 3: Vatican City (Skip-the-line tour), Pyramid of Caius Cestius.
Exploring Rome on foot was an absolute joy, despite the warm 26°C weather. I was able to navigate smartly thanks to data from my favourite eSIM provider. There was something to see around every corner: charming roadside cafes, water fountains, basilicas with extravagant ornate ceilings that you could duck into for free to admire or pray in, and a high concentration of historical ruins, many which date back to BC. However, Rome was extremely crowded in late September, especially around the Centro Storico, and that area is notorious for pickpockets. As such, we didn’t linger there, but seeing Rome at night was a treat, especially the Colosseum which is beautifully lit.
Our Colosseum tour was the next morning. Given how long the queues were to get inside, I consider my Colosseum & Roman Forum skip-the-line guided tour an excellent investment. Plus, my tour guide was great, and brought the history of both places to life quite vividly. Many persons are happy seeing the Colosseum from outside for free, but I think it was worth paying the admission to go inside. I’ll share more about this excursion next week.
We visited Colosseum first thing in the morning to beat the crowds, which left our afternoon free to roam. We met up with my friend then wandered across town to the Jewish Quarter, and finally to Trastevere. Rome’s Jewish Ghetto, or Jewish Quarter, is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Western world, with a continuous history dating back to around 200 BC. It was a quieter side of town with interesting ruins to see, as well as the Jewish Synagogue which was built in the early 1900s after Italian Jews were granted full citizenship. We were surprised to find it heavily guarded but would soon come to realize that this was the norm at many Jewish landmarks, given the world’s current geopolitical climate. After sightseeing the Jewish Quarter, we crossed the Tiber River’s bridge to get to Trastevere which is located about 15 minutes further on foot. Trastevere is an elegant side of the city with fewer crowds, so we ambled along its streets and piazzas, sightseeing and people-watching before making the long trek back across town to our Airbnb.
On our last full day in Rome, we visited the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with a skip-the-line guided tour. These tickets were pricy but well worth it, as I only waited 5 minutes to enter the museum and there was no wait to enter the Basilica. Regular wait times are 2-3 hours for the museum, and 1 hour for the basilica. I hate standing in lines so I consider this money well spent. I’ll cover this day trip in further detail later this month. After a quick visit to the Pyramid of Caius Cestius, we decided to head in. This pyramid is a Roman monument and tomb built between 18 and 12 BC from concrete, brick and marble slabs. It was inspired by the Egyptian Pyramids of Giza but is only a quarter in height at approximately 36 to 37 meters (119 to 121 feet) tall.
Wrap Up
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Rome. Three days were enough to explore the city’s highlights, but I’m sure I could find many more activities and landmarks to fill an entire week if I’d had the time. Sure, Rome was crowded and had its fair share of litter, public smoking, pee and homelessness, but these social ills did not detract from the city’s historical value and beauty. I also found their public water fountains quite interesting. Rome’s water fountains date back to BC from ancient aqueducts, an engineering marvel of its time, which still supply over 2,500 Roman nasoni, that is, free, cold, drinkable spring water fountains to this day. I drank from the nicer looking ones, and had no issues! Would you drink from these fountains? Also, have you ever visited Rome, or would you like to visit? Sound off in the comments section below, and make sure you’re subscribed to get the rest of my European series delivered straight to your inbox. 🙂 See you next week!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:
- Visa Free Countries for Jamaicans
- How I Book My Trips Abroad
- How to Save Money For Travel
- How to Travel With Only A Carry-On
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