When In Rome

Have you ever wondered how to make a three-day trip to a big city worth it? Here are my tips and tricks after spending a short weekend in Rome, Italy.

Day 1

Arrive mid morning around 9 a.m. to avoid jet lag.

Arrange an early check-in so you can grab a Taxi or an Uber from the airport, straight to your accommodations, for a quick change. Freshen up, grab the outfit you placed on top of all your other clothes so you don’t have to dig through your suitcase to find an outfit for the day and hit the streets of Rome.

Explore. Wander aimlessly down the river. Stop for gelato and a glass of wine.

Have dinner at the restaurant your friend recommended after studying in Rome for 6 months.

Power through, relying solely on adrenaline. Come bed time, after a glass of vino and a mound of homemade pasta, you will sleep like a baby and be ready for a day full of all things Rome.

Day 2

It’s your first full day. Book your tickets to the Vatican for the following day.

Make your way to the Colosseum and wander through the Roman Forum. Take the touristy pics.

Stop at the hole in the wall for deliciously creamy pesto on the way.

Walk. Walk everywhere. You won’t truly see the city and more importantly, you won’t find the creamy pesto, if you don’t. The day will fly by, just like that.

Wander back up the river on the way back to your Airbnb just outside the walls of Vatican City. Stop for pizza at Dar Poeta. This is by far the best pizza I have ever had; I would go back to Rome just for another bite of this pizza.

Continue wandering back up the river, exhausted after tens of thousands of steps in a single day. Take the photo with the Italian man when he photo bombs you. It’s a memory that will never fade.

Last stop for the night: lemon gelato.

Day 3

It’s your second and last full day in Rome. Off to the Vatican you go, in short shorts and a skimpy tank top because you didn’t know any better. Fall into the tourist trap that is overpriced scarves to cover your shoulders. It’s a memory, a photo and a laugh that will last a lifetime.

Stop at the cafe for overpriced, horrid refreshments. The Vatican is a long day. Absolutely stunning, but long.

Share a bottle of wine outside the city walls.

Wander down the river, back to the Trastevere neighborhood because you loved Dar Poeta so dang much.

Happen upon a local hole in the wall where the owner makes Alfredo special for you after informing you it isn’t actually Italian and you won’t find it on any menu in Italy. Bless that sweet Italian man!

Wander back up the river in the direction of Trevi Fountain and make a pit stop for your favorite lemon gelato. It’s bittersweet. Just like waking up the next morning at the crack of dawn to catch a train to Sorrento for the week.

Thank you Jackie for all of the amazing recommendations. When in Rome, comment your favorites here! X