Introduction to Italy: Solo Traveler’s Guide to Rome
Benvenuto a Roma, Italia!
I had my trip to Italy during New Year's! This was the perfect time, as it was not incredibly busy, but also so full of culture and tradition! I enjoyed experiencing the holidays in Italy. But be sure to pack accordingly, as it did rain many days, and was very cold.
I started my trip to Italy by first flying into Rome at the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport.
From the airport, you'll need to take a train from airport to the city proper. I took the Leonardo Express. It takes about half an hour, and is a non-stop service to the station. Tickets can be purchased at the station, and cost €18. Then, you'll arrive at Roma Termini Train Station.
For my stay in Rome. I opted to stay in hostels. This was my first time staying in hostels, sharing a room with complete strangers, instead of staying in a hotel or Airbnb. It's actually really interesting to meet all kinds of people who stay in hostels, from all kinds of different backgrounds and from all over the world!
This hostel was great! Such a central location where all the city's attractions, like the Trevi Fountain or Colosseum, are only about a 25 minute walk right out the front door!
Day 1
After checking into the hostel and settling in, I took a nap! Traveling is so draining, especially with flying, trains, and walking. It's important to let yourself become accustomed to a new climate or new conditions, and adjust. Even in Rome, they have a "siesta" time, called "riposo." It is a sacred time of relaxation and rejuvenation, usually between 1pm - 4pm. So don't be shocked when it seems like everything has quieted or closed down, it's just a time to take a little rest.
After the riposo, it's time to eat! Of course Italy has some of the best food ever, in my humble opinion! Of course I walked to the nearest restaurant and had the best margarita pizza, savoring every moment and flavor.
Rome is seriously amazing. It’s incredible, you walk 5 minutes in any direction and you find a random monument, church, statue or museum. It's my favorite thing to do: wander the city, weaving in and out of the streets, remembering that the journey isn’t just the final destination but to observe and experience the world around you.
So, while a lot of tourist were gearing up to go to an outdoor concert at Circus Maximus right next to the Colosseum, I decided to watch the city display all their fireworks on top of Janiculum Hill Terrace. And I discovered more on my journey to a hill than I would have ever at a party.
But on my way to the hill, I saw so much! This is why I love solo travel. Being able to stop at any given notice, snap a picture, and be fully present in the moment.
Standing in the terrace surrounded by Italians and their families was the most spectacular start of the New Year. You could see colors light up the sky from the most beautiful view.
Day 2
I started the morning with the sweetest cappuccino and flakiest croissant ever, seriously. Just down the street from the hostel.
Be forewarned, on holidays most museums and other significant sites are closed. But luckily, I planned for this, and all the guided tours started the next day. So I used this day to explore more of the open public places, most notably the Piazza de Quirinale, Trevi Fountain, Plaza de España and the Spanish Steps.
I mapped out a route that I could see all these places one directly after the other, starting out at the Piazza de Quirinale.
Next was the beautiful, iconic, Trevi Fountain.
The detail and craftsmanship of the Trevi Fountain was just incredible! I stayed there for over an hour, just admiring it all. Granted, there was a lot of people, but I was lucky enough to find myself right at the foot of the fountain and snap some amazing photos. Even on a national holiday, there were so many people, especially around noon. If you wish to have a better chance at getting towards the front with no crowds, most people suggest you arrive really early, around 6am.
However, the Spanish Steps were a little underwhelming. I thought it would be more fantastic climbing them, but it wasn’t. The history behind it is actually very interesting, so take a moment to read all the plaques. The views from the top were breathtaking though. I didn't spend a lot of time here, and just wandered around the area for a bit.
Rome is fantastic. On every corner, there’s a fountain, or statue, or museum, or monument. I always love art instillation and conversation pieces, aimed at promoting the art scene here in Rome. “Kindness is Punk” and “Who protects me from your eyes?” It’s incredible what this city has to offer!
On your way back to the hostel, stop by the Piazza Barberini and the Fountain of Moses, more incredible works of architecture.
Ended the day with some delicious ravioli or other pastas! It's always best practice to learn a few simple phrases in the local language, such as "Per favore," "Grazie," "Scusa" and "Prego!" (Please, Thank you, Excuse me, and You're Welcome). A little bit of Italian will go a long way!
Day 3
The agenda for today was to tour the Roman Colosseum. One of the 7 Wonders of the World. This is one of the biggest sites to see, and I easily spent the whole day here.
I woke up at 6am, and started walking towards the Colosseum, and this is the perfect time, because there was hardly anybody there. The weather was perfect all day, which made for some really great pictures you can take right outside the Colosseum, without the huge crowds.
I had booked my tour for mid-morning, around 9am, so I had some time to grab something to eat in the area. There are a lot of restaurants and cafes here, but double check what times they open. Be sure to eat something because the Colosseum and everything around is a behemoth of a site to walk through. I had some delicious coffee and pastries at the nearest cafe and bar.
Then began the tour! I had booked a guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. And after the tour was over, we were free to explore the rest of the area and the museums. We also saw the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Venus and Roma, and the Foro di Nerva.
I found myself just saying “Wow.” Like, are you kidding me?! Just look at it all. So much history. So much beauty. And it’s all so of greatly preserved. It felt like walking back in time.
To be honest, I got a little emotional, just thinking about it all. The thousands of years of history here. The countless lives lived and lost. From ancient times to the modern era. It was overwhelming to think about the lasting legacy of humanity. And to think that I too, can leave my mark in my community, so that I too will be remembered even when I’m no longer here.
I didn’t want to leave. I could easily spend days just sitting and soaking everything in. I definitely recommend that anyone who comes Rome visit the Colosseum at least once. You definitely won’t regret it!
After a long day, nothing beats eating a delicious meal with the view of the Colosseum. There are a lot of restaurants in the surrounding area, but a good rule of thumb is that places in high tourist attraction areas are more expensive and lower quality than normal! Instead of eating at the easiest convivence, walk a few minutes away the tourist attraction, and you'll be surprised at what treasures await!
Day 4
On this day, I visited the smallest country in the world: The Vatican City!
Vatican City is an independent city-state that it’s within the city of Rome, but if fully functional as its own country, with its own post office, military, police force, and its own media stations.
The Vatican is just a bit outside the main city, about an hours walk. If you would rather, there are a lot of public bus stops and also a metro station that you can ride that will drop you off right outside the Vatican. These modes of public transportation are fairly cheap, less than 2 euros.
The country has a lot of offer, mainly St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums.
To get to the Vatican from my accommodation was about 7km away, so I opted to take public transportation there. Taking the bus was fairly easy, about 45 minutes. There’s also the Metro station, where you can buy daily or single trip passes. For the entire stay in Rome, I only spent €20 on public transportation.
To enter St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but the line is over 3 hours long. So if you are going, my recommendation is to get there early or be prepared to wait. Or you could get there early and try to beat the lines! Because it is free, there will always be a line to get inside, but the views inside are fantastic, and the famous statue "La Pietà" is found inside.
There is also Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, home of Italian Renaissance artists like Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and of course Michelangelo.
For this, you do have to book tickets in advance. I definitely recommend going, but perhaps going on a self guided tour, instead of with a group, because since there was so many people, the tour guided could only stop and show us the highlights or their favorite pieces. That way you could stop and appreciate all the art your heart desires.
Here there are so many Greek and Roman statues lost over time and rediscovered, or replicated. Enormous tapestries that fill the halls. Mosaics that tile the floor. It’s not so much like a traditional museum but rather past Pope’s personal collection of art on display for the world to see!
It all culminates going into the Sistine Chapel and seeing the masterpiece “Soffitto della Cappella Sistina”, the ceiling by Michelangelo. Words can’t describe the how amazing it is. The shadows. The artistry. The details. The realistic feel, even though it is just paint. I believe I spent an hour here, just admiring the ceiling in reverence of the atmosphere.
For dinner, I queued up to eat at Piccolo Buco. This place is famous, but does not take any reservations. Thus, you must wait in line, which could take up to an hour, but it is so worth the wait!
Day 5
You would think that after The Trevi Fountain, The Colosseum and The Vatican, there wouldn’t be anything else to do in Rome, right? Well, I’m happy to say that Rome is so much more than those places! There is so much more you could go and see, which also won’t break the bank!
I started the day by visiting the Vittoriano, with beautiful statues and amazing views. For a small fee, you can take the elevator to the highest point and have an amazing panoramic view of Rome.
Then, I went to Sant-Ignazio of Loyola Church. This is the place where Ignatius of Loyola started the Jesuits. Inside the chapel was breathtaking, and the ceiling was almost as magnificent as the Sistine Chapel, and amazing art.
I had some lunch before visiting the Roman Pantheon. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed with this site. The Pantheon is the best-preserved of all ancient Roman buildings, built between 25 and 27 BC, but there was no Roman history left inside. Since 608 AD, they converted the Patheon into the Basilica Santa Maria ad Martyrs. Personally I wanted to see more Roman history and mythology, as I had already seen so many religious artifacts and churches. Still, it is a feat of ancient Roman architecture.
You do need to reserve tickets beforehand, and I had to pick them up at a bookstore about 15 minutes away from the attraction. And there was so many people here! Granted, I did visit at 12 noon, so the literal busiest time of day. And do make sure you keep your reservation, they are very strict about entry times at the Pantheon. However, once you are in, you can stay as long as you need to.
Then I went to see the Castel Sant’Angelo. After exploring the museum, I ended the day by relaxing on the bank of the river, listening to a street musician play the violin, and soaking in the sun and history,
Additional Information
Even though I had spent almost a whole week in Rome, there was still things that I didn’t get a chance to do! For example, I really wanted to visit the Borghese Gallery, and visit the Underground Necropolis in the Vatican. But time wouldn’t allow it. It just means that I’ll have to return again at some point!
Just as a last friendly reminder, starting May 1, 2025, as a general rule, you will need European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) Travel Authorization to visit the European Union. Please find more information by visiting the link below!
I hope you enjoy! Arriverdverci! 🇮🇹
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