Walking Rome

Walking around Rome and taking in the history is an integral part of being a tourist here. Public transportation is fairly handy in the city, but as I spend a lot of time eating, I like to do most of my sight seeing via walking (to make more room for food). Here are a few routes I like to take and some special spots!

Walking the major sites in a day:

Walking through Historic Rome

This route is about an hour walking which can be spread out through the whole day. The Forum and Colosseum are a bit tricky to prioritize as the entrance/exit for the Forum is past the Colosseum, but I prefer to breeze past the Colosseum and explore the Forum first, then exit and take my time at the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine. Lunch near the Pantheon is always a treat, and finishing at the Spanish steps which are near many cute streets and shops can be a relaxing way to end the day. (Hosteria al 31 is right by the Spanish steps and would be a great dinner!)

The Colosseum

Altare della Patria, a monument and museum

Alessio the Roman at Altare della Patria. Yes, I am a master snapchat artist, thank you.

The Pantheon

Vatican City and More:

Vatican City walking route

This route starts with the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s (you’ll walk to a different country from here!), and Castel Sant’Angelo; then branches off into two different paths. If you go south through Piazza Navona you’ll walk through tiny city streets until you reach the giant market housed at Campo de’ Fiori. I’d suggest doing some shopping at the market(take cash), and checking the hours! Then, grabbing a quick bite to eat (maybe even stop at a grocery store and buy some nice fresh fixings for sandwiches). If you go north to Piazza del Popolo, you’ll arrive at a beautiful square (where there are some great restaurants just down the streets) and be able to climb up Pincian hill for a great view of the city. From there, you can wander through the Pincian park (basically Rome’s central park) and take in some fresh air for a bit of a reprieve from the bustle of the city.

Inside the Vatican Museum

Vatican Museum Gardens

St. Peter’s Basilica

Castel Sant’Angelo

Piazza Navona

Sunset from Pincian hill, above Piazza Del Popolo

Other Sights Worth Seeing

Aventine hill:

Giardino degli Aranci is a beautiful orange grove set on the top of Aventine hill. On the other side of the hill there’s a nice walking path up to some gorgeous churches. Villa del Priorato di Malta, house of the Knights of Malta, is also located here and is home to the famous “keyhole” where you can look through and see a perfect view of St. Peter’s Basilica

View from Aventine Hill

The Sea:

If you’re in Rome for an extended period of time and find yourself with a day free of plans, go for an adventure to the Sea. Ostia is a 30 min drive away (there’s a train available as well) and houses some amazing fresh seafood, gelato spots, and ocean views. If you happen to be there during the summer, there are plenty of beaches where you can lay out or go for a swim!

Fresh calamari fritti from Pesce fritto e baccala in Ostia

Seaside in Ostia

As I said at the beginning of this post, one of the best parts of walking around Rome is finding all of the delicious food. So, if you happen to be wandering and smell something delicious, don’t forget to leave the beaten path and follow your nose! You might just create your own wonderful adventure.

Arrivederci from Roma!