Roman Holiday - 3 Day Tour of Rome, Italy

Most of us, like Audrey Hepburn in 1953, want to explore Rome. She fakes an illness to get the chance to discover this city and get her Roman Holiday. Would you like one too? Just take one of the many means of transportation and head this way. Because as it was once said: all roads lead to Rome. Rome is a pulsating, vibrant and beautiful city. A perfect combination of the old and the new. It is one of those cities you can’t visit too much. If you are one of those millions who has read Dan Browns Angels and Demons you will already have a rough map of the city according to the death of the different cardinals. If you are into a more relaxing and enjoyable ride, however, join me. I’ve been to Rome a few times and every time I go I want more. More coffee, more cake, ice-cream, pizza, more beauty, architecture more of it all.
If it is your first trip to Rome however, here is a list of what I recommend during your visit.

Colosseum, Rome, from the viewpoint.

A Three Day Tour of Roma

Day one

When visiting Rome we must, of course, go to the religious headquarters of the man who speaks to God, Vatican City. Here you have to see and enter St. Peters Church. The earlier you arrive the fewer the people. In the morning you have a chance to take pictures outside the church on an almost empty piazza. The Piazza is grand and the church majestic. The entrance is free, but remember to wear appropriate clothes for entering a Catholic church. Cover knees, shoulders and everything in-between. The church is impressive, to say the least. It is huge and shows the pride and glory of Catholicism and the long story of worshiping and love of God. If you want to pioneer more of the Vatican you will have to buy a tour of the grounds. It will take you through some of the more secret corridors and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, which is why most tourists go there.

There is a rumor that the Vatican and St. Peters Church was built of marble stolen from the Colosseum. The glory of the Vatican has cost the ancient glory of the Romans theirs. That is why, when you visit Colosseum now, it is a ruin. The question is: If the Church had left Colosseum alone and gotten their marble elsewhere, would it still stand like in its days of glory?

Walking towards the St Peters Church

If you, like me, want to get the real vibe and feeling of Roma, there is only one way to get around: your feet… put on some comfortable shoes with good support and start walking. The walk from Vatican City towards the city center is lovely. It is easy to find your way. Plenty of signs, and as you all know, all roads leads to Foro Romano. Otherwise, you can always download maps.me which is a map for your phone that works offline. You will pass by Piazza Navona. Here you will find the famous fountain where one of the cardinals were drowned in Dan Browns’ book; Angels and Demons. A lot goes on on Piazza Navona. There are churches (which they are always renovating), cafes and around a million street artists selling everything from cartoon drawings to bracelets. Chill for a while and enjoy the pulsating life that takes place all around you. See what happens when a police officer walks by to control the legality of all this street sellers and artists and watch a circus unfold.

Continuing on from here, just follow the signs that will take you to Pantheon and Fontana Di Trevi. Pantheon is another stop in Dan Browns’ book. What Langdon mistakenly thinks is the first altar of science. Regardless, the temple is beautiful and worth a visit. On the surrounding Piazza they have excellent ice-cream to refresh your taste-buds on your way onwards.
When reaching Fontana Di Trevi you must throw in a few coins into the fountain and wish for good fortune. End the day on the Spanish stairs, where street musicians play some tunes while you sit and observe the vibrant city and enjoy everything you did today.

It is a lot of walking. But I think it gives the best insight into what Rome is, and it gives you the option of making a lot of impulsive breaks along the way. You will see around 30 quaint coffee shops you want to stop at for an espresso. At least 5 gelato bars for different flavors of ice-cream, and probably one or two places to get cake and tiramisu.
Insider tip: If you get the espresso at the bar the price is around 50 cent unless you pick a very touristic place.

Chilling at a small cafee.

Day two

Everyone comes to Rome to see the Colosseum and Foro Romano. And if it is your first time here, of course, you must do the whole package deal. After walking through the ruins and imagine the greatness that once entered the big white building Altare della Patria. On the roof, they have a bar where you can enjoy an amazing view over the ruins of Foro Romano. It costs a small fortune to buy anything, but if you are sneaky, just take a few pictures and casually walk out again.
For another Facebook profile-picture walk towards the Colosseum. Next to the Colosseum you’ll find a small hill. When you walk up you will find a small viewpoint where you can see most of the Colosseum and get some great shots.

Afterwards, go look for my favorite place in Rome, it is called Giardino Degli Aranci. It is the secret orange garden and is located on one of Romes hills. You can pick as many oranges you want, as long as you eat them all. Here you can enjoy the most exquisite view of Rome, and with hardly any people. It takes a bit of effort to find, but it is truly worth it.

Picking oranges in the Giardino Degli Aranci

Day three.

When I visit new places, I really enjoy experiencing something out of the ordinary. One of the things I would recommend to do while in Rome is to visit the Catacombe San Callisto. It is located a bit outside the city, but you can grab one of the local buses to get there. Catacombe San Callisto is located in beautiful and peaceful surroundings with three big cathedrals close-by. You can take a stroll between the cathedrals and through the landscape before entering the Catacombe ground. Here you buy a trip underground. The Catacombearea is huge and spans many different levels. It is important to stay with the group because if you get lost, you might never see daylight again. The tour is run by Christian volunteers and the trip itself is quite spiritual and fascinating. You learn a great deal about the origin of Christianity and the history of the first Christians who lived and died in Rome. The Catacombe San Callisto were the home of many Christians until year 300 when the religion became more accepted.

The afternoon can be spent walking around Villa Borghese. This is a huge park in the middle of Rome. There are always people and there are a lot of viewpoints and nice secret places to explore. Once through the park, you can reach Piazza del Popolo, where you can get a picture with the lions. The late afternoon can be spent on the hunt for some of the delicacies of Rome. Rome is known for their bakery and pastry so why not go hunt for your favorite cake? Mine is the tiramisu. It goes with everything.

Climbing a lion at Piazza del Popolo

Three days in Rome isn't enough to encounter this amazing city and it will leave you wanting to come back again and again. Experiencing your own small secret alleys and places. Maybe do the Dan Browns' alters of science walk through Rome or simply enjoy a lot of great food and coffee in the small businesses that you can find all over Rome if you only dare to look a bit beyond the touristy areas.