Rome

Rome travel guide

Driving routes, distances and day-trip ideas nearby.

Rome is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Rome works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Rome, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 12 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 3 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Rome, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.

Accommodation in Rome starts at around €64 per night, with a typical rate near €196 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.

Well-reviewed hotels: Hotel Viminale, 4-star, guest rating 10 from 2107 reviews, from €192 per night; Hotel Martis Palace, 4-star, guest rating 10 from 621 reviews, from €399 per night; Palazzo Ripetta, 5-star, guest rating 9.8 from 449 reviews, from €477 per night; Umiltà 36 - Preferred Hotels & Resorts, 5-star, guest rating 9.8 from 2691 reviews, from €578 per night; Hotel Barocco, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 1976 reviews, from €278 per night.

Day trips & routes: Ciampino — about 17 km, 36m drive; Naples — about 228 km, 2h 37m drive; Florence — about 273 km, 3h 14m drive. Fastest option is Ciampino: 36m by car.

Rome: what to know

Things to see: "Rome: Colosseum Photoshoot, Private & Custom Experience", rated 5 from 192 reviews, from €45; "Ponza, boat trip on board the Zannone 1954", rated 5 from 186 reviews, from €1200; "Pizza and Gelato Making Experience with Fine Italian Wine in Rome", rated 5 from 172 reviews, from €99; "Private Tour - City Center", rated 5 from 164 reviews, from €115; "Pasta and Tiramisu Making Class with Fine Italian Wine in Rome", rated 5 from 160 reviews, from €99.

Where to eat: "Tonnarello", Italian/Romana, rated 4.7 (41491 reviews); "Cipasso", Italian/Mediterranean, rated 4.9 (4297 reviews); "Zuma Rome", Japanese/Seafood, rated 3.8 (2478 reviews); "DOC EnoBistrot - Cucina & Vineria"; "Ad Hoc Ristorante - Piazza del Popolo". Top-rated: "Cipasso" at 4.9.

Rome has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 3 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Rome is around €196, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.

To rent a car in Rome you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 3 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Italy, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.

Weather in the days ahead2341 °CHazeFull forecast

What to see in Rome in 7 days

A ready week, day by day: highly rated places, lunches, tours and trips out of town. Ratings and opening hours come from Tripadvisor, distances are real driving distances.

day1

Getting to know Rome

An unhurried first day: the centre on foot, one landmark and a quiet dinner near where you're staying. Don't plan anything far — after travelling, getting your bearings matters more.

  • Morning

    Rome Chauffeur

    5.0· 2048 reviews

    #24 of 904 Transportation in Rome

    Rome Italy

    Rome Chauffeur — rated 5.0 across 2048 reviews · #24 of 904 Transportation in Rome · Rome Italy.

  • Lunch

    Rome's Flavours

    4.5· 204 reviews

    #13 of 356 Places to Eat in Winter Park

    124 E Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789-3819

    Wed: 11:30–21:00

    A good lunch stop is Rome's Flavours — rated 4.5 across 204 reviews · #13 of 356 Places to Eat in Winter Park · opening hours: Wed: 11:30–21:00 · 124 E Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789-3819.

  • Afternoon

    Rome's Ultimate Free Walking Tours

    4.9· 1898 reviews

    #64 of 3,635 Tours in Rome

    Via Dei Serpenti, 89, 00184 Rome Italy

    Mon: 10:00–20:00

    Rome's Ultimate Free Walking Tours — rated 4.9 across 1898 reviews · #64 of 3,635 Tours in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 10:00–20:00 · Via Dei Serpenti, 89, 00184 Rome Italy.

  • Evening

    Settimo Panoramic Flavours Of Rome

    4.4· 593 reviews

    #784 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome

    Via Lombardia 47 Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, 00187 Rome Italy

    Mon: 12:00–14:00, 19:00–22:30

    A good lunch stop is Settimo Panoramic Flavours Of Rome — rated 4.4 across 593 reviews · #784 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 12:00–14:00, 19:00–22:30 · Via Lombardia 47 Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, 00187 Rome Italy.

Hotel check-in is usually from 2pm — if you arrive earlier, most places will store your luggage.

day2

The main sights

The fullest day: two or three key places back to back. Start early — queues build by midday at the popular ones, and the light is better for photographs after lunch.

  • Morning

    Transfers Rome

    4.9· 486 reviews

    #28 of 904 Transportation in Rome

    00010 Rome Italy

    Mon: 00:00–23:59

    Transfers Rome — rated 4.9 across 486 reviews · #28 of 904 Transportation in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 00:00–23:59 · 00010 Rome Italy.

  • Lunch

    Rome's Pizza

    4.2· 58 reviews

    #488 of 5,321 Places to Eat in San Antonio

    5999 De Zavala Road, San Antonio, TX 78249

    Mon: 11:00–21:00

    A good lunch stop is Rome's Pizza — rated 4.2 across 58 reviews · #488 of 5,321 Places to Eat in San Antonio · opening hours: Mon: 11:00–21:00 · 5999 De Zavala Road, San Antonio, TX 78249.

  • Afternoon

    Welcome To Rome

    4.8· 1566 reviews

    #19 of 6,590 things to do in Rome

    Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 203, 00186 Rome Italy

    Mon: 09:00–18:00

    Welcome To Rome — rated 4.8 across 1566 reviews · #19 of 6,590 things to do in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 09:00–18:00 · Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 203, 00186 Rome Italy.

  • Evening

    Su'ghetto Rome

    4.0· 1045 reviews

    #1,489 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome

    Via del Portico D_Ottavia 1C, 00186 Rome Italy

    Mon: 12:00–23:00

    A good lunch stop is Su'ghetto Rome — rated 4.0 across 1045 reviews · #1,489 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 12:00–23:00 · Via del Portico D_Ottavia 1C, 00186 Rome Italy.

Up to 41 °C in the days ahead — do the walking in the morning and spend midday indoors.

day3

Museums, history and local food

A day for what needs time and attention: museums, historic quarters, and lunch somewhere locals actually go.

  • Morning

    Rome's Ultimate Party

    4.6· 310 reviews

    #7 of 1,325 Nightlife in Rome

    Vicolo San Biagio 9, 00186 Rome Italy

    Mon: 21:00–04:00

    Rome's Ultimate Party — rated 4.6 across 310 reviews · #7 of 1,325 Nightlife in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 21:00–04:00 · Vicolo San Biagio 9, 00186 Rome Italy.

  • Lunch

    Zuma Rome

    3.8· 2484 reviews

    #2,339 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome

    Via Della Fontanella Di Borghese, 48 Palazzo Fendi, 00186 Rome Italy

    Mon: 12:00–15:00, 18:00–01:00

    A good lunch stop is Zuma Rome — rated 3.8 across 2484 reviews · #2,339 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 12:00–15:00, 18:00–01:00 · Via Della Fontanella Di Borghese, 48 Palazzo Fendi, 00186 Rome Italy.

  • Afternoon

    Rome: Colosseum Photoshoot, Private & Custom Experience

    5.0· 196from €45

    Rome: Colosseum Photoshoot, Private & Custom Experience — rated 5 from 196 reviews, about 1h.

  • Evening

    Crazy Pizza Rome

    3.8· 812 reviews

    #1,767 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome

    Via Vittorio Veneto 167, 00187 Rome Italy

    Mon: 12:30–15:00, 19:00–23:30

    A good lunch stop is Crazy Pizza Rome — rated 3.8 across 812 reviews · #1,767 of 19,167 Places to Eat in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 12:30–15:00, 19:00–23:30 · Via Vittorio Veneto 167, 00187 Rome Italy.

Many museums close on a Monday or Tuesday — check the opening hours before you set out.

day4

A day out of town

Get beyond the city: the nearby towns and countryside are usually what stays with you. A rental car is the practical way — public transport on these routes is slow and infrequent.

  • All day

    Ciampino

    Ciampino is 17 km from Rome, about 36m by car. Leave in the morning so you're back before dark.

Book the car ahead: in season there is little left and the counter price is higher.

Rent a car in Rome
day5

Walking and what you missed

A free day. Go back to wherever you wanted to linger, and add one or two places from the list you haven't reached.

  • Morning

    Free Tour Rome

    4.6· 4402 reviews

    #253 of 3,635 Tours in Rome

    00187 Rome Italy

    Mon: 00:00–23:59

    Free Tour Rome — rated 4.6 across 4402 reviews · #253 of 3,635 Tours in Rome · opening hours: Mon: 00:00–23:59 · 00187 Rome Italy.

  • Afternoon

    Ponza, boat trip on board the Zannone 1954

    5.0· 189from €1,200

    Ponza, boat trip on board the Zannone 1954 — rated 5 from 189 reviews, about 9h.

Carry some cash for markets and small cafés — cards are not taken everywhere.

day6

A tour, or a second trip out

A good day for a guided tour: a guide tells you what the signs don't, and takes the driving off your hands.

  • All day

    Naples

    Naples is 228 km from Rome, about 2h 37m by car. Leave in the morning so you're back before dark.

Book the car ahead: in season there is little left and the counter price is higher.

Rent a car in Rome
day7

Last day and departure

A calm finish: a favourite spot once more, some shopping, a late lunch. Leave yourself room before the airport.

Allow twice what the map says for the airport run — it is never the quiet hour when you need it.

Day trips

Within a ~2.5h drive of Rome.

Route map

Where you can drive from Rome.

What to see and where to eat

What to see and where to eat in Rome

Tap a place for photos, opening hours and reviews

Top attractions

Restaurants and cafés

Travel tips