Rome
Italy · FCO
Rome is the capital of Italy and the historical core of the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church and three thousand years of European architecture. Around 2.76 million people live across 1,287 km², but the world-famous sights all sit inside the ancient Aurelian walls — a 4 km × 4 km area entirely walkable. Travellers typically spend three to five days; the Vatican alone takes a full morning.
Last updated:
About this city
- Flight from Germany
- 2h 10min
- Airport ↔ centre
- 32 km
- Time shift
- Same as Germany
- Population
- 2,760,000
- Area
- 1,287 km²
- Founded
- 753 BC
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Italian
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
Example itineraries
Ready-made day-by-day plans with the top sights and a lunch stop every day.
Why visit
Open-air layered city — Roman ruins, medieval lanes, Renaissance palazzi and Baroque fountains stack on top of each other. Italian food is regional: Roman cuisine is its own thing (carbonara, cacio e pepe, supplì). 280 sunny days per year and €1 espressos.
Neighbourhoods at a glance
- ·Centro Storico — the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori. Heart of the city.
- ·Trastevere — cobbled medieval lanes, best dinner scene, lively nightlife.
- ·Vatican + Prati — St Peter's, Vatican Museums, plus good local trattorias.
- ·Monti — wine bars and vintage shops between the Colosseum and Termini.
- ·Testaccio — old slaughterhouse turned market quarter, working-class Roman food.
- ·EUR + Aventine — quieter outer areas with rationalist + Renaissance set pieces.
Best time to visit
| Month | Day temp | Crowds | Don't miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | 8–14 °C | Low | Lowest queues at Vatican + Colosseum |
| Mar–Apr | 14–20 °C | High at Easter | Easter Mass at the Vatican; Spanish Steps azaleas |
| May | 20–25 °C | Med | Internazionali BNL tennis; wisteria everywhere |
| Jun–Aug | 28–34 °C | Very high | Start at 08:00 — afternoon is unbearable; Estate Romana open-air cinema |
| Sep–Oct | 20–26 °C | Med | Best month overall; RomaEuropa arts festival |
| Nov–Dec | 10–16 °C | Low | Christmas markets at Piazza Navona; Pope's Midnight Mass |
Getting around
| Mode | 2026 cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Historic centre is 4×4 km — most days you only walk |
| Metro (A/B/C) | €1.50 single, day €7 | Three lines; central B serves Colosseum + Termini |
| Bus + tram | €1.50 (100 min) | Slow but cover where metro doesn't (e.g. Trastevere) |
| Leonardo Express | €14 one-way | Direct FCO → Termini in 32 min |
| Taxi from FCO | €55 flat | Fixed rate inside the walls — refuse meter |
What to eat
- ·Carbonara — eggs, guanciale, pecorino, black pepper. No cream, ever.
- ·Cacio e pepe — pecorino-and-pepper pasta sauce, three ingredients only.
- ·Supplì — fried rice ball with mozzarella centre; €2 street snack.
- ·Saltimbocca alla romana — veal with prosciutto + sage.
- ·Gelato — at Fatamorgana or Gelateria del Teatro; 3 flavours for €4.
- ·Vino della casa — house wine in carafe, ~€8 / litre at osterias.
First-timer tips
- ·Book Colosseum + Vatican online — same-day tickets are basically gone.
- ·Wear modest clothes for churches: shoulders + knees covered.
- ·Tap water from public fountains (nasoni) is potable and ice-cold.
- ·Restaurants near Trevi or Spanish Steps are tourist traps — walk 5 min away.
- ·Pickpockets on metro A and B — keep phones in front pockets.
Attractions
-
★ 10 Colosseum
Rome's icon — the ancient amphitheatre.
Landmark · 2h -
★ 10 Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel (closed Sundays).
Museum · 3h -
★ 10 St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica — the heart of the Vatican.
Church · 1h30 -
★ 9 Roman Forum
Heart of ancient Rome.
Landmark · 1h30 -
★ 9 Pantheon
Ancient temple with a perfect dome and oculus.
Church · 45m -
★ 9 Trevi Fountain
Rome's most famous fountain — especially lovely at night.
Landmark · 30m -
★ 9 Galleria Borghese
Bernini's masterpieces in the Villa Borghese (closed Mondays, timed entry).
Museum · 2h -
★ 8 Piazza Navona
Baroque square with Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Landmark · 45m -
★ 8 Trastevere Walk
Charming neighbourhood of alleyways, trattorias and nightlife.
Neighbourhood · 1h30 -
★ 7 Palatine Hill
Hill of imperial palaces with views over the Forum.
Landmark · 1h -
★ 7 Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)
The Spanish Steps and an elegant shopping street.
Landmark · 30m -
★ 7 Castel Sant'Angelo
Mausoleum-fortress with a panoramic terrace (closed Mondays).
Landmark · 1h30 -
★ 7 Capitoline Museums
The world's oldest public museums on the Capitoline Hill.
Museum · 1h30 -
★ 6 Villa Borghese Park
The largest central park, with pines, fountains and viewpoints.
Park · 1h -
★ 6 Jewish Ghetto
Historic quarter with a synagogue, Roman-Jewish cuisine and the Porticus Octaviae.
Neighbourhood · 1h -
★ 6 Trajan's Markets
Ancient market halls and Trajan's Column.
Landmark · 1h -
★ 6 Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Private gallery with Velázquez's portrait of the pope.
Museum · 1h15 -
★ 6 Baths of Caracalla
Vast ruins of Rome's largest baths.
Landmark · 1h15 -
★ 5 Campo de' Fiori Market
Lively morning market (closed Sundays).
Market · 45m -
★ 5 Janiculum Viewpoint
Panoramic viewpoint over the historic centre.
Viewpoint · 45m
Restaurants & cafés
Rome: frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Rome?
Plan 3–5 days for Rome. That covers the main sights at a relaxed pace; Travita fits them around opening hours and walking distances.
When is the best time to visit Rome?
The best seasons for Rome are spring and autumn.
How long is the flight from Germany to Rome?
A direct flight from Germany to Rome takes about 2h10.
How far is Rome Fiumicino airport from the centre of Rome?
Rome Fiumicino airport (FCO) is about 32 km from the city centre.
Which currency and language are used in Rome?
Rome uses EUR. Language: Italian. Time zone: Europe/Rome.
Flights from Germany
Direct routes from German airports.
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- München (MUC)
- Düsseldorf (DUS)
- Berlin (BER)
- Hamburg (HAM)
- Köln/Bonn (CGN)
- Stuttgart (STR)