The first time I went to Rome I was 12 years old. It was a family trip in the middle of summer. I was traveling with my 7-year-old brother and my parents to visit my Roman cousins. All I remember was that it was hot, there was a lot of walking, and a lot of hangry people. Let's just say that I did not really enjoy Rome.
Fast forward to 2021, I took my boyfriend to Italy for the first time and decided to give Rome another shot. It was indeed magical. Seeing everything again, but with a fresh new perspective and not having to travel with my family made the experience so much better. We rented a vespa, toured the Colosseum, ate a TON of pasta, and partied in an ice club. It was a dream come true.
These last 2 summers, I have made my way back again to Rome and have enjoyed every second of it (except this summer when I was with my friend and she got a stomach bug and was bed-bound all day practically dying). Through my experiences, I have learned where I like to eat, what to visit, the best area to stay in, where to party, and much more.
Last summer when we returned to Rome, I decided to stay a full week. We situated ourselves right by the Trevi fountain so that we can be close to everything. However, our apartment was a nightmare. It was a different apartment from the photos, the shower was leaking, the AC didn't work, and there was no toilet paper or towels.
It was just a mess. We cut our stay there short to 3 nights and did 4 nights in a very quaint Roman town on a Lake 30 minutes outside of Rome (which I will get into).
In this post I will go over:
Where I stayed in the center of Rome (the past 3 summers)
The beautiful lakeside town I stayed at outside of Rome that no one talks about
Everywhere I ate
A Google Maps link of everything I saved on this past trip
What monuments to visit
Other places to visit that aren’t talked about
Best nightlife
How to get around Rome
3 day itinerary
The reality of renting a vespa
Recommended tours/activities
Okay, so lets get right into this post...
Where I stayed
Summer 2022: I will not link the apartment by the Trevi fountain since it was a disaster. I will share the lakeside town outside of Rome that I LOVED
Summer 2023: This apartment was in Monti. The staff was SOO nice. I loved the area. The room was small, but perfect for what I needed (also budget-friendly).
Out of all the areas that I stayed at in Rome, I did love the Monti area. Monti is a great area to stay in because it's close enough to all the major monuments and tourist attractions, but still has its own unique vibe. It was not as overwhelming and touristy as Trastavere or Piazza Navona were. There are a lot of cute restaurants and bars around this area that make you feel like a local.
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