Rome

Italy·Europe

Currency

EUR

Language

Italian

Timezone

Rome

Continent

Europe

Our guide

Discover Rome

Rome is not a city you visit so much as one you walk through, and at every junction there are two thousand years stacked on top of each other. The Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain sit within walking distance of one another. The Vatican, a sovereign state enclosed by the city, needs half a day on its own between St Peter's and the Sistine Chapel.

When to go

April to May, and October. July and August are punishing — above 35 °C — and many Romans leave the city in August. Winter is mild and the queues at the Vatican Museums finally become reasonable.

Getting around

The historic centre is walked, and that is the better way: the metro has only three lines, because digging in Rome means doing archaeology. Buses are slow. Carry small change and watch your pockets on crowded transport around Termini.

Where to eat

Armando al Pantheon has served classic Roman cooking beside the monument since 1961, and books out. Roscioli is a deli and a restaurant at once, and among the best tables in the centre. Sant'Eustachio, near the Pantheon, makes the most celebrated coffee in Rome — take it standing at the bar, as everyone does.

Good to know

Shoulders and knees covered for St Peter's and the churches; the check is real and final. Book the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums online — waiting on the day runs to hours. Eleven halal addresses are listed.

Smart Planning