Rome – the Eternal City:
✅ One of the most famous cities in the world
✅ A place that combines stellar famous attractions with an atmospheric ambiance to melt even the grumpiest of travellers
✅ The pinnacle of any “Cultural Score” any tourist destination can hit
✅ The home of not one, but THREE key historical themes: Ancient Rome, The Renaissance and the Roman Catholic Church
Wow factor potential to the absolute max.
Yet it doesn’t get the top Wow Score because of the hoards of fellow tourists and the very real difficulty for most visitors in getting the best experience – most leave with a sort of ⭐️⭐️⭐️ wow feeling rather than a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Somewhere in the middle is how I felt after my first 4 visits.
But in 2025-26 I lived in Italy for a year and spent a month in this wonderful city. I learned what to prioritise, some of the hidden spots that minimise crowds and maximise magic, and how to get under its skin. So I’m writing this review to share these tips for any first time visitor or even those returning.
In a nutshell:
- Reduce the pace – don’t try to tick everything off. This isn’t a standard city break, it is the most culturally-packed city on earth
- Combine the stellar attractions like the Colosseum and Vatican with lesser known (and less busy) attractions like the Baths of Caracalla or walks along the below-street-level parts of the Tiber
- Do event-style activities that bring the place to life like cooking classes, concerts, sporting events
- Get some historical context – even a couple of hours reading / YouTube can transform Rome for you
- Tips for how to best avoid the crowds and restaurant recommendations