I’m going to preface this post and say that I went into Rome with very little expectations. I figured since we were in Italy for the first time that we might as well just go and see this city and say we’ve done it.  How did Rome respond exactly? At almost every corner, it shouted at me “are you not entertained?” I may have ran around shouting that too because…yes. I was entertained. I fell hard. It has sky rocketed to being one of my most favourite cities, and that’s just after 2 perfect days there. So here’s my 2 day Rome recap:

Where to Stay:

We decided to pick a hotel property from the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts Program.   We landed on the J.K. Place Roma is a beautiful, luxury boutique hotel in a great location. I can’t recommend this property enough! Read here why we chose this property.

What to do:

With only two full days, we had to prioritize some of what we wanted to do. We had a private tour guide arranged by our concierge for each day and spent one afternoon exploring the Vatican. Tip: wear something long enough that covers your knees and also bring a light sweater or shirt to cover your shoulders as a sign of respect since it is a holy place.  We also spent an afternoon with our guide at The Coliseum & The Roman Forum.   If you aren’t able to arrange a private guide, try a group guide such as these two that friends had recommended to us: Viator & Livitaly. A tour guide helps you navigate what could be a busy attraction, can help skip long lines and just go at a pace that suits you best.

Rome is such a great walking city, but pro tip: bring comfortable, supportive shoes with a thick sole. You’ll want to explore the small cobblestone streets and come across little shops and restaurants. We wandered around neighbourhoods like Monti, Trevi, Campitelli and Trastevere.  Stop for a gelato (at least once a day), take in all the history around you, people watch in the Piazza Navona, fight the crowds for a photo at the Trevi Fountain.  Just take it all in at whatever pace you want.

Oh and shop. Yes, really! European designer luxury brands are less expensive there and if you are leaving Europe then getting the 12% VAT back cane make it all more worth it. Just do your research ahead of time and compare prices with exchange rates etc.

But if you want a souvenir but have no space in your carry on, then consider booking a photo session with Flytographer. We try to book a session any time we travel to capture our special memories, but had to cancel ours this time. You can use THISMAMA for a savings on your first shoot.

Where to Eat:

The question may be, “where not to eat in Rome,” because every meal was wonderful. Whether we just stopped at the first place our hunger took us to or whether we made dinner reservations based on recommendations, I don’t think you can go wrong. But here are some suggestions anyways:

Due Ladroni – casual rustic dining with classic Roman dishes

Il Marchese Osteria – more modern elegant décor, modern menu of Roman food.

Ristorante Dilla – a small intimate spot with classic Roman dishes with a bit of twist, try to grab a seat outside.

Antica Enoteca – is a classic wine bar which is great for Aperitivo (time before dinner, typically around 6pm).

Ai Bozzi –just on the other side of the Tiber river in Trastevere, which is a very trendy neighbourhood.  They have classic roman dishes with a little twist.

Sant’ Eustachio Il Caffè –been around since 1938 and one of the more famous coffee bars

Gelateria del Teatro – a small shop that servers authentic homemade gelato

Gelateria Della Palma –a beautiful big ice cream shop with a grand counter and indoor seating as well as a beautiful terrace. With over 150 flavours, it’s hard to pick just one (or two or three!)