Italy, simply put, is an absolute eye candy! Whether it is nature, culture, art or history, this country has something to offer to everyone. There are 47 UNESCO heritage sites, dozens of world class museums, zillion photographic spots and an un-imaginable number of Gelato and Pizza Outlets. We spent 9 days in Italy and every day was a storehouse of unique experiences and emotions.
Glimpse of Our Trip
- We visited in November and we had a fantastic trip. The tourist season is July-August but this is also the period of long queues, increased tariffs and lot of hustle and bustle. April-June & September-November is the time to beat the crowd and bag the best deals.
- While all tourist destinations were spectacular, for us the show-stealer were the Free Walking Tours. We have mentioned about this tours in our blog post here. These tours showed us the cities through the eyes of the locals. It was enriching and we highly highly highly recommend it!
- Our destinations included Rome (3 Days)> Florence (3 Days)> Venice (2 Days)
Re-living Experiences: Food, Vacationing, Photography & a Lot More
Day 1: Rome
We reached Rome in afternoon so we had time for the Free Walking Tour at 4 PM. This typically lasts for about 2 hours and gives you ample time to rest and relax. There are 2 tours conducted daily and both are different. You can choose to attend both. For more information on the Go Do’s before your Italy trip, click here.
We had dinner at Pizzeria Chicco Di Grano and it seemed very authentic. This is very close to the Colosseum.
Day 2: Rome
We stayed closer to the Trevi Fountain so we could just walk to the Colosseum. There are both bus services and metro services to the Colosseum. If you take the metro, you need to step off at Colosseo Metro Station. If you have the Roma Pass, you’ll have free access into the Colosseum (if it’s the first two attractions you’ll be using the Roma Pass on).
The Roman Forum is located just next to the Colosseum so this is the next logical attraction to see. It is a space surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of ancient Rome. The Palatine Hill on the way provides a great view of the old city of Rome.
Day 3: Rome
We started our day with Vatican Museums Walking Tour which included Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms and St Peter’s Square. This tour takes about 3 hours and I strongly recommend you to take the 9 AM tour. This will help you to beat the crowd if you are going in peak seasons.
We booked the tour through viator and there are multiple options available based on your preference. We took the one mentioned here. This walking tour group meets OPPOSITE of the Vatican Museum entrance. It took us a while to find them. You need to cross the road and walk down a flight of stairs. You’ll see them at the bottom of the stairs.
Don’t bring backpacks because you can’t take it into the museums (smallish ones are OK). You have to deposit it at a designated place. Problem is you won’t be exiting at the same place you’ll be entering but at St Peter’s Square. It will take you a good 15mins walk back to the museum just to retrieve you bag.
The tour can get quite hectic so if you still have some energy left, you can go to the Appian Way. It is one of the earliest and strategically important roads built by the Roman empire ie. the first highway in the world. Appian Way is about 30 mins away from the city. If you have the time, rent a bicycle from the Visitor Centre and cycle along the Appian Way. You will pass by many ruins. Do note that photography is not allowed in the catacombs.
We wanted to see Saint Peter’s Basilica in the evening too so we took the bus#62 from Tritone Di Fontana for the Vatican City. It was beautiful and serene and felt very different than what we saw in the morning. The Vatican City is well connected by both bus and train. The nearest train station is Ottiviano if you want to attend the tour.
We hope you enjoy the trip as much as we did! Would love to know if was helpful. Please feel free to write back to us should you have any questions/comments.
Also check out our 3 days in Florence here and 3 days in Venice here.
Your journey is wonderful, I’m planning to go to Rome this October, do not know if the weather is good ?
Rome would be nice in October as well. It will be a bit cold and is usually considered a low season which also means you might get better rates for hotels etc. 🙂
Rome is on my list of cities to visit! I would love to be able to spend two weeks in Italy and see a few cities.
Rome is so awesome! I am wanting to go there so bad. I am jealous that you got to see the Colosseum in person. Oh, I want to go there so bad!
We have friends in Rome right now and I’m loving seeing all their photos online. We’d love to visit one day too!
I will be dreaming of Rome after reading your post. I love your itinerary, looks like an incredible trip!
I love that you were close enough to the colosseum to walk to it. It’s so important to plan ahead to make the most out of any vacation abroad.
I remember seeing Three Coins in the Fountain when I was a kid and knowing that someday I needed to travel to Italy. After reading so much about it over the years, Rome has become a top must travel to destination.
I’ve always loved Italy, the food, the sites, the sounds. It’s such a beautiful travel destination.
last time I’ve been to Italy I didn’t make it to Rome, unfortunately, however your post makes me want to visit the city so much!
Rome is high on my wish list of places to visit, mostly because I would love to see the Colosseum and the other ruins. Europe in general has such a rich history and so many cool archaeological sites. I feel like we don’t have enough of that in the states.
Simply stunning views! I would love to travel to other countries to see such historic ruins and structures.
Rome is on my short list and you just made me want to go even more. Your photos are beautiful!
Rome is top of my travel wishlist so I’ve loved reading this. Saint Peters Basilica looks stunning at night!
You can’t help but fall in love with Rome! It’s a dream and it’s also one of the best places to just enjoy history. It’s awesome that you shared your itinerary. I love that you got to explore so much!
I’ve not been to Rome but it looks like such an interesting place to visit – so much culture.
Thanks for share !! I marked this free walking tour and basic tips for rome !! love your pictures of Rome
Rome is on my one day list!! I would love to do the walking tours, so much history to discover.
Rome is such a beautiful place, full of rich history! I would love to visit one day. Thanks for the tourist time tips! I would have never known.
I SOOO wanted to rent a home during the summer months and live in Italy with the kiddos but my hubbie told me o way at all was I doing this without him. We went a number of years ago and I so want to take the kiddos to visit and eat all through Italy.
Wow lovely photos, and wish I could go!! I really would love to go to Rome with my Hubby, and leave the kids. Haha!!
I am somewhat of a History buff so I am naturally attracted to places like Rome. I am not religious but the buildings in Rome, particularly the religious one are so breathtaking x
Oh these pictures, especially of the Coliseum are just so majestic! Italy has been on my bucket lit since Under the Tuscan Sun came out, to visit the vineyards AND all of the historic buildings would be a dream.
Thanks for the tip on high and low peak/traffic seasons. Will have that in mind when we are ready to explore Europe.
I love a free walking tour they are such great ways to discover a new city! Sounds like an amazing few days in rome!
I have always wanted to go to Rome!!! My sister was there a few years ago and her and I have been talking about going together ever since. I hope we can make it happen.
Rome is an amazing place to visit! I remember thinking just how crazy it was that you could be walking along the street one minute, and the the next there is just a street of ancient ruins next to you, below the street you are walking on. So much history, and so much to see and do! Amazing food as well!
Rome is just amazing isn’ it? So lovely that you got to fit in so much in such a short time and great that you are getting to check out some other cities too!
Nine days in Italy must of been a great trip. I visited Rome last year and loved it. Too bad the Trevi Fountain was closed for renovations.
It seems like you managed to see a lot in these just 9 days! Italy has some lovely cities that are definitely worthy of a visit! Some from your list are on my wishlist 😀 Lovely photos – and great idea of an itinerary!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy your visit much much more than I did. 🙂