Backpacking in Italy: Top 5 sights in Rome

There are dozens of sights and attractions to keep yourself occupied if you’re visiting Rome. It’s one of the best cities for backpackers in particular as everything is so easily accessible on foot, but they also have a first-class transport system. As an added bonus, you can also cross the border into the Vatican City State, regarded by many to be a separate country! If you’d like a bit of advice on where to start and the places that simply cannot be missed, then read on for my top five…

1. The Colosseum

The Colosseum has to be the most obvious attraction; world-famous for its bloody gladiatorial history, this iconic structure is as synonymous with Roman culture as Caesar himself. It’s an impressive building and one of the jewels in Rome’s crown, so my advice would be to head there first and visit a few other of the neighbouring structures, such as the Pantheon and Roman Forum.

2. Trevi Fountain

If you’re planning on spending a day indulging in the luxurious retail side of Rome, then try to fit the Trevi Fountain into your walking route. You’ll find this beautiful piece of architecture in the Trevi district, and it has been wowing passers-by since it’s completion in 1762. For the perfect way to end your day, grab some rustic Italian cuisine at one of the many restaurants around the Fountain, before heading to the Teatro Costanzi Opera House for an evening of culture – just make sure you buy your tickets for ballets and concerts in advance via Romeoperatickets.com to avoid disappointment.

3. Vatican Museums

For any art lovers or those interested in Renaissance history, I can highly recommend this next pit-stop. The Vatican museums are home to some of the most precious and prized collections in the world, as they display works from the immense portfolios built up by various Popes over centuries. They include everything from classical sculptures to some of the most important masterpieces of Renaissance art to have ever been created. You can read more on this here.

4. Peter’s Basilica

While you’re perusing the museums of the Vatican, you might want to take the opportunity to next head to St. Peter’s Basilica. This Italian Renaissance church is set within Vatican City and is one of the largest churches in the world. It also took 120 years to build, so it’s no surprise that people to flock to its doors in their thousands with cameras each year, to try to capture the intricacy and decadence of this building – make sure you’re one of them!

5. Villa Doria Pamphili

If you’re more of a nature lover and you’d like to take a stroll in the open air, make sure that a walk around the Villa Doria Pamphili is at the top of your list. This seventeenth-century villa has the largest landscaped public park in Rome. It is a short walk outside its ancient walls, past Porta San Pancrazio, but I assure you the beautiful sights and smells that await you are worth the trip.

A good place to stay is the Hotel Papa Germano, I shared a dorm there on route to country 100 back in 2015. If you’ve got some tips for readers, then please leave a comment.