Is Rome Worth Visiting? My Honest Opinion (2026)

On By saar.decosterIn Europe, Italy

If you’ve read my Italy Travel Ratings: My Honest Experience, you’ll already know the answer to this question: yes, Rome is absolutely worth visiting.

In fact, out of all the places I’ve visited in Italy, Rome currently sits at number one on my personal ranking.

And I know that might not be everyone’s opinion. Rome gets a lot of mixed reactions, especially from people who visit during the height of summer when the city is extremely hot and packed with tourists. I completely understand why that could make the experience feel overwhelming.

But if you visit Rome outside the busiest summer months, I genuinely think it can be an incredible trip.

There is so much to see, the food and drinks can be surprisingly affordable, the nightlife is fun, and honestly, just walking around Rome is an experience in itself.

So, is Rome worth visiting? Here’s my honest opinion.

So, Is Rome Worth Visiting?

Yes. 100%.

Rome is one of those cities where you don’t even necessarily need to be doing anything specific to enjoy yourself.

You can leave your accommodation, start walking and suddenly find yourself looking at a beautiful fountain, an ancient monument, an incredible church or a building that seems like it belongs in a museum.

And the crazy thing is that this isn’t even unusual in Rome.

You just keep walking and there is another beautiful building, another historic street, another fountain or another piece of ancient history.

That’s probably one of the main reasons I love it so much.

Beautiful architecture on Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy

Why I Think Rome Is Worth Visiting

There are obviously the famous attractions: the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Roman Forum and so on.

But for me, Rome is much more than its checklist of tourist attractions.

The city itself is the attraction.

One of my favourite things to do in Rome is simply walk around without having a strict plan. You can spend an afternoon wandering between different neighbourhoods, stop for an Aperol, grab some pasta and then suddenly realise you’ve spent hours just exploring.

And somehow, even after visiting twice, I still don’t feel like I’ve seen everything.

If you want to plan your days around some of the city’s main sights and experiences, check out my 15 Best Things to Do in Rome.

Rome Is Surprisingly Affordable

One thing that genuinely surprised me about Rome was how affordable food and drinks could be.

Obviously, you can spend a lot of money in Rome if you eat directly next to the major tourist attractions or choose more expensive restaurants and bars.

But you absolutely don’t have to.

Move a few streets away from the biggest sights and you can find really good pasta, pizza, drinks and aperitivo without completely destroying your budget.

For me, that makes Rome even more enjoyable because you can spend your days exploring and then actually sit down somewhere for food and drinks without feeling like every meal is a financial crisis.

And yes, I ate a lot of pasta in Rome.

Pizza and pasta at a restaurant in Rome, Italy

There Is So Much to See in Rome

This is probably the biggest reason I would recommend visiting Rome.

There is simply so much history and architecture everywhere.

You don’t have to spend your entire trip inside museums or paying for attractions. Some of the most impressive things you’ll see are simply part of the city.

You can walk around and come across:

  • Ancient Roman ruins
  • Beautiful fountains
  • Historic churches
  • Huge piazzas
  • Incredible architecture
  • Old bridges
  • Monumental buildings
  • Small streets with beautiful details

And this is why I think Rome is such a good city for people who enjoy wandering.

You don’t always have to know where you’re going.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just walk.

Walking Around Rome Is an Experience

Honestly, I think this deserves its own section because walking around Rome is one of my favourite things about the city.

There were so many moments when I would turn a corner and think, how is this just a normal street?

You can walk from one famous attraction to another and still see dozens of beautiful places along the way.

One of my favourite walks starts at Piazza Navona, continues towards the river and Ponte Umberto I, and eventually takes you towards Castel Sant’Angelo and Ponte Sant’Angelo.

Especially around sunset, Rome can be ridiculously beautiful.

If you’re visiting Rome, don’t make the mistake of planning every single minute around attractions. Leave time to wander.

That’s when you really start to understand why people fall in love with this city.

Historic street in Rome, Italy

Rome Is Better Outside Peak Summer

This is probably my biggest tip if you’re wondering whether Rome is worth visiting.

Don’t underestimate how much the season can change your experience.

I completely understand why someone might visit Rome in the middle of summer, spend the day walking around in extreme heat surrounded by huge crowds and think, why does everyone love this place?

When it’s extremely hot, you naturally don’t feel like walking around for hours or visiting ten different sights in one day.

And Rome is a city where walking is such a big part of the experience.

That’s why I would personally choose the shoulder seasons if possible.

Spring and autumn can give you a much more comfortable balance between weather, sightseeing and crowds.

If you’re trying to decide when to visit, I’ve also written a full guide to the best time to visit Rome, including what each season is like.

Rome Can Be Very Tourist-y

I don’t want to pretend Rome is some hidden Italian secret.

It isn’t.

The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and other major attractions can be incredibly busy, especially during peak periods.

But I don’t think that means you should skip Rome.

Instead, I would plan around it.

Visit the busiest attractions earlier or later in the day when possible, explore less touristy streets between attractions and don’t spend your entire trip in the most crowded parts of the historic centre.

Once you move away from the biggest sights, Rome can feel completely different.

Rome Has Great Nightlife Too

Another reason I love Rome is that you can actually have a really fun evening there.

It’s not just a city where you spend the day sightseeing and then go to bed.

There are plenty of bars, restaurants and places to have drinks, and I found the city surprisingly social.

During my second visit, nights often started with dinner and somehow turned into drinks, Irish pubs and very late conversations.

That spontaneity is something I really enjoyed about Rome.

If you’re travelling solo, it’s also a good city for meeting people. Irish pubs and social bars can be easy places to start conversations with other travellers.

You Can Even Go to the Beach from Rome

Here’s something not everyone realises: Rome isn’t actually that far from the sea.

If you’re staying in Rome for longer and want a break from sightseeing, you can take the Metromare from Porta San Paolo, next to Piramide, towards Ostia. The rail journey to the coast takes around 37 minutes, and from the Colombo station you can connect with buses serving the beaches.

So if you’ve had enough of ancient ruins and city streets for a day, you can actually escape towards the coast without needing to organise a huge trip.

I love this as an option if you’re staying in Rome for several days.

Is Rome Worth Visiting in Summer?

Yes, but I would personally choose another season if you have the option.

Summer in Rome can mean intense heat, busy attractions and lots of tourists.

And because so much of Rome is best explored on foot, the heat can genuinely affect how much you feel like doing.

If summer is the only time you can visit, I wouldn’t let that stop you from going. Just plan your sightseeing around the hottest parts of the day, take breaks and don’t try to cram too much into one day.

But if you’re flexible, I’d personally look at spring or autumn.

How Long Should You Spend in Rome?

I’d recommend at least 3 days in Rome, although you could easily spend longer.

Three days gives you enough time to see the biggest attractions while still having time to wander around, eat properly and enjoy the city.

If you have four or five days, even better.

You can slow down a little, explore different neighbourhoods, spend an afternoon in a park or even take a trip towards the coast.

The biggest mistake I would make is trying to see absolutely everything in two days.

Rome is much better when you give yourself time to actually experience it.

If you’re planning your itinerary, I’ve also put together a 2 to 5 day Rome itinerary with ideas for how to structure your time.

Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

My Favourite Thing About Rome

It’s difficult to choose one thing, but I think it’s the feeling of history being everywhere.

There are cities where you have to actively go to a museum or historical site to experience the past.

In Rome, you can literally be walking to dinner and see something that is hundreds or thousands of years old.

That’s what makes the city so special to me.

You don’t have to search for the history.

It’s just there.

My Honest Experience in Rome

I’ve visited Rome twice, and both experiences were completely different.

The first time was during COVID with my family. The city was incredibly quiet, which made Rome feel almost surreal. It was such a strange time to visit, but it also meant we experienced a version of Rome that I don’t think many tourists normally get to see.

The second time was with a friend, and it was the complete opposite.

Rome was lively, social and chaotic. We spent our days exploring, eating and drinking, and our evenings often turned into spontaneous nights out.

I also have friends in Rome who helped me with my Rome content and recommendations, which gave me a more local perspective on the city.

Maybe that’s partly why I feel so connected to it.

But even taking that into account, I genuinely think Rome is one of the most impressive cities I’ve visited.

So, Would I Recommend Visiting Rome?

Absolutely.

If you asked me which Italian city I would return to first, Rome would be my answer.

And if you’ve already read my Italy Travel Ratings, you’ll know that Rome is currently number one for me.

I understand why some people don’t fall in love with it. If you visit during the hottest and busiest part of summer, spend all day queueing at attractions and only see the most touristy parts of the city, I can imagine the experience being very different.

But visit at a better time, give yourself enough days, walk around without constantly checking your itinerary and actually stop to enjoy the food, drinks and atmosphere?

Rome can be an incredible trip.

For me, it’s not just about the Colosseum or Trevi Fountain.

It’s about walking around and constantly seeing something beautiful.

It’s about eating pasta and pizza without spending a fortune.

It’s about having an Aperol at sunset, going out for drinks afterwards and somehow ending up having a completely different night than you planned.

It’s about ancient history being part of everyday life.

And that’s why, for me, Rome is 100% worth visiting.

And if you’re exploring more of Italy, have a look at my Northern Italy Travel Guide and Sicily Travel Guide too.

Planning Your Trip to Italy?

Planning a trip to Italy can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between huge historic cities, beautiful coastlines, charming smaller towns, mountains, lakes and islands.

That’s why I’ve created my Italy Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Italy.

→ START HERE: Italy Travel Guides

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→ Rome Travel guide
→ Northern Italy Travel guide
→ Sicily Travel guide

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Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Rome

Is Rome worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely. Rome is one of my favourite cities in Italy and ranks #1 in my personal ranking of the Italian cities I’ve visited. There is an incredible amount to see, from ancient ruins and fountains to beautiful streets, piazzas and historic buildings. I especially loved simply walking around the city and discovering something beautiful around almost every corner.

How many days do you need in Rome?

I recommend spending at least 3 days in Rome to see the main sights without having to rush constantly. If you have 4–5 days, even better, especially if you want to explore different neighbourhoods, enjoy Rome’s food and nightlife, or take a day trip outside the city.

Is Rome expensive to visit?

Rome can be expensive, especially when it comes to accommodation and some of the major tourist attractions. However, I found eating and drinking in Rome surprisingly affordable compared with what I expected. You can find plenty of reasonably priced restaurants, cafés, aperitivo spots and bars if you avoid the most touristy places.

Is Rome too touristy?

Rome is definitely touristy, especially around famous sights such as the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and Vatican City. That said, I still think Rome is worth visiting because there is so much more to the city than its biggest attractions. Exploring quieter streets, local neighbourhoods and less famous corners can make the experience feel very different.

Is Rome worth visiting in summer?

Rome can be much harder to enjoy during the peak summer months. The heat can be intense, and large crowds mean you may not feel like spending hours walking around the city. I personally think visiting outside the busiest and hottest summer period can make a big difference.

What is the best time to visit Rome?

For me, the best time to visit Rome is during the shoulder seasons, particularly spring or autumn. The weather is generally more comfortable for walking, while you can avoid some of the extreme summer heat and peak-season crowds.

Can you visit the beach from Rome?

Yes! Rome is surprisingly close to the coast, so you can combine a city trip with a beach day. The Metromare railway connects Porta San Paolo in Rome with Ostia, with the rail journey taking around 37 minutes. From Colombo, local buses connect onward to several beaches along the coast.

Is Rome good for nightlife?

Yes. Rome has plenty of bars, cocktail spots and places to go out in the evening. I particularly like that you can combine sightseeing with a relaxed evening of drinks, dinner and wandering through the city after dark.

Is Rome good for solo travellers?

Yes. Rome is a great city to explore on your own because so much of it can be discovered on foot. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafés, bars, tours and hostels where you can meet other travellers if you are travelling solo.

What is Rome best known for?

Rome is best known for its ancient history, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, as well as landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica. But one of my favourite things about Rome is that you don’t always have to visit a specific attraction to enjoy it, simply walking through the historic centre can feel like walking through history.

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