Attractions

Rome entertainment, things to do when in Rome

Obviously Rome is noisy, it’s chaotic, it is difficult for everyday life and even a simple experience like taking the bus or crossing at the pedestrian crossing could turn into a nightmare. Just watching the madness of the traffic and the perpetual buzz of motorbikes and cars during the rush hour could be entertaining and quite an experience. But then, Rome will astonish you when you least expect it, with a hidden treasure, a secret corner, a cobblestoned “piazza” where the only sound is the water spilling out from a 600 year old fountain.

Just to ramble around...

Of course, we encourage you to experience the typical tourist journey when in Rome: the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, just to name a few of Rome’s attractions. Nobody would want to miss those for anything in the world, however once in Rome, do not forget to open your eyes as well, even to the smallest details that will capture the essence and the soul of this city: columns and cats, courtyards and fountains, laundry spreading from the windows, and the brownish-orange facades of the buildings.

Roman food

Apart from the obvious monuments Rome is also a feast for the taste buds. You can decide to grab a bite of crunchy pizza or a suppli (watch out, as you can literally get addicted to those fried rice balls!) from one of the hundreds of “pizza al taglio” shops or sit at one of the many restaurants or trattorie and experience a dish of “carbonara”, a fried artichoke or a piece of “bruschetta” and you won’t be disappointed. From the suburbs like Pigneto or Garbatella to Trastevere or Piazza Navona, you will find restaurants in every corner.

Nightlife

As the night comes, Rome will show you a lot of opportunities for entertainment. You can stroll along the cobblestoned streets of Trastevere area with an ice cream in your hand. You can decide to sit in a cafe overlooking Campo De Fiori and watching life go by with a glass of white wine or you can choose to dance the night away in one of the many clubs in Testaccio, the “hot spot” of the Roman movida.

You can mingle in the University area of San Lorenzo, with its population of students and countless pizzerias, pubs and wine bars.

Theatres and opera

The city offers also many opportunities for entertainment - for those of you who love the theatre and opera, you will not be disappointed. From small “underground” theatres to big institutions such as the Teatro Argentina or Sistina to unusual locations such as churches and “palazzi”, the roman scene varies from classical plays to more unconventional ones.

Most of dance festivals, music events and opera usually take place in the summertime, in locations such as Villa Ada Park or in breath-taking sets like the Baths of Caracalla or the Roman theatre of Ostia.

Shopping in Rome

Store hours vary by the type of store. In general, shops are open from 9 am (9:30 in the centre city) to 1pm and reopen from 4 pm to 7:30 pm. Rome is an expensive city, so don't expect to find too many bargains! Nevertheless, window shopping is a joy and you will find good value for money, especially if buying leather goods (shoes, bags, gloves and belts) and certain decorative items (lamps, Italian modern designer goods and glassware).