Welcome to Rome, one of the world’s oldest and most historically and culturally significant cities. Rife with ancient ruins like the Colosseum and Pantheon, and hosting the world’s smallest ‘country’, the Vatican City, Rome is a tourist’s dream destination. A shopping, cuisine, art, and history hub, there’s almost too much to do and see in Italy’s capital city.
When you’re solo travelling, it can be hard to come up with an itinerary, and with cities like Rome, where do you even begin? Well, the Eternal City is perfect for all kinds of travellers, whether solo, business, or family. Here are some of the best ways to spend your time in Rome as a solo traveller.
Solo Travel in Rome: Our Top Picks
Visit the Colosseum
You can’t come to Rome without visiting this ancient architectural masterpiece. Thought to have been built around 70 AD, the magnificent construction is still standing, albeit partially ruined. One of the world’s most famous and intriguing landmarks, this ancient amphitheatre tells a long and incredibly interesting story of the past that you can learn more about on entry. Tickets to enter the colosseum start at €18 for general standard entry, and you can choose to enter individually or as part of a tour group. A tour group may be more insightful, as you’ll be led by a knowledgeable guide who can tell you everything you need to know about this iconic site.
The colosseum is hard to miss — you can see it from most buildings across the city, so it serves as a constant reminder of the millennia of history Rome has under its belt. Whether you want to visit just to take pictures or you want to learn more about the construction and history of this landmark, you can do so via the efficient transport system that Rome offers.
Go museum hopping
Another of Rome’s claims to fame is the museum collection — the Galleria Borghese, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Capitoline Museums, you name it. Plus, a whole load of art galleries. While not technically museums in the sense of artefacts and exhibitions, the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City feature works of art and sites that can’t go amiss.
Rome has a thriving art scene, showcased by its plethora of art museums and the Renaissance art that adorns the ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo in the 1500s.
A cultural cornerstone, you can enjoy these world-famous sites by yourself or with family and friends, making them great all-rounder activities. If you’re looking for something affordable and worthwhile to do in Rome, a museum tour is a great option. To enter the Sistine Chapel, Galleria Borghese, or Capitoline Museums, the cost averages at around €20 standard entry.
A tip: if you want free entry to any museum in the city, visit on the first Sunday of every month, and for free entry to the Sistine Chapel or Vatican Museums, visit on the last Sunday of each month.
Try a pizza or pasta-making class
Where better to make pizza or pasta than the capital city of the country they originated in? Rome puts its own unique spin on Italian classics like pizza and pasta, and the city is renowned for its vibrant culinary scene. A pizza or pasta-making masterclass or course is an ideal way to refine your cooking and baking skills, and to learn the ins and outs of creating the perfect dish in the traditional Roman style. In contrast to Neapolitan pizzas with their chewy and pillowy crust, Rome’s signature pizzas normally feature a thinner and crispier crust — which one do you prefer?
Similarly with various pasta dishes like carbonara or cacio e pepe, Rome’s way of making this classic dish involves the use of meats and pecorino romano cheese to create a stronger but more focused flavour. Across the city, you can find various culinary classes or centres that offer specialised masterclasses for you to choose from. A fun activity to do alone or with family or friends, it’s almost a given that you should try this when in Rome.
Take a sightseeing tour
It’s no secret that Rome is a sightseeing hotspot, with some of the world’s most revered sites and landmarks. Rome offers a wide variety of hop-on, hop-off bus tours, meaning you can experience everything the city has to offer at your own pace and according to your schedule. Simply disembark or board from whichever point you like and enjoy the best views from atop the double-decker buses.
Some of the key sights that you’re likely to see on these tours include the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps, and you can experience the tour in a variety of languages. Prices for tours vary depending on the company you book with and the routes you take, but you can expect to find various tour packages and options to suit your budget or preferences.
Explore the Vatican City
As mentioned, the Vatican City is unlike any other site you’ve likely ever seen. The home of the Pope and the HQ of the Roman Catholic Church, it’s a cornerstone of culture in the city. Considered to be the smallest independent state or ‘country’ in the world and an autonomous region within Rome, there is much to learn about this wondrous site.
Home to the Sistine Chapel and various architectural masterpieces and art pieces, the Vatican City is so much more than just a religious centre. You’re likely to lose yourself in the beautiful, intricate works of art that decorate the Vatican’s buildings, and it’s the perfect way to spend your time if you’re a history or culture enthusiast.
Go on a day trip from Rome
While Rome will more than definitely fulfil you, the need to explore Italy further might take hold, and you'll likely have a few cities in mind to visit during your trip. The closest major city to Rome is Naples, which you can reach by train in around 1 hour. Naples is known for its Neapolitan ice cream and for being the birthplace of pizza, its stunning coastline, and how close it is to historic cities like Pompeii, which can also be reached from Rome in around 1 hour and 30 minutes by train.
Pompeii is famous today because of the catastrophic Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79AD that destroyed the entire city, preserving it in a frozen snapshot of the past that can now be explored in the modern day. Both these places are also cultural highlights and are a history enthusiast’s or foodie’s dream spots. If you have the time and money, taking a day trip out of Rome is a great way to explore and learn more about the country and the local history.
Hike up one of the Seven Hills of Rome
Rome’s surrounding landscape consists of seven hills, each of which has a specific name: Palatine, Capitoline, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Quirinal and Viminal. Each of these is easy to hike and explore, and each features various landmarks or sites at the top. Palatine Hill hosts several historic ruins, making it one of the most popular places to ascend for history lovers.
Others feature significant cultural buildings like Basilicas and the residence of the Italian president, which is atop Quirinal Hill. The hills are completely free to explore, and are great options for solo travellers who want to learn more about the city affordably.