Y'all, I have dreamed about Italy since I could first say spaghetti! Not only am I huge fan of pizza, pasta, and wine, I am also a huge nerd when it comes to language, history, and all things European. So when I started thinking about the ultimate summer vacation there was only one place that had it all, ITALY!

When it came down to planning an itinerary around this location, I did lots and lots of research. I hit up Insta, Pinterest, online blogs, and of course ask the people who have already been there. Then I made a list, and then more lists, of the top places that I wanted to visit in the city. Save yourself the trip planning headache and check out the best things I checked off my Ultimate Rome Bucket List!

The Colosseum

No ones thinks of Rome without thinking about this massive monument. The Colosseum, aka the hottest and busiest motherf****** spot in the whole city haha. Traveler Tip: Take the foot path up Via Nicola Salvia for a less trafficked (and very photogenic) view. Grab a to-go pizza and chill on the walls overlooking all the miserable people standing in line. We had originally wanted to tour the inside but with the heat, we decided to view from afar and listen to everyones tours. There are multiple tours offered through the day and night though for those of you who aren’t heat wimps like us.

Trevi Fountain

I think we all know this one… TREVI FOUNTAIN. It was once a source for potable water for the locals predating the 1600s and served as an intersection of three of the most important roads in ancient Rome. There is a tradition where you make a wish and toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder. Tradition says that this guarantees one of three things: you’ll return to Rome, you’ll find romance in Italy, or you’ll get married. Make sure to throw your coins one at a time for max results lol!

Wanna see this bad boy without a thousand tourists? Traveler Tip: Make an early morning out of it and get there before 0730 am. It was 100% worth it to not have to fight the crowds and get the view all to yourself. Make sure to stop by at night with some Gelato too.

Spanish Steps

In the high fashion part of town are the Spanish Steps. All 135 of them! Walk around, pop down on a step and just be present with where you are. YOU’RE IN ROME! Smell the city, listen to the people laugh and yell at each other in Italian and go to town on some cool gelato. This is the perfect area to make an afternoon out of and really get a feel of what it’s like to be one of Rome’s local societal elite.

Vatican City

Check another country off your bucket list and walk across the border into Vatican City! That's right. The Vatican is actually its own country, which is pretty crazy. I grew up Catholic so this was like stepping back into time to a grade school, religion class. We hooked up with a tour guide as we walked up to get the full scoop on this bucket list spot.

Traveler Tip: Don't book tickets ahead of time. Follow one of the guys on the street to an office to get tickets. They are much cheaper than ones you can book online. Also, they take you past everyone standing in line, waiting to get to their tour guides, getting you right in the front door. We ended up ditching the tour about half way through and wandering around on our own. Sit under the Sistine Chapel, go into Saint Peters Basilica, and wander in the plaza. Also look here for when the Pope is going to be making appearance that week :)

Pantheon

The Pantheon was built in 125 AD is always open and always free. This once pagan temple turned church is a place of worship for many so enter the front doors quietly and respectfully. Take in the grandiosity of the architecture with a side helping of people watching. Best enjoyed after a morning latte in the small piazza in front.

Roman Forum

Walking around Rome you'll notice free standing columns and ancient ruins. While we were visiting, archeologists were unearthing more and more of the old "downtown" of the Roman Forum. There are tour opportunities to walk around down in the sites with historians and hear stories about how the Romans used to live. Then, step next door to the Mercati di Traiano. These ancient ruins are located across from the Roman Forum. It was mind blowing to me to think about how long ago all of it was built. A whole other world.

Piazza Novona

Piazza Navona is an amazingly beautiful plaza surrounded by restaurants and local housing. Our Airbnb was just outside the plaza, so we would walk through this area every day on our way to other sites around Rome. Typically I would recommend avoiding any restaurant with a million chairs in the middle of a piazza, claiming to have the best family recipes you've ever tasted. But we did anyways… stop for a wine, then walk through this epic plaza and watch artists painting the fountains.

Castle Sant'Angelo

We wandered onto the bridge across the river from this epic historic castle, Castle Sant'Angelo. at night on a spur of the moment Roman Ghost Tour. Apparently this bridge is haunted by an old lover of a pope. 10/10 recommend taking ghost tours in European cities to hear the history from the people rather than the pope!!

Trastevere Neighborhood

Trastevere aka where the locals hang. It is a beautiful area full of luscious greens and delicious restaurants filled with Italian laughter. Shop along the Tiber River walk in little tents set up with local vendors during the weekends.

Roman Food Tour

PIZZA, PASTA, CHARCUTERIE, CHEESE, MEAT, GELATO, CANNOLI?! WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?! On our first day, we decided to do a food tour with a local guide to give us the scoop on how to find the real Italian food in Rome and skip the tourist traps. My boyfriend, Chuck, had been on this tour before and it was the best way to start the trip. We ended the tour with sore feet, full stomach, drunk and with many new friends. I would 10/10 recommend the Roman Food Tour for anyone who loves eating, drinking and a good time!

Here are a couple other restaurants to check out while youre in Rome… Caffe Sant’Eustachio, Gelateria La Romana, Doppiozeroo- local aperitivo and Nuovo Mondo!

Capuchin Monk Crypt

Underneath this old monastery are the bones and corpses of 3,600 old Capuchin Monks. The bodies were relocated to underneath the old monastery in remembrance and respect for their ones who had passed on between the 1600-1800s. There are chandeliers made from their spinal columns and the ceilings are lined with rib bones making this place an insane stop for any dark tourist like us. Pop in from 9 am to 7 pm and spend 8 Euros on a ticket for a self guided tour. It’s creepy.

St. Mary of Prayers Bone Church

Ditto from above. Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte is an insane bone covered church containing the remains of over 8,000 souls. A charity built this monument to those who are the forgotten or poor people of the city. We did not get to go in during our ghost tour but check these photos from CNA website for a peak inside. for all those macabre, dark tourists out there!

So there you have it folks. We spent around 3 days doing all this at our own pace, just wandering the city and taking in all the sights, smells, and deliciousness Rome has to offer, before heading to Capri. If I could give you any other advice about traveling in Rome it would be… Pop in for aperitivo (early afternoon drinks/apps) in the alley way restaurants. Talk to your tour guides, waiters and waitresses for all the best ideas on how to fill your time in between these ultimate Rome bucket list items. We had the time of our lives and I know you will too! Ciao!