Best Things to Do in Rome in May
Italy again, will you tell us? We wanted to discover Rome again by taking the time to visit the city, the districts we didn't know yet and take pictures of course. 5 days should be enough. We booked our plane tickets and our hotel only a few weeks before.
Getting to Rome?
As we say, all roads lead to Rome. Most airlines do, too.
Rome is only 2 hours flight from Paris. We opted to take Vueling because the schedules arranged us with a departure at 10 am from Paris and a return at 9 pm from Rome.
Rome–Fiumicino International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci” is the main airport of the Italian capital. It is located only 32 kilometers away.
There are several ways to reach the city, including bus lines, taxi, regional train and the Leonardo Express. We chose the Leonardo Express, which takes only 30 minutes to the Rome-Termini railway station. Departures are every 15 minutes and the ticket costs only 14€.
Once we arrived at the Rome train station, we took an Uber to get to the hotel.
Exploring the Elizabeth Unique Hotel
We spent four nights in a Junior Suite at the Elizabeth Unique Hotel, a modern 5-star establishment, a member of the Design Hotels network. It is located in a small street overlooking Via del Corso near Piazza del Popolo in the center of Rome. All the main monuments are within walking distance.
The hotel has a modern design and is decorated with artworks (paintings, photos, sculptures), some of which are part of exhibitions.
Our Junior Suite was magnificent. The room is not very large but perfectly furnished with a view of Via del Corso. The interior decorations are refined, luxurious, and modern. The minibar is complimentary apart from alcoholic drinks, which is a real benefit.
Please note that Elizabeth Unique Hotel makes a great effort to buy local and reduce its plastic consumption. For once, the bottles of body shower and Shampoo were filled every day instead of throwing them away and replacing them with new ones.
We enjoyed having breakfast every morning on the terrace. Everything we ordered, from fruit juices to local pastries, was delicious.
Things to do in Rome
Our aim was simple: taking the time to rediscover Rome at our own pace.
We spent our days wandering through the streets and alleys, searching for typical little piazzas, entering in the churches that were on our way, each one just as different and beautiful as the other. It should be noted that Rome has more than 900 churches and that admission is free.
We had already visited the Sistine Chapel a couple of years ago, but it was too crowded. This time we decided to admire the Sistine Chapel in better conditions. For this reason, we booked a small group visit, which allowed us to enter the Sistine Chapel before the opening.
The visit began at 7:20 am, an hour and a half before the official opening. Honestly, we thought we were a few in number, but since many groups had access to this time schedule, this was not wholly the case. However, the visit is still more enjoyable. Please note that photos are totally forbidden.
After contemplating Michelangelo's masterpiece, we went to Saint Peter's Basilica, which is still as impressive as ever.
We were supposed to go up in the dome to take pictures of the Vatican City. Unfortunately, they do not accept credit card payments, and we had no change, so we were very upset. How in 2020, a monument like St. Peter's Basilica only accepts payment in cash!
During the organization of our trip, we decided to visit areas we didn't know, such as Trastevere, which is on the other side of the Tiber. But before that, we walked through the streets of the old Jewish ghetto, one of the oldest in the world, from 1555. Not much is left except for a few streets and restaurants that offer Jewish-Roman cuisine, including the famous artichokes. You should not miss the magnificent synagogue, which is one of the largest in Europe. It is really worth a visit as it is rare to see one of its sizes.
Then we headed to Tiber Island via the Fabricius bridge and the beautiful Basilica of St. Bartholomew.
We couldn't wait to stroll through the picturesque streets of the bohemian Trastevere district, inspired by a street, colors, a café, music, a church, or a restaurant. The atmosphere was so good that we went back in the evening to have dinner in a small trattoria.
If you have time, take the Palatino bridge, to see the broken bridge Ponte Rotto, the oldest stone bridge in the city which was destroyed during the great flood in 1598 and never rebuilt.
We had to witness a sunset in Rome, and one of the most beautiful places to enjoy it is from the Villa Borghese gardens. It overlooks the whole city of Rome, from the Piazza del Popolo to St. Peter's Basilica without forgetting Victor-Emmanuel II Monument. We took the Piazza di Spagna and its many steps to reach the Terrazza del Pincio. If you go there to take photos, Viale Della Trinità dei Monti is full of different viewpoints and natural settings much more original than the simple picture taken from the Terrazza del Pincio. The show is magical.
One of my favorite things to do on our trips is to explore the cities at sunrise while the locals are asleep. Experiencing Rome during the sunrise was not an option but a necessity. The city is easy to visit on foot; therefore, I walked more than 15 kilometers in a single morning. It was an absolute pleasure to wander the streets and take pictures without a single tourist, just a few early morning inhabitants. Would you like to enjoy the Pantheon, the Piazza Navona or the Castel Sant'Angelo just for yourself?
The light is so soft in the early hours that this is one of the best times to shoot. Don't hesitate to go on the banks right by the ponte Sant' Angelo, the viewpoints are different and interesting. Extend your walk towards the cour de cassation a few steps away from the castle.
I ended this long walk by the market in Piazza Campo de' Fiori, which is one of the most authentic and popular markets in the city. Now you know what you must do on your trip to Rome to make it unforgettable.
We dedicated one afternoon to visit the Roman Forum and the Capitoline Hill. This time we did not go to the Colosseum because I wanted to take pictures of the Colosseum from the Roman Forum. The place is still quite incredible because it is right in the heart of Rome, and the remains are really spectacular. We suggest you spend some time there by the end of the day to appreciate the shadows that the sun draws on the old stones. I spotted on Instagram a stunning point of view on the columns of the Roman Forum from the Capitoline Hill. We were not disappointed by the scenery, especially at sunset. If you want to get there, take the Via del Campidoglio from the Piazza Del Campidoglio, pass under the arch and stop at the corner. The panorama will amaze you.
We discovered another new vantage point. Go into the Museum of the Risorgimento and head towards the terrace from which you will have a bird's eye view of Trajan's market. Admission is free. Do not make a mistake with the terrace of Victor-Emmanuel II Monument, which is not free of charge.
After this very long day, we moved to the Trevi Fountain, which was obviously full of people. It was challenging to take pictures, but I managed to take a few from different angles.
We started our last day with a morning walk in the park of Villa Borghese gardens and, more particularly, to the Temple of Aesculapius, which is located around the lake. A peaceful place. On our way back to the hotel for breakfast, we strolled down Via Margutta, a charming street full of charm with some beautiful hidden courtyards.
In the afternoon, we visited the Villa Doria Pamphili Park, the largest park in Rome, located on the Janiculum Hill above the charming Trastevere district. This park is not well known by tourists and is quite challenging to access. We went there on foot, not necessarily the best idea. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the stunning views of the city. We wanted to visit the Doria Pamphili Palace, but it was unfortunately closed that day. Just next door, don't miss the beautiful Pamphili Chapel.
Honestly, we found it very tedious to go there because the park is vast. As it is frequented by the Romans on the weekends, it is better to go there in good weather for a picnic.
Here are some churches that surprised us with their beauty:
Basilica of Santa Maria in the Trastevere district, one of the oldest in Rome
Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Piazza Navona
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which is richly decorated with Byzantine mosaics
Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, one of the few Gothic churches in Rome
Church of San Carlo al Corso located on the main artery, Via del Corso
Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracœli which is situated high up on the Capitol Hill
How we can manage to be Vegan in Rome
We have not looked for vegan or vegetarian restaurants because we really wanted to eat pizza and pasta, avoiding cheese, eggs, or dairy products as much as possible.
Our hotel recommended to us some exquisite restaurants such as the Dilla near Piazza di Spagna. It is definitely the best restaurant that we made during our stay. We ordered starters and pasta with fresh truffles that were divine. We went for dinner at La Buvette, a restaurant that belongs to the same owner and is located in a pretty typical little square in Rome. The dishes were similar in quality, and we couldn't resist ordering the truffle pasta again. We strongly recommend these two addresses and remember to book in advance.
Next to the hotel, we had lunch at Gusto, which offers Roman but square pizzas! They are good but not worth the detour either.
We couldn't resist trying the pizzas from Da Michele, an institution in Rome, next to the famous Trevi Fountain. The restaurant is very simple, like the menu, which offers only a limited choice of pizzas. They are good but not outstanding. Please note that this is our opinion, you can also make your own and share it in the comments below.
Everyone knows that in Italy, we eat pizzas, pasta and ice cream. In Trastevere, we found Blue Ice, an ice-cream store that offers a delicious vegan hazelnut ice cream.
Be careful, avoid Cucina and Vista, an ice cream shop in Piazza di Spagna. The ice creams are out of price, 9€ for 2 scoops, and they are not even good.
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