City Rating: Rome
Population: 2’800’000
Date of visit: June 2017
Attractions & sights: 5/5
Nightlife: ?/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 4/5
Low budget factor: €€/5
Total: 👍👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Pompous, imperial Rome. The Eternal City is arguably the best city in Europe or maybe even in the world for sightseeing. You could spend day after day by visiting new attractions, as the city is full of it. This isn’t a secret anymore though (or never has been). Therefore, Rome is inevitably one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
Where to stay:
Staying somewhere in the middle between the Vatican and the Colosseum (e.g. near Piazza di Spagna) is recommended, as all major sights are nearby.
The Good:
Sights, sights, sights. It’s possible to spend two weeks in Rome without seeing all of the attractions. Don’t worry if sightseeing is not your cup of tea. Rome is still Italy and that means you have one of the best cuisines in the world (if not the best), and you can also kill your time by shopping or having a drink somewhere.
Rome is also a very beautiful city. The streets in the city centre are pretty and you have several piazzas, where you can sit down for a while and have a coffee or a gelato. Practical tip: visit Trevi Fountain early in the morning before 8 AM. You will be almost alone there and able to take great pictures without all the other people on it.
The city stays lively at night. You will find plenty of bars in the centre and in Trastevere, which is a great neighbourhood for nightlife.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Apparently, someone must have told the world about Rome’s awesomeness, because the city has probably more tourists per day than Switzerland in a year (I know, I exaggerate a bit). Visiting Rome is an absolute must, but don’t do it in the main season (summer or Easter).
Needless to say that Rome is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Some restaurants are just rip offs, especially those near a tourist attraction. The bad this is: there is a tourist attraction almost everywhere. If you want cheap food, you will find better options outside of the city centre. And always check out the prices before you order or you might pay 64 Euros for an ice cream.
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