If Pizza, followed by more pizza, and then a huge pile of pasta all washed down with wine doesn't sound too bad then Rome is the place for you. If you're not so in to the carbs, a) poor you and b) don't even get on the plane.
Talking of planes. There’s tonnes of cheap flights to Rome. Hit up Sky Scanner or Google Flights to see the cheapest options – from providers like Ryanair, Norwegian air, Easyjet, and Vueling. Expect to pay in the region of £70-£110 for a round trip depending on how flexible you are dates wise.
Two hours and bit later and you’re there… And then it’s a simple express train straight to the center of the city for just €14.
Where to stay…
All the central areas are a squished full of tourists with selfie sticks so head to the other side of the river (but still a 10 minute walk to everywhere you want to see) and find somewhere in beautiful Trastavere. An area filled with windy cobbled streets with elegant cafes and artsy wine bars - 100% the prettiest area Rome has to offer.
Or if you like staying somewhere more lively - try Monti - just near the Coliseum, this is basically Rome's Shoreditch (there’s even Italian men with beards and buttoned up shirts on shooter). Expect lively pizza joints, dive bars, oh and the best vintage shops I've ever been in to (Fuck me Italian vintage leather is good).
Book A Room At…
Air Bnb has some great options – like this place in Trastavere. Try and find somewhere with a little patio so you and your mates/bloke/new Italian friends can have aperitifs. Because that’s what they totally do in Rome. If you’re more a hotel gal Hotel Nerva (doubles are just €90 including brekkie) is right in the cool area of Monti and has nice décor, big beds, and is in a dream location.
Ok, now for what to do…
Best For Morning Marketing...
Prepare your purses as vintage in Rome is damn sweet. Beautiful leather, bold prints, soft silks. It's a fashion form of heaven - and Mr Gucci is god. If you want to check out a good vintage market head to Monti's Vintage Market - every weekend 10am-8pm, on via Leonina (which also has tonnes of other amazing vintage shops too). The clothes aren't super cheap but the quality is incredible.
The Best Pizza In Town…
It’s impossible to recommend just one pizza place in Rome. They are all frigging brilliant. Frankly any place you stop by at will taste better than anything you've put in your mouth. But if I had to name one I'd say don't miss Da Baffetto - it's really popular so expect big queues on weekend nights after 7pm - but is super cheap (€7 per pizza) and certainly worth the wait.
Do the tourist thing…
Obviously touristy things like Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, must be seen. You’re in Rome FFS, it’s the capital of amazing monuments. My advice? See them from the outside as the queues to get in are too long and there's too much pizza to be eaten rather than stand around and waste time. Also there are beautiful churches / old building all over the city so don't worry you'll get plenty of culture over the weekend.
Head For The Creamiest Ice Cream Of Your Life...
When in Rome, eat ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream. One day I had three different servings - Coffee, dolce latte, pistacio - and they were all very delicious. La Fonte della Salute in Trastevere was my personal favourite.
Find Some Quiet To Digest...
After a big three course lunch, and a few too many glasses of wine, if you're anything like me you'll need a quiet place to chill out. And possibly lie down. So head to the The Botanical Gardens, which are filled with Italian roses and beautiful fountains. Then find a quiet spot and... relax.
For The Best View In The City...
Don't bother with the art (mainly as there will be HUGE queues) but the cafe of the Capitoline Museum is quite unknown and has fantastic views of the city from its terrace. You'll be able to get a birds eye view of The Vatican. Plus they serve delicious Aperol Spritz.
The Local Place For The Best Dinner Of Your Life...
Make like the locals and head to Da Enzo (Via dei Vascellari, 29; +39 06 58 12 260) a local roman resturant in a backstreet that you'll only spot from the crowds waiting for a table. Want my advice on what to order? Start with some artichokes with soft ricotta, followed by some seafood pasta, then some polpetto (aka meatballs), and finish with some tiramisu - it's so good I'd be willing to lose a toe for another helping. Plus the red wine is served in huge jugs from a metal tank in the corner.
For a courtyard cocktail...
End the day with late night drinks on the patio at Hotel Locarno - where the booze is cheap, and the crowd fun. What more could you want? Erm, maybe some pizza - yep, they do that too.
Essential Reading:
Looking for a holiday read? Try Tennessee Williams' The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone - a dark and twisted love story all set in the winding streets of Rome. Intense but you'll feel smug if you get through it.
Essential Watching:
So many of the prettiest films have been set in Rome: Roman Holiday, The Talented Mr Ripley, La Dolce Vita are just a few. Download them to your ipad and watch late at night from your airbnb and be inspired what to do the next day.
Essential Download
Eat Rome app from the ultimate food blogger Elizabeth Minchilli is bascially a food bible for pasta lovers.
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Fun Stuff For Under £50 To Do In The UK This Summer If You Can't Afford A Holiday
How To Visit Berlin If You’ve Got No Money But Still Want All The Fun
**Follow Lena On Twitter: @lenadecasparis **
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.