How to get there
If you find yourself in Italy, you must take a couple of days to visit Rome. I am nearing the end of my journey and I must admit that Rome has been my favorite place to visit. If you are in Italy you can get there easily by TrenItalia which costs about 75euro for second class from Milan. The journey takes about 4 hours but be prepared for delays. You could also fly to Rome by RyanAir (fly from anywhere in Europe, not just Italy) and for a cheaper price! I took the train just because it was more convenient than flying, especially from my location.
Where to stay
If you plan to stay in Rome for more than one night, I highly suggest staying at a hostel and not a hotel. Every college student needs to experience a hostel at least once while in Europe. Not only is it cheaper than a hotel, but you also have the opportunity to meet very interesting people from all over. I actually received the best traveling advice from those that I met in the hostel. I recommend booking a hostel through HostelWorld. I stayed at the Legends Hostel and was pleasantly surprised. Many of the travelers that I spoke to said that Legends was a ‘nicer’ hostel. Honestly, it just reminds me of dorm life so I didn’t mind at all.
What to see
In order to fully experience Rome I recommend having at least two full days to sight see. The first day my friend, Sarah, and I went to the Colosseum. It was absolutely incredible. Once in the area you will have many tour guides coming up to you asking if you want to go on a tour through the Colosseum and Roman Forum (and yes, in English!). Initially we were just going to explore on our own, but then decided to join a tour. The tour is well worth the 22euro because you don’t have to wait in any lines and you get the history which makes it exciting; otherwise you’ll just be peering at ancient remains. I recommend setting one day aside to solely experience the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Colosseum.
Colosseum
I would also suggest setting another day aside to go to Vatican City. Once again in Vatican City my friend and I joined a tour group just because there is too much to take in (and we were too impatient to wait in the long, long lines). The tour first led us to the Vatican Museum which would take 15 years to see everything, so I’m quite happy we had a guide that led us to the most important and interesting pieces. Once in the museum (8euro for students, or part of the payment to your tour which is 28euro total) you have free access to St. Peters Basilica. Of course, when traveling Europe all of the cathedrals and basilicas tend to look alike, but not St. Peters. It is absolutely breathtaking. My favorite thing in the Vatican to see is the Sistine Chapel and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo (where, of course, no photography is permitted).
Other than the Colosseum and Vatican City, you must also see Trevi Fountain. It is said that if you toss two coins into the fountain it will ensure your trip back to Rome, so do not forget to do so!
Trevi Fountain
Since I only have a few days left, this will be my last post. I hope this information is helpful. Arrivederci!
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