Q&A: Insiders tips on unique things to do in Rome Italy.

These articles provide a unique perspective on things to do in Rome...

Hello Roman life, what are some unique things to do in Rome Italy? I mean I know about the Colosseum and the Vatican I'm referring to things the guide books don't mention!

There was a good restaurant in the piazza della Rotonda in front of the Pantheon that had really good pear gelato. My daughter ordered a macedonia (mixed fruit) gelato that was tasty and unusual. Apparently they take little balls of different flavored frozen fruit gelato and mix them inside a lemon and then freeze the whole thing. Each bite had different fruit flavor. If you stood on the steps of the Pantheon with your back to the Pantheon the restaurant was on the left just past the fountain.

Afterdark says: If you are looking for unique things to do in Rome Italy then "Dinner in the Sky" is as unique as you can get. It's or anyone who wants to take an ordinary meal, meeting, party etc. and convert it into something spectacular! Breakfast in the sky, lunch in the sky, cocktails in the sky, parties in the sky…everything takes place at a table suspended 50m above the ground. (Moderator adds: You can find them at www.dinnerinthesky.com )

Charlize replied to unique things to do in Rome Italy: I was in Rome last year for about 4 nights, I ended up going to a disco with some random Italians that I met on the street. It was one of the best times of my life. I stayed up all night, learned a little Italian, and partied with some locals who actually knew where to go and what to do. It's always best to ask the opinion of the people who live there for what is the best to see.

I would see the city at night if you can, buses are easy to catch (Marcus from Roman Life Rome Italy adds: See the rome public transport page for advice on the Rome night buses) everywhere in the city. The Vatican is beautiful at night, with just a little different feel to it.

If you want to go into the Sistine Chapel then go early in the morning and be the first one there, otherwise you will wait in the hot sun and waste your day, other than the Roman Colosseum it is probably the most crowded attraction in Rome. I believe they open at 8Am so be there at 7Am, but check on that one.

Hope this helped you out.

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Friedrick says: I enjoyed having lunch in the Jewish quarter. (Moderator adds: In the Campo dè Fiori near the Tiber island - Isola Tiberina) The name of the restaurant was "il Portico", they served fried artichokes. Yummy.

Piazza Navona was wonderful. A great place to people watch, buy art, and have a some dinner. Wonderful atmosphere for dinner at "Tre Scalini".

Enjoy Rome again and don't forget to toss your coin in the Trevi Fountain.
Ciao

Cheryl says: Santa Maria sopra Minerva (visit the Pantheon area) behind the Pantheon was one of the big surprises for me. It's so unassuming from the outside. The ceiling is superb. I caught the choir/orchestra rehearsal one evening, it was breath-taking. Go there at night.

Sandra says: For me the nicest things to do in Rome Italy was the simple things... like enjoying the Tevere at night and have a little walk under the street lamps.

Why don't you declare your love to your partner as roman teenagers do and go to the Ponte Milvio and lock a padlock (with a love phrase on) to the lamp in the middle of the bridge.
Rome is big, beautiful ...a mess :)

Alexa says: Climb a billion (well a lot of) steps to the top of the Cupola in St Peters cathedral and look over the edge of the dome. Real scary sh!t if you don't have the head for heights.

Have your photo taken with some gladiators outside the Roman colosseum, (after giving them €3), so they don't rip you for 5 or 10 after the photo.
Drink REAL coffee - Italian coffee.

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Lupo replied to unique things to do in Rome Italy: Visit Piazza Navona and Pantheon for an evening walk and take a "Cremolato" ice cream at a small shop near the Pantheon.
Pay a visit to the Galleria Borghese, in the Villa Borghese gardens but remember to call and make a reservation beforehand.
(Moderator adds: www.galleriaborghese.it)

Go to one of the typical restaurants in Testaccio and eat "Pasta alla carbonara" or the "Abbacchio scottadito" (roasted lamb that you should eat with the finger)

Take a walk around in the old ghetto near Piazza Venezia and enjoy the atmosphere. And of course dinner in a great roman-jewish restaurant near the Portico d'Ottavia. Excuse the English ;-)

Filippo says: Be careful of the scooters, traffic is crazy in Rome.
Apart from the touristy things, what are the unique things to do in Rome Italy ...Roman cuisine?! Bucatini all'Amatriciana, Spaghetti alla carbonara, Carciofi alla Romana - lots of possibilities there.

Visit the Roman flea market at Porta Portese - you will find some tourists there, but still, it is very Roman.

Marge replied to unique things to do in Rome Italy: I love to sit in random cafes in Rome and just observe people going about their daily activities.

June says: I must agree that Villa Borghese is a great place to visit. There are always interesting people, and a really fun thing to do is to rent one of the bike-cars (I'm not sure what they would be called in English - basically a pedal car).

You can also rent a scooter if you want to travel a little differently.

The Spanish steps area plenty of great shopping, and many of the shops are open late which is fun.
My brother and I went in search of the best gelato places - the best were (take my extra waist size as word for it) San Crispino by the Trevi Fountain and Cafe de Paris on Via Veneto won by a long shot :)

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Paris replied to unique things to do in Rome Italy: I would say to walk through the Piazza Navona with a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts at Christmas and check out the art - it's very "old movie" relaxing & enjoyable.

Pablo says: If you are there on a Wednesday, then find a tour group for the Vatican. The Pope gives public mass on most Wednesdays and the morning tour groups will get passes to the mass.

James says: I see the crypts of the Cappuccini monks is already mentioned here, there is also the Church of San Clemente (in the San Giovanni in Laterano area), which has stairs down to another church below street level and you can take stairs down from the underground church to a Roman Temple to Mithras.

Marcus from Roman life Rome Italy adds:
We have some excellent answers for unique things to do in Rome Italy, thanks everybody!
Visit my things to do in Rome Italy at night page.

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