podtour
At a glance
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Lazio
- Language
- Italian. Hello: “buongiorno”. Thank you: “grazie”.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Population
- Around 3 million residents
- Sockets
- Types C, F and L, 230 V
- Emergencies
- 112
- Tap water
- Yes. Tap water is safe to drink.
- Card payments
- Cards are widely accepted; a little cash can still be useful for small purchases.
- Tipping
- Tipping is optional; leave something if you would like to thank the staff.
- Driving side
- right
When to go
| Season | Approximate temperature | Rain | Daylight | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Roughly 10–25 °C | Showers between dry days | Increasing daylight | Comfortable walking; a busy centre |
| Summer | Roughly 20–35 °C; hotter spells are possible | Usually limited, with occasional thunderstorms | Long days | Strong heat and crowded squares |
| Autumn | Roughly 10–25 °C | More likely as the season progresses | Shortening days | Pleasant walking as the heat eases |
| Winter | Roughly 5–15 °C | Wet and damp spells | Short days | Cooler conditions for exploring |
- Choose spring or autumn to avoid the strongest heat; the best-known places will still attract crowds.
- June brings celebrations of Saints Peter and Paul; December brings Christmas atmosphere and more activity around St Peter’s. Arrange accommodation ahead if that’s the atmosphere you want.
Walking the city
- Terrain: the centre mixes easier ground with hills, slopes and stairs; Monti and the Capitoline make themselves felt.
- Surfaces: the centre’s sampietrini are dark stone cobbles, uneven and slippery in rain; heels make them harder work. Take care around gaps and narrow pavements.
- Weather on foot: the Forums have exposed stretches. Find shade and take a break during the strongest heat.
- Distances: the Pantheon and Piazza Navona work well together on foot. The Vatican, Colosseum and Trastevere need thought about the journeys between them.
- Crossings: traffic keeps right, unlike at home. At zebra crossings, make eye contact with drivers, including scooter riders, and wait until they give way; then walk steadily across without running. Stop somewhere clear before listening.
- Daily rhythm: coffee can be a quick pause at the counter; a seated meal deserves a different pace. Summer strolls continue as the heat eases.
Getting there and around
- Fiumicino has rail and bus connections into Rome; Ciampino has buses and combinations involving rail or the metro. Taxis are another option.
- Termini and Tiburtina connect trains with the metro and buses. Check which station you’re arriving at before locating your accommodation.
- Use the metro, trams or buses to connect areas. Within the historic centre, walking is often simpler than finding transport for every square.
The neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | What it's like | Who it suits | Our routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantheon and Colonna | Compact squares and lively streets | A first base for exploring on foot | The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free |
| Navona and Campo de’ Fiori | Open squares and small streets | A walk with plenty of pauses | Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori |
| Spagna and Trevi | Steps, fountains and plenty of people | The classic views | The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain |
| Monti | Slopes and neighbourhood squares | Streets of homes and small shops | Monti and the Suburra |
| Ghetto and Tiber Island | Riverside streets and bridges | A concentrated, thoughtful walk | Rome's Ghetto and Tiber Island |
| Trastevere | Lanes and lively squares | Staying for a meal and a wander | Trastevere, from St Cecilia to the Fornarina |
| Borgo and the Vatican | Avenues, open spaces and pilgrims | Combining a walk with an interior visit | Castel Sant’Angelo and St Peter's Square |
| Forums and Caelian | Large remains and exposed spaces | Ancient history and sturdy footwear | The Imperial Forums and the Colosseum; The Caelian and the Circus Maximus |
What to try
| Dish or drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cacio e pepe | Pasta with pecorino cheese and pepper. |
| Carbonara | Pasta with egg, pecorino, guanciale and pepper. |
| Amatriciana | Pasta with tomato, guanciale and pecorino. |
| Gricia | Pasta with guanciale, pecorino and pepper, without tomato. |
| Supplì | A rice croquette with a melting filling, usually mozzarella. |
| Pizza al taglio | Tray-baked pizza cut into portions. |
| Carciofi alla giudia | Fried artichokes from Roman Jewish cooking, when in season. |
| Saltimbocca | Veal with cured ham and sage. |
| Maritozzo | A sweet bun often filled with cream. |
| Caffè | A short coffee; ask specifically if you want another preparation. |
What to pack
- Wear shoes you have already broken in, with grip for cobbles.
- Bring a small refillable bottle: nasoni are little iron fountains with continuously running drinking water. On those with a hole above the spout, covering the spout with a finger sends water upwards so you can drink.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen in warm weather.
- Pack layers and a light waterproof in spring and autumn, and a coat in winter.
- Carry a layer to cover your shoulders in places of worship.
- Bring an adaptor suitable for Italian sockets, including type L; British plugs won’t fit.
- Download your routes and audio before setting off: Podtour works offline.
For the trip
Customs and common mistakes
- Say “buongiorno” when you enter and thank the staff when you leave.
- “Un caffè” usually means a short coffee; say so if you want it longer.
- Cappuccino is associated with breakfast. That’s a custom, not an exam.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches, and keep your voice down.
- Don’t use monuments as picnic seats or step into fountains.
- Decorative fountains aren’t drinking fountains; use those intended for drinking.
- Before taking a photo, check that you’re not blocking an entrance or narrow pavement.
- Keep your bag closed in crowds and put your phone away before crossing.
If it rains (or it's very hot)
- The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free and Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori let you plan pauses near churches and museums; the routes themselves remain outdoors.
- In strong heat, postpone the more exposed parts of The Imperial Forums and the Colosseum. A separately arranged visit to the Capitoline Museums could fill the break.
- Rain makes the cobbles and steps of Monti and the Suburra more demanding. Give yourself time.
Itineraries with Podtour
These plans leave time for meals and an interior visit. Listen at the outdoor points on each route; arrange interior visits separately.
Days Plan
1 day
Start with The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free, then Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori, in the same central area. Leave room for lunch between the squares.
2 days
Day 1: follow the previous plan. Day 2: Rome's Ghetto and Tiber Island, then cross the Tiber for Trastevere, from St Cecilia to the Fornarina.
3 days
Days 1 and 2: follow the previous plans. Day 3: The Imperial Forums and the Colosseum and The Caelian and the Circus Maximus, around ancient Rome. Separate them with a long break in hot weather.
What to see with Podtour
= a place covered by our free route, The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free.
| Place | Why go | Route and stop |
|---|---|---|
| Pantheon | Pause by the portico and let its inscription open the story. | The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free · «El Pantheon desde la fuente: la inscripción de Agripa» |
| Piazza della Minerva: elephant and Santa Maria sopra Minerva | A small square where façade and sculpture reward a closer look. | The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free · “Piazza della Minerva: the façade and the kneeling old man” |
| Sant’Ignazio | A theatrical corner in the middle of the centre. | The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free · «Piazza di Sant’Ignazio: la plaza-decorado y el techo» |
| Piazza di Pietra: Temple of Hadrian | Ancient columns built into the everyday street. | The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free · “Piazza di Pietra: the Temple of Hadrian” |
| Piazza Colonna and Montecitorio | A column that asks you to look up. | The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna Free · “Piazza Colonna: the column of Marcus Aurelius” |
| Fountain of the Four Rivers | A fountain that helps you read the square around it. | Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori · “The Fountain of the Four Rivers” |
| Campo de’ Fiori | A lively square with an uncomfortable memory. | Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori · «Campo de’ Fiori: la hoguera de Bruno» |
| Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps | A monumental staircase between two levels of the city. | The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain · “The Spanish Steps: the staircase of two kings” |
| Trevi Fountain | Water and crowds: find a clear space before listening. | The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain · “Why Trevi?” |
| Colosseum, exterior | The amphitheatre’s façade has plenty to say without going inside. | The Imperial Forums and the Colosseum · “The spoils: the Colosseum and its inscription” |
| Portico of Octavia | A portico that helps explain its surrounding neighbourhood. | Rome's Ghetto and Tiber Island · “The Portico of Octavia” |
| Tiber Island | A pause in the river with a story of its own. | Rome's Ghetto and Tiber Island · “The boat-shaped island and its stern” |
| Santa Maria in Trastevere | The square gathers the life of Trastevere around it. | Trastevere, from St Cecilia to the Fornarina · “The fountain of oil” |
| Castel Sant’Angelo | A striking riverside building with several lives to hear about. | Castel Sant’Angelo and St Peter's Square · «El castillo del emperador (Castel Sant’Angelo)» |