Romantic Things to Do in Rome - The Best Insider Tips

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Here's the perfect romantic weekend in Rome, using a little bit of everything I list below:

Day 1

• Start with a bike-ride or walk along the Appia Antica (you can do this self-guided or as a tour.)
• Make your way to Trastevere for long lunch
• Walk along the Lungotevere
• Enjoy some drinks and aperitivo at Achilli al Parlamento
• Head to the Rome Opera House or the Baths of Caracalla if it's summer, and enjoy a ballet, concert, or opera. For something less intense, try a short opera on the roof of the Eitch Borromini.

Day 2

• Visit the Galleria Doria Pamphilj
• Take a cooking class together
• Enjoy a quiet dinner for two at Trattoria Monti
• Take a romantic evening stroll along the Via dei Fori Imperiali

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Panoramic Romantic Views

These are some of our favorite places for stunning views in Rome, and they are all special any time of day.

But for a more romantic experience, you may want to head here for sunset or at night:

View of the Roman Forum

Start in Piazza Venezia facing the Complesso Vittoriano (the Altar of the Fatherland.)

Walk up Michelangelo's ramp towards Campidoglio, Capitoline Hill where City Hall is today (and where we got married.)

After taking a little stroll around the piazza, head towards the back to the right of the mayor's office.

View of the Roman Forum at night

From here, you can see the Roman Forum spread out below you, with the Colosseum peeking up from the back. The Palatine Hill is across from you to the right.

This view never fails to wow me, whether I see it during the day, at sunset, or at night.

For whatever reason, it's usually not very crowded at night.

And I think it's one of the most romantic spots on earth.

Gianicolo

On our very first date, Alessandro took me to the other side of the river and up to the Gianicolo Hill, high above Trastevere (Gianicolo is part of Trastevere but it feels like its own special spot.)

Even during the day, you can get the best bird's eye views of Rome from the Gianicolo Hill in Trastevere.

It turns out this is a favorite place for Romans to come on a romantic date, but that's ok with me.

I love it any time of day but I find it most romantic at nighttime when I can see the city lights twinkle between the domes below.

Terrazza Caffarelli

Most people think of Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill) as a place to visit the Capitoline Museums, or perhaps to get stunning views of the Roman Forum (see above).

But there are other parts of this historic hill that are less well-known and even less crowded.

One of these is the Terrazza Caffarelli, which actually has two levels.

I love this collection of domes you can see from Terazza Caffarelli. If you look carefully, you can also see the dome of the Pantheon (not seen in this photo.)

Once you go up the ramp to Campidoglio, if you take an immediate right, you'll find a doorway you can walk through.

It will take you right to the lower level of the Terrazza Caffarelli, where you can already get some beautiful views of Rome. This is open 24 / 7.

If you head inside and up the stairs, you wind up in the café of the Capitoline Museums, which anyone can visit, whether you visit the museums or not.

And while you can certainly have something to eat or drink at the cafe if you like, you can also just head out onto the terrace for some stunning rooftop views.

You'll usually find yourself nearly alone there.

This upper level is only open when the museum is open, so you likely won't get many night views, but you can certainly enjoy a sunset here.

More romantic views

Some more wonderful points in Rome for beautiful views include the Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Tree Garden) on the Aventine Hill and the Pincio overlooking Piazza del Popolo.

But those are two very popular places with small lookout points, and they are often crowded.

Just keep that in mind if you're looking for something a little more intimate.

Click here to visit our complete guide to the Best Views in Rome.

Take in an Opera, Concert, or Ballet

If you both enjoy seeing a show, we have plenty of options in Rome for just about any budget.

Rome Opera House

Rome has a beautiful opera house and you can enjoy shows there but also at one of its other theaters.

In summer in Rome, the same opera company puts on operas, ballets, and concerts in the Baths of Caracalla.

This is one of my favorite things to do in Rome in summer, and I think it's a wonderful way to enjoy a romantic evening together in a stunning setting.

The Baths of Caracalla make a wonderful, romantic setting for taking in a show in the summer months in Rome.

Rome Auditorium

You might want to catch a world-class concert at Rome's Auditorium.

Rome's auditorium, designed by Renzo Piano, is a superb venue for attending a concert or show. The architecture is stunning, and the acoustics are simply amazing.

Opera in a church or on a rooftop

Finally, there are plenty of smaller venues where you can catch some opera or other singing in a special setting like a church or rooftop.

We love watching this opera show on the Eitch Borromini rooftop with stunning views all around us.

Romantic Evening Strolls

Just walking around Rome should be romantic by itself, but when it's packed with people during the day, it might not feel that way.

What could be more romantic than coming upon the Rome Pantheon all lit up at night?

And while people are still out at night, taking a long walk under the night sky - even better with some moonlight - can be just the thing to put you in a romantic mood.

Historic Center

You can just walk around the historic center, passing monuments like the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.

All are beautifully lit up at night.

I love the Spanish Steps at dusk. What a romantic place to be!

The one area you likely won't find so cozy is the Trevi Fountain.

It's busy from early morning till way past midnight.

If you come to Rome in the dead of winter and visit the Trevi Fountain really early (6 AM) or late at night (after 11 PM), you MAY find it fairly uncrowded, but otherwise, don't count on this.

I know several Rome photographers and this is their least favorite place to take couples for photos precisely because of how crowded it is now.

Angel Bridge to Vatican Square

As dusk falls, take a walk from the Angel bridge towards Castel Sant'Angelo.

Castel Sant'Angelo at night, beautifully illuminated.

Once you arrive at the castle, turn left and walk past Piazza Pia and its fountains.

You'll see Via della Conciliazione in front of you and Saint Peter's Basilica at the end.

You can walk all the way down to Saint Peter's Square which is open until 11 PM.

It's a gorgeous walk, and in my opinion, a wonderful thing to do as a couple, or really for anyone.

What more romantic place to be than St. Peter's Square, all lit up as night falls?

Via dei Fori Imperiali

Start at Piazza Venezia and take a long walk down the Via dei Fori Imperiali, or Street of the Imperial Forums.

Head for the Colosseum.

I can never get enough of these views along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, especially at sunset.

Once you get there, you can walk around the monument and the Arch of Constantine, and then come back the way you came, or head towards Celio or Monti for a romantic dinner.

During the day, there are swarms of people here but at night, you can walk around the monument in relative peace and quiet.

Lungotevere - along the tiber

Take a stroll along the Tiber river from above. You may want to cross any one of several bridges you come to.

If you go at dusk or nighttime, you'll get to enjoy some stunning views of sites and monuments along the river, like Castel Sant'Angelo or Saint Peter's dome.

Lungotevere glows at night, making Rome's bridges romantic places to steal a kiss...

Romantic evening - drinks and dinner

Whether you're visiting Rome for a romantic weekend, for Valentine's Day, to kindle or rekindle some romance, or to propose, one pretty obvious thing to do is to enjoy a romantic dinner for two.

You may even want to start someplace for a drink (alcoholic or non-alcholic) to set the mood.

Romantic places for wine and cocktails

Here are our favorite places for drinks with a cozy ambiance or romantic setting:

Even in winter, the Stravinskij Bar at the Hotel de Russie is such a lovely oasis in the heart of Rome.

• Hotel de Russie Stravinskij Bar (Piazza del Popolo) - indoors or outdoors
• Hotel Locarno Bar (Piazza del Popolo) - indoors or outdoors
• Spiriti Wine Bar (Pantheon) - indoors or outdoors (with a view of Piazza di Pietra)
• Achilli al Parlamento wine bar (Pantheon) - most romantic inside
• Singer Palace Hotel rooftop bar (Pantheon) - outdoors (in season)
• Ercoli (Parioli or Prati) - most romantic inside
• Tanto Era Tanto Antico Roma (Trastevere) - indoors
  
• Enoteca CUVERIE (Trastevere) - indoors
• Ruvido Natural wines (San Giovanni) - indoors

These are just a few of our favorite places to enjoy drinks in Rome.

Click here for more Rome rooftop bars, and here for more Rome wine bars.

Romantic restaurants in Rome

There's no shortage of romantic places to eat in Rome, but you should also be aware that many typical local trattorias can be brightly-lit and loud.

One way to guarantee a quiet, romantic place to eat is to choose an upscale, even Michelin-star restaurant, like the Mirabelle Restaurant at the Hotel Splendide Royale.

Here is a short list of our favorites:

• Carter Oblio (Prati)
• Il Bacaro (Pantheon)
• Trattoria Monti (Monti / Esquilino)
• Pierluigi (Campo dei Fiori)
• Hostaria Costanza (Campo dei Fiori)

Whether you eat inside in the small cozy dining room or outside under the ivy trellis, il Bacaro is a great choice for a romantic dinner for two.

To see more of our go-to places to eat in Rome, especially for a romantic break, check out these pages:

• Romantic Rome Restaurants
• Restaurants in Rome with a View
• Romantic Hotels in Rome (obviously this page is about places to stay when you visit Rome for a romantic getaway, but some of them also offer places to eat and drink)
• Where Locals Eat in Rome (these will likely have a louder ambiance than the above)

Visit Romantic Sites in Rome

The Colosseum is a must-see in Rome but it's not what I would call romantic - tales of gruesome spectacles are just not conducive to giving you that romantic vibe.

The Vatican is also a must but it's huge, crowded, and intense.

There is so much to see and take in, your eyes will be focused on just about everything but your partner.

But there are some sites and places in Rome that do lend themselves to romance.

We love these:

The Appia Antica

Strolling along the Appia Antica in Rome can be relaxing and romantic.

The Appia Antica offers a completely different feeling from visiting Rome's historic center.

This ancient Roman road is full of trails, catacombs, tombs, monuments, and nature. Lots to explore together.

The Galleria Doria Pamphilj

This stunning jewel of a museum is often overlooked despite its super central location on the Via del Corso.

Like the Vatican, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj is also a treasure-trove of art, but because it's relatively small and almost always uncrowded, I think this is a great site to visit for a romantic experience.

As an added bonus, both their inside café and their outside bar (aperitivo only) are lovely and romantic as well.

The Villa Borghese Park

This park was once a noble villa owned by the Borghese family. Today, it's one of Rome's largest public parks and it's full of fun and romantic things to see and do.

For a romantic morning or afternoon, rent a rowboat at the Villa Borghese's laghetto.

You can take a little boat ride on the lake, walk long tree-lined roads, head to the Pincio overlook, especially at dusk, or visit one of many museums in the park.

There are a few free museums but the most famous and most popular museum in the park is the Galleria Borghese.

This is something you'd need to book in advance but it's well worth it.

And, like the Doria Pamphilj museum above, because there is a limit to daily visitors, it's never crowded and something a couple can share and enjoy together.

Try something different

Some fun and unusual things to do as a couple in Rome include:

• Taking a cooking class together
• Zipping around Rome on a scooter (either self-guided or on a tour)
• Renting e-bikes together (or take an e-bike tour)
• Hire a photographer and get a photoshoot in Rome to remember this trip

Taking a cooking class together in Rome can be a fun activity for couples.

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Top ROME TOURS & EXPERIENCES

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