Flights to Rome
 

Rome is a nearly 3,000-year-old city filled with stunning iconic ruins and buildings from the Roman Empire: the Colosseum, the Forum, the Baths of Caracalla, the Pantheon, The Circus Maximus, and too many arches to name.

It is also the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, the home of the Pope, Vatican City, not to mention St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

And it has many museums that house some of the world’s most famous Baroque, Renaissance, and Classical works of art: the National Roman Museum, the Galleria Borghese, Capitoline Museums, among them.

But Rome is also a cosmopolitan city with exciting night life, great people-watching, and excellent shopping. Check out the Trastevere neighborhood for its lively street scene at night with several bars and nightclubs. Pigneto neighborhood is another good spot with plenty of trendy restaurants, a wine bar, and a speakeasy. If you want to pick up some designer duds, Via Condotti and the Spanish Steps is the place to go.

Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), also known as Rome Fiumicino Airport or Fiumicino Airport, is the major airport in Italy and one of the busiest in Europe. An estimated 950.000 passengers pass through every year. Located 25 miles outside Rome in Fiumicino, the airport has four terminals but is currently only using two during renovation. Courtesy shuttle service is provided between terminals. There are nine information desks to help direct travelers.

If you want to get your last fix of authentic Italian pasta and gelato before your flight home, there are several good options, including Ferrari Spazio Bollicine wine bar, Foglie salad spot, and Gelato di San Crispino.

The shopping options are outstanding. Bottega Veneta, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Max Mara, Rolex, and Salvatore Ferragamo are just some of the stores available.

  • Leonardo Express provides direct train service between the airport and Rome’s main train station, Stazioni Termini. This is considered the best way to get to the airport.
  • Taxi pick-up is at the Arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 3. To avoid being scammed, when taking a taxi from the airport, make sure it is official. It should be white with a taxi light on top and a taxi license number.
  • Several public bus services provide transportation to multiple locations around Rome. Passenger pick is up the Arrivals area of Terminal 2. Look for the Regional Bus Station signs.
  • Private car service is available in front of the airport exit and is marked by an NCC sign. The cars are generally blue or gray. Service must be requested in advance.
  • Group and tour operators pick up passengers in the Arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 3.

Touring Rome’s iconic ancient ruins is a must-do for first-time visitors. Opened in 80 A.D., the 50,000-seat Colosseum is a stunning example of Roman architecture and design, featuring arches, columns, tiered seating, and an underground network of passages for storing live animals and staging fights. Visitors can take guided tours of the interior.

The Roman Forum was the center of Rome’s political, commercial, and spiritual life. Here -- among the sprawling ruins of major thoroughfares, temples, basilicas, and meeting halls -- is where Julius Caesar was cremated, Romulus was buried, and the original seat of the Roman Senate was located.

Home to the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built, The Pantheon is a 2,000-year-old former temple considered be ancient Rome’s best-preserved monument. Originally dedicated to the classical gods, it is now a Christian church named Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the grandest of all the grand churches in Rome where the Pope is the only priest allowed to serve at the altar. Consecrated in 1626, it took 120 years to build. There is plenty to see here, but it is essential visitors see Michelangelo’s sculpture Pietá at the front of the nave and the dome he designed.

Speaking of Michelangelo, don’t miss the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Museums, home of his ceiling fresco depicting The Creation of Adam, The Creation of Eve, Original Sin and the Banishment from the Garden of Eden, The Sacrifice of Noah, and The Flood. The image of God’s finger touching that of Adam’s is arguably the most famous painting in the world.

Galleria Borghese is home to what is considered to be one of the most significant private art collections of all time. Among the collection are works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, and Bernini. Housed in a 1620 villa, the museum has two sections, one devoted to sculpture, mosaics, and frescoes; the other is a picture gallery.

There is no end to the options for hotels in Rome. They come in every size, style, and price from hostels to palaces.

For something with an Old World feel but modern luxuries, Hotel Majestic really delivers. Neoclassical elegance melds with contemporary touches to create a sumptuous environment. Amenities include a glamorous bar and restaurant, as well as a rooftop terrace.

G-Rough is a luxury boutique hotel with a distressed-chic vibe designed for the hip and trendy. Each of the 10 guestrooms and suites are different, some with terraces. And for those who want to spread out, there is a room Penthouse suite and a two-bedroom apartment. There’s a bar and coffee shop on site.

Spend the night in a 15th century structure at Hotel Columbus. Centrally located near many popular sites, the hotel features 92 guestrooms and suites on four floors.

Rome has a Mediterranean climate, which means it has cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The hottest months are July and August when average highs are in the high-80s and the average lows are in the mid-60s. The coldest months are January and February, when the average lows are in the mid-to high-30s with average highs in the mid-50s. Rome annually averages about 31 inches of rain. The wettest months are October, November, and December with an average of 3 to 4.5 inches. It rarely snows in Rome.