Rome

The Eternal City: the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Vatican, ranked No. 1 food destination in the world by TripAdvisor.

Rome is the capital of Italy and of the Lazio region, on the lower Tiber in central Italy. Founded nearly 2,800 years ago, it has been the capital of the Roman Empire, the Papal States and modern Italy in turn. Within the city lies Vatican City, the world's smallest sovereign state; both Rome's historic center and the Vatican are World Heritage Sites, and the city has a population of about 2.8 million. Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is about 30 km from the city, with direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and more (about 11–13 hours); the Leonardo Express train reaches Termini station in 32 minutes. Chinese citizens need a Schengen visa. The climate is Mediterranean. April–June and September–October are the best seasons, with temperatures of 18–27°C and plenty of sunshine. July–August often tops 35°C and is the busiest time, so duck into museums or churches at midday. November–February is mild and rainy, with fewer visitors and lower prices. The 2025 Catholic Jubilee drew huge numbers of pilgrims, so be sure to reserve popular sights. Core areas: first, Ancient Rome (the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Capitoline Museums); second, the historic center (the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Campo de' Fiori); third, the Vatican (the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Castel Sant'Angelo); fourth, Trastevere and the Janiculum Hill on the west bank of the Tiber; fifth, the area around Termini station, with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the National Roman Museum. We recommend staying 4–5 days, with an optional day trip to Tivoli or Pompeii. Getting around: sights in the historic center are mostly within walking distance (20,000–30,000 steps a day is normal); Metro lines A and B connect the Vatican, Piazza di Spagna, Termini and the Colosseum; buses and trams use the same ticket (€1.50 for 100 minutes, validate on boarding); take taxis only at designated stands or via an app, with a fixed fare of about €50 from the airport to the city. Notes: the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Galleria Borghese must be booked in advance on their official websites (Colosseum tickets are released 30 days ahead and sell out quickly); churches require covered shoulders and knees; the Trevi Fountain has had crowd limits since 2025 and may charge a fee; the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays (free on the last Sunday of each month); restaurants charge a cover fee (coperto) of €1–3; pickpockets concentrate on the Metro and bus line 64; for drinking water, use the free street fountains known as "nasoni" (big noses).

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