Ahh, the Eternal city, known for its amazing food, beautiful sights, strong espresso, and loud inhabitants. Rome is a bustling bubble of energy, with Vespas whipping through the lines of traffic, street vendors aggressively trying to sell selfie sticks to tourists, and musicians of varying levels playing near popular sites, hoping that people’s generosity reaches their guitar cases. The character of Rome is deeply rooted in Italian culture. In contrast with America, Italians don’t subscribe to a 24/7 work culture. To really know the city, you should spend time going not only to the obvious landmarks, but also ones that you may not have heard about. You will also inevitably spend time getting lost. Embrace it. You will get lost and you will survive.

You could spend years discovering new places and things to do in Rome, but here are some places I loved going to while I studied abroad there that I think you’ll love too.

Eats:

Let’s cut right to the chase—you want to know all the good places to eat around Rome. You’re in Italy, so forget about calories for now. You’ll probably walk them off later anyway.

1. Frigidarium

Frigidarium is my favorite gelato place ever. Gelato is like ice cream, right? Wrong. Gelato is a creamier, more flavorful version of ice cream. I know I sound very un-American right now, but anyone who has tasted true gelato knows that it’s a whole different ball game...or should I say football game? Located in the center of Rome, Frigidarium is easy to navigate to. Other popular gelaterie in the area are Giolitti and Teatro. Teatro gelato is a little too slurpie-esque for me, so if you prefer really creamy gelato then head to Frigidarium.

Recommendation: get the yellow “Frigidarium flavor.” You can also get the gelato dipped in chocolate or add whipped cream to the top for no additional cost.

Via del Governo Vecchio, 112, 00186 Roma, Italy.

2. Mondo Arancina

Mondo Arancina, which means "Arancina World," is a Sicilian style food place. The main thing they serve is Arancine, or as I like to think of them, golden nuggets of happiness and joy. Arancine are traditionally filled with rice, cheese, and some sort of sauce. They are breaded on the outside and lightly fried. Mondo Arancina also has pizza and other fried assortments, but trying an arancina while in Italy is a must.

3. Napule Pizzeria e Ristorante

Napule is a pizzeria and restaurant. You can either walk in and sit down to eat or just grab a personal pizza to go. The pizza is cooked in a brick oven and costs five to eight euros. My favorite kind has tomatoes, spinach, cheese, and a ricotta-stuffed crust. Ricotta made in Italy is a thousand times better and creamier than Ricotta in the U.S. The other food on the menu is good as well, but the star of this restaurant’s menu is the pizza.

4. Fontana di Venere

Fontana di Venere is a restaurant right near the Trevi Fountain. Miraculously, this restaurant isn’t flooded with tourists, even though it’s near one of the most popular destinations in Rome. Actual Italians go here and the servers are very friendly. I recommend getting the ravioli, the seafood risotto, or the lasagna, which is legitimately the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted.

5. Dolce Maniera

So say you get out of dinner pretty late, or you’re coming back from a night out at the bars, and you really want a snack but nothing is open. Good news, there’s a 24 hour bakery located in the Prati, a neighborhood in the center of Rome. This bakery offers everything from cold pizza to cannolis, and many other pastries in between. I can safely say that Dolce Maniera has cured a number of my late night cravings.

6. Hostaria Borsieri

This restaurant was right across from my apartment, and I waited until the last night I was in Rome to eat there. I really wish I had tried it earlier in the semester because it was so good! Explore the places around you, especially if they look small, because the smaller a place in Rome is, the more authentic and delicious it will be. I got a delicious pasta with creamy sauce and Italian ham. I believe that they rotate the desserts they have, but anything they’re offering will be delicious.

7. Osteria del Cavaliere

The only reason I know about this one is because one of the student companions (Italian students that are pretty much paid to be friends with American students and show them around the city) from my program used to work at it. It’s a true Italian family-run restaurant, as the mom cooks the dishes and the daughters serve the customers. The gnocchi is absolutely amazing, and the dishes are inexpensive. This restaurant is in a completely different part of the city, one of the last stops on the metro, but it still doesn’t take long to get to and is definitely worth the trip.

Destinations:

1. Colosseum

Of course I have to tell you to go to the Colosseum, or il Colosseo, as the Italians say. Some people think that the Colosseum is just a building of crumbling rock, but I find it really fascinating. Anything that was built in 70 A.D. and still stands deserves a visit. A lot of sites in Rome are built from marble, which can pretty much last forever, but the Colosseum is made mostly of Limestone and concrete, which will eventually deteriorate. The colosseum isn’t near most of the other sights in Rome, so be prepared to bus it over there.

2. Villa Borghese

Rome, like most cities, doesn’t have a lot of nature within its limits, and Villa Borghese is one of the few very nearby places that you can go to for a nice walk in a park. There’s a really cool pond where you can rent a boat to paddle around in, a huge courtyard, a beautiful terrace from which you can see half of the city of Rome, and a hundred hidden corners to get lost in. The terrace of pincio overlooks Piazza del Popolo, and from it you can also see the top of Saint Peter’s.

3. The Vatican

My apartment was only a fifteen minute walk from the Vatican, so I’ve been there a couple times. Most definitely buy your ticket for the Vatican in advance so you don’t end up waiting in a huge line. There’s a crazy amount of art within the Vatican city, and you should definitely go if only for the Sistine Chapel. This room is literally breathtaking. The Pope also holds open masses in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday mornings, which are translated into a multitude of languages.

Photo Credit: my dad

4. Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a collision of history and food and art and architecture, and most importantly, gelato. Piazza Navona is a beautiful place to go for a nighttime stroll because people play music and the lights from restaurants are breathtaking decorations. In the center of the square rests the Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers). If you’re interested in art or beauty at all, this is a must see.

5. Trevi Fountain

Another given, you must visit the Trevi Fountain while you’re in Rome. It recently went through a huge restoration and looks absolutely sparkling. A beauty in the night or during the day, the masterpiece attracts 3.5 million tourists each year.

6. Monte Mario

Monte Mario is a park just outside the city limits of Rome, which makes for a great view of the city. It’s also a nice escape from the noise of the city, and it’s a really peaceful place. Other really good vantage points of the city that I didn’t personally go to include: the Aventine Hill, the Gianicolo Hill, and Castel Sant’Angelo.