In my opinion, there's no touristy places, just bad unprepared travelers. And if you're coming to the eternal city, which is one of the greatest cities in the world, you really owe it to yourself to get up early in the morning and experience these monuments in their true light without the crowds. Remember, Rome is a place where your travel dreams can come true or where they can go to die. You probably have imagined this very moment where you're standing in front of one of the world's biggest mega monuments. It's on everyone's bucket list for good reason. It's where the opening chapters of Western civilization were written. I'm Angel Costeano, so the tour guide, and today I'm going to give you the formula of how to have the most epic day right here in Rome. In today's episode, we're covering Rome's best experiences.

From getting onto the arena floor of the Colosseum, to where to find the best carbonara in the city. And make sure you stay until the very end, because we're even going to have an aperitivo in the Vatican museums after touring them virtually empty. But first, there's some things that you need to know. The eternal city of Rome we know today was traditionally founded on April 21st, 753 BC, and is located in central Italy in the region of Lazio. Rome has two major airports, Rome, Fumicino, Leonardo da Vinci Airport, and Campino. Fumicino has more international flights coming in with over 30 million passengers each year, so you'll likely fly in there. Campino is closer to the south of the city and mostly services budget airlines and European destinations. To reach central Rome from Fumicino Airport, you have two main options.

The fastest and most convenient is the Leonardo Express Train, taking about 32 minutes and costing 14 euros via the Tren Italia app. Alternatively, a taxi provides direct transportation in approximately 45 minutes, but it is price-eared at a fixed rate of 50 euros. If you're driving into the city, pay attention to the ZTL sound, as driving in central Rome is heavily prohibited. Rome is a major metropolitan city made up of 22 Rioni or districts. The good news is that for visitors, all the major sites are in the middle of the city. The Centro Storico, or Historic Center of Rome, is the area within the Aralian walls, which were built in the third century AD to protect the city from invaders. The Centro Storico is home to many of Rome's most famous landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon.

The whole area itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the Colosseum, Via dei Foti in Pettiali runs down the Roman Forum to Piazza Venetia. From there, you can head north down Via del Corso, which is the main shopping street in Rome, or west along Vittorio a Manueli, which runs in the direction of the Pantheon and eventually you'll reach the Tiber River. The Vatican is in the west of the city on the other side of the river. Most of the city is walkable, so be sure to pack comfortable shoes. The distance from St. Peter's Square to the Colosseum is approximately 3.6 kilometers or 2.2 miles if you take the most direct route. Today we'll be mostly walking because distances are short. St. Peter's Square to Piazza Navona takes only about 15 to 20 minutes. Getting to each side after that takes approximately 15 minutes.

Public transportation is available in Rome, an ideal for covering long distances, or getting from one side of the city to the other. Rome has two main metro lines that visitors can easily take advantage of. Line A and Line B. For a full day pass, it costs 7 euros. Line A stops include Otaviano, which is the closest stop to the Vatican. And Spagna, which is the closest stop to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon isn't too far away. On Line B, you have the Colosseum stop. You guessed it, this station is closest to the Colosseum. Ride-sharing apps do work in Rome, but Uber tends to be a bit expensive. The popular ride-sharing app free now makes hiring a local taxi super easy by providing the price up front and makes your destination very clear. We created the perfect route and plan to get you from A to Z.

That includes an incredible end at the Vatican, so be sure to stick around. Before we get started, hook us up with a subscribe and hit that bell so you can find our next video. Today I'm doing what many people think is absolutely impossible. I'm saying St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and all of the iconic sites in between. If you really want to see Roman today, mega monuments like the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica, then jump on our Roman a day tour because it's the only way you get all the highlights of the city and have plenty of time for gelato or to dive deep into the places that you really love. All right, it's about 7.15 a.m. I'm about to meet my group because today I'm climbing the dome of St. Peter's. So when you visit St. Peter's Basilica or climb the dome, you definitely have to go through a security check so be prepared to go through metal detectors.

And the great thing about jumping on our tour is that we get in line super early, so now we're avoiding this huge long weight. You can see the line stretches all the way across the square. So I'm on top of St. Peter's Basilica here having a coffee, a cornetto crema, and let me tell you this is already an incredible experience and I haven't even climbed the dome yet. So we took the elevator up and then we arrived at this terrace and we get incredible views straight away of Michelangelo's really last project, this dome of St. Peter's. And this leads to the stairs that we're about to climb to get to the final viewpoint on top of the dome. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most iconic and architecturally significant structures in the world. It was designed by Michelangelo and took over 100 years to complete.

The dome is 136 meters tall and is one of the largest domes in the world. It is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and is the last testament of Michelangelo's genius. So we've made it up to the top and what of you this is. This is the most worthwhile experience because this is the tallest building in Rome and will always be the tallest building. So you're going to get the most epic views. If you look down below you can see St. Peter's Square and Bernini's incredible colonnade hugging the square. Your eye goes past to the Castello San Angelo. You see the tibre, the different hills of Rome. I mean what an incredible experience. This is by far the richest and grandest church on the planet and the spiritual home of millions of Christians worldwide. The Basilica is free to enter but be sure to dress respectfully.

No shorts, above the knee skirts or bare shoulders. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Remember the Basilica is closed on Wednesdays during papal audiences. One of the top things to see here inside of St. Peter's Basilica is the P.A. tie by Michelangelo. Now as soon as you enter it's to the right over here and it will take your breath away. Michelangelo made it when he was 24 years old and it's the only piece he actually ever signed. This magnificent piece of art behind me is a transfiguration by the Renaissance master Raphael and as soon as you walk up to it you realize it's actually a mosaic. That's because all the pieces of art inside of St. Peter's Basilica are mosaic replicas. The originals are in the Vatican museums most of them in the Pina Coteca gallery.

Well that's it for our time here at St. Peter's Basilica. It's incredible to actually experience one of the most famous places in the world. Now it's finally time to hit the city. If you still need a coffee or breakfast one of the most famous cafes in Rome is on the way to the Pantheon just past Piazza Navona. I'm going to have a Cornetto crema and a cappuccino at one of the most well-known cafes right here in Rome. It's right around the corner from the Pantheon San Staccio. So if you're seeing Rome in a day it's good to get up early and get your day started. Come to San Staccio first thing because there's going to be less crowds and remember ordering Albonco is a completely different price than sitting down at a coffee table. Albonco's cheaper standing up at this table cheaper than sitting down at the table.

About a 15 to 20 minute walk from St. Peter's Square is the ancient stadium of Emperor Domitian that is now a beloved Baroque Piazza. One of the greatest squares in all of Rome is situated between the Pantheon and the Vatican. It's Piazza Navona where I'm standing now and it has an incredible Bernini masterpiece. The Four Rivers Fountain which is framed by this incredible Borromini Church. Now I suggest that you come here early in the morning late in the afternoon or if you're taking the roots between the Vatican and the Pantheon this is a great place to hang out. So what I've done is I've decided to rest my feet a little bit and order a drink here at one of the places that surrounds Piazza Navona to admire the view of the church. Now I will tell you that if you're looking for a place to eat in just like anywhere in Europe, main squares aren't the places to eat.

You want to get outside of the main square so check out our blog or check out my Piazza Navona video where we list plenty of great places to eat. Chinching. Before heading to the Colosseum I'm making a quick stop in one of ancient Rome's must-see sites. The Pantheon is an absolute game-tanger and one of the most well-preserved ancient sites here in Rome. You can easily visit it on your own but if you do you want to avoid the long lines and come during the nine o'clock hour or to make it easy you can jump on our Romanidade tour and hear all the great stories and historical content from a passionate guide. The Pantheon built by Emperor Hadrian almost two thousand years ago features the most influential dome in history. Michelangelo drew inspiration from both the Florence D'Vomo and the Pantheon's remarkable dome making it essential to visit for a deeper understanding of St.

Peter's dome. It's best to see all of Rome's ancient sites together so next I'm headed to the epicenter of ancient Rome. You've probably imagined this very moment where you go right up to one of the world's biggest mega monuments, the Colosseum. It's the epicenter of ancient Rome but so many people want to visit it today that it requires special access. So today I'm getting onto the arena floor and seeing the heartbeat of the ancient city, the Roman Forum. Remember when you show up to Rome's most famous ancient site it's going to be a pretty hectic scene. There's different lines, lots of crowds and ticket touts. I would hate for you to waste your time in a line like this. You can easily book your ticket online ahead of time or jump on one of our tours which has special access to all of the ancient sites.

Remember there's two sorts of travelers, those who stand in line and those who dance. So after going through the special entrance for groups, went through a really quick security check and now we're about to check out the glory of ancient Rome. One of the hottest tickets in town is getting tickets to the arena floor and I'm so glad that I jumped on this tour because that's the only way I was able to do this and I just walked through the Gladiators' gates and really from this arena floor you get a 360 degree view of one of the world's greatest amphitheaters. I mean it's hard to believe that building started in 72 AD. It was finished in 80 AD and you get spews from this point of view that you don't get to see from anywhere else like the 80 tunnels that lead into this place and you're instantly transported back in time to ancient Rome as if I was a Gladiator myself.

So I'm going to give it a the last part of the tour is coming up to the terraces and having these epic views of not only the underground but of the arena floor. If you have a ticket on your own you can certainly come up here but don't miss the opportunity to check out the last views of the Colosseum. One of the great things about visiting the Roman Forum is that you get to walk in the heart of ancient Rome, the political and commercial hearts you get to walk down the Via Sacra through the arch of Titus right behind me is the final resting place of Julius Caesar one of the greatest and most well-known people in human history. This is the Via Sacra which runs right through the middle of ancient Rome from the Colosseum essentially through the arch of Titus all the way to the capital line hill.

Left is the Palatine Hill straight ahead is the capital line hill and you're going to see so many amazing things. Remember Rome is a city of seven hills and one of those hills is the Palatine. So when you have a ticket to the Roman Forum in Palatine Hill you can come up here and take in spectacular views of the city. Don't miss this. It's finally time for lunch and close by the Colosseum in Roman Forum is one of my favorite restaurants. So if you're sightseeing near the Colosseum or the Roman Forum come on over to Monti my beloved neighborhood you can check out one of my videos on it. I like to eat at La Verna Faudi in Pediali because they serve authentic Roman cuisine it's not a tourist menu and you're going to get excellent service. So the artichokes in Rome are world famous and there's two ways to typically order them here.

Alarromana, braze and then ala Judea fried. So nice. Look at the steam right here I'm going to go in. Di Paura that's what you say here in Rome and something is amazing. Di Paura. If you're in the Piazza Navona neighborhood around lunchtime and don't really want pasta go see my boy Simone at I Pizzi Carole. Being in the capital has its perks while this place isn't traditionally Roman they specialize in circutrient cheeses from Umbria and other parts of Italy. For sharing with your travel partner or families this place is a win. A brutte, Mirviad del Corso is ideal if you're heading from the Roman Forum or Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain. One of the classic places to eat here in Rome is Abrucci. I love eating here because it's absolutely no nonsense and they serve traditional authentic Roman food.

One of the classic Roman pauses that you should definitely try when you're in town is caibonata and the ingredients are pretty simple it's essentially egg pecorino cheese guanciale which is pork a little bit of tears of the god and pasta one of the best caibonata the Trevi Fountain is an iconic symbol of Rome it's really a 2000 year old public works project now famous for its Baroque facade. The fountain features Marcus Agrippa in two square panels and Oceanis at its center. To avoid crowds visit early in the morning or late in the evening since it receives over 1000 visitors per hour and don't be shy about tossing your three coins into the fountain. Before dinner I'll stroll along Via del Corso to Piazza del Popolo passing by the Spanish steps on Via Candotti then I'll take a taxi to tour the Vatican museums where I'll also enjoy in a parativa but first I'll grab a coffee at one of my favorite coffee shops.

It's not a stock it was my morning cappuccino place then Totsade auto is my afternoon coffee spot. I don't have cappuccinos afternoon just like most local Romans but here they roast their own beans and it's arguably one of the best espressoes you will ever have in Rome. Oh mommy nice and hot too. Oh yeah. Basta Jata time here in Rome so we're taking a break from sightseeing and walking down one of the biggest boulevards and shopping streets the Via del Corso. Via del Corso in Rome has a rich history dating back to ancient Rome and has evolved from a former horse race track into a bustling street known for shopping, architecture and ambiance. Turning on to Via Candotti leads you to the iconic Spanish steps locally known as Las Calinata de Carinidad de Monti a captivating area that has inspired poets and writers for centuries with a small unassuming boat shape fountain sculpted by Gianlo Renzo Bernini and his father right in front of the stairs.

Many people don't realize Santa Maria del Popolo houses incredible artworks of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Bernini's masterpiece Habakkuk and the Angel in the Kigee Palace portrays the profit being visited by an angel showcasing dynamic movement and intense emotion. Caravaggio's crucifix of St. Peter and conversion of St. Paul captivate us with dramatic scenes and ground breaking use of light and shadow and immersing us in the early days of Christianity. In the de la Rovede Chapel, Pinturi Kios Renaissance art unfolds depicting the life of St. Jerome. One travel tip for Rome is that you definitely don't need to buy bottled water. There are thousands of these fountains all over Rome that have fresh, drinkable water because the Romans were incredible engineers. They're called Nazone and you can bring your own water bottle to fill up or simply plug the bottom and have a drink.

It's time for a last bit of sightseeing before ending the day with a paretivo and dinner. I'm headed to the Vatican for an after hours tour of the museum's and cysteine chapel which is 15 minutes away by taxi or metro. I'm pretty excited because today I get to do something super special that I've never done before and I've been to the Vatican Museum dozens of times. Today there's a limited access tour which I'm a part of. There's only six people in my group and the Vatican limits access. So not only do I get to experience all that great world-class art with very few people in peace and quiet but I also get to have a paretivo in the Vatican Museums. So we've made it inside of the Vatican Museums, gone through the security check. Remember you will go through metal detectors if you have a huge backpack you'll have to leave them in the baggage deposit.

On today's visit to the Vatican Museums we'll get epic views of St. Peter's Dome, crossed through the Pinecon courtyard, see the Piochlementino Museum and Nero's bathtub. It's about 5.30 here in the Vatican Museums and I'm getting to enjoy all the great artwork with my passionate guide in a space where I can take everything in very limited crowds. I mean look at nobody around me. After exploring ancient art and strolling through the galleries it's time to experience the Renaissance section of the Vatican. The Pope's Commission, the finest artist including Raphael to adorn their rooms with masterpieces. Raphael's exceptional use of light, dramatic scenes, composition and smooth brushwork on each wall creates a truly remarkable site. The museum visit culminates in the Sistine Chapel, the personal chapel of the Pope and the site of papal elections featuring Michelangelo's iconic ceiling and last judgment.

Even the side panels were collaboratively painted by renowned Renaissance artists including Botticelli, Gielandayo and Pedogeno. So we just finished our tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel and now it's time to have a little aperitivo sash to take it all in. So we're sitting down before our aperitivo and it's a fixed menu here. There's only a limited amount of tickets left for this so you have to book this early. We got all sorts of different little meats and cheeses and typical fried things. It also comes with a glass of wine. It's not awesome. How often do you get to have an aperitivo right here in the Vatican Museum? I mean this is just great. Mixology is a craft Italians excel at and are renowned for worldwide. In Rome you'll find some of the top rated cocktail bars in the world.

Here are two of my favorites. Located in Monty, Drinkong is not the Norman Rome. Take 70's futurism, added Japanese influences and rapid and neon, that equals Drinkong. Their drink list focuses on flavor profiles and chemistry like precision. It's my go-to for date nights, special occasions, or where I like to bring at a town friends. Frenia Fizzoni is one of the top rated cocktail bars in the world that happens to also be located in the center of Rome. It has an unassuming charm. They curate their playlists and has a total laid-back vibe, while the passionate mixologists serve fantastic cocktails. It's my go-to spot, especially when I'm dining in Trestevida. When you visit, be sure to tell them you saw them on our channel. A classic spot in Trestevida that you will not regret eating at is ta verna terilusa.

I've been coming here for years and it's a classic Roman restaurant. Their traditional Roman pastas cannot be missed. You should definitely try. Amatri Chana, which is so simple, but so classic because all it is is guanciale, tomatoes, and pecorino in a beautiful pasta. I mean, I'm going to pick this up and show you. Come on, son. Come on. Look at this. Look at this. So good. Well, that's it for our time here in Rome. It's incredible to think how many things you can see and do right here in the eternal city. Remember, if you're armed with good information and a good attitude, your travel dreams can come true. And when it comes to travel savvy tips, we got you. On major costianos for the tour guide, don't forget to comment, like, and subscribe, and ring that bell so you can find our next video.

Happy travels.