Solo Travels : 3 Days in Rome
Last year, fresh off a work trip in Berlin, I decided to take a few days off to visit Rome, as an early bday gift to myself. And it’s an experience I’ll never forget. With flights as low as $35 from country to country , in Europe, I figured why not take the opportunity to go and explore a new country ?! With only 3 days to spare, I had a lot to see and not a lot of time. I arrived on a rainy Saturday afternoon and checked in to the Le Méridien Visconti Rome, in the Prati neighborhood, after a 45 minute Uber ride from the airport ( side note: save money by booking a shuttle ahead of time)
Where i Stayed
After getting settled, I decided to go for a walk and explore the city. With no real plan, I roamed around the neighborhood of Prati and quickly found myself on Via Cola di Rienzo, one of the locals favorite shopping streets and home to high end boutiques mixed with recognizable brands like Nike, Tiffany & co, and Zara.
Piazza Cavour
I walked in and out of shops, marveled at the piazzas and fountains, and finally worked up an appetite for my first dinner in Rome. Which pretty much set the tone for a very carb-heavy 3 days.
Where I Ate
Day 1:
Dinner was a couple of streets over from my hotel. at this cute little restaurant called, Cantieri Bistrot. This was the moment I realized that I had never really had authentic pasta. What really made my night, aside from the amazingly fresh pasta, was the fact that “Georgia on my Mind” by Ray Charles, was playing, when I walked in and all of the sudden I didn’t feel too far from home.
Day 2:
As the saying goes, “When in Rome, Do as the Roman’s”.. so I did just that. While planning my trip, I stumbled across a Pizza making class on Trip Advisor and decided that would be my Eat-Pray-Love moment lol. For 45 minutes I learned how to make pizza, drank wine, and had some laughs with our pizza making expert from “Eat and Walk Italy” and this nice couple, visiting from Germany, who were the only other people in the class with me.
Day 3 :
After a long day of exploring and taking photos with my travel photographer for hire, I worked up an appetite for….. You guessed it, more pasta! As this was my last night in Rome, I decided to get dressed up and have a dinner date with the city of Rome. The most surreal part was having the pantheon as my direct view while enjoy my pasts and a glass of Rose at Armando al Pantheon.
What I sAW
After a leisurely first day, I knew I had to get serious about seeing all that Rome had to offer, well at least as much as I could. In true tourist fashion, I purchased a ticket for the Big Bus Tour, for $53, that allowed me to hop on and off for two days and see all major sites.
The Spanish Steps
The Colosseum
Piazza Colonna
Views from a rooftop in Rome
One of the things I like most about traveling alone, is not being on anyone else’s schedule and being able to wander at my own pace. There’s something very freeing about being in a new city and just blending in with the locals. I suggest everyone take a solo trip at some point in life.
Shot by my Rome travel photographer, Olga
Quick Tips For solo travelers in rome
Eat like the locals- Skip the tourist traps and find out where the locals like to lunch and brunch.
Get Lost ( but not too lost) - Get out into the streets and into markets and soak up all of the culture
Wine and Dine Solo - just because your by yourself, doesn’t mean you can’t get dressed up and enjoy a nice meal.
Hire a local photographer - forget about your tripod or asking a stranger to take your photo and let a local photographer capture all of your insta-worthy memories, via shootmytravel.com.
Marvel at the Architecture - take a seat in one of the many piazzas and take a moment to appreciate Roman architecture
Be Alert - While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of being in another country, it’s important to make sure you’re aware of your surrounds and belongings.
Forget Your Diet ! - With pasta, gelato, and pizza everywhere you look, just plan to get back to your work outs when you get back or go for a long walk after each meal!
For more fun moments from my solo trip to Rome, check out insta-stoty highlights on IG!
Happy Travels!
