10 Super Romantic Things to Do in Rome

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If you’re looking for a romantic destination to visit with your significant other, look no further than the beautiful Eternal City of Rome. The capital of Italy is not only filled with delicious food and wine, it also has tons of dreamy activities to offer. Consider visiting Rome for 3 days at the very least if you want to explore all the important sights and enjoy some romance along the way. So without further ado, here are 10 incredibly romantic things to do in Rome!

Table of Contents

Experience the Romantic Historic Center at Night

Filled with fountains, ancient ruins, and charming squares, the historic center of Rome is already pretty romantic to see during the day. However, exploring it at night makes for an even more special experience. While crowds of tourists typically swarm this area during the day, the atmosphere is a lot quieter at night, making it the perfect time to go for a romantic stroll or to try some fun activities together!

Take a relaxing stroll to the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps to see them lit up in all their glory at night. Other places not to miss on your romantic evening walk include the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, where you can watch talented street artists paint gorgeous pictures of Rome.

There are also plenty of fun evening tours of Rome you can take together, such as cheese & wine tasting tours, e-bike tours, and nighttime photography walks. The last option can be especially memorable as you can capture the romantic time spent together and reminisce about it through beautiful shots. Be sure to bring good photography gear for the occasion, such as these amazing Sony A6400 lenses.

Relax in a Jacuzzi With a View of the Colosseum

There are plenty of stunning Rome Airbnbs in the historic center, and the best part is that many of them offer unique and breathtaking experiences. One of them is this romantic flat which has a jacuzzi with a view — and that view is none other than the majestic Colosseum.

Imagine relaxing with your significant other in a jacuzzi after a long day of exploring, a glass of wine in hand and with one of the most ancient and beautiful monuments in the world right in front of your eyes. How much more romantic can it get?

A table is made with a vase of flowers overlooking the Colosseum. — Photo via Airbnb.com

Toss a Coin Together at the Trevi Fountain

When in Rome, is it only customary to visit the famous Trevi Fountain. What you might not know, though, is that this popular attraction holds a lot of myths and legends. The saying goes that if you toss a coin into the fountain, you will return to the Eternal City. If you toss three coins, though, legend has it that you’ll not only come back to Rome but will also get married there! So go ahead and toss three coins into the fountain with your loved one.

At the end of the day, even if you don’t believe in this myth, you’d still be contributing to a great cause — all the coins in the fountain are collected at the end of each day and donated to local charities!

Enjoy the Romantic View From St. Peter’s Dome

No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, the smallest country in the world. From the historic center, you can easily take a romantic stroll to the famous St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and get there in around half an hour to an hour. While both the interior and the exterior facade of the Basilica are simply remarkable, definitely don’t forget to climb up to the Dome of the Basilica during your visit.

You can either climb up the 551 steps by foot or use a lift for the first half and climb up 320 steps afterwards. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the stunningly romantic panoramic view of Rome together! For an extra special experience, get there right in time for sunset.

Have an Artsy Date at the Vatican Museums

Once cannot explore the Vatican without seeing the incredible art and culture inside the Vatican Museums, and it’s very easy to turn this visit into a romantic artsy date for you and your significant other! Stroll past the beautiful Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, and Gallery of the Chandeliers together, admiring the stunning frescoes and paintings hand-in-hand. It will take you back in time for sure!

The main attraction inside the Vatican Museums is without a doubt the world-famous Sistine Chapel, which deserves all the hype that surrounds it. Italian artist Michelangelo spent four whole years working on this masterpiece, and it is simply jaw-dropping. Admiring the details and rich colors of the frescoes with your significant other will definitely make the experience even more memorable, especially if you’re a fan of art history.

When visiting the Vatican Museums, be sure to purchase your ticket online in advance so that you won’t have to line up for hours at the ticket office!

Relax inside the Soothing Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is a large park right next to the historic center of Rome, and thanks to its massive area, it’s very easy to find sections of green space with very few people — if anyone — around. This makes it an amazing place to go for a romantic stroll together. The park is home to two lakes as well as an art gallery — the Galleria Borghese, which is totally worth checking out too.

Many local couples hang out in this park, so it’s safe to say that love is in the air as you walk among the trees and greenery. You can find a spot on the grass to lie down and relax together, or, if you’re looking to do something more active, you can also rent a bike in one of the several bike rental spots inside the park. There are 2-people tandem bikes available for rent there as well, and it’s definitely a great way to explore the hidden gems of the park and the amazing views it has to offer.

Catch Sunset at the Pincio Terrace

Before you leave Villa Borghese, be sure to stop by the incredibly romantic and scenic Pincio Terrace, one of the absolute best places to watch sunset in Rome. From there, you can get a spectacular view of Piazza del Popolo and the rooftops of the historic center, including the St. Peter’s Basilica Dome! The atmosphere at this terrace is absolutely magical; accompanying the gorgeous view are street musicians playing the most romantic and catchy tunes on the violin and guitar. Their beautiful soundtrack to match the views is definitely the cherry on top of the cake.

Have a Romantic Picnic on the Lungotevere

There’s a large river that runs through Rome, and it’s the Tiber River. The cool thing about it is that its riverbank (the Lungotevere) is an amazing place to go for a romantic walk or to have an awesome picnic with your loved one. You can pick a scenic spot along the banks to sit down, such as right in front of the dreamy Castel Sant’Angelo or a spot that will give you a view of the St. Peter’s Basilica.

Take a walk along the banks first to find your favorite spot, and grab a bottle of wine from a store to make the experience even more special! It’s likely you’ll also find other couples doing the same thing, as the Lungotevere definitely has its romantic charm.

Get a Romantic Bird’s-Eye View of Rome From Gianicolo

One of the best hidden gems in Rome is the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo). Situated about a 40-minute walk from the historic center (a worthwhile scenic walk), this hill offers an incredible 360 degree bird’s-eye view of Rome. It’s a complete panoramic view that you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the city!

The great thing about Gianicolo is that not many tourists know about this place. Among the locals though, it’s quite popular. In fact, the Gianicolo lookout is the romantic place for young local couples to hang out! As you can imagine, the view is definitely very dreamy, and it’s definitely a great idea to arrive just in time for sunset. Bring a bottle of wine to make the experience even more enjoyable!

Enjoy a Romantic Meal in Trastevere

One cannot visit Rome without tasting the delicious local cuisine, and there’s no better place to indulge in a romantic meal together than in Trastevere, the #1 foodie neighborhood in Rome. While there are plenty of great restaurants in the historic center, there are also tons of tourist traps there and sometimes, it can be hard to distinguish between the two. Trastevere, on the other hand, is filled with authentic, locals-approved restaurants. It is also home to some of the most top-notch eateries in the city.

Be sure to stop by Ego Bistrot for a romantic meal with a sunset view in Trastevere. This restaurant is located on a quiet rooftop terrace and offers an amazing view of the surrounding historic buildings and orange trees. Its dim-lit atmosphere is super romantic, and dining there would definitely be one of the highlights of a dreamy trip to Rome.

About the author: Jiayi Wang is the writer and photographer behind The Diary of a Nomad, a travel and photography blog that covers some of the most interesting places on earth, especially the hidden gems that few people visit. Born in China but raised in Italy, Jiayi calls Rome her hometown and hopes to make your visit to this city even more memorable!

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