Best Unusual Things to do in Rome
Want to get away from the crowds and experience Rome the way locals do? Then take a look at our list of top non-touristy things to do in Rome.
Explore Rome’s street art on the back of a Vespa
Witness incredible forgotten buildings and hidden walls flourish in color and drawings on a 3-hour street art tour of Rome on the back of a Vespa.
See millenary buildings and ancient ruins smoothly blend with this new disrupting form of art. Enjoy outdoor street art signed by international artists such as Diamond, Lucamaleonte, Blu, Sten & Lex and many others. And get your camera ready for the most unconventional Rome you would ever imagine! From Tormarancia, to Porto Fluviale and Garbatella, get ready to discover a whole new side of the Eternal City.
Learn to make food like the Italians
Experience real Italian culture and food by learning to make pasta, pizza, tiramisu and Roman specialties with a cooking class.
What better way to embrace Italian culinary culture than to learn to make Italian food in a cooking class? All it takes is booking one of our cooking classes. From learning how to prepare Roman pasta dishes (carbonara, cacio e pepe, and amatriciana), to learning the secrets behind pasta or pizza-making, we’ve got you covered with these cooking classes in Trastevere and the historic center. The Chef will be there every step of the way, teaching you everything you need to know. Get ready, because you will learn to make homemade pasta / pizza / Roman delicacies from scratch. After you’ve cooked away, sit down and enjoy your meal over lunch!
Indulge in wine tasting in an authentic enoteca
Indulge in an authentic wine tasting in a charming wine bar in the historic center, footsteps from Campo de’ Fiori.
Listen as the sommelier takes you on a journey around Italy and its wine production through the tastings of 6 different fine wines. You will start off with a glass of sparking wine, either Prosecco or Franciacorta, accompanied by taralli – a characteristic Apulian snack. You will then proceed into tasting two different types of Italian white wines, paired with a selection of local, Umbrian or Tuscan cheeses. And for last, you will taste two outstanding red wines from Italy, as well as a selection of hand-picked salami and cured meats.
Discover Trastevere and Villa Borghese with a treasure hunt
Locals and foreigners can now discover Rome in an interactive way with Foxtrail – a mix between an outdoor escape game and a treasure hunt.
Forget reading endless guides on the best places to visit in Rome and leave it to Foxtrail to help you discover Rome. Two trails are active (but more to come soon) in two of Rome’s most beautiful areas: Trastevere and Villa Borghese. Gather your group (from two to six people), book your slot (or more slots if you are a big group) and explore Rome. There are departure slots every 15 minutes (that way you won’t meet other groups along the trail) and you can even book last-minute on the same day! Each trail combines technology and creativity, offering interactive installations and clues that take you through off-the-beaten path areas in Rome. Great for expats and tourists of all ages, and Romans as well!
Browse for antiques at Porta Portese
Porta Portese is much loved by local Romans, and every Sunday this enormous flea market is filled to the brim with people searching for a good bargain.
Founded after the Second World War as a new base for the black market, Porta Portese, at the back of the Trastevere district, is the most famous Sunday market in Italy. The vast and diverse array of objects that’s for sale is astounding. From priceless antiques to household detergents and secondhand clothing, if you can imagine it, you’ll probably find it!
Via Portuense from Piazza Porta Portese to Piazza Ippolito Nievo.
Every Sunday from dawn to 2 pm (Trastevere)
Visit St Paul Outside the Wall
Although it’s not as well known as St. Peter, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is still a popular pilgrimage destination for many Catholics.
It was originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, and its rather long name comes from the fact that it was once located outside the city’s walls. The Basilica is the burial place of Saint Paul the Apostle, and the interior features a fascinating array of religious, artistic and historical sights to explore.
Piazzale San Paolo, 1
Daily from 7am – 6.30pm
Free entry
INSPIRATION
Best Things to Do in Rome
Go rafting on Rome’s Tiber River
Get your team spirit on with an outdoor adventure and experience Rome like never before by rafting along the Tiber River! Get away from the hustle and bustle and see the Eternal City from the river.
The route starts near Piazza del Popolo, then goes down the river, playing on some white water rapids. From Castel Sant’Angelo to the Tiberina Island, get ready to see Rome from a different perspective, away from the noise and traffic. How many people can say they’ve rafted along the Tevere?
Buy fresh produce at Testaccio food market
If it’s a true taste of Rome’s local produce you’re after, then Mercato di Testaccio is the place for you. Situated in what was once a traditional working-class neighbourhood, this market offers a great choice of seasonal produce, freshly baked goods, ready-made meals and regional delicacies.
With English seldom spoken, this is the perfect spot where visitors will be able to witness a bit of daily life in the heart of the Eternal City.
Entrances from Via Galvani, Via Franklin & Via Manuzio (Metro B Piramide)
Mon – Sat from 7am – 3.30pm
Take a bike ride along the Ancient Appian way
Enjoy a bike ride through the Roman countryside that so well impressed 19th century travellers such as Byron, Goethe and Stendhal. An extraordinary tour of absolute beauty.
Pedal on the Ancient Appian Way, a 2300 year-old cobblestone Roman road while going past an ancient sepulchre, a Roman statue, the ruins of a circus, an imperial palace, the Christian catacombs and pagan mausoleums; then leave the Ancient Appian Way to head towards the ancient Roman aqueducts rising over the fields on the horizon and follow them on their way back to Rome.
Take a stroll around San Lorenzo
Located just north of Rome’s Termini station, the trendy neighbourhood of San Lorenzo is a great place to explore if you want to get away from the main tourist drag.
With its hip clubs and bars, cool street art and funky shops; this district exudes a modern bohemian atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in Rome.
Step into a fairytale in the Coppedè district
Rome is filled with picturesque buildings, piazzas and fountains, but there is one district in particular that not only deserves to be called picturesque, but also seems to embody the definition of the word.
The Coppedè neighbourhood, named after the flamboyant architect that designed the ‘quartiere ’ between 1913 and 1927, is one of Rome’s most exclusive, and smallest, districts. What makes this area so captivating though, is its delightfully tongue-in-cheek mix of architectural styles. Taking his inspiration from Medieval, ancient Greek, Art Nouveau, Neo-Classic and Baroque styles, Gino Coppede built a residential area that makes one feel like you’ve stepped into a world of fantasy and magic.
The entire nieghbourhood lies between Piazza Buenos Aires and Via Tagliamento – and although it’s off the beaten track, it’s still easy to reach, either with the tram 3 or tram 19, both of which have stops at Piazza Buenos Aires.
Experience Ponte Milvio’s lively nightlife
If you don’t have your own transport, then getting to the Milvio Bridge and its very cool neighbouring district, isn’t that easy, but this is also one of the main reasons why it’s not overrun by tourists. The bridge itself is one of the oldest in Rome, dating from 206 BC, and in the last decade has become the most sought after place for young lovers to declare their love by hanging a lock on the bridge and throwing the key in the river.
The area around the bridge is also famous for being one of the centers of Roman “movida” (nightlife). In the square in front of the bridge there’s an assortment of stylish cocktail bars, nightclubs and restaurants. If you want to dance the night away and sip on swanky cocktails, then come join the locals for a guaranteed fun night out.
Explore Fascist architecture in EUR
A physical reminder to the ambitions of Mussolini and his Fascist party, EUR is a peculiar and surprising suburb of Rome.
The area receives very little tourist attention, which doesn’t really come as a big surprise, since it lacks the sights most people associate with Rome, such as cobblestoned streets, colourful markets, quaint restaurants and ancient ruins. It is, however, a fascinating area worth exploring, especially if you’re passionate about architecture and contemporary history. The most famous landmarks are the ‘square Colosseum’, the Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, and the enormous artificial lake, which is surrounded by a well-tended park where you can have a stroll or enjoy a picnic.
To get there take Metro Line B south towards Laurentina; then get off at the Fermi station, which is close to the lake.
Get your 30-page essential guide to Rome
A lifetime isn’t enough to explore Rome. But if you plan ahead, a short period of time can give you a grand picture of the Eternal City. Just remember one thing: Rome isn’t just about the monuments, the museums and the views… it’s a lifestyle. And if you want to immerse yourself in this thousands-year-old city, this insider guide will become your best friend!
