I've been to Rome several times and it feels different every time.

This city is absolutely doable for a woman traveling alone with a bit of common sense, even without speaking Italian. I first went there during my school days, and later as an adult woman on my own. Of course, my Italian helped, but it's absolutely not essential. I stayed in a nice apartment within walking distance of the Colosseum; the journey there was straightforward, so I was ready for pizza, pasta, and tiramisu.

Sightseeing features

In Rome, you really don't know where to begin. The Colosseum? The Roman Forum? The Spanish Steps? The Trevi Fountain? I stayed at the Rome Apartment Colosseo with Vito, who is incredibly nice and even picked me up from the airport. Of course, you can also get around by bus and train, but I wanted to make things a bit easier for myself. I chose this apartment because it's practically right around the corner from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and I could reach everything on foot without needing public transport.

What can I say? I stuck to my own plan, so I didn't go to the Colosseum – I'd already been there, and it was incredibly hot in August anyway. So I opted for a table at the Colosseum. From there, you can watch the world go by and are even rewarded with a beautiful sunset. If you absolutely want to go to the Colosseum, I recommend booking tickets online in advance; otherwise, you'll be waiting forever. Also, you should avoid arriving very early or very late, as hordes of tourists are already there waiting from around 10 a.m.

I spent a lot of time simply strolling through the city; it's a very relaxing place to do that, have something cold to drink, bring your ebook reader and just let your mind wander.

Since I'm an early riser, I was fortunate enough to see the Trevi Fountain completely devoid of other people, which immediately created a very different atmosphere. I simply grabbed a cappuccino to go from a café, something sweet to eat and drink, and organized some food and drink for the homeless man and his dog, and off I went. Rome is incredibly quiet and peaceful in the early morning hours, so perhaps it's an option for late risers, at least one morning.

Many of the sights are located close together and are well signposted. However, I definitely recommend bringing a power bank if you plan to rely on Google Maps.

Trastevere overwhelmed me. I'd seen it everywhere online and thought I absolutely had to experience it for myself—all those singing and dancing people. It was such a lovely idea. Reality, however, was quite different: by 6 p.m., Uber was practically impossible to get through, drunk people were staggering around the cars, so I have to admit, I didn't even get out. Instead, I asked my driver to take me somewhere quiet with good food. Spoiler alert: it was the restaurant below my apartment, and it turned out to be a really great evening. So, even in Rome, not everything that glitters is gold, and a little spontaneity can make it a truly special experience.

Food, food, food...

This is probably one of the things we all associate with Italy: gelato, tiramisu, antipasti, pizza, and pasta... and yes, the Romans are very good at it. I can only say that I ate really well everywhere I went, and surprisingly, it was also affordable. I hadn't expected that at all, especially at the Roman Forum, etc. And everything was freshly made, which is rare in tourist hotspots.

One small point, however: I didn't get a good tiramisu in all of Rome; it wasn't bad, but not like in Florence or even Sicily.