I Love Rome, But I Wouldn’t Visit It This Way Again

I had dreamed of visiting Rome for years.

History, food, art — everything looked perfect in photos.

What I wasn’t prepared for was how physically demanding the city can be if you plan it the “classic” way.

Distances look short on a map, but they rarely are. Streets are crowded, uneven, often uphill, and you end up walking far more than expected just to connect one sight to another. Even quick stops like the Pantheon or Trevi Fountain turn into long, slow detours through packed streets.

The biggest mistake I made was trying to “see everything”.

Rome doesn’t reward ambition — it rewards realism.

Halfway through the trip I started grouping areas properly and cutting expectations. I even found a simple 3-day Rome itinerary online that finally showed walking distances clearly and grouped sights in a way that actually made sense:

https://www.justroma.it/en/itinerari/rome-in-3-days-what-to-see-and-itinerary-with-map/

I didn’t follow it exactly, but it completely changed how I looked at the city.

The days I enjoyed most were the ones where I stayed in one area, sat down more, and accepted that missing things is part of the experience. Rome is incredible — but it’s not a checklist city.

If you’re planning a trip, my advice is simple: plan less, walk less, and don’t assume you can “just squeeze one more thing in”.

I really wish someone had told me this before I went.

More info: justroma.it

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