Valentine’s Day is upon us. Rome – the eternal city, and resting place of Saint Valentine himself – is surely one of the most romantic locations in the world.
Here are our top tips on how to have a romantic Valentine’s Day in Rome.
However, if you’re not going to be in Rome for Saint Valentine’s Day, then perhaps it will inspire you to improve your game in the romance stakes, and book a surprise trip for later this year. Or, perhaps it’ll persuade you to make sure you are here next Valentine’s day, at least!
A romantic Valentine’s Day in Rome:
Tour the city hand in hand
Start your day with a tour of the city. Be bowled over by our wonderful sights. I’d recommend picking up a panoramic tour of the city. Get a secluded seat and soak up the atmosphere of one of the world’s most beautiful towns. I guarantee seeing our architecture, some of which has been unchanged since Roman times, will create a perfect start to your Romantic Valentine’s Day in Rome.
Soak up the atmosphere of Ancient Rome
Stop off at one of the sights of Ancient Rome. It’s so memorable to walk in the footsteps of the Romans at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and/ or the Palatine Hill. Their classic beauty will take your breath away. My advice is to take a small tour, you’ll benefit from the stories the guide will relay, and their access to skip the line tickets will save you lots of time!
Stop for a moment at the Spanish Steps
This is my favourite spot in Rome. It’s beautiful and has been newly refurbished into the bargain. Stop for a moment and take a seat, just like Audrey Hepburn did in the classic romantic film, Roman holiday.
Visit Ponte Milvio Bridge
The bridge itself is not that special to look at, but it is very symbolic. This is where the trend for couples to leave a little padlock on a bridge to symbolise their love started – and the trend later spread to other cities throughout the world. It’s a very romantic gesture – perhaps not so popular with the city authorities maintaining the bridge, but it’s still a lovely thought. Who needs flowers and chocolates?
A table for two at one of Rome’s best restaurants
Pick your restaurant and book a table for two. The key to having the best and most intimate meal is to eat like a local. Check out our last blog for advice. Try to avoid eating on the main tourist areas, instead find one of the smaller, more intimate Italian restaurants where the locals eat.
Take in a sunset view of the city
You can admire stunning sunset views of the city from the Pincian Walk, set amongst some lovely gardens complete with fountains and villas, and a terrace that looks out over into the Piazza del Popolo. It was once the seat of noble families in Ancient Rome, and it’s a lovely spot for your Romantic Valentine’s Day in Rome.
Walk home via the Trevi Fountain and make a wish
Finally, before the day ends, walk by the Trevi Fountain. Yes, it’s usually busy all through the day and evening. However, it never loses its appeal. In the evening, it will be lit up beautifully, and perhaps it will be a little quieter. Make your way up to the edge of the fountain and throw in a coin and make your wish. If you are feeling very daring, then this is where I’ve also seen a proposal take place – the whole crowd was silent when they realised what was happening. They then burst into a hearty round of applause as the proposal was accepted. It was wonderfully romantic.
And if romance isn’t your scene – then we also celebrate Saint Faustino’s Day – the saint adopted by single people in Italy. It’s on February 15. You’ll likely see signs throughout the city telling you about Saint Faustino Day celebrations – which will likely be parties for single people.
How Gray Line I love Rome can help you explore Rome.
I mentioned some tours earlier in this blog – both the Panoramic Hop On, Hop Off tour of the city and the tour of Ancient Rome, along with a whole host of others, including evening versions, are offered by Gray Line I love Rome. You’ll find full details on our website at graylinerome.com
We’ll be able to help you explore our fabulous city – whether it’s this Valentine’s Day, a Romantic springtime break or Valentine’s Day next year (remember, how I said that if you’re not in Rome for Valentine’s Day this year, you may want to ‘up your game’?!).
You can also check us out on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out more about how other guests have spent their romantic break with Gray Line I love Rome.
Ciao
The Gray Line Rome Team