Why visit
Rome layers 2,500 years in walking distance. Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Trastevere's trattorias, and the Vatican. Every district is a history lesson.
How to use this result
Use it as a capital-city prompt
Rome is useful when you want a city-level starting point in Italy. Check whether the capital is the best arrival city, a practical transfer point, or mainly a geography and planning reference.
Check practical trip fit
Before planning around Rome, compare airport access, local transport, time zone, neighborhood choices, weather, safety guidance, and whether another city in Italy better matches the trip style.
Rome at a glance
City population
2.9 million
Metro: 4.3 million
Elevation
21 m
69 ft
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 DST)
Europe/Rome
Airport
FCO
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino
Founded
753 BCE (by tradition)
Getting around
Metro (3 lines), trams, buses
Signature dish
Cacio e pepe, carbonara, supplì, Roman-style pizza
Neighborhoods for travelers
TrastevereMontiCentro StoricoTestaccio
Italy at a glance
Country center
42.8°, 12.8°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
301,336 km²
116,346 mi²
Country population
58.9 million
195/km²
Subregion
Southern Europe
Currency
Euro (€)
EUR
Dial
+39
Language
Italian
Demonym
Italian
Internet
.it
UN
Member state
ISO code
IT / ITA
Where in the world
42.8° - 12.8°
Italy
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Romans built roads so well that some are still used today: the Appian Way is 2,300+ years old.
- The Trevi Fountain collects ~€1.5 million per year in thrown coins, donated to Catholic charities.
- The Colosseum had retractable awnings (velarium) operated by sailors to shade 50,000+ spectators.
- Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country (60+).
- Venice is built on over 100 small islands in a lagoon, connected by 400+ bridges.
Bordering Italy
Traveler notes
- Vatican Museums book in advance
- Rome Pass covers transport + first two museums
- Testaccio for food markets less packed with tourists
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Rome
What currency is used in Rome?
Rome uses the Euro (€), ISO code EUR.
What languages are spoken in Italy?
The primary language is Italian.
What is the international calling code for Italy?
The calling code is +39.
What airport serves Rome?
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino (IATA: FCO).
Other Europe destinations
Florence
Florence is the Renaissance in a walled walking city. Uffizi, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Accademia (David). Plus Tuscan day-trips to Siena and San Gimignano.
Venice
Venice is 118 islands, 400 bridges, and a fragile lagoon you can cross by vaporetto. Visit in shoulder season; the crush of high summer hurts everyone.
Milan
Milan is Italy's design and finance capital. The Last Supper, the Duomo's roof terraces, Brera's gallery and aperitivo, and the Navigli canals at night.
Naples
Naples is pizza's birthplace, the gateway to Pompeii, and the wildest, most alive city in Italy. Spaccanapoli's alleys, Capodimonte's art, and the Amalfi Coast next door.
Munich
Munich is Bavarian capital. Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, English Garden (larger than Central Park), Oktoberfest, and BMW Welt. Alpine day-trips to Neuschwanstein or Zugspitze.
Cologne
Cologne's Gothic cathedral is Germany's most visited landmark, the Rhine's busiest riverfront for beer gardens, and a carnival that rivals Rio's in intensity.