Romantic Things to Do in Rome: A Relaxed Itinerary for Couples

Morning: the ancient heart, unhurried

Start early, when the stone is cooler and the crowds are thinner. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill sit close together and make a natural half-day on foot. The Palatine is the quietest of the three, and it is the one to linger on: it is a hillside of ruins and open views, a good place to sit together and look back over the Forum.

The Circus Maximus belongs to the same cluster. Today it is a long open stretch of grass rather than a monument, which makes it a good place for a slow walk and a pause once the busier sites are behind you. Pick two or three of these rather than all of them. The Colosseum alone can fill a generous morning if you want to take your time inside.

On the bus side, the Red Route has a stop at the Colosseum and another at Circo Massimo, both right at the sight. The Palatine Hill is about 400 metres from the Colosseum stop, and the Roman Forum is about 450 metres from the Piazza Venezia stop. Riding is a pleasant way to take in this part of the city before choosing where to get off and walk.

Afternoon: the Vatican, or a slower Baroque wander

Choose one of two moods. The first is the Vatican: the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica sit in one walkable group, with the climb up St. Peter's Dome as an option for a view across the city. Together they are a full afternoon and are best taken at a gentle pace, so do not try to see everything. The Red Route has a Vatican stop right at the Vatican Museums and Vatican City. No stop is within a few minutes' walk of the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica or the Dome, so plan to walk the short remaining distance within the Vatican area.

The second mood is lighter: the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, which are close enough to combine on foot. Step inside the Pantheon to see the open oculus, then drift to Piazza Navona for its fountains and a drink at a table. This is the better choice if you want to wander without a ticketed entry. Neither sight has a Red Route stop within a few minutes' walk, so reach them on foot or by another route.

Evening: fountains, gold stone and a long dinner

The old centre is at its most romantic once the day crowds thin out and the stone turns gold. The Trevi Fountain is a walk from the ancient-centre group and is far more atmospheric in the evening than in the middle of the day. No Red Route stop is within a few minutes' walk of it, so walk there.

For dinner, many Romans eat in Testaccio and Monti, while Trastevere's ivy-hung lanes fill with diners at dusk. Order cacio e pepe or carbonara, then finish with gelato on a slow walk back.

If you want one more ride, a one-hour panoramic Night Tour is sold separately and departs from Termini in the evening. It is a panoramic ride rather than hop-on hop-off, and it suits a couple who would rather watch the lit-up city go by than walk another mile.

Using the bus as orientation

For a couple, the hop-on hop-off bus is most useful as a first-day orientation. The Red Route links Termini with the main ancient and Baroque sights, so a loop gives you a sense of the geography before you decide where to spend your time. A full loop takes about 1 hour 43 minutes, so it can fit between a morning and an afternoon.

Buses run every 9 to 11 minutes, and commentary is available in 8 languages. Compare tickets for current options and details.

Spring and autumn are the gentlest seasons for this kind of day. Midsummer is hot, so keep the middle of the day for shade, a long lunch or an interior like the Pantheon.