Come for a walk through the eternal city with me on my Rome virtual tour with locals from Rome. Over the last year, I’ve spoken to several locals who have toured us around different Roman neighbourhoods for a glimpse into life in Rome. Scroll down to watch my virtual tours of Rome in Trastevere, Monti and Prati with suggestions of in-person walking tours too.
Virtual Tour of Rome: Trastevere with Maria Pasquale
On this Rome free walking tour, Maria Pasquale, takes us around the neighbourhood she has called home for the last 12 years! Maria is an Australian-Italian who has lived in Rome for the last 10 years. She is a travel and food writer and published author. She is the Rome correspondant for USA Today and writes for Conde Naste and CNN. Most recently Maria has published the beautiful book ‘How to be Italian’. You can find her on Instagram at HeartRome.
Where is Trastevere?
Trastevere is a picture-perfect neighbourhood in Rome with beautiful restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. Across the Ponte Sisto (the only pedestrian bridge in Rome) you will find Trastevere. On the other end is the Campo dei Fiori, one of the biggest and oldest markets in Rome.
Maria’s Favorite Places to Eat in Trastevere
- Bar San Calisto: for un espresso
- Trastevere Market: for fruit and vegetables
- Suppli: for street food
- Da Enzo: Best carbonara in Trastevere
- Da Teo: Great restaurant you can book
Trastevere Rome Walking Tour
Inspired to visit Trastevere on your next trip to Rome? Why not book into a Trastevere walking tour! I can recommend this lovely Liv Tours semi-private tour of Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto.
Learn about the history of the Jews in Rome and their impact on the city’s ancient and contemporary life. Cross the River Tiber using the oldest bridge in Rome, view the medieval synagogue from the outside and a Christian church. And wander sun-soaked cobblestoned streets in Trastevere.
Virtual Tour of Rome, Italy in Prati with Toni Brancatisano
On this free walking tour Rome, Toni tours us around the Prati neighbourhood right near the Vatican. Toni is an Australian-Italian woman who has lived in Italy for over 20 years. She originally resided on the Tuscan Coast but has been in Rome for the last 6 years. Toni is a food writer, recipe developer, published cookbook author and was even once a food host on the Italian food channel! She now runs food tours in Rome.
Where is Prati, Rome?
Prati is a relatively new neighbourhood in Rome created after Italy was unified. In fact the word Prato means ‘field’ in Italian and it used to be filled with lots of fields. It’s nestled between the Vatican, Borgo and Centro. Prati is a very elegant neighbourhood with lots of elegant buildings and great restaurants.
Toni’s Favorite Places to Eat in Prati
- Castroni: international food store! Very good for coffee, Toni gets her morning coffee (well 1 of 3!) here every day. You can also find vegemite here!
Rome Vatican Tour
Prati is right near the Vatican and if you watch my tour with Toni above, you can see we end up right in the main square at the end. Visiting the Vatican is one of the most popular activities on a trip to Rome and whilst you don’t need tickets to enter St Peter’s Basilica, you absolutely must have them for the Vatican Museums. Booking in advance is the way to-go.
If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Vatican experience, I cannot recommend the Take Walks exclusive Key Masters tour enough. Andrea and I had the chance to try it in 2021 and it was incredible! You arrive at the Vatican Museums around 6am (not a soul is awake in Rome at that hour). There you meet your tour guide and small group and have EXCLUSIVE access to the Vatican. Unheard of! You meet the ‘key masters’ aka the people who work at the Vatican and unlock the doors of each room every day and switch on the lights.
It’s a little like being in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code crossed with Night at the Museum as you open the doors to each of the galleries and switch on the lights. It’s a truly money can’t buy experience – you would never have the opportunity to walk the halls of the Vatican alone otherwise. But the most memorable part is being in the Sistine Chapel alone – and with the possibility to take photos (normally forbidden!)
Obviously, the Take Walks tour is a premium experience. If you’re looking for something that still offers relative solitude, but is a bit friendlier on the hip pocket, my recommendation is the Early Access Vatican Tour with Liv Tours. You even have the opportunity to visit a secret room that other tourists aren’t allowed to explore!
Rome Food Tour Prati
Instead, if you’re looking for a food lovers tour near the Vatican, join this one! See Rome from a local’s perspective as you eat and drink your way around the neighbourhood. Pop into gourmet food stores, visit hidden gems, and snack on cured meats and cheeses, amazing pizza, and meet artisanal food makers who share their recipes.
Rome Virtual Tours in Monti with Sophie Minchilli
Come for a virtual Rome tour in Monti, the neighbourhood right near the Colosseum with Sophie Minchilli. Sophie is an Italian-American woman who was born and bred in Rome. Her mum is famous food writer Elizabeth Minchilli. Sophie is a published author and runs food tours in Rome and around Italy.
Where is Monti?
Monti is a neighbourhood closest to the Colosseum. It is ‘rione #1’ so the oldest neighbourhood in Rome. It used to be called ‘Suburo’ which means outside the city centre (the Forum) and was where the people originally lived. Today, it is a very central and beautiful neighbourhood.
Sophie Minchilli’s Favorite Places to Eat in Monti:
- Monti Market: Indoor local market where you can get fresh pasta, cakes, fish, vegetables and fruits.
- Taverna dei Forni Imperiale: Family run, great high quality food but home cooking
- Gelato ‘Fatto Morgana’
- Panificio Monti: bakery
- La Licata: Sophie’s favorite bar for coffee
Colosseum Rome Tour
As you can see in my Monti tour with Sophie, this neighborhood literally borders the Colosseum! If it’s your first trip to Rome, I definitely recommend taking a guided tour into the Colosseum rather than just entering by yourself. Firstly, the queues are long so with this option you’ll reduce the time spent waiting in the heat. And secondly, nothing is signposted inside so you’ll have limited context as to the history and what you’re looking at.
There are some fantastic tours of the Colosseum you can book including nighttime tours (my favorite option in the summertime!) and virtual reality options. Here are some of the best tours to try:
- VIP Colosseum Night Tour: If you’re visiting in the summer, do this one! It’ll simply be too hot to go during the day. There’s also an extra special, eerie atmosphere at nighttime. Your small group gets special access to explore the Colosseum Underground, where men and beasts were kept before they took to the Colosseum floor.
- Colosseum Underground & Arena Tour: This is the tour we booked most recently because I’ve visited the Colosseum before BUT never underground! Travel underground and uncover ancient rooms and hallways once used as prisons, boat parking-lots, and walked over by gladiators and animals. This tour even includes a reenactment of an Ancient Colosseum Showy you can watch back-stage.
- Colosseum VR & Arena Access Tour: This exclusive tour also includes a visit to the Roman forum and Palatine Hill. Pop the VR glasses on and see what ancient Rome looked like some 2000 years ago.
Rome Foodie Tour
Looking to join a Rome food tour? This is one of my favorite things to do when I travel because it sets your whole trip up to be full of fabulous eating and drinking. I often revisit the places we go on tour for a meal and pick my tour guide’s brains about their favorite places not included in the tour. Here are my top suggestions run by Devour Tours.
- Testaccio Market and Food Tour: Come and visit my local market and neighborhood on this delicious tour! You’ll enjoy coffee and pastry at a local bar in the morning before wandering the market and trying pizza, prosciutto, wine and other tasty snacks. Local pasta and wine at a local trattoria is included before the tour ends with artisanal gelato. Yum!
- Trastevere at Sunset Tour: This was the first neighborhood in Rome I ever did a food tour in and it was well-worth it as Trastevere is full of tourist traps! The tour starts with sparkling wine, prosciutto and cheese at a local specialty grocery store. Next you’ll try supplì, spritz at Trastevere’s most iconic bar, bruschette with paired wines, pasta and artisan gelato!
Book your Rome Walking Tour in 2023
Liked this little peek into Rome? Why not watch my live tours in Venice! Discover more of my Italy travel content now or why not come on a small group Italy tour with me in 2023!