6 Places to Visit in Rome with Beautiful City Views

August 20, 2022
View from Terrazza Viale del Belvedere

Watch the sun rise or set over the Eternal City from any of these five gorgeous locations and you will soon understand why people are still saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” – its huge!

Terrazza Piazza Garibaldi

The focus of this terraced piazza is the Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument, but most come for the view considering it is perched on a hilltop overlooking the entire city of Rome. This is a short but hilly walk from the edge of the popular Trastevere neighborhood that will wind you along the Roman Botanical Gardens. You can bring your own picnic supplies or grab an espresso or beer from neighboring La Terrazza Del Gianicolo. The final, possible best selling point is that there are public bathrooms at the top.

From the top of the Spanish Steps

After you climb the famous Spanish Steps and make it to the Trinità dei Monti (big church at the top), make sure to stop to take in the views. There are sidewalks lining the road in either direction, and it may serve you well to walk a bit longer if you want that perfect shot without other tourists. Or avoid the crowds entirely by arriving early enough to watch a magnificent sunrise over the Eternal City.

View from the Spanish Steps in Rome
Climbing the Spanish Steps

The Court Rome

Come for an aperitivo, best savored while viewing ancient monuments of Imperial Rome, with the Colosseum front and center. Come for sunset, but make sure to linger long enough to watch the illumination of the ruins following dusk.

Terrazza del Pincio

This fountain-filled terrace dates back to the 1800s and offers prime views of the Piazza del Popolo & St. Peter’s Basilica. You can climb up to it from the actual piazza below, or come around from a stroll through the massive Villa Borghese park. It’s also an easy walk from here to my next recommendation (I’m a 2 birds, one stone kind of gal).

Piazza del Popolo view
Terrazza del Pincio view of Piazza del Popolo & St. Peter’s Basilica

Casina Valadier

This is an event space with both an upscale restaurant and gorgeous outdoor cocktail bar on the premises. Just a few steps up from Terrazza Viale del Belvedere, you can stop off for a panoramic pic or two and then settle in one of their outdoor set-ups. Would you prefer table, bsr, or pillow laden picnic blanket? All are at your disposal, but I recommend booking ahead if you want to dine in.

Picnic spot in Rome
You can’t unsee this picnic cocktail opportunity at Casina Valadier

AcquaRoof Terrazza Molinari

Come for a cocktail and stay for the views. This rooftop bar not only boasts amazing city skyline views, it also offers an extensive wine list that features all the major wine producing regions of Italy. If you decide to linger, the restaurant is known for its fresh fish selection, caviar and raw bar… to be honest, I’m still dreaming about their red snapper.

The Best Summer Activities in Charleston, SC

The Best Summer Activities in Charleston, SC

There are so many ways to fill a perfect summer day in Charleston- even those of us who live here have a hard time fitting it all in! This list is a compilation of some popular local pastimes and favorite summer treats, all perfect ways to fill out that travel...

April in Paris

April in Paris

Five years ago today I ran the Paris marathon. In many ways, I still see April day as the culmination of my time living in Paris. Since I trained for the entire marathon while living there, it felt like a (very long) run through my backyard- a sweaty love letter to...

March in Paris

March in Paris

March- the month in Paris where some days feel like spring and others forecast snow. One of the best parts of this ambivalent weather is the fact that Parisians end up unsure of what each day’s appropriate head attire should be, thus upping my odds of a few non-ironic...

February in Paris

February in Paris

I love February in Paris, and it has nothing to do with the allegedly love-filled holiday that occurs half way through it. February is the month I decided Paris was home. Paris feels quiet in January, but tinged with a lackluster air of recovery. The holidays have...

January in Paris

January in Paris

It feels a little funny to start here, as January is the one month of the year I *might* try to dissuade you from booking a ticket to Paris. It's just so grey. Seriously, the January I lived in Paris I saw the sun a grand total of 3 times in January. No, I'm not...

A Paris Cafe for Every Type of Traveler

A Paris Cafe for Every Type of Traveler

“Bonjour. Un café, s’il vous plaît.” If there is a single phrase that a tourist in Paris should make sure to store in even the most jetlagged of brains, this just might be it. Coffee. Café. Espresso. Noisette. Café Crème. The French take their coffee breaks quite...

24 Hours in Sorrento, Italy

24 Hours in Sorrento, Italy

Perched on the cliffs along the Bay of Naples, Sorrento is a coastal town overlooking sparkling waters dotted by the islands of Ischia, Capri and Mt. Vesuvius. For many, Sorrento is seen as the gateway to Amalfi, and may just be a quick transfer along the way to...

A Guide to Rome’s Trastevere Neighborhood

A Guide to Rome’s Trastevere Neighborhood

Trastevere is my absolute favorite Roman neighborhood - full of winding cobblestone streets dripping with ivy, local trattorias, and some of the coolest bars the city has to offer. This historically working class neighborhood still holds on to its roots, with a...

How to Eat Like a Local in Italy by Region

How to Eat Like a Local in Italy by Region

Italians are incredibly proud of their local gastronomy- and rightfully so! Those of us coming to visit are generally ready to devour every pizza, pasta and tiramisu in sight. However, if you are a tourist looking to eat and live like the locals, you need to know what...