Would I Go Back?: Reexamining Rome

Rome is one of those destinations that feels like it's on everyone's list. There's a new non-stop flight from Seattle on our local Alaska Airlines and maybe I'm just hearing the buzz from it, but everyone seems to be planning a trip. I get that Rome is one of those places that lives in your imagination long before you ever step foot there. There's history, ruins, art, food...I mean, it kind of has it all! It's a place people talk about as if it's an essential desitination. Almost like a rite of passage for travelers. 
And after visiting Rome ourselves, I understand why. 
But would I go back? 
That answer is a little more complicated.
This post is part of a new series called "Would I Go Back" where I give you my honest advice through experience and you can make your own decision. In case you missed the first post in the series, you can find it here: Would I Go Back: Reexamining the Amalfi Coast.

Would I Go Back?: Reexamining Rome

The Rome You Imagine vs The Rome You Experience

Before our trip, I did what I always do and I researched everything. Every blog, every tip, every "must do" spot. Most of them all said the same thing...book your tickets ahead of time, buy the skip the line passes, and plan your days down to the hour.
We are people who like to see as much as we can and do as much as we can do. We spent three days in Rome and while we typically have ambitious schedules, we also come at our trip with a bit of flexibility. 
We do enough research to know what we want to see and do and a lot of times we stumble on something we remember from our research and are excited to check out. 
That said, Rome is busy. Even visiting during what's considered a lower season, the crowds were still very much there. It's one of the most visited cities in the world, and for good reason. Millions of people come each year, especially to the iconic sites like the Colosseum.
And that's kind one of the reasons I don't think I enjoyed it quite so much. 
Rome is incredible, but it's also overwhelming.

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The Big Ticket Sights and Why They Are Good Enough

If it's your first time in Rome, you're going to do the big things:

• The Colosseum
• The Roman Forum
• Vatican City
• St. Peter's Basilica
• Trevi Fountain
• The Pantheon

These places are iconic for a reason. They are breathtaking, historically significant, and honestly, worth seeing at least once.
But here's the thing no one really says out loud...three days to see those things is enough.
We filled our time completely just seeing the major attractions. And by the end of it, I didn't feel like we had missed anything essential. We sat on the Spanish Steps after dark, and we even took a food tour.
I think at the end of our visit, we just felt...done.
Not in a bad way. Just in a "I've seen it, and I'm good" kind of way.

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Let's Talk About Skip the Line Passes

One of the biggest things that seemed to overtake our trip planning was whether we needed to buy skip the line passes for attractions.
Short answer?
No. We didn't think so. 
Long answer?
While many travelers are encouraged to book timed tickets in advance, we chose not to. Partly because we were traveling with kids under 18 {who often enter free}, and partly because I didn't want to lock us into a rigid schedule.
And honestly, I'm glad we didn't.
Yes, there were lines. But if you get to the popular spots early, you can save yourself some time before the crowds. 
What most people don't tell you is that even with a skip the line pass, you are still often waiting....just in a different line {usually for security}. You can't skip that one!
Could you save time in peak summer months? Yep, absolutely. In some cases, waits can stretch to hours. {And if I'm honest, another reason I feel like I've been there, done that because that just sounds miserable!}
We try to visit those notoriously crowded places in the off season, we stay flexible, and we manage expectations and that tends to work out well for us.

If you want a more in depth look at our experience read this: Will You Really Need a Skip the Line Pass in Rome?

The Pace of Rome {And Why It Matters}

Rome is a city that marches to the beat of its own drummer.
Rome is not a slow city, but it also kind of is, and it also does not care if you are in a hurry. To be frank, it doesn't care about your schedule.
We happened to be in Rome during the annual marathon that starts and stops at the Colosseum. I checked the website for the Colosseum the night before, double checking the hours and planning out our visit. Everything looked like business as usual. 
However, when we arrived just before scheduled opening hours, we got in the line and just waited. The opening time came and went, and the people in line started wondering what was going on. 
Travelers forged ahead to see if the ticket office had any information on the window about the Colosseum being closed, we sent a few scouts to check out other entrances, I pulled up the website again to see if there was any information...nothing. You could even purchase tickets online for that very time but not a single gate was open.
Hundreds of people stood in line in the rain hopeful that the Colosseum would open, afraid that if they left they'd lose their place. Hours after the set opening time, it finally opened. Turns out the marathon affected the hours but there was no communication of that to anyone else, just to the employees. 
Rome is doing its own thing.
It's loud. It's crowded. It's chaotic in a way that feels both exciting and exhausting.
You spend a lot of time walking. A lot of time you are just navigating crowds. A lot of time you're trying to see it all because everything feels important.
Maybe that's where we went wrong. 
Maybe that's where people go wrong when they visit.
Maybe experiencing Rome like many first time visitors do, by checking boxes, moving quickly, trying to maximize your time, isn't the best approach.

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What I Would Do Differently on a Return Visit

I don't really feel the need to go back to Rome and redo our trip, but if I did have the opportunity to visit again I wouldn't change what we saw, I'd change how we saw it.
I would spend more time in local neighborhoods instead of bouncing from attraction to attraction. We got a bit of a taste of this {literally} on our food tour and were able to explore some quieter areas that we really did enjoy.
I'd spend more time sitting at cafes and trying to embrace the less hurried lifestyle.
I'd wander without any agenda and I'm sure I'd inevitably happen upon something of historical significance.
And I'd prioritize fewer sites and more experiences.
Because while the landmarks were impressive, the moments I remember most are the quieter ones, the unexpected turns, the slower mornings, the pauses.
Rome is layered. And you don't really uncover those layers when you're rushing from one place to the next.

The Case for Going Back

So would I go back?
Not for the reasons most people might think.
I wouldn't go back to re-see the Colosseum or stand in another crowd at the Trevi Fountain. I wouldn't go back to "do Rome better" in the traditional sense.
But I would go back if I had a reason to experience it differently.
If I were to return it would be to go to those lesser known neighborhoods and visit those smaller museums and churches. I'd take day trips out of the city and embrace a slower, more intentional pace.
Because that version of Rome, the quieter, less obvious version, feels like the one we didn't fully get to experience.

Who Rome Is {and Isn't} For

Rome is perfect for:

• First time European travelers
• History lovers
• Bucket list checkers
• Travelers who enjoy high-energy cities

But it might not be ideal for:

• Those looking for a relaxing, slow-paced trip
• Travelers who dislike crowds
• People who prefer off the beaten path experiences

And that's ok!
Not every destination has to be at the top of your list.

Final Verdict: Would I Go Back to Rome

Rome is one of those places that I'm really glad I got to experience.
It lived up to the hype in many ways. The history is unmatched. The architecture is incredible. Walking around a corner to see something that you just know has seen some stuff throughout time is mind blowing.
All that to say, it's a place that, for me, felt complete after one visit.
Would I go back?Maybe
But only with intention.
Only if I could trade the checklist for curiosity. The crowds for corners I haven't seen. The rush for something slower.
Because I don't need to see Rome again.But that doesn't mean I wouldn't be open to experiencing it differently.

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