Top 5 Outdoor Activities in Rome
The travel restrictions, museum closures and
curfew restrictions that have been taking place in Rome may leave you wondering
what all there is to do in the Eternal City. Luckily Rome is as beautiful
outdoors as it is indoors! We have put together our top 5 suggestions for
anyone in search an outdoor adventure in Rome:
1. Walk like an Ancient
Roman on the Appia Antica!
A sunny day on the Appia Antica is simply irresistible for cycling enthusiasts.
The Appia Antica is Rome’s ancient road that cuts
a path through delightful countryside and passes ancient tombs and relics along
the way. This walk can be as relaxing or as fast-paced as you like and is a
great way to spend a few hours outdoors. If the timing is right, you may even
be that lucky person that is greeted by a herd of sheep or goats! There are
bike paths straddling the ancient stone road and for the uber-adventurous the
Appia Antica can take you all the way to Frascati (allow at least 4hrs to get
there and, take our advice, opt for the train back to Rome).
How to get there: take the bus 118 and get off at
San Sebastiano Church
2. Explore the street art
in Garbatella
Some of the street art in Garbatella is absolutely stunning!
Garbatella is a truly Roman neighborhood that is
close to the city center but doesn’t give off that touristy vibe. You can reach
the neighborhood by metro (B line Garbatella) and wile away an afternoon. There
are some beautiful apartment buildings (palazzi) and the impressive church of
San Paolo (St. Paul’s outside the walls) is a great place to stop for a break.
There are plenty of local restaurants and enotecas with unassuming but
delicious local food.
3. Get lost in the Villa
Borghese
A lovely view from the Pincio. Can you see the Saint Peter's dome in the distance?
The Villa Borghese is one of Rome's vast and
beautiful parks. It is located just northeast of the city center, it is easily
accessible by foot and there are also two metro stations closeby (A line
Flaminio or Spagna). A walk or afternoon in this gorgeous green space will be a
welcome breath of fresh air from the tourist-filled streets below. Make sure to
head to the Pincio (balcony overlooking Piazza del Popolo) to get an unhindered
sunset view of Rome’s picturesque skyline. If you are the type of person to
plan ahead, try to get a reservation at the Galleria Borghese to see some
breathtaking sculptures by Bernini.
4. Walk the Tiber River
The Vatican looks great from any angle, in our opinion.
While you may cross the Tiber River many times
during your stay in Rome, most people don’t think to walk its banks. Either
from the shaded street level or from the path close to the water, a walk along
the Tiber is a peaceful alternative to the crowded streets of the city center.
There are plenty of stops to make along the way: Bernini’s ‘Bridge of Angels’
next to the Castel Sant’angelo offers an amazing view of St. Peter’s Basilica
and the Tiber Island is a fun place to take a relaxing break before exploring
the neighbourhood of Trastevere. (The best and most up-kept part of the river is
on the west bank between Trastevere and Piazza Cavour-ish)
5. Have a picnic in Villa
Pamphili
Villa Borghese is a massive green space, the perfect place to relax on a sunny afternoon.
Another one of Rome’s large green spaces is the
Villa Pamphili and it is definitely a community park filled with locals. On any
given day the park will be filled with joggers, groups doing yoga, families
having picnics and birthday parties filling the air with music. After a day
walking through Rome, which can be surprisingly exhausting, Villa Pamphili is
the perfect place to relax with bag of snacks - and maybe a couple of beers -
from the local market
