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