Italy

Luxury travel in Rome

Almost three millennia of history in one city: the Colosseum and the Forum, the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s, Bernini’s sculpture and Caravaggio’s chapels, and the tables of Trastevere and Testaccio. Avelia plans private, tailor-made time in Rome, as a stay of its own or as part of a wider journey through Italy.

Plan your Rome trip Explore Rome

Rome at a glance

Recommended stay: Four or five days, or a week with days out to Tivoli or Orvieto
Best seasons: April to June, September and October
Getting there: Fiumicino airport (FCO), 32 km out, and fast trains to Roma Termini
Best for: Ancient Rome, the Vatican Museums, Baroque art and Roman tables
In a wider trip: Pairs well with Florence, the Amalfi Coast or the French Riviera
World Heritage: The historic centre, listed in 1980, and Vatican City, in 1984

A trip with us typically includes hotels, private transfers, guided days and restaurant reservations, and always support while you travel.

Plan your Rome trip

01Inspiration

Experiences in Rome

Each of these is arranged privately for your dates, subject to availability.

The Colosseum and ancient Rome
The Colosseum down to the passages beneath its arena, the Forum and the Palatine with an archaeologist, the Appian Way and its catacombs, and Ostia, Rome’s ancient port.
More of ancient Rome
- The Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine — with a private guide, down to the passages beneath the arena, where men and animals waited to be hoisted up through trapdoors; fourteen of its corridors can be seen today.
- The Appian Way — the road Appius Claudius began in 312 BC, on the World Heritage List since 2024, walked at sunset with an aperitivo laid out for you, on request; and beside it the Catacombs of St Callixtus, where sixteen popes were buried.
- Castel Sant’Angelo — Hadrian’s mausoleum, later a fortress, with a guide up to its terrace and the view over the city, and the Passetto di Borgo, the fortified passage to the Vatican, on the museum’s own guided visits.
- Ostia Antica — the city that fed Rome through its port, given its theatre and its first forum under Augustus and his successors, with a private archaeologist.
The Vatican and the art of Rome
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with a private guide, St Peter’s, Bernini at the Borghese, Caravaggio in three churches, and the princely galleries of the Colonna and the Doria Pamphilj.
More of the art
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel — with a private guide, through the Raphael Rooms to the chapel; a visit to departments of the Museums normally closed to the public; or the galleries unlocked before the Museums open, with their keeper of the keys, on request and subject to availability.
- St Peter’s — the basilica built over the tomb of the apostle, the work of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno, with a guide.
- The Galleria Borghese — Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne, carved between 1622 and 1625, and paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian, with an art historian; we reserve the visit as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Caravaggio in three churches — his St Matthew paintings of 1599 to 1602 in San Luigi dei Francesi, the Crucifixion of St Peter and the Conversion of St Paul in Santa Maria del Popolo, and the Virgin of the Pilgrims in Sant’Agostino.
- Baroque Rome on foot — the churches, squares and fountains of the Renaissance and Baroque city, from Piazza Navona to Piazza di Spagna, with an art historian.
- Palazzo Colonna — the Great Hall of the mid-1600s, its vault frescoed with the Battle of Lepanto and a cannonball of 1849 still on its steps, on a private visit with an art historian.
- Palazzo Doria Pamphilj — Velázquez’s portrait of Pope Innocent X and two Caravaggios in the picture gallery, and the apartments of the family who still live in the palace, on a private tour.
- A mosaic workshop — an afternoon cutting marble tesserae with a mosaicist, to make a piece of your own to take home.
Food, wine and days out
Pasta made by hand with a Roman cook, a food walk through Trastevere or Testaccio, a sommelier’s tasting, and days out to Tivoli’s villas, Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio, or Lake Bracciano.
More of the table and the days out
- A pasta class — fresh pasta made by hand with a Roman cook in a home kitchen, after a morning at the market if you wish.
- Trastevere or Testaccio — a food walk through either quarter with a local guide, from the market stalls to the trattorias.
- Wine with a sommelier — a tasting of the wines of Lazio and Tuscany, in a cellar in the old city.
- Michelin-starred tables — a tasting menu with wine pairings at one of the city’s starred restaurants; we reserve the table.
- Tivoli — Hadrian’s villa of the 2nd century AD and the 16th-century gardens and fountains of Villa d’Este, both on the World Heritage List, about 30 km from Rome, by car with a guide.
- Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio — Orvieto’s cathedral, its façade begun around 1310, then Civita, reached on foot over a long bridge, on a hill the badlands are slowly wearing away; a day by car with a private guide.
- Bracciano — the castle above the lake, built by the Orsini in 1470 and the Odescalchi family’s since 1696, on a private visit that takes in its secret garden, then lunch by the water.
- The Sabine hills — olive oil and wine tasted at an estate between Rome and Rieti, where the Sabina oil has carried a protected designation of origin since 1996.
- From the air — a private helicopter flight from Rome’s Urbe airfield over the countryside towards Tivoli and the Castelli Romani, or Lake Bracciano, weather allowing.

02Featured hotels

Where to stay in Rome

A selection of hotels we recommend in Rome. We can also arrange other properties to suit your preferences and travel plans.

Campo Marzio
Hotel de Russie
Rocco Forte's hotel between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, with a terraced garden, Le Jardin and the Stravinskij Bar.
Ludovisi
Hotel Eden
Dorchester Collection's hotel above the Spanish Steps, with La Terrazza and Il Giardino on the roof and a private spa.

Our featured Rome hotels, side by side
	Hotel de Russie	Hotel Eden
Area	Campo Marzio	Ludovisi
Setting	Garden palazzo at the Piazza del Popolo end of Via del Babuino; garden-facing or city-facing rooms	Hilltop hotel on a side street above the Spanish Steps; rooms sold with or without the view
Star category	Five-star (5 stelle)	Five-star (5 stelle)
Rooms	121	98
Pool	No swimming pool; the spa has a hydro pool	No pool (nor at Hotel de Russie)
Spa and wellness	Irene Forte Spa: five treatment rooms, hydro pool, sauna, steam room and gym	The Eden Spa: three private spa suites, each with its own steam room; 24-hour fitness room
Dining	Le Jardin de Russie and the Stravinskij Bar in the garden; the Aquazzura Bar	La Terrazza, Il Giardino Ristorante and Il Giardino Bar on the roof; La Libreria

Facts from the hotels' official websites and official tourism sources, checked 18 October 2026. A dash means we have not confirmed that detail.

Featured hotels on the map

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

03Seasons

When to go

Spring April to June

Warm and bright: highs rise from about 18°C (64°F) in April to 28°C (82°F) in June, and the rain eases as summer nears. The best weather for the city on foot.

EventsRome's birthday on 21 April, marked across the city; and on 29 June, the feast of its patron saints, the Girandola, fireworks over Castel Sant'Angelo first recorded in 1481.

Summer July and August

Hot and dry, with little rain in July: nights near 19°C (66°F), and long evenings for dinner outside.

Heat: in July and August the average daytime high is 31°C (88°F). Keep walking to the morning and evening, and the museums and churches for the afternoon.

Autumn September and October

Highs ease from about 27°C (81°F) in September to 22°C (72°F) in October. The autumn rain returns in October, but the days stay mild for walking.

Winter November to March

Mild and quieter: highs of about 12–16°C (54–61°F), nights of 3–8°C (37–46°F), and November the wettest month of the year.

EventsThe Festa di Piazza Navona, the city's Christmas fair, from early December until the Befana arrives on 6 January.

04Shape your trip

Routes and itineraries

Each route is a starting point, tailored to you.

4 days
Culture and cuisine
Places
Rome
Suits
A first visit built around the great sights and the table
What the route includes
- A private tour of the Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with a private guide, before the Museums open where it can be arranged
- A wine tasting with a sommelier in a Roman cellar
- A pasta class in a Roman cook’s home
- A walk through Trastevere, with stops to eat along the way
- An aperitivo on a rooftop overlooking Piazza Venezia
- A hotel in the heart of the historic centre
7 days
Art, history and quieter corners
Places
Rome, with a day in Tivoli
Suits
A slower week for art and history
What the route includes
- The Galleria Borghese with a private guide
- The catacombs of the Appian Way and Rome’s early Christian basilicas
- A day in Tivoli, at Hadrian’s villa and Villa d’Este
- Palazzo Doria Pamphilj and the family’s apartments, on a private tour
- The Appian Way at sunset, with an aperitivo laid out for you
- A personal shopper near Via Condotti
- An afternoon at a spa
10 days
Rome, Florence and Venice
Places
Rome, Florence and Venice
Suits
Three cities, joined by fast trains
What the route includes
- Rome’s great sights with a private guide, every visit reserved for you
- The high-speed train to Florence, then the Renaissance city with a guide
- A wine tasting and lunch at a family estate in the Tuscan countryside
- A visit to a leather workshop in Florence
- A gondola in Venice, with a serenade, and dinner beside a canal
- St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace with a guide
- Private transfers throughout, from door to door

Itineraries that include Rome

8 days
Rome and the Amalfi Coast
from $18,900 per person

Beyond Rome

Another stay
Florence
By Frecciarossa in just over an hour and a half: the Medici's Renaissance city, its cathedral, the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace, on the World Heritage List since 1982.
Another stay
The Amalfi Coast
By Frecciarossa to Naples in just over an hour, then on by car: Amalfi and Ravello, and terraced vineyards and orchards above the sea, on the World Heritage List since 1997.
Another stay
The French Riviera
A flight of just over an hour from Rome to Nice: the Riviera from Nice to Monaco, with its old villages above the sea and the bays between them.

05Planning with Avelia

How we plan your time in Rome

We help you choose the right hotel, balance guided visits with time to explore, and fit Rome into your wider journey — or shape a stay in the city itself.

Share your plans
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the pace you like, and whether Rome is the whole trip or one part of it, with Florence or the Amalfi Coast.
Shape your trip with us
Before any payment, we send a written proposal with a quoted trip price and what it includes — such as a grand historic hotel near the Spanish Steps, an archaeologist for the Colosseum and the Forum, and the Vatican Museums booked ahead — and refine it with you.
Travel with our support
Once you approve the proposal and complete the agreed booking requirements, we confirm your arrangements. We coordinate the details and support you while you travel.

Peace of mind

Financially protected. Your payments for a package trip are covered against our insolvency by a guarantee with AXA. Plan with peace of mind

What we can arrange

Your proposal sets out the arrangements included in your trip.

Hotels matched to you — a grand historic hotel near the Spanish Steps, a small design hotel in the centre, or a villa or a country estate outside the city.
Private transport — chauffeur-driven cars for Fiumicino, 32 km out, and the station, days out to Tivoli, Orvieto or Bracciano, and the drive to your next stop; high-speed trains where they suit better.
Private guides — archaeologists for the Colosseum, the Forum and Ostia, and art historians for the Vatican Museums, the Borghese and the palaces.
Experiences — the city by Vespa with a driver and a guide, and on request a personal shopper near Via Condotti, a spa treatment in your suite or a day at a spa outside the city, yoga on a terrace, or a slow walk with a photographer.
Tables and tickets — reservations from Michelin-starred dining rooms to the trattorias of Trastevere, and the tickets for the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum and the Borghese.
Special occasions — honeymoons, anniversaries and family trips, planned around who is travelling.

06Questions

Questions we are asked

What does it cost to have a tailor-made trip designed by Avelia Travel?

Every trip is priced individually. After discussing your plans, we prepare a tailored proposal with a quoted trip price and a clear outline of what is included.

How many days should we spend in Rome?

We recommend four or five days, enough for the great sights and the quieter corners without rushing, and a week if you would like days out to Tivoli, Orvieto or Bracciano.

When is the best time to visit Rome?

April to June, and September and October, when the days are warm rather than hot. July and August average highs of 31°C (88°F). October stays among the best months for its mild days, even as the autumn rain returns; November is the wettest month, with about 114 mm of rain; winter is mild and quieter.

Can I combine Rome with other cities or countries?

Yes. By Frecciarossa, Florence is just over an hour and a half away, Naples, for the Amalfi Coast, just over an hour, and Venice under four hours; Nice, Paris and Barcelona are each a short flight. Our Italy page covers the rest of the country.

Is Rome a good destination for families?

Yes. The Colosseum and the Forum hold children’s attention, and a pasta class or a mosaic workshop gives them something to make and take home. We keep the days short and plan them around who is travelling.

Do I need to speak Italian to travel comfortably in Rome?

No. We arrange English-speaking guides and drivers, and hotels where you are looked after in English. A few words of Italian are always welcome.

Do you only plan full itineraries, or can you help with just a hotel?

Both. We plan complete trips, and we also arrange a stay on its own: a hotel matched to you, with transfers, a guide or a few reservations added if you wish.

Is Avelia right for me?

Avelia suits travellers who want a private, well-paced trip planned around them: the right places in the right order, hotels chosen for them, guides who know the ground, tables and tickets taken care of, and one point of contact from the first conversation until they are home.

A double spiral staircase seen from above, its broad ramps winding down to a small dark floor beneath an ornate bronze balustrade, lit warmly from the walls

Start planning your time in Rome

Four or five days in Rome, or a week with days out to Tivoli or Orvieto: tell us your dates and who is travelling.

Plan your Rome trip

Usually answered within one business day.

Luxury travel in Rome

Rome at a glance

On this page

Experiences in Rome

The Colosseum and ancient Rome

The Vatican and the art of Rome

Food, wine and days out

Where to stay in Rome

Hotel de Russie

Hotel Eden

Featured hotels on the map

When to go

Spring April to June

Summer July and August

Autumn September and October

Winter November to March

Routes and itineraries

Culture and cuisine

Art, history and quieter corners

Rome, Florence and Venice

Itineraries that include Rome

Rome and the Amalfi Coast

Beyond Rome

How we plan your time in Rome

Share your plans

Shape your trip with us

Travel with our support

Peace of mind

What we can arrange

Questions we are asked

Start planning your time in Rome

Rome in pictures