The Best of Rome: A Housesitters Travel Guide

Some of our seasoned travellers and housesitters find favourite cities as they travel. This article on the best of Rome offers an experienced housesitters travel guide sharing the personal favourites of Tiera St Claire one of our regular housesitters and bloggers. Read on to learn her top tips about what to see and do in Rome when you are housesitting.

Rome Awaits: The Housesitter’s Guide to the Eternal City

Discover how housesitting in Italy can unlock one of the world’s greatest cities to show you the best of Rome — without an eye-watering hotel bill.

Housesitting in Italy is one of the most rewarding ways to explore this breathtaking country — and nowhere illustrates that better than Rome. Through housesitting as a lifestyle, I’ve been able to travel without the crushing expense of traditional tourism, stretching every trip further and living more like a local than a visitor. From a first sun-drenched day trip with young children in tow, to languid solo afternoons wandering cobbled backstreets, the best of Rome has revealed itself to me in layers — and I am not done yet.

The Best of Rome: The Eternal City

In Rome, time doesn’t pass — it accumulates. Known the world over as the Eternal City, Rome is a place where layers of history rise and fall like the notes of an ancient symphony, each era leaving its imprint on cobbled streets, crumbling ruins, and vibrant piazzas. It is a city that has witnessed empires, inspired artists, and welcomed travellers for more than two millennia — and still feels timeless.

I’ll admit: before my first visit, I half-expected Rome to feel imperious. Grand, perhaps a little aloof — the kind of city that knows it’s magnificent and makes sure you know it too. Instead, I found warmth. A city buzzing with life, full of Romani who want to talk, share a coffee, and send you in the right direction. Rome surprised me, and that surprise was perhaps the best gift of all.

There are countless guides to the best of Rome’s major sights — the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Spanish Steps. Here, I want to share something different: Rome as I experienced it as a solo travelling housesitter — on foot, on a budget, and utterly in love with every piazza, pasta, and painting along the way.

My First Taste of Rome: Hop On, Hop Off

My introduction to Rome came after a housesit in Perugia. My friend and I decided to make a day trip of it — with her two boys aged three and five in tow. We quickly realised that walking the entirety of Rome with small children was not going to happen. Enter the Hop On Hop Off bus: an absolute revelation. Sweeping past the forums, Piazza Venezia, and the Colosseum from the open top deck, we soaked up Rome’s grandeur while tiny legs got much-needed rest. It gave me an unmistakeable sense of what I had to come back for — and come back I did.

✈  HOUSESITTER’S TIP  Visiting Rome with children? The Hop On Hop Off bus is your best friend. It covers all the major sights and lets you tailor the pace entirely to your group. Be careful, however, not all are mobility friendly, nor are the underground trains. It can be a challenge. Research where you are going ahead of time if this might be an issue for you.

Living the Piazza Life: Piazza Navona as Home Base

On my return visit, I was fortunate enough to stay in a flat just steps from Piazza Navona — and it became my compass point for everything. This is Rome at its most theatrical: Baroque fountains, portrait artists capturing strangers in charcoal, children chasing pigeons, and the gentle hum of a city in no particular hurry. If you can base yourself near here, do it. I understand now that the locals consider it among the worst of Rome’s tourist traps, with most restaurants there being known for inauthenticity and over-charging.

From Piazza Navona, I walked everywhere — and discovered three outstanding museums within easy reach.

1. Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica — Palazzo Barberini

A ten-minute walk from Piazza Navona, this stunning Baroque palace houses one of Italy’s finest collections of Renaissance and Baroque art. Highlights include Caravaggio’s visceral Judith Beheading Holofernes, Raphael’s intimate La Fornarina, and Pietro da Cortona’s magnificent ceiling fresco, The Triumph of Divine Providence. Allow at least two hours.

2. Museo di Roma — Palazzo Braschi

Just five minutes from the piazza, Palazzo Braschi is a beautiful setting for Roma’s own story — art, costumes, and relics tracing the city from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The 19th-century views of Rome alone are worth the visit, and the architecture inside the palazzo is itself a work of art.

3. Galleria Spada — The Illusion Gallery

Another five-minute walk away, Galleria Spada is a smaller but utterly captivating museum. Beyond its fine Baroque collection — including a Caravaggio and works by Guido Reni — lies the famous Gallery of Perspective designed by Francesco Borromini. A corridor that appears to be 37 metres long is, in reality, just eight — an architectural illusion that will stop you in your tracks; and in my view among the best in Rome.

Trastevere: Rome’s Most Romantic Neighbourhood

If Piazza Navona is Rome’s stage, Trastevere is its soul. Here, narrow streets glow under warm golden lights, laundry sways between terracotta buildings, and the trattorias fill the air with the scent of garlic, olive oil, and freshly made pasta. Rome slows down here — and so should you. Just be mindful of anyone trying to sell you anything, there are many sharks around even in Rome’s romantic neighbourhoods.

I spent a happy afternoon browsing Trastevere’s street vendors and picked up gorgeous art scarves as gifts, trying to be careful — only to find identical ones on sale in Florence for twice the price. Another quiet victory for the savvy housesitter though perhaps a bigger victory for the rather infamous street vendors! Be careful.

The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art

This was, unexpectedly, the highlight of my trip. Housed in the grand neoclassical Palazzo delle Belle Arti near Villa Borghese, Italy’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art is a revelation — founded in 1883 and spanning the full sweep of artistic movements from Neoclassicism through Impressionism, Futurism, Cubism, and beyond.

The Best of Rome’s Unmissable highlights include:

• The Three Ages of Woman — one of the museum’s most celebrated masterpieces
• Works by Monet and Van Gogh
• Hercules and Lichas — a monumental sculpture by Antonio Canova
• Paintings by Cézanne and Modigliani

It is a good walk from Piazza Navona — but in Rome, every walk is an adventure. I used Google Maps and threaded my way through neighbourhoods I would never otherwise have found, past the beautiful Villa Borghese park, and stumbled upon the Spanish Steps from above at sunset — the most magical way to arrive. If the gallery is a little off your itinerary, go anyway. You won’t regret it – it really is up there with the best of Rome.

Honest Takes: The Colosseum & The Vatican

I’ll be honest: the Colosseum left me a little flat. It’s a significant walk from Piazza Navona, and perhaps centuries of mass tourism have worn something from its grandeur — it felt more like a spectacle than a living piece of history. That said, every visitor is different, and many find it profoundly moving. Book tickets well in advance and visit early to avoid the worst of the crowds.

The Vatican City is an experience unto itself — an independent city-state with an entirely distinct atmosphere. If you are Catholic, or deeply interested in religious art and history, it is unquestionably worth your time. For me, it didn’t resonate — but St Peter’s Square at dawn is quietly extraordinary regardless of your faith – definitely worth seeing among your best of Rome hotlist targets.

A Coin in the Trevi Fountain — and a Promise to Return

I am just romantic enough to have tossed a coin over my shoulder into the Trevi Fountain — tradition demands it, and who am I to argue with a city this old? The fountain used to draw enormous crowds and you could visit whenever you wanted. Now with time controlled visits you need to formally book your time slot. It is all controlled to manage crowds and hopefully a more serene experience, and always keep your valuables close.

NOTE – No entry fees at the time of writing this blog but it is in consideration. The legend promises you’ll return; the city guarantees you’ll want to.

Why Housesitting Makes Rome More Accessible

Rome’s hotels are not cheap. Centrally located accommodation in the historic centre can easily cost €200–€400 a night — pricing out exactly the kind of slow, immersive travel that makes a city like this reveal its secrets. Through housesitting in Rome via platforms like HouseSitMatch, you can stay in the heart of the city — sometimes in extraordinary homes — in exchange for caring for a pet or property. The savings are transformative. What might be a rushed long weekend becomes a week, or two, or a month.

Cost comparison: Hotel vs Airbnb vs Housesittingin Rome

It’s worth estimating what accommodation will cost you to enjoy the best of Roma while you stay:

• Hotel: £120–£250/night
• Airbnb: £80–£180/night
• Housesitting: free accommodation

Staying near Piazza Navona, I could walk to the markets, find my favourite café, learn which trattorias the locals actually use, and simply be in Rome — rather than rushing past it. That is the true gift of the housesitting lifestyle.

Join the Housesit Match Community Today

Housesitting in Italy isn’t just about free accommodation; it’s about the freedom to explore places like the Cinque Terre with a local’s perspective. By joining a trusted housesitting platform like Housesit Match, you unlock a world of affordable travel that is both satisfying and deeply rewarding.

With a 4.9/5.0 rating on Trustpilot, our members agree that we offer the best support and security for sitters and homeowners alike.

[View our latest Housesitting assignments in Europe here]

Quick Tips for Housesitters in Rome

• Base yourself near Piazza Navona or Trastevere for the best walkable access to sights.
• Google Maps is your best friend for navigating on foot — embrace the detours.
• Book the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, and Borghese Gallery in advance — queues are formidable.
• Book your visit to the Trevi Fountain avoiding the hotter times of the day in warm seasons.
• Shop for gifts in Trastevere — be mindful of thieves and goods of nebulous origin.
• Always keep valuables secure in touristy areas – thieves are at work all the time.
• Use the Hop On Hop Off bus for your first day — it gives you an essential overview of the city.
• Three days is the minimum; three months would be even better.

Ready to housesit and discover the best of Rome? Browse current housesit opportunities in Italy at HouseSitMatch.com

BIO

👩‍💼 About the Author Tiera St Claire: Tiera has spent 20 years as a housesitter, often in London one of her favourite cities. She has been caring for pets and properties across 30+ countries. Her journey proves that midlife can be the beginning of your greatest adventure. Follow Tiera’s ongoing housesitter journey, and enjoy her best of Rome travel tips at House Sit Match

FAQ – Housesitting in Rome

Further reading about housesitting and housesitters

At HouseSitMatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting, and travel guides like this on on the best of Rome. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters and house sitting in London useful.

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