I spent the last day of my recent travels in Rome, a place I’d already explored before. I’d checked off most of the major tourist traps on earlier visits, but it still felt essential to revisit the Colosseum and Vatican City—some places deserve more than one look.
Ironically, I chose a Sunday, which meant the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel were closed. Not ideal—or so I thought at the time.
Unbeknownst to me, I was about to get a much bigger—and completely unexpected—treat that day.
Below is a video I took earlier in the week, showing St. Peter’s Basilica from the outside, walking inside, and soaking in the atmosphere. Even without the museums open, this place never disappoints.
It was simply a good feeling knowing I was there on a day when Pope Francis was well enough to make a public appearance. With Holy Week approaching, it felt like an important moment—likely a quiet test of strength and endurance ahead of what is normally an incredibly demanding time.
Sadly, I later learned that he had to cut his speech short due to shortness of breath—and that this appearance would turn out to be his final public speaking engagement before his passing. Knowing that now adds a weight to the experience that I didn’t fully understand in the moment.
As I walked through Vatican City, the atmosphere felt different—solemn, but meaningful. A massive crowd was lined up to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, far larger than anything I’d seen earlier in the week.
It was one of those rare travel moments where you realize you weren’t just visiting a historic place—you were quietly present for a small but significant piece of history.
How to get to Italy (cheap)
If you’re coming from North America, I highly recommend flying Norse Atlantic Airways from Los Angeles to Rome for around $220 USD.
Getting to Los Angeles is easy and inexpensive from almost anywhere in Canada or the U.S. if you use Google Travel. Even better—consider staying in LA for a day or two. You essentially double your vacation while still saving a ton of money overall.
Where I stayed
I stayed at Freedom Traveler, which offered a single bed for €40 a night. Hotels in Rome can easily run $150+, so this was a no-brainer.
If dorms aren’t your thing, they also have private studio-style rooms for under $100, which is excellent value if you just want a quiet place to sleep. I stayed here twice—once before and once after my trip to Barcelona—and the staff were fantastic, always helping me get the best room available.
Best local meal & drink
Pizza. Obviously. 🍕
Rome is packed with corner spots selling freshly made pizza, and walking past them without stopping should honestly be illegal. While wine dominates in Italy (vino everywhere), I kept laughing because I’d walk into places with 10 taps, and every single one was wine. Beer lovers, adjust expectations accordingly.
My favorite pizza spot was just around the corner from Vatican City. I grabbed three slices (yes, all at once—you can see them stacked in the photo), and it was hands-down the best pizza I had in Italy.
Would I return?
To Rome specifically? Probably not.
Once I spent a full day at Vatican City and the Colosseum, I was ready to move on. I’d originally planned to stay a full week, but instead booked a last-minute trip to Barcelona to break things up.
That said, Italy absolutely deserves more time—just maybe not all in Rome. Cities like Venice, Sicily, Milan, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast are all worth visiting. One important lesson learned the hard way: book train tickets early. Last-minute fares were over $200, sometimes 5× the normal price, which is no different than flights.
If you plan to stay within one country, trains are amazing—but procrastination is expensive.