Rome will always hold a special place in my heart, it is where we studied abroad together in college and it is where we are holding our destination wedding this fall. We recently spent a weekend in Rome checking out our wedding venues and had lots of fun reminiscing about our semester in the Eternal City. Here are a few ways to have a luxurious weekend on the Spanish Steps.

Where to Stay Near the Spanish Steps

Rocco Forte just opened a new hotel at the top of the Spanish Steps called the Hotel de la Ville. This brand new 5-star hotel stands at the top of the Spanish Steps overlooking the city. The hotel has 104 rooms and suites. We had an amazing suite facing the courtyard.

The spacious suite had everything we always look for: balconies with a view, a large bathroom, complete with rainfall shower and the décor was just spot on for the space. The hotel takes inspiration from the Victorian-era Grand Tour, i.e. the tour the Victorian elite would take across Europe to visit all the capitals, of which Rome was a major stop.

Where to Eat on the Spanish Steps

The Hotel de la Ville itself has many dining options. Starting with breakfast, you dine in the large courtyard. There are some tasty selections in the cold buffet and guests can also order many hot items that are all made to order, including eggs, pancakes, waffles and more.

Also, Da Sistina, the lobby restaurant should also be on the foodie’s list when visiting Rome as well. The classic Roman trattoria has a menu filled with modern takes on classics. Enjoy cacio e pepe, saltimbocca and a classic Roman dessert, all washed down with a glass of sparkling wine.

And in the evening head up to the rooftop for an aperitivo with a view before dinner!

What to Do

Since we lived in Rome for almost 6 months, we have done all the big sites already, including touring the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Pantheon, so on this trip we spent our time out in the city exploring. We did a little shopping on the famous Via del Corso, treated ourselves to a few gelati and just enjoyed the magic of walking the streets of the city.

Some Pro Tips

If you will be visiting Rome for the first time and would like to tour the major sites buy as many of your tickets online beforehand as the ticket queues are usually quite long.

Consider buying the Roma pass as it gives you a discount for many of the sites and give you access to the Metro. Do your research on restaurants beforehand, while there are many amazing restaurants in Rome, there are also some duds that cater only to tourists, so be sure to read the reviews. But overall, the old adage does hold true, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and you should be fine!

We have traveled all over Italy so be sure to read our articles on Tuscany and Abruzzo for more Italian holiday ideas.