[All photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. All links are non-affiliated. All prices were correct at time of writing. Prices may vary at time of reading.]

Known for its history, architecture and food, Italy is a popular country for anyone travelling to Europe. Rome, known as the Eternal City, is no exception. After visiting Switzerland during my Interrail trip I decided to head to Italy, with Rome being my first stop. I only spent 1.5 days in Rome, so here's my list of things to do if you're short of time and be warned, most of these things are on the main tourist track.

1. The Colosseum

Located in the heart of the city, the Colosseum is, without a doubt, Rome's most popular tourist attraction. This amphitheatre was completed in 80 AD during the reign of the Roman Empire and had various uses such as for gladiatorial battles or executions. Nowadays, the ruins attract millions of tourists each year. Only 3,000 tourists are allowed in the ruins at a time and tickets are booked for a specific time slot. It's recommended to do this online before visiting and then collect your tickets from a ticket booth. Basic tickets that include the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill start at €16. EU citizens aged 18 to 25 can get a discount with valid ID and tickets are free for children under 18. Upon arrival, you'll go through airport-style security before entering the ruins. I chose to visit later in the day (about an hour before closing time) and I got through security very quickly. The inside was reasonably busy but by no means near the maximum capacity of 3,000, so I recommend going near closing time if you want to avoid the crowds.

The Colosseum

2. Rome Forum and Palatine Hill

Located opposite the Colosseum, the Roman Forum is another popular tourist site. It's full of the ancient ruins of several government buildings, some of which were built in 7th Century BC, and is definitely worth a visit. Within the Roman Forum is Palatine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, which contains the ruins of several temples and palaces. As above, tickets include entrance to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, starting at €16. Personally, I preferred the Roman Forum to the Colosseum as I think it had more to look at in terms of the different types of ruins. Unlike the Colosseum, you don't need to choose a specific time to visit and security isn't as strict. I decided to visit as soon as it opened to avoid the crowds and intense heat of the sun. I spent about an hour here and by the time I left it was already starting to fill up.

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina at the Roman Forum

3. Trevi Fountain

Found in a small square surrounded by a network of narrow streets is Trevi Fountain, a beautiful fountain built in 1762. Nearby there are several cafes and shops but you may struggle to access them given the volume of people visiting the fountain - I definitely recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the evening when it's less busy. Due to the large number of people there are several police officers by the fountain that blow a whistle at anyone who dares touch the crystal clear water. Despite this, it is still an impressive site and worth a quick look, especially as it's free to visit.

Trevi Fountain

4. The Pantheon

Heading away from the centre towards the Vatican City, you'll find the Pantheon, a former Roman temple which is now used as a church. Built in 126 AD, the Pantheon is one of Rome's most well-preserved buildings from the time of the Roman Empire. The Pantheon is free to enter but it's possible to rent an audioguide for a few euros. As with other churches in Italy, it's expected that you cover your knees and shoulders.

The Pantheon

5. Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a scenic square located near the Pantheon. With several fountains and cafe's within the square, it's a nice place to take a break away from the crowds. It's also completely free to visit!

Piazza Navona

The obelisk in the Fountain of the Four Rivers located in the centre of Piazza Navona

6. The Vatican City

Located within Rome is the smallest country in the world - the Vatican City. The most obvious landmark is St. Peter's Basilica and the surrounding square. Entry to the Basilica is free but once again, shoulders and knees need to be covered. By the time I arrived at the Basilica in the middle of the afternoon, the queue was huge and unfortunately, I had a train to catch later that afternoon, so I had to opt to skip seeing the inside but I've heard the interior architecture is exquisite.

The Vatican Museum requires a ticket to enter, with prices starting at €17 but students can get discounted tickets with valid student ID. This ticket includes entry to the museum and Sistine Chapel. Guided tours are also possible of the Vatican Gardens but this costs extra.

One of the two fountains in St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Basilica

7. Villa Borghese Gardens

After a day of exploring Rome I had finally had enough of the crowds, so decided to head to the Villa Borghese Gardens. This park was peaceful compared to the main city and was full of wildlife, such as lizards, terrapins and parakeets. These gardens are free to visit and close to the Rome Termini train station, which makes it a nice stop if you've got a bit of spare time before leaving the city via train.

The Temple of Aesculapius located in the Villa Borghese Gardens

A terrapin swimming in the small artificial lake in the gardens

A lizard basking in the sun

Where To Stay

Whilst I was in Rome I stayed in the Freedom Traveller hostel. This is located within 15 minutes walk of Rome Termini train station, so is ideal if you're arriving by train and was cheap compared to a lot of other hostels in the area. However, it was about a 30 minute walk from the nearest main sites, such as the Colosseum, but the train station is connected to the Metro if you'd prefer not to walk. I personally chose to walk as it allowed me to see other parts of the city.

This hostel was a bit difficult to find and I spent ages circling around the same block wondering where it was, but eventually I found a small sign on the side of an apartment building. This hostel also didn't include city tax which cost an extra €3.50 per person per night for hostels. Besides that, it was a nice clean hostel and worth the money.

One of Rome's many hidden side streets

Despite many people falling in love with Rome, I found it a bit disappointing outside of the main sites. There was a lot of litter on the streets and people drive like crazy in Rome, so much so that every road crossing felt like a suicide mission. There are also a lot of people trying to sell you things near the main sites, which is annoying and doesn't seem to be as much of an issue in other cities and countries as it is here. However, aside from those things it's still a historic city with great food and architecture. I guess the only way for you to decide if you like Rome is by giving it a visit yourself.