What to do in Rome before you check in: Easy exploration awaits!

Arriving in Rome and finding out that you can’t check into your accommodation right away can be a bit frustrating. At From Home to Rome, we want to emphasize that this is not the norm and usually happens when a previous guest has just left and cleaning needs to be done.

In this post, we want to provide you with a list of non-stressful activities that will help you make the most of your time while you’re waiting, as we work around the clock to welcome you as quickly and efficiently as possible.

From storing your luggage to exploring the city’s highlights, here are some recommendations to keep you entertained and busy!

Pre-List Tip: Store Your Luggage!

First things first: store your luggage at your apartment. You don’t want to be lugging it around on cobblestone streets! If you can’t do this because our cleaning crew is still preparing your accommodation, there are a number of places around our network of properties that will do this for an hourly fee, which you can easily find using Google Maps (or by asking us!).

Visit a free museum or landmark

Once your luggage is taken care of, you can always visit a free museum or landmark that won’t take up much of your time. Each of our apartments is centrally located and conveniently close to major attractions, most of which can be reached in less than 10 minutes.

For example, if you’re staying in the Barberini area, you can walk to the Spanish Steps, the House of Monsters, Fontana del Tritone and even Trevi Fountain.

Conversely, if you’re in the Campo de’ Fiori area, you can walk to free museums such as the Museo Barracco (Roman and Egyptian sculpture), the Museo Napoleonico (as the name suggests, it’s all about Napoleon), or visit Piazza Navona, Largo di Torre Argentina, or the Jewish Ghetto. Start exploring the city’s iconic sights right away!

Grab a bite to eat

Find a local café and indulge in an Italian-style breakfast of freshly baked croissants, Danish pastries and other sweet treats that are exclusive to Rome, like the maritozzo. Espresso and cappuccino are cheap and plentiful, and if that’s not your thing, more and more downtown cafes are offering savory/U.S. style breakfasts for travelers who miss home.

Shop for essentials!

Rome’s supermarkets are a great place to explore. There is an abundance of small branches of Italy’s most famous chains (Tigre, PAM, Carrefour, Pewex…) that cater to tourists and workers alike and carry the essentials.

When you check into one of our apartments, you’ll find some basic necessities to get you started, such as a few rolls of toilet paper, a few coffee pods or tea bags, depending on the length of your stay. However, these won’t be enough for your entire holiday. So while you are waiting to check in, you can probably find fresh vegetables, eggs, milk, or anything else you might need during your vacation. And don’t forget, the street markets are just around the corner!

… And do even more shopping!

Again, our properties are so central that you can certainly do, if anything, a little… window shopping. If you feel like taking that extra step, local boutiques, international chains, and mom-and-pop stores are literally everywhere you look! Discover unique items, fashion finds, or souvenirs to commemorate your trip to Rome.

Enjoy the city’s parks and gardens

If you feel like walking a little more (depending on your exact location) you could enjoy the tranquility of Rome’s beautiful parks and gardens while you nurse your jet lag. Villa Borghese, the Botanical Gardens (requires a ticket) in Trastevere or Villa Torlonia may be the closest to you.

Don’t let the early check-in time dampen your spirits. Use this opportunity to explore Rome and soak in the city’s beauty at your own pace. Make every moment count: your Roman adventure can start before it even begins!

Group tours and skip-the-line tickets