10 Best Things to Do in Trastevere, Rome

I had the pleasure of studying abroad last semester at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. And between my weekend travels and studies, I spent a lot of time exploring the city of Rome with my roommates. While there is so much to do and see in this amazing city, I ended up falling in love the most with my local neighborhood of Trastevere! It is one of the most beautiful, unique, and (in my humble opinion) the coolest neighborhood in Rome! Trastevere is known for its restaurants, narrow streets, street art, & lively atmosphere in the evenings, especially on weekends.

The word Trastevere means “beyond the Tiber,” so the area is located on the west bank of the Tiber river, the same side as Vatican City. Because this area is not home to any of the major tourist attractions (like the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain), it is sometimes missed by tourists. So today I thought I would share with you my top ten favorite things to do in Trastevere. If you’re planning an upcoming trip to Rome, you do not want to miss out on exploring this unique & bustling neighborhood!

And if a trip to Italy is not on the current horizon for you, but you would like to feel like you’re there, we feel ya. So we’ve put together a fun Spotify playlist below to give you all the Italian vacation vibes. Enjoy!

ITALY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

#1 - START YOUR DAY WITH A CAPPUCCINO & A CORNETTO (CROISSANT) FOR BREAKFAST

Pick up breakfast or sit down at Caffè Lungara 1940 (Via della Lungara, 14/15) or Caffè Settimiano (Via di Porta Settimiana, 1). Caffè Lungara is a very hip and unique local spot. The decor is amazing & the people who work there are so nice! Caffè Settimiano is also great and you can sit outside & enjoy your coffee in the sun :)

#2 - EXPLORE THE NARROW STREETS

Trastevere has so many hidden gems around every corner. There are cute shops, amazing murals on the walls, ivy growing on the sides of buildings, beautiful churches, and so much more! Some cool sights to check out along the way are the Basilica di Santa Maria, Orto Botanico (botanical garden), Tiber Island, etc. By just strolling through Trastevere’s streets, you will surely fall in love with the neighborhood.

#3 - GRAB A SLICE OF PIZZA FROM PIZZA TRILUSSA

Get a slice of pizza from Pizza Trilussa (Piazza Trilussa, 42) while strolling around Trastevere or on the way home after a night out! They can wrap it up for you like a sandwich which makes it easy to walk with. This little spot is located just steps away from Piazza Trilussa, so you can enjoy your pizza on the steps of the piazza if you want or take it with you wherever you go.

#4 - WALK ALONG THE TIBER RIVER

Go for a walk along the Tiber River. Stop on the Ponte Sisto (bridge located near Piazza Trilussa) and enjoy the music from street performers performing on the bridge. Or just to relax and enjoy the sunshine while exploring all that Trastevere has to offer.

#5 - EAT GELATO, OF COURSE

Getting gelato is a must when in Italy, obviously. Some great places in Trastevere to get gelato are Gelateria Regusto (P.za di S. Giovanni della Malva, 9), Otaleg (Via di S. Cosimato, 14a), and I Dolci Di Checco (Via Benedetta, 7). You should definitely try the biscoff flavor at Gelateria Regusto, it’s amazing! Another good flavor to try from any gelateria is stracciatella, which is like chocolate-chip ice cream, but with dark chocolate!

#6 - HAVE AN APERITIVO AT PIMM’S GOOD

Pimm’s Good (Via di Santa Dorotea, 8/9) is one of my favorite restaurants in Trastevere and it’s a great place for having an aperitivo (pre-meal drink)! They have a delicious platter that you can get if you order aperol spritzes (around 7-9pm). The bruschetta that comes on it is so good. Pimm’s also has a delicious penne arrabbiata, which I highly recommend if you are looking to have lunch or dinner there as well. Pimm’s Good has a really fun atmosphere with music, nice employees, and you are able to sit either inside or outside, if it’s nice out!

#7 - ENJOY A SUNSET

Watch the sun go down from Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi, located on top of Janiculum (Gianicolo) Hill. It has a beautiful, panoramic view of Rome! It’s really fun to bring some drinks & snacks up there and enjoy the sunset. There is a ledge that a lot of people sit on & there is even a snack stand that you can buy stuff from if you didn’t bring anything with you! Be warned, there are a lot of stairs up to the top of the hill, but the view is 100% worth it!

#8 - HAVE DINNER AT MIMI E COCO

Another one of my favorite restaurants in Trastevere is Mimi e Coco (Via del Governo Vecchio, 72). It is very popular, so you will want to get there early or you may have to wait in a line, but the wait will be worth it, I promise! Mimi e Coco has a great ambience and the inside is beautifully decorated and makes it feel very cozy. The atmosphere here is very fun too & they play great music! You can eat inside, outside, or in the basement. Usually larger groups are seated in the basement (highly recommend - it’s so cool & looks like a cellar, very private). Don’t leave without getting the tiramisu, it’s heavenly. I also recommend the focaccia & the bucatini alla amatriciana!

#9 - STOP FOR DRINKS AT BUM BUM

Get drinks at Bum Bum Bar Brasileiro (Brazilian Bar)! It’s a pretty small place, so I would recommend taking the drinks to go, but there are a few seats inside & some tables outside. It has a tropical/island vibe inside & has fun music! It’s convenient to get drinks here & then hang out in one of the nearby piazzas.

#10 - HANG OUT IN A PIAZZA, LIKE A LOCAL

That leads us to our next recommendation. People are always congregating in piazzas (squares) all around Rome and some popular ones in Trastevere are Piazza Trilussa and Piazza di Santa Maria. People are hanging out in the piazzas at all hours of the day, but in Trastevere around 10:30-11pm on Friday and Saturday nights, they are packed with people and it is such a lively atmosphere! It’s very fun to be out and about at this time & just walking around the beautiful streets.

COMMON ITALIAN WORDS & PHRASES

Though many Italians speak some English, it is helpful to know these common Italian words and phrases that come up a lot in conversations. I would also recommend starting to learn Italian on Duolingo before leaving on your trip. It is a very fun and easy way to begin learning a new language!

ciao (“chow”) (informal) - hi / bye
arrivederci (“ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee”) - goodbye
buongiorno - good morning/day
buona sera - good evening
buona notte (“note-eh”) - good night (before going to bed)
buona giornata - have a nice day
buona serata - have a nice evening
grazie (“graht-see-eh”) - thank you
grazie mille (“graht-see mee-leh”) - thank you very much
prego (“pray-go”) - you’re welcome
per favore (“pear fa-vor-eh”) - please
come (“co-meh”) stai? - how are you?
sto bene (“ben-eh”) - i’m fine/good
molto bene - very good
sì - yes
no - no
scusa (“sku-za”) (informal) / scusi (formal) - excuse me/sorry
spiacente (“spia-chen-te”) - sorry
mi dispiace (“me dis-pi-a-che”) - i’m sorry
non parlo italiano - i don’t speak italian
non capisco (“ka-pi-sko”) - i don’t understand
va bene - all right/okay (transition word)
allora - so/then (transition word)
il conto, per favore - the bill/check, please
vorrei (“vor-ray”) / prendo - i would like...
posso avere (“ah-ver-eh”) - can i have...
porto via, grazie - to go/take away, thank you (for getting something to go at a restaurant)
come si dice? (“see di-che”) - how do you say...
che significa? (“kay see-nif-ica”) - what does it mean?
una borsa/due borse (“bor-say”) - one bag/two bags (at stores, they may ask you if you want a bag/bags)
dov’è il bagno? (“dov-eh eel bahn-yo”) - where is the bathroom?
siete pronti? (“see-eh-te pron-tee”) - are you ready? (to order at a restaurant - sometimes waiters ask this)
caprese (“ca-pray-zay”)
bolognese (“bolon-nay-zay”
bruschetta (“broo-sket-ta”)
casa (“ka-za”) - house
piazza (“pyaht-za”) - square
Trastevere (“trast-eh-ver-ay”) - the neighborhood, means ‘beyond the Tiber’
daje (“dai-eh”) (Roman word) - come on!

I hope these suggestions convinced you to check out the neighborhood of Trastevere on your next trip to Rome. If you do visit, let us know what your favorite spot was or if you found a hidden gem that we should check out next time. And please eat alllllll the pasta. We will be living vicariously through you!

Ciao! xo Chrissy