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The Travel Exchange is a Whatsapp group where we focus on one country at a time, with a day or 2 dedicated to a different city. Members describe their personal experiences and tips. To join our next conversation send a message to PadovaTravels to get an invite to the group.
In July, we started a conversation about Kosher travel to Italy, starting with Rome. There were many mixed feelings about the city in general with some people thinking it’s a total gem and others thinking it is overrated. One thing everyone could agree on – that the food options are top notch. The overall consensus was that about two days is enough to cover the highlights of the city, but you can enjoy more if you love history and architecture.
Below we tried to sum up thoughts and helpful links shared regarding food, accommodations and activities. Feel free to add your own experiences in the comments below.
Map
This map of Rome with the basic info was shared. Feel free to check it out and add your spots
Where to Stay
- Luxurious Luma Suite Overlooking Via Veneto
“Great place to stay about ten mins drive from the ghetto” - Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
“We stayed here. It’s a little “out” but really nice hotel. Booked with Hilton Free night certificate” - HT6
“This is probably the most popular hotel by the Jewish ghetto. They are shabbos friendly as well.” - Radisson Collection Hotel, Roma Antica
“Really nice, very recommended.” - Hotel Mondial
“We stayed here with a group of 4. The room is for 3 and they added a fourth bed for a few extra euro. Very decent. Nothing special. But if you need a big room for 4 this is a good option.” - Argentina Style Hotel
“3 minute walk to the Ghetto (reply to hotel recommendation for a couple)” - Magenta Luxury Sant’Anna
- Hotel 47
Shabbos
Rome is a great option for a weekend.
- Option 1: Stay near the Jewish Ghetto
– Little Tripoli Shabbos takeout, as mentioned below is Glatt. And can rent hot plate as well
– There is a small Chabad not far from the Ghetto that offers Shabbos meals as well - Option 2: Stay near Piazza Bologna
– There is also a great Chabad in Piazza Bologna side of town.
“Friday night the rabbi makes a large meal and Shabbos day he hooked us up with a local for the meal….”
– They have a option on the website to put you up by a local
Where to Eat
While many restaurants in Rome are under good supervision and Cholov Yisroel, glatt meat is not the standard and only Little Tripoli has need confirmed to be using glatt meat.
- See the map above for a list of restaurants. Most recommended were the gelato place, C’è Pasta e Pizza – Kosher, Flour Farina e Cucina and Bona Pizza (not on the list). Check with LOR regarding Kashrus status.
- Chabad has a list of glatt restaurants and additional kosher information.
- Yotvata also makes their own cheeses which you can buy. Really great stuff with very large variety.
- Unfortunately, Obento seems to have closed per Google maps 😔
What to Do
Jewish Ghetto Tours
- romanjews.com – Most famous tour guide in Rome. Very good.
- David Walden Rome Jewish Ghetto Tour – Also has other tours.
- Sara Rome – She’s also a very good tour guide
- The ghetto at dinner time is a great vibe
The Great Synagogue
- Active every day
- There’s a full museum under the shul, with a lot of very interesting artifacts
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Arch of Titus
- Personal experience travel hack: Tickets to the Colosseum and the forum get ‘sold out’ many times online and by the main entrances, however if you go to the less popular entrances to the Forum you can purchase tickets many times for even right then.
- If you are European 18-25 you get the ticket for €2 instead of €18 – They check your id/passport multiple times. One user mentioned “No need to be European.”
- Arch of Titus
– “I personally thought this is one of the coolest things in Rome“
City Tour
- If you want to cover Rome quickly, rent a scooter and take the following route:
- Start at the ghetto
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Vatican city
- Spanish steps
- Trevi Fountain
- Colloseum
- Roman Forum
You can cover all these with a quick stop and no entrance ticket all in half day or less. These stops are listed in the map above.
- You can use free Rick Steves’ audio guides for things like the colosseum. If you put it on 2x speed you’ll get all the info you need in 15 minutes
- Rolling Rome has Segway and golf cart options. As well as different tour lengths. A 3 hr Segway tour covers everything you need to see in Rome.
- Trevi Fountain
– “Gets crazy jammed during the day but one of the nicest spots personally🔥”
– “Usually pretty jammed at night too, it’s part of the experience“
– “Personally I didn’t find it to be that cool. The surrounding streets happened to be poppin with bars and stuff if you’re into that.“
– “Good vibe cool to go through at night (with scooter too)“
Vatican City
- “I asked my LOR before I went and was told you can go into the main plaza but not into the Vatican. However, there are probably those that allow it. The main plaza counts as another country though so that satisfies most people 😜“
- “No “mainstream” rabbi will tell you to go. But Walden has a whole Torah on why it’s fine and which parts are ok and he gives a “Jewish perspective on the Vatican” tour“
Sinagoga di Ostia Antica
- 10 minutes away from Fiumicino airport is the remains of oldest synagogue in Europe
More
- Yael Yotvata Italy – You can do a pasta making class at Yotvata in the ghetto. Not cheap but includes a dinner of the food you make. Must book in advance if going in high season. Contact them at this number.
- Janiculum Hill – If you want a really cool view of Rome.
- Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
- Aventine Keyhole – takes less than a minute to look through.
- Orange Garden – max half hour and depends of the oranges are even in season
- Baths of Caracalla
Other
- Some felt that a tour for the Colosseum and Roman Forum is a necessity while others thought it to be boring and a waste of money. If you enjoy history, it might be worthwhile. If you’re just visiting for the photo-op,
- Renting a car in Rome is not recommended as there’s many restricted zones, & traffic. Scooters and Ubers are the way to get around.
- You might be able to get discounts some places if you’re a student (18-25)
- Omio is a great app for booking trains/buses/ferry in Rome and all over Europe.
- For anyone who is taking a train and is heading to Bologna side of town (chabad, Flour, Little Tripoli etc…) keep in mind that there is a big convenient train station right near by. Tiburtina Station. Recently renovated nice clean and less busy as opposed to Termini station in central Roma
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