Let’s just start by saying that literally, every corner of the eternal city is romantic. This means that, if you are looking for romantic things to do in Rome for couples, you won’t have to look too hard. Who are sensitive to art and beauty are bound to get emotional at every step in one of the most romantic cities in Italy.
However, if you are wishing to surprise your other half with something she or he hasn’t thought about, get ready for some flare. Whether you are spending three days in Rome on your honeymoon or you just want to give a spark to your marriage, you are in the perfect city and we have just the right recommendations for you.
What is a better place to give a new spark to your relationship than Rome? Not only Paris or Venice, but Italy’s capital is also a city that evokes romance at every step. Panoramic Jacuzzi, fine dining with a view, artsy dates, and evening strolls along the river are only some of the things you can do to add a touch of romance to your Rome trip.
Whether you are visiting Rome in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day or any time of the year to rekindle the passion in your relationship, the eternal city will deliver. Discover with us the top romantic things to do in Rome.
A night stroll along the river is one of the first romantic things to do in Rome
Wherever you are in the city center, a night stroll along the Tiber River is unbearably romantic. The lights from the world-famous attractions you visited during the day gently flicker in the calm waters making the ambiance evocative and perfect to round off a romantic date in Rome.
Some of the best spots for a romantic night stroll in Rome? Lungotevere Sangallo to Lungotevere degli Altoviti looking at the majestic construction of the Hadrian Mausoleum (Castel Sant’Angelo) and crossing the river on Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II or Ponte Sant’Angelo, the latter being one of the most famous works by Bernini in Rome.
Another wonderful walk is from Lungotevere dei Vallati cross Ponte Garibaldi bridge with the fantastic view of the Tiberina island and get to Lungotevere Raffaello Sanzio. From here you can either keep walking along the river or continue your romantic date in the Rome Trastevere neighborhood.
Have a drink from the Terrace of the Hadrian Mausoleum
Be it from the outside or inside, the Hadrian Mausoleum never disappoints couples looking for some eternal splendor. With a stunning view of the Lungotevere, Ponte Sant’Angelo bridge, and St. Peter’s Basilica, Castel Sant’Angelo offers a great date idea from its Terrazza from where you can enjoy the view of the river from the other side.
Beautiful both day and night, in summer Castel Sant’Angelo extends its opening hours to midnight on weekends, Fridays and Saturdays. In winter, the terrace closes at 7.30 pm.
READ MORE: Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the top places to visit in Rome. Check out our Rome guide for first-time visitors if it’s your first trip!
Walk where Caesar and Cleopatra celebrated their love
Admired and hated at the same time, during her Rome stay, Cleopatra influenced many aspects of the local culture, fashion, religion, and private life. As history goes, she wasn’t so beautiful after all, but her intellect, high education, and verve enchanted many men, among which Julius Caesar.
Possibly the most famous love story in Roman history, Caesar and Cleopatra lived together in the Horti Caesaris, roughly translating into Caesar’s Gardens, on the slopes of the Janiculum Hill.
What is more romantic than walking on the same steps where the legendary couple celebrated their love and made their eternal oath? Besides, the view from Janiculum Hill itself is unbeatable.
A romantic dinner in Rome, a perfect date idea
With so many restaurants and beautiful views, it won’t be hard to find the perfect restaurant for a romantic date or if you want to treat yourself during your honeymoon in Rome.
Several restaurants are planning a romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day 2024 in Rome.
Nestled between Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona, and Largo Argentina, 53 Untitled (Via del Monte della Farina 23) proposes a romantic dinner with a 6-course tasting menu where authentic flavors blend with fusion cuisine to create a delicious seafood-based meal. Some of the dishes? Tempura codfish served with yuzu and nori mayo, ceviche with the catch of the day, and sautéed curcuma-infused risotto with red prawns, sweet-and-sour pineapple, and cashew cream. Price is 95€ per person inclusive of bread, water, coffee, and service.
If you are into a multicultural Valentine’s Day dinner, Dao Chinese proposes a romantic menu in both its restaurant in the Montesacro area (Viale Jonio 328/330) and bistro near Piazza Bologna (Via Ogliastra 10) ideal for younger customers. Prices are 50€ per person at the restaurant and 35€ per person at the bistro.
A romantic dinner with a view is guaranteed at MAIO Restaurant & Rooftop on the top floor of La Rinascente department store in Via del Tritone 61 with a mix of raw and warm seafood delicacies paired with a selection of wines and bubbles. Price 75€ per person.
Check out these date night bucket list ideas for more inspiration!
The popular fish shop Il Pescatorio in the Colli Portuensi area (Via Virginia Agnelli 91/93) proposes a gourmet seafood menu for this year’s Valentine’s Day dinner with courses such as prawn linguine spaghetti and shi drum filet on a clum and chimichurri sauce. Price 60€ per person, drinks not included.
If you want to add a breathtaking view to your dinner ambiance, pick one of the best rooftop restaurants in Rome such as Settimo, the elegant and jungle-themed restaurant of Sofitel Villa Borghese 5-star hotel.
Find more great restaurants in Rome in our eBook “Tasting Rome by Neighbourhood“. You will have a choice of five fantastic itineraries to explore the lesser-known areas of the city with your other half!
READ MORE: For a great traditional meal in Rome, read our experience at Felice a Testaccio!
Couple spa package, one of the best romantic things to do in Rome
There are many hotels offering spa services in Rome including massage, sauna, hammam, and several treatments, but also independent wellness centers. The spas in the city center offer great couples spa packages with treatments as diverse as rituals on donkey milk or “wine therapy” experiences.
Soak in the history and pampering self-care rituals in spa centers set in ancient buildings. Try some of the packages of places like the fantastic Spa at Trilussa Palace Hotel, Terme di Trastevere in the city center, Essenza Spa in the Eur district, or Templum Salutis for nice Turkish bath experiences, a bit far from Rome’s Centro Storico but well-connected to Termini station with bus n. 105.
If you want to spoil and surprise your other half, this is definitely one of the best things to do in Rome for couples.
Book a romantic hotel in Rome
With so many romantic hotels in Rome, you will be spoilt for choice. There are many hotels that offer packages and shape their services with couples on the lookout for some romance in mind. And I’m not talking only about special rates, but the stay itself.
HT6 Hotel in the city center, in the heart of the Jewish quarter, has rooms particularly thought for couples. Some have a private Jacuzzi, some others even a private Turkish bath, some feature a chromotherapy shower.
A favorite among the best hotels for couples in Rome is SuiteSistina For Lovers located between the Spanish Steps and Barberini. The rooms are very charming, the decoration glamorous and romantic with round beds and warm, dim lights. Alongside the most modern comforts, some accommodations feature a private Jacuzzi perfect for romantic evenings in Rome.
Another great accommodation for honeymooners to book in central Rome close to Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori is Hotel Lunetta. Here, guests will have cozy rooms, a lovely spa offering couples treatments and experiences, and an outdoor terrace with a great view.
Treating yourself to the right hotel is a great way to experience romantic Rome.
READ MORE: If you are searching for the perfect hotel, check out our guide to the best neighborhoods in Rome.
Take in breathtaking views
If you are looking for romantic places in Rome to propose, get up one of the city’s hills and the view will do the rest. Spots like Janiculum Hill, Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) on the Aventine Hill, and the Pincio Terrace in Villa Borghese park are very romantic places in Rome.
If you need more date ideas in Rome, you can head to Monte Mario Hill, the tallest viewpoint in Rome called Zodiaco, or also “Vialetto degli Innamorati”, Lovers’ Walkway. You can reach this spot through Via Trionfale and Mellini Park (here is the map). Thanks to the altitude, here is the Astronomical Observatory and the view is one of the best in Rome, much appreciated also by the German poet Goethe.
If you can’t make it to any of the panoramic viewpoints, don’t worry, you can admire great city views from many places in the city center, such as the Terrace of the Vittoriano complex in Piazza Venezia, St. Peter’s Dome and the upper floor of Castel Sant’Angelo (Hadrian Mausoleum).
Cruise along the river
What can possibly be more romantic than a cruise along the Tiber in Rome? Pretty cliché but never gets old, really. They organize them both during the day and at night, you can book a hop-on/hop-off boat tour as well as a dinner with live music.
Whether you want to propose, you are looking for a nice date idea in Rome, want to admire the eternal city from a different perspective, or just want to impress your other half, a cruise on its historic and important river is great any time.
They run from Spring to Fall and stop in winter. You can check and book some of the tours here.
Drink from the lover’s fountain
We all know the Trevi Fountain and likely all travelers have thrown a coin in the hope to come back to Rome. Yet, not many know that on the right side, there is a small fountain called the lover’s fountain. According to the myth, if a couple drinks from this fountain, they will remain in love and together forever.
This was an ancient ritual where the young couple would drink from the same glass when the fiancé was about to leave for long periods of time like for military service.
If this is not one of the sweetest things to do in Rome for couples, I don’t know what is.
Take a boat tour of Villa Borghese Lake
The Tiber is not the only place for a boat tour in Rome. The beautiful and evergreen Villa Borghese Park can be incredibly romantic and renting a rowing boat on its little lake is one of the best things to do in Rome for couples.
You can rent the boat from Via dell’Aranciera every day from 9.30 am to around sunset time all year long depending on the weather conditions. The cost is 4€ per person for 20 minutes (€1.50 for children less than 110 cm in height). Get more info here.
Go for a picnic
Rome’s parks convey a beautiful romantic vibe. If you want to plan a more original date for your Valentine’s Day in Rome, take your other half to a picnic surrounded by green and nature and you will have a great time.
We love going for a picnic in Rome. We go very often to the gorgeous Villa Pamphilj where the Vivi Bistrot can pack a lovely picnic basket for you, also including a picnic mat. You can order your food directly when you get to Villa Pamphilj, or even online from the Vivi Bistrot website, which gives you a skip-the-line service once there.
Go on a cultural date
Being art and history some of the things Rome is famous for, one of the most romantic things to do in Rome certainly involves a date at one of its most famous museums. If you enjoy art and culture, this is the date for you.
Important Roman museums like the Capitoline Museums and fascinating palaces such as Galleria Doria Pamphilj in Via del Corso host lovely cafes and bistros where you can have a light meal with a fantastic view or inside a historical monument.
Sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar
Are you tired after a whole day of sightseeing? Do you want to round off your long day in the most romantic way? Book a table at one of Rome’s coolest rooftop bars for a panoramic after-dinner drink.
There’s hardly anything more romantic than sipping your favorite drink or cocktail while enjoying the view of Renaissance domes, rooftops, and historical landmarks of the eternal city. Linger on a couch on a rooftop terrace, enjoy the dim lights of the city center in the evening, and take in the views of Rome’s different neighborhoods to celebrate your love and commitment to your other half.
Take a bath with a view
That’s right, in Rome, you don’t only have the opportunity to enjoy dinner with a view but also to relax in a bathtub or even a Jacuzzi while sipping a flute of Champagne with a view of the domes and rooftops of the city.
If you want your own private Jacuzzi con vista, it’s something that you will usually get on some of the best 5-star hotels in Rome such as the wonderful and pricy Hotel Hassler Roma on top of the Spanish Steps. However, other much more budget accommodation options offer rooftop Jacuzzi services like the lovely Navona Queen Rooftop, Terrazza Marco Antonio Luxury Suite, and Relais & Wellness Badoer.
Book a night at the Opera Theater
Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera has a fantastic program of shows lined up for all seasons. Ballet performances, opera dramas, concerts, and theater plays covering the vast Italian and international production scene are on in winter and summer alike.
Book your ticket in advance and enjoy wonderful operas like Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot and Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida or concerts like Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre and Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem.
If you are visiting Rome in summer, you can even book an opera show at the scenic Baths of Caracalla because it’s in this wonderful archaeological site that Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera moves its shows in the warm season.
Check out Teatro dell’Opera’s official website for the whole program.
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