Attraction-heavy Rome is an ideal destination for self-indulgent travel without the family.
The treat of alone time
You only start to realise how great travelling on your own can be when you rarely get to do it any more. It’s a similar vibe to when parents realise how bloody brilliant it is to have the house to themselves for a bit. Being left alone without having to cater to anyone else’s needs, desires and whims becomes a delicious treat as you get older.
In January, I got to savour that particular treat for five days. For family reasons, I usually have at least one other person in tow when travelling these days – and usually two who are absolute darlings, but unquestionably exhausting.
I had to do two airline reviews and an airport review for work, which meant finding a destination that fitted WizzAir, Jet2 and Gatwick. Rome was among the cheaper options, and the most appealing. I negotiated a couple more days than strictly necessary in the hope of lining up more work afterwards, then escaped, free to do what the hell I liked for just under a week.
Vibe cities vs attraction cities
There are some cities that are really about hanging out and soaking up the vibe – New York City, Seville, Melbourne and Montreal spring to mind. Rome is somewhere you can do this, but it is not the primary lure.
In those vibey cities, you really want to be with someone else, as sharing that vibe massively enhances the experience.
Rome, though, is absolutely crammed full of attractions. It’s somewhere you go to see things rather than just be. Scores of ancient sites, museums, basilicas, churches and oddities await in Rome, and being on your own means you can pick out exactly which ones you want to spend your time in without compromise.
The benefits of tackling Rome on your own
I can easily foresee how, in a group, there’d be lots of arguments over whether to go to the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum or the Vatican Museums. And so on.
I didn’t have to do any of that negotiation. If I wanted to go to the Catacombs of St Callixtus, I didn’t have to persuade anyone else to go along with me. If I wanted to spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the cats in the Largo di Torre Argentina, I didn’t feel pressured to get a move on towards the Circus Maximus. And if I wanted to go through the layers of the Basilica di San Clemente, I didn’t have to give it up because someone wanted to queue for the Mouth of Truth at the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
It’s also possible to see how the lack of seating in Rome’s piazzas and ankle-wrecking cobblestones could lead to fights over which restaurant to go to or whether some attractions should just be sacked off.
Why everyone should travel solo occasionally
On your own, though, you can make and ditch plans at will. You can walk until you’re broken without having to drag someone else along, and you can eat wherever you fancy rather than taking into account other people’s dietary requirements.
There’s a degree of satisfying indulgence to travelling solo, and it’s easy to overlook. Being able to do your own thing once in a while is good for the soul. Allowing yourself to follow your own interests and explore at your own pace fills the tank up a bit.
Travelling alone doesn’t have to be lonely. It’s an opportunity that should be grasped with both hands. And Rome is a fantastic place in which to take advantage of that opportunity.
More Rome travel
Other Rome stories on Planet Whitley include:
To investigate tour and experience options in Rome, check out the selection here.
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