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A guide to the best things to do in Monti, Rome—one of the city’s most charming hidden gems, just a short walk from the Colosseum but with a completely different vibe.
Monti is without a doubt a gem of a neighborhood to visit while in Rome. With its local vibe and quiet, picturesque streets, it’s hard to believe just how close it is to some of the city’s most popular spots.
And what’s crazier, it’s how many visitors completely miss this neighborhood altogether—which is just a shame!
After visiting Rome over five times now and spending around three months in total here, Monti remains one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city—together with Trastevere.
Offering some of my favorite unique things to do in Rome—like a fun wine tasting—some great cheap eats, and various cute indie shops, wandering the quiet streets of Monti will make you forget you are in the heart of one of the most touristic cities in the world.
It truly lets you experience Rome as a charming Italian city, instead of a tourist checklist.
Which is exactly why I think that visiting Monti should be on everyone’s Rome itinerary—to get a fuller, well-rounded sense of the city.
So, without further ado, let’s get to it. Here are the best things to do in Monti, Rome!
Best Things To Do In Monti, Rome
Wander the picturesque streets of Monti
One of the best things to do in Monti, Rome, is to aimlessly wander around the quiet and picturesque streets of the neighborhood.
Being just a few blocks away from the jam-packed Roman Forum and the hectic Colosseum, it’s honestly hard to believe how peaceful Monti still feels.
With people focusing on the main tourist attractions nearby, Monti remains a quiet local neighborhood, and the perfect escape from the crowds of the historic city center.
So wander its green alleys, stop by the small piazzas, and simply allow yourself to get “lost” in this lovely Roman pocket.
Shop the perfect souvenir at Mio Monti
While there’s no shortage of leather shops around Rome, selling all kinds of Italian leather goods, from coin purses to belts, sandals, and bags, Mio in Monti is one of my favorite leather shops I stumbled upon.
Mio Monti is a small leather shop that, while it doesn’t have aisles upon aisles of goods like the shops around Piazza Navona, I found their curated collection to have the nicest bags I have seen in Rome.
What actually caught my attention was this suede boho-style bag by the door. It was exactly what I had been looking for during my three months in Rome, and I finally found it in my last week—so lucky!
If you are looking to go shopping in Monti, definitely add Mio Monti to your stops to get the perfect practical souvenir that will last for years to come.
Grab a light lunch at La Piadineria
If you get hungry while wandering the cute streets of this charming Roman neighborhood, one of the best restaurants in Monti to grab a quick bite to eat is La Piadineria.
La Piadineria is a casual “fast-food” style restaurant, specializing in piadine, a thin Italian flatbread typical of the Romagna region that can be filled with different meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
As a Mexican, I consider the piadina to be the equivalent of an Italian quesadilla—it’s a quick, easy, and delicious option for a meal.
The perfect hand-held food to keep hunger at bay without losing too much time sitting at a restaurant.
My favorite one is La Leggenda, with prosciutto crudo, cheese, and rucola—so simple, but so good!
Go wine tasting at VinoRoma Wine Studio & Social Club
For the wine lovers out there, one of the best things to do in Monti, Rome, is to book a wine tasting at Vino Roma Wine Studio.
We had this experience with a group of our co-workers, and it was so much fun!
We tried wines I would have never thought of picking myself, and learned so much about them—the different varieties of grapes, the different regions of Italy that produce wine, and so much more.
I have done various wine tastings in the past, but I will say that this was honestly the most informative I have ever done.
It really gave me a whole new level of appreciation for wine in general, and all the elements that affect it, but also for Italian wines in particular.
So if you have a free afternoon that you need to fill with an activity, I would highly recommend booking this Vino Roma Wine Studio wine tasting.
Check the availability for your dates here:
Catch unique views of the Colosseum
One of the best things to do in Monti, Rome, is to get some incredible photos of the iconic Colosseum.
Through the small streets of Monti, you will get many chances to capture some unique angles of the Colosseum without it being the obvious subject—you know what I mean?
But we are in Rome, and we obviously want incredible photos of its iconic landmark, so for the best photo spot by the Colosseum—in a more obvious but less obstructed way—make sure to stop by Giardinetto del Monte Oppio.
We did our engagement photo shoot here, and loved the view of the Colosseum and how easy it is to not have anyone else in the shot!
Another great spot for photos by the Colosseum is in front of Caffè Roma by the Colosseo Metro Station, where you can use the brick wall as a platform to get an unobstructed view.
Visit a hidden entrance to the Roman Forum on Via Campo Carleo
One of my favorite things about Monti is its quiet local nature while still being a stone’s throw away from all the action of the Roman Forum and Colosseum.
And what’s even better is when these two elements collide, resulting in a hidden viewpoint of the iconic Roman Forum.
Tucked away on an unassuming, quiet street of Monti, you will find the entrance to Via Campo Carleo.
This via will guide you to a hidden viewpoint behind the Roman Forum, a spot that most people don’t know about since they tend to stay on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.
From here, you can get a closer look at the Forum of Augustus for free and without the crowds around you.
Explore the indie shops along Via del Boschetto
Even though Monti is a quieter neighborhood with a more residential vibe, you can still find a variety of cute indie shops to browse through.
And some of the best shops in Monti are along Via del Boschetto, like the previously mentioned Mio Monti—but I felt like that deserved its own shout-out.
Some of my other favorite shops here include:
- Kokoro: A locally designed women’s clothing shop.
- Estremi: A furniture shop, where you can also find some textiles, cotton pajamas, and cute bags.
- Nous Atelier: Hand-crafted jewelry shop created by two sisters.
Browse the shelves at Panisperna Libreria
Even if I’m fully aware that I cannot afford the luggage space of buying any books, I still love to browse bookshops in every city I visit.
And if you are anything like me, then one of the best things to do in Monti, Rome, is to stop by the Panisperna Libreria, a cute neighborhood bookshop.
You will easily spot this bookshop by the tiniest of yellow cars parked at the front with the sign of the bookshop.
If you do want to add a book to your collection, you will be happy to know that they have a small English book section for us foreigners to browse through.
Sip a coffee at La Bottega del Caffè in Piazza della Madonna dei Monti
One of the best things to do in Monti, Rome, to feel like a true local, is to slow down with a cappuccino in hand at one of the outdoor tables at La Bottega del Caffe.
I came across this cute little cafe while exploring Monti one afternoon and immediately envisioned myself sitting there early on a morning, living my best Roman life.
So that’s what I did, and you should too!
Located right in front of a small fountain on Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, the area is so calm and picturesque—it truly feels like something out of an Italian movie. I just love this little square so much!
Treat yourself to a gelato at Gelateria dell’Angeletto
While in Rome, any excuse for a gelato is a good one—and you can find the best one in Monti at Gelateria dell’Angeletto.
Tucked away behind Piazza della Madonna, this charming corner gelateria is easy to miss but worth looking for.
While I sadly didn’t get to try it myself, the gelateria comes very highly reviewed, and just by the look of the gelato, it’s easy to see that this is the good stuff!
So if you are exploring Monti and are craving a little something sweet, make sure to stop by Gelateria dell’Angeletto.
Enjoy an afternoon spritz at Spritzeria Monti
As the sun starts to set in Rome, one of my favorite things to do while being around the Monti neighborhood is to head to Sprtizeria Monti for a little aperitivo.
Set on top of a hotel, Spritzeria Monti is the perfect rooftop bar to finish off a day of wandering the area, with a tasty spritz in hand.
The place is cute and casual, the drinks are tasty with a menu consisting of—you guessed it—a variety of Spritz drinks, plus classic cocktails, and it is the perfect pit stop before heading out for dinner.
While there is no direct scenic view, if you look out from the terrace, you can get a glimpse of the Colosseum at the end of the street.
Grab a personal pizza at Trieste Pizza
Trieste Pizza is another one of the best restaurants in Monti for a quick, easy, and delicious meal.
If you are only in need of a snack, they have tiny, personal pizzas, which are so cute and delicious, and perfect for sampling the different flavor combinations.
They also have normal full-size personal pizzas, obviously, with my favorite ones being their margherita and the pepperoni one—but watch out, the pepperoni is quite spicy!
One of my favorite things about this place is, first of all, the service; they are super friendly and welcoming.
My second favorite thing is the side dishes, like the lasagna, but most importantly, the salads, like their very tasty Greek salad, which is so welcome after only eating pizza and pasta for days on end.
Stroll through Parco del Colle Oppio
If what you need is a small city break, then the best thing to do in Monti, Rome, is to head over to Parco del Colle Oppio.
Parco del Colle Opio is Monti’s biggest park, offering a green escape from the crowds of the Roman Historic City Center.
Here you will find lots of open space to have a little picnic—maybe with your Trieste pizza—, some of Rome’s famous potable water fountains to fill up your water bottle, plus you can get some nice views of the Colosseum from here as well.
So all in all, a great spot to add to your list of things to do in Monti, Rome.
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Monti, Rome
With its laid-back vibe and picturesque streets, it’s crazy to realize just how close Monti is to all the main attractions, while keeping its authentic local charm.
That’s why I think everyone visiting Rome should wander off the beaten path and explore quieter corners like Monti to get a more authentic feel for the Italian capital.
I hope this guide to the best things to do in Monti inspires you to explore this cozy Roman neighborhood and helps you discover all it has to offer.
So next time someone visits Rome, you’ll be the one telling them about the charming little neighborhood most people miss.
What is the main thing you are looking forward to doing in Monti, Rome? Let us know in the comments.