So, you’re headed to Rome for your fill of history, culture, complex carbs and teeny weenies on old statues! Or is that last one just me!?
The Colosseum, Check. The Vatican, Check. An inhuman amount of pasta, Check! It can all just feel a bit like you’re just flying around ticking things off rather than ACTUALLY experiencing a place like Rome.
The problem is that when we’re speeding around a city, especially when we’ve only got a short amount of time, it can feel almost impossible to really get to know the soul of it. Luckily, that’s where Airbnb Experiences come in.
Think of them like a key to the city handed to you by a local resident, and what better place than Rome?
Airbnb Experiences are designed to go beyond the usual tourist traps, offering up authentic activities hosted by locals who know Rome like the back of their hand. They are the perfect way to really get under the skin of The Eternal City.
From pasta-making classes with Italian Nonnas to guided tours through Rome’s lesser-known neighbourhoods, these experiences are tailor-made for anyone wanting to live la dolce vita.
AT A GLANCE: Our Top 3 Picks for Airbnb Experiences in Rome
In this post, I’ve rounded up the very best Airbnb Experiences in Rome, so you can get a taste of the city like a true Roman. Let’s jump on a Vespa and gooooooo!
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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Top 10 Airbnb Experiences in Rome
Having visited Rome on several occasions I’ve been lucky enough to partake in a ton of Airbnb experiences and I just love the way they always show me a side to the city I’d never seen before. So when it comes to picking out the best of the bunch, I’ve done the hard yards (someone’s gotta eat all the pasta after all!) to bring you the cream of the crop when it comes to Airbnb Experiences in Rome.
Each of the Airbnb Experiences in Rome that I’ve selected has HEAPS of great reviews, so you’ll know you’re in good hands for your trip.
So, here are the best Airbnb Experiences to give you a local insight into Rome:
| THE BEST AIRBNB EXPERIENCES IN ROME | |||
|---|---|---|---|
#1  | Cooking Pasta with Locals
| VIEW ON AIRBNB | |
#2  | Adventure in the Catacombs
| VIEW ON AIRBNB | |
#3  | Colosseum & Roman Forum with an Archaeologist
| VIEW ON AIRBNB | |
1. Pastamania in Rome
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
Let’s be honest, one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Rome was for the food. I mean, where better to experience it than right in the heart of the capital of Italy, right? So I just knew I had to jump on a pasta-making course to learn from the best.
Forget queuing up to throw a coin in the Trevi fountain on a blisteringly hot day, instead jump inside this air-conditioned kitchen to learn how to make pasta from scratch… from the experts.
You’ll spend 3 hours with professional Italian chefs discovering the secrets to perfect Fettuccine and delicious Tortelli. In these fun and interactive classes, you’ll have everything provided for you to whip up a storm and afterwards, you’ll cook your creations with a sauce and eat together like a true Italian gathering. This is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Rome!
- Price: $
- Duration: 3 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
2. Catacombs – Underground Tour
Discover a completely hidden side of Rome by embarking on a catacomb tour with a local guide. Down here it’s always a refreshing 16c, so it’s the perfect way to escape the heat of a Roman summer whilst soaking in some lesser-seen culture.
The only way to explore these underground tunnels is with a seasoned guide to make sure you don’t get lost whilst down here. Ok, so it does sound a bit spooky, but well, I’m a kooky kinda guy, so I love it! Luckily your guide has been scurrying around these catacombs for over 10 years, so you’ll get to see this off-the-beaten-track wonder without ending up as a permanent resident!
Down here you’ll get to see the hidden stories of Ancient Rome, places the modern world forgot and masterpieces long since overlooked for the crowded sights above the surface. From 4th-century basilicas to tombs of historic martyrs, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time on what is one of the best Airbnb experiences in Rome (if you love adventure).
- Price: $
- Duration: 2 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
3. The Colosseum & Roman Forum with an Archaeologist
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
We all wanna visit the Colosseum when we’re in Rome. It’s famously one of the best places to visit in Rome, if not the world! Sure, it’s firmly on the tourist trail, but you can’t go to Rome and not experience it. But why not do it with a unique twist instead of the same old boring tour that never really tells you anything you didn’t already learn in year 9 history!?
Instead, head here with your guide, an experienced archaeologist who has worked on the site personally. This small group avoids the crowds and queues at the entrance to show you the side of the Colosseum most visitors don’t even know exists, let alone get to experience.
Not only do you get exclusive access to some of the out-of-bounds areas of this ancient wonder of the world, but you also get to learn in so much detail about exactly what went on here. After the Colosseum, you’ll then head up to the impressive Roman Forum to get an even closer look into ancient life in The Eternal City.
- Price: $
- Duration: 3 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
4. Rome Street Food Tour
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
I know I’ve already said this, but I can’t emphasise enough how much I loved the food in Rome and honestly, it was one of my biggest motivations for my trip! Sure, you could go on a pasta-making course, but hey, sometimes you just wanna eat, amirite!? I mean, you could also do both (my fatass deffo did both fyi!)
When I came to Italy though I didn’t just want to spend my time aimlessly stuffing my face, although admittedly, that was quite a large part of my time here! Instead, I wanted to get to know the country and specifically the nuances of Rome, via the food. As we all know, Italians are particularly proud of their food and the culture here is intrinsically linked to it.
So taking a food tour in Rome with a local was the perfect way to experience the city as a true Roman, discover places I would never have had the opportunity to do and, okay okay, eat a ton of amazing food!
- Price: $
- Duration: 3 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
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View on Osprey View on REI5. Truffle Experience Rome
Don’t get me wrong, Rome is a bloody beaut of a city, but it can be a bit hectic. So having the opportunity to head into the mountains of South-East Rome for a few hours was the perfect way to change the pace up a little and experience something I had never done before – Spoiler alert, it involved dogs! SOLD!
Head into this area of outstanding natural beauty with your local host, Matteo and his trained truffle dogs. Watch as they hunt for this sought-after ingredient in stunning surroundings, learning about techniques and training and of course… cute doggos!
After the truffle hunt, you’ll return back to Matteo’s house where you’ll enjoy home-cooked truffle dishes and wine, in fact, it would be more accurately described as a post-hike feast! Plus, often Matteo’s dad comes along too, telling his tales of a lifetime spent searching for truffles in this magnificent woodland. A truly magical experience.
- Price: $$
- Duration: 6.5 hours
- Review: 5/5
6. Ancient Mosaic-Making
Whilst in Rome, don’t just look at all the amazing artwork, why not craft some yourself? This mosaic-making course allows you to learn this ancient art form immortalised in so many Roman buildings, both old and new. Join the Cassio family, who have been practising this tradition for over 200 years in their historic studio in the Monti neighbourhood.
There you’ll learn their ancient secrets and techniques for crafting these intricate masterpieces, including their distinctly Roman way of working. Then, using original tools, you’ll create your own unique piece of art with a master mosaicist guiding you every step of the way.
Once completed you’ll not only come away with a wonderful cultural experience, but your mosaic too as a one-of-a-kind souvenir from your time in Rome. Pretty awesome right?
- Price: $$
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
7. Walk the Magic of Rome at Night
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
Rome is stunning at any time of day, but there is something undeniably magical about touring the city at night. Once the sun goes down the temperature drops to a more manageable level and the crowds dissipate, the city has a much more serene vibe.
Follow your guide around to some of the most well-known and iconic spots in Rome including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Altar of the Fatherland in Piazza Venezia and the Spanish Steps as well as some that are easy to overlook such as Hadrian’s Temple and Pontifical Gregorian University.
There your guide will not only show you the majesty of these spots whilst they’re lit up in all their glory of an evening, but he will teach you all about their unique history, including many interesting and often brutal facts left out of many other tour books and guides. It’s the perfect activity if you’re spending a weekend in Rome.
- Price: $
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
8. Ancient Appian Way Aqueducts eBike Tour
If you’re looking to take in some lesser-known sights in Rome while burning off some of the many carbs you’ve consumed, then this is the tour for you. Head a few km outside of the city to follow the ancient Appian way as it leads toward the magnificent Parco degli Acquedotti.
Following what was one of the first streets in Rome you’ll get to take in the beauty and tranquillity of the countryside surrounding the city as well as gain a unique insight into the history of the region. Along the way, you’ll relive tales of this great empire by following in its footsteps.
Don’t worry if you’re not up for a full-on bike ride either, these smooth e-bikes take the strain on any uphill sections (or if you just need a break) so you can enjoy the ride at whatever level you wish.
- Price: $
- Duration: 4 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
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View on REI Read Our Review9. Wake Up Rome
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
If you’re missing your running group from back home and you’re dying to get in a workout with a twist, then join these local enthusiasts for the best morning run of your life! What a way to start the day in The Eternal City.
Forget pounding the pavement in your dreary hometown, here you’ll be passing by places such as The Colosseum, Foro Romano, Piazza Venezia, and Campidoglio all before everyone else has even got out of bed. This is a run you’ll remember for a long time!
Afterwards, you’ll have a traditional Italian breakfast to set you up for the rest of the day perfectly… an espresso e cornetto. So, whilst everyone else in the hotel is still groggy and bleary-eyed, you’ll be up, refreshed and ready for the rest of the day exploring some of the hidden gems in Rome you passed on your run… or maybe you’ll spend the day by the pool knowing you’ve already conquered the city!
- Price: $
- Duration: 4 hours
- Review: 4.9/5
10. The Art of Conserving Art
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
Have you ever been wandering around a gallery filled with ancient masterpieces and wondered just how they’ve stayed so well preserved over all those years? I know I have. Well, the delicate process of conversation is an artwork in itself and your guides Valeria Merlini and Daniela Storti are among the leading Italian experts in restoration. This experience is one of Italy’s hidden gems and exploring it with a local is fascinating.
Visitors will have the chance to watch them in action, learning about different techniques and processes as well as having the chance to understand the importance of these processes for the art world. Being able to observe up close you’ll have a new appreciation for the work you see on display in many of Rome’s galleries.
Afterwards, you’ll get the chance to chat in a casual setting with both your hosts and other guests over a glass of prosecco and a few Italian snacks.
- Price: $
- Duration:
- Review: 5/5
Top Tips For Getting The Most From Airbnb Experiences
- Book in Advance: Popular experiences tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons. Booking early usually ensures you get a spot.
- Ask Questions: Since these are small, intimate groups, you’ll have the chance to ask your host lots of questions and learn even more about the experience.
- Check Reviews: Always read other travellers’ reviews to get an idea of what to expect and any tips they might have.
- Combine Experiences: Plan your days around different types of Airbnb experiences to get a well-rounded view.
Can You Trust Airbnb Experiences?
You may know that many Airbnb Experiences are curated by lay people rather than ‘professionals’. You may therefore wonder whether Airbnb Experiences are worthy of your time, trust and money.
Well, let me put your mind at ease here. These are just a few of the things that Airbnb does to ensure our safety:
- Vetting hosts: Hosts must meet specific criteria, including showcasing expertise in their respective fields and offering a unique experience that aligns with Airbnb’s values of authentic, local-driven activities.
- Cancellation Policy: Airbnb offers a decent level of flexibility with its cancellation policies for experiences, although the specific terms depend on the host. Some experiences do have stricter policies, so it’s always a good idea to check the specific terms listed on the booking page before you make a reservation.
- Liability: While each host is expected to maintain their own level of responsibility for the safety and delivery of the experience, Airbnb covers certain incidents through its Experience Protection Insurance. However, you should always take your own travel insurance before any trip.. which leads me to my next point.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Rome
Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you least expect it. This is why good travel insurance is essential before you head on your trip to Rome.
Month to month payments, no lock-in contracts, and no itineraries required: that’s the exact kind of insurance digital nomads and long-term traveller types need. Cover yo’ pretty little self while you live the DREAM!
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to work! Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on the Best Airbnb Experiences in Rome
So, there you go—the best Airbnb Experiences in Rome. I have personally curated these to enable you to see a side of the city you won’t find in the pages of a guidebook or from a tour bus wrapped in glass and plastic. These experiences are the real deal.
Whether you’re cooking up a storm in an authentic Italian kitchen or wandering the back streets of forgotten neighbourhoods with a local, you’re sure to have a unique opportunity to connect to Rome in a way most tourists never could.
Airbnb Experiences are all about discovering the heart of a place through the eyes of the local people, giving you the ability to get to know the fabric of Rome, which the vast majority of visitors simply never will. Prepare yourself to leave with incredible memories and a much richer understanding of this wonderful city.
So, pack your bags, book your favourite experience, and get ready to explore Rome like a local.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
- Check out our ultimate guide to backpacking in Rome.
- There are heaps of totally epic places to visit in Rome.
- Get planning your Rome itinerary to maximise your experience.
- Have a look at our guide to where to stay in Rome to choose the perfect area!
- You’ll need a hostel in Rome – it’s a great way to start your trip!
- Get yourself covered with travel insurance for Europe before you leave.
- Check out our ultimate Europe backpacking guide.
- Our in-depth backpacking packing list has all the info you’ll need for your trip.
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