Traveling to Rome with a group adds another layer of intensity to an already whirlwind trip: more opinions, more personalities, more chances for someone to declare mutiny over an ill-advised Vatican visit during a heatwave. But done right, group travel in Rome can be magical. It just takes a little planning, a lot of flexibility, and some shared apps to keep everyone on the same page… and budget.
This city isn’t built for spontaneity with eight people in tow. You can’t just roll up to a trattoria (a good one anyway) and snag a table, or swing by the Colosseum and expect to walk in. These days, Rome demands reservations, forethought, and a healthy dose of patience. Whether you’re in town for a milestone birthday, a bachelorette trip, or a multigenerational reunion, Rome delivers when you meet it on its terms. This city has a way of revealing itself slowly, and it’s better when you build in room for detours, long meals, and the occasional nap.
Who I am: I’m Katie Parla, a Rome-based food and beverage writer, culinary guide, and cookbook author who has spent the past two decades eating her way through the Italian capital. I literally wrote the book on Roman food (dropping October 2025) and own Parla Tours, a private, immersive, food tours company that dives deep into the city’s edible history. This itinerary is a mash-up of my greatest hits (and where you’ll find me when I’m not writing).
Pick a planner and a treasurer. In a perfect world, everyone reads the emails, shows up on time, and tracks their share of the bill. But let’s be real. Assign one friend to keep the schedule on track and another to log expenses. It’ll save you from chaos (and from Venmo drama halfway through the trip).
Start a WhatsApp group so everyone’s on the same page (and no one’s asking for the dinner resy info in five different threads). Set up a group on Splitwise to keep track of expenses because nothing kills the mood like arguing over who owes what for that second round of spritzes. For itineraries, TripIt is great for organizing plans in one place: flights, hotel bookings, dinner reservations, museum tickets, all of it.
Once you arrive, and before you even think about sightseeing, establish a group home base. That means dropping your bags at a large vacation rental or hotel with communal spaces and gathering your people to set the tone. You don’t need a rigid itinerary, but it helps to run through the rough shape of the days ahead. Get the logistics dialed in, carve out space for small-group wandering, and don’t overfill the schedule.
You cannot, and should not, do everything. In group travel, the fastest route to chaos is trying to check every box. Rome is a sensory overload, and the real joy comes from moving slowly. Prioritize shared experiences: a group wine tasting, a private tour with a local guide, or a sunset aperitivo overlooking the city. Then leave plenty of space for people to go their own way. Let the early birds wander the city’s Rrenaissance backstreets and the fitness-oriented guests hike up the Janiculum Hill while the night owls sleep off the amaro.
Big groups need big planning. Want to visit the Borghese Gallery? Or tour the Colosseum underground? Book early, and book as a group to ensure everyone has the same entry time.
Group transport isn’t one size fits all. The metro is limited, buses are packed, and taxis can be unreliable—plus most can only take four passengers. For day trips or airport transfers, consider booking a private van (I use Black Car NCC for my tours and find them punctual and professional). Inside the city, apps like FreeNow and Uber (for Uber Black, local taxis, and Lime bikes and scooters) make coordinating rides easier than flagging cabs.
This design-forward hotel near the Ghetto di Roma is ideal for groups that want to be close to the action without sacrificing cool vibes. The lobby bar is social, the rooftop bar Hey Güey hosts DJ sets and aperitivi, and the rooms are stylish but unfussy. The staff are used to managing groups and events and can help coordinate welcome drinks with a view.
At the edge of Trastevere just behind the stuccoed walls of a 13th-century monastery, Hotel San Francescofeels like a secret. The rooms are simple and on the small side, but you’re not here to stay in—plus there’s a large lobby that doubles as a café and a rooftop terrace with views over Trastevere’s terracotta roofs. It’s ideal for groups who want a laid-back, affordable homebase with easy access to nightlife.
Hotel Santa Maria sits in a sheltered corner of Trastevere behind thick walls and a locked gate. Inside, rooms open onto a central courtyard planted with citrus trees and rosemary, offering rare outdoor space in the historic center. It works well for groups as there’s room to spread out, meet up, and unwind between meals or museum visits. The location makes it easy to dip into nearby bars and trattorie, then retreat to somewhere tranquil and quiet.
Kick off your day with a caffè and maritozzo (coffee and a whipped cream-filled brioche) at Rosciol Caffè. The counter is too tight for a group, but the back room seats at least eight and is less hectic than the outdoor patio.
Take yourself on a self-guided tour of Rome’s ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque monuments, and have each member of the group responsible for researching and sharing history about a site along the way. After coffee, head to the Portico d’Ottavia, then pass Teatro Marcello on your way to the Campidoglio, where Michelangelo’s palazzi overlook the Forum. From there, descend to visit the famous churches Il Gesù, Sant’Ignazio, San Luigi dei Francesi, and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Want to add the Pantheon? Book ahead.
A visit to the nearby Palazzo Doria Pamphilj offers a choose-your-own-adventure moment for the group. Art and history lovers can explore the family’s private collection featuring Caravaggio, Velázquez, and others while strolling through the ornate rooms with an audio guide narrated by the actual Pamphil prince. Meanwhile, anyone needing a break from the Baroque can grab a table at one of the palazzo’s ground floor cafés for a coffee or spritz. Everyone wins.
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Schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. Go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy." data-vars-action="credit url" data-vars-retailer="souvenirs" data-vars-product-name="<a href=https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/"https://www.schostalroma.com/">schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy." data-vars-href="https://www.schostalroma.com/">Schostal
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Schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. Go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy." data-vars-action="product name" data-vars-retailer="souvenirs" data-vars-product-name="<a href=https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/"https://www.schostalroma.com/">schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy." data-vars-href="https://www.schostalroma.com/">
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Schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. Go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy.
Schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. Go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy." data-vars-action="buy now button" data-vars-retailer="souvenirs" data-vars-product-name="<a href=https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/"https://www.schostalroma.com/">schostal may be edging into cliché territory, but there’s a reason it’s still a go-to for pajamas; the classic cuts and patterns lean charming rather than kitschy. go with the crew, try on a few sets, and leave with matching combos that’ll turn your post-trip group chat into a sleepover fantasy." data-vars-href="https://www.schostalroma.com/">
Midday: Slices and scoops
Emma Pizzeria e Cucina is one of the few central spots that can comfortably handle larger groups without sacrificing quality. The menu covers all the pizzeria bases—supplì, fiori di zucca (fried zucchini flowers), filetti di baccalà (fried cod fillets), and classic and creative pizzas. Pies are thin-crust, wood-fired, and made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients.
Skip dessert at Emma and grab a gelato at one of the all-natural spots nearby like Fatamorgana, Neve di Latte, or Gelateria del Teatro; the latter even offers gelato-making workshops for groups.
Piazza Colonna | Photo by Giulia Gerosa for Thrillist
Afternoon: Go for Baroque
For a mellow group hang that doesn’t skimp on culture, head to Villa Borghese. The park has plenty of shaded paths for walking or biking, rowboats for rent, and enough quiet corners for a lazy afternoon sprawl. But don’t skip the Galleria Borghese (book group visits with a museum guide well in advance here). Housed in a 17th-century villa built to show off power and taste, the collection includes Bernini’s most evocative marble sculptures, Caravaggio’s darkest moments, and a stacked lineup of Renaissance and Baroque heavyweights.
If you’re keen for something a bit more exclusive, book a private visit to Galleria Colonna, a still-inhabited noble palace hidden just off Piazza Venezia. The Baroque galleries, complete with frescoes, chandeliers, and an over-the-top art collection, are open by appointment only for groups. You’ll need to pay for at least 10 guests, even if you’re fewer, but it’s worth every penny.
Pick up matching Rome-themed merch like socks that declare “Supplì is my religion” and “La pizza non ti giudica” (pizza never judges) at Elvis Lives in Trastevere.
Just off the Colosseum’s tourist path, VinoRoma offers guided tastings in a quiet space led by sommeliers who really know their stuff. The focus is on small Italian producers so you taste wines you won’t find at the airport duty-free. It’s chill, informative, and perfect for groups who want to go deep into vino Italiano.
La Tavernaccia da Bruno is a family-run trattoria near Stazione Trastevere where you go for perfectly executed Roman pastas, especially gricia, and stay for the wood- oven-roasted mains like veal brisket and suckling pig, both deeply flavorful and crisped at the edges. The service is gracious and generous, with staff who treat you like regulars even on your first visit.
Just a ten-minute walk away, Latta is the perfect spot for post-dinner drinks. Set in a former mill with vaulted-barrel ceilings upstairs and a sprawling outdoor patio, it’s got serious scale and ambiance. The cocktail list is thoughtful and well-executed, with enough range to keep both spritz loyalists and amaro nerds happy. There’s also a solid selection of wine and beer, making it a reliable pick for groups with mixed drinking preferences.
Start the morning at Luna, the latest project from the crew behind Rome’s specialty coffee scene. They brew beans under their own Aliena label and pull proper espresso alongside filter options. The flaky, butter-based pastries made with actual care are a welcome break from the city’s usual margarine-heavy cornetti.
Wander the ruins of the Imperial Fora without ever scanning a ticket. From vantage points like the Capitoline Hill and Colle Oppio, you can take in sweeping views of the Forum and Colosseum while skipping the crowds below. There’s even some decent signage along the way to help make sense of how the fora were once laid out.
The Domus Aurea is one of Rome’s most surreal archaeological sites. Nero’s underground palace, buried just behind the Colosseum, still holds frescoes and architectural experiments that shaped the Renaissance. If the Colosseum feels too packed, this is your move. Guided tours are required and absolutely worth it. Bring a jacket. It’s cold down there!
Midday: From trapizzini to two wheels
For a low-stress group lunch where everyone can do their own thing, head to Mercato Centrale inside Termini. Its food options are a mixed bag so stick to trapizzini, porchetta sandwiches, fried snacks, Neapolitan-style pizza, and pizza by the slice, and steer clear of the international cuisine, which can be shockingly bad.
Rent a bunch of Lime bikes (available through the dedicated app and Uber) and head downhill through Monti to Piazza Venezia, the ancient cattle market, and the Circo Massimo, pausing your ride to pop into churches or to pose for group shots. End at the Baths of Caracalla.
La Bottega del Marmaro sells hand-carved marble slabs inscribed with Roman sayings ranging from tame slogans like “In vino veritas” to more colorful ones such as “Non rompete li cojoni” (don’t break my balls).
The Baths of Caracalla are massive, uncrowded, and perfect for roaming with a group. You can actually spread out without losing each other, and the scale of the ruins gives a real sense of Roman grandeur. It’s less chaotic than the Forum and way easier to navigate. In the late afternoon the light hits just right.
A short walk away, Torcè is Rome’s OG natural gelateria, deploying genuine ingredients—no oils and emulsifiers like most competitors—for clean, intense flavors like black sesame and Bronte pistachio. Order your scoops the Roman way, with doppia panna (whipped cream in the cone and on top of your flavors).
Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà | Photo by Giulia Gerosa for Thrillist
Evening: Clink glasses, climb hills, crush pasta
Kick off your evening with an aperitivo crawl in Trastevere, starting with fun and flirty cocktails at Freni e Frizioni, followed by a few craft beers at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà. Keep the good times rolling at La Punta Expendio de Agave, which has Rome’s largest collection of agave-based spirits.
Head up the Janiculum Hill above Trastevere for a group photo with Rome sprawling at your feet, either at the monumental Acqua Paola fountain (aka the Fontanone) or from Piazzale Garibaldi nearby. It’s one of the few places in the city where the skyline actually opens up. Snap the pic, take in the breeze, then get a few cabs or an Uber van and head straight to dinner.
Trattoria da Cesare al Casaletto is worth the trip for the fried starters alone, especially the crisp potato gnocchi set in a pool of cacio e pepe sauce, the golden eggplant croquettes, and textbook totanetti fritti (baby flying squid). It’s the kind of place where you want to over-order and pass plates around the table. Follow it up with the pasta classics and meaty mains. The wine list is stellar, and a large group begs for a magnum.
Ostia Antica is one of the most overlooked archaeological sites in Italy, which is wild considering it’s just a 30-minute train ride from central Rome and rivals Pompeii in scope. Once Rome’s bustling port city, it’s now a sprawling complex of ruins—apartment blocks, taverns, baths, bakeries, and temples—all shockingly intact. You can walk ancient streets without the crowds, climb up to the theater’s top tier, and actually feel the scale of daily life in Imperial Rome. Bring water, wear real shoes, and give it a full morning.
Soak in the charming urbanism in Rome’s Garbatella neighborhood, where public housing was built around leafy courtyards in the early 20th century. After a wander, hit La Mescita for low-intervention wines and Nettare for Italian craft beer.
The Markets of Trajan fly under the radar, but they’re one of the most impressive—and least crowded—archaeological sites in Rome. Part ancient shopping mall, part administrative hub, the multi-level complex wraps around a hillside with sweeping views over the Imperial Fora. Inside, you’ll find vaulted halls, intact marble floors, and a museum that actually helps make sense of the ruins outside. It’s quiet, massive, and refreshingly easy to explore at your own pace.
If you have four days, plus:
All of the above, but add…
Palazzo Massimo is one of Rome’s most spectacular and overlooked museums. Steps from Termini, it’s home to some of the city’s most important ancient art: the bronze Boxer at Rest, delicate frescoes from Livia’s villa, and mosaics pulled from imperial estates. It’s quiet, beautifully curated, and perfect for independent wandering
AcquaMadre, a spa tucked away in the Ghetto di Roma, is the perfect group reset after days of ruins, walking, and wine. Modeled on ancient Roman and Middle Eastern bath culture, the steamy space includes warm and hot rooms, exfoliation treatments, and chill-out lounges. Book the hammam privately for your crew and cycle through heat, scrub, and relaxation together.
