Rome still passes the Rory Trotter Test, but it makes you work for it. I put it at 8.1 overall. The history is heavy, the food is strong, and the chaos is real. You feel the weight of the place the moment you step out of the station.

The Colosseum is the obvious starting point. It is big, it is old, and it is surrounded by people taking the same photos. I walked around it twice, once in the middle of the day and once closer to evening. The second time felt better. The light softens and the crowds thin just enough that you can actually look at the stones instead of the backs of heads.

City Experience 8/10
Rome does not hide its layers. Ruins sit next to busy streets, laundry hangs above ancient walls, and scooters weave through everything. It feels lived-in rather than preserved. The chaos is part of the point, even when it wears you down.

Food 9/10
This is where the city earns its keep. Simple pasta done right, fresh bread, and vegetables that taste like they came from somewhere nearby. I ate better when I left the main tourist streets. A small place with plastic tables and no English menu often turned out better than the ones with the big photos outside.

Value 6.5/10
It adds up fast. Drinks near the big sights cost more than they should, and hotels in the centre climb quick in high season. Walk a few blocks away and the prices drop without losing the atmosphere. Still, Rome is not a bargain.

Walkability 7.5/10
The centre is compact enough to cover on foot, but the traffic and uneven stones make every walk feel longer. Good shoes matter here more than in most cities. Once you accept the noise and the constant movement, the distances start to make sense.

Family Friendly 7/10
Kids usually like the open squares and the gelato stops. The crowds and the traffic can make it stressful with smaller ones, especially around the main monuments. Quieter neighbourhoods help balance it.

Tourist Traps 4/10
This is the low point. Certain streets exist only to sell the same souvenirs and overpriced meals. You learn to cut through side alleys after the first day, but the traps are loud and hard to ignore completely.

Rory’s Verdict
GO, with clear eyes. Rome is worth the trip if you accept the crowds as part of the deal and hunt for the quieter corners. The food and the sheer weight of history still carry it. Just do not expect the city to make it easy.

Rory’s Tips
See the big sights early or late. Midday is when the queues and the heat hit hardest.
Eat away from the main piazzas. Two streets over the pasta is usually better and costs less.
Carry water. The drinking fountains still work and they save you money.
Wear shoes that can handle uneven stones all day. Your feet will notice by evening.
Spend one afternoon just sitting in a less famous square watching people go by. Rome makes more sense when you stop chasing it.