Our first stop was Rome, where we spent two nights kicking off our European adventure. We visited in early summer 2025, so it was definitely warm, but the excitement of finally being there made us forget about the heat most of the time.
One of the first things we did was hop on the Big Bus tour to get a feel for the city. Since I’d already visited Rome years ago, we weren’t focused on spending hours inside museums or attractions this time around. We were much more interested in soaking up the atmosphere, wandering the streets, and, most importantly…eating!
If I’m being honest, Rome became one big food tour for us. Every meal was another excuse to try something different. Fresh pasta, homemade pizza, gelato (of course!), pastries, espresso—you name it, we probably ordered it. One of the best parts of traveling is trying the local food, and Italy definitely didn’t disappoint.
Hannah also wanted to try one of the famous Aperol Spritzes that seem to be everywhere in Italy. They look absolutely beautiful—bright orange, refreshing, and perfect for Instagram. Unfortunately…they taste much better in photos than they did to us! 😂 We gave it our best shot, but let’s just say we won’t be ordering another one anytime soon.
Rome was the perfect place to start our trip. Great food, beautiful architecture around every corner, and enough history to remind you that you’re walking through one of the most famous cities in the world—even if you’re just admiring it while searching for your next amazing meal.