Paris and Rome are two of the most iconic cities in the world. Both have had enormous impacts on the history of Europe and the world. Paris is known for its elegant architecture, the Eiffel Tower, and for being the “city of love”. Rome is known for its ancient history, the Colosseum, and being home to Vatican City. If you are having trouble deciding between Paris or Rome, here is the ultimate guide for you.
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Paris or Rome Overview
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France with 2.15 million people living in the city and more than 12.5 million living in the metro area. It is one of the most visited cities in the world, along with Bangkok, London, and Hong Kong. Today, Paris is known as one of the most important hubs in Europe for finance, commerce, fashion, and the arts. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. The city is known as “the city of lights” and “the city of love”.
Paris is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair and quickly turned into one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Paris also has the world’s most visited museum, The Louvre which is home to the Mona Lisa. Another site that draws millions of people to Paris each year is the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Rome
Rome is one of the most historic cities in the world. It is the capital and largest city in Italy with 2.88 million residents. For more than 1000 years, Rome was the most powerful and influential city in Europe. Rome is the 3rd most visited city in the European Union and one of the most visited cities in the world. The city is known for its beautiful architecture and its many world-famous landmarks. Some of the most famous landmarks in the city are The Colosseum, the Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain.
Vatican City, the world’s smallest country, is within the city of Rome. The Vatican City is home to the Pope and is where St. Peter’s Basilica is located which is the largest church in the world. Rome is the 3rd most visited city in the European Union and one of the most visited cities in the world.
Things to See
Paris
Eiffel Tower dominates the skyline of Paris. It is the most visited monument in the world that you have to pay to enter.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is known for its French-Gothic architecture. It is the most visited monument in Paris roughly 12 million visitors each year.
Palace of Versailles was the official residence of French royalty for more than 100 years. It demonstrates just how wealthy and powerful the French empire was at its peak.
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. It is home to some of the world’s most valuable pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa.
Arc de Triomphe is one of the largest triumphal arches in the world. It was built to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
Rome
The Colosseum was completed in 80 AD. It is known for being the largest amphitheater of its time and for hosting gladiator fights and hunts.
The Pantheon was completed in 125 AD and is one of the best-preserved Ancient Roman buildings. It is one of the oldest continuously used buildings in the world.
St. Peter’s Basilica is at the center of Vatican City and is the largest church in the world.
Sistine Chapel is in the Apostolic Palace which is the official residence of the Pope. It is known for its paintings by Michaelangelo.
Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous fountains in the world. It was completed in 1762.
Food
Paris
Paris is known to have some of the best cuisines in the world. For a traditional French dish, you could try Choucroute garnie which is a dish consisting of sauerkraut, sausages, meats, and potatoes. One of the most famous foods you can’t miss is the baguette which is a common breakfast food here. Going to Paris without trying one of the world-renown baguettes should be a felony. Another pastry you must try here is the croissant. Macarons originated in France and are essential to try when you’re in Paris.
Rome
Being the center of one of the most famous empires in history, you can expect to find some incredible traditional cuisines in Rome. Pasta rules the food scene in Rome. Many of the main dishes served here revolve around various forms of pasta. Rigatoni Carbonara and Bucatini Amatriciana are two of the most popular dishes here. Of course, you should also try one of the many authentic Italian pizza joints. Going to a gelato shop after each meal is also something that tends to occur when you’re in Rome.
Getting Around
Paris is such a beautiful city that you will want to walk wherever you are heading. One of the most effective strategies for exploring the city is to explore one area on foot and then hop on a bus or take the metro to another area and repeat. Paris is known for having a great metro line, carrying over 5 million people per day. The metro system in Paris has so many lines that it can get you almost anywhere. Paris Visite Pass is the 24-hour pass that might be a smart investment if you are planning on using public transportation a lot during the day. You can also by a pack of 10 passes for 18.60 Euros which is nice because you can spread them out over your trip.
Rome is another city that is just fun to walk around and explore. The easiest and, in most cases, the fastest form of public transportation is the system of buses. The buses run on the honor system here, meaning you are supposed to validate your ticket every time you get on the bus but is not enforced. It will look like no one is validating their tickets when you get on the bus but you run the risk of a random bus check and getting fined. There is a metro system in Rome but it only has three lines, making it the smallest metro system in Europe.
Nightlife
Paris
There is no shortage of bars and pubs in Paris. This city has small drinking establishments scattered everywhere so you need to just pick a neighborhood and find a place that fits your vibe. Some of the best areas to go to are Pigalle and Oberkampf. The Latin Quarter is a popular area for university students. For the most part, the nightlife is a little slower here but you have the option to get as wild as you want. Mix Club are two of the biggest nightclubs in the city if you want to go clubbing. Just search “bars and pubs near me” on Google when you figure out where you’re going to stay and check a few places out.
Rome
Rome is a city known for having late dinners so the nightlife typically doesn’t get going until 11-midnight. You can find something of any sort of nightlife on any day of the week here. One of the wildest nights of the week is actually on Monday. You can find small bars and pubs scattered throughout the city so you can find somewhere to go no matter where you choose to stay. One of the best areas to find bars and nightclubs is in the area around Monte Testaccio (Broken Pot Mountain). Qube or the Circolo degli Illuminati are two of the best clubs in the city, although both of them are on the outskirts of the city.
Day Trips
Paris
Disneyland Paris is located 32km east of Paris.
Mont-Saint Michel is built on a tidal island on the coast of France. It is still home to 50 people.
Domaine de Chantilly is a French chateau that is 50km north of Paris. It has one of the finest collections of art in France.
Rome
Orvieto is a small city on a hill to the north of Rome.
Bracciano sits next to a lake to the north of Rome. It is known for its medieval castle overlooking the lake.
Ostia is a small coastal city to the west of Rome. It would be a great day trip for a day on the beach.
If you visit Rome and have a couple of extra days to burn, you may want to visit Naples, Siena, or Florence.
Overall
Paris and Rome are two of the most famous cities in the world. Both cities are truly incredible to visit although they offer vastly different experiences. Choosing between the two cities really depends on the culture you want to experience. You should also take into consideration what cities you want to visit after your time in the city. The weather is something to consider as well because Rome will be considerably warmer pretty much any time of year. If you need to decide between Paris or Rome, you need to decide which culture intrigues you the most.