Emily in Rome: These Locations from Season 4 Actually Exist
There’s a moment in Season 4 when Emily Cooper stops being a tourist.
She’s sitting in the backseat of a Vespa, Marcello is driving, and Rome is whizzing by—the Colosseum, narrow alleys, the smell of espresso and old stone—and right at that moment, you realize: This isn’t Paris anymore. This is something else. Noisier, hotter, more chaotic. And somehow even more romantic.
The second half of Season 4 takes us to Italy—to the Eternal City, Rome. The plot introduces new Italian characters: Marcello Muratori, who takes Emily’s heart by storm.
The good news for anyone who wants to experience this feeling for themselves: Almost all the filming locations are real. You can go there, drink the same espresso, and enjoy the same view.
Here are all the key filming locations—with a tip that could save you €400.
The Colosseum—Emily’s First Moment in Rome
Rome’s iconic landmark appears in Season 4 during Emily’s Vespa tour of the city with Marcello—the scene captures the magic of discovering Rome’s ancient wonders.
The Colosseum is open daily—but without a ticket reservation, you’ll have to wait a long time. Online tickets are required, and the combo ticket is worth it if you plan to visit the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill as well.
📍Piazza del Colosseo 1, 00184 Rom
Métro: Colosseo
The Trevi Fountain—Two Coins for Love
One of the most romantic scenes in the entire series: Marcello explains the tradition of the Trevi Fountain to Emily. Throw a coin into the fountain over your left shoulder with your right hand—and you’ll return to Rome. A second coin brings the love of your life. Emily throws two right away.
The Trevi Fountain is free and open 24 hours a day—but the best time to visit is shortly after sunrise, before the tour buses arrive. During the day, the square is so crowded that it’s nearly impossible to recreate the atmosphere of the scene.
📍Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Rom
Bus: Linea 116
The Spanish Steps—and the €400 tip
The famous staircase offers Emily and Marcello a romantic spot to sit at sunrise after their nighttime tour of Rome.
But here’s the most important tip in this entire article: Sitting on the Spanish Steps has been illegal since 2019 and is punishable by fines of up to 400 €. So don’t try to imitate what Emily does in the series—no matter how romantic it looks.
Standing, taking photos, marveling—yes. Sitting—no.
The best time to visit is early in the morning. That’s when the steps are almost deserted and the light is beautiful.
📍Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Rom
Métro: Spagna
Piazza Mattei—Mindy’s Concert in the Jewish Quarter
One of the most emotional scenes of the season doesn’t take place at one of the major landmarks, but in a small, almost forgotten corner of Rome.
After Emily and Mindy stroll through the nighttime streets of Rome together, Mindy sings in the Jewish quarter at Piazza Mattei. The string lights, the fountain, the song—everything about this scene was perfect.
Piazza Mattei, with its Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe), is one of the least known and most beautiful squares in Rome. Far from the crowds of tourists, authentic and peaceful—just like in the series.
📍Piazza Mattei, 00186 Rom
Bus: Linea 23
Hotel Eden—Breakfast with the Most Beautiful View in Rome
Emily lives in the Eternal City in pure luxury—the Hotel Eden near Via Veneto is one of Rome’s most exclusive addresses, featuring a stunning rooftop terrace.
The Hotel Eden is open for bookings—a night’s stay costs several hundred euros. But the rooftop terrace, with its 360-degree view of Rome, is also open to non-guests for breakfast or an aperitivo. It’s the most expensive breakfast in Rome—but perhaps the most beautiful.
📍Via Ludovisi 49, 00187 Rom
Métro: Barberini
Ostia Antica—the secret “Solitano”
In the series, Emily travels with Marcello to his hometown of “Solitano”—a picturesque little town in southern Italy with old alleyways and cashmere weavers.
Solitano doesn’t actually exist on any map. Instead, the scenes were filmed in idyllic Ostia Antica near Rome, which was transformed into a dreamy southern Italian town for the shoot.
Ostia Antica is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the world—and significantly quieter than Pompeii. A train ride from Rome (about 30 minutes) takes you to another world: mosaics, thermal baths, an amphitheater—all almost untouched.
📍 How to get there: Take the Roma-Lido train line from Roma Ostiense Station to Ostia Antica (about 30 min., about €3).
Trastevere—the heart of Emily’s Rome
Many of the street scenes from Season 4 were filmed in the Trastevere neighborhood—Rome’s liveliest and most authentic district.
Narrow alleys, ivy-covered walls, small trattorias, and bars that stay open late into the night—Trastevere is the Rome you picture when you think of the series. No museums, no tourist attractions—just stroll through the alleys and soak up the dolce vita.
Tip: Trastevere comes alive in the evening starting at 7 p.m. That’s when the locals come out for aperitivo, the restaurants fill up, and the alleys are bathed in exactly the kind of light that Emily in Paris captured so perfectly.
📍 Next stop: Bus Linea 8, Station Largo di Torre Argentina
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Practical Travel Tips for Rome
Best time to visit: April/May and October/November—pleasant temperatures, no summer heat, and significantly fewer tourists than in August.
Getting there: Direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) starting at about €60 round-trip. Alternatively, take the train via Milan—it takes longer but is more comfortable.
Accommodations: Trastevere or the Jewish Quarter are ideal locations—central, authentic, and nearby to almost all filming locations. The historic center around the Trevi Fountain is pricier and more touristy.
Renting a Vespa: It looks effortless in the series—in reality, you should have experience riding scooters. Alternatively, a bike tour through Rome is a great option.
Important: Be sure to book tickets online in advance for all major attractions (Colosseum, Vatican, Borghese Gallery). Spontaneous tickets on-site are often no longer available.
Conclusion: Why Rome Is More Than Just a Backdrop
*Emily in Paris* made Paris the main character. Season 4 does the same with Rome—and that’s no small feat. Rome is harder to love than Paris. It’s noisier, more chaotic, and less pleasant.
But that’s precisely what makes it so real. When Emily navigates through traffic on her Vespa, when she gets lost in the alleys of Trastevere, when she tosses two coins into the Trevi Fountain—that’s when you feel that this city doesn’t coddle you. It overwhelms you.
And that’s undoubtedly why you keep coming back.
Emily’s other adventures are waiting for you, too
Paris: Emily’s Home—Place de l’Estrapade, La Maison Rose in Montmartre, Café de l’Homme with the best view of the Eiffel Tower in the city. Includes a complete walking tour.
Côte d’Azur: Season 2 promises Saint-Tropez—and delivers something even more beautiful. All the real filming locations between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
