Early Arrival in Rome

Hi rmychajluk -
I would assume you're flying in Fiumicino? Will you have checked bags? I'm asking as the airport is some distance from the city center, and collecting checked baggage can take time so sunrise may have happened before you got to the S. Steps. Understand as well that you're not allowed to sit on them. Doesn't mean you can't check the "We saw it" box. Same with Trevi Fountain. A walkabout outside is a good idea to keep you awake until a reasonable bedtime hour, Rome time, or at least until you can check in. If you have a lot of luggage, you'll want to check it at Termini to you won't be dragging it around for hours.

Pompei Tiramisu's hours are on their website:
https://barpompi.it/pompi-roma-via-della-croce/
Store opening hours:
Sunday - Thursday 10.00 - 22.30
Friday 10.00 - 22.30
Saturday 10.30-22.30

Where is your Airbnb? That might help identify some morning sightseeing options.

As Kathy touched on, ask your landlord for ideas of what is in the area to see/do and where you can store your luggage while you wander about.

I am puzzled at your arrival time. The only flights I can find arriving in Rome in the 4AM hour are from Addis Ababa.
What US to Rome flight(s) did you find that arrive at that time?

The Mercato Central in the Termini train station opens at 7:30am --- we love this place and it is normal to have your luggage with you. Nice bathrooms. It might take you those 3 hours and 15 minutes to get there.

Will the Airbnb allow you to drop off your bags early? Some do, some don't. If not, store them at Termini, and then you can go see all the wonderful Roman outdoor places before they get crowded, like Piazza Navona.

St. Peter's opens at 7:00am. So does the Campo de’ Fiori market and other markets. Trastevere is fun to walk around in and there will be coffee shops open and also bakeries.

It would help to know where your airbnb is and what you are interested in.

Most bars (coffee shops) open at 7 or 8 a.m. Choose one with seating, although you will pay more for the privilege, and enjoy a coffee and cornetto (pastry).

I once had a three days job in via della Conciliazione, and it began quite late in the morning, around 10.30am. The second day I was at St. Peter's at 7.00am, even before having breakfast. It was a sunny day and visiting the almost empty Cathedral of the World was a litte eerie, but still a fond memory after so many years. - But I understand you could be tired and not in the right mood for such a thing.

Yes our flight really arrives at 4:15 am it's Norse airlines. Our neighborhood is Esquilino which is not the best as far as I understand so I thought we might be better off in the city center. I will ask my owner for ideas as well. We have travel backpacks so we will not be checking luggage. So we might make it to city center by sunrise (5:48 am). Our thought was to store them in lockers in the city, but need some ideas to kill some time from at least 6-8 am. It's good to know some shops open early! The Mercato was on my list of places to visit.

You might consider seeing if you could change your Airbnb reservation to include the night before your arrive at 4:15 am. Just be sure that your host knows that you actually will not be arriving at the place till early a.m. There would certainly be a cost (another night), but it might be worth it if you could go straight to your Airbnb, drop your bags, have a nap, take a shower, eat breakfast, etc.

I often pay for an extra night when I know that I will be arriving super-early and will be exhausted. (Although I always stay at hotels where this is not a problem.) There's nothing like coming off a long flight and being able to get straight into a comfortable room, rather than killing time for hours on end.