Rome, Italy attracts millions of visitors each year. There are so many historic and religious sites to see, as well as some of the best pizza and pasta in the world. These tips will help you plan an unforgettable trip to Rome.
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Live Like a Local with Airbnb
One of my favorite parts of Rome was the neighborhood I stayed in. It was very authentic, and with no hotels or hostels around, nothing was catering to tourists. From our Airbnb, we were able to walk to shops and markets for food and know what we were eating was authentic.
While sometimes people spoke little or no English, we could still communicate with signals or the few words we did know. It was my first time in Italy, so it was great to be immersed in the culture right away.
Our Airbnb was a one bedroom apartment, and a huge benefit was the guest book. Past travelers had written all about their experiences and their favorite places in the city. This was great for finding food near our place, and sites other than the Colosseum and Vatican City.
Even if your place does not have a guest book, you can ask your host for tips. I do this every time I travel. I ask the host for their favorite restaurants, breweries, and things to do. Every time, I have found at least one place that I would not have known about with just my own research.
Doing your research ahead of time and asking locals for tips helps you plan an unforgettable trip to Rome.
Buy Tickets in Advance
Rome is one of the most touristy cities I have been to in Europe. You will not see locals visiting the Colosseum or Vatican City, but they are still extremely crowded. Tickets for places like these sell out way ahead of time.
If you are able to buy tickets at the site, lines will be LONG. And note, the lines to buy tickets are separate from the lines to enter. Both lines are long and you will save yourself a lot of time if you only have to wait in one.
Tickets to the Borghese Gallery generally sell out a week in advance, so you have to buy them ahead of time. These are timed entries and they do not sell any tickets at the door.
While we were waiting to enter, people would walk up to buy tickets. The next available tickets were for the following week, and nobody bought any because they would be travelling out of the city by then.
Go Early to the Photogenic Spots
The Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps, and The Colosseum get busy. Very busy. If you are looking for a picture with no people in it, you will have to go very early.
If you do not care about the people and just want to see the fountain or the steps, your timing will not matter much. Unless you are going insanely early, there will be a ton of people.
The Trevi Fountain is big, but you may get lost finding it. It is in the center of normal looking streets in a small plaza. If you are going early, make sure you have a map or know exactly where you are going.
To get right next to the fountain, you have to go down a few steps. This is a small space that people cram into for pictures and to make wishes. Make sure you hold your belongings close to you. Areas like this are prime for pickpockets.
Ask Locals for Food Recommendations (Especially Gelato!)
The food in Rome is delicious and the sites are awesome, but these draw in millions of people each year.
Many businesses are set up to cater specifically to tourists, especially near the big attractions. While this is convenient, it also can hinder your authentic Italian experience.
Plan ahead and have an unforgettable trip to Rome by eating only the best Italian food.
Pizza & Pasta
The pasta and pizza in Rome is amazing, and you can find it everywhere. The key is being able to find fresh pizza and good pasta. Some restaurants will overcharge tourists for mediocre food.
If you want to find the best food, ask the locals! They know where all the best restaurants are and will tell you if you ask. This way you know your Euros are buying the best that Rome has to offer, not frozen pizza or pasta from a box.
Gelato
Gelato is big in Italy as well. Do your research if you want real gelato. When I was there, we ate gelato at least once a day, if not twice. We were obsessed! But, after a few cups, it was easy to tell what was real gelato and what was just ice cream that was being sold as gelato.
We did our research on where to get gelato, and those places usually sold the best kinds. A few times we would see a place and buy some without researching it first.
Usually, these places did not have as great tasting gelato as the places we actively seeked out. While this was not always the case, it was worth it to find the best places online first!
Use the Metro
A lot of people are hesitant to use the metro system in Rome because it is so small. There are only two lines that intersect at Termini Station, but it is perfect for getting to all the popular sites.
The Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Spanish Steps are all right by Metro Stations. If you want to see other attractions near the city center, you can walk no more that fifteen to twenty minutes from a stop.
Make sure you buy your tickets and get them validated before you take the Metro. You do not have to scan your ticket before entering the station, but the staff does random checks to make sure you have a validated ticket that isn’t expired.
You will have to pay a hefty fine if you get caught without one. To validate your ticket, insert it into the turnstile before you enter the station. It will come back out with the time and date stamped on it. It will be valid for a certain amount of time depending on the type of ticket.
Walk Through the Streets
If you are not staying near a Metro stop, or do not want to take the Metro, it is easy to walk to multiple attractions in one day.
Seeing Vatican City will take at least half a day if you see the museum and the Basilica.
The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are next to each other, and will also fill a half day.
Finally, walking from the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and The Spanish Steps lets you see some beautiful sites as well as gorgeous Roman streets. You will pass a lot of shops, restaurants, and gelato stands.
There are plenty of other sites you may want to see depending on how long you are in the city. Plan ahead so you visit nearby attractions at the same time.
Enjoy!
Rome is a beautiful and historic city. The food and the sites are absolutely stunning. Use these tips when you plan a visit to Rome, and your trip will be unforgettable.
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All information is current as of publication. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect travel, and all destinations have different rules and restrictions in place. The pandemic may also affect the opening times of the attractions and establishments listed. Please do independent research before traveling anywhere, and consider the risks involved.