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Tips for visiting Rome the Eternal City

Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s known as the Eternal City – maybe because it’d take an eternity to see all the art, masterpieces and architecture that overflow within it.

Rome is an incredible city but there are things you need to know when visiting that’ll help you get the most of every moment. Read on for some practical tips for visiting Rome to help you plan your perfect trip.

View of Rome
Rome, the eternal city

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Tips for visiting Rome

Rome’s treasures are the reason it’s packed with visitors every year. I’ve been a few times and I’ve picked up some Rome tips to help make the most of limited time in the city. There are also some tourist traps that you need to know about along with some travel hacks that you’ll need to get the best from your Rome holiday.

I wish someone had enlightened me before my first visit. Read on for some advice and practical tips for visiting Rome to help you get the most from your trip.

If you love the eternal city you may like these 33 fascinating facts about Rome.

When is the best time to visit Rome?

Three days should be enough time to take in Rome’s main sights but choose your dates carefully. Rome will always be busy but the best times of year to go are the shoulder seasons in April, May, late September or October.

Flight prices tend to drop a little in shoulder season. In summer the city is almost unbearable because of the heat and crowding so you may want to avoid June and July. August sees the whole of Italy taking a break so Rome gets doubly packed. In December and January many attractions cut their opening days and times.

Ponte Sisto, Rome
Ponti Sisto, Rome

Sightseeing Tips for Rome

When I last visited Rome, it was packed with visitors, even in November. To avoid wasting time queuing, although you will probably have to at some stage, here are some tips to get the most out of your sightseeing.

If you’re visiting Rome with children then check out these things to do in Rome with kids.

 

The Colosseum

A joint ticket to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum gives you access to all three sites. Not everyone is aware of this, and because the Colosseum is the most popular of the three, that’s where everyone queues for tickets.

Travelbunny tip: Instead, buy your tickets at the Roman Forum or at Palatine Hill just around the corner where the queues are shorter. You could also buy your tickets online or take a small group tour which will mean you skip the queues and won’t waste precious sightseeing time.

Visting the Vatican and Sistine Chapel

St Peter's Basilica, Rome
The Vatican, Rome

I hate to admit this but I once queued for nearly two hours at the Vatican, despite it being later in the day. Don’t make my mistake, buy your tickets in advance to avoid the queues.

Go after lunch to avoid the worst of the crowds. The last entry is at 4:00 pm and it closes at 6:00 pm. Every Friday from the end of April to end of October the museums open to visitors from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm (last entrance at 9:30 pm).

Get discounted entry to more than 30 sights, and explore Rome on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.

You’ll also need to be aware of the Vatican dress code for your visit.

The Vatican, Rome

The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of each month when they offer free admission from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You’ll probably have to brave a queue for this.

Buy your tickets on line in advance

Vatican Dress Codes

Be aware of the dress codes at Rome churches and the Vatican. Low cut or sleeveless clothing, shorts, miniskirts and hats are not allowed. Bring a light-weight wrap or cardigan so you can cover up when you need to.

Wearing comfortable shoes is important because walking in Rome is often the best way to see all the sights when the traffic’s bad. Rome’s cobbled streets and uneven ground around some of the Roman ruins weren’t made for heels.

Large bags and pack-packs aren’t allowed in some sites and you may have to leave your bag with security. Take a smaller bag or lightweight mini-backpack to avoid being turned away.

Free things to see in Rome

Spanish Steps Rome
The Spanish Steps, Rome

My top tip for Rome is that the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon and Piazza Navona are all free to visit.

Visit them in the order above. Take the Spagna, Metro A to the Spanish Steps and from there it’s just a ten-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain and then another ten minutes or so to the Pantheon. Be sure to make regular stops for coffee and gelato – mine’s a pistachio please.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome
Trevi Fountain, Rome

Check all Rome tours and excursions

The best view of Rome

Gianicolo (or Janiculum) has got to be the best view of Rome. It’s just outside the ancient city near to the Vatican and the Trastevere neighborhood.

View of Rome from Gianicolo
 

Looking for a different side of Rome? Check out these hidden gems.

Where to eat in Rome

Trattoria, Trastevere, Rome
Restaurant in Trastevere, Rome

You won’t go hungry in Rome because the city is teeming with great little restaurants and trattorias. The area south of the Spanish Steps is packed with them as is the Trastevere, south of the river. Trastevere is a very traditional area and lovely to wander around with a maze of little streets lined with bars and restaurants.

Eateries line Piazza Navona all the way round and for a special meal there’s a 5 star hotel called the Raphael which allows non-guests to dine with a great view of the square.

Check all Rome tours and excursions

Trattorias at Piazza Navona, RomePiazza Navona

Piazza della Rotonda contains several cafés which face the Pantheon although walking back a street or two from the main squares and attractions will find you a meal for half the price.

It’s tough choosing where to eat but you won’t go far wrong with menus offering simple, fresh traditional dishes like pasta, pizza, chicken, veal, seafood and the typical Caprese salad. The house wine in most restaurants is unusually good.

aubergine-parmigiana

This is one of my top tips for visiting Rome. I recomend you take a food tour at the beginning of your stay. That way you can go back to all the local gems recommended on the tour. This food tour is one of the best I’ve ever been on and I can highly recommend it.

Drinking Water in Rome

There are over 2,500 fountains in Rome. Whilst walking around the city, you’ll see hundreds of small fountains and water spouts. They’re called nasoni, which means nose, because they look like little noses. The fountains provide clean drinking water and it’s safe to drink from them so fill up your water bottle, stay hydrated and avoid over-priced vending stalls.

A good idea are Collapsible Water Bottles they take up little room, fit neatly in your bag, are collapsable when not in use and are much more environmentally friendly than plastic water bottles.

Tourist Scams in Rome

There are a few other things you might want to avoid in Rome. Unless you’re willing to hand over €5 to a ‘gladiator’ avoid having your photo taken with one at the Colosseum. If you see a rose on the floor around the Spanish Steps don’t pick it up – once it’s in your hand you’ll be demanded payment for it.

Rome fountain
Rome Fountain

Where to stay in Rome

I like to stay somewhere that’s less than a 20-minute walk to the main sights and attractions. It might cost a little more but you’ll save both time on travelling into the city and money on transport. I can recommend the following hotels, both of which I’ve stayed in.

Gran Melia Villa Agrippina, a five-star property, sits in historic Rome on Janiculum hill between Rome’s Trastevere and Vatican City. I loved the contrast of restored convent and contemporary flair.

This stylish, sprawling villa is surrounded by lush gardens with an outdoor pool and panoramic views of Rome. The food is excellent and there are quirky touches at breakfast with a children’s sweetie table. I may or may not have indulged. Check availability and rates here.

 

On my last visit to Rome I stayed at NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto which sits next to Villa Borghese and the Spanish Steps. The city centre is just 1km away and Flaminio Metro about a five-minute walk.

The hotel is modern and fresh with light, airy rooms and a good breakfast. The NZ All Blacks were staying in the hotel while we were there which made for some great entertainment in the hotel bar – especially since they won their match that day.

Check availability and rates for NH Collection Roma Vittorio Veneto

There are always good B&Bs to be found which are less costly.

How to get around Rome

Most of Rome’s top sights sit within a diamond shape; the Spanish Steps at the top, Termini Station to the right, Aventine Hill at the bottom and Piazza Navona on the left. The Vatican, Villa Borghese and Castel Sant Angelo are outside the area.

Rome’s subway system can help you get across the city quickly. You’ll spot the metro stations by the large red M at the entrance. Take care to avoid objectionable characters at the Termini station who like taking things without asking.

If you’re visiting Rome as part of a road trip you may want to consider car hire.

Trastavere, Rome
Trastevere, Rome

Metro Tickets

A one-way ticket costs €1,50 or you can buy tourist tickets called BIT or CIS for unlimited journeys. BIT (Biglietto Turistico Integrato) is a 3-day ticket €18 and is valid until midnight of the third day after validation.

The CIS (Carta Integrata Settimanale) is a weekly ticket at €25. Both give you unlimited rides on Atac or Cotral buses, subways, and some local trains. Buy the tickets at tobacconists (tabbachi) or at the station. Tickets need to be validated when you board a bus and at the ticket barriers in the Metro.

There are only two lines on Rome’s Metro so it gets crowded. Hang on to your bag and wait at the edges. The carriages at the front and back aren’t so packed so your could wait further down the platform.

If you’re taking the bus things can get gridlocked in rush hour – usually at the bridges. To avoid this just get off the bus, walk over the bridge and get another bus on the other side.  Your bus ticket is valid for 100 minutes allowing you to change buses using a single ticket.

Check all Rome tours and excursions

The Roma Pass

The Roma Pass offers free use of the city’s public transport, free skip-the-line admission to one or two museums (although not the Vatican) and discounts for other museums, services and activities in Rome.  A 48 or 72-hour city card is available.

Check all Rome tours and excursions

Getting from Fiumicino Airport to Rome City Centre

Rome’s Fiumicino airport is 26km from the city centre. There’s a train station at the airport and the half-hourly Leonardo Express train arrives straight to Termini Station (about €15 per person). Ciampino airport has the ‘Terravision’ shuttle service which also goes directly to Termini Station.

A taxi from the airport will cost around €60 if you’re staying within the city walls, more if outside. If there are four of you a taxi is cheaper than taking the train. As, in most places, there are illegal unmarked taxis in Rome. Make sure you only use registered cabs and have a meter to avoid being overcharged. Negotiate the price before you get in the vehicle.

A stress-free option for around €10 more is Blacklane. We used them in Rome and had excellent service. We received texts to let us know that our car had arrived together with the driver’s name.

On departure, the driver even came and found us in the hotel bar and loaded our cases while we finished our drinks. The cars are smart and clean and the drivers suited, booted and very polite. The little extra you pay is totally worth it and we felt very looked after.

Piazza Navona, Rome
Piazza Navona, Rome

Rome wasn’t built in a day and you’ll probably find yourself returning again and again to see everything you missed first or even second time round.

I hope you’ve found my tips for visiting Rome useful and if you have any more to add please drop me a message on Instagram or in the comments below.

Rome is the perfect city to start of a tour of Italy. Check out this Italian ten-day itinerary and guide.

Finally, if you’re planning a trip to Rome you might want to PIN THIS for later!

 

St Albans Taxi

Wednesday 29th of May 2019

I really liked this post. Such a beautiful city.

Cathy Beesey

Saturday 29th of September 2018

Thanks Suzanne I loved your post, bringing back memories of Rome with great tips that I'll use next time.

Suzanne Jones

Sunday 30th of September 2018

Thanks Cathy, so glad you found it useful!

Stuart Forster

Saturday 14th of October 2017

Thanks for these suggestions. I haven't visited Rome since I was a teenager and look forward to visiting again soon.

Suzanne Jones

Wednesday 18th of October 2017

I hope you don't have to wait too long and that you find these tips useful when you're planning your trip :)

Guru

Friday 9th of June 2017

Thank you for sharing useful tips and they would be really helpful for people visiting Rome for the first time. Pictures are awesome

viveka

Friday 2nd of June 2017

Mrs Jones, what a fantastic post ... I stayed at a hotel just above the Spanish Stairs .. fantastic hotel and location. Beautiful images too .. you're so professional. Maybe it's time for me to give Rome a second chance .. I don't know why we didn't click .. and when I visit Rome was in the late 70's .. I'm sure a lot has changed. I felt is was so dirty somehow. Had a great time and I met my friend Nancy there .. her husband had a fantastic restaurant. I like the look of the hotel too ... but anyhow, I have booked Florence and Sienna for March next year. Always a start. It's always a pleasure to read you travel-reports. Soon Porto, all because of you.

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

Thank you for your support Wivi - so much appreciated. I adore Porto and really hope you love it too. Lisbon I didn't like so much so maybe I have to re-visit. I hope you love Rome next time you visit, I think it's probably changed a lot since you were there last. Siena is a dream of mine :)

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