Rome… ahh, what a beautiful city, so beautiful that it is among the most visited places in the world! This is certainly a guarantee of the place’s beauty, but it can also be a reason to avoid the Italian capital if you don’t know how to navigate it. Here, then, a Roman who lives in Rome is at your disposal with useful and essential tips to keep in mind when you plan your trip to the Eternal City.
WHERE TO STAY
You should know that Rome is a very hectic and chaotic place! Just think that it has almost 3 million inhabitants and is the largest city in Italy, so it’s no surprise if you find a lot of traffic. My advice, therefore, is not to rent cars and not to rely too much on taxis, but rather to find a place close to a metro station. I recommend the metro and not buses, which unfortunately, despite dedicated lanes, often get caught in traffic and are almost never on time. It’s said that you can graduate, get married, and start a family while waiting for a bus in Rome.
WHERE TO EAT
First rule: always be wary of restaurants that need someone at the entrance inviting you in. They are generally located near monuments, and most of their customers are foreign tourists because locals already know where to eat and it’s certainly not there. Another possible red flag is menus with pictures; a confident restaurant doesn’t need photos to win you over. Don’t worry, though, we’ve already made a small list for you 😉
WHAT TO SEE
As mentioned above, Rome is huge, much bigger than you probably expect, so unless you plan to stay for a long time, make peace with the fact that you won’t see everything. If you try to cram too many monuments into your few days, you’ll rush and won’t have time to appreciate what you see or enjoy your vacation! Get lost in Rome’s wonderful narrow streets, let yourself be surprised by this place that has little gems and beautiful glimpses around every corner, where you’ll likely find yourself alone and away from the world’s chaos. Again, don’t worry, we’ve already prepared a guide for you.
HOW TO SKIP THE LINE
Since the capital is full of tourists, to avoid wasting time in long lines, it’s wise to book your visits in advance so you can save hours to spend leisurely strolling around and feeling part of the place. If you don’t know how to do it, click here.
THE MUSEUMS
Before despairing over your vacation budget, know that there are several ways to save money! Many Roman museums are always free, and on the first Sunday of every month, others become free as well 😉