Rome Travel Tips: 13 Things You Need to Know For a Better Experience

Rome is one of the most beautiful, iconic and most travelled cities in Europe, with a long and fascinating history to match. From ancient ruins and Renaissance art to lively piazzas and world-famous cuisine, the Eternal City has a way of capturing your heart almost instantly.

That said, Rome’s popularity does come at a price. It’s extremely crowded, and at times it can feel as though everyone in the world is visiting the city at exactly the same time as you. That’s certainly how we felt when we visited in August, especially around the main tourist sights where the crowds and queues can be overwhelming.

However, with a bit of forward planning and a few insider insights, Rome can still be an unforgettable and enjoyable experience rather than a stressful one. Knowing when to visit key attractions, how to get around efficiently and where to escape the busiest areas can make all the difference.

Before you pack your bags and get ready to eat your weight in gelato, these essential Rome travel tips will help you plan your trip, avoid common pitfalls and make the most of your time in this extraordinary city.

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Rome Travel Tips for planning your trip

1. Chose the right season to visit Rome

Most travel guides you’ve read will probably tell you that spring and early autumn is the best period and they are absolutely right. Unless you’re a fan of scorching heat and humidity, I’d say you really want to avoid Rome (or any other Italian cities for that matter) in summer.

There is no such thing as low season in Rome any more, so the the time of year is irrelevant. Be prepared for intense crowds, whenever you visit – however, I would also avoid the months of June to August because of the heat.

2. Wear comfortable shoes in Rome

Rome is a small city, with all the historical landmarks within relative walking distance of one another, so you’ll do A LOT of walking. Don’t set foot in Rome unless that foot is emblazoned with an Adidas logo, or other comparable brand of trainers.

3. How to get out of the airport in Rome

The cheapest (and fastest) way to get to Termini (the main station in the city) from Fiumicino airport is by train. Traffic in Rome can be horrible, and the lack of dedicated bus lanes means that most buses are subject to the same traffic as cars. 

The Leonardo Express train shuttles passengers straight from FCO to Termini Station in around 30 minutes. From there, you can hop onto the metro or grab a taxi outside to take you to your hotel, depending on where you are staying in Rome. We stayed at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Resort which is further out, so we ended up hailing a taxi.

4. Getting around in Rome

Rome has a refreshingly simple metro system, so unless your hotel is far from the city centre, you probably won’t need to take taxis. If you do though, stick to the white taxis and make sure they have their meter turned on. Like many other cities, taxi drivers will try their luck on unsuspecting tourists by charging higher fixed rate fares.

5. Always ‘skip the line’ in Rome

Like many other tourists, you might have only two or three full days in Rome and you’ll probably want to see it all. Do you really want to spend 75% of your time queuing at the landmarks and completely miss out on a more authentic experience? I’m guessing not. I wouldn’t either, so I highly recommend paying a little extra to book ‘skip the line’ tickets; particularly for the Vatican Museum.

While there are no fool-proof ways of skipping the line, you’ll no-doubt cut down your waiting time by booking tickets online. Alternatively, try to visit the most popular sites either first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon when the queues have died down.

6. Be aware of closing dates

If you’re making a strict itinerary when planning a trip to Rome, make sure you know what will be open when. The Vatican museums (including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael rooms, of course) are always closed on Sunday (except for the last Sunday of the month, when it’s free to enter, but that means queuing for hours). Most museums are closed on Mondays, except for the Colosseum which requires to pre-booking, as does the Borghese Gallery.

7. Is the Roma Pass worth purchasing?

If you’re in town for more than 48 hours, you may consider purchasing the Roma Pass. They have a 48 hour and a 72 hour pass, and depending on which one you choose, it covers either one or two museum visits entirely, full access to public transport, and discounted entry to several other attractions.

8. Italian Meal Times

When planning a trip to Rome, you should know that Italians generally head out for dinner from 8.30pm or even later, you might find that some restaurants aren’t open if you’re accustomed to eating dinner earlier than that.

If you can’t wait until then, do as the Italians do and have an aperitivo. From 7pm, you’ll find bars everywhere that offer an open buffet and drink for around €10. Restaurant kitchens are known to close well after 10pm, so don’t worry about missing out on a proper dinner!

9. Avoid ‘Fake’ Gelato

Creamy gelato is one of the things people associate Italy with, and highly likely to be one of the first things you’ll be searching for in the heat. However, not all gelato is authentic. If you’re planning a trip to Rome, remember to steer away from the gelaterias that display pretty, brightly coloured, puffy clouds of gelato; these are all artificial. An easy way to spot the fakes is by imagining what that flavour would realistically look like when blended.. A blended banana is never fluorescent yellow.

10. Don’t pay for water

Remember to pack a reusable water bottle as there are lots of water fountains scattered throughout the city in Rome. The water is clean and safe to drink and is especially convenient during the scorching summer heat as it’s refreshingly cold too. Just keep topping your bottle up as you wander round and explore the city!

11. How to get the best shot of the Trevi Fountain

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Trevi fountain, however, as it’s one of the most popular attractions in Rome, it’s incredibly busy at all times of the day. This mean you’re highly unlikely to get a photo of the fountain without hundreds of other people in it unless you literally get there before the sun rises – I mean, we all follow a few instagrammers who do that, but do you seriously want to be that person!?

There is a United Colours of Benetton store directly opposite the fountain, and if you go up to the first floor, you’ll see the windows that face the fountain. Now obviously it’s not going to be perfect, but if you get as close to the window as possible, you can get a shot of the whole fountain with very few reflections from the glass! – I just wished the windows were cleaner!

FYI, don’t forget to toss a coin into the fountain! Legend has it that you’ll return to Rome if you do. And while you’re there, beware of potential pickpockets. There is a constant police presence at the fountain due the number of frequent incidents.

12. Don’t visit all the big attractions on the same day

I would visit the Colosseum and the Vatican on different days, as there is so much to see and explore.

They are both packed with so much history and culture, and a visit to both of them on the same day will sap your energy. Instead, spend the rest of the day wandering around some of the smaller sites, going on a food and wine tour or simply people-watching from a cafe. Speaking of which..

13. Don’t order a cappuccino after noon

Italians are very particular about their coffee and coffee etiquette makes up a fair few of the biggest culinary crimes you can commit in the capital.

I wish I was joking.

Ordering a cappuccino after noon will get you some strange looks. Milk is something Italians generally only have in the morning and cappuccinos are thought of as heavy drinks; more suitable for breakfast. If you’re craving a white coffee in the afternoon, order a caffè macchiato instead. 

If it’s your first time visiting Europe, here are some general Europe Travel Tips: 35 Helpful Things You Need To Know Before Visiting.

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