Anytime is the perfect time to plan a trip to Rome. Underneath the idea of discovering what is today the legacy of Ancient Roma, we leave behind a simple fact about this city: Rome is a movie, and trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss it for the world.
Between, the Vatican City, the world smallest country, and the delightful sceneries, roman traditional food, and historical ruins … one would easily feel overwhelmed when travelling to Rome, and to be honest no one wants to end up thinking Rome vacation sucked or was a terrible travel experience. That‘s why it is mandatory to know how to go around the boot-shaped country’s capital. And to help you out, these are my 9 golden rules to seek the best out of Rome.
1. LAYER AND WEAR COMFY SHOES:
The perfect way to explore Rome is on foot. My advice to you is simple, whenever given the chance, get away from traffic and the underground services. Pick your comfiest pair of shoes and start strolling around, what you accidentally find is your way of digging underneath numerous layers of history. No need to worry about getting lost, all ways lead to Rome. Plus, the historic center is not large (2.5km) and most monuments are to be found near the area.
During both suggested travel periods from my 5 tips to plan your trip to Rome article, the weather is nice yet tricky. Consider layering to be your best friend and always get a warm jacket, a light raincoat, and an umbrella. Smart traveling includes also adapting to unexpected weather changes. Extra tip: When in Rome, layering was also a fashion-success story, one convertible outfit for different spot photographs. Seeing the pictures I took, I really have no complains.
2. VISIT THE COLOSSEUM IN THE MORNING:
To beat the crowd and enjoy a colorful sunrise, favor early mornings. For instance, I would really recommend anyone to visit the Colosseum early in the morning, just make sure you get your tickets online before. With the Covid situation, the Italian government limited the entrances to all monuments.
Therefore, check the available spots on the calendar from the official website COOPCULTURE, or visit for free, yes you heard it right. Starting from Sunday, 3rd April 2022, free Sundays were reinstated in all cultural sites in Rome. Meaning, the first Sunday of every month the Parco archeologico del Colosseo is free of charge. To know more and keep updated check the official website FREE SUNDAYS AT THE MUSEUMS.
3. VISIT THE VATICAN GALLERIES IN THE EVENING:
Rome is a year-round city, and since everyone comes to visit the main touristic attractions, you will always have to battle some crowds. A practical tactic would be to use the late afternoons or evenings to some visits. One of the many examples is the Vatican museums, from April to November, Friday’s visits are until 11 pm with the last entrance at 9:30 pm. A hack to enjoy the galleries after the mesmerizing view from St. Peter’s Basilica’s dome. (Note, the basilica is not open at that time).
For more information, and to ensure you get the latest updates, check their website before and during your travel to Rome. Apart from the opening times and tickets‘ prices, it offers you an extensive section with all the useful advices for visitors: MUSEIVATICANI.
4. WANDER AROUND HIDDEN GEMS:
Another thing you can do when visiting Rome would be wandering around hidden sites. I mean you HAVE TO. Usually off radars, they offer unique lesser-known insights and unique views of Rome. Case in point, the park of ‘Villa Borghese’. Not only does it suit all tastes, but this place is home to the historical Villa Borghese, where the Borghese Gallery, one of the most beautiful art collections of Rome, is located. It is the perfect spot to level up one‘s romantic proposal or plan a gender reveal.
Another address would be the ‘Botanical Garden’ for nature lovers and those looking for a moment of tranquility. Another gem, recommended by a stranger we have met at the hostel is the ‘Giardino Degli Aranci’, one of the endless romantic places in Roma. First, it has a beautiful belvedere dominating Rome and showing the cityscape from a different angle and second, it smells like heaven.
LOCATION | GIARDINO DEGLI ARANCI
5. AVOID THE CROWDS:
If your stay is short and you must choose the Colosseum over the Roman Forum, you might want to take a detour to ‘Punto panoramico del foro romano’, you will find yourself immersed in the historic heart of Rome’s main archeological site from an up-hill location.
It is worth the shot if you don’t want to miss visiting one of the replicas of the famous Capitoline Wolf, ‘Lupa Capitolina’. The statue represents one of the most recognizable icons of ancient Rome mythology. It portrays the image of the she-wolf suckling the two founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. Next time you visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, go to the center and look for the Lupa Capitolina Mosaic.
LOCATION | BELVEDERE DI VIA MONTE TARPEO
6. INCLUDE FOOD ADDRESSES TO YOUR ITINERARIES:
Fun fact, I am foodie person, which means I see eating as a hobby and whenever travelling, I try to include as much food breaks and stops as possible. One of the best pros of using a zoning map is to confine the food hunting area. (You can thank me later).
Rome is known for offering affordable and tasty authentic Italian and Roman cuisine. During my stay in Rome, an Italian guy advised me to privilege local Trattorias, rustic family-owned small restaurants that serve fresh local food, instead of falling for more sophisticated dishes at ‘Ristorante’. Either ways, check the ‘Coperta’ down the menu, which basically refers to the service fee per person, it ranges from 1 to 3 euros depending on where you decide to eat.
Before coming to the curtain call of the food section, here is an extra. Allow yourself to get lost in the narrow streets to dive into the real taste of ‘Roma Aeterna’. Try the most famous Roman street bites, such as Suppli, Trapizzino, Carciofi alla giudia and Pinsa. Budget-wise you are being practical and you also get to exercise which, according to practicing dietitian Casuarina Forsyth, increases appetite. (You got it right, more space for more food, I told you I love eating).
READ LATER | STREET FOOD BITES FROM ROME & WHERE TO EAT IN ROME
7. SPARE SOME CASH MONEY:
One of the main lessons of my previous trip is to always have cash with you. Rome’s city taxes in hostels are paid only in cash, public transportation tickets from vending machines take exact change only for no more than 6 euros back, and with the pickpockets, backup money in separate locations of your luggage is always a good idea. One always better be prepared for emergencies.
Talking about money, you can save some on water by filling your lightweight travel bottle from the water fountains called ‘Fontanelle’ or ‘Nasoni’. Rome’s running water is generally very fresh and under continuous control.
8. GET OUTSIDE OF THE TOURISTIC ROME:
As a traveler I value fun and I recommend fun to anyone on a discovering journey. Ok, I agree, having a plan is practical but being spontaneous and having uncommon stories has its own thrill too. After visiting Rome’s musts, take your leap, a tip particularly addressed to those of you, who like me travel on the beat of unusual symphonies.
Case in point, take yourself on a tour in Quartiere I Flaminio to visit the Auditorium Parco della Musica, designed by Renzo piano and named the second-most-visited cultural music venue in the world, after Lincoln Center in NY. Or as a substitute, head to MAXII, the Museo Nazionale Delle Arti del XXI Secolo, designed by Zaha Hadid, a place of inside and outside displays to trigger your curious soul.
LOCATION | QUARTIERE I FLAMINIO
9. GO FUNKY:
After visiting Borghese park, stroll down the ‘Quartiere Coppede’ to admire some Art Nouveau buildings in a tourist-free residential neighborhood. Conversely, head to ‘Ostiense’ for some large-scale street arts, you might want to stop by the ‘Cestia pyramid’ in ‘Piazzale Ostiense’, story says ‘Bocca della Verità’s reverse side is locked inside it. (you can visit on weekends if you are keen to know).
To feel local and ‘do as romans do’, drive around on a colored Vespa (Yellow if you ask me). The rentals are all around the city, and if I am not wrong, you can bargain for a 40-50 euros a day. At last, make sure to consider an evening in Trastevere. Cross the Tiber river to the bohemian neighborhood where the atmosphere is hip, the foodstuff is great, and the night life is humming with locals and tourists enjoying musicians and street performers who would undoubtely entertain any passer-by.
LOCATION | BOCCA DELLA VERITA
In Rome the prologue and the denouement happen magically when you leave your diet behind! I recommend you devour as much knowledge as food as you can. Read books, blogs, touristic guides, pick some Italian words from the echoing chitchats, taste roman authentic cuisine, savor Gelatos, and send postcards (I am a bit of an old school, I love writing postcards to people, myself included) … What I mean is take the freedom to see exactly what interests you but do it your way. At the end of the day, if you don’t write your own roman movie script, could you even tell you have visited Rome?
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