13 Mistakes To Avoid When Visiting Rome
As the saying goes, “all roads lead to Rome”, so chances are that the legendary capital of the Roman Empire is on your bucket list.
It is an incredible destination, where history, food and culture combine in a hotpot that makes it a traveler’s dream. As the birthplace of yours truly, I simply cannot recommend it enough!
So, if you’re planning a trip to Rome there are a few essential things to know and remember before you set off on your adventure!
Avoid Rome during the summer months
Between July and August, avoid Rome like the plague.
Temperatures can easily reach 35°C - 40°C (95°F - 104°F) with very high humidity, plus there is usually very little shade to be found, especially around the Colosseum area.
Summer is also high season for tourists, meaning you’ll struggle to find a place to stay, prices will be higher and you’ll likely be spending most of your time waiting in line.
If you’re set on going to Italy during the summer, stay away from the city and head for the countryside or to the national parks for some peace and quiet.
The best times to visit Rome are from March to early May and from the end of September to early November. Temperatures will be mild (might start getting chilly in November), the crowds reduced and the booking options wider, allowing you to visit Rome in peace.
Use public transport from and to the airport
Both of Rome’s airports (Rome Fiumicino “Leonardo Da Vinci” and Rome Ciampino “G.B Pastine”) are connected by public transport to Termini, the city’s main train station.
Fiumicino is connected by bus and by train via the Leonardo Express, while the airport at Ciampino only has connections to the city centre by bus via the Ciampino Airlink.
The tickets for each are cheaper and most of the time faster than getting a taxi, and can be bought either on site or pre-booked online from trenitalia.com.
Avoid the lines
To avoid having to spend hours in line, do yourself a favour and pre-book the tickets to the major attractions. Make sure to always book your tickets from trusted sources and websites, and never from street vendors!
These are the websites where you can safely get tickets for the attractions you should pre-book:
Colosseum, Forum and Palatine:
https://parcocolosseo.it/en/visit/opening-times-and-tickets/
The Vatican: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html#lnav_shop
Pro Tip:
Did you know you can skip the main line at the Colosseum?
Here’s a little trick if you haven’t pre-booked the ticket yet.. instead of buying one at the Colosseum, go to the ticket boot at the entrance of the Roman Forum, less than 5 minutes away.
The lines there are much shorter, and you can buy a 24h Colosseum, Forums and Palatine Hill ticket. It will give you one access valid for 24h to all three sites, without having to spend hours to buy a ticket for each.
And don’t worry, in my opinion the Palatine Hill, and especially the Forum, are worth visiting even more than the inside of the Colosseum, so you’re really getting yourself a great deal!
Keep in mind that:
The ticket for the Colosseum has a visit time stamped on it, which you will also be told about when buying it. Make sure you show up at the indicated time, or you won’t be allowed in.
Also remember that the entrance to the Colosseum has two lines, one to go in and one to buy a ticket. Make sure you’re in the right one.
Don’t just visit the main sites
Rome is renowned the World over for its historical centre and that should of course be a part of your visit, but don’t miss out on exploring the rest of the city!
Allow yourself to get lost outside of the centre and walk through Rome like the Romans do. Explore tiny alleyways and large busy streets, find small cafés and restaurants and immerse yourself in the culture and the sights.
Nothing beats wandering around, only to turn a corner and find yourself in front of a sight you didn’t even know existed.
Wear comfortable shoes
Rome has a pretty efficient metro and tram system (for the most part), that connects to all major sites and runs every 5 to 10 minutes.
The bus system on the other hand is so-so. It’s not bad per-se, it’s just very difficult to tell if a bus will even show up at all, and ticket machines outside of the metro are close to impossible to find, functioning or otherwise.
Long story short, you’ll be walking a lot.
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, as the pavement in Rome is not exactly well maintained and several areas of the centre are covered in old, slippery cobblestones!
Don’t skip on the local food
If Italian food is the best in the World, then Roman food is the best of the best, so don’t forget to try some of the local dishes!
Many dishes are influenced by their origin in the lower and poor class of old Roman Society, and characterised by simple and fresh ingredients from the countryside. And stay away from McDonald’s.
These are just some of the must-haves:
- Pizza: Not the pizza you know, but Roman pizza. Square and fresh from the bakery or thin and crispy in the restaurant, it is the best you can find. Anywhere.
- Supplì: A battered and deep fried croquette with beef ragù and mozzarella.
- Fiori di zucca: Deep fried courgette flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies.
- Pasta cacio e pepe: Pasta with a black pepper and Pecorino cheese.
- Pasta carbonara: Pasta with egg sauce, black pepper, Pecorino cheese and guanciale (pork cheek).
- Bucatini all’amatriciana: Pasta with tomato sauce, Pecorino and guanciale.
- Coda alla vaccinara: Oxtail and vegetable stew.
- Abbacchio alla romana: Roasted lamb with ham and potatoes.
- Saltimbocca alla romana: Thin veal slices with ham and sage.
Don’t eat in or near the tourist hotspots
Avoid eating anywhere near major tourist areas, like the Pantheon or Campo De’ Fiori. Restaurants in these places often serve subpar food at higher prices.
Beware especially of places with tourist menus and with a “buttadentro” (throw in), someone outside trying to convince you to come in and eat.
Some can be quite insistent, but a simple “no, grazie” (no, thank you) should be enough to make them leave you alone, as they target mainly foreign tourists and will quickly loose interest if you answer in Italian.
If you’re hungry, simply walk at least a hundred meters out of the tourist hot zones and find a local restaurant for local people. There you’ll get the best food, the best company and the best prices.
Watch out for scams
As with all tourist destinations, Rome has its more than fair share of scammers, so be careful.
These are the most common scams to watch out for:
- Taxi scams: Some taxi drivers have been known to inflate the cost of their ride or give back the wrong change on purpose. Make sure to only use the official white Roma Capitale taxies and keep an eye on the rate meter.
- “Can I help you?” scam: Especially common in the Termini station, someone will come up to you when you’re buying a ticket and ask you if you need help. Do not accept, otherwise they will follow you incessantly, demanding money as a reward.
- Fake charities: You may be asked for your name and bank information by people posing as charity. Don’t give out any personal info, and also beware of pickpockets, as they might be trying to distract you.
- Fake tours and tickets: Never buy tickets from the street, they may be overpriced or simply fake and useless. Always buy tickets from a kiosk, at the sight’s ticket vendor or online.
- Old money: Because an old 500 Lire coin looks very similar to a 2 Euro coin, some vendors have been known to switch the two when giving back change. Lire haven’t been used in Italy for over twenty years and are essentially worthless, so always count it to make sure you’re getting money from the right decade.
- Children and Beggars: This one is very sad and has luckily become less common in recent years, but don’t fall for it. If approached by child beggars, don’t give them anything, no matter how sad they look. It’s all a show set up by a criminal ring, and giving them money will only promote their exploitation.
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Fake beggars are also a thing, people who pretend to be sick, limping or mentally ill, only to later be seen walking around just fine, so careful with who you donate money to.
Beware of pickpockets
Pickpockets in Rome are absolutely everywhere and a constant issue, so never let your guard down, even when out of the city centre.
Pay extreme attention at Termini station, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the infamous bus 64 (Termini to The Vatican), also known as Pickpocket Express.
Also pay attention to anyone randomly chatting you up on the street, as they may be trying to distract you. Remember that anyone can be a pickpocket.
For extra security, only bring what you really need and use a hidden money bag or a safe bag with metal wires in the straps, that way it can’t be cut off and stolen from you. I especially recommend the brand PacSafe.
Don’t waste your time with street vendors
Nothing personal against street vendors, but they are not worth talking to. All they will offer you is counterfeit merchandise like fake Gucci bags, overpriced water and food, flowers and scam tickets.
Try not to engage in conversation and never let them hand you anything or put anything on you. They can be persistent and some can get a little hot tempered if things don’t go their way. As with the buttadentro, just saying “no, grazie” and then quickly walking away should do the trick.
On that note…
Learn a few words of Italian
Italians are not the most practical people when it comes to foreign languages, so take the time to learn some common words and phrases.
It will help you to communicate and it will make people open up to you much more!
Here are a few basics you should know:
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Take your time
Rome is a big city with a lot of sights to see and explore, and you’re not going to cover all of them in one go.
So go with the flow, relax and take your time to enjoy what the city has to offer. I can almost certainly guarantee you’ll be back for more.
That also goes for the rhythm of the city, especially when it comes to food. Everything is slow (except for drivers), so don’t get annoyed when your order takes a while to arrive, it’s just the way things are done.
Don’t forget to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain
Legend has it that if you throw a coin inside the Trevi Fountain, you are sure to come back to Rome.
Superstition or not, there is another positive side to this tradition. The thousands of Euros that accumulate in the fountain are drained every day, given to charity and then redistributed to the needy of the city!
There is a reason why Rome still stands as one of the most popular destinations in the World.
The centuries of history, culture, food and tradition are sure to impress even the most seasoned of travellers. All you need is some good planning and knowledge, and you’re off on the trip of a lifetime!
Alla prossima e buon viaggio!
𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 ?
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 !
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