10 Tips for Visiting Rome, Italy
Rome is always full of tourists. Here are tips to get the most out of your visit.
Because Rome is so rich in history and artistic treasures, you could imagine that everyone would want to visit Rome. To get the most out of your visit, I've compiled a list of tips to keep in mind – all of which are based on my experience.
1 - Stay for at least five days.
It’s not an exaggeration when I say there are plenty of things to see. Three days will not be enough.
2 - Wear comfortable shoes.
There will be a lot of walking. The best way to see Rome is through strolling through the streets. Without even trying, you’ll come across historic sites and masterpieces.
3 - The best time to visit Rome is on 3rd or last week of February.
Rome is packed with tourists. When I went there in 3rd week of February with my brother and aunts, it was crowded but not THAT crazy crowded. The lines moved quicker too. Normally, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel would take you about 4 hours to wait in line. It only took us about 20 minutes.
The weather was PERFECT around this time. It was cold, but not brutally cold at all. The sun was up most of the time. We wore our jackets and coats but we weren’t freezing. It’s almost like a cold spring type of weather.
4 - Take the Hop-On Hop-Off.
To start, you might want to get to know the city. It’ll be a good idea to take HOHO full circle ride – at least once. You'll know where you want to start exploring, and you'll get an idea of which ones are closest to each other, farther from each other, etc. so you can plan for the next few days accordingly.
5 - Don’t just admire the Colosseum from the outside.
Get inside the Colosseum, and have a walk around. It’s truly mesmerizing. It’s worth the extra cost. You could even go online and book in advance. It’ll tell you the time you need to be there so you can plan the rest of your day.
6 - Visit Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel early in the morning.
Plan to be at the Vatican Museums before 8am to 830am. The lines will be much shorter.
7 - Visit Pantheon about an hour before the closing time.
The Pantheon is another famous site everyone would like to see. But the crowd begins to thin out an hour before its closing time.
8 - Avoid touristy restaurants.
Eat like a local. A crowded restaurant near main tourist sites doesn’t mean it’s the best – it only means the tourists are going there but not the locals. And they are much more expensive. Go to a boisterous pizzeria or a friendly neighborhood trattoria. That’s where the locals enjoy their passion for pizzas and pasta dishes.
9 - Stay in the city centre if your budget allows.
You’re going to be close to everything… But if you’re watching your budget, I’d recommend renting a place few blocks from St. Peter’s Basilica.
10 - It’s okay to use public transportation or take the train.
It’s very cheap, fairly easy and quick, especially if you’re not staying in the city centre!
I hope you’ll find these tips helpful in planning your trip, especially if you’re visiting Rome for the first time!
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Hi, I'm Shar! I started the outbounder as a place to share my adventures as I explore different places around the world, my love for different kinds of food, and a passion to capture a moment in time through photography.
There are so many things to do and many places to see here. Churches, museums, ruins, historic picturesque streets – all competing left and right to attract you to explore.