Rome Travel Guide: Things to Do, Where to Eat, Places to Stay
Landing in Rome for the first time feels a bit like walking onto a film set, only your feet hurt more and the gelato melts faster than you can eat it. The city is big, noisy and gloriously scruffy in places, with crumbling ruins, scooters everywhere and locals arguing passionately over coffee. You will probably get lost, pick an overpriced restaurant at least once and misjudge how far “just around the corner” really is. That is all part of the fun.
This Rome Travel Guide is for first and second visits. You want the classics, but also to avoid burning out in queues and tourist traps. Think of it like tips from a friend who has sweated through midday at the Colosseum, accidentally ordered tripe, then finally figured out how to enjoy Rome at a calmer pace (on my 2nd visit). Grab an espresso, and let me get your Rome plans sorted. 🇮🇹
Rome Travel Guide: Quick Facts
| Topic | Key info |
|---|---|
| Best time to visit | April to early June, late Sept to early Nov for mild weather & fewer crowds |
| Local currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Italian, basic English common in central areas |
| Main airports | Fiumicino (FCO, main hub) & Ciampino (CIA, low cost) |
| Avg daily budget | Mid-range: ~€170–€230 (about £150–£200 / $190–$260) per person |
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: All prices in this guide use rough rates of €1 ≈ £0.88 and €1 ≈ $1.10, so the GBP and USD conversions are just to help you sense-check costs, not exact. 💶💷💵
🔥 My Recommended Tour to get you started in Rome: Rome: Colosseum, Palatine hill, and Forum Tour, with optional Arena
Rome in a nutshell: quick Q&As
How many days do you need in Rome?
Aim for 3 full days if it is your first trip. Four or five days feels more relaxed and gives time for an easy Rome itinerary plus a slower afternoon or a day trip.
Is Rome walkable?
Yes, the historic centre is very walkable, but distances add up fast and the streets are cobbled, so mix walking with metro, buses and the odd taxi.
What is the best area to stay in Rome?
For most visitors: Centro Storico for classic sights, Monti for cool but central, Trastevere for lively evenings, Prati for calmer, residential vibes near the Vatican.
Do you need to book big attractions in advance?
For the Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Borghese Gallery, advance booking is strongly recommended, especially in spring and autumn.
Is Rome expensive?
Cheaper than London or Paris in some ways, but big attractions and very touristy areas add up. Coffee and pizza by the slice can still be great value if you choose wisely.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Treat your first afternoon as a gentle “get your bearings” wander followed by an early pasta and an early night. You will enjoy everything else more if you are not wrecked from day one. 😴🍝
Rome overview: vibe, who it suits, how it fits together
Rome is a city of layers. Ancient ruins, Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches, modern apartment blocks and wild traffic are all stacked together in one noisy, golden hued mess. From my experience it suits people who like walking, history, food and people-watching at least as much as they like ticking big sights off a list. Families, solo travellers and couples all do well here as long as they accept that Rome is never “perfectly organised” and lean into the chaos.
It helps to picture Rome in zones. The historic centre around Piazza Navona and the Pantheon is your postcard Rome. The ancient heart holds the Colosseum and Forum. The Vatican sits over the river with Prati behind it. Neighbourhoods like Trastevere, Monti, Testaccio and Ostiense add different flavours, from student feels to foodie corners and street art. Once you see that map in your head, planning a Rome itinerary becomes much easier.
💡 Fact: It is very normal to walk 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day on a Rome city break without noticing. Your legs will notice later. Choose shoes you trust, not the pretty ones you regret by lunchtime. 👟
🗺️ A Helpful Guide: 9 Mistakes to Avoid Before Visiting Rome, Italy
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When to visit Rome
Rome changes mood with the seasons. Spring, especially April to early June, is lovely. Days are warm, evenings mild, and outdoor dining starts to feel natural instead of brave. Autumn, from late September to early November, feels similar, with softer sunlight, less intense heat and a slight drop in crowd levels. These are sweet spots for most travellers.
July and August (Don’t bother IMO) are a different story. It can be very hot, very busy, and many locals leave the city in mid August. You get long evenings and a buzzy atmosphere, but you pay in sweat and queue time. Winter is cooler and can be rainy, but you gain cheaper accommodation and a moodier, more local feel, especially in January and February.
🔹Tinker’s Tip: If you are flexible, pick May or October, avoid weekends if you can, and arrive midweek. Prices are often kinder and you get a good balance of life, light and energy without full-on summer crush. 🌤️
🗺️ In-depth Look: Best Time to Visit Rome: A Seasonal Guide
How to get to Rome
From the UK and much of Europe, Rome is a straightforward city-break hop. London to Rome flights are around 2 hours 30 minutes, with return fares commonly from £70–£150 (about €80–€170 / $80–$165) if you book ahead and avoid peak school holidays. Many other European cities have direct flights in the €80–€200 (£70–£175 / $90–$220) range, depending on dates and airlines.
Rome has two airports. Fiumicino (FCO) is the main one. The Leonardo Express train runs to Termini station in about 32 minutes for €14 (roughly £12 / $15). There are also slower regional trains for slightly less, plus fixed fare official taxis into the centre, usually around €50 (about £44 / $55). Ciampino (CIA) handles many low cost carriers, with shuttle buses to Termini in 40–50 minutes, typically €7–€13 (around £6–£11 / $8–$14) per person.
👉 Good to know: Always compare flight times plus transfer costs. A “cheap” fare to Ciampino at awkward hours might actually feel more expensive once you add buses or taxis on top.
🚕 Airport Transfer: Welcome Pickups Rome
🗺️ Recommended Read: 3 Days In Rome: Vatican Vaults to Colosseum History
Recommended Tours from GetYourGuide
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Getting around Rome
Rome looks compact on the map, but once you start walking you realise how much ground you cover. You will use a mix of feet, metro, buses, trams and the odd taxi or rideshare. A single BIT ticket for public transport costs €1.50 (about £1.30 / $1.65) and covers 100 minutes of travel on buses, trams and metro. For full sightseeing days, Roma 24/48/72-hour passes can be better value.
Typical prices:
- 24 hour pass – €8.50 (around £7.50 / $9.50)
- 48 hour pass – €15 (about £13 / $17)
- 72 hour pass – €22 (about £19 / $24)
- 7 day pass – €29 (about £25 / $32)
The metro is small but handy, especially for longer hops, like Termini to the Vatican. Buses cover most gaps, but traffic can slow things down. Official taxis are white with a roof sign and a meter. Avoid unmarked “taxi” offers around stations.
🔹Tinker’s Tip: Validate paper tickets in the little yellow or green machines at bus entrances and metro stations. If you forget and ticket inspectors appear, the fine hurts a lot more than the effort of stamping the ticket.
Neighbourhoods and where to stay in Rome
Choosing where to stay in Rome shapes your whole trip.
- Centro Storico: You step out into history, but rooms are smaller and prices higher. Great for first-time, short stays.
- Monti: Central, cool and a bit bohemian, with independent shops, wine bars and easy access to the Colosseum and Termini.
- Trastevere: Lanes, vines, lively squares and plenty of bars and trattorie. Lovely for evenings and food.
- Prati & Vatican area: Wide boulevards, calmer feel, good for people who like a quieter base and do not mind a walk or metro ride.
- Testaccio & Ostiense: More local, great for food and street art.
For a mid-range hotel or B&B, expect about €130–€220 per night for a double (£115–£195 / $145–$240) in a central area. Hostels and budget guesthouses can start from €40–€70 per person (£35–£60 / $45–$75) in shared or simple rooms. Rome’s tourist tax is extra, usually €3.50–€10 per person per night depending on the property, often paid in cash at check out.
👉 Good to know: If you like quieter nights but still want easy access to the centre, Prati or the parts of Monti away from main roads are often a nicer sleep than staying right on a noisy piazza. 🌙
🏨 Recommended hotels:
🛌 Recommended Hostels: Hostelworld Rome
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Must see sights and ticket basics
Even if you prefer slow travel, some sights are simply too iconic to skip. The big ancient trio are the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, usually visited on a combined ticket. A standard ticket costs about €18 (around £16 / $20) and is valid for 24 hours. Opening time is usually around 08:30, with last entry about an hour before closing, which changes slightly by season.
On the other side of the river, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are open most days from 08:00 to around 19:00 or 20:00, with last entry a couple of hours before closing. Basic adult tickets start from around €20–€32 (roughly £18–£28 / $22–$36), rising if you go for skip the line bundles or guided tours.
St Peter’s Basilica itself is free to enter, but you still queue for security and dress codes are enforced. It usually opens from about 07:00–19:00 in summer and 07:00–18:30 in winter. Climbing the dome is extra and absolutely worth it if you are okay with heights. Expect to pay around €8 (about £7 / $9) to take the stairs or €10 (about £9 / $11) for the lift plus stairs to the top, where you get some of the best views in Rome.
In the centre, the Pantheon now charges €5 (about £4.50 / $5.50) for general admission and is usually open 09:00–19:00, with last entry about 18:30. The Borghese Gallery needs a timed reservation, usually in two hour slots between 09:00 and 19:00, and tickets come in at roughly €15 (about £13 / $17) including the booking fee.
Other great things to do in Rome
- Watch the fountains light up in the evening around Piazza Navona, then grab a late gelato nearby.
- Climb up to the Gianicolo (Janiculum) Hill for sunset views over Rome’s domes and terracotta rooftops.
- Swing by the Spanish Steps early morning or late evening when the crowds thin out and it feels more relaxed.
- Rent a bike or simply wander the old Appian Way, mixing crumbling ruins with countryside vibes.
- Explore a local market like Testaccio or Campo de’ Fiori to pick up picnic supplies and people watch.
💡 Fact: On the last Sunday of the month, the Vatican Museums are free in the morning, but queues can snake around the walls, so only attempt it if you are very patient and very caffeinated. ☕
🗺️ How to: How To Visit St Peter’s Basilica: Tickets, Tours, & Tips
🗺️ Vatican: How to Visit the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel
Hidden corners and local feeling areas
Once the “big stuff” is ticked off, the real joy of Rome is drifting. Testaccio is a favourite for more local vibes, a proper food market and unfussy trattorie. Aventino has the famous keyhole view of St Peter’s, peaceful gardens and a romantic, slightly sleepy feel. Garbatella and Ostiense have a mix of old workers’ housing, street art and modern bars that feel a world away from Trevi Fountain crowds.
Even within central areas, you can find quiet pockets. Take a side street off Piazza Navona, wander a few blocks away from Campo de’ Fiori, or cut behind the main roads and you will suddenly be in a calmer little square with kids playing football and grandparents shouting from windows. That is the Rome you remember long after the trip.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you want to feel less like a tourist, pick one neighbourhood coffee bar and visit a couple of times. After the second visit, the staff often start treating you like a semi-regular and the experience gets a lot warmer. ☕
🗺️ Useful Guide: The Roman Forum: A Beginner’s Guide to Visiting the Ancient Heart of Rome
Food and drink in Rome
Eating well in Rome is easier than not eating well, as long as you avoid the worst traps. Classic Roman pastas include cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper), carbonara (egg, pecorino, guanciale), gricia and amatriciana. In a decent local trattoria, a plate of pasta will usually be around €9–€14 (roughly £8–£12 / $10–$16). Pizza from a sit down pizzeria falls in a similar range.
A mid-range dinner for two, with shared starter, pasta or pizza, dessert and wine, typically lands around €40–€70 (about £35–£60 / $45–$80) depending on neighbourhood and how carried away you get with the wine list. House wine by the glass might be €4–€6 (about £3.50–£5.25 / $4.40–$6.60), while a litre carafe could be €10–€16 (about £9–£14 / $11–$18). Prices drift higher on the main piazzas.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Menus with several languages, staff trying to drag you in from the street and photos of every dish are not automatically bad, but they are not usually where you eat your best meals. Walk a street or two away from the main landmark for better value and flavour. 🍕
🗺️ More guides: Walking with Saints: A Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches of Rome
Suggested 2–4 day Rome itinerary
You can tweak this Rome itinerary, but it gives a solid backbone.
Day 1: Ancient Rome and the historic centre 🏛️
- Morning: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
- Lunch nearby, then head up to the Capitoline Hill or Piazza Venezia.
- Afternoon and early evening: Wander the historic centre, see the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and finish near the Tiber at golden hour.
Day 2: Vatican and Trastevere ⛪
- Morning: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, then St Peter’s Basilica and, if you have the energy, climb the dome.
- Afternoon: Walk across the river into Trastevere, explore its churches and backstreets.
- Evening: Dinner and drinks in Trastevere.
Day 3: Parks, art and neighbourhoods 🌳
- Morning: Borghese Gallery (pre booked slot) and a walk in Villa Borghese park.
- Afternoon: Explore Monti or Testaccio, or dip into a market, church or museum that caught your eye.
Day 4 (optional): Flex day or day trip
Either mop up things you missed, go shopping, or take a day trip to Tivoli, Ostia Antica or Orvieto.
Day trips from Rome
If you are in Rome for more than three full days, a day trip is a nice gear change. Some easy options:
- Tivoli: Home to Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este with its fountains and gardens.
- Ostia Antica: Atmospheric Roman ruins by the coast, like a calmer cousin of Pompeii.
- Frascati and the Castelli Romani: Hill towns, wine and countryside views.
- Orvieto: A beautiful Umbrian town perched on volcanic rock, with a stunning cathedral.
Most of these are reachable by regional train or a mix of train and bus in 30–90 minutes, with return tickets often around €8–€25 per person (roughly £7–£22 / $9–$28). You do not need a tour for many of them, although organised trips can save brain power if you prefer someone else to handle the logistics.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: For a first trip, only add a day trip if you already have three solid Rome days. Rome itself easily fills that time and more.
🗺️ For a closer look at Rome’s Tourist Cards: Omnia Card Vs Roma Pass | Definitive Guide to all Rome Passes
Money, costs and daily budgets
Rome uses the euro, but you will see cards and cash in daily life. Most mid-range restaurants and shops accept cards and contactless, but small bars, bakeries and markets may prefer cash or have minimum spends. Keep some notes and coins on you.
Costs at a glance
| Item | Typical price (EUR) | Rough GBP | Rough USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso at the bar | €1.20 | ~£1.05 | ~$1.30 |
| Cappuccino | €1.80–€2.50 | ~£1.60–£2.20 | ~$2.00–$2.80 |
| Slice of pizza (al taglio) | €3–€5 | ~£2.60–£4.40 | ~$3.30–$5.50 |
| Sit down pizza or pasta | €9–€14 | ~£8–£12 | ~$10–$16 |
| Metro single ticket (BIT) | €1.50 | ~£1.30 | ~$1.65 |
| 24 hour transport pass | €8.50 | ~£7.50 | ~$9.50 |
| Colosseum basic ticket | €18 | ~£16 | ~$20 |
| Vatican Museums basic ticket | €20–€32 | ~£18–£28 | ~$22–$36 |
Approximate per day totals:
Budget traveller
- Bed: €40–€70 (£35–£60 / $45–$75)
- Food: €20–€30 (£18–£26 / $22–$33)
- Transport and sights: €15–€25 (£13–£22 / $17–$28)
- Daily total: roughly €80–€120 (£70–£105 / $90–$135)
Mid range traveller
- Room: €130–€220 (£115–£195 / $145–$240)
- Food and drinks: €40–€70 (£35–£60 / $45–$80)
- Transport and sights: €25–€40 (£22–£35 / $28–$45)
- Daily total: roughly €170–€230 (£150–£200 / $190–$260)
Rome’s tourist tax of about €3.50–€10 per person per night (£3–£9 / $4–$11) usually gets added at the end of your stay.
Safety, scams and staying street smart
Rome feels broadly safe for most visitors, including solo travellers, but it is still a big city. Petty theft is the main thing to watch for, especially around the metro, Termini station, the Trevi Fountain and very crowded buses. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you, and avoid putting phones or wallets in back pockets.
Typical annoyances include people trying to tie “free” bracelets on your wrist then demanding money, very pushy “tour sellers” near major sights, and overly helpful strangers at ticket machines who then expect a big tip. Official taxis are white, with a roof sign and a visible licence number. Anything else, just walk away. At night, stick to busier streets and familiar routes, especially if you are travelling alone.
Packing, dress codes and what to wear in Rome
Packing for Rome is about comfort and respect. In warm months, pack light breathable clothing, sunglasses, a hat and very comfortable shoes. In cooler seasons, you will want layers, a light jumper or jacket and a compact umbrella. Rain showers often pass quickly, but they can be intense.
For churches and the Vatican, dress codes matter. Shoulders and knees should be covered for places like St Peter’s Basilica and many other churches. A light scarf or shawl is perfect to throw over bare shoulders. Very short shorts and strappy tops can be a problem at security. Flip flops are not ideal on cobbles, so trainers or sturdy sandals are a better choice.
Handy Italian phrases for Rome
You do not need to be fluent to have a good time in Rome, but a few words help. People are almost always warmer when you at least try.
Buongiorno / Buonasera – Good morning / good evening
Per favore / Grazie – Please / thank you
Un caffè, per favore – An espresso, please
Il conto, per favore – The bill, please
Dov’è la fermata dell’autobus / la metro? – Where is the bus stop / the metro?
Parli inglese? – Do you speak English?
Mi dispiace / Scusi – I am sorry / excuse me
FAQs
Is the tap water safe to drink in Rome?
Yes. Tap water is safe. The little street fountains known as nasoni run with cold, drinkable water so bring a refillable bottle and top up as you go.
Do you need to tip in Rome?
Tipping is appreciated but not as intense as in some countries. If there is no service charge on the bill, leaving a couple of euros per person in a restaurant or rounding up a taxi fare is a nice gesture.
Is Rome safe at night for solo travellers?
Generally yes in the main central areas. Stick to well lit streets, avoid very empty parks late at night and trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, take an official taxi.
Can you pay everywhere by card in Rome?
Most mid range restaurants and shops accept cards and contactless. Some small bars, markets and older places still prefer cash or have minimum spends so carry a bit of both.
How strict are dress codes at the Vatican?
Security can be quite firm, especially on women. If your shoulders or knees are bare, you may be turned away. Pack a shawl or light cover up and wear longer shorts or skirts on your Vatican day to avoid drama.
Now, over to you…
Rome rarely fits into one visit. You rush around the first time, then start plotting how to come back slower. I find the trick is to accept that you will not see everything, choose a few priorities, leave space for wandering and naps, and let the city surprise you in the gaps between the big sights. Gelato helps with that too.
If this guide helped shape your Rome plans, I would love to know which neighbourhood you ended up loving most or what meal lives rent free in your head. Share your Rome questions and stories in the comments, and pass on your own tips for future travellers. For more Italy ideas, itineraries and city guides, explore the Italy content on The Travel Tinker and keep building that European adventure list. 👇🗣️
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
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3 thoughts on “Rome Travel Guide: Things to Do, Where to Eat, Places to Stay”
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