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21 Essentials Tips for travelling to Rome for the first time

Updated: Dec 29, 2023

Rome is one of the most famous capital in the world and one of most tourist cities to visit. If it is going to be your first time in Rome, or even if you just want to be prepared to revisit it and avoid mistakes, you need some Rome travel tips.


essential tips to visit Rome

Therefore, if you want to plan your holiday in the best possible way without trouble or disappointment, check out these essential tips for travelling to Rome for the first time I wrote for you. To make your next Roman holiday a success.


Also, check "The Most Complete Guide of Rome", where you will find all the articles I wrote about this magnificent city. You won't need to look anywhere else.


essential tips to visit rome


What should I avoid in Rome?


There are many things you should avoid doing when visiting Rome. The most important for me is to avoid visiting it for just one weekend. Rome is a capital, is it very big and it has so much to offer to whoever is willing to spend some time exploring all its beauty.


Talking about things to avoid to do in Rome, I got the right article for you, like always, your super-organized travel blogger gives you all the tips and info you need to plan the perfect holiday around the world.


Check out "15 Things to Don't Do in Rome" and be prepared to enjoy this ancient city.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

*Disclosure: This article contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you, I guarantee, if you purchase through my links. See it as a way to thank me and support my travel blog for all the information I provide.



Read 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome Below

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Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

1. Choose to Visit Rome During Winter, Spring or Autumn:


Rome can be so crowded that trust me, if you are going there in July or August, you will hate it instead of love it. Summers in Rome can be so hot, reaching almost 40 degrees Celsius ( 104 Fahrenheit).


Imagine yourself queuing for hours every day to enter a museum or waiting under the scorching sun for a table at lunch. It is also the period when all the accommodations are more expensive, so before booking your holiday, think about my advice.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

2. Choose to stay in Rome for at least four days:


There are so many things to do and see that you won't see them and enjoy them if you stay only for a couple of days. To visit the Vatican Museums, you will spend a whole afternoon there.


My advice is to spend a whole week in Rome. You won't regret it, I promise. Rome is magical. There are so many museums, parks, neighbourhoods to explore and so many tavernas and restaurants to try.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

3. Book your accommodation in the city centre:


I am sure some of you prefer to book accommodation far from the city centre to save some money.


Still, everything essential to see in Rome is in the centre, so if you book not too far, you can walk straight to every vital site you want to visit and believe me, you will enjoy walking through the city centre.


If you travel on a budget, you can find very nice Hostels where o meet other travellers or if you prefer something quieter, I found some wonderful Budget-friendly accommodation for you.




If you have a bigger budget, Rome has some wonderful Boutique Hotels where to have a more sophisticated accommodation.


If it is a luxury you are looking for, Rome has some fantastic Luxury hotels where you will be treated like a royal.


Everywhere there is a beautiful place to get an espresso or a very stylish house to take a picture for your Instagram account.


Of course, if you have a mobility problem, in that case, there are two metro lines and also many buses available to get everywhere you need.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

4. Do some research before visiting Rome:


You have to do some research before getting to Rome but don't worry. I wrote so many articles about Rome that you won't need to look further.


Check out "The most complete guide of Rome" on my website and all the articles I wrote about it, which includes my list of "27 Unmissable places to visit in Rome", where I listed all the best places and articles about accommodations for every budget.


Do you like Wine?

If the answer is Yes!


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

5. Buy Museums and Attractions tickets in advance:


This is a must to do. The queues to visit a tourist site in Rome can be 1 kilometre long, and I am sure you don't want to spend a whole day in a line instead of walking around and exploring as much as you can.


If you want to buy tickets at the best price, check here my favourite website to find many options to buy skip-the-line tickets in advance.


Save money and time. You won't regret it.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome


6. Avoid the crowd:


Visit Museums only from Monday to Thursday.


Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days so during those days you can explore the city, its squares, shops and restaurants.


If you can, plan to fly to Rome on a Monday or a Tuesday so you can visit the museums at the beginning of the week.


And then spend the weekend just walking around and visiting places where you don't have to pay for a ticket, like exploring the Roman hills or walking along the river.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

7. Visit Museums early in the morning or late afternoon:


If you like visiting museums without too many tourists around (as I do), the best time is early in the morning when they open and late in the afternoon 2 hours before they close.


Usually, tourists are busy having breakfast till 10 am. In the late afternoon, they have already seen the museums (once I passed through San Pietro square at 4.30 pm on Saturday, and there was no queue to enter the Basilia, then I passed by again on a Monday morning at 10, and the line was all around the square).


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

8. Visit the Vatican Museums:


Vatican Museums are the best museums you will ever see in your life so don't forget to book your ticket in advance because it is a must-see.


And please, when I say book the ticket in advance, I mean it. The queue can be more than 1 kilometre long already at 10 in the morning.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

9. The Fastest Way to Reach the City Centre From Fiumicino Airport is by Train Leonardo:


Leonardo Train will take you to the centre of Rome in only 30 minutes. If you want to learn more about how to get to Rome, how to move around Rome etc., check out my article, "All the Ways to Reach Rome from Every Roman Airports", where I listed absolutely everything, from how to move around, to how to reach the city centre from every airport, where to buy your transports tickets etc.


For all my other articles about Rome, check out "The most complete guide of Rome".


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

10. Walk instead of renting a car:


Almost all the best places to see in Rome, are in the city centre. Even if you are not staying near the centre, there are so many buses and two metro lines to reach every place you wish to see.


Also, the Roman traffic is terrible, and I am more than sure you don't want to get stuck in the traffic instead of visiting this wonderful city so avoid renting a car, unless you wish to see the area around Rome, in that case, renting a car is always a good solution.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

11. Always wear comfortable shoes:


As I said already, you are going to walk a lot in Rome, so please, I know you are going to be in Italy, and you want to look stunning in all your pictures but make sure your shoes are very comfortable, and they won't give you any pain while exploring the city.


That can be a way to ruin your holiday in Rome.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

12. Keep always your belonging at your sight:


You don't have any idea how many pickpockets are in Rome. It is full of tourists all year round, so make sure to don't leave your bags unattended and always choose an anti-theft backpack or purse.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

13. Take a nap in the afternoon:


You are going to be in Italy so do as the Italians do. Get out early in the morning, and around 4.00 pm, go back to your accommodation, have a shower, take a nap and then get ready for a delicious aperitif to have before dinner.


Plan Your Vacation in Rome in the Best Way


Check out all my articles in the "Most Complete Guide of Rome" and get all the information you need to make your next travel a success.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

14. Have an Aperitivo in a typical aperitivo bar:


There are many lovely places to drink a good glass of wine or a Spritz Aperol and get some delicious Roman food while drinking.


In some areas, they have a complimentary buffet full of delicious food. You need to pay for a drink (more expensive than usual, usually 10 euros), and you can eat as much as you want. Cheap dinner sorted!


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

15. Cover your shoulders and legs to enter a religious building:


Covering your legs and shoulders is essential. You will not be allowed to enter the San Pietro Basilica if you show your shoulders or legs, so dress up accordingly (carry a scarf to cover your shoulders during summertime).


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

16. Check in advance what delicious dishes are typical from Rome:


I always do this kind of research before visiting a foreign country or city. I love to eat local, and I love to know in advance what delicious food is available to make sure to try everything without missing anything.


Of course, I got you covered (like always), and you can check my article "28 delightful food and drinks to try in Rome".


Do you want to see everything Rome has to offer and save money at the same time?

Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

17. Avoid touristic restaurants:


You will always eat very well in Rome, even in a very tourist place, but of course, those very near the famous sites and in the major squares are more expensive than those 5 minutes walk from there, so choose wisely and according to your budget.


On my "The Most Complete Guide of Rome" you will find a section with all the articles about where to eat in Rome. From breakfast, lunch, tiramisu and gelato spots to dinner.


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

18. At the restaurant, Ask for Help to chose the wine:


In Italy, you will never find bad wines in a restaurant so if you don't know a lot about wine, just ask for help from your waiter/sommelier.


Have a look at the wine list and keep in mind that even the cheapest wine bottle is still a very good wine when in Italy.


Do you like Wine?

If the answer is Yes!


Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

19. Trastevere neighbourhood is the one with more restaurants:


If you don't have an idea about where to go to eat, just go there, and you will find a place that suits your needs.


Otherwise, look at my articles, where I listed all the best places to eat all the typical Roman food:



Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

20. Learn some Italian phrases:


This is something that Italians are going to really appreciate. Italians are very friendly, so if you at least try to communicate with simple phrases, they will help you and love you.


Just be careful about the "Latin lover type", they are very charming and know how to talk to pretty tourists. Unless you are looking for a Roman romance holiday, in that case, you are in the right place, have fun!

More Destinations Travel Guides and more Travel Tips are added regularly, so hit the subscribe button at the end of this article to be always updated about new articles (and get all the giveaways).

Valentina's Travel Guide, 21 Essentials Tips to Visit Rome

21. An excellent way to explore the city is by booking a bike tour:


You can really book every kind of activity in Rome, and booking a bike tour, is a perfect way to explore in a sort of fast way with a local guide who will also teach you some Roman history.



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Feel free to leave a comment below and share this article with your friends, maybe someone you know is planning to visit Rome.


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About me

Hi! I'm Valentina,

but you can call me Vale.

I'm an Italian with a passion for well-planned travels and food.

In my Travel Guide, you will find everything you need to plan your perfect travel around the world.

Valentina

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