Ah, Rome. The Eternal City. The Capital of the World. A romantic getaway, and a history buff’s paradise. However you’d like to describe it, Rome remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city is bustling and lively, and the history is present everywhere from the grand Colosseum to the original cobblestone streets. However, there are some details you may want to know about the city before visiting Rome.
Rome has Poor Public Transit
Throughout all of the European cities I have visited, Rome had some of the worst public transit services. Where I stayed at The Yellow hostel near the main bus station, there were no nearby metro stations. The busses and metro are fairly difficult to navigate, with no timetables and few maps at stops. Tourists visiting Rome are often caught with a hefty fine of 50 to 60 euros if they forget to “validate” their transport ticket (by getting them stamped after entering the bus/tram). I attempted to take the bus in Rome near my hostel in order to save money, and ended up forced to get off on the opposite end of the city in the middle of the night! The metro is easily accessible only directly near the major tourist attractions. You’re better off taking Ubers throughout the city if you are not staying in the city’s center.
After scouring the internet to see if I was just misinformed on how to use Rome’s public transit, I was met with story after story of similar situations.
I had the best luck using Ubers to get around the city or walking when feasible. Another great way to see the city like a local is to rent a motor scooter! Depending on where you rent the bike, you can end up saving a big chunk of change compared to taking taxis and Ubers around the city.
Use the code staciam273ui to get a discount on your first 3 rides with Uber!
Be wary of taking taxis around Rome. Taxi drivers in the city often try to scam tourists by setting a specific price instead of running the meter, which will end up being much higher in cost. Don’t be afraid to argue with a driver to ensure you get the meter price instead of an asking price BEFORE you get in the car!
You Will be Swarmed by Ticket Salesmen at Attractions while Visiting Rome
You will always know you are getting close to a major attraction in Rome because you will be suddenly swarmed by dozens of salesmen. People offering tickets and “discount” tours blocked my path more times than I could count while walking around the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and near the Vatican museums. I visited Rome in March 2019, which is a slower tourist season. These crowds of salesmen will only be worse during peak seasons!
To get discount tours and tickets while visiting Rome, check with your hotel or hostel. I was able to get discounted tickets to the Vatican by ordering in advance and using a code given to me by the hostel I was staying at. Be sure to print your ticket and have a physical copy with you when you arrive. Some attractions do not accept digital receipts or tickets.
Large Crowds at Attractions
Speaking of crowds around attractions, expect a lot of them! Lines to buy tickets stretched for blocks at the Vatican when I visited, and the line was over 2 hours long to enter the Colosseum. Order your tickets in advance and get to the attractions as early as you can to avoid crowds. In order to get the best pictures, Rome is beautiful and quiet at sunrise!
Advice for Women Visiting Rome
For female travelers, expect Italian men to be very forward with you. I was stopped multiple times by men inviting me out to dinner and even PROPOSING to me while I was with my sister. Be blunt, ignore them, or even wear a fake wedding ring if you do not want to navigate a conversation in broken English on why you do not want to marry a strange Italian man. I never felt unsafe, just annoyed.
Rome is an absolutely stunning city, and worth the visit. I loved the history, food, and architecture. I even took an incredible tour to Pompeii from Rome! Just keep in mind that since Rome is a huge tourist destination, it will have some hassles for those tourists. Stay smart, plan ahead, and you’ll love your time in Rome!
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As someone who lived in Rome for 5 months last year, this is all very accurate haha.
I’m so glad I got it right after only spending a week in Rome! Thanks for reading :)
While I completely agree with you about all the touristy salesmen and pretending to be married, I found the metro system quite easy to use while I was in Rome. I think I bought a 3 day pass and was totally fine.
It’s decent in the touristy parts of town, but I found that the metro didn’t reach many places and the bus system specifically very difficult to maneuver. All in all, it just didn’t compare to other major cities I visited around Europe. But I’m glad you didn’t have any trouble!