Rome is a huge, historic, enigmatic city to explore. There’s so much to see and it can be difficult to pack it all in on a single trip! You can view my favorite photos from the trip in my Rome photoessay. But what do you need to know before you go? Well, if you don’t want to break the bank, there’s kind of a lot. It is possible to visit Rome on a budget and have a great time. Here are 9 practical tips for visiting Rome!

1) Book skip-the-line tickets in advance

If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll probably spend most of your trip to Rome standing in line for the major attractions. For the two biggest sights in Rome, the Colosseum (including the Roman Forum) and the Vatican Museums, book skip-the-line tickets ahead of time. I booked tickets for an early morning timeslot and I’m so glad I did. This gave me so much more time to visit each place, and avoid a small portion of the crowds! You can take a look at the below tickets to book yours in advance.

2) If you don’t book your tickets in advance, buy your Colosseum tickets from the Palatine Hill entrance

There will always be a big queue to buy tickets on the day at the Colosseum. This ticket gives you entry to both the Colosseum and the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill. If you don’t book your timeslot ahead of time, buy your ticket from the Palatine Hill entrance. The lines here are nowhere near as bad as they are at the Colosseum. After you’ve explored the Roman Forum, head over to the Colosseum and since you already have your ticket, you’ll be able to get straight in after security! This is one of my best tips for visiting Rome!

3) Join a group tour for the shortcut in the Sistine Chapel to avoid lines at St. Peter’s Basilica

If you’re going to Rome, you’ll almost certainly be visiting the Vatican Museums. And if you’re visiting the Vatican, you’re definitely going to see the Sistine Chapel. I raced through everything to see the Sistine Chapel first thing in the morning, then went back and explored the rest of the giant museum complex. When I was ready to leave, I headed back to the Sistine Chapel. Thanks to this tip from the Times, I then tagged along at the end of a group tour and cut through the door at the back of the Sistine Chapel with them. This then meant I went down a staircase and around right into the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica!

In normal circumstances, you’ll need to exit the Vatican Museums, then go to St. Peter’s Square and join the line going through security. This can add on an extra 1-3 hours of waiting during really busy times!! If you’re brave enough to join onto the end of a tour group and manage it at the right time, you can save hours by going the sneaky way.

4) Sitting at a table is more expensive than standing at the counter

While I haven’t traveled very extensive in Italy (I’ve only been to Rome and Venice!), standing at the counter and having an espresso or coffee definitely seems to be a thing. Many cafes will have two separate prices for drinks: sitting down at a table, or standing at the counter. This may only be €0.50 or €1, but it can quickly add up!

5) Beware of the service charge

Some restaurants or cafes in Rome will charge a flat fee for table service, instead of having a simply higher price like above. This is a really easy way to overcharge tourists—after the bill comes, you can’t *really* take it off, since you’ve had the service throughout your meal. A lot of menus outside restaurants will now advise “no service charge,” but if you’re not sure you can always ask before you commit to a meal.

6) There are a lot of stunning churches in Rome, and they’re (usually) free!

Regardless of whether or not you’re religious, you have to visit at least a few of the gorgeous churches on a trip to Rome. The best part of visiting churches? There’s generally no entrance fee! Some of my favorite churches were Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, Sant’Agnese in Agone on the Piazza Navona, and Santa Maria in Trastevere.

7) The Metro is fast and easy, but Rome is definitely best explored on foot

Rome has two main Metro lines, with a third currently being built. It costs €1.50 per ride and is efficient at getting people all over the city. While it’s great to get around underground, the beauty of Rome is the hidden gems and the historic and beautiful buildings that seem to dot every corner. You can see and experience so much more of the city on foot!

8) Check airports and transport options!

There are two airports for Rome: Fiumcino (FCO), and Ciampano (CIA). Make sure you know which airport you’re flying into and leaving from! If you’re flying on a budget airline (like Ryanair), you’ll probably be flying into CIA. Most regular airlines fly into FCO, which is further away. There are a multitude of train and bus options to get from FCO into Rome city center, but for CIA it’ll probably be easiest to take a shuttle bus. You can take a local bus to Ciampano station, and take a train from Ciampano into Rome. But there will be long lines for the local bus, and the trains only run every 30 minutes. At CIA there are loads of companies offering shuttle buses, which are all more or less the same price. I used Terravision which was €10 per person for a return ticket.

9) Stay in a central location, especially on a short trip

Rome is huge, and it definitely pays to stay in a central location. I stayed in two fantastic places, both of which were near Rome Termini. This made getting in and out of the city so easy, as I was within a 10-minute walk to the station! I was also close to Metro stations, which was very easy to get to the Vatican. During my trip to Rome, I walked for miles and miles every day and saw so much of the city. Staying in a central location is one of the best travel tips for Rome!

I stayed at Blue Hostel for my first few nights in a private double room. This is definitely more of a boutique hotel than hostel (there are no dorm rooms), housed in a gorgeous 17^th-century convent. Our room was en-suite, the bed was really comfortable, and they even had an espresso machine and books on Rome to browse! It definitely felt like home, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a private room without an expensive hotel price tag. You can read my full review here. It was about a 10-minute walk from Rome Termini to the hostel, so the location was excellent. Check prices and book direct, or on Hostelworld and Booking.com.

I also stayed at the Beehive Hostel for several nights, again in a private room. The Beehive is again located within a 10-minute walk to Rome Termini, so made a great central base for exploring. While I stayed in a private room, there are dorm rooms as well as a cozy common room and big café downstairs. Common rooms and community are always one of the main reasons I stay in hostels, and this was a great hostel for it! They do cooking classes and regular events. Check prices and book direct, or on Hostelworld.

The Basics

Rome is the capital of Italy, and one of the most popular destinations in the world. The official language is Italian, although English is widely spoken in most places. The official currency is Euros. Rome has a population of about 2.87 million while Italy as a whole has about 60.48 million people. Italy is a member of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone.

Getting Around

Like I said above, the Metro is fast and easy. There are two main lines for the Rome Metro, and a third is on its way. A ticket costs €1.50 per ride. There is also a big tram network in Rome, with six different tram lines. If you’re visiting Trastevere, the neighborhood doesn’t have a Metro station so tram will be your best bet. There are also lots of city buses as well.

Planning Your Trip

I flew to Rome for my week-long trip, but many people visit Rome as part of a longer trip to Italy. I recommend Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights, and I use Trainline for train tickets. You can book accommodation through Hostelworld or Booking.com, or you can sign up to and search accommodation through Airbnb! Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

There is so much to do and see in Rome. With these practical travel tips, you’ll be able to make the most of your trip and enjoy the city to the fullest extent! I hope these tips help you in planning your own trip to Rome!

I stayed at Blue Hostel and the Beehive Hostel on a discounted media rate in exchange for an honest review and social media promotion. All opinions (and photos) are of course my own!

Have you ever been to Rome before? What tips would you recommend to visitors?

You might like my other posts:

How Much Does It Cost To Spend 1 Week In Rome?

20 Photos To Capture The Magic Of Rome, The Eternal City

Hostel Review: Blue Hostel, Rome

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