Rome Travel Tips for First-time Visitors
- Julia Flaherty
- Mar 10
- 10 min read
In March 2024, I had the pleasure and privilege of traveling to Rome and learned a lot along the way. I’m sharing what I have learned in this post to make your future travels confident, comfortable, and joyful. While I’m not an expert traveler, I hope sharing my experiences supports your vision of a dream Italian vacation.
Here’s what you should know before you leave and while you’re there:
Rome Travel Tips Before You Leave
Invest in Good Walking Shoes
Prepare to walk to most of your destinations in Rome. Uber and taxi services are not as available. You don’t visit Rome to sit in your hotel. Investing in high-quality walking shoes is a must! I packed two pairs of shoes for a week’s stay — Dr. Scholl’s ankle boots for a dressier but comfortable fit and Nike women’s walking shoes for every adventure. These investments saved my feet while averaging about 30,000 steps per day! And when I say saved, I mean I had zero blisters after a week. Even for us fashion lovers, foot health has to come first with these odds.
Purchase and Pack a Luggage Scale
To avoid having to pay extra fees for overweight luggage, I highly recommend investing in a luggage scale, especially if you want to do some shopping in Rome. I spent about $8 for one on Amazon, which easily fit into my carry-on. A luggage scale will tell you the weight of your suitcase(s) and personal item, which will help you optimize your packing before you head to the airport and reduce the number of surprises at the check-in counter. Some airlines can be strict and start charging $100+ for as little as a few ounces overweight!
Add Yourself to STEP
When traveling outside of the United States, it’s wise to add yourself to STEP. STEP is the United States government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free service that sends email updates from the embassy or consulate. In case of emergency, enrolling in this program helps the government contact you with instructions on what to do. In today’s world, you can never be too careful! Enrolling in this program offers you extra assurance for worst-case scenarios.
Follow a Packing List
Whether you create your own or follow someone else’s, referring to a packing list will help ensure you don’t forget to account for the items you will need the most while abroad. Rick Steves was recommended to me by my primary care provider (of all people). (She’s the bomb, actually!) You can reference his Europe packing list here. I used this as a jumping-off point to create and store my own (for future exploration).
Buy an International Cell Plan
If you don’t invest in an international call plan with your carrier, be prepared for a hefty bill. Make sure you do your homework and understand your carrier’s stipulations for traveling abroad before you leave. You may find that investing in an international call plan will save you the most money in the long run and ensure you can stay in touch with your friends and family while in Rome, which I recommend. It’s always good to let someone know where you are and what you’re doing, especially if you are traveling solo! In that spirit, you may also consider sharing your location information with a few of the folks you trust the most to check in on you when you’re away.
Get a House Sitter
Whether you own or rent, it’s a good idea to have a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member check in on the place you call home while you’re away. Decide a cadence that works for you both and the proper compensation, whether it’s the promise of bringing home some Rome treats or a weekly fee! You may also consider investing in home security devices for extra assurance. Ring is a good bet!
Plan and Purchase Ahead to Save Money
The earlier you plan your trip, the more you will likely save on airfare and hotels. Typically, you can also get a better deal through bundling, such as through Delta Vacations. Check your credit cards to see if they have any rewards or benefits before you book. Rakuten, Ibotta, and Honey may also help you save. (I love using their browser extensions!) Finally, if you’re a T-Mobile customer, don’t forget to check out T Life, as they frequently have hotel deals, which could save you up to 40%.
Nerd Wallet offers more tips to save on flights here. I planned this Rome trip about nine months ahead using several of the services mentioned above, and it saved me big time! I recommend visiting during the “off” season. We stayed from late February to early March, and there were already enough tourists like us. I can’t imagine what going during peak tourist season looks like! Not to mention, the weather was comfortable at about 60 to 65 degrees daily. A light spring jacket saw us through the weather well!
Learn Key Phrases in Italian
Investing in and using an app like Babbel, a subscription-based language learning software, is worthwhile before you head to Rome. I like Babbel for its range of educational resources and ability to not only teach you new languages but cover some cultural nuances as well. Locals will appreciate you having learned at least key phrases. Knowing how to ask folks, “Do you speak English?” in their language goes a long way. You may also consider investing in and packing a phrase book and map of Italy before you leave in case your cell service is poor or your battery charge is lacking. It’s always wise to have a backup plan and not rely too heavily on your tech!
Set Travel Alerts on Your Debit and Credit Cards
Make sure you understand the travel notices you must make on the credit and debit card(s) you’ll be using abroad ahead of your trip. Set the appropriate alerts up so you have no trouble using your cards abroad. Call your bank directly with any questions you have. In the same spirit, withdraw some cash to exchange for Euros. Ideally, it’s best to exchange money before your trip to get the best rate, but I will share tips below if you forget to or can’t do it beforehand.
Rome Travel Tips While You’re There
Exchange Your U.S. Dollars for Euros
Ask your hotel concierge for recommendations on where to exchange money if you can, then do your research to ensure you’ll get the best rate. Watch out for fees. Some exchange services will take a hefty cut out of the exchange beyond the rate. Ask the service provider questions before you exchange if you don’t understand the fees. Once you’ve made the exchange, you can’t go back. Don’t get ripped off when exchanging money in Italy! It’s avoidable if you do your homework, read forums, and ask the right questions. Exchanging is necessary in Rome as not all shops accept credit or debit cards due to the fees. Nerd Wallet shares more great tips on exchanging money here.
Be Mindful of Pick Pocketers
Especially in high-traffic tourist areas, it’s essential to be mindful of your belongings. Don’t make your wallet, passport, cash, etc. easily accessible. You should be carrying these things around and not leaving them in your hotel rooms, so it’s critical to be aware of your surroundings in Rome. This tip is not to scare you but to make you aware of it, as, thankfully, many of us probably don’t have to worry about this in our day-to-day lives. For extra assurance, you could consider investing in anti-theft purses or bags from brands like Travelon, although it’s not required. The best things you can do to avoid pickpocketing are to not overly appear like a tourist, not to draw attention to yourself, not to dress overly fancy, etc. This article from Rick Steves shares more tips on avoiding pickpocketing.
Strategize Your Bathroom (Water Closet) Visits
Public restrooms, lovingly referred to as water closets in Rome, are not a thing there. Nor were they a thing when we took day trips to Venice or Tuscany. Prepare to pay to use a restroom or to use it whenever you sit down for a meal in these locations. If you’re already paying to be there, you should try to use the facilities before you head out for your next adventure.
Rome restrooms typically also don’t have toilet seats, so beware when squatting or sitting. Also, check to make sure there is toilet paper before you sit down. There were a few incidents I had during my trip to Rome that were saved by the tissue paper in my purse. (It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than the alternative!) Carry hand sanitizer with you as well. Not all restrooms have soap, paper towels, or hand dryers in Italy.
While it’s also essential to stay hydrated as you’re prancing around Rome and its neighboring cities, I recommend drinking the most water from a still or sparkling bottle while dining early in the meal so you know you’ll have access to the restroom at the end of it. Pace out your restroom visits strategically, my friends! Your bladder (and anxiety) will thank you. Trust me.
Figure Out the High-Speed Train System for Day Trips
If you’d like to take a day trip from Rome to Venice, I especially recommend figuring out the high-speed train system on your own. High-speed trains allow day trip access to many different locations near Rome. This is the only instance I don’t recommend investing in a tour guide. Venice is simple enough to figure out and enjoy without a tour guide. Just do your research and arrive early to ensure everything is ready for your big day. This article offers a good explanation of how the system works and how to find the best deals. And don’t you dare leave Venice without taking a gondola ride! You will regret it if you don’t.
For Most Everything Else, Invest in Tour Guides
For most everything else, I love investing in tour guides because they are more engaging and can address the cultural nuances that pre-recorded audio can’t.
Here are some Trip Advisor tours I’d recommend to anyone going to Rome:
Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, and Positano Day Tour: If you can stay at the Amalfi Coast longer than a day, do it; otherwise, this trip offers a healthy appetizer of the coast.
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica: If seeing St. Peter’s Basilica is especially important to you, make sure to book your tour early and on the best days acknowledged within the tour description to avoid last-minute closures for religious services. Otherwise, enjoy an extended tour of the Vatican.
Skip the Line: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill: I cannot stress the importance of investing in “Skip the Line” tours beforehand. They will help ensure you get to see everything you want to. Otherwise, you risk standing in line for hours and being unable to access what you want.
Trip Advisor isn’t sponsoring this — these are my genuine recommendations. I appreciate booking through one service as it offers better tracking, benefits, and customer service.
Don’t Give Anyone Your Credit Card
Unlike in America, where you typically give someone your credit card to pay for a meal and don’t worry about them taking it away, you wait for the waiter to bring the card reader to your table or for the vendor to approach you in Italy. You do not hand the card to them. I was told that this is because Europe has a problem with credit card scams. Don’t fall for them! Ensure all vendors, waiters, etc., bring the card reader to you. Never let them walk away with your card. It’s always better to be cautious about your financial security abroad.
Say a Prayer Before Crossing the Street
I’m mostly kidding, except I’m not. Traffic rules are a mystery in Italy. My best tip is to follow a local or someone confidently crossing the street. If cars stop for them, they’ll stop for those closely following. Rome scarcely has any crosswalk support, and when they do, sometimes drivers still don’t follow. So be sure to look, look again, take a deep breath, and go for it when crossing the street. One of the worst things you can do is change your mind in the middle of a crosswalk.
Take a Cooking Class
Don’t leave Rome without taking a cooking class! I personally loved my Trip Advisor booking with Leo, who was a talented and charismatic chef who made Italian cooking easy to understand and accessible for various experience levels. Not to mention, the end product tasted terrific, and we met other travelers and gathered their tips and advice on the best eats and treats around.
Enjoy the Pasta, Pizza, and Wine Guilt-Free
If you’re averaging 30,000 steps daily, you shouldn’t be worrying about the pasta, pizza, wine, gelato, or tiramisu. I got home and am happy to say that I didn’t lose or gain weight! I’m counting that as a win. When will you ever be in Italy again? Enjoy it! In the same spirit, try to find hidden gems outside the tourist areas. Ask the hotel staff for their restaurant recommendations, and when ordering at places, ask the wait staff for their menu recommendations. Their picks will always be the best menu options! Trust me.
Also, if the region you’re in is known for something, lean into that flavor. You’ll indeed find a lot of lemon and pistachio, for example. Don’t expect something Italians aren’t known for to be the best dish. Try the traditional dishes! You’ll be happy you took their recommendations and leaned into the culture.
Here are some of my favorite places we ate that I can recall:
Life Ristorante: If truffles are your thing, you’ll love Life Ristorante! I had truffles a few times in Italy, and they served the best ones by far.
Maccarone II Pastafico: This may be the most underrated stop in Rome, Italy. It might’ve been my favorite meal and was one of the least expensive meals I enjoyed there! Don’t miss it if you go.
Della Palma: After you’re done at Trevi fountain, enjoy one, two, three, four, etc. of the 150 flavors of gelato that Della Palma offers! We visited this location several times in Rome, and I can’t rave about it enough. Don’t miss their Chocolate Orange, Macaron, and Champagne flavors, among many others!
I’m sure I’m missing many can’t-miss locations, but honestly, I found it hard to go wrong when dining in Italy. I can’t think of a meal I didn’t enjoy from those listed above to corner stop “by the slice” pizza places.
Don’t Expect to Eat or be Served Breakfast
In Rome, most people don’t eat breakfast. At least, that’s what my tour guides told me. If somewhere serves breakfast, they’re trying to accommodate Americans. Honestly, the longer I was in Rome, the more I realized people must not eat breakfast because they eat dinner late. In the winter, a tour guide told me Romans eat around 7 PM; in the summer, they eat around 10 PM. This is due to the weather. It’s too hot to eat at 7 PM in the summer. Many restaurants also shut down between lunch and dinner, so don’t expect to eat at typical American times.
All to say…
I am not an expert traveler. The Rome travel tips mentioned throughout this article are based on my personal experiences during a recent vacation that I felt incredibly grateful to go on! Rome is a beautiful place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. I hope this post helps you feel confident, comfortable, and joyful while traveling there.
