Arriving in a foreign city for the first time can be a bit of a daunting experience, particularly an Italian city where passions run high and the pace of life can be fast. If you’re planning a trip to the city for the first time and need a little guidance, here are 10 tips for your first visit to Rome:
1. Go At The Right Time
This may sound odd, but the time of year that you choose to travel can really impact your first visit to Rome. The key months to avoid are June and July when the weather is hot and humid and the queues for the main tourist attractions can stretch around the block.
2. Plan Your Sightseeing In Advance
Although Rome doesn’t have one single pass for all its museums and attractions, you can buy combined tickets for many attractions — for example, the Rome Archeologica card costs €27.50 and includes entry to the Baths of Caracalla, Palatino and Palatino Museum and the Coliseum. Think ahead and buy the right passes to save money and time.
3. Leave The Heels At Home
One of the major pleasures of Rome is just walking through its streets and taking in the atmosphere. Make sure you are equipped with the right footwear to do this and remember there are plenty of cobbled streets to trip you up if you’re wearing 6-inch stilettos.
4. ‘In the historic city centre’
When you are booking a hotel in Rome, make sure you research exactly where you are planning on staying. Many hotels advertise themselves as ‘in the historic city centre,’ but the historic centre is huge and you could find yourself miles from all the major attractions if you don’t do your homework.
5. Closed For Vacation
If you choose to brave Rome in the height of summer, remember that many local residents often take July and August off for their own holidays. The lucky ones will decamp to the coast for the entire two months. This means that many restaurants, shops and bars may be closed, particularly in less central areas.
6. Prepare For The Heat
Rome gets HOT in summer so make sure you take a hat, sunglasses, sun cream and a bottle of water everywhere you go.
7. Chill Out
The mistake many first time visitors to Rome make is trying to cram everything into one day. If you do this, it is unlikely that you will enjoy any of your experiences. Focus on one or two things you really want to do and do them slowly, then spend the rest of the day sitting on a bench in the shade with an ice cream, watching the world go by.
8. Hit The Streets
Much of the early evening action in Rome takes place in the street cafes and bars. There’s no need for fancy cocktails or plush surroundings as sipping a beer at the Piazza di Campo dei Fiori near the Pantheon, or in picturesque Trastevere is much more Roman.
9. Take The Bus
Although Rome does have an underground system, the local bus network reaches much further and you can get to many more attractions with much less effort. Buses run from 5.30am — midnight every day and you can pick up a bus map when you arrive. Fares are generally €1 for a standard journey, €4 for a day pass and €11 for a 3 day tourist pass.
10. Food Glorious Food
The food in Rome is one of the city’s main attractions — whether you like a good carbonara, pizza or bruschetta, you will find it all in Rome. There are plenty of ‘pizza al taglio’ shops in the city where you can pick up a cheap lunch, or you can head to a restaurant or trattorie for something more lavish.
About the author
Amy is a guest blogger from easyjet who offer great deals on flights to Rome from the UK and across Europe
By Olivia GrilHey Folks! I'm Olivia from California, United States. I'm a blogger, travel lover, I can travel anywhere, whether it's a new place or already visited. I love meeting new people, clicking photos of every movement, and documenting my adventure. I also, write about travel, travel movies, the best places to visit, etc. Read my stories.
