TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO ROME (AND DON'T CHARGE IT)

Rome is always a perfect destination for any traveler. It has everything: history, good food, postcard corners and good food. Ah, I had already said it. So if you have the possibility, make the leap to the Eternal City! But be careful, first you have to prepare the trip a little so that everything goes smoothly. Let us help you with these tips for traveling to Rome (and not shit). Italian word that is good advice 😉

There is direct flights from Spain to one of the two airports of Rome (Ciampino and Fiumicino). They leave from these spanish cities: Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Alicante, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, Santander, Ibiza, Palma, Santiago de Compostela, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.

As we anticipate, in Rome there are two airports: Fiumicino and Ciampino. We have already told you how to get to the center of Rome from both and how to move, but here is a summary:

:: Fiumicino: You have these options:

• By train, with the lineLeonardo express (€ 14) or the line FL1(€ 8). More info on trenitalia.
• By bus, with companies such as Terravisión or Shiaffini (€ 5-7).
• By taxi or private transport, the fixed fare to the center of Rome by taxi is € 48.

:: Ciampino: is where Ryanair and Wizzair fly. To get to the center of Rome you have these options:

• By bus + train, bus to Ciampino station (€ 1.20) + train to Termini (€ 1.50). More info.
• By bus + metro, bus to Anagnina metro station (€ 1.20) + MA metro to Termini (€ 1.50).
• By urban bus + metro: bus 720 to the Laurentina metro station (MB) + the subway to the center (only € 1.50 ticket). Or bus 520 to the metro stations MA Subaugusta and Cinecittà + metro (€ 1.50).
• By bus, with companies like Terravisión or Shiaffini (€ 5-6).
• By taxi or private transport, the fixed fare to the center of Rome by taxi is € 30.

We always recommend go on foot, although for longer journeys or save you a walk it is best to use theurban buses or the meter. Tickets cost € 1.50.

Wikipedia

There is transport vouchers 24 hours (€ 7), 48 hours (€ 12.50), 72 hours (€ 18) and one week (€ 24). You can buy them at the metro stations and they are valid for both the metro and buses, within the metropolitan area of ​​Rome. More info.

For calculate the path and know what transport to take, it is best that you use Google Maps, it is usually the one that works best. There is also Moovit's.

For more information on how to get to Rome and how to get around, check out our article.

In Italy, as in other European countries,Roaming no longer exists! With what you can use your phone as if you were in Spain. That means that you can make calls to Spanish numbers (but not to Italian numbers), receive calls, send SMS and connect to the Internet, at no cost.

Remember that in order to use your data you have to enable “data roaming” on your phone.

Rome in summer can be very very hot. In addition to being the moment that receives more tourism. So we always advise to make a little escape to Rome in spring or autumn. Here we leave you the predictions for the next days:

Accommodation in Rome is usually quite expensive for what they offer. Even so, prices are not as high as in Venice or in other European capitals. Although there are always options at backpacker price. Here we give you a list with a few cheap and quality hotels and hostels.

As for where to stay, in Rome there are different neighborhoods (or Rioni) to do so in the historic center. We usually look first at the Rione Monti (the Colosseum area), has metro stations nearby and you can find cheap accommodation. Although if you find somewhere to sleep in the Rione Parione, you have succeeded! We stayed here on our last visit, next to Campo de Fiori, and we really liked it. Rione Pigna, Rione Colonna or Rione Campo Marzio They are also excellent options.

Although where the cheapest accommodations are concentrated in the center of Rome is around the Termini station and in the Vatican area. I finished It is an area with many hostels and bed and breakfast, a few years ago it had quite a bad reputation, but little by little it is recovering. Although if you can avoid all the Rione Esquilino best. As for the Vatican, corresponding to Rione Prati, the only drawback is the remoteness with the rest of Rome's attractions, so you will need to move almost safely by public transport, but it is a very safe place with many renovated and very nice tourist apartments.

As in most European capitals, they are offeredfree walking tours in Spanish, to know the most important places of the city and its curiosities. And with Rome we have double prize! There are two free tours: a monumental tour, which takes you to discover the most famous sites; and another of mysteries and legends, to know the hidden face of Rome. You know they are free but a tip in the end is welcome!

If you intend to move a lot by public transport and visit the most important attractions of Rome, a good option is the Roma Pass. There are 48 and 72 hours mode:

• 48 hours: it allows you free access to a museum or archaeological site (Colosseum, Capitoline Museums ...) and discounts on others. Includes transportation in the city for 48 hours. It costs € 28.
• 72 hours: two two sites where you can enter for free, in addition to discounts and 72-hour transportation. It costs € 38.50.

Does the Rome Pass come out profitable? The ticket of the Colosseum costs € 12 and that of the Capitoline Museums € 15. We have already seen that the 72-hour transport costs € 18, so only that already has a value of € 45. You will also enjoy the skip-the-line entrance to the Colosseum and the Capitoline Museums, and discounts on other attractions included. More info.

Although if you really want to visit as many paid attractions as possible in Rome, including the Vatican, it is best to get the cardOMNIA Vatican & Rome Card. We use it on one of our trips and we believe it is a success. For € 113 you have included the ticket without queue (very, very important) to the Vatican Museums, to the Basilica of St. Peter (the lines here are bestial), the Prison of St. Peter, the Basilica of St. John Lateran ... And you can Choose two of these attractions:

• Colosseum, Roman and Palatine Forum
• Capitoline Museums
• Borghese Gallery
• Sant 'Angelo Castle

* We, without hesitation, would choose the entrance of the Colosseum-Forum-Palatine and the Capitoline Museums.

The Omnia Vatican & Rome Card also includes unlimited public transport (3 days), the tourist bus (3 days) and a guide and map of Rome. More info and buy online.

In the Colosseum there are two tails: the of the ticket office to buy the ticket, and that of the Security controls and access. They both petan! But the best thing to at least skip one of them is to buy the ticket in the Forum, it is the same for the Forum, the Palatine and the Colosseum. And best of all, it is valid for two consecutive days.

The Colosseum has a capacity of 3,000 visitors, so once it is full, the access queues begin to grow. We passed by about 15 and it was impossible. We were recommended to go early in the morning or in the afternoon before it closes, but the latter is very risky.

So the plan would be, visit the Forum and the Palatine one day, and the next day early to visit the Colosseum very early.

For the holders of tourist cards There is a special entrance, close to Via dei Fori Imperiali, with a sign that says "Gruppi e Roma Pass". Olé! And that of the groups? Well yes, you will soon realize that going here in a group is a fat mafia! When you arrive at the square they will overwhelm you wondering if you want to skip the lines, joining a guided group. The price I think was € 20 plus admission ...

Although if you have thought hire a guide, this is the moment. These guided tours allow you to skip the lines:

• Guided tour of the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine
• Colosseum, Forum and Palatine + Gladiator Arena
• Vatican + Colosseum, Forum and Palatine

Keep in mind that in the Vatican there are two places where huge queues are formed: the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. For the Vatican Museums A good option is to reserve the ticket online on your website. There is a supplement of € 4. If you have the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card, it's also worth it. In both cases you skip the line to buy the ticket and you can go directly to the entrance, in Viale Vaticano.

The entrance to the Basilica of Saint Peter It's free, but it's almost impossible to get in if you don't have a degree that allows you to skip the lines. With the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card you can go directly to the security controls. But you can also buy the ticket online (important, no queue). Here for example it costs € 24. Or get well early, open at 7 in the morning 😉

Now, a good trick (but obviously not free) is to hire a tour that includes a visit (without a queue) to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. If you do not want to waste precious time and prefer to visit with a Spanish guide, we believe it is the best option. Here you have all the information.

As previously mentioned, there are Guided visits In Rome that include entry and skip the lines, these are the recommended ones:

Oh, and remember to dress appropriately so you don't have surprises!

It is true that improvisation is always good, but believe us, in Rome there are so many things to see and do that it is best to set up a daily itinerary. Here you have a 3-day itinerary in Rome that can serve as a model, but adapt it to your preferences!

The truth is that nothing has to do with the Colosseum by day and the Colosseum by night ... and what about the Trevi Fountain? More of the same: in the light of the day Rome looks beautiful (and quite to overflow, the truth) and at night it has a very special mystical aurea, and something very important, there are not so many tourists!

There are 3 typical dishes that you have to try yes or yes in Rome: pasta cacio e pepe (with tons of cheese and pepper), amatriciana pasta (with tomato, a spicy touch and bacon), and I supplied (some rice and tomato balls perfect to remove the bug at mid-morning / afternoon). But there are many more specialties.

In this post we recommend a few restaurants to eat in Rome (good and cheap)

Rome is a city of churches and you will end up entering sacred places again and again, so watch your wardrobe. Remember to cover your shoulders and not teach too much. A good idea, for the summer months, is to carry a handkerchief in your backpack so you can cover yourself when necessary and avoid ending up in the girone infernale (Dante docet).

And fill it every time you can, so you will avoid spending money on the (expensive) sodas of street vendors. Also in Rome there are quite a few sources of drinking water, so you won't have trouble keeping yourself hydrated.

No, they are not going to fight with you, but they can be very heavy. After taking a picture with them, they will ask you for a tipon, so if you don't want to find yourself in an awkward situation, bah, you better take a picture!

If you travel to Rome during the first Sunday of the month, you are in luck: many tickets are totally free. Among the sites are: Colosseum, Forum and Palatine, Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, Castel Sant'Angelo, Galleria Borghese, Terme di Caracalla, Villa Adriana or Villa d'Este. For the Vatican Museums, it is free on the last Sunday of the month.

Keep in mind that you will have to get up early and be patient: you will not be the only one who wants to enjoy free tickets 😉

These are some tips for traveling to Rome (and not shit). Do you have any that essential? Tell us!