Rome

 Some tips for Rome, and Italy in general.

Watch out for cars! Rome is a very busy city and cars are everywhere. Strangely, cross walks are not everywhere. My friends and I had to J-walk across the streets a few times risking our lives (not even being dramatic, guys). While living in Italy, my housemates and I had an on going joke about how cars in Italy have the right-of-way, not people.

Also, watch out for the Gypsies! They are everywhere! Especially outside of places like the Trevi fountain and Colosseum. In Rome, there was a lot more people that try and sell you things (umbrellas, roses, toys). If you are going to buy something from a gypsy or man on the street (like an umbrella, which a lot of people had to buy the weekend we went) make sure to negotiate the price with them. Never pay more than 7 euros for their umbrellas. A lot of people got the guys down to 5 euros. 

Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. I guess the legend is true. Two years later I returned to Rome. Sadly I didn’t get a chance to throw a coin in the second time I went.  🙁

Rome in the evening is magical. The crowds have gone down, traffic isn’t as bad, and places like the Trevi fountain are beautifully lit. The only downside to exploring at night is you need a good camera to take pictures. I recommend spending the day in the museums (or any place that has special hours) and walk around in the evening on your way to dinner or a late night gelato run. 

Speaking of special hours, always check when places are open. Days and hours can vary for every place you go. You don’t want to spend 30 minutes on the bus to visit the catacombs only to find out they are closed on Wednesdays.

Making a schedule for your trip is a good idea. If you’re not a schedule type of person, the hop-on hop-off buses are a great option. I have taken one in Paris and Rome. They are nice when you aren’t good at directions and are a bit clueless on what you should see while you are in that city. The buses will take you to all the major sights while you listen to the history of what you’re looking at. If you decided something is worth checking out, you can get off the bus and it will pick you up later.

When to go: I’ve gone to Rome in June and March. Try not to go in June-August. Summers in Rome are very crowded and hot. The weekend I went in March had a lot of rain, which isn’t much better than a hot blazing sun, but at least there wasn’t a line to enter every building.

My second time in Rome I was able to get into the Vatican City without waiting in line. We went directly inside the Piazza San Pietro from the bus stop. The piazza was a lot more crowded since it was mid June. When I first went to the Vatican, I remember having to wait in a long line outside the city walls. This was in March, but the reason we waited for so long is because we were going inside the Sistine Chapel, museum, and basilica. If you only want to see the Vatican City, and don’t care much about going inside museums, you can enter the Piazza San Pietro from the street and see the beautiful architecture as well as the shops surrounding the plaza.

The first time I went to Rome I got a Roma Pass included with my trip. I definitely think it’s worth the money if you plan to be in Rome for three days like I did. The pass includes free entry to museums (it comes with the book that tells you exactly which museums), unlimited rides on ATAC, detailed maps (crucial while in Italy), a BUNCH of discounts, and more.