Ahh, Roma. The land of La Dolce Vita and a treasure trove of ancient sites that can make even the most jaded museum-goer swoon. With the congruence of fashion, food, and fascinating history, Rome is a must-visit on many a traveler's bucket list, and for good reason. The city is fairly easy to explore and English is widely spoken, making it fairly accessible for American travelers. Before you pack your bags, it's a good idea to do a little research to avoid any international faux pas and ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.
Luckily for you, I've learned from my own travel mishaps and have consolidated those lessons into a few key takeaways so you don't make the same mistakes I did. So, without further ado, here are eight things you should know before traveling to Rome.
1. Public bathrooms are not free
One instance of culture shock I experienced when visiting Rome (and Italy in general) for the first time is the realization that you have to pay to use public restrooms. Typically, prices (or expected tips) range from €0.50 to €1. While not expensive, these fees can add up quickly, especially if you're not expecting them.
However, there is one tip I learned from a helpful tour guide: Shops or restaurants with a public bathroom are legally obligated to let you use it. Just make sure you ask first and try to buy something from the shop to be courteous.
2. You'll have a better experience if you learn a little Italian
This should be a no-brainer, but learning a few key phrases in the local language anywhere you travel will almost always lead to a better experience. Even as American tourists, it's irritating to overhear other travelers who walk into a shop or restaurant immediately default to English.
While Italians are generally friendly anyway, we found that people were even warmer and more willing to help when we made an effort. Here are a few key phrases (spelled phonetically) to keep in your back pocket when strolling the streets of Rome:
Parla Inglese: Parh-la een-glay-zeh (Do you speak English?)
Buon giorno: Bwohn-johr-noh (Good morning)
Buona sera: Bwoh-nah-seh-rah (Good afternoon/evening)
Ciao: Chow (Hi/Bye)
Per favore: Pehr fah-voh-reh (Please)
Grazie: Grah-tsee-eh (Thank you)
Permesso: Per-mehs-soh (Excuse me, to pass someone)
Mi scusi: Mee Skoo-zee (Excuse me, to ask for help)
Che cosa ci consiglia: Kay koh-za chee kon-seel-ya? (What do you recommend?)
Dov'e il bagno: Doh-veh eel bahn-yoh? (Where is the bathroom?)
Il conto, per favore: Eel kon-toh, pehr fah-voh-reh (the check/bill please)
3. Restaurant etiquette is a little different
Dining in Italy is a unique experience that can come with a side of culture shock. Tipping, for example, is not required (though still appreciated) thanks to an added service charge that you'll notice on your final bill. Another charge you might notice on your tab? Water. If you ask for water, you'll be given a liter bottle of the still or sparkling variety for around €2.
In general, dining out in Italy is a long and leisurely affair. Even lunches typically feature at least two courses and a few glasses of wine. When it comes time to order, you'll be expected to order your full meal at once, so be sure to give the menu a good once-over before calling for your server.
You may have heard rumors that the service in Italian restaurants is terrible, but it all depends on your perspective. In Rome, dining out is a recreational activity, not a business model. The goal of a restaurant in Italy is to provide you with good food and a comfortable place to relax, not to turn tables. As a result, your server will typically not check up on you unprompted. It's up to you to flag them down to place your order, to ask for another glass of wine, or to request your bill. This was a little jarring for us at first, but we really came to appreciate the leisurely pace of our meals and the unintrusive service.
4. Buy attraction tickets in advance
When exploring a new destination, there's nothing worse than the feeling of wasting time. Arriving at a highly anticipated attraction, only to be stuck in the ticket queue behind tour guides and throngs of other tourists can throw off your whole day.
Skip the stress and save tons of time by buying your must-visit attraction tickets in advance. Breezing past the ticketing queue and strolling right into the Vatican Museum or Colosseum to begin your sightseeing adventure on your own timeline is nothing short of empowering. Set yourself up for success by checking attraction websites for advance ticket sales and planning accordingly. Note that some Rome highlights, like the Museo e Galleria Borghese or special behind-the-scenes tours of Castel Sant'Angelo, require an advance ticket to limit admissions and avoid overcrowding.
5. Plan around the crowds
Rome is the most visited tourist destination in one of the most visited countries in the world. In other words: It gets crowded fast. While there's no foolproof way to avoid throngs of tourists altogether, you can strategically plan around the crowds to make your visit a little less people-y.
The top tip I can give you for planning around the crowds in Rome is to visit attractions at off-peak hours. Starting your day super early is an easy way to snap photos at iconic locations like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps before they become overrun in the late morning. You can also look for after-hours tours to take advantage of lower crowd levels or exclusive access privileges.
For example, I'm a fan of taking ghost tours in new cities because 1. They take place during the cooler evening hours and 2. You get to see a different side of the city with a more local twist.
As an added bonus, doing most of your sightseeing at odd hours means that you'll avoid the scorching mid-day Mediterranean sun. Instead of sweating with the crowds, you can spend the hottest hours of the day set up on a piazza with a glass of wine or gelato to people-watch instead.
6. There's a secret to finding good gelato
Smooth, creamy, and downright decadent, good gelato is worth every calorie --- if you know where to look for it. The general rule of thumb is to avoid stalls that feature overflowing mounds of brightly colored gelato. The garish colors and heaping piles are telltale signs that the gelato is likely not fresh and most definitely artificially flavored.
One of the easiest ways to judge the quality of a gelateria is to look at the pistachio gelato. If it's bright, minty green, then it's artificially flavored and colored. True pistachio gelato should be light brown, tan, or mossy green -- you know, natural colors.
Another detail to look for is the serving container. If the gelato is level with the pan or covered in a tin canister, then you've likely found some quality dessert. The key to keeping gelato creamy is to store it at an even temperature. This prevents the unfortunate cycle of melting and refreezing that leads to chunky ice crystals. Gelato served in smaller quantities is also a sign that it's likely being churned to order in small batches, ensuring top-quality goodness.
7. Trastevere is the foodie neighborhood
Perched across the river from Rome's historic center, Trastevere is the Brooklyn of Rome. The trendy neighborhood is home to students and ex-pats, as well as plenty of family-owned restaurants, bars, and gelato shops.
Thanks to its off-the-beaten-path locale, Trastevere is much quieter than the city center and tends to attract a younger, more local crowd, especially after nightfall. Wandering through its narrow alleys at night, you're likely to see tables of restaurant patrons spilling out into the street as they open another bottle of wine or dig into a 10 p.m. dinner (not unusual for Italy). We had the best meals of our trip here and found that most local recommendations sent us in the direction of Trastevere as well. Many tour companies even offer food-focused excursions through the neighborhood, which I would highly recommend looking into if you want to enjoy a little local flavor.
8. The water is safe to drink
Rome may not have been built in a day, but it was built to last. The water trickling through the city's famous fountains all comes from a Roman-era aqueduct, still functioning perfectly after more than 2,000 years. Fresh spring water is transported via ancient plumbing from the mountains to the city center, supplying all of Rome with refreshment, readily available from the city's hundreds of water fountains. Avoid spending extra euros on water by bringing a reusable bottle and refilling it regularly at any of Rome's free public drinking fountains.
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