Skip the line and pre-purchase tickets
To ensure that you really avoid the crowds this holiday season, travel to Rome in the spring and autumn months when the tourist season quietens down. We recommend pre-purchasing your tickets to attractions some months before which will save you waiting for hours in long lines. Being smart with knowing when to visit famous sites is the key to making certain that you get to experience the best of the locations you go to.
If you’re on a budget during your time in Rome, head to the various museums and historical sites that are free on the first Sunday of every month. While you may think visiting early in the morning will assure shorter wait times, this mindset is usually shared by most visitors and you’ll find that queues are even longer! Instead, visit the Vatican in the afternoon, around 1 pm when the hustle and movement of busy crowds have decreased.
Head to local eateries, don’t follow the crowd!
Steer clear of the mentality that tells you to eat at restaurants where you see many people because usually, this doesn’t mean that the food is always good. While the food in Rome overall is better than average wherever you go, avoid eateries close to iconic attractions such as the Spanish Steps or the Trevi Fountain. Tables filled doesn’t always equate to amazing food, and the first tell-tale sign of this will be that most of the customers are tourists. Generally, most of these visitors are taking time in between sightseeing and are after a quick bite. Don’t be afraid to branch out into the neighbourhoods and eat as the locals do!
Take some time to do a quick google search before your trip and write down local restaurants that have been tried and tested by the people of Rome. Some amazing local restaurants that are worth a visit are La Carbonara, a family-run restaurant with a brilliant pasta menu and Al Gallo Rosso- for lovers of traditional thin crust Italian pizza.
Come prepared- dress modestly when visiting holy sites
In a city as holy as Rome and with over 800 churches, it’s always a good idea to bring a shawl in case you come upon a chapel on a day out in Rome and you need a quick coverup. This is a non-negotiable rule, especially when visiting Vatican City which has a strict dress code. If you plan on visiting the Vatican, stick to long dresses or linen pants as you want to feel as comfortable as you can while you visit the many museums and gardens on display.
Be sure to stop by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a Church that is free to enter with a long history and a perfectly baroque façade. Another hot tip is to ditch any troublesome shoes like heels on your trip, as the roads are lined with cobbled stones and uneven paths. You’ll get around the city much quicker this way and your feet will thank you for the practical choice in footwear.
