Rome is an incredibly magnificent city blessed with an overflowing amount of history.
As the extraordinary seat of government of the once-powerful Roman Empire, it is now the enthralling capital of Italy and the location of the Vatican, the Catholic Church’s glorious headquarters.
Roma is akin to a ripe onion eagerly craving to be peeled and explored one layer at a time. It handsomely rewards those who are patient and passionate about getting to know her.
Just like any other European city, Rome can get ridiculously expensive if you allow yourself to fall prey to its myriad of tourist traps and its ultra-crafty pickpockets.
Planning ahead, knowing what to expect, and learning how to outsmart petty thieves should be in order before you embark on your journey to this phenomenal city.
If you are cautious and play your cards right, you are destined to have a terrific trip studded with memories that could last an eternity. Rome is not called the Eternal City for nothing.
In this blog post, I will share some travel hacks to help you save some precious time and money. The more money you save while on this trip, the higher the likelihood that you can afford your next dream destination.
10 BUDGET TRAVEL HACKS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY IN ROME
1. ROMAN WALKS
Ditch the expensive private tours. Rome is best explored on foot.
The majority of its highlights are concentrated in the same or adjoining neighborhoods and linking them up by walking is not only easy to do independently, but it is also highly recommended.
Remnants of the Roman Empire are omnipresent so it is not unusual to unexpectedly stumble upon an active excavation site or a restored ruin virtually anywhere in Rome.
Put your explorer hats on! Roma is a treasure trove of impeccable archaeological and historical finds.
FREE AUDIO WALKING TOURS
I greatly suggest downloading the Rick Steves Rome podcast episodes from iTunes. Links of individual episodes of his ROME podcast will be featured all over this post.
For Android users, you have to download the Rick Steves Europe Audio Tours App in order to access the podcast episodes (link below).
He offers this for FREE and it’s a travesty not to take advantage of this phenomenal resource.
DOWNLOAD THE RICK STEVES EUROPE APP FOR ITUNES & GOOGLE PLAY HERE.
PLANNING IS HALF THE FUN.
I typically listen to these audio tours a few weeks before my departure, usually during my daily commute to work. This keeps me exceedingly excited about my trip and deeply motivated about planning my itinerary.
There is an immense amount of historical data in these audio tours so it pays to have a head start before embarking on your Roman odyssey.
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES AUDIO TOUR OF THE COLOSSEUM HERE
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES AUDIO TOUR OF THE ROMAN FORUM HERE
GUIDEBOOKS
Borrowing guidebooks specific to Rome or Italy at your public library is recommended.
It will be essential for planning, navigating, and learning about the multi-layered history of this intense urban jungle.
You can also order from Amazon.com. Click any of the images below to be read more about the product.
2. PACK A ROMAN PICNIC LUNCH
Sightseeing around Rome is no easy feat. There is an overwhelming array of attractions to tick off and I do not suggest lingering in a restaurant at midday when you can continue to hit the ground exploring instead.
Leave the entire Italian gourmet experience for dinner, when it is much more atmospheric and romantic. Italian dining is not meant to be rushed anyway.
If your hotel or hostel offers free breakfast, I’d pack a sandwich, a hardboiled egg, a granola bar, and some fruit with you. Don’t forget to fill up your reusable water bottle and don’t worry about running out of water.
Rome has plenty of water fountains strategically situated in the touristy areas to ensure busy travelers stay hydrated especially during summer’s oppressive heat.
NEW STRICT LAWS
A word of caution though, new stringent laws prohibiting snacking in touristy areas have recently been enforced so I suggest finding a cafe or a gelateria where you can discreetly munch on your packed lunch while savoring your cappuccino or gelato as an alternative option.
Weather-permitting, try to grab an outdoor table so you can also simultaneously enjoy Roman people-watching at its finest.
If you are in the mood to truly penny-pinch, coffee ordered and consumed standing up at the bar will save you some change.
PROVERBIAL PIZZA
You can also grab a slice of pizza anywhere if a packed lunch is too laborious for your taste.
Point is, it is crucial not to squander priceless sightseeing time during the day when all attractions and churches are open for exploration.
MY FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GRAB AFFORDABLE BUT AUTHENTIC ROMAN FARE
- TRASTEVERE: Love this charming district filled with inviting trattorias, a couple of mosaic-plastered churches, colorful neighborhoods, and Rome’s highest hill (and most strenuous hike) – Gianicolo. Take the recommended FREE tour below before you deep dive into an unforgettable Italian culinary experience.
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES FREE AUDIO TOUR OF TRASTEVERE HERE
- THE JEWISH GHETTO: Just right across the Tiber River from Trastevere and bordering Capitoline Hill is where the majority of the Jews settled while living in Rome for centuries. Before checking out the bakeries and eateries, I recommend embarking on a walking tour below if you are curious about the history of Jews in Rome.
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES FREE AUDIO TOUR OF THE JEWISH GHETTO HERE.
- TERMINI: The streets that jut out from the central railway station are overflowing with cheap eateries. Even the station has some decent eats.
- TYPE “RESTAURANT” IN YOUR GOOGLE MAP SEARCH BOX. This will provide you with a list of well-reviewed restaurants by locals and tourists alike near where you are. You do not have to worry crossing over to another part of town just to find reasonable choices. Just remember to select the restaurant with the most number of stars and the fewest dollar signs.
3. FREE SIGHTS
Many of Rome’s iconic attractions can be visited for free. The only drawback is that you will have to arm-wrestle against other tourists for access to the best photo spots.
Selfie-sticks are banned in most of the sights too so please ask first before using; otherwise, you run the risk of getting fined.
Be prepared to perform some photoshop vanishing skills on your picture-perfect portraits when you get back home as chances are, there will be a random person or two in it.
HERE ARE MY 5 MUST-VISIT FREE SIGHTS IN BELLA ROMA
Download or share this FREE walking tour MAP of the 5 Must-Visit Sites in Rome. If you only have one day in Rome, these are the unmissable landmarks.
1. The Imperial Forums (Walk along Via Dei Fori Imperiali starting from the Colosseum down to Trajan’s Column or vice versa)
Majestic any time of the day but particularly magical and gorgeously floodlit at night. This is where it all began, the seed that bore fruit to Rome.
You have FREE access to the views of all the monumental Roman Empire sights just by walking along this historic avenue.
In fact, the best photos for the Colosseum can be captured along this glorious Roman street. No tickets required for the views.
Do Not Miss: Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Imperial Markets, The Trajan Markets, and The Trajan Column
If you want to extensively explore the archaeological sites though, you would need to pay.
2. The Pantheon
My favorite Roman building is also FREE to enter. Prepare to be blown away by its impressive dome and how wondrously intact and astonishingly preserved the structure still is.
It still holds the record for the largest unsupported concrete dome in the world. Unfathomably constructed back in the 1st century.
The Pantheon is an architectural and engineering feat when it was constructed and still continues to be a veritable showstopper up to now. Rick Steves’ audio tour below is superbly recommended (Free!).
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES FREE AUDIO TOUR OF THE PANTHEON HERE
3. Trevi Fountain
This overwhelming Baroque circus of a masterpiece is authentically Roman.
You can not leave Rome without tossing a coin in Rome’s most famous body of water unless you have no desire to come back. The coins at the bottom of the fountain are collected nightly and have been feeding Rome’s poorest for decades.
Visit any time of the day but the energy is more exhilarating at night.
4. The Spanish Steps
Another iconic Roman monument, the Spanish Steps is popular for a reason. One of Rome’s most enigmatic sunsets can be viewed from here.
Strict new laws forbid snacking and sitting on the stairs.
5. Piazza Navona
Rome’s other famous fountain occupies the center stage of this former racetrack converted into one of the city’s most celebrated piazzas.
It is free to roam around here but you have to pay if you want to see the foundation of the original structure at the visitor center located at the far northern end of the square.
4. CHURCHES
Rome’s churches contain some of the world’s preeminent artistic treasures. My love affair with Caravaggio’s art was conceived in one of Roma’s renowned houses of worship.
Proofs of the genius that is Michaelangelo and Bernini are scattered all over, it is almost impossible not to stumble upon them.
If you only have time to visit one Roman church, make a beeline for St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES FREE AUDIO TOUR OF ST. PETER’S BASILICA HERE
St. Peter’s Basilica is considered to be the grandfather of all Catholic churches and rightfully so. The dome was designed by Michaelangelo.
St. Peter was crucified upside down in the square right outside the church and his remains are sacredly interred below the basilica.
The Pope officiates masses at St. Peter’s Square on special occasions and his residence is located at the adjacent building just about a 5-minute walk away.
Climbing the dome, which is stunning at sunset, either via a staircase or an elevator for one of Rome’s astonishing vantage points is recommended, although not free.
I LIST DOWN MY PERSONAL PICK OF ROME’S 10 BEST CHURCHES TO VISIT IN THIS POST
5. FREE MUSEUM DAY
SAVES MONEY BUT NOT TIME
Every first Sunday of the month is FREE to enter most of the museums in Rome. I will not suggest this if you are pressed for time unless you are visiting a relatively unknown museum.
LIST OF THE FREE ROMAN MUSEUMS EVERY FIRST SUNDAY CAN BE FOUND HERE
6. ROMA PASS
SAVES TIME BUT NOT MONEY
The ROMA PASS provides the following perks:
- Good for 2 or 3 days
- Free public transportation
- Free entrance to 1 or 2 spots. You get to skip the line in these attractions too. Colosseum will have the longest lines and the most expensive ticket so I’d use it here.
- Discounts on all the other sites.
- Crunch your own numbers to see if this is worthwhile for you to purchase.
7. VATICAN MUSEUM “ENTRY TIME” TICKET
SAVES A LOT OF TIME BUT NOT MONEY
No other way to avoid the insanely long lines to enter the Vatican Museums except to purchase an “entry time voucher” online. You do not want to spend most of your sightseeing day and energy in a snail-paced moving queue.
RESERVE YOUR ENTRY TIME AT THE VATICAN MUSEUM HERE
Once you have this voucher, go straight to the “Entrance With Reservations” queue and present it to the museum personnel who will scan it and direct you to the ticket window where you can claim your ticket.
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES FREE AUDIO TOUR OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS HERE
DOWNLOAD RICK STEVES FREE AUDIO TOUR OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL HERE
8. USE RESTROOMS IN MUSEUMS AND CAFES
Public restrooms are few and far between and they normally cost some money. Make sure to use the “WC” (water closet) before leaving a museum, restaurant or cafe.
9. WINDOW SHOPPING
SAVES MONEY IF YOU JUST WINDOW SHOP
Window-shopping around Rome is the best way to immerse in their culture of “passeggiata”. Don’t leave Rome without participating, even for a few minutes, in this traditional Italian past-time.
Here are my favorite window-shopping neighborhoods and streets for passeggiata:
- Monti district (Metro Station: Cavour). You can also get off at Termini, walk along delightful Via Cavour all the way to the Roman Forum.
- Spanish Steps neighborhood. All streets that fan out from Piazza di Spagna. (Metro Station: Spagna)
- Via Del Corso from Piazza Del Popolo to Via Condotti or vice versa (Metro Station: Flaminio or Spagna)
- The streets that fan out from Piazza Navona namely Via D. Coronari and Via Dei G. Vecchio plus the little alleyways between these two shopping avenues. Lots of wonderful, great quality second-hand Italian leather products.
- The authentically atmospheric Roman neighborhood of Trastevere.
CHECK OUT TIMEOUT’S COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF WHERE TO GO SHOPPING IN ROME.
10. TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT
Although Rome’s public transport network is not as extensive as other European cities, it is still relatively comprehensive.
Roma’s METRO currently only has two lines with the third one still under construction after many years of countless delays.
Suspend your judgment against the local government though as they have to carefully dig underground to ensure they do not inadvertently damage Rome’s vast subterranean archaeological treasures.
At any rate, avoid taking taxis and attempt to navigate Rome’s neighborhoods using the public bus or the metro. Google maps can easily point you to the correct lines.
Learn from my mistake: I took a taxi from Termini to a nearby hotel. I asked the taxi driver to turn on the meter which he willingly carried out. Upon reaching my destination, the meter showed 27 euros for the 7-minute trip. When I checked in at the hotel, I inquired from the front desk how much it normally costs to take the cab from Termini to the hotel. He said it should be no more than 12 Euros. I am sure not all Roman taxi drivers aim to extort, but it’s advisable to be mindful of this scam.
BONUS TIP: PROTECT YOURSELF
If you think you can outsmart the pickpockets, think again. They are incredibly street-savvy, unabashedly brazen, and well-equipped with pickpocketing tactics that will make you wonder “How did they manage to steal that from me?”. I guarantee that you might even witness pickpocketers in action – they are that numerous, confident, and bold.
A friend of mine went dining in a fancy restaurant in Rome. He set his camera bag between his legs while he was relishing his scrumptious meal. A well-dressed couple sat next to his table, checked the menu, and left after a few minutes. When it was time for him to leave the restaurant, his bag was no longer on the ground. The couple, dressed professionally, stole it.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES
- Put your backpack in front of you
- Don’t carry a lot of cash – use a no foreign transaction fee credit card or use a no-fee debit card like Charles Schwab.
- Scan your passport and important documents and email it to yourself
- Have photocopies of your passport and important documents
- Get a TSA-lock for your backpack
- Use the safety deposit box in your hotel
- Carry your own adapter instead of borrowing from your hotel or charging at the front desk
If you think I’m going a bit overboard with my warnings, I’d like you to take some time to read the following articles below from the European Travel expert himself, Rick Steves, about the importance of protecting your valuables.
OUTSMARTING AND AVOIDING PICKPOCKETS AND THIEVES IN EUROPE
TOURIST SCAMS AND RIP-OFFS IN EUROPE
PROTECT YOUR HEALTH
- Wear a MASK especially on the plane or in crowded areas
- Purchase Travel Insurance for medical coverage, trip interruption, etc.
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How to fly to Rome for almost FREE
All of my trips the past decade had been ALMOST FREE via travel miles.
I’ve visited a total of 85 countries using miles and points. I accumulate these points from credit card rewards and bonuses. Some of those cards are featured here.
Hope you find these hacks valuable. If you have other hacks that we overlooked, please feel free to let us know so we can add them to the list. If you like other hacks similar to this, you can subscribe to our newsletter below.
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Helpful tips!
Thank you Jenny, glad you like the tips!
These were great! We always thought it would be too expensive because of the Euro to Dollar conversion but with these helpful hints, it makes it so much easier! Thanks!
Thank you for reading, Daniella. There’s always ways to save when visiting places, esp in Italy when stellar art is at every corner!
Wow, thanks for such an in-depth list! Rome has always been on my bucket list so I’m happy to know that there are ways to make it less expensive.
Absolutely! And Rome and the entire Italy are destinations of a lifetime! You will have the time of your life. Feel free to reach out for any questions. Thanks for stopping by1