Top Ten Tips for Tourists in Rome
Timeless tips to help you endear yourself to the locals, find the most authentic food, and avoid getting scammed in Italy’s Eternal City.
The Trevi Fountain. Credit kirkandmimi via Pixabay
Exploring the ancient ruins and bustling streets of Rome tops millions of travellers’ “must do” lists. But let’s face it. The Italian capital can be overwhelming. The unfamiliar language, seemingly endless rows of restaurants, and fear of pickpockets and taxi drivers who might take you for a ride in more ways than one may leave even the savviest visitors feeling trepidatious.
The Vatican. Credit Julius_Silver via Pixabay
Tour guide Kylie Savage once walked in your shoes. Following a passion for Michelangelo, the Australian ex-pat relocated to Rome several years ago. Today, she’s happy to share her hard-won expertise in avoiding potential pitfalls and making the most of Italy’s alluring capital.
Read on for Kylie’s top ten tips for tourists in Rome.
Eat Like A Local
1.Steer clear of restaurants offering picture menus that are translated into more than two or three languages, because these aren’t likely to be fresh and seasonal. “A lot of the food will probably come from a can,” Savage warns.
Focaccia. Basically, fancy Italian toast. ©Amy Laughinghouse
2. Avoid any restaurant advertising either a “tourist” menu or a “non-tourist” menu. “They’re both tourist menus,” Savage explains.
3. Look for a restaurant where the waiter is actually serving customers, not calling people in from the streets. If the food and service are good, the staff will be too busy working to approach passers-by.
4. Don’t eat anywhere near the Vatican. “They know they’ll never see you again,” Savage says, “so there is no real incentive to impress their customers.”
St Peter’s Square, Vatican City. Credit Walkerssk via Pixabay
5. Italians take their time over a meal, but you may be anxious to get on with your sightseeing. To receive your bill more quickly, order it with the last item you plan to eat or drink, and ask for the waiter to bring them together. He’ll be less likely to forget the check if he serves it with your coffee or dessert.
6. Sidestep gelaterias with hundreds of flavors, because that ice cream may have been sitting out since the Colosseum was built. Savage suggests sticking to gelaterias offering no more than 20 to 30 varieties, preferably stored under a lid. “Of course, even a bad gelato is still good here,” she says. “But no blue…ever!”
Blue is a fine colour for a Smurf, but beware blue gelato. You’re far better off with minty Shrek. ©Amy Laughinghouse
Avoid getting ripped off
7. If you want to take a taxi, don’t count on hailing one on the street. Ask your hotel concierge or a waiter at the restaurant where you’re dining to arrange one for you.
“The black and white taxis are the best,” Savage says. “They have an ID number typically found on the taxi doors and they will have a sign on top.”
Hmmm…where’s a taxi when you need one? Credit Julius_Silver via Pixabay
Be aware that all licensed taxis in Rome are metered, so be sure that the driver turns on the meter when you get in the car. One notable exception applies: if you’re travelling from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport or Ciampino Airport to a destination within the Aurelian Walls (or from within the Aurelian Walls to one of these airports), the journey is a flat rate.
8. When you pay the taxi driver, state the amount of the currency that you’re giving him. This should avoid any confusion over whether you gave him ten Euros or twenty.
9. You may have heard this before, but it bears repeating. To deter pickpockets, always carry your rucksack on your chest, rather than your back.
If only pickpockets were as obvious as these “armed” gladiators, posing outside the Colosseum. © Amy Laughinghouse
Sprinkle your compliments liberally—and in Italian
10. If you only learn three Italian words, make it these: buonissimo (the tastiest), benissimo (the best), and bellissimo (the most beautiful). As Savage attests, “These three important phrases will win you a friend for life.”
Saavy travellers know the (I) do’s–and don’t’s–of touring Rome. © Amy Laughinghouse
EEsshhhh About 38 days too late with this one. I broke every single one of those rules. Started off getting scammed leaving the airport and paying $125 for “hired car” instead of the taxi we thought we were being ushered into. And since we were staying across the street from the Vatican we ate at several “meh” restaurants there. Left a bad taste in my mouth literally and metaphorically. Not sure I want to go back….
So sorry to hear about your bad experience in Rome! I believe that 99 percent of the time, people are well-intentioned and want folks to love their city as much as they do…but every once in a while, that one percent can let you down.