Rome is one of my favorite cities in the world. Ted and I went a few years ago during a post grad school Euro trip we treated ourselves to. We were very budget conscious graduate students who made our Euros go a long way in the Eternal City. But surprisingly, it was one of the most affordable European capital cities we visited. Here are some tips that Ted and I used to make sure we enjoyed all Rome had to offer without breaking the bank.

Travel Tips For Rome

1. Rent a studio with a kitchen or kitchenette 

Aside from airfare – everyone knows lodging is the most expensive line item in a travel budget. Ted and I avoided expensive hotels and cheap, but overcrowded hostels by doing one of the smartest things ever: we rented a small studio that came with a mini kitchen. It was the perfect space –with old stone arches and just a 15 minute walk from the Colosseum on a quiet street whose name I still remember: Via Stabia. During our 5 day stay in Rome we pretended to live like locals – shopping at local grocery stores and markets for foods that we later cooked ourselves. It saved money and gave us a more “authentic” Italian experience.

2. Go Out For Lunches & Desserts Not Dinners – 

After reading my first point – you must be horrified – why would someone go to Rome and not EAT? Don’t worry – you can still enjoy Italian cuisine, but if you’re budget conscious go out for lunches instead of dinners. Dinners always tend to be more expensive – but if you go to nicer restaurants around lunch time you can get the same quality food at the lunch prices. Another option is to go into the fanciest restaurant you can find – but just order dessert as a treat! Whenever I saw a cute place I’d make sure to stop in and order myself a little something sweet to get a taste of this beautiful city.

3. Walk Everywhere – 

Rome has an ok public transportation system, but this ancient city is meant to be explored on foot. There is no better way to experience the sites, smells, and sounds that Rome has to offer. Getting lost in the streets of Rome was my favorite – there’s just something so magical walking around a city that you know has been inhabited by millions of souls over the course of the centuries. Every archway, every ruin has a story – the best thing you can do is wander around these city streets and think of all the history its witnessed!

4.  Most of the major sites are free! 

To my surprise while planning our trip to Rome – I found that a lot of the major sites that you think of when visiting Rome are free and open to the public ! Here is a list of the major sites – that we were able to enjoy at zero cost ! :

• Pantheon
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• St. Peter’s Square
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Most city Churches

5. Remember Time Is Money  

Being one of the world’s major cities – Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world. So its not surprising that popular sites like the Colosseum and the Vatican are going to fill up fast. You don’t want to spend your precious time in Rome standing in line waiting for tickets – so make the most of your time and book tickets early. Ted and I made sure to pre-purchase tickets for the Colosseum/Palatine Hill and the ever famous Vatican – best decision of our lives. We didn’t need to wait in line and saved hours that we used to enjoy other areas of Rome.

Over all Rome was my absolute favorite – we went in late May – and to this day I remember the warm nights which smelled like sweet flowers. I can’t wait to go back one day. Ciao!