Rome has a lot to offer, beautiful art, history, culture and food. La Dolce Vita – Rome has it all! Being so popular travel destination for tourists from all over the world, it can be overwhelming, especially when you visit this wonderful city for first time, like we did. During the trip, we gathered a lot of tips and tricks that can be helpful. Keep reading and have a great vacation in the Eternal City.

Rome is amazing but sometimes, unfortunately, it feels like everyone is visiting Rome at the exact same time as you are… Rome is crowded.

Be sure to get “skip the line tickets” for most popular places like Colosseum and Vatican City. Yes, we paid a couple euros more, but it was totally worth it. Over 6 million tourists are visiting Rome each year, it can be super crowded, and waiting lines can be up to 2 hours. You don’t want to waste your precious time in Rome standing in the lines. Don’t drive in Rome – I mean it seriously, traffic in there is quite crazy. We rented a car to discover Italy, but the only place we didn’t drive and used taxis instead was Rome.

First thing to know when driving is to know that there are ZTL driving zones in Italy – (called Zona Traffico Limitato or just ZTL in Italian) the no drive zones, found in most major cities. Driving into one without expressed permission, even by accident, can be expensive. You need to know what to look for when driving in Italy. ZTL restricted driving zones are marked with clear signs that have an open red circle on a white background. Some of them show certain hours or days that the restriction is in place. Others may show types of vehicles that are allowed as well as those not allowed, making it more confusing.TIP: As for a tourist with rental car, it’s better to stay away from ZTL zones, you can be 99% sure, you’ll get a ticket. Those zones are being monitored by cameras, and the snap your license plate instantly. (You can get a ticket mailed at you even after a year!). Don’t visit Rome in July/August. Rome’s climate in summer is almost unbearably hot. Even many Italians leave the country. Temperatures can reach as high as 45° C, (113°F), and climate is humid which makes it even worse. Often little or no breeze, it’s sweaty and very, very tiring. Be sure to stay out of direct sun, drink plenty of water and try to rest and sit where ever you can. Don’t be afraid to sit on the ground, we quickly found out, that it’s totally normal there! It’s so hot that the horses must wear ear protectors to prevent sunburn! Water! Make sure you are drinking a lot of water during your trip to stay hydrated! You can save money by not buying bottled water. Mondays are for resting

Since restaurants, museums and other businesses are open throughout the weekend, Monday is their rest day and they are closed. If you don’t want to be like us, then make sure you are checking opening times online and if possible, keep Mondays for beaches or parks and relaxing. Free Museums

On the first Sunday of each month most of Italian museums are open for public for free and this includes the Colosseum and Roman Forum, but be prepared, free entrance means a lot of tourists. Imagine it like this, the normal days when you must pay for your ticket, there are hordes of tourists, so now, triple it! You should think, do you have time and patient to wait in the lines? Also, entering Colosseum includes security check, so it makes lines move more slowly. Don’t eat near famous tourist attractions. You are not only paying for food, you are paying for the view, but quality of food isn’t always quite there, because again, you are paying just for the view. Prices are so much cheaper when you don’t eat near center and in Italy, prices are quite expensive anyway, especially in Rome. So, save some money and eat somewhere that’s not as touristy, you will be surprised how much the quality, freshness and price can be different. House wine (vino della casa) is always cheaper than bottled wine. Italy is famous for delicious wines, and when eating out, house wine is always cheaper and tastes just as good as bottled one. Usually it comes in carafe and served by the liter. Be aware of pickpockets, especially around monuments and popular places. You should always zip your bags and pockets and be cautious all the time. If anyone tries to distract you, then you should be suspicious and keep an eye out! Use only official taxis. You can know when it’s official taxi when: In taxi stand there is usually an orange sign with the word “TAXI” on it, and there you should see white city taxis lined up. Only they are safe, honest and not trying to scam tourists.

So, here are main tips when visiting Rome, tried and tested. Feel free to speak about your experiences in the comments below. Have safe trip and wonderful time in this amazing city, Ciao!