Rome on a Budget: How to Enjoy Rome Without Overspending

Introduction to Rome on a Budget

Italia’s Rome is calling your name. I will share five significant facts about Rome that will assist you in planning the best trip. There are times a year when I go to Rome from where I live in Italy. Today I’m going to give you our best tips on how to get there, where to stay, what to see, eat, and stay safe. This guide will help you enjoy Rome on a budget.

Why I Love Visiting Rome on a Budget

I love visiting Rome on a budget. It’s such a fantastic location, and I have plenty of tips to help you explore Rome on a budget. From transportation to accommodation, food, and sightseeing, I’ve got you covered. Follow these suggestions to make the most of your time and money in Italy. Be watchful and enjoy your trip.

Greetings from Santiago

Greetings, Hey, my name is Santiago. Consider these five things before you visit Rome. Read these five advices before you go to Rome. Finding your way around is the first thing.

1. Getting to Rome on a Budget

At the Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport is where most people who fly to Rome stop. Nineteen kilometers (23 miles) west of the city center. There are several ways to get into the center of Rome from up there. The easiest and cheapest option is to take the train. Trains run the Leonardo Express between Rome Fiumicino Airport and Rome Termini. Thirty-two minutes have passed. When the video was made, each person on the Leonardo Express cost €14. Getting there is simple; the train goes by every 15 minutes. You can purchase tickets at a ticket window, at the train station, or online. Make sure you check your tickets at the machine before getting on the train if you got them at the entrance. Both online and phone app ticket holders can check it there. Very fast, clean, and nice people work on the trains.

There is a taxi service that will take you from Leonardo da Vinci Airport to your reservation in Rome. While the movie was being filmed, a cab ride from the airport to the center of Rome cost €50. This price has been around for more than 10 years, thus the conclusion. Spend some time traveling to reach Rome. Nearest port: Civitavecchia, which is 87 km (55 miles) northwest of Rome. That is where you will dock your ship. At the Port of Civitavecchia, you can take a train, a car, your own transfer, or a transfer from a cruise line to get to the most important parts of Rome. It was great and simple to understand. I just finished it a few weeks ago.

Taxis from Civitavecchia to the center of Rome don’t have set prices. It will instead be based on the meter. It was in Rome that I took a taxi. I was told that it would cost about €200 to get to and from Naples by vehicle. Private transfers are available from the Port of Civitavecchia to the center of Rome. Although group moves are cheaper, private moves cost more.

Anywhere in Italy, you can take a train to Rome and get off at Termini. City’s biggest train stop. Near Termini Station is the town center. On foot, by car, or on the train, you can get to your hotel from the stop. It varies based on your hotel.

Directions for Getting Around Rome on a Budget

My talk have been about how to get to Rome. Now let’s talk about how to get around Vatican City.

Getting Around Rome on a Budget

Walking around Rome is easy. There are many great sights in the city that are in the middle and close to each other. Walking from the Coliseum to the Spanish Steps takes thirty minutes. There are lots of interesting things to see along this pretty walk. Buses that let you hop on and off at different stops are available if you can’t walk or are having trouble getting around. Taxis are usually the best way for me to get around Rome. Additionally, a lot of them exist, making them inexpensive and simple to find. Cabs can only make your ride longer if there is traffic.

On some days, I like the Hop On Hop Off bus, but not so much in Rome. There are still people who might want to go with it, though. The Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona are just a few of Rome’s sights that can only be reached on foot. For bikes, these areas are off limits. Some streets in Rome are too narrow for buses. Even though the Hop On Hop Off bus stops close by, you’ll have to walk to your destination. Despite this, you can still use it. It talks about the Rome Hop On Hop Off bus and has a link to it.

A lot of places in Rome are easy to get to by train. To get to the Spanish Steps and the Vatican Museums, take Line A from the train stop. Either the Coliseum or the Circus Maximus can be reached by Line B from the streetcar stop. When the blog was written, these words helped the guests. It’s cheaper to buy this pass if you often take the bus or train. You can take the bus or train for free or very little for 48 or 72 hours with it. Others are free or very cheap to visit.

2. Affordable Accommodations in Rome

Get ready for your trip to Rome by learning how to book a place to stay. A place’s location in Rome is one of the most important things to think about, not how much it costs. Get from your hotel to the city center as quickly and cheaply as possible. In light of this, I always suggest that people planning a trip to Rome stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast in the city center. This is key to experiencing Rome on a budget.

Although I have all of that, I know I won’t have much money because rooms in Rome can be very expensive. Whichever hotel you choose, make sure you book early, get free food, and can change the details of your stay. A minimum of six months in advance is needed to get the best deal. Additionally, ensure that you won’t be charged if you decide to back out of the deal. Up to two or three days before your trip, you can do this in a lot of places.

Let’s say your plans change or you find a better or cheaper hotel. Even though it may not seem like much, a free breakfast can help you save money. You can eat a big breakfast, skip lunch, and then catch a nice dinner out. This is another way to enjoy Rome on a budget.

Where to Stay in Rome

These are the areas of Rome where most people stay at hotels: In what place is the Termini Station? Hotel and other places to stay are easy to find near Termini Station. There are lots of low-cost spots in this area where you can get deals. Plus, getting around is simple since the two main train lines meet and end at Termini Station, where lots of taxis are always ready to go. Sadly, there are no nice or safe places close to Termini. People who don’t have a place to sleep are sleeping on the ground. There’s something wrong. An awful lot of cars drive through the area, and it can get loud at night. There is a better option if you don’t mind these two things.

Locale: The Monti area has hotels and bed and breakfasts. I appreciate staying there more than once. While there are cheaper hotels near Monti Station than those near Termini Station, the areas around Termini Station are much nicer and better. Not only that, but restaurants in the Monti area are often a bit more modern than those in the traditional center thereof. You might want to stay in the Monti area if you want to be close to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. It’s not as close to many of Rome’s sights as the Termini area.

Most hotels in Rome’s ancient city center are only a few steps from the city’s most famous sights, making it the best place to stay. These spots are also great if you like to walk around or eat dinner with locals, like in Trastevere. They usually have higher prices than the next two spots. These hotels’ rooms aren’t always very big, and the layout isn’t always good. The lifts and stairs are also not always very big. Those houses are between 300 and 500 years old. Keep that in mind, or let the hotel know ahead of time if you need help getting around.

In the Borgo and Prati neighborhoods, on the left bank of the Tiber River, just outside the old city center. Visit the Vatican and the Vatican Museums. There are expensive and nice new hotels here. Beyond these two spots, it’s not too far to walk to the old downtown area. Thoughtfully considered when choosing a hotel in this area.

In the area around the Spanish Steps and Via Veneto, you might visit: This is where the city’s most expensive hotels are located. Five-star hotels usually have big buildings, doormen, and red carpets. Those areas don’t have any worries for me, so why not? One time it happened. Parks and patios with views that have restaurants or bars are common. Put another way, these are Rome’s swankiest hotels. Like shopping or eating in nice places? It’s also great. And finally, what you want to see is the third thing you should think about before you go to Rome.

3. Sightseeing on a Budget in Rome

They know how to have a great time every day. Rome is so big that you could stay there for a month and still not see everything. Numerous places in Rome offer both free and paid activities. People often choose the Spanish Steps, the Truman Casbah, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain as free things to do in Rome. It’s always busy at the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Fewer people will be there if you go early in the morning or late at night.

Additionally, don’t visit the Trevi pond on Mondays as that’s when it’s closed, emptied, and cleaned. When someone asks you how you know all this, talk about Travel Addicts Life. The Pantheon, which was one of the most beautiful buildings in Rome, is no longer visible. You need to purchase a ticket in order to reach this fascinating location.

Fees are needed to get into some of Rome’s most interesting spots. Purchase your tickets ahead of time and pick the “skip the line” option if you can. Skip-the-line tickets are not a good idea. Purchase a Roma Pass instead. There are two options for this pass: 48 or 72 hours. With it, you can take the bus, walk, or pay to enter museums and other sites. If you have a Roma Pass, there is sometimes no line. To skip the line, buy your tickets ahead of time if you can. Additionally, the Roma Pass could be a good way to save cash. These two can be seen separately by clicking on the link in the text below.

Not as Well-Known Sights in Rome

See more than just the well-known places. It’s also a good idea to check out the less widely known ones. You can get pretty close to the Marcellus Theater, which looks a lot like the Coliseum. There is a great place to eat lunch right next to the Jewish Ghetto. Not a lot of people are there most of the time.

A beautiful work by Michelangelo called “The Moses” can be found in the church called St. Peter in Chains. Everyone doesn’t see it, but it’s free. Aventine Hill’s Keyhole is a must-see. There’ll be a lot of people in line looking through an open door, so you’ll know what it is. That is how the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica will look great. Excellent.

In some places, like St. Peter’s Basilica, there are rules about what you can and cannot wear. Most of the time, it’s okay to cover your knees and hips. Wearing tank tops to church is strictly forbidden.

4. What to Eat on a Budget in Rome

Rome has an incredible variety of typical food, and it would be a shame not to try this essential part of the local culture. However, there are a lot of restaurants in the city that target tourists and serve mediocre food at very high prices.

How do you spot these restaurants? Suppose they have names like Cheesecake Factory or Hard Rock Cafe. It’s not to say these are bad restaurants; they’re just not Italian and definitely not local. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right? If the restaurant has a menu outside with photos of every Italian dish, from pizza to burgers to pasta to tiramisu to frittata, you can be almost certain it’s not authentic.

Avoid restaurants in front of significant monuments or attractions. If a restaurant is right in front of the Pantheon or the Coliseum, you’ll pay a very high premium for the location, and usually, the food could be better. Do not ask for restaurant recommendations from the hotel concierge or the taxi driver because they will most likely recommend places that pay a commission, and the food is usually mediocre at best. If you need more clarification on a restaurant, check the reviews on Google. Anything with less than four stars should be avoided. In Italy, a good restaurant has 4.5 stars or more, and they’re easy to find.

Must-Try Dishes in Rome

Pasta:

• Pasta alla Carbonara
• Pasta all’Amatriciana
• Pasta Cacio e Pepe

These are the three most popular pasta in Rome, and it’s what the locals eat. If you go to a local restaurant, you’ll pay a fair price for these dishes, not an inflated tourist price.

Supplì: Supplì tastes way better than it sounds. It’s a deep-fried rice ball with tons of cheese.

Fried Zucchini Blossom: Another thing to try in Rome is the fried zucchini blossom.

Pizza al Taglio: A visit to Rome would only be complete with trying the pizza al taglio. This is a pizza that’s sliced into squares and sold by weight, typical in Rome.

Aperitivo: Remember to have an aperitivo. Aperitivo is usually around 6 to 7 p.m. before dinner. You can get a glass of wine or a cocktail, and the restaurant or bar usually serves it with a bit of food like chips or nuts or a few slices of pizza if you’re lucky. The food is free and comes included in the price of the drink. Expect to pay between €10 and €12 per drink, and that includes the food. If they ask for more than €12, move on to another place because it’s probably not worth it. Here’s a pro tip: if you’re looking to skip dinner, you can always ask for more food. Most places will bring you more food when you order another glass of wine.

If you’re feeling a little thirsty while walking around Rome (because let’s admit it, it can get really hot in the summertime), there are these things called nasoni. These are water fountains that you can use to drink. If you plug the bottom of the spout, the water will come out of the top, and you can drink from that. Otherwise, you can fill your water bottle and use that.

5. Staying Safe in Rome

Let’s move to the fifth and last thing to know before visiting Rome, and I’ll talk about safety. First, Rome is a very safe city, and you should not be afraid to visit it. But like any other city in the world that is really busy with tourists, Rome can have some petty crime that you should be aware of. Thousands of tourists flood Rome every single day. When there are so many tourists, there can be some pickpockets.

To avoid pickpockets, just be careful when you are in bustling areas like the Trevi Fountain or some of the metro stations. Keep your wallet out of your backpack or in your back pocket. There are better places to keep them. Don’t carry a lot of cash on you. You don’t need it. Just use your debit or credit card instead, or tap your phone; it’s even better. Speaking of cash, don’t bring any US Dollars. There’s no point. Nobody will take them, and if they do, they’ll give you a terrible exchange rate.

About the gypsies and anybody who wants to give you something for free, they’re notorious for trying to distract you so they can steal your wallet, or at least try. Obviously, you should not leave your purse, camera, or phone unattended at any time, but that’s something that you shouldn’t do anywhere, not just in Rome.

Don’t trust street vendors who sell counterfeit bags, glasses, scarves, or wallets. They’re usually of poor quality and will only last for a while, so you’re just wasting your money. Plus, it’s illegal. In Rome, pay attention to traffic, especially scooters. They tend to zip around really fast, and if you’re distracted looking at your phone, you can be hit. Some of the streets in Rome are thousands of years old and can be uneven. For this reason, watch your steps to avoid tripping. Make sure you have some form of travel insurance. Travel medical insurance, for example, will cover you for emergencies or accidents, but be sure to read the policy carefully. You might even have it included with your credit card, so you can definitely explore that option as well.

Conclusion

Well, folks, that’s what I’ve got for you today. I hope that you enjoyed this blog and that you’ve learned something about Rome that will make your visit better. As usual, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear back from you and, of course, to answer all of your questions as best as I can. Remember to take a look at my other blogs on this website, for more information about visiting Rome and Italy. And if you see me in Rome or anywhere else, please say hi! I love meeting you all. In the meantime, I’ll talk to you in our next blog. Ciao!