9 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Rome
What Not to Do in Rome on Your 1st Visit
Mistakes people make on their first trip to Rome are generally minor slip-ups that won’t ruin a vacation. However, we’ve compiled some of the usual errors new travelers often make in this popular city. While mostly harmless, they can diminish your overall experience and are generally best avoided.
Basic travel-preparation errors include not packing for the right time of the year, or not booking visits to certain landmarks in advance. We’ve also collected a few insightful tips and cultural ‘don’ts’. Most of these are from our experiences in Rome, so you can optimize your time in the city and avoid making any of these mistakes yourself.
Mistakes People Make When Visiting Berlin
- Packing for the wrong season
- Booking a cheap hotel in the suburbs
- Underestimating walking times
- Letting your guard down on the “Pickpocket Express”
- Failing to get a Roma Pass
- Forgetting to pre-book tickets to the Vatican Museums
- Buying knockoff designer bags near the Spanish Steps
- Waiting until you arrive to sort out mobile data
- Handling fresh items at Campo de Fiori with your bare hands
1. Packing for the wrong season
Smart travelers check the calendar and the weather report
Categoría: Parejas, Familias
Most people visit Rome in the summer (June–September) while others prefer arriving earlier in the springtime (March–June). Whichever your preference of season, you’ll need to pack the right type of clothing. Light and cool are a must for the summer, as it can get very hot.
Between October and April, most of the summer crowds have left, and although you’ll need warm clothing, it rarely drops down to freezing levels. Remember, dress modestly for visits to the Vatican, so no shorts or bare shoulders, and wear comfy shoes as Rome’s streets are mostly cobblestoned.
Packing for the wrong season
2. Booking a cheap hotel in the suburbs
Staying at a central hotel pays off
Categoría: Económico, Parejas, Familias
You may find affordable stays out in the Roman suburbs, which is often tempting but comes with a caveat. When you factor in increased travel times and the cost of taxis back to your hotel after dinner, the savings quickly disappear.
Central Rome is blessed with some stunning hotels but they can be pricey. Even if you’re on a budget, it’s better to search for a cheap and cheerful place in the city. If your goal is budget accommodation while still being reasonably central, look beyond Rome’s postcard districts around the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. For the largest concentration of budget hotels, guesthouses, and hostels, head to the area around Termini station, Esquilino, or Monti (outer parts).
Booking a cheap hotel in the suburbs
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3. Underestimating walking times
A good map and a few landmarks can save hours of confusion
Categoría: De aventura, Foto
Though most of the sights in central Rome aren’t very far from each other, you’ll still need a map as the network of streets can be disorienting. With the idea of pleasantly getting lost being part of the traveling experience, it’s still preferable to make the best use of your time covering the city’s highlights.
Try orienting yourself by major sights such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican, Trevi Fountain, or the Tiber River rather than trying to memorize individual streets. Or pre-plan a route in your map app on your phone and make sure it’s available offline. Breaking the city into neighborhoods might help too. So, explore areas such as Monti, Trastevere, and Prati one at a time.
Underestimating walking times
4. Letting your guard down on the “Pickpocket Express”
Sensible precautions are usually enough to ride it safely
Categoría: Parejas, Familias
Like many other popular European cities, pickpocketing is one of the annoyances you’ll need to be aware of in Rome. One gold mine for pickpockets is the so-called Bus 64. It’s one of Rome’s most useful routes for tourists, providing frequent stops for major sights within the city and therefore offering rich pickings for thieves.
Avoid carrying loose valuables, or keeping your wallet in your back pocket, where it’s most vulnerable. Wearing a money belt is the best plan. Also, wear your backpack on your front, guard your phone especially if you’re standing or sitting near the exits, and leave your passport in the hotel safe.
Letting your guard down on the “Pickpocket Express”
5. Failing to get a Roma Pass
You can save both money and hassle
Categoría: De aventura, Económico
Getting a Roma Pass is a great idea when traveling within the city. It entitles you to discounted tickets for famous sites and public transportation fares, including for museums and the metro.
There are two card options to choose from: 72 hours and 48 hours. Note that some significant sites, like the Vatican Museums, aren’t covered, but many great ones are such as Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, and Borghese Gallery. You can pick up a Roma Pass at tourist spots all over town. Or download the official app, so everything is stored on your phone, including transport access and attraction entry credentials.
Failing to get a Roma Pass
6. Forgetting to pre-book tickets to the Vatican Museums
The most popular slots at peak times sell out fast
Categoría: Historia, Foto
On top of the mandatory queuing for security checks, the lines at the ticket counters at the Vatican Museums can get very long during peak times. Pre-booking your tickets can save you that wait. Also, popular slots can sell out well in advance. Pre-booking is essential if you’re planning a visit in summer (July-August), during Easter and Holy Week, school holidays, long weekends, and jubilee and other special church events.
The Vatican Museums offer a “Lunch at the Museums” package that combines museum admission with a lunch in the museums’ self-service restaurant. This is handy if you want to avoid leaving and re-entering the museums for lunch. Just fill your belly with tasty pasta and continue your exploration.
Forgetting to pre-book tickets to the Vatican Museums
7. Buying knockoff designer bags near the Spanish Steps
Buying a cheap counterfeit bag might be a costly mistake
Categoría: Económico, Foto, Ir de compras
The Spanish Steps are undoubtedly stunning and draw plenty of tourists throughout the entire year. Unfortunately, various unsavory characters know this and also flock to the region to try to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists looking for a great deal.
Look out for hawkers and stalls offering designer handbags and accessories. No matter how tempting those Italian-branded items can be, they mostly aren’t the real deal. Also note that in Italy, buying counterfeit goods is itself illegal, not just selling them. Authorities can levy substantial fines against purchasers as well as vendors, so steer clear of any suspicious vendors.
Buying knockoff designer bags near the Spanish Steps
8. Waiting until you arrive to sort out mobile data
Staying connected makes navigating, sightseeing, and booking easier
Categoría: De aventura, Económico
If you plan to use digital maps and tickets, public transport apps, or restaurant reservations, make sure you have mobile data ready from the moment you arrive. Many travelers now use an eSIM, which can be purchased and installed before departure and activated as soon as you land. This is often more convenient than searching for a local SIM card after arrival.
If your phone does not support eSIM technology, providers such as Vodafone, WINDTRE, and TIM sell SIM cards at airports, train stations, and cell phone stores throughout the city. Airport SIMs are convenient, but they’re often more expensive than those sold in city-center phone shops. If possible, wait until you reach Rome, and you may find better-value plans.
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Waiting until you arrive to sort out mobile data
9. Handling fresh items at Campo de Fiori with bare hands
Self-service is usually discouraged
Categoría: Gastronomía en , Ir de compras
While you’ll often feel compelled to touch the items sold at the farmers’ markets such as Campo de Fiori, stall owners normally don’t like customers handling their wares. Fruits such as peaches, figs, tomatoes, and grapes can be damaged when dozens of shoppers squeeze them looking for the “perfect” specimen. It’s also a question of food hygiene. Or would you like the idea of hundreds of hands touching the produce you just bought?
Traditionally in many Italian markets, especially older-style neighborhood markets, the seller is also expected to serve the customer rather than have customers help themselves. Look with your eyes and ask the stall owners to help you choose your fruit, cheese, or any other product you’re interested in.
Handling fresh items at Campo de Fiori with bare hands
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