Rome sometimes gets a bad rap – dirty, expensive, unfriendly. We found it to be none of those things. Through careful planning a Rome visit can be upscale on a budget. We cover tips on transportation, hotels, tours, shopping, and restaurants. If you have the time and energy, you can spurge here without breaking the bank.
What do we mean by having the time? We spend 5 days and could have spent longer. So many guidebooks rush you through Italy, recommending just two days for Rome (yes, Americans have limited vacation days). It’s possible to rush through some highlights in a couple of days, but you are likely to be frustrated. What’s the point of that?
Here are the tips for slowing down a little, settling in, and enjoying an upscale visit to Rome on a budget.
Transportation . . . Rome is walkable!
If you can enter and exit the city by train, the Termini train station is centrally located and will save you time and money. By all means, don’t even think about driving (leave that to Tuscany).
While Rome has only two metro lines, they intersect at Termini. We found the metro to be safe, cheap, and convenient to some areas.
If you are dragging a lot of luggage, the good news is that taxis are abundant and reasonably priced. We use them to save time on a few occasions. Just make sure to only use the official taxis (white, with a Roma Capitale sign). Also make sure there is a meter, and it is running (a mistake we make once, only to be overcharged). In general, most trips within the heart of the city will be 10-12 euros or less.
The best news is, for a city of nearly 3 million people, the heart of Rome is highly walkable. Want to visit the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Forum and Colosseum? We walk to each of these from our location in North Rome. Even Vatican City is within walking distance. Those major tourist neighborhoods are not only walkable, but generally clean and safe.
In short, transportation is the “on a budget” part of your visit to this city.
Hotel . . . Stay in an upscale area
Our hotel is just steps from Piazza del Popolo, an upscale location in what is known as the “shopping triangle.” This largely pedestrian area includes Via del Corso and other north-south streets that lead to most of the major attractions in the heart of Rome. Yet the north end is quiet, featuring luxury retail and the clientele it attracts.
We stay at Hotel Locarno, a luxury boutique property with just 66 individually designed guestrooms in two buildings dating back to 1905. The Art Deco theme, with period furniture and paintings, is enhanced by the Belle Epoque birdcage elevator that rattles us to both our room and the rooftop lounge.
The service is friendly, rather than aloof, and also effective. When no tickets for an early entrance into the Colosseum were to be found online, the front desk manages to score us two at a reasonable price.
Clearly, the hotel is the biggest splurge of our Italy trip, but features a delicious buffet to start each day’s adventure and a nice room for a quiet end to daily sightseeing.
Sights in Rome . . . LivItaly Tours can make them special
Few cities in the world can boast grand ancient monuments right in the heart of downtown, but Rome has plenty to offer. The magnificent Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Pantheon are just a few on the greatest hits list. We find Rick Steves’ self-guided tours to be a helpful aid for each.
Vatican City is another story. Like its own country (ok, that’s true), it needs an organized, efficient, time-saving approach to be best appreciated. That’s where LivItaly Tours comes in. The professionals at LivItaly offer a range of Rome tours, and we take advantage of their Vatican Early Entrance Small Group Tour.
We not only enter the Vatican Museums one hour before the general public, but our knowledgeable tour guide, Marzia, finds a way to escort us into the Sistine Chapel before the crowds take over. Our group of six continues the VIP tour with visits to St. Peter’s Basilica and Square before dispersing after nearly four hours of meaningful experience.
Shopping . . . Stick with the unique, upscale stores
Like any big city, Rome has a plethora of shopping options. Our recommendation is to seek out the unique and the luxury. After all, you can buy H&M merchandise anywhere, but the sleek Hogan premium athletic shoes are strictly an Italian brand, with a flagship store near Piazza di Spagna.
Speaking of strictly Italian, the Rinascente Roma via del Tritone is a department store worth visiting, especially the design goods in the basement of this award-winning chain.
Restaurants . . . Stay clear of the tourist areas
With thousands of restaurants to choose from, including two dozen Michelin star places, we don’t attempt to offer recommendations here. Our advice is more where not to eat. Our most disappointing meals came from choosing restaurants too close to tourist areas, such as the Trevi Fountain to Pantheon neighborhood. Ditto for outdoor eateries near the Spanish Steps.
We finally discovered that little places tucked away in the upscale neighborhood near our hotel had exceptional food at reasonable prices. One choice, La Buca di Ripetta, was so good we ate there twice.
Rome can offer the upscale on a budget experience. Splurge on accommodations and guided tours; save on food and transportation. Above all, don’t rush through this historic, yet vibrant city!
What are your Rome impressions? If you have any comments or questions please respond at the bottom of this post.
What’s upscale?
The Hotel Locarno, near Piazza del Popolo, is a small luxury hotel in a great location to use as your base. Tours from LivItaly enable you to make the best use of your time while gaining insights from experts.
What’s budget?
Transportation is where you will save money compared to many other European cities. The heart of Rome is walkable, and metros and taxis are reasonable.
