Rome, the oldest European city is filled with remains and artifacts from centuries ago (Roman Era). Once considered as one of the most progressive societies in the world, Rome had everything required to be a world-class city. The capital city of Italy is quite easy to explore as markings and signs are available everywhere.
However, to make life easier, here are a few tips to make sure that you enjoy Rome as the Romans once did.
1. Best Time to Visit – It is often said that Rome attracts a huge number of visitors every year especially during the peak summer months when the days are substantially longer and the monuments are displayed in full glory. However, if you would like to avoid the immense crowd influx of summer months, it is actually even better to visit during autumn (late Sept, Oct) or spring (mid-March – April). This is when the crowds are less and you can take your time exploring.
2. Attractions – With iconic landmarks such as the Roman Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Trevi Fountain, etc. it is quite difficult to fathom the grandiose of the era gone by. Often the queues at these landmarks can get quite long and tiresome, so it is advisable to visit as early as possible and then head off to the other side of the city and relax. Since, most of these monuments criss-cross the city, quite a few of them are easily visible from the comfort of a taxi as well, depending on the crowds.
3. Transportation – There is no dearth of public transport system in Rome, but they can get quite cumbersome as most of them do not follow the set schedule (during off seasons). To make life easier it is advisable to rely on a trusted transfer service such as KiwiTaxi. They not only make sure that you are safe and comfortable but also are very competitive in pricing.
4. Food – Rome is not just about Pizzas and Pastas, although some of the authentic ones can turn anybody into a devotee of the cuisine. Italians are very proud of their food and cultural heritage due to which they still try and inculcate age-old traditions into preparing their food. Some of the best restaurants in Italy have a branch in Rome, so one can taste the different parts of the country in the capital itself.
5. Tips – Please make sure to take care of your belongings as pick-pockets are a big nuisance around crowded areas. Befriend a local and you will get to explore the city like a local and visit some places which are off the beaten path. Try and get a basic hang of the local language which by default is Italiano; local vendors and shop owners might not know or understand even Basic English. It also means that you can get by without being ripped off a lot of times.