First time in Rome? What to know before you go

Rome rewards a short list done properly over a long list done badly. The four things that define a first trip are ancient Rome (Colosseum, Forum, Palatine), the Vatican (Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter's), the baroque centre (Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi, Spanish Steps) and food — trattorie, pizza al taglio, gelato. Everything else is a bonus.

Book timed tickets for the Colosseum and Vatican Museums before you leave home; in April–October the good slots go weeks ahead. The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps are free and open-air, so put them in the evening when the light is better and the crowds thinner. Churches are free to enter but require covered shoulders and knees.

Rome's centre is small enough to walk. The historic core sits on the east bank of the Tiber: Colosseum and Forum in the south-east, Pantheon and Piazza Navona in the middle, Spanish Steps and Trevi to the north, Vatican across the river to the west, Trastevere on the far bank south of the Vatican. Termini station is the transport hub, about a 25-minute walk or two metro stops from the centre.

Two metro lines cross at Termini: A runs north-west to the Vatican and south-east, B runs to the Colosseum and on to the Roma-Lido line for Ostia. Trams and buses fill the gaps, but central traffic is slow — walking is usually faster between the Pantheon, Navona and Campo de' Fiori.

Money: Italy uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep some cash for small bars, markets and the occasional taxi. Tipping is not expected; a euro or two at a restaurant is fine. Tap water is safe and free from the nasoni fountains — carry a bottle.

Safety: Rome is a safe city for visitors; the real risk is pickpocketing on crowded buses, at Termini and around the Colosseum and Trevi. Keep phones and wallets out of back pockets, and be wary of anyone who bumps into you or offers unsolicited help with tickets. See the safety page for detail.

Etiquette and rules: cover shoulders and knees in churches, stay quiet in the Sistine Chapel, and do not sit on the Spanish Steps or swim in fountains — both carry fines. Restaurant cover charge (coperto) and bread are normal; check the menu before sitting down. Many shops close for a few hours in the early afternoon.

April–June and September–October give the best balance of weather and crowds: warm days, long evenings, manageable queues if you book ahead. July and August are hot (often above 32 °C) and busy, with many local shops shut in mid-August. Winter is quieter and cheaper, with shorter daylight and some rain, but the sites are far less crowded and Christmas and New Year are atmospheric.

Avoid the first week of August if you want normal restaurant hours, and check for religious events — Easter week and major feast days bring big crowds and closures around St Peter's. Whatever the season, start early: the Colosseum, Vatican and Forum are calmest in the first hour after opening.

Rome has two airports. Fiumicino (FCO) is the main one, about 30 km south-west of the centre: the Leonardo Express runs to Termini in roughly 32 minutes, and slower regional trains and coaches cost less but take longer. Ciampino (CIA) is smaller and closer, served by buses to Termini and metro connections. Both are covered by taxis with fixed fares to the city centre — confirm the official rate before you get in.

By train, Rome is on Italy's high-speed network: Frecciarossa and Italo services link Termini and Tiburtina with Florence (about 1h30), Naples (about 1h10) and Milan (about 3h). Book early for cheaper fares. Within the city, a single ticket covers metro, bus and tram for a set time window; day and multi-day passes are worth it if you ride more than twice a day (2026 estimate).