ROME HACKS

Last year I got the opportunity to move and live in Rome for work. Having lived there for couple months, I'd like to share with y'all some hacks I've got from locals, friends, and my own experience. So are you new in Rome? Or about to travel to Rome? Buckle up and get ready to know these tips and tricks to explore the eternal city :)

1. Free museum visits

Visiting museums in Rome can be pricey sometimes. It costs 12EUR for non EU citizens to enter Colosseo, 8EUR for Terme di Caracalla, 17EUR for Musei Vaticani, etc. Considering there are a lot of museums to visit in Rome, imagine how much Euros you could spend just by visiting those museums alone! Now here's a trick to save up some €€€. Every first Sunday in each month, you can visit museums* in Rome for FREE. Every last Sunday in each month, you can go to the Musei Vaticani without having to pay a penny. How cool is that?! Now you just have to plan your itinerary and choose which Sunday is perfect for museum hopping for you.

*Click on the link above to see the list of museums 

2. Get around

If you stay in the city center, it's actually possible to walk to most of the touristy sites. When it comes to public transportation, Italy (Rome in particular) still need to learn from Germany. There are several public transportation systems the city has to offer, starting from bus, tram, to metro. But one thing you should note: do not count on the bus. I'd say the most efficient public transportation system that you can count on is probably the metro. It only costs 1.5EUR one way, it's easy to access, and the best part is - it covers most of the touristy things in Rome! You can buy the ticket right at the metro station/ at the nearest tabacchi. One thing that is lacking from the metro is that it doesn't go to Trastevere, which is the hype area with lots of bars and restaurants. 

Another tips you can use to get around Rome is to download this app called Moovit. I use this app all the freakin time. It's basically like Google Maps but more advanced in suggesting the best route/ which bus/ tram/ metro to take. It tells you when to get off and tells you whenever there's a strike (which frankly happens quite often here). And when there's a strike, the public transportation won't be operating. That's why it's very helpful to have this app on your phone when you're in Rome.

If you're not a fan of public transportation system, of course you can take Taxi or rent your own bicycle/ vespa/ car. In my experience, it is cheaper to book taxi on MyTaxi compared to when I take random taxi on the street. If you prefer to drive your own car, there's a handy app called Enjoy to rent your own car.

3. Avoid the tourist traps

You want to taste the authentic Napolitan Pizza or the classic Sicilian Arancini in Rome but you're afraid to get low quality and not so authentic food with an expensive price? I feel you, girl. That's exactly how I felt when I first got here. There are several things you can do to avoid those tourist traps when it comes to food. You can check TripAdvisor or other travel sites (duh!). Alternatively, if you don't have internet with you, simply check on the restaurant's menu. My flatmate once said if they have English menu, then it's probably not authentic. 

Another thing you should note, if someone is trying to give you "free" bracelets, don't accept it (unless you're willing to pay for it). This happens a lot in Monti area, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon and other touristy places. So what's gonna happen is that they will offer you "free" bracelets, put it on your wrists, and then demand payment. Once they put on the bracelets, you won't be able to take them off...so don't fall into this trap.

4. Avoid the crowd

If you don't mind the cold and want to experience Rome with a lesser crowd, visiting Rome during winter/ spring time could be your best solution. If you're lucky, you can even experience the rare snow in Rome just like I did! If you 're still not satisfied with the crowd, try to visit the touristy places at night. Fontana di Trevi, Roman Ruins, Spanish Steps, etc can be packed with tourists during the day, but try to go there around 1AM onwards and you'll have those sites for your own. Trust me, the feel is completely different when you go to these sites with no crowd at all.

So those are basically the hacks that I can share with you at the moment. Let me know if you happen to have your own Rome Hacks! ;)