The questions everyone asks about Rome - heat, tickets, money, safety and the fountains - answered straight from the guide, with links to the full chapters.
Last updated August 23, 2026
In a nutshell: when to come, how long to stay, how to move, what things cost and what to wear in churches - the fast answers are below. For the details behind them, start with practical tips and handy apps.
Spring and autumn give the mildest weather and the most comfortable sightseeing. July and August are ferociously hot, with temperatures now regularly topping 40°C. To dodge the crowds entirely, come in the low season, roughly November to March, when the big sights are far quieter. See before you go for the full picture.
Three full days covers the headline sights at a sane pace: the Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican, and the historic centre. Add a fourth for the Vatican Museums at leisure or a day trip to Tivoli or Ostia Antica. The centre is compact and walkable, so you cover more than you expect. Plan the split in planning your days.
Walk - the historic centre's distances are small and its lanes are the point of the city. For longer hops there is a metro of just two lines that cross at Termini, line A and line B, plus buses, trams and taxis. A single BIT ticket costs €1.50, good for 100 minutes with one metro entry; a day pass costs €7 and pays off after four or so rides. You can also tap a contactless card directly on the turnstile or validator. See handy apps and practical tips.
Hardly any. Cards are accepted almost everywhere - the law requires businesses to take cards - and contactless tap-to-pay is the norm, right down to your bus or metro fare. Still, a little cash smooths small purchases: keep €1 or €2 coins and notes up to €20 handy, since larger notes are often refused. ATMs (bancomat) are everywhere, most capping withdrawals at €250 a day. See money.
Yes - violent crime is rare and the streets are safe after dark. The real risk is petty theft: pickpockets work the crowds around the Colosseum, Piazza di Spagna and the Trevi Fountain, and on public transport. At Termini, watch out for strangers who offer to help at the ticket machines. If something is stolen, tell the police within a day and request a written statement. In any emergency dial 112. See practical tips.
Yes. Drinking from the mains is fine: only taps marked acqua non potabile (not for drinking) should be avoided. The street fountains, known as nasoni, run a steady supply of cold, free drinking water - bring a bottle and refill it whenever you please. A live fountain map lives at fontanelle.org. See practical tips.
In season, yes - the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums draw enormous queues, and booking ahead saves hours. The savings game also helps: museums run by the state open free on the month's first Sunday, the Vatican Museums on its last, under-18s enter state sites free, and EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €2. See Vatican City and Ancient Rome for booking details.
Cover your torso, shoulders and thighs before entering any church or religious building; a light scarf in your bag covers you for St Peter's and the basilicas. For evening dining, smart-casual clothing works well. See practical tips.
Tipping is a minor affair. Restaurant bills generally include service; should you want to add something, drop a couple of euros in a pizzeria or trattoria, or 5 to 10 percent in a smarter restaurant. Bars and taxis expect nothing, though many people simply round the bill up. See money.
The essentials: an espresso at the counter runs about €1.20, a cappuccino with a cornetto about €2.50 to €3, a slab of pizza bianca from a takeaway €2.50, a full trattoria dinner €30 to 35, the Colosseum €18, a day pass €7, and a typical cab ride across the centre €10 to 15. Hotels are the big variable - book early, since demand is high and rates move with dynamic pricing. See money.
The Roma Pass, at €32 for 48 hours or €52 for 72, gives free or discounted museum entry plus free use of public transport for its validity. It pays off when you ride the transport and visit its partner museums on the same days - which is exactly what most first-time itineraries do. Pair it with the free museum Sundays and you can see a lot for very little.
No. The driving is chaotic, parking verges on impossible, and vehicles without authorisation are barred from most of the centre. The historic centre belongs to walkers; a scooter is faster and easier to park, but only for experienced riders. The only reason to consider a car is escaping the city for the day. See by car and practical tips.
Around 22 percent of the price you pay in Italian shops is value-added tax, and visitors can claim most of it back. One shop must take more than €155 from you to qualify, and it must take part in the refund scheme. Have the merchant complete the refund form, then present it with the goods to customs at your last EU stop, typically the airport. Refund services like Global Blue or Planet then pay you out, keeping about 4 percent. See money.
Yes, easily. Check what your home plan already includes for Europe - many carriers bundle data, texts and calls. Otherwise lean on free Wi-Fi, which is everywhere from hotels and cafes to both airports, and consider an Italian SIM or eSIM, which must be registered with your passport. Download Google Translate's Italian dictionary and offline maps before you fly, keep video calls and streaming for Wi-Fi, and your data will last. See staying connected.
Licensed white taxis are reliable and fairly priced - two people can often cover short distances for barely more than bus tickets. Hail one on the street, find a stand, or book through the Free Now app, which charges standard meter fares and lets you tip by card. Uber operates in Rome but only at the pricier Uber Black level. See handy apps.
Yes - Rome adds a city tax of €3 to €7 for each person, each night, usually not included in the quoted rate and settled at check-out; hostel guests and children under 10 are exempt. Ask about it when you book so the final bill holds no surprises. See where to stay.
Book directly with the hotel when you can. The price is usually the same, but more of your money reaches the hotel instead of agency commissions - and you are in a better position to ask for a nicer room, a free breakfast or flexibility on dates. Some hotels also discount for cash payment or longer stays, deals that typically require booking direct. See where to stay.
Often not. The buffet is convenient, but a bar down the street serves a more Italian start - a cappuccino and cornetto at the counter runs about €3 - and the morning market beats both for a picnic breakfast. When the hotel makes breakfast optional, skip it and eat out like a local. See where to eat.