Rome The First Time Around

What can be said of Rome that hasn't been said before? The Eternal City's charms are lost on the few, and for me it was love at first sight. Maybe, because it was my first foreign city, but more likely it's because Rome is magic. It seems an impossibility to stand beneath the dome of the Pantheon, and not contemplate what an engineering feat it must have been. I challenge anyone to scale the steps of the Colosseum and not imagine an epic struggle for life and freedom. If inexplicably, the palpable history or immeasurable beauty don't light you up, the food certainly will (if you know where to look).
Rome often seems untouched by time, it feels like another world altogether, and if you're anything like me, your first time will not be your last. So without further ado, here are some of my tips, tricks and must see attractions in Rome.

The first thing on most people's mind when it comes to travel is budget. Costs can add up quickly in a city like Rome. There are just so many things to see and do. Most major tourist cities will offer an attraction pass that gives you discount rates, and sometimes metro access.
The Omni Pass, or Roma Pass is definitely worth the purchase.

http://www.romapass.it/ is the link to research for yourself.

The pass includes:

• entry to 2 free museums (including the bundle of palantine hill, the forum and colluseum)
• Free metro, bus and tram access for the duration of your pass (this is what largely makes the pass worth purchasing)
  If you have ever used a metro system before You know that tiny little tickets are a pain to keep up with. The Roma Pass is touch and go, and makes navigating Rome quick and easy.
• an excellent map of the city.

When I purchased mine in 2015, it also included a hop on hop off bus pass, But I was unable to find that information on the site this time.
Make sure that you purchase your pass well in advance, as it will arrive in the mail. There may be an option to purchase while in the city, but not that I am currently aware of.

For more money saving tips keep an eye on my blog for articles to come.

Navigating Rome is actually quite easy and one of the best for first timers.

The two main lines are easy to navigate, and with the help of a good offline map app like Here WeGo, you should have no problem getting from point A to point B.

Accommodation can vary alot in price. It probably goes without saying, but if you only have a short time you want to be as close to the city center as possible, or at the least very near a metro entrance.
I've stayed in hostels or air bnb's for the entirety of my travels and had some of the best experiences as a result.
Dreaming Rome Hostel was my first and best hostel experience. It's a small and well located youth hostel, with the best and interactive owner/managers.
https://www.hostelworld.com/ is always a great place to find cheap accomodation.
If hostels don't sound like your thing, air bnb is another great budget option.
And if you are really on a budget, and you are staying a decent amount of time, Rome has some excellent air conditioned bungalows and campgrounds.

THE FOOD!
It's almost torturous to sit here and talk about the food in Rome, or italy in general, knowing that I can't just pop around the corner and get some.
Most seasoned Travelers know that the best food takes a little more footwork than the most convenient food. Don't get me wrong, you can get an excellent meal in a highly trafficked area, but you're probably going to pay more than you should and it might not be AS good as somewhere a little off the beaten path. So the best time to grab a meal is during your commute to the next attraction, or if you can't wait, trek a little further away from major attractions.
Look for a sign that says Trattoria. Trattorias are where you are more likely to get authentic Italian cuisine, and often they will have set menus using seasonal, fresh, local ingredients.
No matter where you go I recommend trying all of the following at least once.

-cacio e pepe, a simple pasta dish from the Lazio region

• Roman pizza, which is rectangular thin crusted and comes in a variety of flavors and combinations.
  
• And of course gelato!
  

The wine from the Lazio region is also excellent, and if wine is your thing, consider a vineyard tour in neighboring Frascati. I went on one such tour, very reasonably priced, and booked through https://www.viator.com/. Tours meet in a central location and bus out to Frascati, about 45 minutes in and out. A vineyard tour is an excellent way to see a bit of the countryside and Frascati is a quaint little village built into a hill.

Unfortunately for me and my travel partner it did rain on our tour. None the less we had a great time and sampled some amazing wine.


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And now for the hardest part of planning your trip to Rome. Deciding what you have time to see! You could literally live there for a year and not see everything Rome has to offer. So my advice...... well do what most people do. In the case of Rome the most visited attractions and historical sites are probably going to be the first on your list. Colosseum, forum, pantheon, Vatican etc. If you are visiting in high season (which I definitely don't recommend) you will need to plan ample time so stand in line. Especially at, you guessed it, the Colosseum. Even in October, when I visited, both times, there were substantial lines to enter the Colosseum. Far less substantial than in the summer months, but there none the less. The same thing goes for the Vatican museums. Prepare to be shoulder to shoulder there. The best thing to do is to remain calm, have a plan, get as many of your tickets in advance if possible and if not possible leave one person in line and send the other for tickets.

The Colosseum, forum, Palatine hill and Circus Maximus are all in the same area and well walk able and see able in a day.
There isn't much left of the Circus Maximus today. Just a space where it would have been, But if you start your journey from the Circo Massimo metro stop, you'll get a nice view of Palatine Hill, and enjoy a gorgeous walk up to the entrance.
In addition, starting from this direction is an excellent way to avoid lines. The tickets for Palatine, Forum, and Colosseum are a combined ticket (free with your Roma Pass) and the shortest lines will be at the Palatine Hill entrance. While you will be going the opposite direction as most of the crowds, the climb up the hill is more gradual, and you avoid the long box office lines from other entrances.

(Circus Maximus Ruins)

(view of Palatine Hill from Circus Maximus)

(Evening view)

Continuing from the Circus Maximus, is a short walk to the Palatine hill entrance on Via Di San Gregorio. Palatine Hill was where many of Rome's Caesars built their palaces, and the walk up to the main ruins and museum is pleasant and mostly serene. It's easy for those with a bit of imagination to reconstruct the ancients structures in their minds eye.

Continuing from Palatine Hill, Enter the Forum.
According to Wikipedia: The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum (Italian: Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.

For centuries the Forum was the center of day-to-day life in Rome: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history.[1] Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations attracting 4.5 million sightseers yearly.

Though Fragmented and in ruins, the Forum is still worth a visit and has some amazing views of the surrounding architecture.

From the Forum, you can make your way through the Arch of Titus, down hill to The Colosseum!

It should be noted that the steps up to the observation deck of the Colosseum are steep and if you are travelling with someone with limited mobility, I would look into accessibility options.
That being said, the Colosseum should be on everyone's bucket list! It's truly hard to put into words how it feels to be there, and to see it for yourself!
With the energy you have left take some time to stare at the Arch of Constantine, right in front of the Colosseum, and stroll around for some picture taking opportunities of the Colosseum's exterior.

Another day can be devoted to Rome's srawling piazzas. Navona, Spagna, Campo Di Fiore, Trevi Fountain, Del Popolo, Della Rotonda, and more.
Most of the piazzas are in walking distance of one another and are always bustling with activity.
Start your morning at the market in Campo Di Fiore, where you can shop and enjoy a traditional italian breakfast (espresso and a pastry) and use your map to wind your way through the main piazza area. Stopping to take in the artists in Navona, stepping into the incredible Pantheon (one of my favorite Roman buildings), people watching on the Spanish steps, and throwing your coin into the Trevi. Legend says, that throwing a coin from the right hand over the left shoulder will ensure that you will return to Rome in the future. Hey! It worked for me!

Again when considering a meal, try to venture a little further from the action. especially when you are near the piazzas.

Of course one whole day, if you are so inclined, can be dedicated to The Vatican and it's museums. Tours are always available, either pre booked or booked in piazza di San Pietro (St. Peter's Square), and when trying to navigate lines can be worth the cost. Tour groups usually have their own entrance and skip the lines. I recommend booking a tour of the basilica at least, and when it comes to the museums, use the group to skip the lines, and then go your own way once you're in, unless of course you value the commentary of your guide.

St. Peter's square is relatively easy to find, and breathtaking to view. Avoid Sundays as mass is held. at the mouth of the square (which is actually a circle) you can find multiple tourist information offices and tour guides. But I recommend pre booking through Viator, or a similar site to maximize your time.

Depending on how much time you have in Rome, there are countless archeological sites, churches, cathedrals, altars, parks and more to explore.
Most of the time when I travel I like to let the experiences come at me organically. I pick a handful of highlights and work them in. With Rome I suggest planning and researching as much as possible beforehand. It is just so dense with history, layers upon layers, literally! Always plan time to just get lost. There's always something worth seeing or tasting just around the corner. Don't become overwhelmed and know that you won't see everything.

If you've made it this far, I'll conclude with some random helpful tips.

1. Take advantage of Romes many drinking fountains. The same water that trickled down from the aqueducts in antiquity, still flows into the city today. These fountains are all over the place and provide cool clean drinking water for free! so save your water bottles and refill when you see them!

1. Watch out for pick pockets, especially during high season. Never carry your valuables in your back pocket. When using public transport move your purse or backpack to your front and hug it. and always watch your bags when dining outside. Don't become so paranoid that you don't enjoy yourself, but you don't want to leave yourself vulnerable to theft.

2. Germaphobes beware! The metro stations are quite dirty and have their own odor. it's not so bad that you can't handle it, but you will notice. bring hand sanitizer just in case.

3. Avoid Rome in August. Most of the locals take their own vacations in August. This means many of the local restaurants will be closed down, and markets may not be as lively.

Thanks for making it all the way to the end of this article. I hope this was helpful to anyone considering a trip to Rome. This is my first travel article, and while I am not a professional writer or journalist, I look forward to sharing more of my travel experiences and tips. Feedback is appreciated, whether positive or negative! Thanks again and safe travels.
Cori -of Merkaba.Media