Italy

Rome Travel Guide

3,000 years of history, and still a working, chaotic, wonderful city.

Updated October 18, 2025 · By Daniel Pires

Rome rewards travelers who pick the right neighbourhood and book key sights ahead. Here's how to plan a first visit without wasting half your trip in queues.

Quick overview

Travel essentials

Currency

Euro (€)

Language

Italian

Timezone

CET/CEST (UTC+1 / UTC+2)

Best time to visit

April–June and September–October

Flight time

2.5 hrs from London, 9 hrs from New York

Power plug

Type C/F/L, 230V

Pick the right base

Best areas to stay in Rome

Centro Storico (Historic Centre)

$$$

Best for first-time visitors

The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain are all walkable from here. Expect higher prices and tourist-heavy streets, balanced by being able to walk nearly everywhere.

Trastevere

Best for nightlife & atmosphere

Cobbled, ivy-draped streets across the river, packed with trattorias and bars. A 20-minute walk or short tram from the main sights.

Prati

Best for families & first-timers on a budget

A calmer, residential grid near the Vatican with wide pavements and local shops — better value than the historic centre, still walkable to it.

Monti

Best for independent travelers

Rome's oldest rione, now full of vintage shops and wine bars, right behind the Colosseum. Trendy without losing its local character.

Book smarter

Recommended hotel search

Hotels & Accommodation

Booking.com

4.6· Trustpilot

Best for: Largest selection & free cancellation

Huge inventory with flexible, no-prepayment rates

$$Check hotel prices

Hotels.com

4.3· Trustpilot

Best for: Loyalty rewards & last-minute deals

Collect-10-nights-get-1-free rewards program

$$Compare hotel rates

We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.

Arriving

Rome airport to city centre

Leonardo Express (train)

32 min to Termini · $

Direct, non-stop train from Fiumicino Airport to Roma Termini, Rome's main station — the fastest and most predictable option.

Private transfer

~45–60 min (traffic dependent) · $$

Best if you're staying outside the centre or travelling with family — door-to-door with no station transfer needed.

Taxi (fixed rate)

~45–60 min · $$

Rome sets a fixed fare from Fiumicino to within the Aurelian Walls — confirm it's the flat rate, not metered, before departing.

Getting around

Car rental in and around the city

Avoid renting a car for central Rome — the historic centre has restricted traffic zones (ZTL) with automatic fines for unauthorized entry. A car is worth it only for trips into Tuscany, Umbria, or the Amalfi Coast; pick up on your way out of the city rather than in the centre.

Car Rental

DiscoverCars

4.6· Trustpilot

Best for: Comparing all major rental brands at once

Full insurance add-on and free cancellation on most cars

$Compare rental cars

RentalCars.com

4.2· Trustpilot

Best for: Airport pickup availability worldwide

Backed by Booking.com's global supplier network

$$Check car rental prices

We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.

Staying connected

eSIM recommendations

Italy's mobile coverage is excellent even in smaller hill towns. An eSIM lets you book skip-the-line tickets and navigate Rome's winding streets without searching for Wi-Fi.

eSIM & Connectivity

Airalo

4.6· App Store

Best for: Simple app-based eSIM install for 200+ countries

Pay-as-you-go local & regional data packages

$Check eSIM plans

Holafly

4.4· Trustpilot

Best for: Unlimited data without worrying about caps

Flat-rate unlimited-data eSIM plans

$$See unlimited eSIM plans

We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.

Plan ahead

Things worth booking in advance

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip-the-line

Ticket lines can exceed 90 minutes in peak season. A timed-entry ticket is close to essential between May and September.

See available tours

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel early access

Early-entry tickets get you into the Sistine Chapel before the main crowds arrive.

Browse tours & activities

Before you go

Practical travel tips

Practical tips

Book the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, and Galleria Borghese in advance — all three can sell out or involve long queues.
Many restaurants add a small 'coperto' (cover charge) — it's standard practice, not a scam.
Trastevere and the centre are best explored on foot; the metro has only two lines and misses large parts of the historic core.
Dress code is enforced at churches and the Vatican — shoulders and knees should be covered.