Rome is perhaps chaos personified. The hussle and bussle of the city make it a vary vibrant and interesting place to visit and live. Every waking moment seems to be awash in cars, pedestrians and the all so popular vespers that occupy the streets of Rome. If you are visiting this city or the first time this experience can be a bit daunting to say the least. So therefore it is vital that before you visit this city that you become aware of how to get around.

By Subway

Perhaps one of the best ways to explore Rome is through the Metropolitana and can be found through the signs that display a big red M at most entrances. For a ticket to ride the subway it is relatively cheap only 1 Euro. These tickets can be purchased at all of the tabacchi or tobacco shops. You can also find tickets to the subway at many newsstands and most stations sell them as well so it should be easy to obtain a ticket to ride.

By Bus and Train

The Roman bus system is operated by the Azienda Tramvie e Autobus del Comune di Roma or ATAC. A ticket also costs 1 Euro and is valid for 75 minutes of use where you can get on and off as many buses that you wish. You may also use the subway with this ticket as well so it is actually quite a deal. Getting around Rome by bus is slow and painful as most buses are very crowded.

Also try to avoid the “wallet eater” or route number 64 which is very popular with tourists and pickpockets . Because many tourists travel on this route there is a greater chance that your wallet or purse will be stolen and that would certainly ruin your vacation.

For those that are staying for a longer period of time there are several options for you. There is a one day pass which costs 4 Euros and a weekly pass which costs 16 Euros and these tickets can be purchased at Stazione Termini. There is even a tourist pass which lasts for three days nd costs 11 Euros. Obviously you want to pick what ever option is best for you and how long you are going to be staying.

In order to get the routes that the busses take the best and only way that I know of is to pick one up at the bus information center at Piazza dei Cinquecento. Now you must keep in mind that these routes change all the time and most likely the map will be out of date but it should give some idea on how to navigate the city. The only routes that maintain pretty consistent are numbers 75 and 40 as these routes are also frequented by the many tourists that come.

By Taxi

Do not even bother with hailing a taxi as they will not come to your beckoning. Rather the best way to get a taxi is to have your hotel call you one or you can call one of these numbers yourself which is 06-6645 or 06-3570 or 06-4994. Either number will get you a taxi to arrive where ever you are located be it a restaurant, hotel or even a famous landmark if they can get close enough.

By Car

I would not recommend driving in Rome under any circumstances as the drivers are a bit wild and I honestly think you need to be born there to be able to withstand the traffic. Although recently some laws have been proposed to make the driving a bit safer I would still stay away from it. If you do choose to rent a car I would try to pick one up on the outskirts of the city and only drive in the countryside where the traffic is a bit saner.g etting around Rome can be very easy if you know what you are doing and how to get around. otherwise the traffic and people can be very overwhelming especially if you are not all accustomed to big city living.

Italy is world famous for producing some of the best food that has ever been conjured up. Rome is perhaps the apex of this statement and because of this it is very easy to spend far more than you have budgeted for your stay. It is just so easy to indulge in all of the fine food that is served in this food that you can easily lose your entire budget in this one city. However with some planning and some of my tips you should be able to save your wallet some money and still enjoy yourself as well.

When having your morning coffee or any coffee for that matter make sure you are always standing up. It always seems to cost more if you choose to sit down while eating at your local café. Also a great tip would be to make your own lunches and breakfasts for the day by visiting the local alimentary or food store. Catering yourself a meal can save you a lot of money and you still have the benefits of eating the great food that comes from the same farms that are served at the most expensive restaurants.

 You can choose to eat lunch at a trattoria if you wish but the cheaper alterative would be to visit a local wine bar. A wine bar serves small sandwiches and appetizers that will definitely help fill your stomach while saving your wallet. You can even pick up a cheap slice of pizza in Rome as Italy is well known for producing the best pizza in the world. This will save you lots and will certainly enhance your experience in Rome. Also make sure you make lunch your primary meal of the day because many trattorias have a cheaper lunch menu then at dinner time. 

I would definitely avoid the tourist areas of the city as you are most definitely going to be over priced for the quality of food you will receive. And if you really want to waste your money be sure to eat American style food as this is some of the most expensive food that you can find in the whole of Italy. In order to save some serious money it would be a good idea to find a local budget saver guide that has an extensive listings of restaurants in the area as this will most likely save you some money as well. 

Eating out in Rome does not have to be a very expensive affair and you can save yourself some money if you follow these simple common sense tips that I have given you. The food in Rome is well known because many of the restaurant owners have a farm of their own in the countryside so they know about producing high quality food. With this dedication comes a menu and experience that many people do not experience in their lives but it is very worth it in my opinion.

Rome as a city should be savored and not rushed through as many tourists have the tendency to do so. For many the best time to go to Rome is when you are young and still a student. Let’s face it this is really the best time to go as you are not tied down by any commitments you may have when you get older.

However Rome is not one of the most cheapest cities in the world to stay. In fact it can be very expensive to stay for an extended period of time such as three months. This is especially the case if you are not prepared and have not planned ahead. Fortuntately for you I looked into obtaining a apartment in Rome on a budget and have some really great options for you.

The best place to look when you are planning on going for an extended period of time is on the Internet. This really saves the hassles of dealing with a realtor and pestering you may receive because you are using their services. Check out what area of Rome you want to stay in the most and then start your search from there. To do this I would first visit roma-hotels.com as they seem to have the most options and their listings are of quality places to stay. This site covers a wide range of available apartments that should really help with those strapped for cash.

The second site I would visit would be the CEA Global Education Solutions website because this is a website that is geared towards exactly what you are going for. I mean it is best to go for a company that caters to your specific needs. If you are older then this is not the website to use, rather go for a company that caters to your age group and I am sure you will be more satisified.

Lastly the website that I would recommend tor students wishing to stay in Rome is studentville.it which seems to have some of the best apartments and is again geared towards what you are going for when you visit Rome. Not only do they cover Rome but this website covers the entire country of Italy so you can stay in Florence or any other city that you want.
Each person has their own reasons for wanting to live in Rome for a longer period of time. I
know many art history majors and history majors stay in this city in order to finish research on a masters degree or do a senior thesis. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to stay in this city these resources that I have pointed out should help save at least a little money to make your life that much easier.

Rome has perhaps some of the best attractions to see in the entire western world. Since this is the capital of what is largely considered the foundation for most other western societies the history is rich as is the culture and traditions. With this wealth of culture comes layers upon layers of fabulous architecture and art that is literally around every corner.

In order to get a true feel for the city of Rome you must embrace the present as well as the past. Many tourists go to see the ruins of Rome and the surrounding areas. However this negates all of Rome’s present atmosphere. I believe that some of the best advice given to me once was “be present” meaning to soak up all that is around you and try to be aware of the surrounding world and not caught up in your own head. While it may be nice to imagine Rome in earlier times, and this should be done at some time, it is better to also be aware of the people that surrounds you at the moment.

This being said I have a list of things that in order to get a feel for the city should be accomplished at least once. This list is in no particular order as I am not big on ranking experiences.

Eating a slice of pizza in Rome is one of the best things you can do while you are visiting the city. While many may argue that the pizza in Rome is not the best I would argue quite differently as this is perhaps one of the best ways to really soak up the culture as everyday locals are more than likely to be around you.

Going to see the Coliseum would also be ranked high in things to do while in Rome. While this is slowly turning into a tourist trap this structure still represents some of the best engineering of the time. This is the place where the capital of a large empire entertained many of its inhabitants.

The Forum is another one of those ancient sites that should also not be missed. This is the place where many Roman emperors consulted with the Roman senators and much political intrigue and deceit was accomplished here. This area of government transformed most of western Europe with its rulings and degrees. Surely this must be worth a visit!

If you are an art lover then the Galleria Borghese is one of the best places to view Belini sculptures plus many other notable artists of the Renaissance. Here you will see many outstanding examples of great talent by mankind. True expression of passion and feeling is expressed through these many works of art.

Eating gelato after a good evening meal is perhaps one of the best ways to spend your time at night in Rome. If you are with a group this is perhaps one of the best ways to explore the city with your pals. Besides Italian gelato is far less fattening than ice cream.

If you are lucky enough to get a ticket to a local football game I would definitely go. There is no other sport that Italians take so passionately like football. This is known in America as soccer and unlike America is insanely popular in Europe. Since Italy won the world cup in 2006 I would say that there is a certain level of pride that Italians take with their football.

Be sure to have some espresso in the morning before you venture out. This is one of the common customs that many Italians take part in almost everyday. In a coffee shop you can rub shoulders with the busy locals as they rush into work. Perhaps for some this may not see like an attraction but I am sure you will not forget the experience. Also I would like to point out that no self respecting Italian would order Capuccino in the afternoon so if you do not want to be see as some hopeless tourist follow this custom.

IF you want to soak up the Roman city and watch the world go by I would go to the Piazza Navona. This is perhaps what is considered by most as the center of Rome and it is one of the best places to people watch and talk over a cup of coffee or espresso.

While there are so many things to see and do in Rome I believe that these activities and places capture the heart of Rome in the past and present. It is truly difficult to capture a true feel for a city if you are planning on just staying a short period of time but if you can squeeze most of these things in I am sure that you will have a more well rounded experience.

This blog is all about the city of Rome. Originally I started a blog on Venice Italy but now I am venturing out and writing about more Italian cities. I hope to add some more in the future as these blogs become more and more successful. This blog is geared towards the savvy traveler and not necessarily the common tourist.

What is the difference between a tourist and traveler? A tourist is one who takes common routes and does not take much risk when going to someplace new. My goals of this blog is to educate and enlighten all those that have been or want to go to Rome. This blog is also a sister site of my A Month In Venice blog which has a completely different mission all together.

Fortunately I have already written much of the content for this blog so the start should be free of interruptions. A steady stream of useful information I believe is what keeps readers coming back to any blog.

One of my main hobbies and interests is in ancient cultures so part of this blog will cover the history and background to some of the sights you may want to visit. And of course going out and having fun is necessary when traveling or living abroad so that should be covered as well.

Basically the mission of this blog is to make visiting Rome one of the most appealing things you can do in your life. If you have any tips or tricks for my readers please leave a comment and I am sure to either write a post about it and give you credit for your idea. Also if you have a travel website in Europe please let me know as I believe that the best blogs out there work within their niche so we can help each other out.