Are you looking for a day filled with foot pain? Do you love crowded narrow walkways? Do you have an endless supply of ibuprofen in your fanny pack? Do you like to stare at ancient ruins? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then congratulations, you have the guts to tackle the center of the old empire in one day alone. Though it may seem ludicrous to try to explore the entirety of Rome in a day, it’s very doable if you’re on a tight time crunch. Without further ado, here are a few travel tips for those who want to make a more abridged visit, as well as some general advice.
- The Pantheon
Don’t think you have time to go inside the Pantheon? Think again. While the line may seem long, they actually move pretty quickly, and the interior is definitely worth it. Try to visit during off-times, such as normal lunch hours, to avoid longer queues. Also, since the interior isn’t very large, it’s easy to get in and out in under 10 minutes. Check!
2. Hit the Vatican or the Colosseum First
The Colosseum and the Vatican City are both huge destinations, but the number of people visiting them is way bigger. If you want to avoid waiting in line and wading through huge crowds, try to book tickets (yes, you have to pay to see both, but it’s only about €8) during calmer hours of the day, especially the morning. Not every tourist wakes up super early; use that to your advantage.
3. Gelato
You may think that this is a superfluous part of traveling to Italy, but I can assure you that the gelato at a place called Giolitti’s is by far one of the best deserts I’ve had in Italy. They have so many delicious flavors – if you plan it well you can even go twice!
4. Don’t Take Candy (or Water) From Strangers
Rome is filled with street vendors who will try to bait you into buying their goods. Yes, the sun may be shining directly down on you, but don’t buy the water; you can never be sure what you’re purchasing is clean or safe, let alone actually H2O. Rome is has several free public water fountains in central areas, which provide clean running water to fill your bottle – just look up the nearest one to you.
5. Modest Dressing Hacks
Most religious sites require coverage of the shoulders and knees upon entrance. In the winter this may not be an issue, but in hot summer months it can be quite uncomfortable to wear pants in the blazing sun. I’ve noticed that most places are more lax about men’s clothes and therefore shorts are fine, but here’s a tip for the ladies: bring or buy a cheap thin scarf. Pack this scarf with you and pull it out when you get to the site, using it to cover the shoulders or knees temporarily. This way, you can wear tank tops or shorter bottoms and still be able to see the beautiful interiors of the well-preserved sites.
*Important Note Concerning Pickpockets*
Many travelers to Europe are told that pickpockets are everywhere, and spend their whole trip paranoid about losing their valuables. While it is important to recognize this risk, it is also important to not let it dominate one’s ability to enjoy one’s trip. The crucial thing to remember is that you just need to be aware of yourself and your surroundings, and understand that unless you are carrying everything in your pockets or leave your bag unzipped, the chances of your goods disappearing is very slim. And even if disaster strikes and something does go missing, it’s not the end of the world. Just be safe and aware, and you should be fine. Yes, you can survive without one of those ridiculous around-waist money pouches.
Well, that’s enough “Rome”-ing around for one day. Catch you all later for some more mediocre travel tips – cheers!
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