Everyone seems to love Rome.
So we were a little surprised by our experience.
We visited in late May, during shoulder season, which we thought would be a great time to go.
Instead, we arrived during an unexpected heat wave, some of the bigger attractions were packed, and we made several first-time tourist mistakes that made seeing Rome harder than it needed to be. And this was more than just knowing how to order coffee or what to wear when visiting a church.
Looking back – I realize while we had researched what to see in Rome – we really hadn’t looked into how to visit Rome and get around, mainly because we’d also be joining a coach tour in Rome, after spending a few days exploring on our own.
Here are 8 mistakes we made in Rome – and a few tips to help make your trip memorable.
1. We Didn’t Get Oriented Before Sightseeing
Before our trip, I knew what Rome’s famous attractions looked like from the many photos and reels of the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Pantheon and Vatican.
What I hadn’t really pictured was Rome as a city.
Rome is busy. It seemed like there was nonstop traffic, even on the narrow streets, and getting from one attraction to another wasn’t always as simple as it appeared on a map.
Rome as a city was also fascinating. One thing that always surprised me was seeing ancient ruins and historic walls right in the middle of a busy, modern city. We’d be driving through traffic near Termini Station and suddenly see part of an ancient city wall, or walk through a historic gateway near Piazza del Popolo. Then there are the massive walls around Vatican City and ancient ruins that unexpectedly appear throughout the city.
That’s one of the things that makes Rome so unique – thousands of years of history aren’t confined to museums or archaeological sites. They’re part of the city around you.
For our first few days, we stayed at the historic Hotel d’Inghilterra which we were able to book using hotel rewards points. It was centrally located and a great location for exploring many of Rome’s classic sights.
When we looked at the map, many attractions appeared to be in the area of our hotel. So we thought we’d just walk – and didn’t really look into other types of transportation.
We also didn’t look into where to find parks and quieter areas or things to do along the Tiber River,
Lesson Learned: Before traveling to Rome (or other city you’re visiting), spend a little time getting oriented first – locating your hotel, the river, major attractions, neighborhoods, transportation options and a few places away from the busiest tourist areas.
2. We Underestimated How Much Walking We’d Do
We walk a lot when we travel, so we’re used to putting in a lot of steps.
Many of the major attractions really are relatively close together. But sightseeing rarely means walking directly from Point A to Point B once, so those short distances add up in steps.
We learned this on one of our free mornings of the tour, when we wanted to visit the Pantheon and Vicus Caprarius – also called the Hidden City of Water, an underground archaeological site near Trevi Fountain.
We ended up walking back and forth between the attractions because Vicus Caprarius didn’t open until 11 a.m. When we returned, we had to wait for an available time slot. We also waited about 20–30 minutes in line to get tickets to the Pantheon.
Lesson Learned: Group the attractions you want to see geographically, check opening times before leaving the hotel, and be realistic about how much walking the day will involve.
And just because somewhere is technically walkable doesn’t mean you always need to walk there.
3. We Didn’t Buy Tickets in Advance
For this trip, we left our itinerary pretty open and didn’t reserve some attractions in advance. We knew the tour we’d be joining included sightseeing in Rome, but we didn’t know exactly where it would take us.
Our Pantheon and Vicus Caprarius morning is a good example. We didn’t have tickets for either.
We were able to get tickets, but it added extra time (and steps) walking back and forth and waiting in line – when with a little advance planning we could have reserved tickets.
Lesson learned: Reserve your must-see attractions in advance, check opening times and then leave room in the itinerary for exploring the area, shopping, cafés and meals.
You can have a plan without scheduling your entire vacation.
4. We Weren’t Prepared for the Heat
We visited Rome in late May and didn’t expect it to be so hot (and we’re from Arizona!).
On one of our first sightseeing days, we headed out without a refillable water bottle. We thought we’d just buy water somewhere along the way.
But, when we needed water we couldn’t find a convenience store or drugstore.
So we kept walking.
And then we climbed the Spanish Steps. (Tips: There is an elevator to the left, inside the Metro station. And don’t sit on the steps.)
Luckily we ended up near Piazza del Popolo and found Rome’s historic Caffè Rosati for lunch (and water).
We did learn later that Rome has small public drinking fountains around the city called nasoni where you can refill a water bottle (like round cylinders, not the actual fountains). That would have been helpful information to know on Day 1!
Lesson Learned: Carry a lightweight refillable bottle, know where you can refill it and adjust your sightseeing plans when the weather changes.
The itinerary you planned at home doesn’t have to be the itinerary you follow when you arrive. To help beat the heat, we took more breaks throughout the day inside restaurants and gelato shops.
5. We Didn’t Learn Rome’s Transportation System
Because so many attractions looked walkable from our centrally located hotel, we didn’t look into Rome’s public transportation before our visit.
Instead, we planned to walk and use Uber or taxis when we needed a ride.
That generally worked – until it didn’t.
Finding an Uber pickup location on a busy Rome street wasn’t always intuitive. The app might show that our driver was nearby, but figuring out exactly where we were supposed to meet could be confusing.
We learned another transportation lesson after taking a day trip by train to the Amalfi Coast.
We returned to Rome Termini Station in the evening around rush hour. After a long travel day, we ended up standing outside the terminal in a long taxi queue.
Lesson Learned: Before arriving, learn enough about Rome’s Metro, buses, taxis and pickup locations to give yourself several transportation options.
6. We Assumed Shoulder Season Would Mean Smaller Crowds
We intentionally planned our trip for May for the spring weather and before the summer crowds.
That wasn’t our experience.
Obviously, you can’t control the weather or how many other people decide to visit Rome.
But you can control how you structure your day. On hot or crowded days, head out early, take a longer break during the afternoon and go back out in the evening.
Lesson Learned: Check the forecast immediately before the trip and be willing to change your sightseeing plans (and the clothes you pack).
7. We Didn’t Plan Around the Busiest Sightseeing Times
We wanted to see as much of Rome as possible and did a lot of sightseeing during the day, even in the heat.
Because we were staying in the area, we passed by the Trevi Fountain at different times. It was also a stop on our tour.
At peak times, the area near the fountain was packed.
But one morning we walked by early and got to see it when it was quiet with no crowds – and watched the fountain being cleaned and the coins collected.
We even got a special view of the fountain. We had attended an Opera Lyrica performance (booked in advance) that was in the building behind the Fountain. At the end of the performance, the second-floor windows were opened – and we got to look out over the Trevi Fountain.
Lesson Learned: You don’t have to skip Rome’s most popular attractions because they’re crowded. Sometimes you just need to experience them at different times of the day.
8. We Focused Too Much on Rome’s Classic Sights
Because our sightseeing concentrated so heavily on the major attractions, we experienced a very particular version of Rome, and didn’t see the Riverwalk area or the parks and gardens.
One place we did discover was Vicus Caprarius – the hidden City of Water, an underground archaeological site under the Trevi Fountain area.
You descend below modern Rome and suddenly you’re looking at remnants of the ancient city beneath your feet.
Lesson Learned: In addition to the major attractions – take time to explore a neighborhood like Trastevere or one of Rome’s parks and gardens. You can also walk along the Tiber and its bridges.
When in Rome … Take Time to Experience Rome
Some of our favorite memories happened when we slowed down, changed our plans or simply happened upon something we hadn’t expected.
If you’re planning your first trip, here are a few things to make room for – to help make your Rome trip memorable.
Take In a View of Rome From Above
This has become one of our favorite things to do whenever we visit a new city.
Getting a view of the city from above – a rooftop bar, restaurant, or terrace can give you a completely different perspective.
In Rome, we had aperitivo at our hotel’s rooftop bar around sunset and watched the light change over the city.
And some of the best views were completely unexpected. At the Vatican Museums, we got to look out over Rome from the open windows, and after our Opera Lyrica performance, the windows opened to an incredible view looking down over Trevi Fountain.
See Rome at Night
Rome felt different to us in the evening.
The temperatures were cooler, the piazzas were beautiful, and there was a wonderful energy as people walked, ate outside and gathered around the fountains and squares. After the heat and crowds of daytime sightseeing, evenings felt calmer and gave us a chance to enjoy the city without rushing to the next attraction.
Even if you’ve already seen Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps or one of Rome’s piazzas during the day, walk by again and see it after dark. It can feel like an entirely different experience.
Leave Room for Something Unplanned
One of our favorite dinners wasn’t on our itinerary at all.
While we were walking around taking in the sights, we came across Angie’s restaurant near Piazza Spagna. The outdoor dining was busy and had a great vibe so we put our name on the list to wait for a table. We ended up having a wonderful time dining al fresco with great service and nowhere else we needed to be.
Plan the things that require planning – but leave time to experience Rome.
Find Something Beyond the Famous Sights
For us, that was attending the Opera performance and finding Vicus Caprarius – the Hidden City of Water.
You don’t have to skip the classics. Just make room for something you didn’t already see in every Rome photo before your trip.
If You’re Planning a Trip to Rome
If you’re planning your first trip to Rome, of course you’ll want to see the classic sights. The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Vatican and Spanish Steps are famous for a reason.
But one thing we learned is to balance those must-see attractions with time to experience Rome.
Explore a neighborhood or one of Rome’s parks and gardens. Walk along the Tiber and its bridges. Look for smaller attractions like Vicus Caprarius that show you another side of the city. Stop for a café or aperitivo. Have a long dinner outside. Walk past Trevi Fountain early in the morning or after dark and see how different it feels.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, even though our trip to Rome in spring was not what we expected and we made a lot of first-time tourist mistakes, once we slowed down – sat in a piazza, stopped for gelato, had an aperitivo, enjoyed dining al fresco – we were able to experience what everyone loves about Rome.
