A Guide To Planning A Trip To Rome For The First Time

Planning a trip to Rome for the first time can seem overwhelming, but with our guide you can be confident that you have considered all the important choices.

A trip to Rome can be a magical experience, but if this is your first time planning this type of trip, you might find it difficult to decide amongst all of the options available. I will try to simplify your planning options and give my recommendations for what to see, where to eat and how to get around the city safely, with confidence and without breaking the bank.

I would suggest that you review a couple of my previous articles about planning a trip to Rome and if the cost is a concern, my article on planning a trip to Rome on a budget might also be useful while you make your plans. If you are a solo traveler, you should also check out my guide for planning a trip to Rome alone.

How Many Days Should I Visit Rome For The First Time?

You can certainly get a good feeling for the city in as little as three days, and if you plan to continue your vacation to other cities in Italy, three full days is a good amount of time. If you are only coming to Rome, I would suggest at least a week so that you can enjoy everything the Eternal City has to offer at a more relaxed pace. I have three different itineraries that should help you with your travel planning:

• A Rome Travel Itinerary For First Time Visitors.
• Your Second Time In Rome Still Needs An Itinerary.
• 3-Day Rome Itinerary Plans For Your Third Visit To Italy.

How Do I Organize My Trip To Rome?

I would recommend organizing your trip to Rome around the following topics, and please review the guides for more information:

Packing

Check out my complete Packing List For Men, and if you are looking for more seasonal specific information, I have summer packing, winter packing and fall and spring packing guides you should check out.

Lodging

When planning where to stay in Rome, the two things you will need to determine is the level of service that you want from your hotel and which part of the city you will want to stay in. I would recommend staying in the historical center of Rome. Further out from the center will be cheaper, but you will spend your time traveling from the hotel to your sites or meals every day. Here are some recommendations for hotels of various levels and in different areas around Rome:

• Comfortable Hotels Near The Roman Colosseum.
• Convenient Rome Hotels Near Termini Station.
• The Best Hotels Near The Vatican In Rome.
• 5-Star Hotels Near The Pantheon In Rome.
• These Are The Best Hotels Near Piazza Navona In Rome.

Dining

Rome has an almost endless supply of amazing restaurants, so it can be a challenge to decide where to get started. You will want to make reservations for dinner, and probably lunch, but unless you want to go to a really popular restaurant, a day or two ahead should be enough time. Here are some suggestions that should only be considered a starting point:

• How To Find The Best Pizza In Rome, Italy.
• Pinsa In Rome Is An Unexpectedly Delicious Take On Pizza.
• Here Is The Best Carbonara In Rome That You Need to Try.
• Rome’s Train Station Food Court Is Mercato Centrale.
• The Best Affordable Restaurants In Rome Do Exist.
• The Best Dinner Restaurants In Rome Are Waiting For You.
• The Best Irish Bar In Rome Is Waiting To Pour You A Pint.

Sites

Since this is your first trip to Rome, you will want to make sure you don’t miss the sites that define the Eternal City, and my Rome travel itinerary for first time visitors is a great place to start. You will want to make sure you plan to see:

• The Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum
• The Pantheon
• Vatican City
• The Spanish Steps

What Is The Best Month To Travel To Rome?

After living in Rome for a couple of years, my recommended time to visit is definitely in January or February. This is especially true if you don’t enjoy large crowds. Rome has tourists all year long, but the crowds are the smallest after the holidays (in January), but before the spring travel season. The weather isn’t too cold, it isn’t during the rainy season, but all the sites and restaurants are open and less-crowded.

Is Rome A Walkable City?

Rome is definitely a walkable city. Depending on your level of mobility, you can walk between all the major sites, stop for lunch and grab an espresso all on foot. If you plan to go to the mall, or any of the sites outside of the historical center of Rome, you should plan to use some type of transportation. The public transportation costs only €1.50 per person per ride, but there are multi-day tickets that can lower the costs even further. Here are some articles that I think will help your planning:

• Getting Around Rome By Bus Is Very Easy And Convenient.
• The Rome Tram System Tickets, Prices, Maps and Services.
• The Rome Metro System Tickets, Prices, Maps and Stations.
• Your Rome Bike Rental Options Are Easy With This Guide.
• A Rome Scooter Rental Guide For Your Vacation Planning.
• A Taxi In Rome Is Easy To Find With This Travel Guide.

Where To Avoid Staying In Rome?

When traveling alone in Rome the hotel location will be a major consideration for you. I would recommend staying in the historical center of Rome, but not near Termini Station. Even though it would be cheaper, the area around Termini is pretty rough and I wouldn’t consider it safe for first-time travelers.

Further out from the center will be cheaper, but you will spend your time traveling from the hotel to your sites or meals every day in addition to the higher crime rates in the EUR district. Here are some recommendations for hotels of various levels and in different areas around Rome:

• Comfortable Hotels Near The Roman Colosseum.
• The Best Hotels Near The Vatican In Rome.
• 5-Star Hotels Near The Pantheon In Rome.
• These Are The Best Hotels Near Piazza Navona In Rome.

What Is The Safest Part Of Rome For Tourists?

Most crime you might encounter in Rome is nonviolent, like purse-snatching or pickpocketing, and gun violence is exceedingly rare despite what you might see on TV. I’ve also seen my share of car windows smashed when someone leaves an inviting target in their backseat, so if you are renting a car, you should definitely hide your valuables.

For the most part, Rome is a safe city, but I would avoid any night strolls around: EUR, walking along the Tiber and around Termini Station. During the day shouldn’t cause any problems, but at night I would definitely avoid these areas.

Now Start Planning Your First Trip To Rome

This guide for planning a trip to Rome for the first time is just a starting point, you should be sure to check out some YouTube videos, travel books and other travel bloggers to get a complete picture of the options available to you when visiting Rome on a budget.