These Self-Care Tips For Rome Will Make Travel Amazing
It’s hard to imagine that a trip to Italy could get better, but these self-care tips for Rome will raise the bar more than you would have thought possible.
Traveling internationally can take it out of you, even if it is to a place as beautiful as Rome, so how can you recover quickly and prepare for all the sites, food and wine that Rome has to offer? Taking care of yourself once you arrive is essential and here are some tips to make your trip even more amazing.
Is It Possible To Relax In Rome?
It is possible to relax in Rome if you follow even a couple of our self-care tips. For example, do you have all the medicine you need to fight off the jetlag? Do you enjoy aromatic herbs for relaxation? Did you bring all your shampoos, shower gels and makeup or would you like to try some new ones? Do you want a mani/pedi or is a massage more your style? To help answer all these questions, check out these tips!
Pharmacies In Italy Can Help
Being comfortable going to a pharmacy in Rome can really help in a moment of need. I wrote a more detailed article focusing only on Pharmacies in Italy, but here are some highlights to consider:
- Generally, all pharmacies are not open 24-hours a day, but there usually is one in each neighborhood that is. You can look online to find the hours, or if you are walking around, the pharmacies usually list the others in the area, indicating which is open all day.
- If you go to an all-night pharmacy, you might need to ring a bell if you are there late. You might be waking someone up, but it isn’t a problem, that’s why they are there.
- Unlike in the US, where the Pharmacist usually bottles your medicine, in Italy the medicine is pre-packaged and the Pharmacist has no control over that.
- Over-The-Counter medication isn’t sitting around in the store. You will need to ask the Pharmacist for OTC meds like: ibuprofen, antipain, sore throat and cough syrup.
- If you don’t have a prescription but you need one, you can call on a Guardia Medica, which you can find in Rome at: Via Antonio Canova, 19. These are halfway between a primary care doctor and the hospital and can help you get a prescription filled while on vacation.
Parapharmacies Are There For You
One variation on this theme are the Parapharmacies (Parafarmacia) and they deal with only the Over the Counter (OTC) health products, or in other words, for the purchase of which there is no need for a medical prescription. You should head to a Parapharmacy if you are looking for: food supplements, gauze, bandages, the most sanitary things. You can find these in train stations as well as supermarkets.
The difference between pharmacy and parapharmacy refers specifically to the authorization to market pharmaceuticals for which a medical prescription is required. Interestingly, both pharmacies and parapharmacies are required to have a pharmacist present at any time.
The Herbalists (L’Erboristeria) Have Natural Help
An Herbalist (L’Erboristeria) is dedicated to providing you with natural self-care related products. You can find aromatic herbs for relaxation, hand-made (i.e. non-industrial) soaps. Natural skin creams and hair coloring. These are becoming increasingly difficult to find, but with a little searching you should be able to find what you need.
Aesthetic Body Care Doesn’t Have A Name
Common aesthetic body care products aren’t sold in a specific type of store, because you just refer to them by name. Popular body care stores are: Tigotà, Caddy’s and DEM. Here you can get everything to clean yourself, like soaps, shampoo, shower gels (bagnoschiuma), hair products, makeup, sun and body creams.
You should expect these to be slightly more expensive than a supermarket, but they typically have a section for small travel-sized products which will be important for the international traveler.
How Did The Romans Make Perfume?
In the ancient times, perfumes were made with various natural oils and herbs, but today you can just head on over to your local Profumeria, which is a fragrance shop that should have everything that you need. You can expect that it is a little expensive, but it is an inviting space for perfumes and makeup and they always have what you might need.
If you are in Italy for an event, keep in mind that they also have professional makeup artists available to get you ready for the big day. They also sell costume jewelry (bigiotteria) like: fake jewels, necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Care For Your Hair In Rome
It can be a new and exciting experience to get a haircut or styling at a salon (Parrucchiera) in Rome. This also goes for the men, who instead would go to a barber shop (Barbiere). You wouldn’t think the experience would be so different, but in some unexpected ways it is. The services available are what you might expect: haircut/trim, coloring, highlights and extensions.
What you might not expect, for men you will need to know the length you want cut (or remain) in millimeters. You can’t go by the clipper number because it isn’t the same, so the length (in metric) will be crucial. Also, for men and women, your hair needs to be dried before you leave. It is culturally unacceptable to walk out with wet hair. Also, typically you don’t tip (although I do) and you need to make an appointment. Walk-ins are not as welcome here.
Massage Therapy For Self-Care In Rome
In Rome, these are places that specialize in relaxing body massages, as opposed to therapeutic and medically necessary ones from a physiotherapist. A popular style is a Thai massage that you can find scattered around Rome.
How Much Does A Massage Cost In Rome?
I have only heard this second hand, as massages aren’t really my thing, but you can expect to spend between 50€ and 100€ for a pretty basic massage and it goes up from there. This cost will be determined by the length of time as well as the ambience that you can enjoy in these relaxing spas.
What To Expect From A Massage In Italy?
Really, you can expect anything. A Spa in Italy can include baths, showers, couples massages, candles, prosecco, Champagne, incense and so many other options. Your expectations should be based on how luxurious the Spa is that you will be going to and that will determine what can be included and what you will spend.
Stores With Optical Help (Ottico)
These stores are very popular in Rome and you will find them all around the city. Ottico is the Italian word for Optician and this is where you can find your contact lenses, glasses and frames as well as lens fluid and other gear. The Opthamologist (Oculista) can write prescriptions and do a complete eye exam, but the Optician (Ottico) is only there to sell eyewear. Interestingly, you don’t need a prescription to get more contacts, just tell them what strength you need and you are all set!
Navigating Self-Care in Rome
If you enjoyed this article on Self-Care Tips For Rome and you would like to learn more about Italian health care and keeping safe, these are some other articles that you might find interesting as well:
- Using Pharmacies in Italy To Stay Healthy.
- Finding A Dentist In Rome, Italy Shouldn’t Be Stressful.
- Living La Dolce Vita Is Easier Than You Might Think!
- Why Is The Life Expectancy In Italy Higher Than In The US?
- How To Get A Tessera Sanitaria In Italy – Requirements Guide.
- My Experience With Italian Healthcare Has Been Eye-Opening.
- Rome’s Train Station Has Pharmacies To Keep You Healthy.
- Drinking Fountains in Rome Are Free And Known As Nasoni.
- Is Rome Safe To Walk Around At Night For Tourists?
- Rome Travel Safety Tips To Avoid Problems On Your Next Visit.
