Rome
A quick guide of your destination
Public transportation
Find the route
Use Google Map to find the route.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps&hl=en&gl=US
Inside Rome, use metro and bus.
https://www.atac.roma.it/utility/mappe
Outside Rome or taxi
Use Free Now or Uber. Free Now is much cheaper.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=taxi.android.client
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/US/app/id357852748?mt=8
You can find FreeNow option in Google Map search below all other options.
Tips
- Apps/Convenient Cards
Mytripnavi
Offline map & travel guide
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blogspot.metromapoffline.romemetrotrambustourmapoffline- Find maps of other cities https://mytripnavi.com/maps/all/
From/to airport Fiumicino Aeroporto
Use fast train (RV/REG) by Trenitalia (8~14 Euro) or SIT Bus Shuttle (~7 Euro) or Free Now taxi (~50 Euro).
Trenitalia: https://www.trenitalia.com/
SIT Bus Shuttle: https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/timetable-and-fares/
Other transportation tips you need to know
Metro/bus/trams and urban trains
Opening times every day from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm. On Friday and Saturday, the metro runs until 1:30 am.
Children under ten years old don’t need a ticket.
Children under 10 travel free on public transport services in the territory of Roma Capitale when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. From 10 years on children have to buy ordinary tickets or passes. On Trenitalia vehicles (from airport to Rome, or long regional train) free access up to 4 years of age.
Fares
- One-way ticket (BIT): Valid for 100 minutes from first validation. On the Metro, it is valid for a single journey, even using different lines, but without passing through the turnstiles if you change between lines A-B-B1; passing the turnstiles is permitted only to change between line A and C.
Price: € 1.50 - ROMA 24 HOUR TICKET (ROME24H): Valid for 24 hours from first validation for unlimited journeys within the territory of Rome.
Price: € 7.00 - ROMA48H, ROMA72H: same concept above with price from € 12.50 and € 18.00 respectively.
- ROMA PASS 48H: Valid for 48 hours from first validation for unlimited journeys within the territory of Rome. First museum/archaeological site/experience included.
Price: € 32.00 - ROMA PASS 72H: Valid for 72 hours from first validation for unlimited journeys within the territory of Rome. First two museum/archaeological site/experiences included.
Price: € 52.00 - Other pass: https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes
My experience
- If you only travel in Rome and already purchase Museum ticket, then ROMA PASS is not worth. Because the museums are very close to each other, you only need the 1 way ticket each for 1.5 Euro from your hotel to any attractions and then just walk.
- Summer is quite hot in Rome (all Italy), water and sun cream is a must.
- Kids under 6 are not into museum in general. Don’t pack your schedule too much and be prepared for long queue if you don’t buy a ticket in advance.
- People smoke on the road everywhere.
- Be careful with your belongings wherever you are.
- You will be charged for a place in restaurant called Coperto (~€2 or €3 per person). It’s not considered as tip.
- Tips are always asked, but if you don’t like it, just say no. Of course, they don’t like it if you say no, but …
- Roma Pass cannot be used to/from Fiumicino airport.
- For the transportation between Fiumicino airport and Rome. http://www.060608.it/en/trasporti/come-arrivare/in-aereo/aeroporto-di-fiumicino-leonardo-da-vinci-collegamenti-e-servizi.html
- For the transportation between Ciampino airport and Rome. http://www.060608.it/en/trasporti/come-arrivare/in-aereo/aeroporto-g-b-pastine-di-ciampino-collegamenti-e-servizi.html
- The Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) are not part of the Roma Pass network Museums. Means you cannot visit Vatican Museums with ROMA PASS.
- For the full list of museums and archaeological sites included on the Roma Pass 72 Hours/Roma Pass 48 Hours. https://www.romapass.it/en/museums/
- Which museums are always free? Admission is always free to the following museums: Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Museo Carlo Bilotti a Villa Borghese, Museo della Repubblica Romana e della memoria garibaldina, Museo delle Mura, Museo di Casal de’ Pazzi, Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco, Museo Napoleonico, Museo Pietro Canonica a Villa Borghese, Villa di Massenzio. https://www.romapass.it/files/doc/sitiAderentiCostoBiglietti20230621_eng.pdf
- I recommend to buy the ticket from ticket officer, sometimes the machine stuck/freeze and the money you paid is simple gone.
- Several museums and archaeological sites of the Roma Pass network are CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Almost all the museums are usually closed on December 25th, January 1st and May 1st. Please check the official webpage of the museums and the other sites to find out updated information on special closings and/or opening hours scheduled during the year.
{{% include “/content/foods/italy.md” %}}
Italy foods you must try
Famous food top 5
- Pasta/Spaghetti
- Cacio e Pepe: A pasta dish from the cuisine of the city of Rome. Cacio e pepe means “cheese and pepper” in several central Italian dialects. In keeping with its name, the dish contains grated Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper, together with spaghetti, or traditionally tonnarelli.
- Carbonara: Carbonara is a pasta dish made with eggs, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper. The dish took its modern form and name in the middle of the 20th century. The cheese is usually Pecorino Romano, parmesan, or a combination of the two.
- Amatriciana: Sugo all’amatriciana, or alla matriciana, also known as salsa all’amatriciana, is a traditional Italian pasta sauce based on guanciale, pecorino romano cheese, tomato, and, in some variations, onion.
- Pizza
- Margherita pizza Margherita Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil. Neapolitan pizza. Named after Queen Margherita of Italy
- marinara pizza alla marinara Tomato sauce, olive oil, oregano, garlic. Neapolitan pizza. It comes from the fact that sailors used ingredients that were effective in preserving on the voyage.
- quattro formaggi pizza ai quattro formaggi 4 types of cheese (mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmigiano, fontina, etc.). Lazio
- capricciosa pizza capricciosa Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, artichokes, prosciutto, olives, basil, etc.
- quattro stagioni pizza alle quattro stagioni Meaning of four seasons. Similar to Capricciosa, but the ingredients are not mixed but divided into four portions. Artichokes are used in spring, tomatoes and basil in summer, mushrooms in autumn, and uncured ham and olives in winter.
- diavola pizza diavola Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, chili pepper, spicy salami
- funghi pizza funghi tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms
- Prosciutto e funghi pizza prosciutto e funghi tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, ham
- tonno e cipolla pizza tonno e cipolla Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, tuna, onion
- Ortolana pizza ortolana Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, etc. vegetable pizza
- salsiccia pizza salsiccia tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, salsiccia
- bianca pizza bianca Pizza made from unglazed pizza dough. Lazio
- Biancaneve pizza Biancaneve A white pizza made mainly with mozzarella cheese and without tomato sauce. “Snow White’s Pizza”
- Bismarck pizza alla Bismarck Mozzarella cheese, ham, egg (fried egg, soft-boiled egg). Named after German politician Otto von Bismarck, who loved eggs.
- Romana pizza alla Romana Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese (pecorino cheese), anchovies, oregano, capers. Rome, Lazio
- Napoletana pizza alla Napoletana Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, anchovies, oregano, capers. Naples
- campagnola pizza campagnola Ham, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese. Campania
- pizza carrettiera (pizza salsiccia e friarielli) Tomato sauce, rapini (a bitter cruciferous vegetable), salsiccia, and cheese. Naples
- porchetta pizza porchetta Tomato sauce, porchetta (roasted pork), mozzarella cheese, rosemary. Naples
- pizza ricotta e spinaci tomato sauce, spinach, ricotta cheese
- calabrese pizza calabrese Chili peppers, spicy salami, tuna, anchovies, olives and capers. Calabria
- melanzane pizza melanzane tomato sauce, sautéed eggplant, mozzarella cheese
- fiki pizza e fichi Mozzarella cheese, figs, garlic, salt, olive oil. Rome, Lazio
- patate pizza con patate potatoes, mozzarella cheese, rosemary, olive oil, salt, black pepper
- Tyrolean pizza Tirolese Tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, speck (smoked ham)
- Hungarian pizza Ungherese tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, hungarian salami
- valdostana pizza valdostana Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, fontina cheese
- Vecchia Modena pizza Vecchia Modena Mozzarella cheese, balsamic vinegar, pancetta, arugula
- Apulian style pizza Pugliese Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, onions. Puglia
- Viennese pizza Viennese Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, wiener sausage. Lazio
- ciclista pizza alla ciclista Olive oil, salt, rosemary, oregano. Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Veneto, Tuscany, etc.
- pizza Pisana Tomato sauce, capers, anchovies, grana padano cheese (parmesan cheese). Bake in a frying pan. Pisa, Lucca and Livorno in Tuscany
- Mastunicola Mastunicola Lardo (salted pork back fat), pecorino cheese, basil, pepper. The first pizza in Naples, the mother of Margherita
- Rossini pizza Rossini Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced boiled egg and mayonnaise. Pesaro, Marche
- mimosa pizza mimosa Mozzarella cheese, cream, corn, ham.
- primavera pizza primavera Fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, arugula, uncured ham, parmesan cheese
- pizza boscaiola mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, ham
- Pesto Genovese pizza al Pesto Mozzarella cheese, basil paste, pine nuts, parmesan cheese. Liguria
- puttanesca pizza puttanesca tomato sauce, black olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, basil
- pescatore pizza pescatora / pizza pescatore Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, seafood (shrimp, squid, octopus, shellfish, etc.). “fisherman”
- carbonara pizza carbonara mozzarella cheese, eggs, pancetta, pepper
- Mexicana pizza Messicana Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, onion, pancetta, black beans, chili pepper
- hawaiian pizza Hawaiiana Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pineapple syrup, ham
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Fritto: Gnocco fritto is a crispy fried dough typical of Emilia Romagna. These delicious, puffy, golden bread fritters are one of the most traditional foods of this region. Along with Piadina Romagnola, Gnocco Fritto is the most delicious and popular bread substitute in this part of Italy.
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Antipasto d’Italia: In general, traditional antipasti include cheese, cured meats, olives, marinated or pickled vegetables, and bread or crackers. Anchovies and other types of seafood are also common, particularly if you’re by the coast.
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Antipasto di Mare: Italy’s classic light, bright salad of gently cooked and marinated seafood with lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, and subtle spices.
Famous sweets
- Gelato: Gelato is the common word in Italian for all kinds of ice cream. In English, it specifically refers to a frozen dessert of Italian origin. Artisanal gelato in Italy generally contains 6%–9% butterfat, which is lower than other styles of frozen dessert.
- Tiramisu: Tiramisu is a coffee-flavoured Italian dessert. It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavoured with cocoa. The recipe has been adapted into many varieties of cakes and other desserts.
Famous drinks
- Cafe Expresso: Caffè Also know as caffè normale, caffè is the foundation of any Italian coffee drink. A caffè is simply an espresso, served black and only in one shot increments.
- Spritz: A spritz is an Italian wine-based cocktail, commonly served as an aperitif in Northeast Italy. It consists of prosecco, digestive bitters and soda water.