Rome: Surviving the Chaos and Enjoying Your Holiday
Things to Know Before Exploring the Eternal City
I have to admit, Rome is stunning, one of my favorite cities where I’ve also lived and I deeply love it. But let’s be honest, it’s chaotic. I don’t say this to discredit it—I love it, and as you can read here, I’ve already written about its beauty and will continue to do so. But I want to be realistic and help those who will go on vacation there to enjoy it to the fullest, avoiding the stress of small things they might not know before leaving.
I believe every city has its problems, and among big cities, Rome is not the only one. The type of problem might be different, but each has its own issues to deal with: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and lately, New York seems to have some problems. This is true also in Europe and the rest of the world. Rome's issues are mainly political, management is not up to par, there are too many conflicting interests, and everything seems to be at a standstill, a bit disorganized. I lived there for many years, it’s practically my second home, and I can say that its beauty makes you forgive everything. So, don’t be discouraged by what you read, but try to be prepared for the possible unforeseen events that may happen.
Here are my little survival tips, I hope they will be useful.
Choosing Where to Stay in Rome is Fundamental
When organizing a trip, I spend hours studying the city areas. Obviously, the closer to the center, the better, but the closer to the center, the more expensive. Everyone has their own needs. Undoubtedly, staying in the center is a plus, but it’s not necessary. Rome is huge geographically, and it’s not just the center. Also, the center of Rome is very vast. I’m reading various articles with advice on where to stay, even in the center, but I must say I don’t always agree. My advice is: find a place near a metro stop. It sounds trivial, I know, but often we get caught up in the areas. For example, the Jewish quarter of Rome is very beautiful to visit but inconvenient to reach. The same goes for the Pantheon area and other tourist attractions. Let yourself be guided by the Rome Metro, which passes through the center and covers all needs. The areas I recommend, directly from the metro stops:
Metro A Ottaviano, Cipro, and nearby stops: This is the heart of Rome because it’s close to the Vatican, the top for tourists.
Metro B Garbatella: Less central but very close to the center. The neighborhood is divided into old and new, the old part is very charming and full of little restaurants. Inside, it feels like being in a movie.
Metro A San Giovanni and Re di Roma: Far from the center but actually another center. There you have the Basilica of San Giovanni and not too far, the Colosseum. Good area.
Areas I do not recommend:
Stazione Termini: Personally, I would avoid the area adjacent to the station. As often happens in cities, stations are transit areas, and this one in Rome is particularly chaotic.
Trastevere: A beautiful neighborhood, old Rome, my favorite one. But not very well connected to come back every night.
Getting Around in Rome: Surviving Taxis and Public Transport
In the previous point, I insisted on the metro, but why if there are taxis? In Italy, we have a problem with taxis—it’s a political issue that I won’t explain here. The point is that taxis exist, but they are few, and at certain times you might have difficulty finding them. Lately, it’s increasingly common to see long lines (even an hour or more) at train stations to get one, or that you can’t find one either by calling or through the app. Moreover, Uber is not legal in Italy, only Uber Black works, but even with that, I’ve had trouble finding one in Rome.
So, don’t get discouraged, you’ll surely find them, and everything will be fine, but just in case, having the metro nearby always helps. Rome is very large, and you can’t get around it all on foot.
So, if it happens, instead of letting hours of waiting and frustration ruin your holiday, you have the metro, which, although not perfect, takes you from one side to the other. And it’s better than buses that often get stuck in traffic. Good to know, right?
Rome’s Traffic: If You Know It, You Can Avoid It
Rome is incredibly congested, there are pedestrian zones, but they are few, and everyone moves by car. If you were thinking of renting a car, do so only if you plan to travel outside the city (e.g., visiting places like this). In the city, it’s better to rely on other means.
Managing Overtourism: It’s Possible (A Little)
This is a problem that affects everyone, so the advice is quite generic: book museums in advance, avoid visiting iconic places during peak hours (the Trevi Fountain is much calmer early in the morning compared to Saturday afternoon!), and seek alternative routes. Here are some tips. Be creative 🙂
I lived in Rome for many years, and by doing so, I’ve always managed to enjoy the city without excessive stress. I hope you too can be captivated by the majesty of ancient Rome because, and forgive me if I say so, Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
I visited Rome twice from Milan to see a (non-local) friend. I came by train and I was really shocked by Stazione Termini... what a terrible neighborhood to arrive in. Talk about bad first impressions!