In short, Rome is breathtaking, chaotic and somehow still charming, although every system that a city is supposed to have is pretty ignoring. What I mean by that is, you don’t really have it knowledge Rome until you try to cross the street. No traffic lights, no rules, only many scooters, buses and tiny cars that could stop, but who can say it?
How do most people deal with it? You book a guide, follow the group and listen to the same stories that everyone hears. They all take the same photos and in the end it is more like they have checked Rome than it actually experienced.
Personally, I think this is a big shame because Rome has much more to offer. No hatred of the guide and clamping boards, but if you decide to record it without a plan or schedule, you will be rewarded.
How to outwit the city
If you take over against Rome without a plan, I would recommend renting a bike. It is an excellent exercise and you won’t get stuck in traffic.
Here you can find out how to do Rome right.
- Skip the obvious
Everyone starts in the Colosseum, which is problematic. Of course, such biget ticket spots are important, but they are delivered with crowds, delays and the same camera hinges that they have seen online a hundred times. Start somewhere else, like Trastevere.
The backstreets are full of clothes lines, splinter color and restaurants that don’t care whether they are a tourist. You will find many locals in Testaccio, you actually eat here. The Jewish ghetto has history and zero chaos centuries.
This is a great place to use Piazzas, fountain and street art as waypoint instead of checking the constant Google Maps.
- Select the right shoes (or wheels)
You will go a lot and maybe that may do that, but a bike can simply do more for you – you get less tired and you will cover more soil faster. You can meet 3 or 4 quarters before lunch without being totally exhausted in the end. Rent is super easy and you will see the Dutch visitors how a bike rents in Rome. You will see Americans, French, Spanish …
- Find out the rhythm, not the schedule
Time moves differently in Rome. Trains could be too late, shops could close in the middle of the day, etc. It is unpredictable and there is no way to repair this, so they work with it instead. Tomorrow are calm, which means that you are perfect for long walks or cycling along large sights without crowds. In the afternoon there are also slower, especially in summer. Then, in the evening, it is as if someone turns a switch – streets are getting alive, bars are full of people and dinner can take hours.
My point is that your visits around this river around this river and maybe see the Trevi fountain at sunrise, not at noon. Choose a museum, not three etc.
- Eat when you are lost
The best food in Rome is not labeled and you won’t find good food spots by looking through blog lists. Look for places hidden behind corner doors, serve on plastic plates and cook by someone who does not speak English. Try the place that nobody is published through. Join a Tavola Calda or get something out of a bakery window.
You can even ask a locals to recommend a court (not the one who wants to sell you something).
- Say less, smile more
There is no need to get by Italian to get through. Knowing a few basic words helps, but people react more to their tone and their attitude than to grammar. A smile and “Buongiorno” make a long way. Shows works, as well as patience.
Locals are used to tourists, but they won’t be babysitting, so they show respect and curiosity and they will meet you halfway.
When DIY beats the travel guide and if this is not the case
If you are not in a hurry and it doesn’t matter to be lost a little, it is the perfect way to spend your day. If your idea is to follow your instincts, drive into new districts and soak in the atmosphere without worrying about historical schedules, you do not need a guide or a group.
It gives them the space to be curious, to go without knowing where they will end. Perhaps you stumble across a live concert in a church or drink the best espresso in a tiny café that you didn’t know about it. You will see unexpected prospects for famous sights of calm streets instead of crowded Piazzas and go home with unique memories.
After this is said, there are times when booking a tour makes more sense. The Vatican, for example, is overcrowded and has a story that you can better appreciate when someone explains it. The same applies to catacombs, crypties or a place where it is difficult to access or pack them.
I would say that the Sweet Spot makes a guided thing early on the trip and then use it as a basis for freely exploring with context.
Diploma
Who said that you needed a guide to find out what Rome has to offer if you can be your own (on wheels)? To be honest, you may sometimes need them, sure; But most of the time if you have (almost) a tour guide every time and research.
The eternal city will not make it easy for you, no. But isn’t that the point?
