In a nutshell, Rome is impressive, chaotic and somehow lovely even though it ignores each system that is supposed to have a city. What I mean by that is that not really know Rome until you try to cross the street. Without traffic lights, without rules, only many scooters, buses and small cars that can stop, but who can say it?
How did most people deal with this? They reserve a guide, follow the group and listen to the same stories that everyone listens. All take the same photos and, in the end, it is more as if they had reviewed Rome than actually.
Personally, I think this is a great pity because Rome has much more to offer. Without hate for guides and clipboard, but if you decide to assume it without a plan or schedule, you will be rewarded.
How to make fun of the city
If you face Rome without plan, I would recommend renting a bicycle. It is excellent exerciseIt will also not get stuck in traffic.
Here we show you how to do Rome correctly.
- Omit obvious
Everyone starts in the Colosseum, which is problematic. Naturally, the points of large tickets like this are important, but they come with crowds, delays and the same camera angles that have seen a hundred times online. Start elsewhere, as fret.
Its alleys are full of laundry lines, shipyard paint and restaurants that do not care if you are a tourist. You will find many locals in Testaccio, this is where they really eat. The Jewish ghetto has centuries of history and zero chaos.
This is a great place to wander and use squares, sources and street art as reference points instead of verifying Google maps all the time.
- Choose the right shoes (or wheels)
It will walk a lot and you may like it, but a bicycle can simply make more for you: you will get less easily and cover more land more quickly. You can reach 3 or 4 neighborhoods before lunch without being totally exhausted at the end. Rent is super easy and you will see Dutch visitors who rent a bicycle in RomeYou will see Americans, French, Spanish …
- Learn the rhythm, not the schedule
Time moves differently in Rome. Trains can be late, stores can decide to close in the middle of the day, etc. It is a bit unpredictable and there is no way to fix it, so work with him. The mornings are calm, which means that they are perfect for long walks or bike along the main reference points without crowds. The afternoons are also slower, especially during the summer. Then, at night, it is as if someone turns a change: the streets come alive, the bars are full of people and dinner can last hours.
My point is, time for your visits around this flow and may see the source of Trevi at dawn, not at noon. Choose a museum, not three, etc.
- Eat when you are lost
The best food in Rome is not labeled and will not find good food places looking at blog classifications. Look for hidden places behind the corner doors, served in plastic dishes and cooked by someone who does not speak English. Try the place that no one publishes. Enter a selw tavola or get some of a bakery window.
You can even ask a place to recommend a dish (not the one who tries to sell something).
- Speak less, smile more
There is no need to be competent in Italian to survive. Knowing some basic words will help, but people respond more to their tone and attitude than grammar. A smile and “Buongiorno” make a long way. Pointing to works, as well as patience.
The locals are accustomed to tourists, but they will not take care of it, so show respect and curiosity, and will be halfway.
When the DIY exceeds the guide and when not
If you are not in a hurry and you don’t mind losing a little, then erring Rome on your own is the perfect way to spend the day. If your idea of fun is to follow your instincts, drift new neighborhoods and soak in the atmosphere without worrying about historical deadlines, then you do not need a guide or a group.
It gives you the space to be curious, to walk without knowing where you are going to finish. Maybe you stop with a live concert inside a church or drink the best espresso in a small coffee that you didn’t know that it existed. You will see unexpected views of famous reference points of quiet alleys instead of piazzas full of people and will go home with unique memories.
That said, there are times when reserving a tour makes more sense. The VaticanFor example, it is full of people and has a story, you can appreciate better when someone explains it. The same goes for catacombs, crypts or any place that is difficult to access or full of details.
I would say that the optimal point is doing a guided thing at the beginning of the trip and then use it as a basis to freely explore with context.
Conclusion
Who said he needs a tourist guide to experience what Rome has to offer when it can be yours (on wheels)? Well, to be honest, you may need them sometimes, of course; But for the most part, wandering and exploring for their own rhythms to have a tourist guide (almost) each time.
The eternal city will not facilitate it, no. But isn’t that type of point?
