What do you need to know before going to Rome? Although I mainly aim to write about wine, I thought this could be helpful for anyone planning a trip to Rome.

Rome is a very particular city, a city within a city. With narrow streets, infinite churches, architecture, thousands of years of history, majestic art galleries, and usually a million or so tourists. Here are 11 things I wish I knew before I started exploring the incredible eternal city that is Rome, Italy.

1. Try not to stress – you will never see “it all”

The entire city of Rome is a museum, some say it would take a life time to see all of Rome, so try not to stress yourself out to see everything. If you have little time in the city don’t be afraid to just wander Rome, or to choose one special thing to see and just enjoy the energy of the city. Know that the amount of things to do/see in Rome (and its size) can be overwhelming and tiring, try not to stress about seeing it all and just enjoy what you can see. 

2. The Classic Places – wandering the city

There are of course “the classics” when seeing Rome. Piazza Navona, The Colosseum, The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, The Vatican, The Spanish Steps, Castel Sant’Angelo, Markets of Tragen, just to name a few. Pick the things you want to see the most, and while exploring you will stumble upon some others. Of those listed, walk around Piazza Navona with an ice cream. Go into the Pantheon, it is free to enter and a quick visit (but a powerful one), plus there are great wine/aperitif places nearby.

3. Churches -you’ll have to pick one

The Vatican and what feels like a million others. It can be overwhelming to decide on one church. If you are into that kind of thing of course you need to see the Vatican. Book tickets for your visit ahead of time.

I also suggest a lesser known church visit as well. Basilica di San Clemente is a interesting option; it is a 3 tiered complex of 3 different churches built in different centuries. This is definitely something you will not see anywhere else and doesn’t have the feeling of such wealth like other churches that I personally can find overwhelming. With a little bit of research you have endless church options to pick the one best for you, or simply pop in the doors of every one you walk by.

A whole article could be written breaking down the areas of Rome. However, I just aim to point out a few good areas to know about. 

4. Shopping – “Where’s the Zara?!”

If you are looking for bigger stores, you will find them on “Via del Corso”. Galleria Alberto Sordi has good shopping in a beautiful building (the best Zara) and its a few minutes walk from the Trevi Fountain. Otherwise, if you would like more of a local vibe, there is great shopping in the “Monti” area. Here you will find small and artisanal shops, vintage, and many restaurants and cute corners to have a drink on. 

Rinascente Roma Tritone is an architecturally incredible shopping space filled with luxury brands and a sunset bar/restaurant with a view. 

“Campo de’ Fiori” is a famous square that has a large day market every day. There is also great shopping on the surrounding streets. The Trastevere area also has great vintage and artisanal shopping, it’s a good shopping option if visiting Castel Sant’Angelo.

5. Evening strolls – have a drink outside in the warm months

“Ponte Sisto” is a popular bridge that comes alive with drinkers in the evening. This bridge takes you over the River Tiber and into Travestere. Travestere is a young, hip, cozy neighbourhood with a nice night life and cute restaurants. During the summer months, the riverside also comes alive with stands for drinks and aperitivo which is a great way to spend summer evenings before or after dinner. 

6. Choose your meal location around your attractions – a crucial learning curve in my touristing

Now, most importantly, you’re in Italy – what food are we eating? And where to enjoy a nice glass of wine? Being a tourist can be exhausting, and nothing is worse than coming out of a tour starving with no idea where to eat. A very important thing I learned about keeping myself happy as a tourist is to have a place to eat planned in the area my activity is in. Rome is an expansive city, try to avoid choosing something to eat miles away from your sight seeing that day. 

7. Understanding Roman Pizza – Pizza is the dough – this probably should have been #1

Firstly, I know you are going to want pizza. From my experience going to eat with Romans, most pizzeria’s are not fancy pizza, they are basic, rustic, never with great service, but the pizza is amazing. Two popular local pizzerias are “Pizzeria Remo A Testaccio” and “Pizzeria Ai Marmi”.

Roman pizza is paper thin, cooked from a wood fire, with burnt edges, basically dripping off of the round plate.

You should know that pizza in Italian refers to the dough or “the pasta” so pizza is actually the bread of it all. Also note that “pizza bianca” is just pizza bread basically (with oil and salt usually). This can be confusing for foreigners, but pizza bianca is often cut and used to make a panini as well.

If you are at a restaurant getting a round pizza you might also see pizza bianchi which are “white” pizzas so there is no tomato sauce. The ones with tomato sauce are called “rosse” (their first ingredient is usually listed as tomato). I know, its a confusing world out there trying to navigate the idea that pizza is not just something round with tomato sauce and cheese on it.

It should also be known that “Supplì” are a typical things to eat pre pizza. They are fried rice balls with Ragu, and a cheese centre. Delicious! Fried baccalou (fish) is also a typical pre pizza appetizer.

Lastly about pizza (I’m sorry, but I do wish I knew all of this) round pizzas are “dinner pizzas” and the assorted square slices (found everywhere in the city) are for lunch. This is “pizza al taglio” and reliably good throughout the city for a quick lunch.

8. Afternoon drink suggestions – aperitivo time is the best time

After visiting The Colloseum or the Fori Imperiali a perfect place for modern Italian food and a cocktail is “Cafe Propaganda” website.

If you are into beer, an enormous range of artisanal beers (and delicious food, but it is pub food, not typically Roman) can be found at “Open Baladin”. This is perfect for after a morning of shopping around Campo de’ Fiori or visiting The Pantheon. Open Baladin

While Rome might seem like one big wine bar, a good wine bar always deserves a shout out. “Ai Tre Scalini” an amazing wine bar (with an incredible wine list). Smaller plates and snacks are available. This is the perfect location after shopping in Monti, and is a 10 minute walk away from the Fori Imperiali. Tres Scalini.

You can find my suggestions of what “local” wines to drink from Lazio while in Rome: here.

9. Dinner restaurant suggestions – Dinner time is usually from 20:00 on

Now, onto another thing I am sure you will be looking for, Roman pasta. In a sea of classic Roman tourist traps, I suggest these three restaurants with typical dishes. 

“Da Bucatino” website

“Felice” link

“Trattoria Pennestri”website

10. See Ancient Rome through lights– one of the cooler things I’ve seen

While I am sure you are going to Rome with an idea of what you would like to see/do I would take this opportunity for architecture or history lovers to catch the illuminated night show of Augustus’ and Cesar’s forums. You need book online and they are seasonal. The shows are very well done, short, fun, and very informative. Viaggio nei Fori

Also, I recommend taking in the power and beauty of the Baths of Diocletian or the Baths of Caracalla. Both are enormous and well preserved structures that are lesser seen by tourists. They also have an option of 3D vision glasses projecting the way things once were in front of you. 

11. Day trips from the city – getting out

If for some reason you are looking to get out of Rome for a day trip, you can take a fast train to Florence (1 hour and 40 minutes) for lunch and a trip to the Duomo. Or, in the other direction, to Naples (1 hour and 20 minutes), and even onto Pompeii. They will be long days, but it is a great way to pack in some extra Italy exploration (if that is your travel style).

If you just want to see the sea and have a seafood lunch, you can take the metro straight to the sea (it is not the most beautiful portion of sea but it is sea). Take the metro Ostia “lido”. Here there are also Roman ruins in the port of Ostia (the stop after “Lido”). 

Alternatively, 30 minutes west of Rome in Tivoli you can find “Hadrian’s Villa” which is quite an incredible combination of ruins and gardens.  

Most of all, just enjoy Rome. It is not a city of rainbows and butterflies, but it is a deeply complex, rough around the edges, powerful city that I truly believe everyone should see. I hope this helps with suggestions before your visit to Rome, things to do that may be a little more off the radar. These 11 things are what I wish I knew before going to Rome, little tips, to help you to create your best Roman experience.