Traveling to Rome

Rome, often called the Eternal City because of its lengthy history, is one of Europe's most popular travel destinations. Its mix of modern and historic culture and long list of famous sights, including the Pantheon, Colosseum and Appian Way, have been seducing tourists from around the world since the beginning of the jet age. If you want something different you can even descend underground and visit the city's catacombs and ancient temples. Because so many people visit the Italian city, Rome has become remarkably tourist-friendly, so planning a trip isn't difficult.

Rome's Four Corners

To make sightseeing easier you can divide Rome into four distinct corners:

• The northeast where you can shop at Roma Termini
• The northwest where you can view the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica
• The southeast where you can marvel at ancient relics such as the Colosseum and the Forum
• The leafy southwest of the city where you can eat any number of Italian delicacies at a fine restaurant

Spend a few days in each of these areas and you will go a long way toward getting to know the real Rome.

Northeast Rome

You'll most likely begin your Roman experience in the northeastern corner of the old city at Roma Termini, the Grand Central Station of Rome. Trains, metros and buses all use this as a hub of transportation, and its convenient location in the heart of the city makes travel from here very easy. The area around Roma Termini is the most commercial of Rome's four corners and the streets radiating from the station are lined with restaurants, hotels and shops of all types. For the bookworm in you, head out of the station and turn north. You will find a number of international bookstores.

Highlights include:

• Trevi Fountain - Located next to the Renaissance Palace, The Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) is a beautiful sight and is always filled with happy tourists and locals, especially at night. As the old saying goes, toss a few coins with your right hand over your right shoulder into the fountain's waters. One coin ensures you will return to Rome. Throwing two coins means you will fall in love with a beautiful Roman girl (or handsome Roman boy). Throw three coins and you'll marry that person in Bella Roma.
• San Clemente - San Clemente has three different places to worship from three different eras: the Basilica, which includes 15th century frescoes by Masolino; the early church, which dates back to 392 AD; and the Mothraic temple of the second century.

Northwest Rome

Vatican City is located in the northwestern area of Rome (though legally it's actually an independent country). With so much to see, mining its wonders can be a daunting task. There are so many magnificent buildings, statues and artwork in this part of Rome you could walk around for days and not come close to seeing everything.

Highlights include:

• Vatican Museums -The Vatican Museums span several miles of artwork from ancient maps to paintings and statues from a range of cultures and periods, including ancient Egypt and the Renaissance. Don't miss the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel of course holds Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and his Last Judgment, perhaps the largest art project undertaken by one man.

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  St. Peter's Basilica - St. Peter's Basilica is the burial site of St. Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus, and is one of Rome's five largest churches. Among the artwork, now unfortunately hidden behind a glass screen, is Michelangelo's Pietà sculpture. Note there is a dress code: no bare knees or bare shoulders are allowed.

Southeast Rome

The meat of Roman history, architecture and life is found in the southeast. Here you'll find the Colosseum, the Forum Roman (Forum), Palatine Hill and much, much more. Be prepared to spend several full days in this part of Rome.

Highlights include:

• The Forum - Once the heart of ancient Rome, this five-acre district is now a collection of some of the world's most impressive ruins, including the house of Vestal Virgins, and the Rostra - a stage where important speeches were made. From the Arch of Titus, which stands on top of Palatine Hill, you can see the imposing Colosseum.
• The Colosseum - This one-time 50,000 capacity arena was the main stadium in Ancient Rome for gladiatorial fights. Lonely Planet calls it "the most thrilling of the city's ancient sights."
• Palatine Hill - Once the location of Ancient Rome's richest neighborhood, Palatine Hill holds such prestigious ruins as Emperor Domitian's palace. There is also a museum that houses a collection of archeological artifacts.

Southwest Rome

Head to Rome's southwest corner and walk across the Tiber river. This area is the oldest of Rome's four corners and was an early Etruscan settlement even during Rome's formation. The Romans eventually conquered it but didn't build on the land, preferring to keep it merely for strategic purposes to control both sides of the Tiber river. As a result, mainly sailors and poor people began living here. Eventually rich Romans built lavish houses in the narrow streets of Trastevere and the poor were relocated.

Highlights include:

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  Trastevere - The Trastevere is filled with shops, pubs and restaurants. It's especially active at night with street performers and musicians. Bring your sense of fun when you explore this part of Rome, as it's one of the most lively areas of the city.
• Piazza Santa Maria - The Lonely Planet calls this square the heart of Trastevere, which by day is "peopled by mothers with strollers, chatting locals and guidebook-toting tourists and by night with artisans selling their craft work, young Romans looking for a good time, and the odd homeless person looking for a bed."

Money/Currency

The Italian currency is the Euro (€). Use the XE Currency Converter to calculate the exchange rate. You can change money at the airport, railway station, banks, post offices or one of the numerous exchange booths in the city, which the Italians call cambios.

Lonely Planet states that post offices and banks tend to offer the best rates, while GoRealEurope.com says that your best option is to withdraw money from an ATM machine, which are numerous and take all major charge cards. Your bank will charge you extra for each withdrawal, but the charge will be the same no matter how much you take out. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops.

Getting to Rome

FCO Airport

A majority of travelers pass through Rome's ultra-modern Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino International Airport (FCO). This airport is located in its namesake town about 20 miles from the center of Rome. It is well-connected with the heart of the Eternal City by road and rail.

• Express trains travel to Rome's central Termini Station every half-hour between 6:30 in the morning and 11:30 at night. The trip from terminal to station takes about 30 minutes and costs from €14.
• Taxis, hailed at the airport's ground transit station, from Fiumicino can cost as little as €25 depending on destination. It will cost around €45 to get to the Termini railway station. with the trip lasting 45 minutes to an hour.
• With flat fares of €4.50, regional buses are the cheapest option and are the only public transit choice for overnight arrivals.
• There is also a Terravision shuttle, costing from €4, that runs from 05:35 - 23:00 and ends at Termini station.

Ciampino Airport

Passengers who fly low-cost-carrier Ryanair or who are on a chartered flight will land at Ciampino Airport, which sits about seven miles south of Rome's central districts.

• A much smaller airport than Fiumicino, Ciampino has no direct rail service, so taxis (about €30) and buses are the only options.
• A €4, 40-minute bus trip on a Terravision shuttle is the cheapest way to get directly into the center of Rome. Terravision shuttles run from 05:35 - 23:00 and finish at Termini station.

Land Arrivals

All overland arrivals have an easy trip between the train station and the center of Rome. That is because international trains stop at the Termini Station in the heart of the city.

Getting Around Rome

Train and Bus

Rome has the Metrebus system that serves trams, buses and the metro. Single tickets cost from €1.50 for one journey on the tram or metro and for up to 100 minutes on the bus. The metro is the easiest way to get around the city's main attractions while the trams and buses cover a wider area of the city. Tickets can be bought at vending machines and ticket counters at the stations or from newsstands and kiosks outside.

Frugal travelers who plan to use public transport throughout the day can save with a €6 day pass. These passes can be bought at the central Termini station. The best deal for public transit riders is the 7 day pass. At €24, it is a good value for people who don't want to deal with taxis. Again you can use it on the metro, bus and trams.

Taxi

Taxis are a convenient, but expensive, option. Rome's notorious traffic jams can turn a quick cross-town trip into a long ordeal. Still, taxis can be a good option, especially at night. Meters start at €2.80 and click up €0.92 every kilometer. Overnight service may carry a €5 surcharge. Flagging a cab might prove difficult, so it's a good idea to ask hotel, restaurant or museum employees to phone for a taxi.

Rental Car

Renting a car is possible, but traffic is bad and parking is ridiculously scarce, especially near tourist attractions. Cars are actually not a great option for convenience-minded travelers (and anyone else who doesn't want to spend an eternity behind the wheel). Nonetheless, drivers with large reserves of patience can rent a vehicle at Fiumicino when they arrive in Rome.

On Foot

Much of the inner core of Rome is very pedestrian-friendly, with central plaza completely closed off to vehicle traffic. This means that visitors can take a train or bus trip to reach the Colosseum, Pantheon or Roman Forum, and then explore the surrounding attractions and areas on foot. A map is a handy accessory for foot-powered sightseeing.

Attractions and Tour Guides

Discount Cards

Sightseeing is the main itinerary item for most Rome visitors. The Roma Pass offers significant discounts to visitors. The pass covers a number of attractions, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, as well as a number of both history-themed and modern museums.

The first two venues that pass-holders visit are free of charge, and admission is discounted at all additional attractions. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill count as only one "visit," so pass-holders still have another free stop on their itinerary. As of 2013, the pass costs €34 and also includes a three day public transit pass for metro, buses and trams.

Guided Tour Tips

Rome is a tourist city, so finding one's way is generally quite straightforward. Some employees at major attractions speak at least basic English, and hotel desk personnel are adept at giving directions and recommendations to Rome novices. Nevertheless, having a tour guide can be comforting to fresh-off-the-plane tourists. Rome has plenty of options on its guided tour menu.

• Context Tours, for example, leads over 50 different walking tours to architectural and historic sites in Rome. The tours are led by scholars who have studied the city's history of in depth.
• Romaround offers tours of similar length that focus on differing aspects of the city, from history and art to culture and cuisine.
• There are even more offbeat tours, such as a pub crawl tour that offers insight into Rome's drinking culture.

Even tourists who like to go-it-alone might want to consider a tour guide for a tour of the Colosseum, such as the one offered by Tickitaly. This is because tour groups get to forego the sometimes-lengthy line that forms at the general admission entrance.

Enjoy Your Time in Rome

While following these tips will ensure that you will make the most of your time in Rome, perhaps the most useful advise is the old adage: when in Rome do as the Romans do. In other words take your time and see everything, and see everything again. Without a doubt the city of Rome is one of life's finer things.