Introduction
Rome is a fantastic destination for budget traveling! It is the most historically preserved city in the world, hosting famous attractions like the Colosseum, Roman Forums, the Vatican City, the Pantheon, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, and more! It is also home to one of the best food cultures in the world. Even though Rome is a bucket list destination, it is still affordable.
Since so many people travel to Rome, there are loads of options for places to stay, eat, and explore. This guide will take you through our personal experiences and how you can travel in a budget-friendly manner to this ancient city. It will also give you tips on specific tips on saving money and some of the best places to visit!
Our trip to Rome on a Budget
We spend 5 days in Rome in the middle of August. This is the hottest and busiest time of the year. If you plan on going to Rome in August, prepare yourself mentally. However, the evenings in the summer in Rome are special. Everyone is out at night, sitting outside, and smiling. There are also some night festivals like Lungo il Trevere to explore after dinner. We spent upwards of 4 hours at dinner every night. Rome has a vibrant nightlife compared to the rest of Italy, so you must take advantage of it.
We planned to visit one main attraction per day. For example, we spent an entire day at the Vatican Museum, then wandered the neighborhoods near it. Do not plan to do too much in one day because the city is massive and the attractions are expensive. The only exception to this is to visit both the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in a single day because of their 24-hour ticket deal.
The following sections will give you first-hand recommendations from a budget-friendly perspective!
Recommended things to do in Rome on a budget
Vatican City Museum
Price: 17€
The Vatican City Museum is the first place on this list because it is a requirement when you visit Rome. This is the best museum ever created and an absolute must-see. Expect to spend about 3 hours as the museum takes you through different stages of human history. Prices vary based on your age, but if you are over 18 years old, it costs 17€. Make sure to buy your ticket online. The time at which you schedule your entrance is more of a suggestion, as no one checks the time of your ticket.
Attend Lungo il Trevere (August only)
Price: FREE
Lungo il Trevere is a seasonal festival along River Tiber. It is a nighttime festival to avoid the heat. There are games, shops, and pop-up restaurants along the water. It is a cool experience with live music and upbeat energy. The festival also takes place near the Trastevere neighborhood if you wanted to keep the party going! You can find the bulk of the action starting under the Ponte Sisto footbridge and ending around the Ponte Palatino bridge (roughly).
Castel Sant’Angelo
Price: 13€
Castel Sant’Angelo is a brilliant castle to view. It is nice during the day, but it is vibrant at night. For the perfect picture, stand at the St. Angelo Bridge facing the castle. The parks surrounding the castle are also a perfect break from the sun. We did not enter the castle, but if you were interested in this activity, it costs about 13€. You can reserve a ticket before you go.
Gaze at the Pantheon
Price: FREE
The Pantheon is amazing because it is the largest free-standing cement dome ever. To think the Romans built this structure that still stands today is amazing. It is one of the best-kept monuments in Rome. The Pantheon is also amazing because it is FREE and the cue to enter takes only about 10 minutes.
Experience the Colosseum and Roman Forums
Price: 18€
You probably already have the Colosseum at the top of your to-do list of Rome. The massive structure cannot be ignored. It is gorgeous from the outside, but nothing beats walking around inside the walls. Make sure to buy the bundle ticket that includes the Roman Forum and Palatine hill entrance tickets. Most of the websites cost the same, but we bought ours through COOP Culture. You will find tons of ticket options, but one general rule is to NOT spend more than 18€!
I recommend following Rick Steve’s Audio when you enter the Colosseum and Roman Forums. He gives a fantastic audio guide for free! Many people upwards of 50€ for a personal guide. This is not necessary, and in my opinion, is the worst way to experience these places because of the swarm of people they place you in. Make sure to download the app and preload the tour with some Wi-Fi.
I recommend starting the day early at the Colosseum, stopping for lunch, then continuing to the Roman Forum. This allows you to beat the midday crowd of the Colosseum. It also works nicely because they are right next to each other. Make sure to pack food because the most overpriced food in the whole country lies within walking distance of these monuments. After lunch, start at the entrance of the Forum closest to the Colosseum and make a counterclockwise loop. If you follow Rick Steve’s Audio Guide that I included in the last paragraph, these instructions will be described more clearly.
Go to the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Price: FREE
The Basilica di San Giovanni Laterano is the most underrated building in the entire city. The locals say this is the most beautiful church in the city. It is also nicknamed the “mother of all churches in the world.” It blends both Christian and Pagan eras in its sculptures, paintings, and architecture. You will be greeted with no cue or cost to enter, making it even more special. I recommend reading more about Rome’s most underrated monument before visiting.
Take a wine tour in the neighboring town, Frascati
Price: 65€ or 75€
Frascati is a cute town that lies in the hills surrounding Rome. It takes about 20 minutes on the train from Roma Termini to Tor Vergata (the closest train station) and runs every 20 minutes. The town is culturally significant to the wine production of the region. The temperature is also considerably cooler than Rome because of its situation at a higher elevation and nice breeze flow.
We chose to tour the beautiful property of Old Frascati. They have a morning and a night tour, costing 65€ and 75€ per person respectively. This includes transportation to and from the train station, wine tasting, a property tour, lunch, and a city tour with more snacks. The guides are lovely and entertaining. The tasting is the best part as they provide three different wines with paired food.
I loved the tour because of the enthusiasm of the tour guides, the beauty of the property, and the local immersive experience. They allow you to walk through the vineyards that overlook the city and explore the cellars that store their wine. You can book a time slot directly on their website.
Places to eat and drink in Rome
We spent most of our dinners and nights in the Trastevere neighborhood. I would like to stress how vibrant this area is at night. Every restaurant is full, everyone is drinking and laughing, and everyone is smiling. It is cool to walk around this neighborhood during the day, but it comes to life at night. Most of the recommendations that follow lie within the Trastevere neighborhood.
All these recommendations are places that we have experienced. Keep in mind that there are more than 10 thousand places to eat and drink in Rome, so this guide is merely a consideration. It is also important to remember that everyone living and visiting the city is going out to eat around the same time so … Book a table!!! It is the only way to get the best food when you want it. Most restaurants allow you to create an online reservation.
Pier 21
Address: Lungotevere in Sassia, 3, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Pier 21 is located on the River Tiber and is open for drinks in the evening. I would not consider this a budget place to get a drink, but it has a cool atmosphere right along the water with a dancing area.
Ristorante WikiWiki Trastevere
Address: Piazza della Scala, 56, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
WikiWiki is a nice place to stop to eat or drink located right at the heart of Trastevere. The wait staff is lively, and the drinks come quickly. Having dinner at this location is popular so make sure to reserve a table!
Latteria Trastevere
Address: Vicolo della Scala, 1, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Latteria Trastevere is a trendy little wine bar in a side street. The entire interior is made up of wine bottles. Their wine options are endless, and it is a perfect place to sit outside with a date. I recommend coming here for a few drinks before your dinner reservations.
La Parolaccia
Address: Vicolo del Cinque, 3, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
La Parolaccia is a very popular dinner destination in Trastevere neighborhood. Because of its popularity, make sure to book your reservation online.
Scholars Lounge Irish Pub
Address: Via del Plebiscito, 101B, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
This is the best (and likely the only) place to watch sports games all day. This pub is located centrally near some famous attractions, making their prices higher than average. Since Rome is such an international location, you will likely find people from all over watching their local sports teams. I recommend stopping in here to meet some people and watch your team play!
Ristorante la Campana
Address: Vicolo della Campana, 18, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
We had dinner at Ristorante la Campana and it was amazing. This restaurant is located near Castel Sant’Angelo. There is no option to book a table online, so I recommend calling them: at +39 066875273.
Spaccio Pasta
Via Emanuele Filiberto, 182/186, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
Spaccio Pasta is a small restaurant right across the street from Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. I recommend coming here for a nice lunch. If you are on a budget, this is a perfect location with affordable meals. The staff is friendly as well! Do not worry about making reservations at this location.
Tips on traveling to Rome on a budget
Rome is a location where you can easily blow a paycheck. However, there are plenty of general rules you should follow if you want to stay within a certain budget. Each section below breaks down a category of expenditures and how you can manage to stay within your monetary boundaries:
Breakfast and an espresso
These two things should not cost you more than 3€. I am not even going to recommend a specific place because there are too many to count. Generally, stay away from buying your sacred Italian pastries from bus or train stations and in high-trafficked areas.
Pack a lunch
After you finish touring one of Rome’s world-famous attractions you will be hungry. Most tourists fall victim to the trap of an expensive restaurant right next to the Colosseum. To avoid this mistake, pack a lunch instead.
Picking the right place to eat dinner
Dinner is a sacred meal in Italy and you should also treat it as such as a visitor. This was our biggest expense when visiting Rome, but you can easily find meals for under 12€. Rome is interesting in the way that the cost of your meal does not determine its quality. Many low-cost restaurants happen to be some of the best. Nonetheless, you should pick the right places to eat, as you will spend your entire evening there.
Picking the right attractions to pay for in Rome
When in Rome, you must plan to spend money on the attractions. Always pay for the bundle ticket package of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. I understand 18€ is not favorable, but you simply cannot visit Rome without exploring its ancient past. Plan about 18-20€ per day on attractions. In general, the must-see paid locations to see are the Colosseum, Roman Forum/Palatine hill, and the Vatican Museums. Other locations are cool to enter, but not necessary for an immersive Roman experience.
Public transportation in Rome
I don’t know if I am allowed to tell you this… but the buses are basically free and it seems like no one ever buys a ticket. The metro, however, has a stop gate so you must buy a ticket for that.
Recommended accommodation for a budget trip to Rome
Rome is littered with hostels and hotels. We stayed in a perfect little hostel called Residenza Laterano that we booked through hostel worlds for only 26€ per night. Many hostels range between 30-40€ per night, so this is a considerably good deal. This location also has a mini kitchen with a fridge.
In general, if you are planning a budget trip to Rome, do not book a hostel or hotel near the big attractions. The public buses are fantastic and there are stops everywhere. Certain lines also run almost all night, so you do not have to worry about calling an expensive taxi to get back from your night out in Trastevere! Since Rome is one of the most traveled destinations in the world, you will find yourself with endless options for accommodation.
Conclusion
Rome is a budget-friendly and historical city. It is truly a bucket list destination with the best museums, monuments, and food. This guide provides you with first-hand knowledge based on our recent experience. However, Rome is such a vast city with thousands of places to eat and hundreds of monuments, but we compiled a list of some tips that we learned along the way. You will definitely fall in love with the energy that this city illuminates just like we did!
