When in Rome, do as the Romans do and don’t be drawn into the city’s many tourist traps which will blow your modest budget and not enhance your Rome experience at all. Although Rome is a very grand city, the Romans know how to enjoy life’s simple pleasures like walking, eating and socialising, so here are some tips on how to do just that.
As far as accommodation is concerned, you are spoiled for choice in Rome! You will find a wide range of cheap hotels in Rome near to Termini Train Station, although this is not the city’s most glamorous area, it is conveniently located for public transport links. B&B’s and guesthouses in Rome are very popular with tourists, more so than hotels, as they are usually small, cosy and homely, offering visitors the chance to stay in a local house and, usually, a very friendly atmosphere. Something you should be aware of is that hotels in Rome tend to be rather generous with star ratings; so what is a 3-star hotel in Rome may be considered a 1-star hotel elsewhere.
Once your accommodation is sorted, after enjoying apartments in rome, et your walking shoes on and explore this incredible historical city on foot. Don’t flock to the major indoor tourist attractions like the Sistine Chapel, make the most of the public architectural gems like the Spanish Steps and St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City which are free to visit, not to mention the pretty buildings and less famous historical monuments which adorn nearly every public square and street corner.
When you are out and about, exploring the city, don’t keep popping into cafes for refreshments as this is a great sap on your funds; use the many drinking fountains you will find dotted around the city as Rome boasts excellent drinking water and you’ll need it during those hot summer months! As you may imagine, pasta and pizza is readily available and relatively inexpensive. I found there to be little difference in terms of quality between pizza served in a restaurant and that sold in take away shops; the latter is obviously the cheaper option, so buy your slices and find a bench with a picturesque view to enjoy them on. If you do go out for an evening meal, bare in mind the Mediterranean meal times, most people don’t eat dinner before 9pm. Your best bet for a cheap meal out is to look for a low-key neighbourhood trattoria which is the kind of small, local restaurant where Italian families eat out.
And last but not least, if you do want to move around quite a bit and visit more than one major museum/attraction, look into getting a pass which combines public transport and tourist discounts, such as Roma Pass.
Rome is like no other city and with so much to see out on the streets, who needs to pay for meals in expensive restaurants or pricey museum admission fees to experience the Italian capital?
Rome Hotels : Site Selection of charming hotels in Italy.

• Previous Entry: The Golden City
• Next Entry: Athens on a shoestring!