by Jo Linsdell

Created on: July 01, 2009

Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the World and packed full of history, art and beauty. The old saying "a life time is not enough" sums up nicely just how much the city has to offer a visitor. With all the monuments and museums, the world famous cuisine and focus on fashion, Rome may seem like an expensive place to visit. There are many ways to save money whilst visiting Rome however.

Stop by one of the many tourist points located throughout the city and get yourself a free map of Rome. They will also be able to give you free information on places to visit and upcoming events that may be of interest.

Entrance fees in public museums and state owned art sites are in many cases free of charge. Although you should check at each site, in general all citizens of the EU under 18 or over 65 and students enter free.

When you buy a ticket to visit the Colosseo the same ticket is also valid for free entry into the Colle Palatino if used within twenty-four hours.

Entrance to many sites are free to everyone. Sites include; the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Mouth of Truth, Circo Massimo and all churches.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of every month however there are always large crowds so make sure you get there very early in the morning.

Rome is a "Green City" and offers a variety of beautiful parks in various zones. They are free to enter and are a nice way to relax in the middle of the city.

During the summer months there are numerous free events organised through out the city which are open to everyone. Piazza Vittorio has a free cinema and music concerts are very common in the larger areas like Colosseum, Circo Massimo and San Giovanni. In some cases they are attended by famous international artists.

If you are planning to use public transport during your stay consider which ticket will best fit your needs. A 1 ticket is valid for 75 minutes. A 4 is valid up to 12:00 midnight of the day on which it's validated and can be used for unlimited rides. A 11 "Tourist ticket" is valid up to 12:00 midnight of the third day inclusive of that on which it was first stamped and for an unlimited number of journeys. A 16 ticket is valid up to 12:00 midnight of the seventh day inclusive from the date indicated by the traveller as it's first day of validity for an unlimited number of journeys. All of these tickets are valid for all public transport i.e. metro, trams and buses. All need to be validated on first use. Failure to buy or to validate a ticket can result in fines from 100 to 500. If the validating machines are out of order (this is often the case) write on the ticket the date and time and advise the driver this way you will be safe from penalties.

Italian cuisine is one of the most popular things to explore whilst in Rome. When choosing a restaurant stay away from tourist menus as they tend to be more expensive and poorer quality. If you haven't ordered bread tell the waiter or it will be added to your bill. Buying a slice of pizza to take away can save money but be aware of where you eat it as you will be fined for eating in some Piazzas e.g. Piazza di Spagna. The best way to save money on food is to buy it at a supermarket and prepare it yourself. A picnic in Villa Borghese makes a great cheap lunch.

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