Roma, non basta una vita (Rome, a lifetime is not enough)
A trip to Rome is an exciting venture. There is so much history, art, and beauty, not to mention great food and shopping that the traveler can feel overwhelmed on arrival. Jam packed with so many amazing sights to see, there is a common phenomenon among visitors, tourist frenzy. Running from sight to sight with camera in hand, Rome becomes a blur instead of a glowing memory, as travelers seek to cross yet another church or fountain off their list.
Experiencing the Two Sides of Rome
However, there is another way to experience Rome, and that is to strike a good balance between taking in the major sights and sounds of the city and gently strolling its ancient streets, taking in its neighborhoods and caf life. A good way for travelers to get the best of both worlds is to plan for major sight-seeing in the mornings and leave afternoons for strolling
For example, both the sights of Ancient Rome and the Vatican are must-sees on most travelers' agendas. Each requires at least a half day to take in their splendor (if not more). So planning to visit either in the morning will leave a tourist's afternoon free for exploring the Trastevere or Via Condotti. Other sights worth seeing include the Church of San Clemente and the Galleria Borghese (along with its gardens). Most visitors make a beeline for the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, but might miss the Ghetto or the Appia Antica. Using a mix of the familiar and foreign is what seeing Rome is really all about.
Tickets and Transportation
One of the best ways to save time and money on a trip to Rome is to purchase a 3-day Roma pass. The pass is good for unlimited rides on the metro, buses, and trams of Rome. In addition, pass holders get free admission to 2 of more than 40 potential archaeological sites or museums (such as the Colosseum, the Musei Capitolini, the Ara Pacis, and the Galleria Borghese). These passes are available at the Termini (railway) station or at tourist kiosks around the city.
Travelers can also make good use of the metro (subway) system, particularly Metro Line A, which Romans have nicknamed linea turistica (the tourist line) because of its stops. Those stops include the popular Spanish Steps (Spagna), Trevi Fountain (Barberini), the Vatican's museums (Cipra-Musei), and St. Peter's Square (Ottaviano).
Day and week passes can be purchased at any tobacco shop (tabacchi) and most news stands. Detailed information can be gotten at tourist kiosks, where travelers can obtain maps and directions from multilingual staff.
Sight-Seeing Buses
Rome also accommodates travelers by providing hop on-hop off buses, known as the Trambus Open Roma. The 110 bus leaves in 10-minute intervals from the Termini (railway) station and makes stops at such popular sights as the Colosseum, St. Peter's, Piazza Navona, Via Veneto, and the Trevi Fountain. A second bus leaves every 20 minutes from the Termini and makes its way out of Rome to the Via Appia Antica with stops at the Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla, and the Catacombs.
Tourist Kiosks
For more details on anything Rome, the main tourist office is the place to head. Called the APT (Azienda Per Turismo), it's located near (of course) the Termini (railway) station on Via Parigi. There are also kiosks scattered around the city at major tourist sights (like the Vatican, Piazza Navona, and the Santa Maria Maggiore, as well as others). Look for the green kiosks labeled PIT (Punti Inormativi Turistici).
When to Visit Rome
Any time is a good time to visit the Eternal City, but some are better than others. Spring and fall are optimal, with sunny days and mild temperatures. Winters are mild, but rainy. Summer is probably the worst season for touring. First of all, it's sweltering. Then, there are lots of tourists (who didn't know). Air conditioning is rare, so if summer is the only option, try to follow the Roman way: get up early, seek rest and refuge in the afternoon, and re-emerge in early evening, when the breeze appears. In August, much of Rome (like France) goes on holiday, and many stores and restaurants close completely for the month.
Roman Hours
When in Romeget used to a different schedule. Sundays are a day of rest with much of the city shut down, although it's a perfect day to explore churches. Museums, bakeries, and most restaurants also close on Mondays. Shops tend to open at 10am and close around 1pm, then re-open at 4pm and remain open till around 7pm in the evening. On Mondays, if they are open at all, it's not until 4pm. Churches also generally close from 12 noon till 4pm.
Using some of this knowledge can make your Roman Holiday a little more calm and organized. Learning how to avoid wasting time waiting till something opens or standing in line to purchase bus tickets daily can put more precious hours into a traveler's day, and add more glowing memories to a trip.