How to save money in Rome
Wondering how to save money in Rome? Rome is considered one of Italy’s most expensive cities, with lavish hotels, overpriced restaurants and hidden tourist traps.
However compared to other European cities, the Italian capital is quite cheap with many ways to economize.
Whether it’s how to get around the Eternal City efficiently, a free visit to the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums, or a plate of pasta by the Pantheon without getting ripped off, for saving money in Rome we have you covered.
Here are 20 budget-friendly tips, to reduce your costs in Rome and ensure your visit to the Eternal City is fun, affordable and memorable.
Top Tips on How to Save Money in Rome
1. Visit the Colosseum for free
Admission to the iconic Colosseum is free the first Sunday of each month. To avoid the crowds and long ticket waiting arrive at 8.00 a.m.
The Ticket to the Colosseum also allows entrance to the Roman Forum and Palentine Hill.
See our post for ways to skip the Colosseum line on other days.
2. Visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel for free
Every last Sunday of the month, the entrance is free to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
On days where the entrance is free, inevitably this attracts large crowds so get there early (7:30 a.m) to avoid a long wait to enter.
3. Make savings with the Roma Pass or Omnia Card
The Roma Pass is a 3-day pass costing 35 euros. It can be one of the best ways to save money in Rome.
It allows 2 free entrances to monuments and museums in Rome, discounted entrances thereafter, as well as free public transport.
An additional benefit to the Roma Pass is it allows you to skip the ticket lines.
The Roma Pass can be purchased on the official Roma Pass website, at museums, tourist information kiosks and at the metro stations.
The Omnia Card costs 55 euros. It acts similar to the Roma Pass, but offers access to the Vatican Museums, as well as the hop-on hop-off touristic bus.
The duration for the Omnia Pass is 72 hours. See the official website for purchasing and collection options.
4. Free museums on 1st Sunday of the month (Domenica al Museo)
The first Sunday on each month is called Domenica al Museo, where many museums, monuments and art galleries in Rome offer a free entrance.
Here is a list of the some poplar attractions and museums offering free entrance:
- Borghese Gallery
- The Baths of Caracalla
- The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument
- National gallery of modern and contemporary art
- Capitoline Museums
See here for more information here.
5. Free entrance to museums for the following people
Most of the main Museums offer free entrance to the following people: –
- · Under the age of 18 and 65
- · Journalists
- · People with disabilities
- · Professors of Art & Archaeology
- · Tour guides
- · Students (aged 18-25) in most cases, are provided discounted tickets to museums and attractions in Rome.
6. Take the bus or train from the airport to Rome
Taxi costs
A taxi from Fiumicino airport to Rome, is a fixed cost of 48 euros. From Ciampino airport to Rome is 40 euros.
Fiumicino airport
One of the least expensive ways to get from Fiumicino airport to Rome is to take the Terravison Bus, costing 10 euros each way.
The journey takes roughly 1 hour.
Another cheap method of transportation is the Leonardo Express train, taking 30 minutes. The price is 14 euros each way.
Ciampino airport
The regional train from Ciampino to Rome costs €2.80. The duration is 15/20 minutes.
Alternatively the Terravison bus is 10 euros, taking around 40 minutes.
7. Use public transport in Rome instead of Taxis
One of the best ways to save money in Rome is to use the public transport.
Taking taxis can be expensive and costs can add up with regular use.
A quick and cheap way to get around Rome is to use the public transport; underground train, bus and tram.
Here are the ticket prices
A single ticket – The price is €1.50. The ticket which can be used multiple times on all forms of public transport within 100 minutes.
The following tickets offer unlimited trips on all Rome public transport upon the first time of usage
A 24-hours ticket – The price is €7.
A 48-hour ticket – The price is €12.50.
A 72-hours ticket – The price is €18.
A Weekly ticket – The price is €24.
A Monthly ticket – The price is €35. (Valid from the first day of the month until the last day of the month)
See ATAC website for more details.
If you are travelling outside of the city or taking a day trip, the regional trains are good value for money.
The fast trains are great for long distance traveling, but cost more than the regional trains.
Tickets can be purchased on trenitalia.com, or italotreno.it. Book early for discounts.
8. Avoid over-priced tourist restaurants
Dine at trattorias, which offer local specialties such as Roman style pizza or pasta classics, such as carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe. Meat eaters should try oxtail and tripe.
Typically the menus written in a variety of languages with pictures are tourist traps.
Visit our Rome Travel Guide to discover the best places to eat in different Roman neighborhoods.
You can sometimes find great deals on the website The Fork.
Groupon has a variety of restaurants and other activities with huge discounts.
9. Have Aperitivo with free buffet food
A fantastic and easy way to save money in Rome is by taking advantage of aperitivo, which is basically happy hour with free food.
Most bars and cafes will offer a buffet of free food from 6pm – 9 pm, with the purchase of a drink.
Some bars offer basic snacks including potato chips, olives and nuts, but others offer a huge selection of mouth-watering canapés, including pizza, pasta, couscous, salad, salami, cheese, cured meats and more.
Popular bars for this include
- Freni e Frizione (Trastevere)
- Momart (Piazza Bologna)
- Salotto 42 (PANTHEON)
- Gusto (PAZZA NAVONA)
- Il Sorpasso (PRATI)
- Blackmarket Hall (MONTI)
10. Drink your coffee by the bar
In bars and cafès, table-service prices are usually at least double the price, compared to if you stand at the bar. Do as the locals do and drink your coffee standing by the bar.
11. Drink from the Water fountains (Nasoni)
There are water fountains scattered all over the city called Nasoni.The Water is good drinking water coming from the AppeninI Mountains.
Buy a bottle or bring your own flask to fill up, to save money not having to purchase pricey bottled water.
To find your closest Nasoni, download the app called drinking fountains.
12. Economize on accommodation in Rome
One of the best ways to save money during a visit to Rome is to economize on accommodation.
Hotels in the neighborhoods of the Historical Center, tend to be pricier than other neighborhoods.
Stay in budget-friendly areas outside the Historical Center of Rome, which are easily connected by public transport, for example San Giovanni, Prati or Nomentano.
Alternatively consider saving costs and renting an apartment on Airbnb. An additional benefit to renting an apartment, is you can prepare meals in the kitchen rather than eat out.
Locals offer a free place to sleep on the couchsurfing website.
13. Visit the free Roman sights
Rome can be described as an open museum. On nearly every corner, you’ll find something interesting to explore or marvel at without having to pay.
Attractions, such as the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and St. Peters Basilicas are all free.
14. Take a free tour in Rome
Free walking tours in Rome are available from several tour companies. A reputable company is Rome’s Ultimate Free Walking Tour.
Enquire with The Roman Food Tour for group and family discounts.
15. Smart shopping
The expensive designer shops are located around The Spanish Steps. Via Condotti and Via Corso and popular shopping streets.
Make the most of the sales in Rome, which occur at the start of January and August.
For vintage shopping, head over to the Monti neighborhood.
Here is a video on where to shop and eat in Monti.
16. Visit Rome off-season.
Rome is the third most visited city in the European Union with over 10 million annual tourists.
The majority visit in between the months of April and October.
Take advantage of discounted plane tickets and cheaper hotel rooms, visiting Rome during the off-season months.
Museums and other popular monuments and attractions, will be more enjoyable without the crowds.
17. Keep fit for free
There are plenty of places throughout the Italian Capital.
Rome’s Tiber River runs through the city, with a running path along its banks, popular with joggers.
There are plenty of parks, including Villa Borghese, Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ad offering scenic routes for runners and cyclists.
There is a bicycle hire company inside the Villa Borghese park, as well as other companies throughout the city.
18. Purchase refreshments from grocery stores & supermarkets
An easy way to save money in Rome is to purchase food and refreshments, from the supermarkets, local markets or grocery stores.
Most supermarkets close at 8 PM and 4 pm on Sundays. There are 11 Carrefour supermarkets, which are open 24/7.
19. Pick up lunch from the food Markets
Delve deeper into Roman culture and pick up the freshest food, while visiting the local food markets.
See our post on the food markets in Rome, to find your closest one.
20. Find free-Wi-Fi
Stay connected in the Eternal City with free Wi-Fi at the following places.
- Ex Circus (Piazza Navona)
- Pimm’s (Trastevere)
- Analemma (Monti)
- Mediterraneo al MAXXI
- The Angelica library
- The Vatican Library
- The Senate Library
Conclusion
That concludes our blog on how to save money in Rome.
If you have further money saving tips in Rome, be sure to add in the comments section below.
For more information email us or visit our Rome Travel Guide.
Please share if you found this blog useful.