When in Rome...

There is something special about seeing history in person and that's what Rome is. It's the movies (yes, I am talking about Lizzie McGuire) but it's also the lessons that you learned as a kid and getting to see those up close. When you are visiting this ancient city, take some time to reflect on everything that took place here and you will appreciate those landmarks even more.

In the words of Paulo (from the Lizzie McGuire movie), "This is Rome. Nobody knows how to drive"

Therefore, if you will have a car, it is important to understand what to do when you arrive. If you will not have a car, skip ahead.

If you plan to stay in the city center, or nearby, then you will not be driving to your hotel or lodging. This is for two reasons: they probably do not offer parking and if it is within the city's ZTL zone, you are not permitted to drive.

Because Rome was our second stop, we already had a car and didn't want to wait until after Rome to pick one up. From everything I read prior to going, I thoroughly feared having a car while there and I don't want you to have that same fear. I am going to tell you exactly what you'll do.

First, you need to understand what the ZTL zone is.

ZTL stands for Zona Traffico Limitado (Limited Traffic Zone). Several busier cities throughout Italy have these in place to restrict traffic and vehicles within the city center. These zones are active a majority of the day, meaning unless you are a taxi or have a permit to enter, you will be fined if you drive through.

In all honesty, if you aren't familiar with the area, the signs are not in your face enough to see it when driving. Mainly because there is so much to pay attention to aside from that, so it can be easy to miss. This is why I recommend driving directly to your parking location that you know is outside of the zone and leaving your car there until you leave. Otherwise, if you want to explore Rome within the ZTL Zone, but don't want to walk everywhere, you can take a taxi or rent a vespa.

If you want to take your chances and drive through the zone when it is inactive, make sure you check the cities website for a current schedule. A lot of times, the zone is completely inactive on Sundays, but starts back up on 6AM Monday. If you don't plan to leave before that time, you would be in trouble. I say...don't risk it.

You won't even want to drive in Rome...

Honestly, if getting a fine isn't scary enough, I promise you driving in Rome is. Rome was my least favorite place to be driving during my trip through Italy. Even outside of the ZTL zones, you are still within the city. That means a ton of cars, mopeds and motorcycles, pedestrians, and parked vehicles lining up in places that don't seem like parking spots.

You get through it, don't get me wrong. But driving in Rome should be a quick in and out experience and not something you are doing leisurely. It is doable, but not enjoyable.

Now, you might wonder where you should leave your car...

Parcheggio

Choose your parcheggio (parking garage) based on the closeness of two things: your hotel and the ZTL Zone. We were in a hotel close to Piazza di Spagna, so we chose Parcheggio Saba Piazza di Spagna. For this garage, it is 22 Euro for 24 hours.

If you are staying in a different area, there are other options. You can find the best options on the App, Parclick. You want to make sure that it is 24 hours and secured. We didn't have any issue with our car, but you always want to take precaution and remove/hide all of your belongings.

Use Google Maps and scope out the satellite view of the garage ahead of time. As mentioned, driving in Rome is hectic and you don't want to miss a turn or entrance. If you know what to look for before going, it makes it much easier.

These garages are not one that you will leave the ticket in your car. Take your ticket with you as you will need to pay at the stations before exiting. Some garages require you to scan your ticket to re-enter the garage. Once your car is parked, let it be and enjoy Rome.

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Where to stay

Choosing where to stay is highly dependent on what is most important to you. With the majority of your transportation being walking, you'll want to stay somewhere central to the places that you will spend the majority of your time.

The most popular location to stay near is Piazza di Spagna. This is going to be the famous square located at the bottom of the Spanish Steps. Near this area you will find many restaurants, shops, and the famous Trevi Fountain. Not too far of a walk, or scooter ride, away is the Colosseum and neighboring ruins.

Staying at a hotel or air bnb near here will give you numerous options for activities and food within a short walking distance. I highly recommend choosing a hotel that includes, or offers, breakfast. We chose to stay at Sonder - Piazza di Spagna.

This hotel offers breakfast on the rooftop terrace which provided a beautiful view of the surrounding city. The room was nice and we enjoyed having a window that opened fully so that we could watch and listen to people passing by throughout the day. Keep in mind that here, as well as many hotels in Rome, room sizes are typically small - that's very common with the buildings being much older.

We recommend checking them out, but here are a few of our other considerations near Piazza di Spagna:

• Hotel Gregoriana. 7 min walk to the Trevi Fountain. 20 min walk to the Colosseum. Serves breakfast. Vintage/Modern design with a gorgeous terrace. Has AC.

• "Trevi Fountain Luxury Home" - Airbnb. >10 min walk to the Trevi Fountain and 20 min walk to the Colosseum. More space than you'll get in a hotel. 2 bedrooms. Gorgeous, Rome inspired, design. Has AC.

• "Raffaello Inn" - Airbnb. Similar distance walks to the Fountain and Colosseum. Beautiful vintage style kitchen. One bedroom with large living room. Has AC.

There are so many great options when staying in Rome, but it truly depends on what's important to you. You'll find some that are more modern and some stay true to their Roman roots. A hotel gives you service - breakfast, elevators, and transportation options. An Airbnb will give you space, privacy, and room for more people.

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What to do

Rome is not for relaxing. If I were to think of a European version of New York City, this is it. Some may disagree. For me, there were nostalgic feelings of comparison...like the pigeons creeping closely to you while you eat pizza on a fountain stoop, next to four people smoking cigarettes. Don't get me wrong. There is so much more to this city than just that. But, Romans are Italy's New Yorkers. I said it.

Now instead of going to the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty, you have landmarks that age far beyond those. The air quality is much better, too. Here are some things to do and see in Rome that prove you are nowhere near NYC:

The famous stuff.

The Colosseum. The Trevi Fountain. The Sistine Chapel.

Less famous stuff (imo).

Castel Sant'Angelo. Borghese Gallery and Museum. Roman Forum (next to Colosseum). St. Peter's Basilica.

Not famous, but good stuff.

Vintage shopping**. Rent a vespa and ride around. Drink espresso and people watch in Piazza Navona. Visit Piazza del Popolo. Shop and eat a Trapizzino in Trastevere.

**if you are someone who loves to thrift/vintage shop, Rome has some of the best ones. There are several within a few minutes of each other and it's worth it to take a peek.

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What to eat

If you are anything like me, one of the things you are looking forward to about being in Italy is the food. Some of the best food is in Rome partially due to their stubbornness. Romans don't like change and that applies to their dishes. You are going to get the best of the classics here - the pasta that you want from Italy. This is the place to indulge in the abundance of street food available. This is only city in Italy that I have been to that sells "pizza al taglio" (by the slice) and sometimes that's all you need!

Here is a starting point for some great places to eat for lunch and dinner near Piazza di Spagna:

Lunch (takeaway)

Pastificio Guerra. Cheap, good street pasta.

Emanuel's Food. Quick and cheap sandwich shop. Several tasty options and you can build your own pasta.

Forno da Milvio. Pizza by the slice and many options to choose from. Quick service to take it to-go.

Lunch/Dinner (sit down)

Unik Restaurant. Beautiful platings and delicious pizza.

Ristorante la Nuova Piazzeta. With over 7,000 5-star reviews, I think the food speaks for itself.

Pizza in Trevi. The best, and maybe only, gluten free pizza you'll find. Serves a varity of pasta dishes as well.

La Cabana. The best cacio e pepe pasta.

Extras

La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Artigianale. Because you have to get delicious gelato.

Bar San Marcello. Great espresso bar with limited, but tasty, breakfast/lunch options.

Rosemary terra e sapori. Fresh, delicious breakfast menu that changes constantly to keep everything fresh. Good place for coffee and juice as well.

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Additional considerations

While knowing where to stay, what to eat, and what to do are important components of planning a trip to Rome...so is considering some realities and tips. Let's get those out of the way.

You will probably never have the Trevi Fountain to yourself. You may see pictures online, or even mine above, that appear as if people had a completely unrestricted view of the fountain. It's not true. People photoshop others out, which seems like too much work to me. However, if you do go early, you will have a little more wiggle room. I clearly had enough room to my left and right that I got several photos without having others in them. Even if you go at 5/6AM, there is a crowd. It's still beautiful and absolutely worth going, but don't rush awake at sunrise like we did.

This is a city that you should try to speak Italian. I called Romans the European version of New Yorker's. You're in their city. If you want a good, authentic experience, this is where you adapt to your surroundings and not vice versa.

This is where I recommend pulling out your sound machine. It's a busy city, so expect noise. As well, if you stay in the heart of Rome, buildings are old and closely built.

Cash is typically preferred here. That doesn't mean they don't accept card, but they highly prefer cash. This applies more to takeaway spots for breakfast/lunch and small convenient stores. A lot of places use a card reader with a not so great Wi-fi signal. So, sometimes it won't work and they have to walk outside to get better reception. If you have the cash, use it.

Always check schedules/reservations ahead of time. If the restaurant you are going to for dinner allows you to make a reservation, always do it. It's a horrible feeling to show up and get turned away for not having one. Also, make sure you are checking the recent schedule of the attractions you want to go to. For example, museums like the Borghese Gallery closes one day a week (typically Mondays).

Keep your personal items and money close. Don't be an easy victim for a local pick pocketer. This is a place that you should utilize some travel safety items.

Reuse your water bottle. Rome has several fresh and clean water fountains to fill your bottle throughout the city. They don't look like your standard gray, wall-mounted high school fountain either. Look closely for them as they truly blend into the surrounding architecture.

Check my European Checklist post for some additional advice. You'll get information about what to pack and some more tips to help you be prepared.