Rome, Italy

Honeymooners
Sidewalk cafés, piazzas in which to stroll hand-in-hand, and fountains to make wishes at, all add up to a romantic honeymoon.

Families
A city-wide history lesson with a real Colosseum will fascinate the whole family.

Transfers
Transfers between the airport and hotel are not included with your vacation package; a private car transfer is available for purchase. There is an express train that goes between the airport and Termini station, taking approximately 30 minutes. Taxi cabs are also available at the airport.

Walking
Rome is a walking city — not throughout the whole city, but once you get to the area you’re visiting. The Metro or taxis can take you from area to area. Once there, you’ll need comfortable shoes because of the cobblestone streets and piazzas. And, as much of the inner core of the city is traffic-free, you’ll have to walk anyway. Be careful as you cross the street — Romans tend to drive very fast and if no one is crossing at the light, they may just go through it.

Subway
The Metro, or subway, stops at many of the major tourist attractions. There are only two lines, so it is very easy to navigate. Try to avoid the rush hours (8-9am, 1-2:30pm, and 7-8pm) and beware of pickpockets, some of which can be very inconspicuous (it may not be the person begging, but rather the person standing behind you) as they separate you from your wallet. Tickets can be purchased at Metro stations, tobacconists, newsstands, and some coffee bars.

Taxi
Taxis can be called, found at stands, and will sometimes stop if flagged down and if empty. Make sure to have small bills, as some taxi drivers may claim to not have change. As in all non-English speaking cities, it is always a good idea to bring along a card from your hotel or a book of matches with your hotel’s name. The fare goes up after 10pm and there is an extra charge for suitcases.

Bus
Several bus routes go through the center of Rome, which can save lots of walking. There are two bus lines that operate in central Rome — the ATAC buses and tramlines and the orange and blue J-Line buses.

Car
It is not recommended to rent a car in Rome. With narrow streets, one-way streets, pedestrian-only areas, lack of parking spaces, and spirited drivers, driving in Rome is not for the faint of heart. However, it is highly recommended to rent a car and then leave the city, discovering the Italian countryside.

Dining just doesn’t get any better than Rome. Outdoor cafés, great pasta just about anywhere, value-priced wine, and the sinfully delicious gelato to top off each evening. Italians eat later than most other Europeans, so don’t even think about going to a restaurant until 7pm; some restaurants may not even open until 8.

Italy has various levels of restaurants — a ristoranti is formal, trattorias and osterias are less formal, a paninera serves sandwiches, and of course, the pizzeria offers pizza. Wine can be ordered by the bottle or, if selecting the house wine (often very good at a mere pittance of a price) can be ordered by the liter, half liter, or quarter liter. There is almost always a bread and cover charge (pane e coperto); additional bread charges will be added with each basket of bread. A tip of 15% is usually included, but if you can’t see it on the bill or it wasn’t stated on the menu, ask.

• Da Franco
  The best prix fixe dinner where they just start bringing you food — fried fish, grilled fish, pasta, seafood lasagna, fried vegetables, and risotto.
• Da Enzo Trattoria
  A no-frills, one-room restaurant where chefs come to dine on classic Roman fare.
• Casa Bleve
  A great stop for a bite if you are near the Piazza Navona.
• Crudo
  One of the hottest new restaurants in Rome — the dining room is always packed and the fabulous food justifies the crowds. The menu focuses on perfect ingredients served raw or with minimal cooking.
• Ristorante La Forchetta D’Oro
  A neighborhood favorite with simple, yet perfect spaghetti alle vongole.
• Pizzeria La Montecarlo
  The liveliest and cheapest of the favorite local pizzerias near the Piazza Navona. The back rooms or outside are the best places to sit.
• Roscioli Antico Forno
  A little bakery that makes the best pizza bianca (white pizza) in town, along with addictive salty rolls call spighe.
• Trattoria
  An ultra-minimalist space near the Pantheon where modern Sicilian dishes are the centerpiece.

Nightlife centers on being outdoors to enjoy the summer evenings as they cool off and the spring and fall with their pleasant weather. A glass of wine, after-dinner cappuccino, or espresso at a sidewalk café, watching the world go by is the perfect way to end your evening. Many of the monuments and fountains are illuminated at night, so you can enjoy them in a new light.

Best buys can be found on leather (purses, gloves, jackets), silk items, and knitwear. Note that the leather in Rome isn’t necessarily inexpensive, but rather extremely high-quality leather at prices that are less than other cities.

The best of the Italian designers all have shops — Gucci, Ferragamo, Tod’s, D&G, Fendi, Armani, Laura Biagiotti, Missoni, Prada, and Versace — most of them at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Two of the main shopping streets near the Spanish Steps are the Via Condotti and the Via del Corso. Via Condotti is the high-end shopping street of Rome with the best of the best. Even if you can’t buy, it’s a great place to people watch and window shop. Via del Corso is aimed at younger shoppers and has more affordable shops. Lower priced fashions can be found on Via Frattina and Via del Corso. There is also good shopping along Via Cola dei Rienzo and Via Nazionale. Well-regarded department stores are La Rinascente, Coin, and UPIM.

The largest flea market in all of Europe is in Rome, across the Tiber in Trastevere. There are some 4,000 stalls selling anything and everything. The best time to go is on Sundays from 5am - 2pm. As in all crowded areas, be aware of pickpockets. Each day a colorful market takes place at Campo de Fiori.

The Value Added Tax, called IVA in Italy, is valid only if you spend more than approximately $150 at any one store.

For up-to-date information on events, pick up "Wanted in Rome," available at newsstands; "Guest in Rome," distributed to hotels; and look for posters outside churches announcing concerts — some of the most inspiring music and singing takes place, for a real value price, in Rome’s many churches. Here are some other annual events:

Pope’s Blessing
Every Sunday when in residence. If there is an outdoor mass going on, entrance to St. Peter’s may be barred until mass is over; be sure to check the church schedule if you plan on visiting.

Festa de’ Noantri
July. A colorful procession, folk dances and songs, carnival floats, and fireworks all in Trastevere.

The Rome Jazz Festival
October/November. An eclectic and wide array of international jazz artists from around the world. The event takes place at various venues throughout the city.

Christmas Market
December through the beginning of January. Piazza Navona has its annual Christmas market with nativity scenes, stalls selling Christmas goodies, and Santa Claus, himself.

Mussolini’s Villa
The 19th-century villa of Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, opened in 2006 to the public for the first time after a $6 million restoration, allowing visitors to see the elegant frescoes and lavish chandeliers — and the hidden bunkers he could hide in.

The Best Cappuccino
According to chef Mario Batali, the world’s best cappuccino can be found at the Rome airport, at the bar on your left after you pass through customs. That should help with any jet lag!

A Bit of Home
The Big Mama Pub in Trastevere is the coolest place in town for blues and jazz.

Taxis
Never go with the ‘pre-arranged’ fare; always insist that the driver uses the meter.

Antiques
Le Cugine sells table settings once used by Italian royalty for a good 20% less than elsewhere in the city.

Trendy Neighborhood
The Monti area — between the Forum, Via Nazionale, and Santa Maria Maggiore — is blossoming with hip restaurants and wine bars.

Good to Know: