Things Not To Do In Rome

The Italian Capital always welcomes tourists and offers them a chance to spend quality time, but don’t ruin your trip by ignoring the things not to do in Rome. It’s a beautiful city and an ideal destination for travelers, especially for historians, adventurers, and religious pilgrims. Many historical places are located throughout the city and attract tourists from around the world. Respecting local culture and traditions helps you gain attention and respect from locals and make your trip more enjoyable.

As frequent travelers, we must learn what to do and what to avoid at our destination. Rome also has some precautions for travelers to avoid hurdles and problems, which we should know before starting our trip. For a memorable trip to Rome, it’s important to know what you shouldn’t do and where to avoid in the city. We are proud to share the list of things to avoid in Rome, which we prepared for ourselves before and after visiting the city.

20 Things Not To Do In Rome

Knowing about what not to do in Rome is as important as knowing the things to do in Rome. It’s a tourist-friendly, historic city that should be explored without getting into trouble. A trip to Rome becomes even smoother and more exciting when you stay aware of common tourist mistakes. We talked about the things not to do in Rome with a local friend and prepared this guide for our visitors:

1- Choose The Right Place To Stay

Making the right decision on where to stay in Rome is very important for a memorable trip. Find the best areas in the city that suit you most during your stay. For example, if you’re a religious pilgrim, then book a hotel near Vatican City. If you are a tourist, book a hotel in the city center or near tourist attractions. Avoid staying in unpopular areas of the city, as this can create inconvenience and increase your travel costs.

2- Don’t Ignore Early Morning Visits to Historical Landmarks

One of the things not to do in Rome is wake up late and miss the chance to explore the city’s historical landmarks comfortably. Not many tourists come to visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other outdoor tourist attractions early in the morning, which allows you to explore these places without the crowds. So, must wake up early and take advantage of smaller crowds at major tourist attractions and explore them comfortably.

3- Don’t Forget Validating Your Public Transport Ticket

A big mistake by tourists in Rome is not validating their public transport tickets. All major tourist attractions are easily accessible through public transport, but not validating your ticket can cause you problems in the form of a fine. Buying a ticket before riding public transport isn’t enough, as validating the ticket is the most important requirement in Rome. The following list can help you in validating your transport tickets in Rome:

• Metro: Scan your ticket to enter the platform
• Bus or Tram: Scan the ticket at the machine before boarding.
• Train: Validate your ticket by scanning it at the machine installed at the station before departure.

4- Don’t Underestimate The Walking Distances

Many tourists in Rome assume every tourist attraction is within walking distance, and start walking long distances without planning. It’s true that some attractions are a few steps away from each other, but not all of them are. You’ll regret your decision to walk to another attraction when you realize the long distance and the uncomfortable streets. So, make sure to calculate the distances between tourist attractions before planning a walk.

5- Follow The Dress Code For Visiting Churches

There are 900+ magnificent churches in Rome, and most of them have great Roman architecture. These magnificent churches are visited and admired by tourists from around the world. Wearing shorts and inappropriate dresses isn’t appreciated and considered unethical when visiting a church in Rome. So, make sure to wear proper, decent dress to visit churches in the city. It would be good to carry a scarf while exploring the city. You can easily cover yourself with it if you are dressed like a tourist and decide to visit a church.

6- Be Attentive In Crowded Areas

There is always a risk of pickpocketing and luggage theft in crowded areas. So be mindful of such risks and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded places such as bus stops, train stations, and even at the airport. Don’t take your eyes off your luggage when booking a taxi from Rome Airport to the City Center. Staying alert in crowded places is better than losing your important things to pickpockets.

7- Don’t Jump Into Fountains

Rome is home to many fountains that attract tourists with their beautiful architecture and historical significance. These fountains are only for decoration and admiration, not for jumping into water, swimming, or bathing. Jumping into fountains is strictly prohibited, and you may face a hefty fine if you do so, especially at the Trevi Fountain and other historical monuments. So, respect local values and add jumping into fountains to your list of things not to do in Rome.

8- Avoid Wearing Heels For Walking

Rome is a historical city with narrow, cobblestone streets, where walking in heels is very difficult. The cobblestone streets are much narrower than those we saw in Paris. Moreover, you’ll have to walk on uneven surfaces when exploring the historical places of Rome, including the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Shoes with heels can cause foot pain, fatigue, or injury, which can ruin your trip. So, make sure wearing heels is in your list of things not to do in Rome, especially when you’re exploring the city on foot.

9- Don’t Stand in the Middle of Narrow Streets

As previously mentioned, some streets in Rome are narrow, and standing in the middle can block the way. The streets in tourist places like Trastevere and Centro Storico are narrow and always filled with tourists. People often stop to check directions or capture photos. Don’t disturb others by standing and blocking the streets for your little interests.

10- Don’t Limit Yourself To City Center

Limiting yourself only to the city center is a common mistake that most first-time visitors make in Rome. Although the Centro Storico is home to iconic and historical landmarks, other neighborhoods also offer more local experiences and activities for fun and joy. Testaccio, Trastevere, Monti, and many other areas are full of tourist attractions. So, avoid limiting yourself to the city center and discover the hidden gems by exploring less crowded neighborhoods.

11- Don’t Trust Everyone

One of the most important things not to do in Rome is to trust everyone in the city. Don’t meet and greet everyone in crowded places to avoid scams. Tourists are always easy targets for scammers because they trust everyone in a city they are unfamiliar with. For your safety, don’t trust anyone in Rome, especially in public places. It will be great if you hire a professional who guides you throughout the city for a memorable trip.

12- Always Carry a Water Bottle With You

Another mistake tourists make in Rome is not carrying water bottles and buying water when needed. Some attractions in Rome can be exhausting because you need to walk to explore them fully. You should know that there are hundreds of water-filling fountains to offer free drinking water to people. These fountains are known as “Nasoni” due to the shape of their spouts. So, avoid buying bottled water and save money by carrying a bottle that can be filled at Nasoni free of cost.

13- Don’t Rush To Explore The City In a Day

Rome is rich in history, culture, traditions, and food, and take your time to explore everything in the city. Don’t rush to cover everything in a day, as it doesn’t allow you to enjoy your trip in its true sense. It’s a big mistake that most travelers make, especially first-time travelers. To make the most of your trip, add hurrying and rushing to your things not to do in Rome list and spend enough time at each tourist attraction.

14- Book Tickets to Major Attractions in Advance

Standing in long queues for tickets is also one of the things to avoid in Rome, especially in the peak tourist season. An online ticketing facility is available at almost all tourist attractions in Rome. You can avoid big crowds if you have bought your tickets in advance. So, save your time by buying your tickets online in advance. It can make your trip smoother, more comfortable, and hassle-free.

15- Don’t Expect Good Food at Every Restaurant Outside Tourist Attractions

Don’t expect high-quality, yummy food at every restaurant outside the historical landmarks and other tourist places. Many tourists think they can enjoy authentic local flavors outside major tourist places, but it’s not true. Most of the restaurants outside tourist attractions offer untraditional, low-quality, and overpriced food to tourists. Make sure to visit Trastevere, Testaccio, and other neighborhoods to enjoy authentic Italian flavors.

16- Be Respectful at Vatican

Many tourists come to Rome just to visit the Vatican City.  It’s not only a tourist attraction, but also a sacred religious spot, where we should follow proper etiquette and behave respectfully. Our unethical behavior, rough dressing, and disrespectful speaking manners can offend others and leave a negative impression of us. Being loud, wearing revealing dresses, and behaving like a spoiled brat are the things not to do in Rome when visiting the Vatican.

17- Be Careful When Crossing Roads

Always make sure to check both sides when crossing a road. It’s a must-follow precaution for your safety. Generally, local drivers respect pedestrians and stop their vehicles to give them a way to cross the road. But you should also take care of your safety by crossing the roads with proper etiquette. Any mishap while crossing the road can lead to a serious problem and badly affect your trip. So, crossing the road carelessly should be on your things not to do in Rome list.

18- Don’t Miss the Last Metro or Bus

One of the most important things not to do in Rome is to miss the last metro or bus to reach your hotel. You’ll need to get a taxi if you missed the last bus, which may cost you many times more at night. So, you must be mindful of the last bus or metro time and prepare your schedule accordingly. It’s beneficial for a smooth, safe, and happy journey.

19- Don’t be Loud at Public Places

Speaking loudly isn’t considered good in Rome, just like Copenhagen and other tourist destinations. It is always discouraged wherever you are in the city. We found some tourists shouting at waiters in a restaurant, and honestly speaking, they were ruining their image. So, you should also take care of your tone to convey your message effectively, especially when speaking with locals. Don’t behave like a spoiled brat by speaking loudly in public places.

20- Don’t Leave Rome Without Tasting Italian Food

Leaving Rome without enjoying local flavors and Italian cuisine means you have wasted your trip. Italian cuisine is very famous throughout the world, and you’ll find many Italian restaurants at every tourist destination. So why not enjoy it whenever we get a chance to visit Italy? There are many places famous for offering local street food and the main cuisine. If you’re traveling in Rome with kids, then you must visit these places to enjoy local food.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Rome is one of the best tourist destinations in Europe. It hosts millions of tourists and religious pilgrims throughout the year. To enjoy most of your trip, it’s essential to know about the things not to do in Rome. It’s a key factor to make the trip smooth, perfect, and enjoyable. We had a great time in Rome because we researched the things to do and not to do in advance, and prepared this guide to help you explore the city smoothly.