Rome is not just Italy’s capital — it is the only city in the world that literally contains another country (Vatican City) and ranks among the most visited destinations on the planet. With 28 centuries of history, it has shaped epic tales, art and culture, earning its legendary title: the Eternal City.
Rome’s artistic heritage is a journey through time, where every street corner tells a story of creativity and grandeur. From ancient ruins to Renaissance artists like Michelangelo and Raffaello, the city is packed with masterpieces. Expect to see jaw-dropping fountains, palaces, and villas designed by icons like Bernini and Borromini. And if you are into museums, the city has some of the world’s best — including the Vatican, which is basically an art museum in itself.
Getting Around: Public Transport
The city has three metro lines, trams and a ton of bus lines: they are often crowded, mostly at peak hours and, moreover, buses are quite often late, but they can take you everywhere in the city. The public transportation company of Rome is ATAC (Agenzia del Trasporto Autoferrotranviario del Comune di Roma). Tickets prices are as follows:Tickets prices are as follows:
- € 1.50 for a single ride ticket
- € 7 for a daily pass
- € 35 for a monthly pass
- € 250 for an annual pass
You can purchase tickets through various channels:
- ATAC ticket offices for annual or monthly pass: located along Metro Lines A (Anagnina, Spagna, Lepanto, Ottaviano, Valle Aurelia, Battistini) and B (Laurentina, Eur Fermi, Piramide, Termini, Ponte Mammolo, Conca d’Oro). These offices operate daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For further information you can visit the Ticket offices website.
- Authorized shops for single ride ticket, daily pass and monthly pass: over 2,200 points of sale, including newsagents, tobacco shops, and affiliated bars, sell ATAC tickets. Approximately 1,000 of these are equipped to sell and top up electronic tickets and passes.
- Ticket vending machines for single ride ticket and 24/48/72 hours ticket: available inside metro stations, at bus terminals, and near several points of interest.
- Tap&Go for single ride ticket: use contactless credit, debit, or prepaid card, or an NFC-enabled device, to pay directly on all ATAC surface lines equipped with contactless validators and in all metro stations.
For further information you can visit ATAC website.
Sharing Mobility
Rome has embraced a path toward sustainability, actively promoting innovative and eco-friendly modes of transport. A wide range of shared mobility services allows residents and visitors to reduce their environmental impact by sharing vehicles instead of owning them.
Depending on your needs, you can choose from several operators: kick scooter (Bird, Dott, Lime), e-bike (Dott, Lime), motorscooter (Cooltra), carsharing (Roma Mobilità, EnJoy, Drivalia, ShareNow). This growing network of shared mobility solutions supports Rome’s vision of a cleaner, more livable urban environment.
Students can find how to use these services visiting webpage.
Taxis & Uber
Official taxis in Rome are white and marked with the word TAXI on the roof. The front doors display the symbol of Roma Capitale along with the vehicle’s license number. Not all taxis accept credit or debit cards, so it is recommended to check payment options in advance. If you are unsure about the fare, ask the driver for an estimate before starting your journey.
To book a taxi in Rome, you can:
- Call 060609
- Use the CALL TAXI app
For more information, including possible surcharges or fixed fares, please visit this webpage.
Uber can be a convenient and often more affordable alternative to traditional taxis. The platform regularly offers discounts and rides can be easily booked through the mobile app or the official website.
Roman traffic can be chaotic, with drivers often making sudden moves or ignoring lanes. If you choose to use shared transportation options like scooters or rental cars, exercise extra caution and stay vigilant. Always wear a helmet on a motorbike and be mindful of traffic rules and pedestrians.
Estimated Costs
- Housing (monthly cost):
- €350–650 for a shared room
- €500–900 for a single room
- €800–1200 for a studio
- €60–100 for utilities (approximately)
- Public Transportation:
- €1.50 for a single-ride ticket
- €35 for a monthly pass
- €250 for an annual pass
- Meals:
- €200–300 per month for food
- €8–15 for aperitivo
- €6–20 for cocktails
- Entertainment:
- €5–12 for museum and cinema tickets
- €15–40 for restaurants
- €10–25 for pizzeria
- Cell Phone: around €10 for a SIM card
- Residence Permit: approximately €120
Coffee and Food
Breakfast in Italy? Quick, simple, and always delicious. If you hit up a local bar, expect a shot of espresso with a cornetto (Italy’s answer to a croissant) or, if you are in Rome, a maritozzo (a cream-filled pastry). Italians sip their coffee fast and standing at the counter. If you are staying with locals, breakfast might be fette biscottate (tiny crispy toasts), biscuits, or cereal.
If you want to sound like a local when ordering coffee, here is your guide:
- Caffè = Espresso
- Caffè ristretto = Extra strong espresso
- Caffè lungo = A little more water, less intense
- Caffè macchiato = Espresso with a dash of milk
- Cappuccino = Coffee + foamed milk (only in the morning, or risk side-eyes from locals)
- Caffè corretto = Espresso with a shot of booze
- Marocchino = Espresso, chocolate, and foamed milk
After your coffee break, in the afternoon it is time for something more relaxed but equally tasty: that is the aperitivo — Italy’s version of happy hour, but way better. You order a drink (Spritz is a must-try), and it comes with snacks or sometimes even a full-on buffet. It is the perfect excuse to hang out with friends, chill before dinner, and eat good food without spending a fortune.
Roman food is a whole experience. Locals take their pasta seriously — if you are here, you have to try: carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe. For meat lovers, saltimbocca alla romana (veal with ham and sage) or porchetta (roast pork) are must-tries. Before your Pizza? Always start with a supplì — a deep-fried rice ball with melted mozzarella inside.
When the bill comes, everyone pays alla romana (split evenly, no complicated math). Tipping is not a big deal in Italy, but leaving a couple of extra euros is a nice touch. To avoid finding yourself alone in a restaurant, it can be useful to know that the typical Italian mealtimes are lunch at 1 PM, aperitivo at 6 PM and dinner at 8 PM.
Language and Customs
Italians use hand gestures extensively. These can range from a simple wave to elaborate motions expressing everything from joy to frustration. Observing and learning these can be fun and useful. Common gestures include the “pinched fingers” gesture, indicating a question or disbelief, and the “chin flick,” a gesture of dismissal. Italians are known for their warmth and expressiveness. Greetings often involve a kiss on each cheek, especially in social settings.
Italian people celebrate numerous festivals and festivities throughout the year besides the traditional ones. Look out for events like Carnevale, held in the weeks leading up to Lent, which features parades, masks, and colorful costumes, especially in cities like Venice and Viareggio.
La Festa della Repubblica on 2 June commemorates the day in 1946 when Italians voted to establish a republic. In Rome, the capital hosts a grand military parade along Via dei Fori Imperiali, presided over by the President of the Republic, and a solemn ceremony at the Altare della Patria. The day is marked with flyovers by the Frecce Tricolori (Italian Air Force aerobatic team), patriotic displays, and celebrations across the country.
Other important holidays include the Epiphany on 6 January, celebrated with the figure of La Befana, a friendly old witch who delivers sweets to children. Parades and festivities take place in many towns, especially in Rome, where the legend of La Befana is central to the celebration.
Pasquetta (Easter Monday) is a beloved occasion for Italians to enjoy picnics and outings with family and friends in the countryside or parks, often with grilled meats and traditional foods. 25 April, Liberation Day, marks the end of Nazi occupation and Fascist rule in Italy in 1945. It is a national holiday commemorated with marches, speeches, and remembrance ceremonies across the country, honoring the Italian Resistance. 1 May, International Workers’ Day, is also widely celebrated with public events, and in Rome, it includes a massive free concert in Piazza San Giovanni featuring many popular Italian and international artists.
Participating in these events offers a vivid glimpse into the rich Italian history and culture.
Cultural Life
Rome is becoming increasingly international, and if you are interested in watching movies in English, several cinemas show movies in their original English-language version, including: Barberini, Quattro Fontane, Lux, Nuovo Olimpia, Odeon, Greenwich and others.
Italians love traditional walks (passeggiata) and if you enjoy them too, we recommend: Villa Borghese, Villa Torlonia, Villa Ada, Villa Pamphili. To enjoy a breathtaking view of the city, head to Gianicolo Hill, Pincian Terrace, or Zodiaco in Monte Mario.
Rome is home to some of the most iconic museums in the world, such as the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel, the Capitoline Museums on the Capitoline Hill, and the Galleria Borghese, known for its impressive collection of sculptures and paintings. Moreover, on the first Sunday of every month, many of Rome’s museums and archaeological sites offer free entry, making it a perfect opportunity for cultural exploration. During the FAI Days (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) in Lazio, including Rome and its surrounding towns, visitors get the chance to explore hidden treasures such as private palaces, ancient villas, historic gardens, libraries, churches, and archaeological sites that are normally closed to the public.
Students and young people often hang out in lively neighborhoods like Trastevere, San Lorenzo and Piazza Bologna, which are full of bars, cafés, and cultural spaces. For a more traditional Roman atmosphere, neighborhoods like Testaccio, Monti, and Garbatella offer a charming mix of history, local markets, and authentic trattorias.
If you are looking for day trips from Rome, there are many great options: Ostia Antica offers ancient Roman ruins by the sea; Tivoli is known for Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana; Sperlonga is a picturesque seaside village perfect for a relaxing escape; Civita di Bagnoregio, also known as “The Dying Town”, is a small village that could disappear in the future due to the erosion of the hill where it is situated; Marino is known for the Marino Grape Festival, a famous wine-themed celebration that usually occurs in October and includes the “fountain of wine”.
The gorgeous volcanic lakes in Lazio are a perfect option to escape from Roman chaos. Lago di Albano, Lago di Nemi, Lago di Bracciano, Lago di Bolsena and Lago di Vico offer a great opportunity to visit the countryside and explore the region. For a beach day, locals often go to seaside spots in Lazio like Sabaudia, Ostia, Anzio, Nettuno or Santa Severa, where you can enjoy sun, sea, and fresh seafood.
It may be useful to know some online guides of Rome, like Rome Guide where you can find events, tours and helpful information about the city; and Julia – Your ROMA Personal Assistant where a virtual assistant is available to help you exploring Italy’s capital.
Further Useful information
Rome generally experiences a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Average temperatures range from around 5–15°C (4–59°F) in the winter to 20–38°C (68–100°F) in the summer. Tap water is generally safe to drink throughout Italy, including in Rome.
Electrical Outlets
In Italy, the standard electrical outlets are of type C, F, and L, and the standard voltage is 230 V with a frequency of 50 Hz. It is important to check whether you need a power adapter or voltage converter for your electronic devices before traveling.
Tabaccheria: The Italian Bazaar
When walking around Rome, you will notice many shops marked with a blue “T” sign — these are tabaccherie, or tobacco shops, which serve as convenient one-stop stores for a wide range of everyday needs. Despite the name, a tabaccheria offers far more than tobacco products: you can find pens and notebooks, mobile phone top-up cards, snacks, bus tickets and monthly passes, as well as official duty stamps, which may be required for documents like transcripts from the Student Office. Essentially, it is a small drugstore where students and locals alike can pick up essentials for daily life both in and outside the university.
Whether you are coming to Rome for study, work, or adventure, the city offers far more than just a backdrop of ancient ruins and stunning art — it is a living, breathing experience. From sharing meals alla romana to mastering local transport or embracing the rhythm of la passeggiata, life in the Eternal City is about blending the past with the present in a uniquely Roman way. With rich cultural traditions, dynamic neighbourhoods, and day-trip-worthy escapes just beyond the city, Rome is not just a place you visit — it is a place you live, feel, and remember.
Benvenuti a Roma!