Great video, I’m from Rome and I’ve been following you for years. I confirm all these tips but I also wanna let tourists know how to find a real fantastic gelateria: be careful when the gelatos are really bright and colorful and when they purposefully make them look more appealing, sometimes the best gelatos are hidden in metal boxes inside of the counter but it’s not always like that; in my opinion you should also avoid the ones that sell thousands of gelato tastes, not using seasonal fruits and ingredients. Other two tips, avoid going to restaurants with menus outside (if they have photos) or someone inviting you to eat inside, and avoid accepting “free” bracelets and roses from street vendors

More people need to see this video. Thank you Mark and Wolters Worlds.

Thank you everyone coming over from the Live Feed! Thank you for all the questions!

All excellent points!

Thanks guys, for all interesting videos!🌎🏜🌞

Hey Mark, awesome video

The trappiness is that you feel you have to go there- well said! Cheers, happy travels

This tour guide is the BEST. He is so knowledgeable on travel! I scrolled until I found him

Rome was our last stop after Paris and Florence last February, which is my favorite time to travel. We stayed next to Termini Station in a beautiful flat and it worked well since we came in by train also. The food court at the station, though probably over priced was fun to get a quick bite. That trip we all traveled with backpacks only, but by the end needed something more, so just a side note, a few streets from the station there were several luggage stores, so grabbed a $35 carry on size with 4 wheels to get stuff home. It worked so well, it went back to Italy with my son and I took it to London and Scotland this year.

My travel agent hooked me up with a "skip the line" tour of the Vatican museums. We were the first group in, and had the entire Sistine Chapel to ourselves (about 12 people) for nearly 10 minutes until the throngs started to arrive. It was glorious. Difficulty: had to wake up at about 5am to meet up with the group, but worth it.

great family bonding!

Great video Mark

Hubby and I are planning to tour Europe in 2025 and I've been watching a lot of your videos. Very helpful and I just wanted to say how adorable your children are

We visited with our 2 year old in April. Beautiful city. Locals are lovely. Will definitely return!

Excellent tips! Another trap in Rome is everyone. Wants to go at the same time. I am looking forward to going on a non touristy time period.

PERFECT video for right now as my mom and I plan our trip!

The thing about restaurants in Rome is that you don't have to pay a lot for great food. a $7.50 plate of spaghetti, tastes just as delicious as the @20 plate of spaghetti (or whatever food you choose).You're also correct: The fountain water is refreshing!

Night tour for the Coliseum and definitely the early entry to Vatican. Something special about the Sistine Chapel when it is not busy. Far too loud when it's full of people.

staying at an albergo just off of the piazza at Pantheon was great, especially because it was so central and convenient if you wanted to catch a taxi back

Great tips! For me, the biggest tourist trap is not booking tours with the sights themselves. We visited the Colosseum at night using Viator, but could have bought the tickets online for 1/2 the price.

My last time in Rome a booked a guesthouse run by sisters between Santa Maria Maggiore and lateranense

Yeah, visited Rome in 2010 - our first big trip abroad. Absolutely loved it, but asides from Rick Steves recommended places we got kinda rooked. (This was pre-TA, let alone YT, other resources and, now, our own experience) ... Remember going to some place maybe a half KM or so from the Vatican. Was a cold, dreary rainy day so we sort of allowed ourselves to get herded into a sidewalk place. Food was decent at best. Waiter rattled off a suggestion for apps so quickly we thought it was one and agreed. Was a couple apps. Ended up being our most expensive meal. We were a lot more cautious after that experience. And staying in a hotel near Termini was a good choice on our part. Our neighborhood was nothing really special, but had ready access. Can't wait to go back in a couple months.

Visited Rome in September 2023 and my hotel was 4 blocks from the main train station - handy for access to trains and the subway and buses. Loys of eateries and a decent sized grocery store in the train station.

Thank you for your videos...The most effective and safest way to travel from the comfort of my living room or patio...I choose the country I visit by if they have Dr. Pepper.

I always sit at a terrasse in front of the Pantheon, I know it's a tourist trap, but it just fun to sit and people watch (I never done it on Piazza Navona)

Thanks for mentioning the water bottles. I almost NEVER buy plastic water bottles. It's obviously cheaper, but it's also better for the environment. I have a Yeti that stays by my side, even at home.

Right about the hop on hop off buses. Used them in several European cities and found them to be clean, useful, and easy to get sound town while seeing the sights instead of dodging vehicles and pick pockets.

The restaurants in the Termini area are also to be avoided

The great restaurants Al Moro and La Rosetta are at the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon respectively.

Will be staying at the Exe grand palace, on the Via Nationale, we were there 2 years ago. Last year we were in Germany, but we are coming back.

We are staying at Hotel Hiberia about 15 walk from the Trevi Fountain.

Went to Rome in November or 2022. One of the best trips of my life. Can't wait to go back. Prior to this trip I would agree about the restaurants around major tourist sites with sandwich boards with menus in English out front.....especially in Venice. My wife and I are minor foodies so we seek out the good stuff, both fancy and basic local cuisine and street food. But, at the start of this trip to Rome I got a mild stomach bug. I recovered quickly thank goodness but was still uneasy about going to expensive restaurants until my appetite was fully back. So one night we were wandering near our hotel looking for a sit down place to eat. The weather was cool but fine. We ended up at a place right beside the Pantheon, pretty much next to where Wolter is standing in the video talking about places to avoid. The place was full of Italians....probably Italian tourists but still Italians. We sat outside looking directly at the Pantheon. A soccer game was on all the TVs. The patrons in the restaurant (and in all the other bars and places on the piazza) were cheering the game. We ordered simple Roman food like cacio e pepe, etc. Inexpensive local wine. I will not claim it was the best food I ever had but it was legitimately good. The service was quick and friendly. The atmosphere was perfect. We were surrounded by Italians and the view was amazing. I wouldn't say the food was cheap but neither was it a rip off. It was an enjoyable meal and a memorable evening. So sure, pay attention. Don't get ripped off. Don't order extravagant food at touristy places, but at the same time don't write a place off just because it is near a tourist site. You might be surprised........and that view _ is _ worth something.

We’ve been to Roma 31 times he’s spot on !!!!!!!!

I was there just last summer. We actually stayed near the Termini station. And yeah, the accommodations were OK (the A/C was weak, the breakfasts were just so-so). But the restaurant across the street from the hotel? *chef's kiss* The food was great (not the cheapest, but so worth it!) and the service was amazing! And people should definitely take advantage of doing side trips from Rome. Like get a tour to go to Pompeii, Napoli, Amalfi...it's good that someone else does the driving and you get to learn something.

Buying a bunch of dresses that your wife looks amazing in is a gift for both of you. That is a trap I am all too happy to be stuck in.🤣

Hop on hop off is a great way to get to know the city you’re w, go early to save yourself some frustration 😅

As a (now) wheelchair user, definitely trying to stay within a reasonable distance from places I want to see or do... transportation is very difficult.

I would love to do a cycling trip across Italy, unfortunately I don't get a lot of time off work

❤❤❤❤❤

When booking a hotel, keep in mind that in Italy there are many transportation strikes. Sometimes more than two a month (bus, trains or planes or a combination of the above), sometimes less. This means that, should you be in Rome or anywhere else during one, you’d have to walk a lot more than you expected.

Oh my! We were there just last week and saw everything you showed. It was beautiful. We hit Pias and Florence as well. We were in a hotel in the center of everything, walking distance. We saw the Spanish Steps and didn't mind the tourist trap mentioned. About a mile walk from the Doubletree hotel. And Whoooah! We screwed up not getting tix to the Colosseum. That line was over 1.5 miles long! 😯 No thanks!

Would love to see a video on South Korea. I'm going in August. Have you been?

Just back from Rome. A tip for everyone: you can enter with zero line to Forum if you buy ticket next to Traian column. Ticket Offices are downstairs. They just opened them so no group buyers there or group tourists. One more - Termmini area is chineese owned hotels and those are realy bad and non-secure. If you must stay around Termini instead look only as close as possible to Republica. Safety goes first.

Stayed in some fantastic Air BnBs, one near Termini, the other near Colosseum. Had a great time and much more affordable than cookie cutter hotels! Real Italian homes, just beautiful

Speaking of Italy - we're flying to Florence and working our way up to Munich (next May/June) Suggestions welcome!

I wouldn't say staying in Rome is cheap, but I was blown away by the properties you could find on AirBnB in the center of Rome for the prices you can find them at. AirBnB is still a very viable option in Europe, unlike the U.S. with its fees, and you can find 2-3 bedroom apartments with stunningly decorated interiors for $150-$200/night. I would not have expected that. Obviously, you will pay more if you want a view.

I'm going to rome in september next year.. where should I stay, there is so many hotels?!

I think I've avoided the tourist traps anyway. I do normally stay in the same hotel which is 10 minutes walk from the Colosseum that was reasonably priced and some great restaurants with fantastic prices and amazing food.

When I take family or friends to Europe my advice is always this: It’s ok to be a tourist. There’s a reason a million people a year go to the Louvre or Coliseum or Charles Bridge. They’re pretty neat places to visit. But make sure you research what’s important for you to see in a given city too, so the trip isn’t a simple checking off of sone impersonal list. Stay central and book well ahead go get good value, if possible off season. Your kid’s teachers should welcome absence from class if on an educational trip abroad and work with you on keeping them up in class. And always eat away from big sights where people are speaking the local language. Finally, stay in vacation rentals rather than hotels. Cheaper, often much nicer and much more relaxed.

> in city hotel / airbnb > fountain water is good

The problem with me finding a hotel in Rome when I was there. The prices were way jacked up (over 1000 Euros for 3 nights!!!!), and the hostels available were quite shit. So, I went with a Monastary. It was quite cheap, and the rooms were decent. Plus, there was breakfast.

Rome remains on our 'to-do-better' list. We did a Mediterranean cruise as a sampler a few years ago but, because the Port is a distance away, and because we took the cruise sponsored tour, our guide had us spend (waste) almost an hour on the Spanish steps. By the time we got to the Vaticsn on our own, we had 20 minutes before it closed. Frustration can sometimes be due to our own inexperience, so thanks for the always-good advice, Mark. Question: Your logo is a train. Why? Just curious as I am a big railfan.

Thanks for all the great info! We have a 6 week trip coming this August!! Very helpful! Now if I can stop Jim from chasing all the gelato carts! He just wants all the gelato he can get lol 😂

Lodging isn't difficult to find in Rome; no need to stay out of town at all, you can save tons of money if you avoid the fancy hotels and find an apartment.

My experience is to be wary if you want a cup of coffee. The coffee is OK and not very expensive. But once you get into the shop they have all these delicious-looking "dolce" things and you just WANT one… These ARE expensive.

When we went to Rome we didn't even bother with the Spanish steps because it's just steps like u said lol so we used the time for other attractions

About restaurants, just look at the customers and listen: if they speak the local language, it’s a plus. In my experience, this also apply to chinese restaurants all around the world…

I don't agree on the hotel part. Seriously Rome is much more than just the historic centre. If you really want to expierience Rome, outskirts of the city sound like a very good idea with metro line nearby, because you can find much more than just old buildings, even the local restaurants or even street food. Do stay outside the historic centre

my advice is always where ever you go, go always eating where the locals go. Never where the tourist goes. Is always cheaper and better. In Rome you can stay realy for good prices, when you are not lazy to walk. When you like to to see Ruins from the Roman Empire, make a walk on the Via Appia, its free and very nice to visit. Or take the train to Ostia, where the Harbor in Ancient Rome was, very intrest to visit. You can go by train its only a 30minute ride.

I've only been to Italy once (to Venice)...and to be honest, the only thing I want to do when I finally visit Rome, is see the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain ...so most of these traps wouldn't bother me....(isn't that sad?)

I just flew back home Thursday from Rome I can say that the food had really really gone down hill in all of Italy and Rome . Rome was always not so good food but now most places will rip you off . Covid / state of economy really has made things very poor .. Stay parricularly away from a place in via trasportino I got caught out exhausted and starving .$45 aud for the smallest serving of average pasta . Also bar eliseo on via nationale to avoid ..also line A metro is closed after 9 pm so staying at ottaviano / Vatican was really no fun

The lines for the Vatican Museums, the Coliseum, etc. are bad in "tourist season", but not so bad otherwise. I lived in Rome for a while and over the winter months and into early spring, there are very few tourists and the lines are very short to get into many of the sites. It is just a matter of throwing on a coat or sweater and you can see Roma on your schedule. You don't get the sidewalk dining, so there is that. I took my family there a few years ago over the summer months (kids were out of school) and the lines were horrid. I wouldn't go back in the summer months to do anything touristy. There was a small gelateria a few blocks from the Spanish steps that, IMO, was the best gelati in Roma. (Back to the steps, go left one block, and turn right. The gelateria is about 2 blocks down that street - or it was in 2015.) Not as good as what I found in Firenze, but the best I found in Roma.

Also watch out for the people usually hanging around the tourist areas, who try to talk to you and offer you free arm bands but then all of a sudden want money.

Mark, didn't they make a law of no loitering on the steps?

Yep, the 3 golden rules: 1 never in front of a famous landmark/attraction 2 never when a waiter tries to talk you in 3 never without checking online reviews

If I am traveling and see Prada and Moncler stores, I know I am in the wrong place.

A lot of people also just go to Dior go up the steps just because they are already there too…just saying lol

Mother and I got out of a cab and we were headed towards the coliseum when this African guy came up to us with these bracelets. This was our first time encountering them and we didn't know what was going on. Then my mother said it's a scam once she realized what was going on. We went into the coliseum then ate some food at a restaurant near the coliseum. As we sat outside the restaurant on a bench, it was either the same African guy or a different one comes to me and says, "you're a big guy, do you fight?" I told him I'm not interested and no thank you. He continues to stand there in front of me asking if I box, etc. I see a police car not far away and when he notices I'm looking at the police he begins to back off. Now we're headed towards were the taxis are, and a bunch more Africans standing there. What drew their attention was my leather loafers from the get go. Now a couple of them are trying to talk to me from a distance as one is holding a bracelet and tosses it in my direction thinking I'm going to catch it and I just let it drop to the ground and he starts rambling on. Finally got in the cab and got away from them. In Sorrento, Positano, etc I didn't see these losers there thankfully. A friend of mine from Naples sent me a message and told me just to ignore them and keep walking.

Best place to book Colosseum tickets?

Did I see the Pieta behind glass in your video? How sad. It's a long time ago but when I saw the Pieta it wasn't behind glass and it is the most moving piece of sculpture I've ever seen. And I'm not even Christian.

Just wondering what forecasting December thks

Como

My impression after visiting the Vatican is that it is a well oiled money printing machine.

you forgot that one of the reasons why we go to the spanish steps is the Bernini Fountain that is just in the middle of the square facing the steps. It's a fucking work of art from the 1600's. And the expensive stores right there in via Veneto are also a tourist attraction, not a tourist trap.

Here's a great tip. DON'T ASK FOR SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS, OR ANYTHING PARMIGIANA, OTHER THAN CHEESE! They're medigan dishes

Coloseum and some bus routes are nasty. This Is why I would pre-book In advance.

actually, i disagree with the sistine chapel idea, cause when its too crowded you will have the chance to take picture and not getting yelled at by the security 😂😂😂 if small group of ppl are in the chapel then it would be easy to detect you and you wont be able to take picture of the gorgeous frescos in the room 🌝🌝🌝

I am in Rome now and disagree with the advice to stay in the centre. It is overrun with tourists. We are staying in Testaccio and love it. It is great to get out of the centre into a calmer environment and see what real Romans are up to. We can walk or bus into the centre in 30 minutes (we are still experiencing Rome during the walk or ride). Google maps is a game changer with respect to transit directions. You can tap onto the bus or metro using your credit card. We stay away from the centre at night and eat in the excellent local restaurants.

Yep horrible food in view of the Pantheon

At least if you go to a touristy resturaunt, they want your business. Once or twice when my mother and I were in Italy, we went into resturaunts filled mostly with locals, and they completely ignored us. They did not want us in their space. It hurt our feelings, and it was kind of scary too.

the whole city is a tourist trap

You are very sunburned

Go at "sora lella" restaurant on the isola tiberina Real italian tradition Or go in trastevere where you find roman traditional restaurant. Stay away from restaurant too close to turist attraction. I am roman...those restaurant are TURISTIC...not traditional Good video sir

Was in Rome last summer. Outside the Pantheon beware of the 'scarf sellers'. Not sure if the 'modesty' code for women (not showing skin) is legit, but we did get sucked in and bought one for 5Euro. But heck, it was a nice souvenir.

If the restaurant is open for dinner before 7PM... for tourists.

If you have a rental car, dont drive in the central Rome, you will get fined... you need to be a local to drive around the main attractions. And trust me you don't want to, it is crazy on a different scale. I'm done with Rome.

I find it funny that the worst tourist trap in all of Rome is the restaurant covered by your head in this video. It’s called Canova Piazza del Popolo and an espresso which you can get for 1 to 2 euros at most places costs over 11 euros.