Planning a Trip to Rome

I am planning a trip to Italy for Summer 2025 with my sister and her family. This will be my third time to Rome and I am so excited! While I enjoy visiting new places, traveling back to a city that you have fallen in love with is a special kind of experience. You get to relive the joy that that city brings but also continue to explore the depths of the city. Since I have been a couple of times, I want to share some tips on how I plan my trip to Rome.

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Want more Rome Trip Planning? Follow along on the vlog for my tips to planning a trip to Rome, Italy.

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How to Find Cheap Flights to Italy

One of the biggest expenses when planning a trip to Rome is airfare, but with the right strategy and tools, you can find deals that make your Italian adventure much more affordable. After booking multiple trips to Italy, I've learned that patience, flexibility, and using the right resources can save you hundreds of dollars.

Start your search with Google Flights, which excels at showing price trends and flexible date options. The calendar view is particularly useful for visualizing when prices drop throughout the month. Skyscanner is great when you have flexible travel dates. Their "Everywhere" feature can show affordable destinations, while the "Cheapest Month" option helps you identify the most budget-friendly time to visit.

Rather than constantly checking flight prices manually, you can let the deals come to you through flight alert services. Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) remains my top recommendation for the past 5 years. Their free version provides solid deal notifications, but the premium tier is worth considering for access to mistake fares and rare deals that can get you to Italy for $300-500 roundtrip.

I've found that being flexible with your dates can lead to better deals. Mid-week flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often the cheapest options, both for booking and flying.

Accommodations

Book 4-8 weeks ahead for popular destinations like Rome, especially during high season or special events like the 2025 Jubilee. Always verify cancellation policies before confirming reservations, as travel plans can change unexpectedly. Also, I like to use GoogleMaps to confirm proximity to public transportation. A 10-minute walk to a metro station can save significant money compared to staying in tourist-heavy areas.

For booking, I recommend starting with Booking.com for its comprehensive variety and detailed filtering options and Airbnb for group travel and extended stays. Each platform serves different travel styles, so exploring multiple options ensures you'll find the perfect balance of location, comfort, and affordability for your Italian adventure.

Accommodations I have stayed at and recommend:

My best place Roma Colosseo - Airbnb in the Monti neighborhood

Princeps Boutique Hotel - Hotel near Roma Termini train station

Hotel St Martin by OMNIA hotels - Hotel near Roma Termini train station

Choose Strategic Neighborhoods Over Tourist Hotspots

Staying directly adjacent to major landmarks like the Colosseum or Trevi Fountain comes with premium pricing that rarely justifies the convenience. Instead, explore charming local neighborhoods that offer better value while providing more authentic experiences. In Rome, consider Trastevere for its village-like atmosphere and excellent restaurants, or Monti for its local feel and easy metro access to city center attractions.

These neighborhood choices offer multiple advantages beyond cost savings. You'll discover better dining options frequented by locals rather than tourists, experience less crowded streets for evening strolls, and often find superior public transportation connections. The slight additional travel time to reach major attractions is more than compensated by the authentic Italian neighborhood life you'll experience right outside your door.

Getting Around

From Fiumicino Airport to Roma Termini Train Station (city center)

While there are a few transportation options, I prefer to take the Leonardo Express train from Rome’s Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini train station. It is a direct train (about 32 minutes) and is super affordable at approximately 14 Euros. You can purchase tickets at a kiosk or Trenitalia ticket booth at the airport. I prefer the kiosk; you can select your language and follow the prompts. You do not need to validate your ticket when you pass through the scanner coming from Fiumicino heading to Roma Termini if you purchased a ticket from the kiosk that already has the day/time stamped on it. However, you will need to validate your ticket the opposite way coming from Roma Termini to Fiumicino Airport.

White City Taxi - Fixed rates into Rome (currently 55 Euros) Important to note that the fixed rate is within the Aurelian walls (the border surrounding the historic city center). Traveling from the airport to anywhere outside the aurelian walls, would be a different price. 

Modes of Transportation

Italy's excellent transportation network makes it easy to explore the country without the expense and hassle of renting a car. From navigating Rome's ancient streets to zipping between major cities on high-speed trains, here's how to travel smart and affordably throughout your Italian adventure. The most budget-friendly way to explore Italian cities is also the most rewarding, walking. Rome, Florence, and Venice are remarkably walkable, with most major attractions within reasonable distances of each other. However, invest in comfortable, broken-in walking shoes before your trip. Those iconic cobblestone streets that look so picturesque in photos can be unforgiving on your feet after hours of exploration. I learned this lesson the hard way during my first Rome visit and spent an entire day nursing sore feet instead of sightseeing.

Italy's train system offers one of Europe's best combinations of speed, comfort, and affordability, making it far superior to driving for most tourist routes. The key to maximizing savings is understanding the difference between train types and booking strategically.

Guide to Italian Train Travel

The comprehensive Seat61 guide to Italian train travel remains my go-to resource for understanding routes, pricing, and train classes. This website breaks down everything from booking strategies to what amenities to expect, helping you make informed decisions about your Italian rail journeys. Whether you're planning a quick hop between neighboring cities or a grand tour of Italy's highlights, understanding the train system will save you both time and money while providing scenic views of the Italian countryside that you'd miss from an airplane window.

Activities & Attractions

There are a wide variety of third party websites that advertise skip the line tickets, specifically for the Colosseum. It is important to note that the line you would be skipping is the same day ticket purchase line. All individuals and groups with pre-purchased tickets will still have to wait in the line to enter the Colosseum at the time of entry selected. I do not recommend purchasing same day tickets to any site as there are long lines and can sell out in high season. Therefore, I strongly recommend planning ahead and purchasing your ticket before your trip. The Colosseum will open up tickets at the official website up to 30 days in advance. Other popular attractions may open up their tickets earlier than that.

You can still purchase your tickets through a third party reseller, if you prefer. Get Your Guide and Viator are great options. I have used both for years and have had no issues with purchasing a standard ticket through these websites. However, if you want a specialty ticket to the Colosseum, such as the underground or a night visit, then just note that they purchase these tickets at the official website. They are held to the same time frame as the public. During popular times, these may sell out causing the third party vendor to cancel your booking. Something to be aware of.

Free Audio Guides for Professional Tour Quality

One of my favorite budget discoveries is the Rick Steves Audio Europe App, which provides professional-quality, self-guided audio tours completely free. These comprehensive guides cover major destinations including Rome, Florence, and Venice, offering detailed commentary on historical landmarks, easy-to-follow maps, and fascinating background stories that you'd typically pay €20-30 to hear from a tour guide.

The real budget hack here is combining these free audio guides with the lowest-priced entry tickets to attractions like the Colosseum or Roman Forum. You'll receive the same educational experience as expensive guided tours while saving significant money that can be better spent on authentic Italian meals or additional attractions. Download the tours before your trip to avoid using international data, and don't forget to pack comfortable headphones for the best experience.

Walking Tours

Even though I do not like purchasing entry tickets to a site or museum through a third party reseller, I do like going through other companies for tours that do not require an entry ticket, such as food tours, ghost tours, and historic walking tours. I like using Get Your Guide or Viator to book those kinds of tours. The Get Your Guide app is great for keeping all of your tickets in one place!

My favorite tour to book is a food tour, especially on the very first day of my trip. A food tour is a great option to get you acclimated to the city, see some sites, and taste the local cuisine. It is also great to not have to worry about planning what to eat for your first day of the trip. You can sample different foods, and then potentially return to those restaurants later in your trip for future meals.

Final Thoughts

These are the strategies I'm using while planning my third trip to Rome for Summer 2025, and I hope they help make your Italian adventure both memorable and affordable. The 2025 Jubilee year will bring unique energy to the Eternal City, but with proper planning and the right mindset, you'll be prepared to navigate the crowds while discovering Rome's timeless magic.

I'll be documenting our actual adventures, so be sure to follow along on my social media channels (@katierockey) and subscribe to my newsletter for real-time updates, honest reviews of and accommodations, and those unexpected discoveries that make travel truly special.

What aspects of Rome planning are you most excited or nervous about? Are you traveling during the Jubilee year too? I'd love to hear about your Rome dreams and help answer any specific questions in the comments below.

Ciao for now!

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