As [by far] the most touristy city I’ve gone to so far, Rome was one melting pot of cultures and languages that I’ve never heard before.
The best thing about this trip was that one of my best friends from my university back home is studying abroad in Rome, so I got to see a lot of the city through the eyes of a local.
Pro tip: Going to such a crazy city can be so overwhelming. Rome isn’t really one of those places where you should “just wing it.” It’s so worth it to take the time to make a general plan of what you want to see and how to get there so that you aren’t wasting valuable travel time being stressed out! But also, getting a little lost in such a beautiful city has never done me any wrong, I must admit.
If you’re worried about getting around, everyone, literally everyone, speaks English in Rome which was so convenient. Whenever I go to places like this, it always makes me wonder as to why the US doesn’t emphasize learning another language as much as other countries do, because it just completely opens up so many more opportunities to break down barriers with strangers and make the most of your travel experience!
I’ll give a brief synopsis of the DOs and DON’Ts of Rome:
- DON’T wait in the 2-3 hour line to get into the Colosseum unless it’s something you NEED to experience. You can still see a lot from the outside.
- DO eat at Nonna Betta’s. Best pasta of my life, you’ll thank me later.
- DO look up the historical significance of the sights you see– it’s so much more interesting actually knowing the history behind certain touristy spots. Let me just say, ancient Rome was gnarly.
In summary, Rome was a fascinating city. I stayed with my friend in Trastevere, a more local area outside of the city center which made my experience in Rome much more authentic. I mean this in that we got to escape the touristy sights and see more of your typical everyday Roman lifestyle. I adored how friendly and lively and honestly, just straight up cool the Italian people were. Italy, you’re a good one, and I still have dreams about that cacio e pepe pasta.
Making it as a Madrileña 