Things to do in Rome for free

Cheap vacations in Rome are possible if you know where to stay, where to eat, how to get into museums for free and, most importantly, how to use social networks. We sat down and did an extended research for you to discover Rome, the art centre of Europe, on a budget. We are sharing our findings with you, but first, let’s start with the basics.

Where is Rome?

Rome, the capital of Italy, is located in the country’s central west. It is on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is also home to the Vatican, the centre of the Catholic world. With its 3000 years of history, the capital is known as the “immortal city” and is the largest city in the region known as Lazio.

How to Have a Cheap Vacation in Rome? Economic Suggestions for Travelers

If you want to have a cheap vacation in Rome, it would be good to plan your budget first. At this point, you should consider four things: Airfare, accommodation, food and drink, and shopping.

Rome, the patron city of the Vatican, was once the capital of the Roman Empire, one of the world’s most extraordinary powers. This city, which offers to travel in time with its artifacts from those times, has a timely need of the needle with modern buildings around the new city centre.

You must know the city’s tips for a cheap vacation in Rome. For example, where and when can you get in for free, and what is the most affordable transportation in the city? The following tips may give you an idea.

• You can walk everywhere in Rome. Public transportation is not very expensive; we will discuss this subject in detail. Our first advice is to walk as much as possible in Rome because there are many things to see on the roads.
• Watch out for tourist traps. What are these? First, don’t eat the famous Roman ice cream in the centre, because you may be asked for 5 euros for a scoop. If you want to eat gelato (the original name of the famous Roman ice cream), go to places outside the tourist places, which are more “neighbourhood”.
• You may know Hop On Hop Off buses. These buses, two floors with an open top floor, take tourists around the city. It’s not necessary, but it’s up to you.
• Avoid restaurants with multilingual menus. These restaurants are mostly for tourists, so the prices are high.
• You will see gladiators around the Colosseum. If you take a photo with them, you may have to pay 10 euros.

10 Things to Do in Rome for Free: Cheap Vacation Tips in Rome for Savvy Travelers

Rome may be very touristy, but there are still plenty of free things to do in the city. We list them below:

1. Entrance to the Pantheon is free. There’s often a line at the entrance, but seeing the mesmerizing dome inside is worth it.
2. Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is free. Here, you can see Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini’s Baldachin statues.
3. The squares are always free. Piazza Navona, for example, is full of street performers. You can see many interesting things here but don’t use them for eating and drinking because the prices are above normal.
4. Around the Trevi Fountain (also known as the Fountain of Love), it’s free to watch people throwing coins into the lake. If you are interested in superstitions, you can also throw coins into the fountain, but we aim to make your vacation cheap. So it is better not to throw 🙂 🙂
5. Villa Borghese, one of the most famous parks in Rome, is a must-see. Entrance is free.
6. There are free tours in Rome. For example, you can follow organizations such as New Rome Free Tour and join walking tours to learn about the city.
7. Tempietto, designed by architect Donato Bramante and one of the first buildings of the High Renaissance period, is among the places to visit in Rome, and admission is free.

Cheap Accommodation Tips in Rome: Where to Stay?

The hostels offer the cheapest accommodation in Rome, spread all over the city. Staying overnight in shared hostel rooms in Rome starts from 15 euros. Private rooms in hostels start at 45 euros.

These prices are for hostels that are far from the city centre. Prices increase as you get closer to the centre, but there is a minimal difference if you plan to stay in shared rooms.

You can use the Couchsurfing app if you want to stay for free in Rome. This app is a social platform where hosts offer travellers a room or part of their home for free. When using this app, we recommend reading user reviews about the houses you plan to stay in and only stay in highly rated houses.

Rome Hostel World: Where to Stay for a Cheap Vacation in Rome

If you are wondering, “Where to stay in Rome?” Our research can help. The best hostels around Rome are highly rated and positively reviewed by their visitors.

1. The Yellow Hostel: Located in the Via Palestro district, the Yellow Hostel is fully rated by its visitors. Its nostalgic architecture and friendly staff make it a great place to stay, but it could be more pricey.
2. Generator Hostels: Generator Hostels, the famous London-based hostel chain, has extended its arms to Rome. The prices are reasonable, the rooms are clean, and the staff is friendly; what more can you ask for?
3. Hostel Sandy: Located in Via Cavour, Hostel Sandy is one of the best choices for those looking for a cheap place to stay in Rome. The staff is friendly, and the hostel is very close to central areas.

Things to see in Rome for 30 Euros a day: How to get around.

Our related content provides detailed information about places to visit in Rome. In this context, we will discuss places to visit in Rome for free.

The first and last Sunday of every month is the day of free museum visits in Rome. These days, different museums open their doors to visitors for free.

• The Vatican Museums contain the rarest artifacts in Rome. If you want to see them for free, time your Rome vacation for the last week of the month, because the last Sunday of the month is the free entry day for the Vatican Museums.
• The Pantheon, one of the most famous buildings of Ancient Rome, is free of charge. A must-see!
• The house of the famous Italian writer Mario Praz is now a museum. Entrance is free.
• The Museo Napoleonico (Napoleon Museum), with its original name, is free of charge. It is a great place to examine the relationship between the Bonaparte family and Rome.
• If you organize your trip to Rome according to the first Sunday of the month, you can enter the Colosseum and many other museums for free!
• The squares in Rome are free—for example, Piazza de Spagna is a Spanish square in Turkish. The Spanish Steps are perfect for socializing!
• The Sistine Chapel can be visited for free on the last Sunday of every month.
• All churches in Rome are free, including the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. It’s definitely a must-see!

We have visited the free places for a cheap vacation in Rome, but what do we do with 30 euros a day?

The 30 euros per day will be the amount we spend on food, drinks and entertainment. So a 4-day vacation in Rome will cost us 120 euros.

If you want a cheap vacation in Rome, look at our suggestions below.

Rome Vacation Budget Calculator: Cheap Vacation Tips in Rome for Minimalist Bodies

We are planning a four-day imaginary vacation to Rome. We have identified the places to visit and set ourselves a daily quota of 30 euros for food and drink. How much should we budget for four days of accommodation? The average price of staying overnight in shared rooms in the three hostels above is 30 – 35 euros. We can consider a 4-day accommodation budget between 120 and 150 euros.

We wrote a comprehensive article about food in Rome: “What to Eat in Rome?” If you are wondering what to eat in Rome, look at our related article.