Rome is one of those must-visit cities and the Italians know it so things tend to be more expensive than you might expect. Hotels in particular are strangely pricey for this part of Europe, though some cheaper options are available in the slightly seedy area near the Termini train station. There are plenty of hostels so finding a bed is rarely a problem, especially if you book in advance. Check out our recommended Rome hotels and hostels for some great choices at very good rates.
The attractions in Rome are quite reasonable and many of them are actually free, so this isn’t a city that will cost a fortune every time you want to go see something. The few famous ones that do charge are well worth it anyway. Some attractions, most notably the Vatican Museum tour, have very long queues, and going early in the day is recommended. If you are in a hurry then you’ll probably want to look into the Rome & Vatican Pass, which allows you to skip the long queues and comes with a bus tour as well.
Food and drinks in Rome can be tricky. The main hotel areas in the city are jammed with places well located for tourists, with English menus out front. These places tend to be noticeably more expensive than their more-local counterparts, so one of the tricks for saving money is to get away from the tourist districts and explore the local neighborhoods a bit. For information on weather and crowds see our when to visit Italy article.
