Your Ultimate Guide to Rome on a Budget

Best Areas to Stay

Without really meaning to, each of our combined 5 times in Rome, we've stayed in a different area. Choosing the best area to stay in Rome can be tough since the city is so big and sprawling.

While I love the old town and Trastevere, that's not where I'd recommend if you're trying to save money. Instead, for more affordable accommodation that's still within walking distance to many of the city's top attractions and sights, I'd recommend a stay northeast of Vatican City, around Prati and the Ottaviano metro stop.

This area is more residential but home to beautiful architecture, tree-lined streets, and quick access to what brought you to Rome in the first place. In general, the restaurants and cafes are more affordable in that area, too. For a very affordable yet delicious amatriciana, visit Vino Bono Osteria in the neighborhood.

📍For a great stay in Prati, I recommend any of these 3 options:

• Athena Guest House: Although this looks really north on the map, I stayed in this area on my last trip to Rome and loved it. You'll be near the metro but I found it easy to walk everywhere in the city from here.
• Dream City Rome: Here, you'll be even closer to the attractions and you'll have slightly more space with a private sitting area in each room.
• Domus Iulius: A 3rd option in case the 2 above are booked when you're planning to visit Rome, this one offers similar amenities in the same neighborhood.

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Free Things to Do

While your budget for your trip to Rome can quickly rise if you plan to visit all of the historical sights, museums, and take private guided tours, there's a way you can have your cake and eat it too in Rome.

Since the city center is built around epic history, you don't have to go inside the most famous spots in order to get a full feeling for the layers upon layers of history here.

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Get a Great View of the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a place you certainly won't want to miss on your trip to Rome, on a budget or not. To walk the exact steps the Romans used in the Roman Forum, you'll have to buy a ticket but you can stroll for free down Via dei Fori Imperiali, and look down into the ruins of the forum.

This road runs from the Colosseum to Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, two of the most impressive sights in the entire city.

For a great view though, you can actually go inside the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II for free. While there is a paid ticket to go into the museum and the panoramic point, you can walk up to the cafe that enjoys an incredible view of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. The .5 liter is surprisingly affordable, given the view and location, at €6.

You might have to be patient to get a seat with a view but with just a few minute wait, we snagged a great spot for 3.

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Watch the Sunset at the Colosseum

I imagine sunset at the cafe highlighted above is incredibly popular, although I'm sure the view is out of this world. But, if you'd rather a close up view of the mighty Colosseum, continue your free walking tour to the Colosseum.

Personally, I think the best view comes from the side you'll reach by walking from the Roman Forum but I'd still recommend you give the full thing a walk around.

While you can buy a ticket to go on a guided tour inside, for my budget-friendly buddies, a walk around the outskirts should scratch the itch.

There's a small garden that sits just above the Colosseum metro stop called Monte Oppio. This garden offers a great view of the Colosseum and the sunset. What more could you ask for, especially for free?

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Visit the Historical Sights

Although some of the biggest historical sights are behind a paywall, so many tourist attractions aren't. Here are my favorite historical sights you can enjoy for free:

• Trevi Fountain: The Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous icons of all of Rome. They say that if you toss a coin into the fountain, you're guaranteeing a return trip to the city. It can get incredibly popular so for the best views, I'd recommend going as early in the morning as possible.
• Pantheon: To go inside the Pantheon, you do have to pay entrance. Personally, I think that ticket was absolutely worth it but if you're not sold, I recommend at least seeing it from outside to understand the grandeur of a building that was finished in 125 AD.
• Michelangelo's The Christ Risen Statue: Believe it or not you can see a Michelangelo statue for free at the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, a short walk from the Pantheon. Most of his works are behind a paywall so this is a unique opportunity. Just know the church isn't always open.
• Largo di Torre Argentina: Located on Via Argentina, you can see more Roman ruins right in the heart of the city. What makes this space unique is two-fold. First, it's home to a large number of stray cats that are well cared for by the nonnas of Roma. Second, it's the site of Julius Caesar's assassination.
• Santa Maria in Aracoeli Basilica: This 1200s church somehow doesn't get the crowds many of the other basilicas does, maybe because it's so unassuming from out front. Don't let the outer appearance fool you though, inside is a masterpiece, completely free.
• Spanish Steps: The Spanish Steps were built in the 18th century and have become a romantic icon in Rome. Since it's free to visit and walk the steps, I recommend you head to the top for a nice view of the city. Just know, this area is one of the fanciest in Rome, so while it's worth a walk around, it's not a budget-friendly area.
• Gardens at Villa Borghese: To be clear, entering Villa Borghese requires you to buy a ticket but anyone can stroll the gardens free of charge. If you're craving some green space, this is the biggest park in the city center.

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Stroll the Streets

One of my favorite things to do in Rome is simply walk. The streets are packed with history, stunning architecture, and great people watching so even if you don't do any tours or go inside any major attractions, you're sure to enjoy yourself.

A few of the best areas to walk around Rome are:

• Trastevere: This trendy neighborhood was once the artist quarter of Rome but is now full of street music, bars, restaurants, and shops. It's grungier than the rest of the city center and full of tiny intertwined alleyways.
• Jewish Quarter: The Jewish Ghetto was where once all of the Jewish residents of Rome were forced to live. The pinned point on the map (linked before) is one of the entrances to the neighborhood. It's a small area but home to some of the best food in Rome. For more historical context, keep your eyes on the ground for Stumbling Stones. Although you can spot them throughout Rome, the biggest number of them is in this neighborhood.
• Campo de' Fiori: By day, this piazza is a fresh food market but by night, it transforms into a lively place to grab a drink, which differs greatly from the dark past here. Back in the day, they used to hold public executions at this piazza, including the burning of Giordano Bruno, who the statue sitting in the center commemorates.
• Via dei Giubbonari: Stemming from Campo de' Fiori is this lively shopping street. For those on a budget, many of the shops here are more affordable than in other areas of the city.
• Via del Babuino: This street and the others that run parallel to it coming from Piazza Popolo are all worth walking down. This is one of the nicer areas of the city so you'll find luxury brands and high-end restaurants but even still, it's a great area to go for a walk.
• Via del Governo Vecchio: If I had to pick one single favorite street in Rome, it'd be this one. Here, you'll find tiny restaurants, plenty of bars, and a nice mix between lively and tranquil. For an affordable bottle of wine, head to Vino and Book and grab your meal at either Alfredo e Ada or Porchetteria La Rinascita.

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Visit Another Country

Did you know you can enter Vatican City for free? Most assume you can only get in by buying a ticket to the Vatican Museum but that's actually not accurate.

From Rome, you can walk right into the tiniest country in the world, no questions asked. From here, you can enjoy the impressive architecture and try to wrap your head around the fact that this tiny piazza makes up most of the country's size.

You can also go into St. Peter's Basilica for free, albeit you'll likely have to face a long line.

On our first trip to Rome, Raf and I decided to go on the full Vatican tour and visit the museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. With that ticket, we could bypass the line of those just here for the basilica.

If it's also your first trip to Rome, I'd consider buying a ticket and going for the tour. Even though I'm not Catholic, it was still an impressive visit. Although it raised a lot more questions than it did answers but that's a topic for another day. Just know that if you'd also like to visit the Vatican Museum, you'll need to book your tickets well in advance as they do sell out.

For those visiting Rome on a budget, I recommend simply walking right into the country and taking in the views from Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Plaza) instead. St. Peter's Basilica is easily the most impressive cathedral you'll ever see but I'd only wait in the line if you have more than a week in Rome and plenty of time to spare, otherwise I'd spend your time seeing more of the city instead.

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Best Food to Try in Rome

Oh, the pasta dishes of Rome. Even living in Trieste and constantly traveling around the country, Rome's trifecta (amatriciana, carbonara, and cacio e pepe) never taste the same as they do within Rome itself.

While you'll likely want to book a place to stay with a kitchen so you can cook some of your own meals, the true way to Rome's heart is through the stomach, so be sure to save some space in your budget for a few meals out.

Here's the thing: you do not need to go to the TikTok famous spots or dine in a busy piazza to eat the best of your life. Also, local restaurants never put pictures on their menu so know that a menu full of pictures is geared to tourists, not locals. Very few places that aren't tourist traps will feed you a bad meal. Just check Google Maps reviews if you want to be certain.

On top of the famous pasta dishes, which you definitely have to try, Rome also has a variety of street food for you to enjoy at a lower cost. Be sure to try:

• Roman pizza
• Porchetta
• Supplì
• Maritozzo

Keep in mind that prices for food will go up closer to famous attractions and within scenic plazas. Look for a quiet tratoria or osteria instead and order the house wine instead of selecting off a wine list. You don't need to wait in a long queue for a great meal.

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Where to Splurge & Where to Save

Although food and accommodation are big ones when it comes to how costly (or how budget-friendly) a trip will be, there are 2 other factors to consider for your Roman getaway: tours and how to get around.

Here's where I recommend you splurge and where you should save.

Guided Tours

Rome is all about the history. Literally thousands of years of history are embedded into the fabric of the city, making it nearly impossible to wrap your head around it all on your own.

While I don't think you need to hire a private tour guide and go on a massive tour of Rome, I do recommend you pick one aspect that's most important to you and get a tour guide for that.

Free Walking Tour

If you want a general scope of Rome and some context around the world-famous sights, you can go on a free walking tour. These tours are usually only offered on the weekends and tend to last about 2 hours. Although the tour is free, you might be asked to pay €1 to hold your spot. These guides also work on tips, so give them some compensation for their time.

Food & Walking Tour

If food is your jam, you're my people. On this last trip to Rome, I went on this food tour and felt I really got my money's worth. Although I know the gist of Roman food from previous trips, this street food tour gave me more insight to the city's food and shared some history along the way. I'd highly recommend it during your trip to Rome.

Rick Steves' Audio Guides

Don't want to spend a penny? You can download free audio guides by Rick Steves. He has these guides all around the world but a handful to choose from in Rome itself. On our first trip to Rome, we did his self-guided tour in Trastevere and enjoyed ourselves. Just know that since the app is free, it's pretty outdated. You'll need to have a decent sense of direction to follow along as it's not integrated with Google Maps or similar.

Roma Pass

Roma Pass is a card you can buy to gain discounted access to tourist attractions, public transport, and even free access to public toilets. You can choose between a 48 or 72-hour card, based on how many attractions you want to visit and how long you'll be in Rome. I've never bought this pass before but can understand its value for those highly motivated to go into many sites and not walk between them.

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Public Transportation

When in Rome, I highly suggest walking or taking public transportation. There's really no need for a taxi unless you arrive or depart from the city late at night or early in the morning.

Public transportation is really affordable all throughout Rome. The metro sells discounted tickets if you buy more than a single journey. You can also get a rechargeable ticket, which is more cost effective if you end up taking the metro a lot.

To navigate the bus or metro line, I suggest using Google Maps to choose your route. Just know that most Fridays, there's a public transport strike in Rome, so for those on a tight budget, I wouldn't recommend arriving or leaving the city that day to avoid the need of a taxi. The strikes are always scheduled so you can search for the exact date in question and make sure your trip won't be affected.

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How Many Days You Need

Honestly, I could move to Rome and think even after a year here, I'd continuously find new alleyways, discover incredible hidden gems, and indulge in the best food. Even though I'm not a big city person, something about Rome has me hooked.

For those less dreamy than I am, you'd be able to cover the main sights in 3 days but since the city is so big, I think you'd feel less rushed and more comfortable with a 5-day stay. For a longer stay, there are a number of day trips from Rome you can take.

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Enjoy Rome on a Budget

Visit Rome without having to stress about your wallet. While this trip can be as expensive as you want it to be, you can also be smart and enjoy Rome on a budget. I promise you don't have to go into every paid museum, sight, or attraction to have a fantastic trip. Pick and choose the most important sights on your list, and for the rest, go for a free alternative or simply enjoy them from the outside.