![\"These](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/rome-travel-tips-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n1. Aperitivo is essential<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is a glorious concept you want to make the most of, preferably every evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aperitivo<\/a> is that twilight moment, just after work and before dark, where you get to meet your friends (or bring a notebook and people watch) at a bar or caf\u00e9 and enjoy a drink, usually paired with a buffet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most places in Rome will do some form of aperitivo, so generally there will be a set price. Ask what’s included, but you can usually enjoy a drink (whether alcoholic or virgin) and a plate of food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A year-round social tradition that Romans partake in regularly as a form of after-work drinks, this is especially fun during the summer, when you can snag a table outside and enjoy an Aperol Spritz while the sun goes down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Local tip:<\/strong> If you’re in the Testaccio area, check out Oasi della Birra<\/a>, which has a wonderful buffet as well. Our favorite in Trastevere is VinAllegro<\/a>, and when in the Prati area (near the Vatican), check out Il Sorpasso<\/a>, which makes a charcuterie board that will change your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is something you’ll want to keep in mind: many shops, even the chains, will close between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They’re also often closed on Sundays or have much-reduced opening hours. If you’re looking to head to a specific place, it’s worth it to reach out beforehand and check their hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing to keep in mind: August is a beautiful month, but there are some things to know if it’s when you’re visiting the Eternal City. Many places will be closed half the month or all month long, and the city can get hot, uncomfortable and crowded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To see our favorite side of Rome, visit outside the very hot summer months. Fall and spring are beautiful, and there’s something to be said for having the city to yourself during the winter, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Especially during the warmer months from late spring through the summer, the big sights like the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are going to be packed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure to show up early, and you can save considerable time by pre-buying tickets online for most sights. If you want to splash out a bit, you can even look for a tour that will get you early entrance and a small group with a guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Italy, cappuccino and caff\u00e9 latte<\/em> (coffee mixed with a healthy dose of milk) go strictly with breakfast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to coffee like an Italian, as of lunchtime you\u2019ll want to cut those two out. If you like milk with your coffee, opt for a macchiato<\/em>, which is a dash of milk in your espresso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you remember one thing from this list, this should be it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every year, the Teatro dell\u2019Opera di Roma<\/a>, or Rome Opera House, gathers up its skirts and plunks itself down in the ancient thermal baths of Caracalla<\/a>. These ruins are so mythical and grandiose, it’s hard to believe that this is how the Romans set up a place they bathed in! <\/p>\n\n\n\n During the summer, the walls of the majestic terme <\/em>reverberate with the music of the greats, and you can go see a variety of concerts, operas and ballet performances in a setting you’ll never forget. The shows usually run from mid-June to early August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re using public transportation to get around Rome, be advised that buses can be slow and unreliable, although there are some applications you can download (like RomeBus) to track the progress of the bus you\u2019re looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The metro lines are more reliable, but if it\u2019s raining even a bit, expect delays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for a taxi, you can book one easily using the MyTaxi app. Uber also works in the Eternal City, though it\u2019s more expensive here than you may be used to. Another fun option is Scooterino, the scooter version of Uber!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Know that if you\u2019re spending enough time in Rome to wander outside of it, there are some glorious places a hop, skip, and a jump away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our favorite day trips from Rome<\/a> include Sermoneta (and during the summer the nearby Giardino di Ninfa<\/a>), Orvieto, and Civita di Bagnoregio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not because they’ll get offended, but because tourist traps are a real thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our general rule is, if the menu has pictures, we don\u2019t go there (although there are exceptions to this rule, so go with your gut). Rome is an incredible place, and you\u2019re probably also here because you love food<\/em>, so we really want you to enjoy it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aperitivo-in-rome-beer-1.jpg\")
2. Nap time is real (and August is like one long nap)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Plan ahead for the most popular sights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pictured](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Travel-in-Rome-Sistine-Chapel-Cropped-1.jpg\")
4. We’re not kidding with that whole “cappuccino is a breakfast drink” thing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"When](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eat-like-a-local-rome-cappuccino-1.jpg\")
5. The Opera di Roma is a summer must<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Not all public transportation is created equal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Day trips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pictured](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Travel-in-Rome-day-trips-Civita-Cropped-1.jpg\")
8. Don’t eat around the monuments <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Travel-in-Rome-Hall-of-Maps-Vatican-Museums-Cropped-1.jpg\")