KRISTEN FUNG TRAVELS

Rome is an art historian’s dream. Layers of the city built on top of ancient history as you pull into Roma Termini station, church frescos calling you in from the summer heat, and the graffiti of I was Here etched into city walls for centuries. From food to fashion to architecture, art is everywhere. I hope this Rome Guide helps you find your way to this historic, art-filled city.

The 411

All the information you need as a first-time visitor or if you are visiting Rome for the first time in a while.

Transportation

Airport

FCO–Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, or more commonly known as Fiumicino

This is the main airport with many international & domestic flights. Traveling with a family or large group? There is a second customs line just for you.

CIA–G. B. Pastine–Rome Ciampino Airport

This is the airport you will use for low-cost and budget airlines. If you are flying within Europe on RyanAir or Wizz Air, chances are you will transit through this airport. This airport is closer to the city center.

Is there a train from the airport?

The train from Fiumicino Airport to Termini Station is very easy. Allow yourself time to plan the return trip. Termini is a bit confusing, and finding the platform for the train to FCO was an adventure.

From the CIA, you would take the Ciampino Airlink, which is a bus-to-train combo.

Treneitalia

Trenitalia is the national train company of Italy, which runs both local trains and high-speed rail connecting the major Italian cities. Within Italy, high-speed trains, such as the national rail service’s Frecciarossa and train company Italo, offer a convenient and scenic way to explore the country.

As someone who frequently sends travelers to Italy, Treneitalia goes on strike often enough for this Los Angeles girl to notice. In fact, when we went in June 2024, they were on strike, causing us to cancel our plans to Florence.

If you plan a trip with me and strikes happen, I will find an alternative for you to get from point A to Point B.

Rideshare

Uber is available in Italy.

Cruise port

Rome is an excellent place to connect with a cruise through Civitavecchia. Although it is an hour+ journey from the city, cruise line transfers and a Fecce train make it easy and faster to access. When I landed at FCO, several drivers and representatives held signs for various cruise lines. From the airport, you will take a coach bus to the cruise terminal.

Currency

EUR-Euro–the currency of the European Union.

Language

Italian. It is easier to get by not speaking Italian in the major cities like Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan. From personal experience, I found that learning some Italian before my trip was very helpful, especially in the small, medieval towns of Tuscany. As a Spanish speaker, reading signs was easier for me.

The best time to visit

October to June. This takes into consideration the sweltering summer heat and high tourist season.

The Worst time to visit

Summer, especially August, can be extremely hot, even for the locals. When I worked at a museum, we always felt stressed in July, to meet deadlines before the European August break, when Italians leave for vacation. (This makes the Lake Como area also the worst time because that is where Italians spend their vacations)

Air conditioning is hard to come by in house rentals as well as some hotels-FYI.

Recommended number of days to spend: 5+ exploration days

This is hard to say. After my short layover in Rome, I felt like I needed at least five days to visit museums and sample all the fantastic food on our list. This is also if we wanted to spend every day hurried and drop-dead tired. It is also so easy to get to other parts of Italy from Rome, so adding a few day trips or weekend trips from the city is a great idea.

When is it open?

Although some shops stay open later, expect a lunch break between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Restaurants and nightclubs tag team to stay open until dawn. Rome is a predominantly Catholic country, and many businesses are closed on Sundays.

Do you need to rent a car?

I wouldn’t drive in Rome. I would also rent a car from a pick-up location outside the city. If you aren’t familiar with roundabouts, I would find a video or two to get an idea of who has the right of way and which lane to be in.

If you are from the United States, did you know that you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Italy? When we discuss your trip, I will provide you with a checklist of all the necessary paperwork to complete and apps to download.

Planning your Rome Budget

Other than your flight, your biggest cost in Rome will be hotels. This has a lot to do with the time of year you are visiting. In the Summer of 2025, Rome celebrated its Jubilee year, sending hotel prices soaring. Generally, you should plan on spending $250 per night, plus taxes.

The Three Bs

I’d love to share a list of amazing restaurants, museums, cultural sites, and more from my Three Bs section, but I had one meal, one drink, and knocked one thing off my lifetime bucket list. Newsletter subscribers got this mini-itinerary in issue 13.

There are hotels to fit every vibe in Rome—from art-filled jewel boxes to converted convents. I would be happy to help you find the perfect hotel.

I have tons of recommendations for Rome. Let’s plan your trip.

A quick layover in Rome

My layover itinerary was published in issue 13 of the newsletter to subscribers. Get free itineraries, tips, and deals by subscribing to my newsletter.

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