Practicalities Rome (Leonardo

da Vinci-Fiumicino and
LGBT-friendly ★★★★★

Ciampino Airports)
Your feet will thank
you for packing comfortable
June through August sees the heaviest tourist
sandals or sneakers.
traffic in Rome. Aim for the shoulder seasons (April to
Shoulder- and knee-covering
June and September to October), which offer good
clothes are required for
weather but fewer crowds.
visits to Vatican City,
including St Peter’s Basilica. Culture
$ $
Food & Drink
Outdoors

Best for culture:

Rome
If you’ve always dreamed of travelling to Italy and can’t wait any longer for a travel
buddy to join you, Rome is the perfect place to start your solo travel adventure.

TOP tip
It might be a big, busy city, but you’ll never feel like a fish out of water among the
14 million-odd other tourists that visit this cultural hub each year.
me’s aperitivo
Seek out Ro t
rs where buffe

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ur ) ba
(happy ho in th e price rom ancient icons like the your itinerary too finely, allowing
ed
food is includ i e Frizioni

IMAGES
en Colosseum and the Roman yourself the flexibility to take
of a drink. Fr
ni.com) in
(freniefrizio Forum to the towering time out for espresso, gelato, vino

PHY / GETTY
one of
Trastevere is masterpiece of Renaissance and pizza al taglio (by the slice)
the best.

PHOTOGRA
architecture that is St Peter’s between exploring ornate piazzas
Basilica, Rome’s cityscape is an and elaborate churches. Getting

PASQUALE
exhilarating spectacle. Whether lost is half the fun of exploring
you’re visiting for two days or Rome. Don’t be embarrassed to

© NICO DE
two weeks, there is so much to ask for directions – you won’t be

© JUSTIN FOULKES / LONELY PLANET, SPOOH / GETTY IMAGES

see that there is little risk of ever the first solo traveller to be swept
becoming bored. up in the magic of The Eternal City.
Rome has decent public
transport, but this is a walker’s Key considerations for
city – if you’ve got the solo travellers
LEFT  Take your sweet
stamina, almost all time to explore the Language: It may
essential sights can be majestic Roman Forum. surprise some travellers
explored on foot. Arm RIGHT  Avoid the to learn that English is

ANDRA / 500PX
crowds by visiting
yourself with a good the Trevi Fountain in not as widely spoken in
map, but don’t tune the evening. Rome as you may think.

© ANDREA CAL
125
 your
Books for RIGHT  Rome offers an

Backpack
atmospheric pavement

Epic
dining scene.
BELOW  You’ll learn to love
pizza at its simplistic best.
l
Lonely Planet’s travel
Solo Trave
guides to Rome;
s
Italian Phrasebook Brushing up on common phrases Experience
and Dictionary by (as well as hand gestures –
Lonely Planet Italians are thought to use around
250 each day) will come in handy.
Safety: Rome is a safe city but Visiting St Peter’s Basilica
A Day in the Life of Ancient petty theft can be a problem, and and walking the 7km of
Rome by Alberto Angela pickpockets are active in touristy halls that comprise the
areas and on crowded public Vatican Museums.
transport. Use common sense
—
Rome Tales edited by Helen and watch your valuables.
Constantine Overcoming loneliness: Set Exploring the Roman
yourself up for a great opportunity Forum; skip the queues and
to meet people while discovering purchase entry tickets in

© CATARINA BELOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK

The Roman Spring the hidden corners of Rome advance at coopculture.it.
of Mrs. Stone (such as the city’s crypts and
—
by Tennessee Williams catacombs) on a walking tour
with the likes of Walks of Italy Enjoying an evening out
(walksofitaly.com). in the buzzing Trastevere
district.

—
S
SWEET STAY
Cooking up a storm ★ When it comes ★ Just two blocks Savouring la dolce vita
to hostels in Rome, from Roma Termini over a perfect espresso –
  If there’s one activity every trip to Italy should include, it doesn’t get much better than Station, The Beehive also has Sant’Eustachio il Caffè is
it’s a cooking class. The options are plentiful in Rome; for a Generator Rome. Spread across dorms and private rooms, yet said to serve the best
more personal experience, opt for a class with local cook David seven floors, this design-savvy this cosy eco-conscious hostel coffee in town.
Sgueglia della Marra, who takes students shopping at Rome’s ‘poshtel’ in the lively Monti feels more like a guesthouse.
—
Campo de’ Fiori market in the morning for ingredients which neighbourhood has 12 four-bed After a long day pounding the
they will learn how to whip into a four-course lunch at his dorms and 53 private rooms, cobblestoned streets of Rome, Tossing a coin into the
IMAGES

Piazza Argentina loft. If you’d rather explore the city by day, anchored by a beautiful old relax in one of three charming famous Trevi Fountain,
Sgueglia della Marra also offers an evening class which begins Havana-themed bar and chill-out ‘comfort zones’ (including thus ensuring – according
© SEZER ALCINKAYA / GETTY

with a cocktail hour before the group learns how to make fresh lounge, perfect for mingling. an on-site cafe) with fellow to tradition – that you will
pasta (acookingdayinrome.com). (generatorhostels.com) guests. (the-beehive.com) return to Rome.

rome 126 127 the solo travel handbook