Anyone done a solo to Rome? I would love some tips.

[greenhousegal]

No one is interested in coming with me (sad face). They have all been before, or time off, money issues etc. I am lucky I can go, so I thought why not just go on my own?

So if anyone has tips for a nice hotel (middle range, not luxury but not grotty lol), good location, using Public Transport, getting from the airport and anything else you can add I would be so grateful!

I would hope to go in January after the schools go back from Christmas break. I am not worried about the weather, I just want to go there and hopefully it will be less crowded at that time.

Thank you if you can throw out any ideas.

There’s limited access to public transport right in the middle so you might want to consider peripheral areas like Esquilino instead, where it’s easier to get around and explore other parts of the city. If you want to live like a local, consider Prati near Vatican City. It is a quieter and more residential area.
You can use tap to pay on the metro so you don’t have to buy tickets, but for the bus you have to buy tickets before boarding - you can’t actually pay onboard. You can get them in the nearest tabacchi!
The Leonardo Express is the easiest way to get from FCO airport to the main train station.
Avoid restaurants near major attractions because more often than not, you can find food at a much better price and quality in restaurants just a street or two away.
Some museums close on one day of the week (typically Mondays) so check and plan accordingly.
Tickets to the most popular sights sell out quite a while in advance.
There’s a 48 or 72 hour Roma Pass that will allow you to get into a certain number of museums or archeological sites for free. Last time we got the 72 hour pass which gave us two free skip-the-line admissions to museums (or sites like the Colosseum) and then discounted prices for all other museums that we visited afterwards.
We’ve visited the Vatican Museums both independently and with a tour, and the context gained with a tour is truly incredible. If you have the time and budget for it, book a tour for early in the morning (before the museums open to the public!).
Always carry cash - small things like coffee and gelato are virtually always handled in cash.

Thank you @Fivemoreminutes1 some great information there.

I will definitely book a tour of the Vatican Museums and as an early riser I'll be there before the Pope gets out of bed lol! Do you recall who you booked the tour with? Don't worry if not, I am sure there are plenty of tours available online.

I've saved your post. 😎

We went with What A Life tours

Domus Sessoriana hotel is a lovely hotel. Close to public transport and the bistro / patisserie down the street opposite is sublime.

I always prefer to walk everywhere in Rome after being pickpocketed on the bus and ripped off by taxi drivers! I would probably stay more central than Prati tbh as it always feels a bit out of the way.

Stayed in a hotel near termini stn, got train to and from airport and walked to places or used Big Red bus to get around sites. Went in April, it was hot but not boiling, great for early morning walking around

Borghese needs to be booked in advance as well. Palazzo Farnese too - though im not sure it has reopened following the closure during the pandemic.

Strongly recommend Fat Tire bike tours - do all the sights in 3 hours, meet people as a group. Really fun way to see the city.

Yep, we stayed in a hotel near Termini Stn when we last went. The entire centre is easily accessible by foot if you're happy to walk a while, or by buses and a quick underground train ride to the Vatican. There are several hotels, shops and restaurants in that area. We found it far better than staying further out and having to constantly get buses/trains or trams into the centre.

Just watch for pickpockets on the buses or underground - they're legendary and can do it so quickly, you just don't notice until later when you try to find your purse/wallet. The sods took mine out of a zipped shoulder bag - they unzipped it, unzipped the little pocket inside, took my purse, then zipped the bag again. I only realised when I wanted to buy something and thought it strange my little purse pocket was unzipped - then realised it had gone! They try to zip bags up again so you don't notice until later, by which time they're long gone. Thing is that I thought I'd been careful, i.e. put it across my front when sardined into the carriage, so heaven knows how they did it.

I go every January and gain in November usually. I never booked anything before I go, I haggled with the ticket sellers on streets inside the Vatican City and got guided tours cheaply. I sometimes use the red busses but mostly walk.

I stay on the outskirts near the train station but I am fairly fit and can easily walk 15 miles each day. I carry my backpack for refreshments and as others have said be super careful for pickpockets. I don’t usually venture out to far at night though as I don’t like taking to many chances. So I usually book a hotel with a decent bar and maybe a patisserie close by.

Thanks for all your replies, great to hear from those who have already been. I'm watching with interest!

The most important thing for me going on my own, is a good hotel, with a coffee area/bar (to people watch...) and within striking distance of the major sites. I'd love a place with a little balcony (I know it will be January!) looking out at the street. I don't mind noise, I can just remove my hearing aids as I have meningitis related hearing loss. Can be handy sometimes!

I'd probably stick to the metro and walk to places from the relevant stops. I don't get on well with buses but who knows?

I don't drink alcohol but there is a fabulous drink in Italy called Chinotto which I can't wait to have. There is also an alcohol free Spritz but I can't remember the name now. Pizza, gelato (in January), panino, and the like will be fine for me.

Are taxis expensive/rip off/regulated? I'd use them here and there if I thought they were legit. Not much to ask ha ha.

I love chinotto OP! In theory if you get a taxi from an official rank it shouldn't be a problem....but everyone I know has had taxi problems in Rome! They really need to crack down.

Had a quick look, and positive vibes! The roof terrace is very nice, but not sure of using it in January lol.

We stayed near the Vatican and It was a great location for St Peters, Vatican museums, shops, restaurants; also close to a metro station for the other attractions. No issues at all getting around. It was a self contained apartment

I went with DD and stayed near the Vatican. Really safe area, literally round the corner from the entrance to the Vatican Museum and a 10 minute walk to Trastevere.

Public transport esp the metro is as cheap as chips and really convenient in Rome though tbh, we walked almost everywhere except to the Knights of Malta thing and the Colosseum.

I always tend to stay in chain hotels as I like to know what you're getting. We stayed in a Best Western plus and couldn't fault it.

Since Covid, like many tourist places, even in little ice cream shops they tend to prefer card payments and lots actively now refuse cash, so be aware of that.

If you want it to be less busy then make sure you go after the 6th January as that's the last Christmas public holiday here and the kids go back to school after that.

Book any tickets in advance for the Vatican etc with the official website, it'll be cheaper than the numerous tourist agency websites. You probably wouldn't need to book anything in advance until the Chinese and Japanese tourists start travelling again- Rome, Florence etc have been a lot less busy over the last few years. I still booked in advance where possible to avoid the queues.

I wouldn't stay in the area around Termini, It's notorious. It makes the back streets of Naples look like a country village. (Termini station is fine- lots of security, just don't walk around that area) Even Italians are warned against the area. The hotels are fine obviously, iirc there's a big Holiday Inn or Hilton literally opposite but I wouldn't want to be going back there on my own at night tbh.

The alcohol free drink you're talking about I think is Aperol Spritz?

Hi, I would recommend hotel smeraldo, great location, walking distance to most places, roof top bar and nice continental breakfast. It's just right opposite a fabulous bakery that does great pizza slices and suppli
Have an amazing time

Please save yourself money and hassle and book your tours in advance through the official sites! Coopculture for colosseum, Domus aurea, forum. Musei Vaticani for Vatican. Borghese has its own site. Anyone else will charge you multiple times the official rate!