Avoiding the Tourist Traps While in Rome = A Successful Adventure
A trip to Italy is undoubtedly a popular choice when it comes to bucket list items; and with excellent reason. But how do you go about avoiding the tourist traps while in Rome? We’ll show you below… With seemingly a limitless selection of cities spread between North and South, from the Italian Alps, down to Mount Etna in Sicily, its history and beauty all over. So when I moved to Spain, I knew we were going to travel, and likely to the big cities but when it came to Italy, I just felt I needed to avoid Rome as a first impression.
Whats all the fuss about?? Why so many Tourists in Rome?
I never had a real reason other than the fact it was always busy and filled with tourists. And if I could help it, I wanted to avoid touristic areas as much as possible. And one day in December, searching google flights, I came across a deal too good to pass up. Madrid to Rome, direct, for 38 Euros (41USD). I booked it and didn’t look back. Fast forward to February and we are on our way, I’ve heard just weeks prior how insane Rome was when a friend had visited and just swarmed with tourists, but I felt pretty confident we we’re going to have a different experience. For one, we were’t traveling during any major holidays & the fact that it was Mid February. Upon arrival, we caught a 9Euro bus into the city and after a little hassle at the bus station looking for tickets at Termini Station, we made it to the hotel in just off-the-beaten path Traverste (highly recommend checking it out).
Night 1: A prime example of Avoiding the Tourists:
Night 1) Grabbed Roman Pizza at a local shop, we ordered 2 pies per recommendation from the server, but I would easily been satisfied with just 1 as they were not small, & definitely not Neapolitan style. Overall a good pie, and quality ingredients, but left me a little disappointed. Although quality all around, I expected a bit more flavor to come through on the sauce. But a positive first experience nonetheless
Night 2: Eat like a local, venture to areas where the tourists avoid
Night 1) Grabbed Roman Pizza at a local shop, we ordered 2 pies per recommendation from the server, but I would easily been satisfied with just 1 as they were not small, & definitely not Neapolitan style. Overall a good pie, and quality ingredients, but left me a little disappointed. Although quality all around, I expected a bit more flavor to come through on the sauce. But a positive first experience nonetheless. This was the most successful night of avoiding tourist traps while in Rome.