13 mistakes this Rome local sees tourists make in the city, from buying water to eating the wrong gelato

I grew up and lived in Rome until I moved to the US to go to college. I still consider the Eternal City my home, and often return to visit my family and friends.

Growing up, I became used to sharing my city with crowds of tourists since Rome is one of the most visited cities in Italy. There were tens of millions of overnight visitors in 2019 before the pandemic, according to Statista, and almost nine million in 2021.

Over the years, I've interacted with many visitors at my father's restaurant near the Vatican City museums, and I've seen a number of them make the same mistakes, whether it's not taking advantage of local public transportation or dressing inappropriately at religious sites. Here are the most common mistakes I see tourists make in Rome, and my tips as a local on what to do instead.

I think Rome is an incredibly walkable city, and I find that there's rarely a need to take taxis to get around. Taxis can also be overpriced for tourists — I've heard from several who've said their taxi drivers took advantage of them by taking longer-than-necessary routes to add time to the meter.

I also think depending on taxis to get around means missing out on exploring Rome up close. By walking, you'll notice more of the city's nooks and crannies, interact with locals, and likely find under-the-radar shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Even though I know Rome well, I always stumble across something new when I'm wandering around. I've found some of my favorite bars and restaurants this way.

On days when the weather isn't great or I'm too tired to walk, I like to take the city's public transit system called ATAC. It has three metro lines, over 300 bus lines, and six above-ground trams.

I grew up taking the bus and metro to visit friends and go out in the city center. They're not the most glamorous, in my opinion, but they get the job done. I generally find the metro and tram to be more reliable than the buses.

Tickets cost around $1.61 (€1.50) for 100 minutes of unlimited rides, and can be purchased at metro station kiosks or at newsstands and tabacchi stores, which are small convenience shops that sell cigarettes and postcards. Remember to always validate your ticket on the bus and tram by inserting it into the machine on board, as not doing so can result in a fine.

As of January 2023, the city is also rolling out a new tap-and-go ticketing option, where riders can tap a contactless card to board public transportation.

I've seen many tourists buy plastic water bottles while exploring the city, and I wish they knew that they can get clean drinking water for free.

Rome is home to approximately 2,500 water fountains that spout free, potable water year-round. These fountains are referred to as nasoni, which means big nose in Italian, because of their curved metal spouts.

When I lived in Rome, I'd regularly fill up water bottles in these fountains or just drink from them directly. I also sometimes used them to wash my hands or splash some water on my neck and forehead to cool down on a hot summer day, and have always found the water to be clean and fresh.

I think the fountains are especially convenient for visitors to avoid buying multiple plastic bottles. They're easy to find as there's usually one in every square (as you can see on this map), but I recommend the city's fountain tracking app, Waidy WOW, which has a map and addresses of nasoni around the city.

Rome is a predominantly Catholic city, and churches have strict dress codes for visitors. The rules typically are no exposed shoulders, no shorts or skirts that end above the knee, and no clothing with graphic text and imagery. It's also considered polite to take off hats when you enter a church.

These rules are enforced particularly strictly at the Vatican, but also at smaller churches around the city. Visitors caught breaking these rules will often be yelled at and asked to leave by a church attendant — I've seen it happen several times.

So while dressy clothes aren't necessary to visit churches, I advise tourists to dress modestly. And in the summer when it's hot, I recommend packing a lightweight jacket or sarong in your day bag for an easy way to cover up.

Almost everyone I know who visits Rome says they want to see the Colosseum and Vatican Museums. While I agree both are must-see places, I wish more tourists would seek out other sites that are just as impressive, if somewhat less famous.

Some of my favorite lesser-known sites are the Baths of Diocletian, an archaeological complex that used to be the largest imperial baths in Ancient Rome, and Trajan's Market, an Ancient Roman mall considered to be the world's first covered shopping center.

There's also the church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, one of my favorites in Rome, that opened in 1722 and is renowned for its vibrant trompe-l'œil ceiling.

These sites are still visited by tourists, but in my experience they're never as packed as the Colosseum or Vatican, so I think they're enjoyable for a break from the major crowds.

And for those interested in Rome's religious art history, I highly recommend planning a DIY church-hopping tour, as the city has more than 900 public churches that are full of paintings and statues.

In my experience, my home city is generally safe. Still, like you would in any major city, I recommend tourists in Rome keep an eye on their belongings, since pickpocketing can happen. I've found that al-fresco restaurants in busy plazas can be especially susceptible to pickpockets, as some tourists can be careless about protecting their belongings.

My father owns a restaurant in Rome and has told me countless stories of tourists who had their valuables stolen by passersby while they were eating. This usually happens when people leave backpacks or bags where they could be swiped without the owner noticing, such as hanging off the back of a chair or on a table.

As a local, my rule of thumb for outdoor dining is if I can't see my belongings at all times, they could be at risk of being stolen. I also apply this rule when taking public transportation. It can get crowded on the metro, so I keep any bags on the front side of my body with a hand on them at all times.

Many of these restaurants — often close to popular attractions like the Colosseum or the Pantheon — will play up the stereotypical, Italian trattoria aesthetic to appeal to tourists. There may be red-and-white checkered tablecloths, prop decor like bundles of garlic and peperoncini, and curated displays of pizza and pasta dishes at the entrance. At some that I've seen, there are also long menus written in multiple languages to attract foreigners, menus with photos of the food, and a waiter stationed outside to actively draw in customers.

Instead of eating at these places just because they're near a must-see site, I recommend buying a takeout pizza or sandwich and sitting on a bench or on the steps of a fountain in a square, like we Romans do.

For example, I think the walls encircling the Pantheon are a fun place to sit and eat, people-watch, and observe the city.

Rome has plenty of places to dine between high-end restaurants, casual cafes, and neighborhood bars. In my experience, most restaurants are welcoming to locals and tourist diners alike. However, I have heard stories from some tourists who say certain restaurants have tried to take advantage of them by overcharging them.

I recommend reading the menu closely before ordering. This way, you can compare the displayed prices with the total charge once the bill comes. If, for some reason, there are no prices on the menu, I'd ask ahead of ordering.

Unlike in the United States, waiters in Italy make a living wage and enjoy benefits like sick leave and paid time off. Since these service workers don't rely on tips for income, leaving a tip at restaurants and bars is not necessary or expected.

However, if you particularly enjoyed the service or the establishment, I've found that leaving a few euros on the table after paying the bill is appreciated by the staff. But, even for the best service, a 18% to 20% tip is unnecessary. In my experience, most locals leave just a euro or two, or the change leftover from paying their bill.

Whenever my family and I go out to eat, we usually leave a €5 to €10 tip at most for our group of four people. We do this especially if we're regulars at the restaurant and are friendly with the staff.

American friends who have visited me in Rome have often been surprised that bread at restaurants is not free, unlike at some Italian-American restaurants and chains like Olive Garden in the United States.

In restaurants in Rome, some waiters bring over a basket of bread and breadsticks as soon as you sit down, and others wait for you to ask for it. But regardless of how it arrives, if you receive a basket of bread, you most likely will be charged for it. Depending on the restaurant, it can cost anywhere between around $1.61 and $3.22 (€1.50 and 3).

If a restaurant automatically brings bread when you sit down but you don't want it, you can politely ask them to take it back. But if you want to eat like an Italian, bread is a must for doing the scarpetta, in English meaning little shoe, which is what Italians call dipping pieces of bread on your plate to soak up any leftover sauce. For just a few euros, I think it makes a big difference when it comes to enjoying a classic meal.

One option is to get a fresh snack or meal at a classic delicatessen. These delis sell fresh bread, pastries, meats, cheeses, and prepared sandwiches and pasta dishes. My choice is Roscioli, a deli with four locations that's popular among locals like me and has been around since 1824. I'm also a big fan of Rome's many "pizza a taglio" eateries, which are casual spots that sell fresh pizza by the slice.

While some of these delis and pizza joints have a counter or outdoor seating, many don't. The food here is made for grab-and-go, to eat as you walk, or to eat while sitting down in a square, which I find is a more interesting way to enjoy food than always eating at a restaurant.

I think partaking in aperitivo is a great opportunity for tourists to save a few euros on snacks and drinks while also enjoying Italian culture. Aperitivo is a period in the early-to-late evening when Italians enjoy a pre-dinner drink and some nibbles, usually at outdoor cafes and restaurants.

It takes place every day, typically between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m, and is used as a time to meet up with friends or to whet your appetite before dinner. During this time, bars and restaurants serve drinks alongside small snacks like crackers, olives, and chips. The drinks aren't discounted, but the small snacks are usually free. I've also seen some restaurants that offer discounted drink and food combinations.

I do aperitivo every other day when I'm home to visit, regardless of the season. In the summer it's nice to sip on a cocktail and soak in the afternoon sun, and in the winter I enjoy snuggling up under the outdoor heat lamps that most restaurants have.

Growing up in Italy, I learned that not all of Rome's thousands of gelaterias sell authentic gelato, and there are a few ways to tell.

According to The Local Italy, gelato should be churned at a slow speed, which means that less air gets mixed in. This process is meant to create a gelato that's creamy and dense, not fluffy. Gelato should also be muted and natural-looking in color if it's correctly made with natural ingredients, and not unnatural additives or food coloring.

I know that if I see a gelateria with neon-blue gelato or a sculpture of an ice-cream cone jutting out from the building, it's likely more of a tourist trap than a high-quality shop. I recommend tourists avoid shops like these with gelato that's unnaturally vibrant and heaped into large, fluffy mounds.

For authentic gelato, my favorite places in the city are Fatamorgana, Torcè, Gelateria La Romana, and Giolitti. Gelateria La Romana and Giolitti also double as coffee and pastry shops for a traditional Italian post-dinner espresso.