I'm a Brit who visited Rome for the first time. Here are 12 things that surprised me about the Eternal City.

Armani SyedMar 29, 2022, 14:34 IST

The author in front of the Trevi Fountain and a view of the Colosseum by day.Armani Syed

I visited Rome, Italy's capital city, for the first time and found lots of things that surprised me.
It felt jarring to see so many McDonald's locations right next to ancient ruins.

I live in London and I visited Rome, Italy, for the first time earlier in March.

The author outside the Colosseum in Rome.Armani Syed

I stayed by Campo de' Fiori, a market square in the Regola neighborhood.

A map showing the location of Piazza Campo de' Fiori, a food market in Regola, Rome.Google Maps

One of the first mistakes I made on my trip was not bringing a coat out. With the days being so hot, I didn't expect the evenings to be so cold. This temperature difference was unexpected.

The Spanish Steps by day and Pantheon by night.Armani Syed

One of the first mistakes I made on my trip was not bringing a coat out. With the days being so hot, I didn't expect the evenings to be so cold. This temperature difference was unexpected.

One of the biggest things that stuck out to me was how affordable Rome seemed compared to London — even in the touristy areas. But a local pointed out to me that Rome is more expensive than other places in Italy.

Baths of Caracalla, the ruins of a Roman bathing complex.Armani Syed

One of the biggest things that stuck out to me was how affordable Rome seemed compared to London — even in the touristy areas. But a local pointed out to me that Rome is more expensive than other places in Italy.

I was surprised to see Durex vending machines dotted around the city, offering sexual-health paraphernalia that's typically sold at a pharmacy.

One of many sexual-health vending machines on a street in Rome.Armani Syed

A number of things surprised me about the food in Rome. For example, I was surprised to find that many restaurants were often closed outside of typical meal times, so I had to adapt my eating schedule.

Coffee and a croissant from Margherita (left); cacio e pepe and parmigiana di melanzane from Il Sorpasso (right).Armani Syed

A number of things surprised me about the food in Rome. For example, I was surprised to find that many restaurants were often closed outside of typical meal times, so I had to adapt my eating schedule.

And when I visited a couple of grocery stores, I found they were different from what I'm used to in the UK.

A view of the packaged fruits in a supermarket in Rome, Italy.Armani Syed

I wasn't expecting to see so many McDonald's restaurants in Rome. It felt jarring to see a McDonald's right near ancient ruins.

A McDonald's sign in Rome alongside a local menu item not available in the UK.Armani Syed

I didn't expect traditional hot chocolate to be so different from what I was used to – it was more like a warm custard with a rich taste.

Domori hot chocolate, sold in most cafés in Rome, Italy.Armani Syed

I was surprised to hear that the water in the fountains all over town was safe to drink. The fountain QR codes offer drinking and environmental guidance.

A drinking fountain located in the center of Rome.Armani Syed

When it came to getting around the city, after a few unsuccessful attempts to book Uber rides, I found that it's easier and more fun to rent electric bikes on apps like Dott.

A bike from the app Dott, which provides electric bicycles and scooters for hire.Armani Syed

When it came to getting around the city, after a few unsuccessful attempts to book Uber rides, I found that it's easier and more fun to rent electric bikes on apps like Dott.

I found it unnerving at first to see so many police and army officers with their vehicles patrolling the streets of Rome.

A number of army and police vehicles around the streets of Rome, Italy.Armani Syed

When I visited an English-language bookshop, I was surprised to hear from a worker there that Brexit had delayed imports from the UK by over two months.

Almost Corner Bookshop, an English-language book store in Trastevere, Rome.Armani Syed

What surprised me most during my time in Rome was how many Americans there were in the city.

A typical street in Trastevere, Rome.Armani Syed

Rome has a reputation for being historic and beautiful, and I found that it easily lives up to this in reality.

The author in Trastevere, Rome.Armani Syed

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I'm a Brit who visited Rome for the first time. Here are 12 things that surprised me about the Eternal City.

I live in London and I visited Rome, Italy, for the first time earlier in March.

I stayed by Campo de' Fiori, a market square in the Regola neighborhood.

One of the first mistakes I made on my trip was not bringing a coat out. With the days being so hot, I didn't expect the evenings to be so cold. This temperature difference was unexpected.

One of the biggest things that stuck out to me was how affordable Rome seemed compared to London — even in the touristy areas. But a local pointed out to me that Rome is more expensive than other places in Italy.

I was surprised to see Durex vending machines dotted around the city, offering sexual-health paraphernalia that's typically sold at a pharmacy.

A number of things surprised me about the food in Rome. For example, I was surprised to find that many restaurants were often closed outside of typical meal times, so I had to adapt my eating schedule.

And when I visited a couple of grocery stores, I found they were different from what I'm used to in the UK.

I wasn't expecting to see so many McDonald's restaurants in Rome. It felt jarring to see a McDonald's right near ancient ruins.

I didn't expect traditional hot chocolate to be so different from what I was used to – it was more like a warm custard with a rich taste.

I was surprised to hear that the water in the fountains all over town was safe to drink. The fountain QR codes offer drinking and environmental guidance.

When it came to getting around the city, after a few unsuccessful attempts to book Uber rides, I found that it's easier and more fun to rent electric bikes on apps like Dott.

I found it unnerving at first to see so many police and army officers with their vehicles patrolling the streets of Rome.

When I visited an English-language bookshop, I was surprised to hear from a worker there that Brexit had delayed imports from the UK by over two months.

What surprised me most during my time in Rome was how many Americans there were in the city.

Rome has a reputation for being historic and beautiful, and I found that it easily lives up to this in reality.