Walk and use public transport, eat street food, and make the most of free entry.
- From Fiumicino airport, take the Leonardo Express instead of a taxi. In the city, buy a 24/48/72-hour ticket or a Roma Pass. Rome is great on foot.
- Stay in a hotel or Airbnb just outside the historic centre: cheaper and still convenient.
- Drink free water from the public fountains (nasoni) and carry a refillable bottle. Supplì, pizza al taglio and sandwiches cost just a few euros. Choose trattorias and avoid places with photo menus, multilingual signs or staff pulling you in.
- Book museum tickets on official websites. On the first Sunday of the month, many state museums, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, are free (book early). Many churches with works by Caravaggio and Michelangelo are free too.
- Some restaurants charge a "coperto" cover of about €3 per person. Ask before sitting down.
Note: Ignore people offering "free" bracelets, fake petitions, or overly friendly strangers near the sights.