For anyone who has traveled to Rome, what did you spend the most money on?

Question

Other than the cost of air and hotel, what is the priciest for tourists? Food, souvenirs, museums, transportation?

Answer 1

Food... I don't do souvenirs and if I never see another suit of armor it's too soon.  Transportation can eat up some resources, but I like to walk and breath in the atmosphere.  So... definitely it was food... and the Trastaveri district can really hit your budget hard if you like good food.

Answer 2

Transportation because neither of us would drive in Rome and we took taxis.

Answer 3

Food, transportation.  If you take the tours of the different sites it can get expensive.  You only live once, I highly recommend the guided tours.  Worth every penny.

Answer 4

I just came back from Rome on 3/15.  Food can be expensive, however it can be really inexpensive as well.  Don't eat in restaurants.  Instead buy your food, wine, etc. at the bars and bring it to one of the many piazzas.  Great way to people watch and perhaps be romantic?  Also, depending on how much you eat, you don't have to order every course, or you can share them.  And drink house wine.  Beer and liquor tend to be more expensive.  Also, eat off the beating path.  Anything on a corner, piazza, or near touristy area is going to be expensive, and generally not as good.  We ate in the Piazza S. Marco one night for the romantic value.  It was romantic, but the food was probably the worst we had, and it cost us double what we had spent on other nights.

Transportation can be very expensive if you are taking cabs.  Take the bus.  It is an experience, but a good one.  You can take the bus just about everywhere in Rome.  There is also the 110 Trambus that will take you to all the major sites in Rome for 13 Euro.  You can get on and off as much as you like in a day.  It runs into the evening as well.  And don't forget your old trusty feet.  You find all the nooks and crannies of Rome!

I bought all my souveniers in a flea market in Testavere.  Cheesy stuff, but aren't all souveniers unless you want to spend a fourtune.  The flea market is not hard to find, everyone knows about it.  It's huge.  We couldn't make it all the way through in 2 hours.

I didn't go to a lot of museums in Rome.  We did go to a lot of monuments.  Most of them are free.  At the coloseum walk up to the Palentine Hill ticket booth.  You can get tickets to the coloseum and PH for 11 Euro.  And you don't have to wait in line for the coloseum.

The two best ways to save money in Rome are to find a supermarket and be very wary of Gypsies!

Answer 5

i spent most of my money on fraud designer goods and beer that i drank with the hot italians. hahah