1. Not booking the most popular sites
The Borghese Gallery admits only visitors with a booked slot: the full price is €16, and weekend slots go fast. At the Colosseum, all tickets are named and the check requires an original ID. The Vatican Museums should also be booked online to avoid the queue. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, on the official sites. Our guide to tickets to book covers the sites one by one.
2. Buying from a reseller
Around the Colosseum and the Pantheon, vendors offer more expensive "skip-the-line" tickets: these are often guided tours or audio guides, not cheaper entries. The Pantheon, for example, costs €7 since 1 July 2026 at the official ticket office. See scams to avoid in Rome.
3. Arriving in shorts or bare shoulders at a church
At St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, sleeveless tops, low necklines, shorts above the knee and miniskirts are refused, and hats must be removed. Most churches, like Santa Maria in Trastevere, ask for covered shoulders and knees. Keep a light scarf in your bag.
4. Forgetting closing days
The Vatican Museums are closed on Sunday (except the last Sunday of the month, free, from 9am to 2pm). The Galleria Spada closes on Tuesday. Many churches close at midday: Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, for example, opens only in the morning and late afternoon (see Santa Cecilia in Trastevere). Check each place's hours the day before.
5. Thinking Trevi is always free
Since 2 February 2026, access to the edge of the basin at the Trevi Fountain costs €2 from 9am to 10pm. The fountain remains visible for free from the square, and after 10pm. Piazza di Spagna has its own rules: since July 2019, the urban police regulation forbids sitting or lying on the steps, under penalty of a €250 fine.
6. Planning everything on foot without breaks
Central Rome can be covered on foot, but distances are longer than they look, and in summer the cobbles burn. Plan half a day per major site, breaks, water (the "nasoni" fountains give free drinking water) and comfortable shoes. For longer trips, use the metro, tram or bus: see transport in Rome.
7. Eating on tourist squares
Restaurants on the most visited squares (Navona, Trevi, the Pantheon) often show menus translated into several languages and higher prices. Prefer a side street, a short menu in Italian, and check the coperto before ordering. Our guide what to eat in Rome and the page paying in Rome explain the customs. See also aperitivo in Rome.
8. Not leaving time for the districts
Rome is not only its major sights: Trastevere, Monti or Testaccio are best visited without a precise goal. Keep half a day free. See Rome in 3 days for a balanced stay, and where to stay in Rome to choose where to sleep.
9. Leaving belongings unattended
Pickpockets target bus 64, central metro stations and queues. Keep your bag and phone in front of you and never put your phone on a terrace table.
Summary
| Mistake | Rule to remember |
|---|---|
| Not booking | Borghese Gallery, Colosseum and Vatican on official sites |
| Resellers | Buy only at the official ticket office |
| Dress | Shoulders and knees covered |
| Closing days | Vatican closed on Sunday, Galleria Spada on Tuesday |
| Trevi | Basin-edge access €2 from 9am to 10pm |
