8 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Rome

It seems crazy to even have to say this, but don’t write on, carve into, or otherwise vandalize the city’s monuments. In 2023, a tourist was caught on camera carving his name into the Colosseum, causing widespread outrage. According to the BBC, he later apologized, but such an offense could result in a fine of up to €15,000 and up to five years in prison. In 2022, two tourists were apprehended by police after tossing electric scooters down the Spanish Steps, causing €25,000 worth of damage. It should be a given that historic monuments must be respected—it’s hard enough to protect them from the elements; Romans shouldn’t have to worry about protecting them from disrespectful tourists.

You might have seen Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni wading into the Trevi Fountain in Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita, but don’t even think about trying a stunt like that today. Just this year, a tourist from New Zealand who drunkenly jumped into the Trevi Fountain was fined €500 and banned from the monument for life, according to CNN. In 2023, a viral video showed a woman climbing onto the Trevi Fountain to fill her water bottle before a guard led her away. Don’t be that person—no matter how hot it is, there are plenty of other ways to cool off.

Over the years, various bans on eating and drinking on or near landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps have been put into place, with threats of fines. While the chance of actually being fined is unlikely in this case, if you try to eat on or near the aforementioned landmarks, don’t be surprised if a local police officer shoos you away. Take your panino or gelato elsewhere and don’t litter—toss your trash in a bin.

St. Peter’s Basilica may be the world’s largest church and a major bucket list site for visitors to Rome, but it’s far from the only church worth visiting here. The Eternal City has more than 900 churches, many of which contain artistic masterpieces by the likes of Caravaggio, Michelangelo, and Raphael. If you plan to visit them, though, just be sure you’re properly dressed. Both men and women should have their shoulders covered and ladies should take care not to wear short shirts or revealing tops. You may not be there to pray, but locals might be. Respect the religious customs and bring a jacket or shawl to wear.

You may have heard about the unspoken rule in Italy that forbids you from drinking a cappuccino after 11 a.m. You can disagree with it, but just know that if you ask for one after lunch or dinner, your waiter isn’t going to hate you, but he might tease you. Romans generally avoid drinking a cappuccino after meals because it’s believed to hamper digestion. Instead, ask for an espresso or caffè macchiato (an espresso with a dollop of steamed milk), which locals drink all day long.

If you plan to take public transportation in Rome, be sure to respect the rules on board. It might seem like locals are riding the bus without paying, but don’t assume that’s the case. Many locals have monthly metro cards that only need to be validated upon first use. As a tourist, you can buy a 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, or 7-day metro card that grants you unlimited use. Otherwise, the fare is €1.50 for 100 minutes. These days, the entire system accepts contactless payment, so you don’t have any excuse for fare dodging on the buses and trams. Every now and then, ticket controllers will come on board and no amount of pleading will prevent them from issuing a fine.

Rome has a reputation as a great place for foodies, but that doesn’t mean the food is universally good here. If you think you can wing it, you’re likely to fall into a tourist trap serving mediocre food to the hordes of tourists who didn’t plan ahead. Rome’s best restaurants—you know, the ones where locals actually go—tend to fill up days (sometimes weeks) in advance. If you think you can show up to popular restaurants like Roscioli or Armando al Pantheon without a reservation, don’t be surprised if you get an eye roll or an exasperated sigh from the host as they turn you away.

Unlike in the U.S., tipping less than 20% in Rome isn’t going to provoke a death stare from your waiter, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tip at all. Check your bill to see if there’s a line item for coperto or servizio. Coperto is usually just a few euros per person and it’s meant to cover things like bread and olive oil; it’s not a tip that goes to your waiter. If it says servizio incluso, that means service is included, but it’s not a tip that your waiter receives on top of his/her salary. Tipping is very much appreciated here, even if there’s no hard-and-fast rule about how much you should tip, so use your discretion. If you pay with a credit card, there most likely won’t be a line on the receipt where you can write in the amount you want to tip, so bring some extra cash.