The Rome Index
Rome on a budget
What's free, what's cheap, and how to make €50 a day work in one of Europe's great cities.
Free sights
The Pantheon interior now charges entry, but the outside is free. Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, the Spanish Steps and all of Rome's piazzas cost nothing. Every church is free or near-free to enter — including St Peter's Basilica, which only charges for the dome climb.
Free museums
The first Sunday of every month sees state museums offer free entry — including the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Lines are longer, but for a tight budget this alone can save €50 on a family visit.
Eating cheaply
Breakfast at the bar counter (€1.50–2), pizza al taglio for lunch (€4–6), an aperitivo with the included buffet for a light dinner (€8–10) — a full day's eating for under €20 without going near a sit-down restaurant.
Free walking tours, with a caveat
Several companies offer 'free' (tip-based) walking tours covering major historic centre sights — a useful budget option for orientation, though tips typically run €10-15 per person.
The picnic strategy
Buying bread, cheese, cured meat and fruit from a market for a park picnic costs a fraction of even a modest sit-down lunch while still delivering genuinely good ingredients.
