Totally Rome
Common tourist traps in Rome — what to skip
The specific scams, overpriced spots and time-wasters that catch visitors — and what to do instead.
The "friendship bracelet" and rose sellers
Around major sights, particularly Piazza Navona and the Colosseum, individuals may tie a bracelet on your wrist or hand you a rose before demanding payment. Decline firmly and keep walking — engaging at all, even to argue, tends to prolong the interaction.
Restaurants with photo menus and touts outside
Any restaurant with a tout outside actively inviting you in, a laminated photo menu, and a location directly on a major tourist route is virtually guaranteed to be mediocre and overpriced. Good Roman restaurants don't need to solicit passersby.
Unofficial "skip the line" sellers near the Colosseum
Individuals approaching tourists near the Colosseum offering immediate skip-the-line entry are not affiliated with the official ticketing system and often charge inflated prices for tickets you could buy directly, or worse, for nothing at all. Book only through CoopCulture or the official Colosseum website.
Taxi overcharging
Only use official white taxis from a designated rank or booked by phone/app. Confirm the fare is metered or matches the fixed airport rate before the journey begins. Unofficial drivers offering rides at the airport or station are best avoided entirely.
