Rome is not just a destination—it’s an experience made of hidden courtyards, morning rituals, late-night strolls, and timeless traditions. While millions come to see the Colosseum and the Vatican, few get to truly feel the Eternal City. That’s where local knowledge makes all the difference.
At What’s In Italy, we asked our expert private guides to share their insider secrets—so you can experience Rome as Romans do.
🛵 Wake Up Like a Roman: Coffee and Cornetto
Romans don’t sit for breakfast—they stand. Start your day the local way at a neighborhood bar (coffee shop), where you’ll hear orders like “un caffè al banco” (an espresso at the counter) and “cornetto vuoto” (plain croissant). Skip the tourist traps and find places like Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè or Bar del Cappuccino near Vatican walls.
🧭 Walk the Streets, Not Just the Sites
Forget tour buses—Rome is a walking city. Stroll through Trastevere in the morning when the cobblestones are still cool and cats rule the alleys. Walk Via Giulia for Renaissance elegance or head to Monti for vintage shops and bohemian cafés.
🚶♂️ Join our “Squares and Fountains Tour” to discover these neighborhoods with a private guide who tells the stories behind every stone.
🍝 Eat Where Locals Eat
Skip the restaurants with picture menus. Ask your guide or concierge about where they go with their family. Some of our favorites:
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Da Enzo al 29 (Trastevere) – For authentic carbonara
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Roscioli (Campo de’ Fiori) – Fine Roman cuisine with a twist
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Cesare al Casaletto – A tram ride away, but worth every bite
Better yet, join our Food and Wine Tasting Tour to sample Rome’s real culinary scene.
🕯️ Seek Out the Quiet Places
Want a break from the crowds? Locals go to places like:
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The Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) on Aventine Hill
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Basilica of San Clemente, layered with centuries of history
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The Protestant Cemetery, peaceful and poetic, where Keats and Shelley rest
These tranquil escapes offer the essence of Rome without the noise.
🚗 Travel in Style: Golf Cart
Want to feel like a VIP? Take a Private Golf Cart Tour with one of our expert guides. It’s comfortable, fun, and allows you to see more in less time—just like locals navigating traffic on a Vespa.
👉 Book the Exclusive Golf Cart Tour
✨ Make It Personal With a Private Guide
The best way to experience Rome like a local? Have one by your side. A private guide can adapt the tour to your pace, skip the tourist traps, and show you the hidden gems—from keyholes and secret courtyards to underground churches.
✅ Custom Private Tours
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, let us create a bespoke tour of Rome with a local guide—tailored to your interests.
👉 Plan Your Private Experience
🗺️ Live the City, Don’t Just Visit It
Rome is more than monuments. It’s a rhythm, a scent, a state of mind. With a little insider help, you won’t just check off the major sites—you’ll feel what it’s like to live here, if only for a day.
Let What’s In Italy be your local friend and expert companion as you fall in love with Rome, the way it’s meant to be discovered.
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