![\"Empty](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Empty-Roman-street-in-the-off-season-for-budget-travelers-in-Rome-1024x681.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou’re sure to get caught in a wave of tourists during the summer months, so if saving cash is important to you, choose off-peak times to travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Low season in Rome:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These dates avoid the periods before and after the Christmas holidays and before the flurry of activity during Easter, when prices for everything take a significant hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best ways to immerse in a new culture is by sampling the local cuisine with gusto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, don\u2019t make the mistake of limiting yourself to restaurants and fancy caf\u00e9s. There are many sandwich shops that offer panini options for just a couple of euros, as well as small pizzerias with Pizza al Taglio<\/a> \u2014 perfect for eating on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also fresh markets that sell porchetta and mozzarella for you to try, and know that taking your coffee at the bar instead of a table will save you a couple of euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overpriced items like sodas in restaurants, picture-taking with costumed folks, and terrace caf\u00e9s with killer views<\/a> can put a huge dent in your wallet. Bottled water, especially sold near tourist sites, is also notoriously overpriced, and you’ll be better off bringing a reusable travel bottle and refilling it at one of the many small drinking fountains scattered across the city for free. Lodging is most often the most expensive part of visiting Rome. Keep your eyes peeled for budget hotel options and bed-and-breakfasts for comfortable yet pocket-friendly places to stay in. Often (though not always), the larger hotels charge more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A B&B in Rome probably won\u2019t serve the hefty breakfast buffet that many U.S. chains specialize in, but you can still get your money\u2019s worth by filling up on pastries, juice and lighter continental fare so that\u2019s one meal you don\u2019t have to buy out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun idea: <\/strong>You might even stay with nuns, who offer very affordable accommodations, no matter your religious affiliation. Plus, you\u2019ll be contributing to independent organizations and will likely make more intimate connections and better memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you buy tickets for every landmark in Rome, check free attractions, such as the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain. Some of the small museums in Rome<\/a> are free. And lots of incredible views are free. For a magical photo of Rome, visit Vittoriano First Terrace and Campidoglio Square (at the top of the Capitoline Hill) at no additional cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s also a good idea to look for tours that help you experience multiple sights in the same trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
2. Learn to love street food<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pizza](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Pizza-al-taglio-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Be mindful of overpriced items<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Refillable](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Refillable-water-bottle-for-Rome-on-a-budget-1024x683.jpg\")
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Another thing to watch out for is the exchange fees for converting your currency to euros. Here are some tips I recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
4. Consider B&Bs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Prioritize free attractions and bundled tours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Trevi](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Trevi-Fountain-in-Rome-1024x678.jpg\")
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![\"Empty](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/05\/Empty-Spanish-Steps-in-Rome-with-no-tourists-e1621130056574-1024x645.jpg\")
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