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How to Experience Rome Like a Local (And What I Actually Learned Doing It)

Updated: Aug 18

I’ve always loved Italy, but Rome? That was a different beast. Everyone talks about how it’s one big open-air museum, and sure, the Colosseum and Vatican are stunning—but I wanted more than just to gawk at ruins. So when I went to Rome a while back, I decided to ditch the frantic checklist and try something different: I was going to live like a Roman. Just for a week. No guidebooks, no rigid plans—just me, the Eternal City, and the locals.

What followed was a week of learning (a lot), eating (even more), and falling in love with Rome in the most unexpected, wonderfully chaotic ways. Here's what I learned.

Crowds on Spanish Steps in Rome, colorful buildings and Trinità dei Monti church in background, clear sky, vibrant scene.
Spanish Steps in Rome

1. Romans Don't Rush (Unless They're Driving)

The first thing I noticed? Romans move at their own pace. Want a cappuccino? Sip it slowly at the bar. Going for aperitivo? Expect to stay awhile. But step into the street, and it’s a Formula 1 race.

Crossing the road was like a game of chicken—I had to learn the unspoken rules: make eye contact, commit, and walk like you mean it. If you hesitate, you’re toast. But once I embraced the rhythm of the city—calm in the café, chaos in traffic—I started to understand the magic of Roman life.

Espresso machine brewing coffee into a black cup on a shiny metal tray, with "Caffe Americano" text visible. Warm, inviting setting.

2. Coffee Is a Ritual (and You’re Probably Doing It Wrong)

Let’s talk coffee. I thought I knew coffee. I did not know coffee.

Romans don’t mess around. Espresso is king, and cappuccino is strictly a morning affair. Try ordering one after lunch, and you’ll get a polite smile—or a very confused barista. I quickly learned to just stand at the bar, knock back an espresso like a local, and move on with my day feeling like I could scale the Vatican walls.

Also, no venti caramel half-whatever here. It’s coffee, pure and simple. And it’s good.


3. Gelato Is Not Dessert—It’s a Lifestyle

Some days, I had gelato twice. Other days? Three times. It wasn’t gluttony, it was cultural immersion.

I learned the signs of a good gelateria: muted colors (no neon green pistachio!), metal containers with lids, and seasonal flavors. My favorite discovery? Ricotta and fig. Absolute heaven! The locals grab a cone like it’s no big deal, stroll casually, and somehow manage not to drip it all over themselves. I’m still working on that skill.


4. La Passeggiata Is a Whole Vibe

One evening, I noticed that around 6 or 7 PM, the streets would magically fill with well-dressed Romans just... strolling. Not going anywhere in particular, just walking and chatting. This, I learned, is la passeggiata—the evening walk.

It’s like a social event disguised as casual exercise. And the outfits? Impeccable. I joined in, feeling wildly underdressed, but loving every second. It was a reminder that slowing down and enjoying your surroundings is a daily ritual, not just a vacation mindset.

Evening city street scene in Rome with a red bus, glowing tunnel, and pedestrians walking. Buildings frame a cobblestone road under a twilight sky.

5. You Don’t Have to See Everything

In my first two days, I tried to “do” Rome. Spoiler alert: you can’t. It’s too big, too old, too packed with stuff. So I gave up the pressure to see it all and started exploring like a local.

One day, I spent an hour just people-watching in Campo de’ Fiori. Another, I wandered Trastevere, got lost in the cobbled streets, and stumbled upon the cutest bookshop with a sleepy cat on the counter. Those unscripted moments? Way better than elbowing my way through the Vatican Museum.


6. Romans Talk With Their Hands (and Their Faces)

Even if I didn’t understand the words, I got the message. The animated conversations, the dramatic expressions, the passionate gestures—it was like live theater on every street corner.

I started mimicking them (poorly), and I think it actually helped. A shrug, a raised eyebrow, a two-handed “what do you mean?” gesture—I was basically fluent in Roman body language by day four.


7. Food Is Sacred—and Timed Precisely

One does not simply grab lunch at 3 PM in Rome. Restaurants close after lunch and reopen for dinner around 7 or 8. And don’t even think about showing up at 6 for dinner unless you want to eat with the tourists.

I got used to this rhythm quickly. Lunch was long and satisfying—carbonara, cacio e pepe, maybe a glass of wine. Dinner was later, lighter, and full of good conversation. And bread? It’s not an appetizer. It’s for pushing sauce around your plate. I learned this the delicious way.


8. Roman Public Transport Is an Adventure

The metro is... fine. The buses? Wildly unpredictable. I spent a good portion of my week waiting for buses that were “due in 2 minutes” for 15 minutes straight.

Eventually, I gave up and walked everywhere. Honestly, it was the best decision. Every alley hides a story, every piazza has a surprise. Plus, it balances out all the pasta.


9. Locals Are Friendly, Especially If You Try

Romans aren’t always warm right away, but they are proud of their city. If you attempt a few words in Italian or ask for a recommendation, most will light up and give you tips your guidebook never could.

A barista told me where to find the best tiramisu. A shop owner gave me a quick lesson in Roman dialect. A guy walking his dog warned me not to buy water near the Colosseum (he was right). That human connection? Priceless.


10. Living Like a Roman Means Letting Go a Bit

If I learned anything, it’s that Romans embrace imperfection. The city is chaotic, beautiful, messy, timeless—and they just roll with it. Laundry hangs across alleys, scooters whiz past ancient ruins, and no one’s in a rush unless they’re late for lunch. The cracks in the cobblestones, the graffiti on 500-year-old walls, the pigeons crowding fountains—it all feels less like neglect and more like life spilling over.

By the end of my week, I wasn’t trying to “see” Rome—I was just being in Rome. Sitting on the Spanish Steps, sipping a Negroni in a hidden piazza, smiling at the old man who played the accordion every afternoon by my Airbnb. I wasn’t a tourist. I was part of the rhythm, if only for a moment.

Rome taught me that the magic isn’t in checking off monuments, it’s in letting the city wash over you. It’s the clink of espresso cups at sunrise, the hum of conversation echoing through narrow streets at midnight, the sudden hush when church bells ring. It’s strangers who greet you like friends, and the feeling that history isn’t behind glass here—it’s alive, woven into every ordinary day.

When I left, I didn’t feel like I was leaving a destination. I felt like I was leaving behind an old friend—one I know I’ll return to, because Rome doesn’t end when your trip does. It lingers, in little ways, long after you’ve gone.

Crowded Trevi Fountain at night with people gathering around the lit-up fountain. Yellow-lit buildings and a deep blue sky create a lively scene.
Trevi Fountain at Night

Would I Do It Again? Absolutely.

Living like a Roman, even just for a week, taught me more about the city (and myself) than any sightseeing tour ever could. It’s not about ticking off landmarks—it’s about embracing the chaos, the charm, and the everyday magic.

So if you’re headed to Rome, here’s my advice: skip a few museums, order the second-best wine, wander without GPS, and let the city surprise you. Because when you slow down and live like a Roman, even just a little, Rome doesn’t just feel eternal—it feels like home.


Useful Links for Planning Your Trip to Rome, Italy


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