Rome is a city that is equal parts romance and history, fusing the ruins of its ancient past with the spirit of modern ingenuity. Travelers who escape to Rome are often greeted by a city that is simmering with possibility.
This storied city is one of the most popular European destinations among Americans — and it lives up to its reputation as one of the best places to visit. But what exactly does a trip to Rome cost?
Don’t worry — we’re travel experts and have broken down the average costs to help you learn what you’ll have to spend on a trip; let us be your guide!
Average Trip to Rome Cost in 2024
The average four-day trip to Rome for two people costs around $4,000:
- Average Accommodation Cost: $300 per night
- Average Flight Cost: $1,000 per person
- Food, Drink & Activities: $75 per person, per day
- Transportation: $200 total
- Total: $4,000
These costs reflect what an average trip might cost for two people who want to explore the city and all of its top attractions within four days.
Your costs, however, are highly dependent on the choices that you make for your trip. Hotels in the heart of Rome, for instance, are quite a bit more than vacation rentals or hostels in the outskirts of the city.
However, choosing a hotel in the city’s center can lower your transportation costs and also can allow you to see more in a shorter amount of time.
The best way to understand how much a trip to Rome would cost is to review each item and decide where you want to allocate your money.
Rome Trip Cost: Average by Item
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As you fine-tune your budget, it’s important to review the average costs of each aspect of your trip. This will allow you to make personalized selections that accommodate your budget while still allowing you to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to Rome.
Accommodation Costs
Property costs in Rome are incredibly high, which has directly impacted how much it costs to stay in the city. The prices get higher the closer you are to top tourist attractions, such as Vatican City or the Colosseum.
Hotels have long been the most popular accommodation type in Rome, and they have always been relatively expensive. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the phenomenon of revenge travel, those prices have increased exponentially.
According to Statista, the average hotel rates in Rome increased by more than 60 percent between 2022 and 2023. In 2024, the average nightly rate at a hotel in Rome was close to $300.
Solo travelers may find that it’s less expensive to stay in the city’s hostels, which offer spartan accommodations that are ideal for travelers who plan to spend most of their time exploring the sights of Rome.
Vacation rentals also are an option for travelers in Rome who are interested in experience local life in Rome, but the prices are not always cheaper. This is when those high property costs come into play, with the owners of the rentals often passing off those costs to their renters.
Flight Costs
Flying to Rome from the United States can be expensive, as most trans-Atlantic flights are more costly than domestic flights. However, there are ways to fly to Rome on a budget.
On average, you can expect a flight to Rome to cost about $1,000 per ticket. However, the total price of your flight to Rome will vary based on when you are flying, how far in advance you are booking your ticket and the seats that you select for your flight.
The airport that you fly into also may impact the cost of your flight to Rome. There are two major airports located near Rome — Rome Ciampino and Rome Fiumicino.
Most people opt to fly into Ciampino because it is closer to the city, and there are typically more inbound flights for this airport.
According to Skyscanner, you are most likely to score cheaper flights to Rome when you fly between September and November, with October typically being the cheapest month to fly to Rome.
Food, Drink & Activity Costs
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Your food, drink and activity costs for a trip to Rome will be highly dependent on how you like to spend your time while you travel.
Rome is considered to be a foodie destination, with many travelers hoping to savor authentic Italian meals while sipping on some of the best wine in the world. However, the food costs are actually surprisingly affordable.
Budget Your Trip notes that sit-down table meals will cost more than street food in Rome, but either way, you might be pleased with how low your food costs are in Rome.
Many of the restaurants in the city are local establishments run by families, and they rely on fresh ingredients from the local region in order to provide visitors with excellent selections at a moderate price.
You should plan on spending about $50 per day on food in Rome, especially if you plan to eat at a restaurant. If you grab a slice of pizza from a local street vendor, however, you may find that you spend significantly less on food in Rome.
While food is understandably a focal point of any Rome itinerary, you won’t want to forget about the costs for your activities.
Rome is home to some of the world’s most iconic sites, including the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. No trip to the city would be complete without exploring Vatican City, where you can stroll through St. Peter’s Square and see the wonder of the Sistine Chapel for yourself.
You can expect to spend an average of $40 per day on activities, depending on what you choose to do while you are in Rome.
These are the costs for some the city’s most well-known attractions:
- Colosseum: $18
- Vatican Museum: $19
Fortunately, many of the city’s most iconic attractions are free to visit. The Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, for instance, have no entry fee.
One of the best ways to save money on your activities in Rome is to buy a tourist pass, which will give you discounted admission into some of Rome’s most popular museums and attractions.
Transportation Costs
Rome is a surprisingly compact city, and if you bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes, you may find yourself exploring most of it on foot. As a result, transportation costs are usually much lower for Rome than they are in other major cities.
However, if you do choose to pay for transportation, you will find private taxis to cost more than public transportation.
According to Budget Your Trip, the average traveler in Rome spends about $23 per day on transportation. Public Transportation is particularly affordable in Rome, though it can seem chaotic and overwhelming at times.
Despite this, it’s a reliable way to get around town and save your feet in the process. The Metro is one of the most popular forms of public transportation among visitors in Rome.
Featuring three lines that criss-cross the city, the Metro can be used to get from one tourist hotspot to the next. While other cities offer fares for one-way tickets, Rome has public transportation tickets based on the amount of time that you are in the city.
A 24-hour fare is about $8, while a 72-hour fare is about $20. When you purchase one of these passes, you can use public transportation as much as you want during that time period.
Things to Consider
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These are a few things you might want to consider as you plan your trip to Rome:
- Rome is becoming an increasingly popular destination, so you may want to book your trip in advance. According to Dream Big Travel Far, more than 5.8 million international tourists visited the city in 2022 — showcasing the power of the revenge travel trend. Since the pandemic, travel to Rome has increased by more than 500 percent.
- The currency used in Rome is the Euro, but the exchange rate is relatively equal to the US Dollar. Prices in Rome are comparable to prices in major cities in the United States.
- Pickpockets are common in Rome, particularly in crowded piazzas with lots of tourists. Keep your identification, credit cards and cash in a small bag, and carry it in front of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Rome Italy expensive to visit?
Rome is a major tourist destination in Italy, and as a result, prices are often higher for accommodations, food, tours and activities. However, by comparison, Rome is considered to be less expensive than other major cities in Italy, such as Venice or Florence.
What month is cheapest to visit Rome?
Winter is considered to be the low tourist season, and as a result, prices typically drop between the months of late November and early March.
How long should you plan a trip to Rome?
Most tourists plan to spend between 4 and 6 days in Rome, especially if they are going to be traveling to other cities in Italy. Generally speaking, you can see most of the major attractions in Rome in about four days.
Should I carry cash in Italy?
Most major hotels, restaurants and retailers in Rome and throughout Italy will accept credit cards. However, many travel experts recommend carrying some cash in case you are paying for a small item from a local business, or visiting a local market.
Can you use US dollars in Italy?
No, most businesses will not accept the US dollar. If you are planning to pay cash for transactions, you should convert your US currency into Euros. You can do this at the airport prior to your departure, or once you arrive in Rome.
Over to You — Book Your Trip Today!
| 🛎️ Average Accommodation Cost | $300 per night |
| ✈️ Average Flight Cost | $1,000 per person |
| 🍽️ Food, Drink & Activities | $75 per person, per day |
| 🚕 Transportation | $200 total |
| 💲 Total Cost | $4,000 |
Most travel experts agree that four days is the best amount of time to spend in Rome, as it allows you to see the best sights of the city at a leisurely pace.
The average cost for trip to Rome for two people is about $4,000, but you should be able to easily design an itinerary that suits your personal budget. No matter how much you spend, you will not regret investing your time and energy into planning a trip to the Eternal City.
Happy travels!