Best Rome Blog Posts of 2017

As the year comes to an end, I wanted to recap some of the most popular posts over the last 12 months.

The blog entries (which now total more than 700 from the last 7 years!) cover a range of practical and comical topics about life in Rome, and exploring Italy in general.

Here are the best Rome blogs of 2017:

1. How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by a Taxi in Rome: I am somehow unsurprised and yet still disappointed that this ended up being the most useful story of the year! There are a few bad eggs that end up giving Rome taxi drivers a bad name, but this post looks into how to ensure that you are not being cheated when you get into a cab in Rome.

2. 11 Dining Habits that Make You Look Like a Tourist in Italy: I am so happy to see this blog on the list because it was one of my favorite to write! I love posts that start a conversation, and this one is such a subjective subject that it is hard to find rules written in stone. However, after seven years in Italy, I can say that there are definitely some habits that mark you has a tourist before you take your first bite.

3. Rooftop Bars in Rome: Oh yes, this was the best Rome blog post that I had to “research” this year. I love Rome’s cityscape and so I adore rooftop bars throughout the Eternal City. 2017 did not disappoint, and with the opening of the Eitch Borromini Rooftop, we had a serious contender for best new bar. I will be back to visit all in 2018 – this time with an actual spritz in hand instead of my pregnancy-friendly juices that I relied on for the summer of 2017.

4. When to Visit Rome: One of the questions I am asked most often is “what is Rome like in (insert any month here)?” While every year is a bit different, I put together this month-by-month guide of what Rome is like at any given time. It includes tips on major holidays and events, as well as weather averages and tips on what to bring.

5. What to Expect When Traveling in Italy for the First Time: I thought I knew what to expect the first time I came to Italy because I had seen the country in movies and TV shows for so long (and dreamt of the trip for months). While Hollywood gets some things right, this blog looks at what you should know in order to make the most of your first time in Italy (and manage the culture shock that definitely exists!)

6. 50 Free Things to do in Rome: This was one of my favorite Rome blogs to work on because I think that the city has an incredible amount to offer visitors and locals alike – and so much of it is free! Between museums, monuments and even concerts, this list of 50 things to do without paying a penny is only the tip of the iceberg.

7. 11 Things to do in Rome in Winter: While summer remains the most popular time to visit Rome, I think that winter trips deserve some attention too. Between the Rome Christmas markets, the (small) potential for snow, and waaaay fewer crowds – there is a lot to do in Rome during the colder months.

8. Italy is the World’s Healthiest Country: According to a new index from Bloomberg, Italy is the healthiest country in the world. There are a lot of contributing factors that make this true – from diet and lifestyle to Italy’s national health system. But do you agree that this is really what makes it one of the best country’s to live in?

9. How to Buy Train Tickets in Italy: This year, a lot of our personal travel was around Italy – and almost all of that was by train. While no super high speed Japanese rails, the Italian train system is a great way to get around the country (and especially between major cities). This post looks at how to buy a ticket, find a good price, and make sure everything is validated correctly. If you are looking for even more transportation options, I also put together a post on bus tickets in Rome, and how to use the Rome metro system.

10. Where to Stay in Rome: Whether you prefer to rent an apartment or book a full service hotel, this popular Rome blog rounded up the best neighborhoods to use as a base during your time in the Eternal City. It looks at how to pick an area that will keep you close to the center, but also match your preferred travel style.

Annnnd, that’s it!

Did your favorite Rome blog post make the list?

P.S. I would also like to say thank you for viewing the blog more than a million times in 2017! If there is anything you want to see more of or less of in 2018 – please let me know!

5 thoughts on “Best Rome Blog Posts of 2017

  1. piero says:

    ….well i let you know! a me picerebbe rfacessi ,magari la prossima volta che rivai in America, l’articolo (so funny!!) sulle differenze tra Italia (ni) e America(ni) alla luce di tutti questi anni trascorsi, e come oggi TU vedi queste differenze , e non parlo solo dei bagni o della burocrazia, ma anche proprio dei due differenti approcci alla vita , alle due mentalità.
    grazie comunque per averci fatto divertire e sorridere ancora un altro anno ,e ricordati che anche se uno non ti scrive , in tantissimi ti seguono. so…
    have a grandissimo 2018. ciao.

  2. christine says:

    I was going to read your blog until I saw that you were put off by tourists looking like tourists. Since when do we have to look Italian? Dress italian? Eat like an Italian? It’s this vibe that makes me not want to visit Italy in October. Everyone tells me to make sure and dress like an Italian. Here in California we see millions of tourists and it’s no big deal. I doubt they fret over such silly things as you would have us do when visiting Italy

    • Natalie says:

      Hi Christine! Hardly. I think that everyone has a different travel style and some people want to adopt local customs when they travel but I am a full believer in “to each his own”

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