How much spending money for Rome?

Filled to the brim with historic attractions, traditional trattorias and trendy bars, there’s a lot to occupy your time in Rome. However, it can be hard to know exactly how much spending money for Rome you’ll need in order to accommodate all that pizza, gelato and sightseeing.

So, read on to discover exactly how much I spent when spending three days in Rome and what I spent it on. Of course, everyone’s itineraries and appetites will differ (I skipped Vatican City so that is not included in my budgeting) but this should give you a good idea of how much money you need when visiting the city.

Spending money for three days in Rome

Inbound airport taxi:

Ciampino Airport to Trastevere: €15.
This is half of the full fee as we taxi pooled with two other passengers. See the end of this article for more information on airport taxis.

Day one:

Food:

Breakfast:
Two coffees and two chocolate croissants in Trastevere: €6

Lunch:
Two pizzas, two bottles of Peroni and a large bottle of water at Grazia E Graziella, Trastevere: €31

Light dinner:
Trio of suppli at Bir & Fud, Trastevere: €7

Drink:

Three large bottles of Peroni (660ml) from the supermarket: €3. Tip: Be sure to find a supermarket rather than a minimarket, which charges three times the price.
Two 40cl beers at Bir & Fud, Trastevere: €12
One large beer and one small beer at a bar in Trastevere: Around €10

Sightseeing:

Santa Maria Basilica: Free
Palatine Hill and Roman Forum: €18 (includes entry to the Colosseum)
Audio guide: €7. Tip: Bring your own headphones as they are not provided.

Day two:

Food:

Breakfast:
Two coffees and two chocolate croissants at a café near the Colosseum: €12

Lunch:
Two lasagnes, one large bottle of Peroni (660ml) and one large bottle of water at Enoteca Corsi, near the Pantheon: €28.50

Dinner:
Two pizzas and a large bottle of water in Trastevere: €21

Ice cream:
Two single scoop ice cream cones at Blue Ice: €6

Drink:

Two coffees and a bottle of water at a café near Altare della Patria: €9
Two large bottles of beer (660ml) and a bottle of Prosecco from the supermarket: €8
One large beer and one small beer in Trastevere: €8.50

Sightseeing:

Colosseum: €0 (Included in the super ticket purchased at the Palatine the previous day)
Audio guide: €5.50. Tip: Bring your own headphones as they are not provided.
Rooftop viewing terrace at Altare della Patria: €10
Pantheon: Free

Day three:

Food:

Breakfast:
Two coffees and croissants at a café near the Spanish Steps: €10

Lunch:
One large bottle of beer (660ml), one spaghetti and meatballs, and one pizza at Restaurant Imperivm: €28.50

Dinner:
Two suppli, one starter, two mains, one beer and one glass of wine at I Vascellari: €56

Ice cream:
Two single scoop ice cream cones at Blue Ice: €6

Drink:

Two small bottles of beer at Open Baladin: €10
One small beer and one large beer in Trastevere: Around €10

Sightseeing:

Trevi Fountain: Free
Villa Borghese Gardens: Free
Spanish Steps: Free
Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo: Free
Palazzo Altemps: €7
Janiculum Terrace: Free

Outbound airport taxi:

Trastevere to Ciampino Airport: €30

The total amount of spending money for three days in Rome: €213 (per person)

Airport taxis:

Due to the frequency of taxi drivers overcharging tourists, the government have introduced a flat rate for taxis to and from the city centre. These rates are €30 to and from Ciampino Airport and €48 to and from Fiumicino Airport, at any time day or night.

Unfortunately, as we found out on arrival, taxi drivers still do not follow these rules. We landed at midnight so there was no one around other than our fellow flight passengers and the taxi drivers. Due to 90% of said passengers being tourists, the taxi drivers took advantage of the situation and quoted everyone €50. We protested and pointed at the poster displaying the government official price of €30 only to be fed different stories (late night surcharge, staying outside of the city zone etc) as a reason for the price increase. What’s more, the taxi drivers started pooling passengers who were staying near one another into the same taxi and still charging the increased prices. As we were staying in Trastevere (within the city centre but across the river) no taxi drivers would take us. Fortunately, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

After the taxi drivers and most of the passengers had all left, we were left waiting with two girls who were also staying in Trastevere. One of the girls could speak Italian so when another taxi eventually arrived, she asked the driver how much it would be to take all four of us to Trastevere and he quoted the official €30, even with two drop offs. He also confirmed that the other drivers were indeed trying to scam us and breaking the law by doing so. Therefore, beware of the scammers and be sure to stand your ground and not pay more than you need to.