Planning a trip to Rome...

[Square King]

Anyone have general tips on what to expect, look out for, places to eat that aren't tourist traps, etc? I've read about pickpockets and scams and I have a partial itenary planned out, but I'm looking for some general insider knowledge. I'll be there for a week or so and it's my first time outside the US.

[junkeR]

Well, I have no idea what advice to give, but take plenty of pictures, visit the Colosseum, and post your pictures and adventures back on the shmups forum.

Have fun!

[supaT]

Allora!

To expect: Lots of old stones
To visit: San pietro (including view from top, stairs are fine to get upstairs IMO), ancient rome (of course), Pantheon (not to be a primary destination, stop by on a walk through the city), Fontana di trevi (same), combine the former two with a trip to all the piazza *, for instance piazza navona with Bernini's fountain (many small restaurants are also found within this area)
Avoid: Inner colosseum (not much to see and expensive, if you must, go), restaurants (yeah!), indians selling umbrellas, Berlusconi

From my experience, the best places to eat are actually the ones the locals go to for lunch. The variety is not big, but the meals are delicious and reasonable priced. Other than that, it's really not that easy to find a decent place to eat from my point of view, contrary to what you might expect (if you do not want to spend much cash). The good ones are often found outside the city (cucina alla mamma ).

I was in Rome in late october, so it was kinda fresh, maybe a good bet is also Via Veneto (Dolce Vita) and parc Villa Borghese. Depends what you're interested in. We did almost everything except vatican by foot and were located near to stazione termini (main railway station).

Buon viaggio!

Edit: INSIDE the colosseum

[Ixmucane2]

Don't rent a car: you'd just get angry looking for a parking spot or bouncing off one way and pedestrian only roads. After arriving by train or plane, rely on taxi service (but not the unlicensed bastards that approach travellers outside the train stations etc.) and public transport (preferably the subway, as it is much faster than buses); almost everything important is within walking range of a subway station.

I don't have current restaurant advice to offer (except perhaps Palombini), but supaT's advice is good: follow people that appear to be on lunch break.
In order of increasing budget, you should look for bars (to eat sandwiches); McDonald's and other fast food chains (some, like "Spizzico", specialize in decent quality pizza); free-flow restaurants and pizzerias; luxury restaurants. If they are crowded, they are good; if they are not, there's a reason.

I recommend a visit to the very large Vatican Museums, which include Michelangelo's Cappella Sistina and might be combined with a visit to other Vatican buildings like St. Peter.

If you like fascist and modern architecture, you'll enjoy the EUR and several towns around Rome.

[kernow]

You do have to be on your guard for pickpockets and thiefs, we were sitting at a cafe outside and this guy walked past handing out fliers, I literally watched him put a flier on another persons table and take their camera in one smooth motion, as soon as the people shouted at him, he just calmly put it back and strolled off. Quite amazing really.

Its a beautiful city though, I really loved it. Try see the trevy fountain, the pantheon, collisseum which is erm, pretty easy to spot. I did love Rome but as soon as I went to some coastal village it was just so much calmer.

[Square King]

Thanks guys. I've done a ton of research and *think* I have everything I need to know, but if anyone has any other tips, feel free to share.