Rome is one of the most incredible cities in the world, and I am so blessed to have called it home at one point in my life. It was an incredible ride, but there were definitely a few things that would have been helpful to know before making the move to Italy.

1. Italian

This one is obvious, but I couldn’t make this list without it. Knowing Italian is not completely necessary in Rome, but there were definitely times when it would have been helpful. In the main areas you can easily get by speaking English, but Rome is huge, and there are plenty of places on the outskirts where Italian would have helped me a lot.

Transportation is when I believe it would have been the most helpful. Taxi drivers are notorious for ripping off people they believe to be tourists, and if you can’t speak their language, it’s possible for them to get away with it. Luckily I knew enough phrases to get myself out of these situations, but being fluent would have avoided them completely.

You also just receive a general level of respect when speaking Italian rather than English. Especially in places like restaurants or bars, you may even be able to finagle a different price, simply by speaking in Italian.

It’s never too late to learn, but I really wish I had made a better relationship with the Duolingo owl before I moved to Rome.

2. Italian’s Sense of Time

Being on time for anything in Rome is unheard of. Local transit schedules, business hours of operation, or just setting a general meeting time are all consistently unreliable.

It’s not uncommon to walk to a restaurant that says they are open, only for them to be closed for 2 hours to have “family dinner”. You may be waiting for a tram to come at 7:15, only for a completely empty one to show up at 7:45, saying that the tram is no longer in service. These things happen on a daily basis, and I promise there is nothing you can do to change it.

My best advice is to fully embrace Italian time. Understand that your 9:00 dinner might not start until 10:30, and that’s ok, you’ll be alright. Go get a Peroni from the corner store and reminisce about a time and place where punctuation was relevant.

3. Gelato Tourist Traps

If you care about gelato even half as much as I do, this one is very important. There are easy signs to tell if a Gelateria is a tourist trap, or if it’s the real deal. I tell people about this all the time, as I feel it is my duty to ensure everyone is getting the best gelato experience possible, and not getting ripped off.

It’s very simple, the more eye popping the gelato is, the worse it is. The big, extravagant, and swirly looking gelato is the worst! The problem is, it looks the best, which attracts unknowing tourists. The large amount of air in the gelato is what causes this swirling effect to be possible, which is not what you want. You want a heavier, flat, matte-like texture. This is going to ensure that it is made with better ingredients, and therefore better quality.

Another sign is the flavors the place has. If a place has an artificial flavor, for example, cotton candy, the chances are that all the ingredients they’re using are fake. They’re not going to be having real strawberries in one batch, and artificial cotton candy flavoring in another. If one flavor is fake, they all are!

Keep an eye out for these signs, it’s always an easy tell. In my opinion, Giuffré in Trastevere has the best gelato I’ve ever had. If you’re in the area it’s a must visit.

4. Lack of Public Bathrooms

Public bathrooms are a rare find around Rome. Now, this might not come as a problem to you if you feel inclined to take advantage of the legality of public urination. But for us travelers with the utmost class, keep in mind it’s not very easy to go pee in a pinch.

There’s not much else to say about this one, but it’s definitely worth keeping in the back of your mind. You do not want to find yourself in an emergency situation with nowhere to go. Not that I would know anything about that though, I just heard it from a friend.

5. Useful/Relevant Apps

Citymapper was easily my most used app while I was in Rome. It allows you to download a map of the city your in, which you can then use to navigate the city without using cellular data. This can be a life saver, especially considering you most likely won’t have Italy’s phone services while traveling. It will save you money, and it’s very reliable and accurate.

MyTaxi is the only ride share app I ever used in Rome. Uber and Lyft are not available over there, and you can even be fined for getting caught using it. MyTaxi is reliable, and you don’t have to worry about the risk of getting a huge fine, just for calling a ride somewhere.

Deliveroo is Italy’s version of Uber eats. I wouldn’t say it’s entirely reliable, but if you’re looking for delivery it’s probably your best option. However I did once get an order delivered over 12 hours after it was placed, so use this one at your own risk.

6. Proper Dog Etiquette

This was one of the few things my company debriefed us on in our orientation upon arriving to Italy, which I thought was strange, but figured if they were mentioning it on day one, it must be relevant. In America, it is totally normal to approach a random person walking their dog, and give them a quick hello and a pat on the head. Most people don’t mind, and wouldn’t think twice about it. However, this is not how it is in Italy at all.

If you see someone walking their dog, I would strongly suggest you mind your own business and let them pass by. But if you must go say “Ciao” to a furry friend you should at least ask the owner if it is ok with them first. Italians are nice people, but this type of action is just not as common in their culture. Realize that you are not in your native culture, and respect their personal space.