Tips for First-Time Travellers to Rome
No Milk in Coffee After 12pm
There’s something magic about the coffee in Italy. In fact, you’ll find that there’s something special about everything you eat in the Italian capital. If you’re looking for flights Sydney to Rome, you better be ready for a culinary adventure. Just remember that any milk in your coffee after noon isn’t really Italian coffee culture, and the Italians are extremely specific about their coffee culture.
Buy bus tickets ahead of time
Once you’ve found and booked your cheap flights to Rome from Sydney and you’ve started planning your itinerary, make sure you work traveling around the city into your plans. The local public transport isn’t the most efficient (or the cleanest) but if you plan properly, you should be just fine. Apart from your cab ride from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) to Rome city centre, you’ll be able to get around using the bus. Make sure you stock up on bus tickets in advance. You’ll find them at any of the many convenience stores dotted around the city.
Dress For Church
The churches in Rome aren’t just ancient remnants of history, waiting to be explored. They’re monuments of creativity, filled with some of the most well-crafted and beautiful fine art ever made. In fact, if you’ve booked your flights Sydney to Rome just to do a tour of the churches around the city, you’d be in for a treat. Just remember that, while these buildings are beautiful and interesting to explore for everybody, they are first and foremost religious shrines. If you are planning a visit to some of the city’s churches and cathedrals, make sure you dress modestly and respectfully.
Packing Tips
A backpack
If you are looking to book yourself somes Sydney to Rome return flights, it’s important to note that Rome is a walking city. The cobbled streets, cafe culture and narrow alleyways were made to be traversed by foot. That's why our first packing tip is so important. If you invest in a sturdy, comfortable backpack, it will soon become your best friend in Rome. If you’re planning on backpacking Rome in the true sense of the word (and you’re looking for cheap flights to Rome from Sydney) don’t forget to book as early as possible.
Comfortable Shoes
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again. Rome is city made for walking. Not only will you need to get around by foot to explore restaurants and cafes, but if you’re going to be exploring some of the ancient marvels scattered around the city (as most people with Sydney to Rome flights are) you’re going to be standing in quite a few queues.
Earplugs
There’s no doubt about it, a lot of people are booking flights Sydney to Rome for a fun, interesting and relaxing holiday. Unfortunately, depending on the hotel you’ve picked, there are some areas where streets are so full of life, that they’ll keep you awake all night. Most hotels have windows thick enough to keep out the sounds of the city below, but there are some cheaper hostels that don’t. Luckily, earplugs are readily available and you’ll probably be able to pick up a good pair at either Brisbane Airport (BNE) or Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO).
Foldable travel chair
Italy is an extremely popular travel destination. Apart from just those booking their tickets to Rome from Sydney, there are millions of other tourists from all around the world making their way through Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) every year. If you’re going to be visiting during the busy months (over either Easter or the Christmas seasons), you might want to pack or buy a foldable chair to take with you to make some of the long queues less painful on your feet.
The Best Time to Visit
As mentioned above, there’s really no “bad time” to book flights Sydney to Rome. The “Eternal City” is a really great place to visit all year round and the amount of people making their way around its streets on any given day is testament to that. There are a few things you’re going to want to make sure of for before you start looking for your cheap flights Sydney to Rome. For instance, June, July and August are pretty hot and humid. With temperatures in the mid 30s, you’ll have to be in the mood for a real summer holiday before you make any solid plans.
Another thing to bear in mind before you get your tickets to Rome from Sydney, are the religious holidays. The Vatican draw millions of visitors every year and a lot of them plan their trips over Easter and Christmas. This is not to say Rome is unpleasant during these times, these are the city’s most festive times. If you think this Easter or Christmas would be a great time to visit, make sure you book your flights Sydney to Rome a few months before you plan to visit.
When should you book cheap airfares from Sydney to Rome?
Rome’s weather can fluctuate a lot throughout the year. Summers are hot and dry, and winters get chilly and rainy. In winter, it’s cold early in the morning and at night; however, it can get warm during the day. Be sure to dress in layers that can be removed if you book cheap airfares from Sydney to Rome during the winter months. If you plan your visit from SYD to FCO for spring (April-June) or early autumn (September-October), you’ll experience perfect Mediterranean weather. Temperatures are warm during the day and mild at night. These months also experience very little rain within Rome. Summer is high season in Rome, and Christmas and Easter are also popular times to visit. Since Vatican City is the centre of the Roman Catholic church, Catholics from around the world love to experience Rome during these holidays. Holiday times are busy in Rome, but are also full of exciting festivals and events, so they can still be a great time to book cheap flights from Sydney to Rome.
Departing from Sydney
Sydney Airport is located just 7 km south of the CBD, making it easy and convenient to get to. About 180 return flights from Sydney to Rome depart each day, giving you lots of options to choose from. As one of the main airports in Australia, Sydney Airport has a variety of airlines with cheap flights from Sydney to Rome, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Alitalia, Emirates, and British Airways.
Getting to Sydney Airport (SYD)
Sydney Airport (also called Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport) offers transport options to satisfy every budget. The most affordable way to get from central Sydney to the airport is to catch the Airport Link train. Airport Link departs from several different train stations around Sydney, including Central Station, Wynyard, Bondi Beach, and Darling Harbour. There are even Airport Link trains that depart from outer suburbs, such as Wollongong. Train times and ticket prices vary by departure point. Trains from the CBD only take about 15 minutes to the airport, while trains from Bondi take about 45 minutes. CBD train tickets are $18.70, and Bondi tickets are $19.70. You can purchase individual tickets or pay with your Opal Card.
With the airport’s close proximity to the CBD, you can get to the airport quickly in a taxi or an Uber. A taxi ride from the CBD takes about 20 minutes and costs about $45-$60. If you catch a taxi from Bondi, you’ll have a similar fare between $45-$65, and you’ll get to the airport in under a half hour.
Parking at Sydney Airport
The Blu Emu car park is the most budget-friendly option for parking at Sydney Airport. Blu Emu offers a free 24 hour shuttle bus service between the car park and the Domestic Terminal. The shuttle takes about 15 minutes and runs every 15-30 minutes. From the Domestic Terminal, you can catch a free train to the International Terminal, which runs from 5AM-midnight. The Blu Emu car park costs around $30 per day, but by booking your spot in advance, you can get even better rates.
For quick and direct access to the International Terminal, the P7 car park is a good option. The car park is only a 5-minute walk from the International Terminal and offers covered parking. When you book your parking spot in advance, the P7 car park costs about $55 per day. Nice and convenient for a short visit from SYD to FCO.
Arriving in Rome
Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is located about 30 km west of Rome near the sea. It’s one of the main airports for travellers visiting Italy. There are several options to get you from Rome Airport into the city centre, so you can check into your hotel and start exploring the history and culture of Rome within an hour of landing.
Getting to central Rome from Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Italy has great public transport options for visitors. Once you arrive to Fiumicino Airport (FCO), there are a couple of trains available to catch. The Leonardo Express offers nonstop service from Rome Airport into Rome Termini station in the city centre. Rome Termini is within walking distance of many hotels and the city’s top attractions. The Leonardo Express arrives to the city in 32 minutes. It departs from Rome Airport every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes off-peak. Tickets cost 14 euro for adults, and children under the age of 12 are free when travelling with a parent. Once you arrive to Rome Termini, you can also connect to the metro if your hotel isn’t within walking distance. From the station, you can connect to metro lines A and B that will get you almost everywhere you need to go in Rome.
If you are staying in the Trastevere neighbourhood of Rome, you can catch the FL1 train from Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Trastevere is across the river from the main tourist centre of Rome and has a cool medieval feel to it. The FL1 train departs Rome Airport every 15 minutes during peak time and every 30 minutes off-peak. The train makes a few stops along the way and will get you into Trastevere in about a half hour.
If you’re tired after your long flight, you may love the convenience of taking a taxi from Rome Airport. You can catch a taxi outside of terminals 1 and 3. If you arrive into another, you can easily walk between terminals. Rome taxis offer fixed fares from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) into the city. Almost all attractions and hotels are located within the city centre. A taxi to the city centre costs 48 euro and gets you there in about a half hour when there’s no traffic.
