Solo Travel

Safety is not an issue in Rome. Much safer than Manhattan or San Francisco. Just use normal caution as you would in any large city. The biggest risk is being pick pocketed aboard crowded buses or subway. Watch your purse if you use public transportation at peak time. Or just walk (or take a taxi).

I have no idea about food tours. I’m not going to pay any tour guide to get me into a restaurant and eat like a pig. I know how to do that on my own very well, and I have a large body to prove it.

We really enjoyed the Taste of Testaccio Food Tour in Rome. On a day when Rome was packed with tourists, it got us into a much quieter area. Our guide was wonderful and we were stuffed with good food by the time the tour ended. Ours was a small group of couples and singles.

Rome is a great place at night, because after dinner (which itself is later than in most of the US, roughly 8-10:30 PM), everyone is out strolling around the center. Locals as well as tourists, so you won't feel conspicuous. Up until about midnight, the center is quite busy, so it feels very safe, and as long as you don't go down small alleyways, you won't be alone.

I did the Eating Italy Rome Sunday tour last summer. It was in the old Jewish neighborhood and was great. There are many more besides that one.

I also did an EatWith dinner in Trastevere with Federica & Barbara. It was good food and fun, but I would not do it again on a Saturday night. The area was very crowded and I waited over an hour for a taxi. I only took a taxi because we finished very late.

One thing I will say is that both experiences involved quite a bit of wine or beer. I don't drink, but there were other excellent options for me.

I spent 6 nights in an apartment near the Vatican. I wasn't out much after dark except right in my neighborhood. I'm much more inclined toward a nice lunch somewhere and tucking in after dark with a smaller meal at my temporary home. That's one advantage of renting an apartment.

I'm not sure what you mean by a "solo" tour. I was traveling solo, but the food and other tours involved other people.

One of my favorite things was a tour on the back of a Vespa. I did the Street Art one through Scooteroma. Many people, including some on this forum, thought I was nuts. I had a blast! I was 71 at the time. I'll be 72 in a few days and I'd do another one of their tours anytime.

I also did a very early morning Sistine Chapel tour through Dark Rome. I'm not a fan of getting up early, but it was well worth it. I did the First Entry: Express Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican Crypt tour.

The other tour I took was at the Borghese Gallery. I went on an English language tour that started shortly after it opened. The guide was good, but I think this was a situation where I might have enjoyed moving at my own (faster) pace with an audio guide better.

All great replies and much appreciated. I'm not an early riser but will do the early tour of the Vatican. The scooter tour sounds like the romantic part of old movies but I will check it out. Has anyone participated in a cooking class that was enjoyable?

Also for the food tours did they need to be booked in advance like museums or was it easily done there. I am staying in a apartment so no sure to access to brochures. Thank you.

You will need to exercise the same precautions in Rome that you would use in any major city.

Having said that, book your tours in advance. I didn't do solo tours in Rome, but I did them in Florence. It almost always helps to book earlier rather than later.

I am sorry to say that my Rome experience as a woman is a bit of a different one.

I was on a group tour in Rome many years ago, and as soon as we young women were away from our group just a little bit, there were wolf whistles, men practically running after us without us having given them so much as a wink, and in one case, in a crowded bus, even a hand under my skirt. At that time I vowed I'd never come back to Rome without some kind of ring that looked like a wedding ring, just for protection from that kind of harassment. Note that all these things didn't even happen at night but in the bright of day.

I would be happy to hear more recent woman travelers reporting that things have changed since. I have been to Rome twice since, but with a wedding ring (and a husband to go along with it :-) ), so I couldn't say.

I am sorry to say that my Rome experience as a woman is a bit of a different one.

It helps you understand and appreciate different cultures. Travel changes people. It broadens perspectives and teaches new ways to measure quality of life. Many travelers toss aside their hometown blinders. Their prized souvenirs are the strands of different cultures they decide to knit into their own character. - Rick Steves

https://ibb.co/gzi5Z6

Not quite sure what you are telling us with that quote (since this is not about learning about different cultures but about personal safety) but the picture certainly is how we felt. And it wasn't like we were dressed improperly or giving other signs that we were fair game.

Anna, I have to agree with you about the persistant nature of Italian men, but for me it was in the 1970s and maybe into the early 80s per a friend whom I had warned about how she will get so tired of men following her around she will reach a point that she will want to stay in...and during the day. She came back and said she had not believed me but I had been right.It was January so we were modestly dressed and then some. In 2000 I returned with a 15 & 30 yo and they did get noticed but not followed so things had cooled down. As I was then 45 I cherished the one wink from an older man. LOL

Rita, The attention was annoying but never felt dangerous way back when. So feel free to be out at night and the older you are the more pleasant your time will be. And I think times have changed as well. Just behave as you would in any large city.

Does having some sort of wedding ring on 'that' finger really make a difference. Ladies, please speak up.

Does having some sort of wedding ring on 'that' finger really make a
difference.

With all due caution and caveats, not having visited Rome as a single woman in recent years and not having done comparative studies on this, I would say I think so, yes - at least speaking from my experience back then in the 80s.

My impression was that Italian (+catholic) culture highly respects marriage, and it was only us unmarried women who were being chased.

and the older you are the more pleasant your time will be

The older... and the less attractive ;-) Some big ugly glasses might do the trick just as well as a wedding ring. ;-)

The attention was annoying but never felt dangerous way back when

It may be a matter of discussion if a hand under one's skirt is to be considered "dangerous", but it sure wasn't pleasant, and it definitely didn't help make me feel safe. And that kind of thing happening in the bright of day sure did make me wonder what might have happened at night, had I ventured out alone.

But again, that's decades ago, and I hope things have changed since then.

I know attractive, successful single men who routinely wear wedding rings when they are out and about, even in new places, especially in new places. I see nothing wrong with a woman flashing a wedding ring at someone when the guys do it too. I say this because I can't say that a single woman alone won't be bothered in Italy. In the daytime! I have a German friend who hates Italy for that reason, despises Italian men, and refuses to set foot in the country again. When she talks about Italian men, the peach fuzz bristles on the back of her neck and her eyes get big and angry. She said that she had never seen anything like it anywhere else in Europe. And she was just referring to following and pestering.

I think there are ways to minimize unwanted attraction here though. I recommend taking taxis and avoiding buses and subways. These can get so crowded and packed that you're probably going to get physically violated. I'm 72, old and ugly and I get physically violated on public transportation in Rome. There are a lot of good taxi APPS available now that make it easy and fast to get cabs from your smartphone.

If you have to shop for groceries, be sure to go very early in the morning or later in the day when the store has few customers. If it's a larger store that can absorb its customers better, then maybe you'll have more option times to shop. Crowded grocery stores operate a lot like public transport. It's all the same field to Italian men. I know I had to change my shopping times around and I had to find different stores to shop at. And I'm happier.

Then it's gonna be June and hot and you'll have skimpy clothes on, so all I can say is to get out and go about your business and have the best visit ever. Don't let anything stop you, just come and enjoy yourself. Day or night, night or day, it's the same Rome. I'm still here and I'm OK.

I was in Rome on my own for a week a month ago. I had no problems from the standpoint of security or harassment from men on the subway or elsewhere. I stayed in a hotel near the Spanish Steps and chose to eat at restaurants early each evening. I was especially vigilant re pickpockets.

I say this because I can't say that a single woman alone won't be
bothered in Italy. In the daytime! ... you're probably going to get
physically violated. I'm 72, old and ugly and I get physically
violated on public transportation in Rome.

Though I am not ready to believe the "ugly" part... :-) ... the rest of your post sounds horrible. So it's not a thing of the past as we had hoped?

Guess we can all join the "Me Too" movement then... :-(

I have a dear (feisty, attractive) female friend from England who has traveled solo multiple times to Rome - as well as many, many other parts of Italy and the world - and never had any problems with accostment or accostment she couldn't handle, anyway. She doesn't have any issue at all going it alone in the Eternal City. Carry yourself with authority!

Feisty you'd have to be, I guess. I remember being so perplexed when that happened, and I was young and insecure, I just silently moved away.

Sure wouldn't handle it so inconspicuously again if that happened to me now (at least if I wasn't too perplexed). That guy would think twice about doing something like that again!

It's a way of life here. I'm talking extreme situations of packed buses and subways. Italian women say nothing to the fingering and body squeezing. I fight back and the men cuss at me. I cuss back. What they don't know is that I was brought up by a Southern Italian male in the remote Indiana country, a deadly combination they don't want to mess with. They leave me alone.

I had no issues with any men when I was in Rome last June. I took buses or walked everywhere. I did wear a substitute wedding ring for my normal one.

It was hot, but I didn't wear anything skimpy. I never wear skirts or shorts at home, so it was long pants everyday. I sunburn easily so it was sunscreen plus long sleeves. And I wore a street-purchased wide-brimmed hat.

As mentioned in a previous response, I'm in my 70's and I look it with graying hair and wrinkles. I never wear make-up. I dress the same way I did when I was first in Rome in 1977. I was harassed then. But men who would've probably been annoying when I was younger, seemed very respectful and called me Nonna (Grandmother) last summer.

I fight back and the men cuss at me. I cuss back.

Yeah, I sure would be prepared to do that too now!

Italian women say nothing to the fingering and body squeezing.

Well, great. Not that we're in a position to tell people in another culture what they have to do, but saying nothing really is endorsing this behavior, isn't it? I can't imagine Italian women actually enjoy this side of their own culture. It's hard to understand why they keep on tolerating it. I assume all Italian women have experienced enough of that kind of stuff to join the "me too" movement.

In June 2017, I spent 5 days in Roma as a solo traveler. I was never uncomfortable. Each night I went out for dinner - both close by (to the Trastevere apartment where I was staying) and in other neighborhoods. As others have said, take any normal precautions.

I took a Walks of Italy tour that included a stop at a gelato shop. I enjoyed this particular tour - great introduction to Roma.

Much safer than Manhattan or San Francisco.

Much safer? Good news indeed. Rome must be supremely safe as I've never been a victim of a crime in Manhattan nor in any of the 5 boroughs. I've only lived in Manhattan for 42 years. :-)