How to have a perfect Roman holiday

I had the fortune of spending almost a month in Italy this fall and I will say Rome is among my most favorite cities to visit. Rome is grand and beautiful, each little street and building breaths history.
I had an unforgettable time in Rome this October and would like to share some advice on how to have the most enjoyable time in Rome if you are planning to visit. 

1. When Visiting Vatican and Colosseum book your tickets ahead of time online, I took a guided tour of the Vatican which cost me around 35 euros and I waited zero minutes in line, in fact there was no line to get in at all and the tour was guided too. So be open to paying a little more because it will save you hours of waiting in line.  Also, I did not have to be there early, I scheduled my tour for 1pm, which meant I could sleep in and that's what vacations are for! Same goes for Colosseum, buy "skip the line ticket" to save hours and spend more time enjoying the Amphitheater inside rather than standing in line outside. Also, visit Pantheon anywhere between 5pm and closing time to avoid the lines. By the way, be sure to wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot, Rome is best seen by foot!
   
2. You might think it's impossible to have a bad meal in Italy but unfortunately it's very easy if you are a tourist. So some dos and don'ts when finding a restaurant. Do not walk in a restaurant where there is host tries to lure you in, a good restaurant will be full and certainly will not have a need to lure customers in. Do not go to restaurants that have a menu with pictures of food, that's a no brainer. Instead of eating at the main Piazza where food is overpriced and mediocre stick to side streets for more authentic cuisine. For some wonderful traditional restaurants head on over to Trastevere and choose family-run trattorias. Here you can find everything from quality pasta to delicious seafood restaurants. Also, tipping is not obligatory in Italy, however; it is a nice gesture to leave a few euros if you enjoyed the service.
   
3. When should you visit Rome? I say avoid summer months all together because this is the time of the year when everyone comes to Europe so it's full of tourists and second its very hot. Definitely avoid August because that's when most Europe takes its annual vacation as well as people from outside of Europe, so in addition to it being very crowded, the weather is in the 100s. The best time to go is in the middle of April or the beginning of October, it's a lot less touristy and the weather is still very pleasant around 65-80 degrees, not to mention you will save a lot of money on accommodation and flights and will have more options to choose from unlike the high season during the months of May-September.
   
4. Italy is very fashion-conscious and Rome has plenty of shopping streets as well as malls so save some energy and euros to indulge in this fun activity. When in Rome I only shop for Italian brands because Italians have a very good eye for quality and design in clothing, not to mention the price you will pay will be very reasonable. Of course Rome has high end streets with known names such as Prada, Gucci, Versace and so on but I usually keep an eye for small local designers for more affordable prices and interesting designs. You will find shopping in Rome a pretty pleasant experience because stores are open late and the sales associates are very friendly. And the shopping is tax free for non-EU citizens if you spend over 155 EUR so that's an added bonus and a good reason to shop in Italy!​