It's no secret that Rome is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Not only is it Italy's capital, but it's also one of the country's many laps of luxury. After all, the 'Eternal City' is home of
La Dolce Vita after all. The jet-set crowd in Europe has this place as one of their many haute hangouts, most especially during the holiday season. But does that mean that only the rich can celebrate Christmas here? Not necessarily. There are a ton of affordable ways to spend the holiday season in the Italian capital.
Shop at The Piazza Navona Christmas Market
When you're celebrating Christmas on a budget, especially in a city like Rome, the first thing you have to worry about is getting all the shopping. And it's not just for the presents too. Even if your loved ones will understand if they won't receive material gifts this year, there's still Christmas dinner that you have to take care of. But what do you do if your
living costs only allow you a minimum amount to spend? Go to the Piazza Navona Christmas Market and splurge on the affordable goodies it offers. Who knows? Your Italian holiday feast this year might just taste even better knowing you didn't spend too much on it.
Stroll Through Rome's Well-Decorated Streets
Just the fact that you're celebrating Christmas in Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is already quite something. Though the Italian capital itself is pretty crowded no matter what time of the year it is, there are still millions of others from around the world who'd kill to spend the holiday season here. So don't go around holding a pity party for yourself just because you have to celebrate Christmas here on a budget. Go outside and bask in the city's historic glory especially when it's extra festive thanks to all the Christmas lights and holiday decorations.
Enjoy a Breezy Bike Ride
Although the more common thing to do in Rome is to ride a Vespa, there's no denying that this iconic two-wheeler can be pretty expensive, even if you're only renting it for a day. But what if, instead of staying at home worrying about your expenses this holiday season, you want to zoom around the Italian capital and see all its beautiful
districts and neighborhoods? Well, you can always rent a bike instead.
Easy Bike Rent Rome is a good and affordable option. Their rates range from around a minimum of €7.00 to a maximum of €30.00 per day for solo rentals.
See The Nativity Displays
As far as Italian—or more specifically, Roman—holiday traditions are concerned, setting up Nativity scenes is among the most fascinating. Even if there's practically a dime a dozen of them in Catholic cities like the Italian capital, the way they do it here is still pretty amazing. And the best part? Seeing them in all their solemn glory is free! From the annual '
100 Presepi' Christmas exhibition at the Vatican to the big and colorful life-size scene by Piazza di Spagna, they represent the true biblical meaning of Christmas. It'd actually be pretty nice and affordable to have an entire tour of all the nativity scenes in Rome this holiday season.
Go Ice Skating
Although snow is pretty rare in Rome, you can still actually go ice skating here. There are a ton of ice skating rinks that the city sets up come Christmastime. The most famous of which is the one beside Castel Sant’Angelo. This rink isn't just big enough that you can practically hold an entire game of ice hockey on it. And while there's probably a ton of people here having the grand mausoleum in the background makes for quite the stunning scene. The best part here is that, of course, skating here is free. Even more so if you brought your own pair of skates.
Visit The Park
Since Rome is home to
many gorgeous gardens, there's no reason why you ought not to spend Christmas day in any one of them. You can even prepare your own holiday feast and have a picnic there too. Practially the only thing you'll have to pay for in order to spend Christmas day in a park in Rome is your ticket for
public transport. Now, if you drove here in your vehicle, that's even better! As long as you're with people you love on this very special day, you can celebrate Christmas anywhere with little to no cost at all!
Cook Your Own Christmas Feast
Speaking of your holiday feast, it's way cheaper to just make it on your own than for you to eat out. Even if you're along this holiday season, a meal in any Rome foodie hotspot can still cost more than you realize. At least, if you shop at open markets or Christmas fairs—which usually sell goods at lower prices than standard grocery stores—you're likelier to get all your needed ingredients without going over budget. And it's a good thing that many delicious
Italian holiday dishes are fairly easy to make, even for novice cooks!
Rome is undoubtedly one of the most expensive and most luxurious cities in the world, even more so during the holidays. But be that as it may, you can still celebrate Christmas here when you're on a strict budget.
If you are going to splurge on at least one thing in Rome during the holidays, let it be for a
luxury home!
