JW tours in Italy and Europe

Tips and Tricks


ITALIAN BRANCH

 

Located in Via Bufalotta 1281, 12 miles from the city centre.

You can only reach Bethel by bus or taxi! Get bus tickets before you board the bus and once you are on the bus, stamp your ticket in the yellow machine to validate it!

Bus 338 from metro stop JONIO
Or Bus 86 from metro stop CONCA DORO

Tour takes maximum 90 minutes.However since 2021 the Italian branch is relocating (In 2024 the Branch will definitely be moved to Bologna) in Rome just very few areas, and a small garden are open to visitors!

Time schedule for visitors from June 1st 2023

Monday to Friday 8.30-11.30 / 13.30-16.00

You can visit Bethel by online reservation only!

Visit his link   www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/offices/italy/


 

FOOD TIPS

 

Doubtless Rome is one of the best cities for foodies! The good restaurants in Rome are too many, to be included in a bucket list! Anyway never ask food tips at the reception of your bnb or hotel, in 80% of cases they get a commission suggesting you restaurants of their friends.

Follow your instinct! It is so easy to find some good local places with excellent food! Live Rome as we Romans do:

 

Looking for places where

 

1. there is no English menu

2. where they do not need to invite customers in the middle of the street!

3. where the customers are not ONLY tourists, but also local people... 

Here below our personal selection of places where we usually go!

Without any personal interest in them!

 


5 stars pizza

 

- "Seu Illuminati" Via Angelo Bargoni 10-18 
- "Da Michele" In Via Flaminia 82 

- "Lievito by Diego Vitagliano" Via Flaminia 525
- "Sorbillo" Piazza Augusto Imperatore 46 
- "Sorbillo" Shopping center La Rinascente - 6th floor - Via del Tritone 61

 

5 stars pasta

 

- "Pastificio Guerra" take away -Via della Croce 8                                                                                                              - "Osteria da Fortunata" Via del Pellegrino 11
- "Fraschetteria Sant'Angelo" In Via del banco di santo spirito 20
- "Tonnarello" In Via della Paglia 1
- "Pasta e eVino Osteria" Via della Pelliccia 12 or Via Florida 23

 

5 stars steak house


- "I monticiani" In Via Panisperna 84
- "Lo scopettaro" In Lungotevere Testaccio 7
- "Maxela" Via delle Coppelle 10

 

5 stars sea food

 

- "Pescaria" In Via Leone IV 14 nearby Vatican Museums
- "Vizi capitali" In Vicolo della Renella 94 
- "La pesceria" In Via San Nicola Tolentino 23

 

5 stars ice cream

 

- "Otaleg" Via San Cosimato 14a (Trastevere)
- "Gelateria del teatro" In Via dei Coronari 56
- "Fatamorgana" In Piazza degli Zingari 5 Or Via Roma Libera 11 Or Via dei Chiavari 37A

5 stars tiramisu


- "Pompi" In Via Santa Maria in Via 17 Or Via della Croce 82

BEST SHOPPING MADE IN ITALY, NOT LUXURY BRAND


- Via Cola di Rienzo
- Via Ottaviano
- Via Frattina

Or 45 minutes from the city center by bus

- "Shopping mall PORTA DI ROMA" 220 stores where locals shop

https://porta-di-roma.klepierre.it
Bus 80 direct from Venice square

TOP LEATHER MADE IN ITALY, STREETS AND MARKETS


- Via dei Coronari
- Campo dei fiori market
- Sannio market

BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS AND STREET SELLERS!


In general, Rome is a very safe and quiet city but like every touristy place pick-pocketers can be found in crowded squares, line-ups for monuments, buses or metros. Often pick-pocketers are baby gipsy (8-13 years old), who look like tourists, but are very expert at picking your pockets!

Moreover everywhere is full of African people (90% of them are from Senegal), who will try to sell you bracelets and various manufactured objects.. Don't stop! They say that the items are free but then they haunt you asking for money and running away without giving the rest!

Leave the following items inside your hotel/b&b safe: bags, backpacks and original passport/ documents.Bring with you, if possible in your front pant pockets: some cash, credit cards and your phone which should have a picture of your passport/documents. If you bring a bag, only bring items that are not precious or important to you.
 

BEWARE OF TAXI DRIVERS


Like anywhere else in the world, some taxi drivers will take advantage of tourists. Get an uber or text to these brothers who work as official drivers in Rome!

They provide h24/365 days service including: transfer to/from the airports, to/from Civitavecchia port and any other place in Italy. Tell him that you are JWs, and that you found their numbers on our website.

They will for sure give you the best rate avaialble in Rome!

 

24 hours/365 days limousine service

WWW.DEFILIPPOLIMOUSINE.COM  - defilippo.limousine@gmail.com

Ceo Brother Salvatore - +39 3356159711

 

Brother Gianni

White Taxi Driver +39 3498737318

 

Brother Danilo

White Taxi Driver +39 3492828119

 


Please do not ask us details about their services!

Be aware that they are indipendent workers and we are not their broker!

Text them directly via whatsapp, and they will reply as soon as they can.

 

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-BUS


You can't purchase your tickets on board the buses. Please purchase your tickets prior to boarding, in any tobacco or newspapers shop. Once you board the bus make sure to validate your ticket in the yellow machines on the bus. Getting on the bus without a validated ticket, could result in a fine of 100 or more euros per person.

For more information about public transportation in Rome, visit this link
romevacationtips.com/how-to-use-romes-public-transport/

ROMA PASS


The best option if you plan to stay here, for a minimum of 3 days.. Get more information and purchase your pass here:
www.romapass.it/en/home

TOP THINGS TO DO IN ROME BESIDES OUR BIBLE TOURS


- 1. Borghese museum and park
- 2. Sunset view from the 3 terrace of the Janicole hill (Saint Onofrio square, Anita Garibaldi square and Giuseppe Garibaldi square) and then Trastevere by night
- 3. Capitoline museum
- 4. Ostia Antica, the non-touristy Pompeii which most tourists haven't discovered yet!
- 5. www.qcterme.com/en/roma
An unforgettable welness experience in the best thermal spa complex of Rome.
Especially from Monday to Thursday when it is not crowded!

FOOD TO BUY


If you want to buy wine or cheese, never buy it in the souvenir store or wine shops, as it costs double! Always go to the common supermarket where locals shop:


- Coop in Via Nazionale 212
- Carrefour in Via del Viminale 35
- Pam in Via delle Quattro Fontane 38
 

SOUVENIRS


The best place to buy cool souvenirs at the cheapest prices in the city center is:

Souvenir Store in Via Nazionale 167

LUGGAGE STORAGE


If you need luggage storage which is available 24hrs a day, check this link:


www.bagbnb.com

 

WHAT CAN I DO ON A RAINY DAY IN ROME?


- 1. Borghese museum - Reservation required!
- 2. Capitoline museum
- 3. The underground Forum www.palazzovalentini.it
- 4. www.time-elevator.it An exciting virtual reality journey to discover and "see" Roman history
- 5. www.hotellunetta.com An unforgettable welness experience in an archaeological thermal spa complex in the heart of the city center. Reservation required!

 

 

HOW CAN I REACH THE CITY CENTRE BY CAR?

 

In general, we don't suggest that you reach the city centre by car. There are many hidden cameras, and it's very easy to get fined. Moreover in almost all cities of Italy, private cars are allowed downtown ONLY after 6 pm or all day on Sundays. The best way to explore our city centre is by leaving the car at the metro stop parking and taking the metro into the city.

However in the open parking metro stop areas, acts of vandalism against the cars are frequent! If you want to be safe, leave your car in a guarded paying garage! Look for the closest one to your metro stop on google maps!

If you want to come by car as close as possible to the city centre, without entering the restricted areas, you can park your car in one of these parking lots for a payment. 

1. PARKING LUDOVISI Via Ludovisi 60 - 5 minutes walking from Spanish Steps

2. PARKING CAVOUR Piazza Cavour - 10 minutes walking from Navona Square

 

WHAT CAN I DO IN ROME WITH THE KIDS?

 

Unfortunately Rome, unlike cities in the Northern Europe, it is not a child-friendly city. There are very few beautiful children's playgrounds in the city and just a few fun activities to enjoy with children.

Here are the best ones for families!

1. EXPLORA - The Kids Museum - Via Flaminia 82

2. BIOPARCO ZOO PARK - www.bioparco.it

3. MAGICLAND (40 minutes driving from the city) a small Italian version of Disneyland - www.magicland.it

4. ZOOMARINE (40 minutes driving from the city) a beautiful amusement water park - www.zoomarine.it

 

WINE TOURS IN THE ROME AREA

 

In general, Rome is not consider one of the wine vallleys of Italy... The best region where you can have a wonderful wine experience is Tuscany.

However, there is an amazing and big wine area just 40 minutes by car from the city center. It is consider one of the best wine productions in the Lazio district. They offer wine tours and tasting in Italian and English.

Check on their website www.winetourprincipepallavicini.com