The Rome Survival Kit: 3 Things You Must Pack

Rome is not built for heels. It is built for soldiers.

The average tourist in Rome walks between 15,000 and 25,000 steps a day. The historic center is paved with "Sanpietrini" – beautiful, uneven cobblestones that are brutal on your feet/ankles and impossible to navigate with thin soles.

Don't ruin your trip with blisters on Day 2. Here is the essential survival gear.

1. The "Cobblestone-Proof" Shoes Forget style for a moment. You need cushioning. The impact of stone is harder than asphalt. You need thick soles (memory foam is best).

Recommendation: Brands like Skechers or New Balance are the gold standard for surviving Rome.

Best Walking Shoes for Cobblestones

2. The Juice: Heavy Duty Power Bank You will use Google Maps constantly. You will take 100 photos an hour. Your phone battery will die by 2:00 PM. Finding a public outlet in Rome is nearly impossible.

Recommendation: Bring a small, high-capacity power bank (10,000mAh) that fits in your pocket.

Best Travel Power Banks

3. The Right Plug: Type L (The 3 Pins) Italy does NOT use the standard European "two pin" plug everywhere. We often use the "Type L" (three vertical pins). Most universal adapters are bulky and fall out of old Roman sockets.

Don't buy the cheap $5 plastic plugs. They don't have USB ports, meaning you'll need to carry all your bulky American charging bricks.

Our Tip: Get a specific US-to-Italy adapter (Type L) that has built-in USB-C ports. It fits securely and allows you to charge your phone, watch, and camera all from one single socket without extra bricks.

Best Adapters with USB-C