Rome is a city of controlled chaos, where three millennia of human habitation have culminated in a set of unspoken rules that come naturally to most Romans, but may surprise visitors.

The Eternal City pairs its la dolce vita nonchalance with a rigid sense of etiquette—especially around dressing and dining—that lends order to an otherwise famously ungovernable metropolis. Keep these essential rules in mind to navigate the city with the confidence and flair of a true citizen of Rome.