The 13 biggest mistakes tourists make when visiting Rome, according to locals

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• Rome, Italy, is a popular tourist destination for travelers from around the globe.
• There are plenty of amazing attractions for visitors, although there are also many tourist traps.
• Locals and frequent travelers took to Quora to share their best tips on visiting Rome. 

Chances are, if you're traveling to Rome, you're planning to visit popular attractions like the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain. While those are great, there are ways to see them without making the same common mistakes many first-timers to Rome make.

On a recent Quora thread, Roman locals and frequent travelers explained what not to do when visiting the Italian city. From ordering a large coffee instead of espresso to visiting popular attractions in the middle of the day, the thread is filled with travel don'ts and advice on how to make your trip go as smoothly as possible. 

Keep reading for 13 mistakes tourists make when visiting Rome, and how to avoid them.

Ordering a large coffee.

Chances are, a significant part of why you're traveling to Italy is the food. Locals suggest getting to know Italian cuisine before you travel so you can make the most of your trip. In particular, don't expect coffee sizes to be the same as at home. Ordering a large coffee will make you stand out as a tourist. 

"Try to be a little more adventurous with food than just ordering pizza and pasta... [Familiarize] yourself with the different types of coffee," Vanessa Foudouli said. 

Visiting popular attractions in the middle of the day.

You're most likely to get caught up in crowds of tourists if you visit popular attractions in the middle of the day. If you can fit it into your schedule, visiting some of these outdoor attractions late at night or early in the morning will provide a much more manageable experience. 

"The best way to enjoy Fontana de Trevi is to go between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. before shops and tourists come out. It can be way too crowded during other hours, but during those three hours you can have the whole fountain to yourself," Nina Park said. 

Relying solely on museums to see art.

You're wasting time and money if you only go to museums to learn about Roman history and art. For no money, or at least for significantly less than museum admission, you can see plenty of beautiful art and architecture in churches. 

"Practically for free, you can visit these churches that all contain famous paintings by Caravaggio: there's Sant'Agostino and San Luigi dei Francesi (both five minutes from the Pantheon), and Santa Maria del Popolo (in the famous square Piazza del Popolo)," Giulia Valenti said.