Rome in 48 Hours: Exploring the Eternal City
Jan 20
Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City, where history, art, and culture come to life at every corner. Join us as we explore Rome in just 48 hours after disembarking our Virgin Voyages cruise, experiencing iconic sights, delicious food, and unforgettable moments.
We sailed on Scarlet Lady on Itinerary Barcelona to Civitavecchia in November 2024. Checkout all Rome/Civitavecchia itineraries on Virgin Voyages here:
Arrival in Rome
Disembarking and Private Transfer
We disembarked the Virgin boat in Civitavecchia at 10:00 (latest) and had pre-booked a private car transfer to our hotel. It was a Mercedes, which was a nice touch for the 45 minute long commute. 💁 I booked the Hotel Cosmopolita (Hilton) for 2 nights post voyage, as it is located in the heart of Rome. The journey to the city was smooth and comfortable, providing a great start to our Roman adventure. After checking into our hotel and resting for a bit in our room, we were ready to start exploring the city.
First Exploration – Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
Lunchtime: Grano la Cucina di Traiano
We grabbed a quick bite at Grano la Cucina di Traiano, a small pizza and calzone spot nearby that had rave reviews online—and they were spot on! The calzones were delicious and the perfect fuel for an afternoon of exploring. Be sure to check them out if you are nearby in the city: Google Reviews
Afternoon Stroll: Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
After lunch, we walked to the
Trevi Fountain, marveling at its grandeur. We decided to skip the line to “throw a coin” as it was very long; plus, the water had been drained as they were cleaning it in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee.
Something to also be aware of if you have travel plans to Rome this year - it will be busier than usual so I would book tours and tickets well in advance.
We then continued on to the Spanish Steps, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of one of Rome’s most famous squares. The views are amazing and we spotted other famous sites like the Fontana della Barcaccia, a beautiful baroque fountain in front of the Spanish Steps. This entire area’s architecture feels like you are in Spain.
⭐Travel Tip: Be wary of street vendors offering photos, roses, or bracelets. It’s best to ignore them and keep moving. I did not experience any threat of pick pocketing, but with any crowded city area, just be aware of your surroundings and keep your possessions/pursue/money on your person.
Evening: Sunset at the Colosseum and Dinner at Il Giardino dei Fiori
We meandered our way towards the Colosseum, with my trusty camera man, Will, eager to capture the stunning sunset over this historic landmark. On our walk, we stumbled upon ruins and monuments at every turn. The cobblestone streets of the city are full of surprises, with ancient Egyptian monuments and beautiful piazzas aplenty.
For dinner, we dined at Il Giardino dei Fiori, a charming Italian restaurant with a heated patio, located near the Roman Forum. The restaurant’s façade, covered in vibrant pink bougainvillea, immediately drew us in, and the waitstaff happily ushered us to a table. The service was quick, friendly, and fun. Will had spaghetti, while I enjoyed soup. We both sipped prosecco (4 glasses total) and indulged in cheesecake—all for just $59 US (no tipping either!). I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable the food and drinks were here compared to the US—definitely a nice surprise! I’ll share more pricing details later. 😉
It was the perfect end to a wonderful first day in Rome. ♥️
Day Two – Colosseum, Vatican, and Exploring More of Rome
Morning: Coffee and Croissants
We started the day with lattes and croissants from a café right next door to the hotel, Caffè Roma Antica Enoteca, a delicious and affordable breakfast before our tour. I paid 6 euros for 2 lattes, one croissant and a bottle of water. WOW. You won’t find that at Starbucks. They also served the famous Roman breakfast treat, the Maritozzi - a cream filled puff pastry, but I went for the simpler glazed croissant and it was ah-mazing. I have been scouring DFW for this treat at home, but no luck yet!
Small Group Tour of the Roman Forum & Colosseum
We headed to the Colosseum for our morning small group tour, which was booked via Viator: Colosseum, Roman Forum Guided Tour link
The tour was informative and allowed us to skip the lines, offering a deeper understanding of this iconic structure and its history. My only negative feedback is that it was very long, around 3.5-4 hours in length and it could have been half that. From the meetup point it probably took around 45 minutes to an hour to walk to the Roman Forum, wait in line and get into the actual area for exploration. I would have liked more time in the Forum to explore, so that felt rushed to me, but they are very strict on time of entry into the colosseum, so we had to rush to our line.
⭐Travel Tip: Something else to note is that a lot of online forms state you have to have your passport on you to enter - that was not the case. A photo of your passport will suffice, as will a driver's license if from the US, so just ensure you have that easily accessible and you don’t need to worry about lugging around your passport and possibly losing it. I created a “documents” album in my phone and keep photocopies of DL, passports, insurance cards, vaccine cards, anything that I may need to pull up and it has saved me more than once.
Tour the Roman Forum with us:
After entering the colosseum, we worked our way up to the top, climbing the original steps to enter the arena (they are steep, so travelers with disabilities take care). We learned about the gladiators and saw some of their past art, clothing and weapons. Then we went outside and went back in time! Stepping outside, it was incredible to imagine all the battles fought on the sand floor. We also learned that the word "arena" comes from the Colosseum itself—arena is Spanish for "sand," and the Colosseum’s sand-covered floor housed hundreds of trap doors for animals, gladiators, and other surprises during the battles.
Although we didn’t purchase tickets for the “underground” portion, I’d consider that for future visits as it offers a unique experience. Overall, I’m very glad we took the time to explore this incredible piece of world history.
Take the Tour with us:
Lunch: Pizza and Pasta
After the tour, we did not have very much time to get all the way across town to our next tour but we were starving. We were right next to the amazing restaurant we ate at the night prior, so as we say in Texas: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 😉 The staff recognized us immediately and gave us a quick table so we could enjoy pizza, pasta and prosecco before moving on to our next adventure.
Afternoon: Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Tour
We hopped in a cab to head to our afternoon small group tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Link here: Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour.
The tour was fascinating, but also quite tiring after the Colosseum, so I would recommend spacing these out on separate days, IF you have the time. We did not, so I powered through.
The tour met at a nearby gelato shop and then we walked over learning about the history of Vatican City itself. For example, It is the only country in the world with no ambassadors actually living within the country. Once entering the line, it moved rather quickly through a security check and then we headed up and outside to a courtyard. Here the guide walked us through a very thorough explanation of the Sistine Chapel artwork and its meaning, which I did appreciate. We then worked our way through the interior of the vast art collections including the Gallery of Statues, Hallway of Busts and the breathtaking Hall of Maps. One of the final stops was the Sistine Chapel and it's beautiful ceiling.
Please note: You are only allowed 5 minutes inside the chapel, no talking, no hats and NO CAMERAS allowed. We may have caught some footage of the ceiling… Will has many cameras and some are pretty incognito… so, when in Rome! 🤣
After exiting the chapel, we walked down the steps to St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, where the Pope gives service and addresses the Catholics of the world. We saw the Pontifical Swiss Guard, who are responsible for protecting the Pope and the Vatican. They are known for their colorful uniforms and are considered to be one of the world's most skilled armies. We went inside the church, which was also adorned with gold and relics; be sure to bring a small bottle or container to take some holy water with you.
Take the Tour with us:
Post-Tour Relaxation
After the tour, we took a cab back to the hotel and decided to split an American Hamburger at an Irish pub next door -it was pretty good! Not wanting to end the night, we headed back towards the Roman Forum, grabbed some Prosecco at our aforementioned new favorite restaurant in Rome 😉 and finally we walked around for a bit before heading back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.
Saying Goodbye to Rome and heading to FCO
We arranged another private car transfer to FCO airport for our 1:00 PM flight. The airport experience was smooth and efficient—American Airlines has its own security area, so the process moved quickly. The food at the airport was also reasonably priced, reflecting the same affordability we enjoyed throughout our stay.
When we landed in Philadelphia for our connecting flight, we stopped at a restaurant for a bite. We ordered one Philly cheesesteak, tomato soup and salad, two Proseccos and one coke —the total came to $128 USD... Welcome home. 😳
We truly had a whirlwind 48 hours in Rome and managed to experience so much in a short time, from ancient ruins to world-class art and delicious food. While our time was limited, we made the most of every moment and are already planning our return.
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Thank you!
Kristin & Will
