My first trip for 2022 was a short getaway to stunning Rome. I was left mesmerised by the beautiful art, history & architecture this city has to offer each corner you turn around. We were fortunate enough to have great weather. In addition, we ate exquisite Italian food & drank some tasty wine.
So if you are thinking of going to Rome, here is our itinerary.
Transport : So most of our holiday we did by foot. I believe that is how you can truly explore & see the place. Most of the places we visited were reachable by foot and in Rome many of the sight seeing spots are near each other and closer than you think. We also took taxis (which are very cheap) & also buses (which are very efficient ) .You can also catch a hop-on bus which takes you to all the highlights which will be mentioned below.
Currency : Euro
COVID requirements : As documents we needed our green pass & passenger locator form. The green pass is very important as it was requested in many of the attractions we visited. In addition, FFP2 masks are a must on the plane & even to enter certain tourist attractions such as the Vatican, Vatican museums amongst others. Yet it is important to always check updated requirements beforehand as things continuously change.
Hotel : We stayed at Hotel Marisa. The location was perfect as it was close to the bus terminal & train station. In addition, we were only 3 minutes away from the airport shuttle bus stop. Many restaurants & shops nearby. In addition, it was only around 28 minutes away from the main tourist spots such as the Colosseum. The staff was friendly & very helpful. As a hotel itself, it was clean & comfortable yet nothing fancy.
Weather : We were fortunate enough to have sunny weather. In fact, although we packed winter clothes, during the day we felt hot yet in the evening the temperature dropped and became chilly.
Sight seeing tickets : I suggest you plan your trip beforehand and book the tickets in advance to avoid getting disappointed & jump the long ques.
Food to try : All the Italian dishes we tasted were delicious from the appetizers all the way to desserts, from their espresso to their refreshing Aperol spritz. Here are some of the dishes we had the privilege to feast upon.
Day 1
Flight : 15:15 - 16:45
Arrived in Rome
Shuttle bus from Ciampiano airport to Termini bus station (Only 7e per person)
Check in Hotel
Dinner : We asked the receptionist for some recommendations on top rated restaurants in the area. We went to Andrea's restaurant for a mouth watering pizza & a glass of wine. Apparently this restaurant is popular with the locals as it was packed with people.
Day 2
After we took our breakfast, we started walking to our first stop on our long list - The Colosseum. Yet before we made it to the Colosseum we passed through this pretty park.
Parco del Colle Oppio
Colosseum 
This was one of the highlights of the holiday. When seeing this magnificent building in front of my eyes , which I have seen in many pictures & movies, it hit me that I am really in Rome & I am finally seeing it with my own eyes. In addition, when you enter the Colosseum, start reading & listening about the history this building holds, as you roam around you start imagining the grand events, battles that took place during that time.
Foro Romano & Palatine Hill 
This is like a Roman village, filled with historical remains. It is surrounded by beautiful greenery & large gardens .You can buy one ticket combining the Colosseum, Foro Romano & Palantine Hill. Whilst visiting the latter, you also get the chance to see Arch of Titus & Circus Maximus.
Altar of the Fatherland 
Campidoglio 
Mouth of Truth 
River Tiber 
We tried to book a cruise tour along the river yet they were all booked. So I suggest you think ahead. You can see the river from many areas of Rome. When we went to the Vatican City, a very wonderful atmosphere was created by very talented street artists filling the streets with music.
Day 3
Since it was a Sunday, we went to the Vatican to see the Pope giving the Angelus prayer & blessing. We took a taxi to arrive as the distance from our hotel to the Vatican was around 48 minutes by foot. You do not need any tickets to enter the Vatican city & to attend the Sunday Angelus. He appears from the window of his apartment where he gives a short speech followed by the Angelus & ending with a blessing. Seeing all those people attending, you cannot not feel a sense of unity & belief. You can enter the Basilica for free. There is a fee to go up to the dome. In addition, if you are going to the Vatican museums, they are not connected to the Vatican yet you need to walk around 15 minutes.
Vatican City 
Castel Sant'Angelo 
Piazza Navona 
Pantheon 
Fontana di Trevi 
Piazza di Spagna & Spanish steps 
While we were in Piazza di Spagna we couldn't help ourselves not to do some light credit card harm. So be prepared.
Day 4
I am no art expert, yet when we stepped in the museums and went from one museum to another you are left stunned by the beauty of the artistic creations that were created & left for us to enjoy. As you enter the Sistine Chapel you can feel the peaceful & serene atmosphere. As you stand in the middle of the chapel and look up, you are lost in another colourful world. One cannot take any videos or photographs of this masterpiece but you are simply left to enjoy the moment.
Vatican Museums & The Sistine Chapel
We spent around 2 to 3 hours in the museums. We skimmed through the last few rooms as we had a bus to catch. So probably you can spend a whole afternoon going around the different museums. You can have lunch or a nice coffee in their open air court yard. The restaurants looked excellent as they filled the air with a mouth watering smell of traditional oven baked pizza.
We took a bus back to the hotel, checked out, had a relaxed lunch and took a shuttle bus to the airport. Our plane took off at 19:25 & that was the end of our holiday.
Rome is a great idea for a quick, short getaway. We spent almost 4 days which were almost enough. Rome is such a beautiful city, filled with art & history that if you had the time, you can stop at every step you take. I spent my holiday with my dear mother which made it more memorable.
I hope you liked our itinerary & will make great us of it on your next trip to Rome. I left the article short & simple yet full of pictures to intrigue you. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to message us. If you visit any of these places, tag us with the hashtag #traveldosed #traveldosedtips.