This post is based on a trip in October 2024 that was planned and paid for by ourselves. Please check with venues direct for the most up to date info. AD - the links in this post are affiliate links.
Why Rome? Well our eldest son Harry has always loved history, especially ancient history and Rome has been somewhere he's wanted to visit in a very long time. It's so expensive though and trying to plan a trip for all 5 of us was just out of budget for us and didn't seem like a good use of our money when our other two children weren't particularly bothered about going.
So we decided in 2024 that we'd take three mini breaks - each with one child to a place that suited their personality / they wanted to go. We ended up visiting Athens with Jack and Ibiza with Dee - both fantastic! Do click through the links and have a read afterwards.
We booked Rome for October Half Term, a month after Harry turned 18.
I love Italy and it's one of my favourite places to visit - you just need to read about our trips to Genoa, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Verona and Lake Garda to see how much I love the place however I wouldn't say Rome was high up on my list of places to visit. However I ended up loving our trip and Rome is definitely somewhere I will be travelling to again in the future.
I usually book my flights and accommodation separately for this kind of trip but as I was booking so many flights this year, I needed to spread the cost and wanted something that was just easy and straightforward so we booked a Jet2 City Break to Rome.
I can't remember the exact cost but all three mini breaks cost around £2500 for 3 nights for 3 people in school holidays and in Rome this only covered a 3* hotel where as in Ibiza and Athens, this budget stretched to a 4*.
You can check current prices and deals here: Rome City Breaks from Newcastle
We stayed at Fragrance St Peter which is in the Vatican area of Rome and I didn't have huge expectations but it was actually lovely and I would stay here again.
As I've mentioned above, hotel rooms in Rome are pricey and I picked this hotel as it allowed 3/4 adults to share one room which helped to keep the costs down. Here's a quick review.
Fragrance St Peter Review
This hotel is located very close to Vatican City and there are train and metro stations close by as well as plenty of places to eat and drink. It was very easy to book a taxi (just as reception) and it wasn't much for a taxi into the very centre of Rome (around £6). It was walkable too - we walked home one evening and it was around 30 mins / very easy. The location is nice and quiet and it's up a small hill.The communal areas are fab, the reception area serves drinks and has a mini fridge and shop with snacks. You can enjoy these on the terrace outside. The staff are so friendly and helpful and can't do enough for you and are happy to recommend restaurants, book taxis, provide directions etc.....
There were little stations set up with loads of tourist info too. The hotel really couldn't have been more helpful.
The breakfast room is stunning, bright and airy with the best views of St Peter's Basillica. What a place to start the day! Breakfast wasn't particularly memorable but it was nice enough with a continental buffet and hot drinks available.
And then in the evening you can head up to the roof terrace for drinks (and they serve meals on selected dates). Brilliant service, lovely rooftop views of the Vatican and St Peters Basillica and fab drinks. I love a city centre hotel with a rooftop bar! We loved chatting with other guests and catching up with what they'd been up to / exchanging tips.
We stayed in a triple room for 3 adults and considering this is a 3* rated hotel, we thought it was great. There was a comfortable double bed, single bed, TV, coffee making facilities, plenty of storage and an ensuite bathroom. I had read some reviews that said the pipes could be noisy but we didn't hear a thing. Our room was on the ground floor and had the added bonus of it's own private terrace with seating area. Lovely!
The rooms have air conditioning, there is free Wifi and a safety deposit too.
Oh and by the way, transfers were not included in our break. We booked with Welcome Pick Ups who I use regularly and it was a fantastic 5* service. They offer transfers around the world. You can use my referral link for a discount here: https://welc.io/rfr/9WpwDdan/WLC878L7
Rome Day One
Our flight was a morning flight and we arrived around lunchtime. Our room was ready early so we checked in, freshened up a little, dumped our bags and just wandered out to find somewhere to eat.
Welcome to Italy! We stopped at this deli which has over 2000 5* reviews. They serve over 100 types of Italian sandwiches with beautiful views of St Peter's Basillica. What a way to start our trip. A really delicious lunch and I could just eat it all again now.
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On the advice of fellow blogger Steph Fox, we booked a private VIP tour of the Colosseum. This was not cheap but if your budget allows, I would definitely recommend. We are only going to visit once and I thought we may as well do it properly. It was one of the splurges of our trip but totally worth it.
Being able to skip the long queues was a huge bonus and our guide was so informative pointing out areas we would not have noticed and really bringing the whole arena to life with her stories.
We booked the private rooftop tour which was well worth the extra splurge as you go up in a special lift and pretty much have the entire top floor of the Colloseum to yourself which just feels surreal and like a real VIP experience.
The views were incredible and our guide pointed out so many interesting areas. One of the best guided tours I've taken and I am so pleased we splashed out on this.
After our guided tour, we were free to wander around in our own time. Our tickets also included entry to the Roman Forum. This was the tour we booked: VIP Top Floor Colosseum Tour
Afterwards, we caught the train back to the Vatican area and just stopped at a random restaurant (this one) for lunch which was fab. To be honest I've never had a bad meal in Italy and kind of don't think it's possible!
We had booked tickets for a guided tour of the Vatican City, museums and Sistine Chapel so headed over that way after lunch.
You do need to show your passport to enter the museum and security is very strict but it's well organised.
Our tour guide was so funny and really entertaining. The museums are HUGE and it would be impossible to get around all of the galleries but what we did see was very opulent. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of the Vatican and how it all works. It was fab for us as history lovers but if you have little kids / aren't too interested in history you may find a long tour like this a little boring (it was 2.5 hours).
Like I say though, we all really enjoyed it and found it super interesting. Here are a couple of snaps.....
This is the tour we booked and would recommend: Vatican City Museums Tour with Sistene Chapel and Basillica
You can't take photos inside the Sistine Chapel and while I am pleased we visited, we were kind of getting painted ceiling fatique at this point and weren't completely blown away by it. I actually thought some of the other churches and rooms we had seen in Rome and the Vatican were nicer but like I say, we couldn't visit the Vatican and not have a look.
It had been a long day so we just stopped at a pasta restaurant (this one) on the walk back to the hotel. Again, very nice.
Welcome to Italy! We stopped at this deli which has over 2000 5* reviews. They serve over 100 types of Italian sandwiches with beautiful views of St Peter's Basillica. What a way to start our trip. A really delicious lunch and I could just eat it all again now.
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| First Espresso in Rome |
There is a train station just a short walk from the hotel with regular trains into the centre. It's only a short journey and very inexpensive. We either bought tickets at the station on the day or via the Trainline app.
We walked through a lovely park and I had to fill up my bottle with one of the free water fountains.
We just had a little wander around some of the main sights. Nothing prepares you for the first time you see the Colosseum - it's spectacular!
We wandered through the Roman Forum and admired the statues too before seeing the Spanish Steps and just wandering around the various back streets and piazzas taking it all in.
We walked along to the Pantheon which was closed for a private event but lovely to see from the outside.
Before stopping at a random bar down a little alley for refreshments. In Italy they bring out complimentary snacks with drinks and this tomato bread was divine.
We pottered about a few of the markets and popped into a few random churches (which are always spectacular) before heading to the Trevi fountain.
We visited when the fountain was being cleaned and before the viewing platform was built but it was still spectacular to see.
More random churches........
Our legs were tired and we were ready for a proper meal by this point. We didn't have any real plans so just popped into this place for a drink with the idea of researching local restaurants.
They also serve takeaway Aperol Spritz for 5e from a little hatch. Honestly if you live in England, prices in Italy, even in the most touristy of bars will seem cheap.
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More complimentary nibbles with our wine. Traditionally these are only served between 5 & 7pm but I always find you get free snacks with drinks at any time of day.
Anyway, our first bottle of wine went down a little too quickly and we loved the vibe in here so we stayed for food and it was lovely. Sharing a bottle of wine, dining on Italian food in a little Taberna in Rome with my adult son in his dream city is a core memory from this trip for me.
We just decided to walk our dinner off and walk back to the hotel, passing lovely landmarks and googling their history on the way.
And we walked through Vatican City in the evening which was lovely and calm.
Before arriving back at our hotel for a little nightcap on the roof terrace. A fabulous first day!
Rome Day Two
Day two was an early start, our hotel ordered us a taxi straight to the Collosseum. I always arrive far too early for everything so we had time for another espresso before our guided tour.
On the advice of fellow blogger Steph Fox, we booked a private VIP tour of the Colosseum. This was not cheap but if your budget allows, I would definitely recommend. We are only going to visit once and I thought we may as well do it properly. It was one of the splurges of our trip but totally worth it.
Being able to skip the long queues was a huge bonus and our guide was so informative pointing out areas we would not have noticed and really bringing the whole arena to life with her stories.
We booked the private rooftop tour which was well worth the extra splurge as you go up in a special lift and pretty much have the entire top floor of the Colloseum to yourself which just feels surreal and like a real VIP experience.
The views were incredible and our guide pointed out so many interesting areas. One of the best guided tours I've taken and I am so pleased we splashed out on this.
After our guided tour, we were free to wander around in our own time. Our tickets also included entry to the Roman Forum. This was the tour we booked: VIP Top Floor Colosseum Tour
Afterwards, we caught the train back to the Vatican area and just stopped at a random restaurant (this one) for lunch which was fab. To be honest I've never had a bad meal in Italy and kind of don't think it's possible!
We had booked tickets for a guided tour of the Vatican City, museums and Sistine Chapel so headed over that way after lunch.
You do need to show your passport to enter the museum and security is very strict but it's well organised.
Our tour guide was so funny and really entertaining. The museums are HUGE and it would be impossible to get around all of the galleries but what we did see was very opulent. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of the Vatican and how it all works. It was fab for us as history lovers but if you have little kids / aren't too interested in history you may find a long tour like this a little boring (it was 2.5 hours).
Like I say though, we all really enjoyed it and found it super interesting. Here are a couple of snaps.....
This is the tour we booked and would recommend: Vatican City Museums Tour with Sistene Chapel and Basillica
You can't take photos inside the Sistine Chapel and while I am pleased we visited, we were kind of getting painted ceiling fatique at this point and weren't completely blown away by it. I actually thought some of the other churches and rooms we had seen in Rome and the Vatican were nicer but like I say, we couldn't visit the Vatican and not have a look.
It had been a long day so we just stopped at a pasta restaurant (this one) on the walk back to the hotel. Again, very nice.
Rome Day Three
We aren't religious but most Sundays the Pope addresses the crowds at the Vatican. It's free and you don't need a ticket. As we were just staying across the road, it seemed silly not to go along.
I am so pleased we did as it ended up being such a memorable moment of the trip. The feeling of the crowd is one of absolute joy and anticipation. People come from all over the world and proudly wave their flags. Everyone is happy and smiling and although we all speak different languages and will never see each other again, it truly felt like a proper shared experience.
I am so pleased we did as it ended up being such a memorable moment of the trip. The feeling of the crowd is one of absolute joy and anticipation. People come from all over the world and proudly wave their flags. Everyone is happy and smiling and although we all speak different languages and will never see each other again, it truly felt like a proper shared experience.
If you stay in the Vatican area you will constantly see Nuns and lots of religious figures from all over the world walking about and going about their day. I felt so chuffed for them that they were seeing the Pope and their happiness was just radiating all around them.
When the Pope appeared there were huge cheers across the crowd. He speaks in Latin (we think) and it's only short. I used live google translate on my phone and it kind of worked. Basically he was asking for peace and unity. Some of the crowd did understand what he was saying and when they cheered, we all cheered. It was like a ripple effect and infectious.
We all prayed together and wow, just what an experience. When we do visit Rome again I will 100% go and see the new Pope on a Sunday morning. We left feeling really uplifted.
We all prayed together and wow, just what an experience. When we do visit Rome again I will 100% go and see the new Pope on a Sunday morning. We left feeling really uplifted.
After the service we caught the train to the Trastervere area of Rome. It's supposed to be a really cool and hip area and I thought it would be up my street.
Well we stepped off the train and I was not impressed. It was just one never-ending main road. We took a side street as I spotted a market but it was the worst market I've ever been to. It felt like a jumble sale!
Well we stepped off the train and I was not impressed. It was just one never-ending main road. We took a side street as I spotted a market but it was the worst market I've ever been to. It felt like a jumble sale!
And we were starving but there were no restaurants about. This was not the Trastevere I had seen online! We stumbled upon a restaurant (this one) and decided to stop for lunch.
This restaurant was one of the most surreal experiences we have had in a restaurant. We were the only tourists there, the owner was laughing and chatting with all of her regulars and literally kept scowling at us. She kept coming over and saying lasagne over and over again. We didn't want lasagne and tried to communicate we wanted a menu. Eventually one arrived.
When we ordered, they tried their best to get us to order lasagne but we resisted (we're not huge lasagne fans!). I swear they had some left over and really just wanted to get rid of it.
We asked for a bottle of wine and instead of bringing a bottle to the table she just brought a random half opened bottle over and poured us all different amounts in our glasses. It was pretty comical if I'm honest.
The food was just plonked down whenever and we are not even sure we receieved what we ordered. It was nice though and I can now say I have definitely dined in an authentic back street Italian restaurant.
You can read some of the 1* reviews of this place here which will paint a better picture: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zbiyjVu5p7nXMGZ18
When we ordered, they tried their best to get us to order lasagne but we resisted (we're not huge lasagne fans!). I swear they had some left over and really just wanted to get rid of it.
We asked for a bottle of wine and instead of bringing a bottle to the table she just brought a random half opened bottle over and poured us all different amounts in our glasses. It was pretty comical if I'm honest.
The food was just plonked down whenever and we are not even sure we receieved what we ordered. It was nice though and I can now say I have definitely dined in an authentic back street Italian restaurant.
You can read some of the 1* reviews of this place here which will paint a better picture: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zbiyjVu5p7nXMGZ18
My visit to Trastevere was just not what I expected at all and I did start to feel a little sad. However Steve said we just needed to keep walking and things would get better.
And get better it did. We finally stumbled upon the squares lined with cafes and bars, the hip shops with cool clothes and live DJs, the streets filled with musicians. I absolutely loved the vibe here! If you're visiting, this is the general location you need to head to.
We peeked inside churches, did some shopping, sipped Aperol and beers in the squares and just took it all in. It was a fab way to spend an afternoon.
We even managed to find a bar that was playing the toon game! If you're after a night out in Rome, this area is fantastic.
I had booked us onto a group food tour around Trastevere in the evening and it was absolutely fantastic. This tour lasted about 2.5 hours and it was a group of around 15 people. We loved chatting and getting to know everyone / exchanging tips about where we had visited in Rome as we walked between venues.
Our guide was fantastic and brought us along to some real backstreet gems while also sharing some of the history of Roman food along with lots of entertaining stories.
We stopped for a deli board, the best aranchini I've ever had, pizza, pasta, an ancient wine celler and at the best gelato place I've ever been to. Really worth doing and it's made me want to book more food tours.
Our guide shared with us the location of a taxi rank so after our tour, we just hopped into a taxi back to the hotel ready for our flight the next morning. We could have walked back though and I think if we stay in Rome again, we will probably visit Trastevere on most evenings. Loved it!
This is the tour we booked: Food Tour in Trastevere
I hope you enjoyed our weekend in Rome. We had a great time combining food, drinks, history, art and culture. It's a brilliant city.
Links to the tours we booked:
VIP Colosseum Top Floor Tour
Vatican Museums Tour with Sistene Chapel and Basillica Access
And get better it did. We finally stumbled upon the squares lined with cafes and bars, the hip shops with cool clothes and live DJs, the streets filled with musicians. I absolutely loved the vibe here! If you're visiting, this is the general location you need to head to.
We peeked inside churches, did some shopping, sipped Aperol and beers in the squares and just took it all in. It was a fab way to spend an afternoon.
We even managed to find a bar that was playing the toon game! If you're after a night out in Rome, this area is fantastic.
I had booked us onto a group food tour around Trastevere in the evening and it was absolutely fantastic. This tour lasted about 2.5 hours and it was a group of around 15 people. We loved chatting and getting to know everyone / exchanging tips about where we had visited in Rome as we walked between venues.
Our guide was fantastic and brought us along to some real backstreet gems while also sharing some of the history of Roman food along with lots of entertaining stories.
We stopped for a deli board, the best aranchini I've ever had, pizza, pasta, an ancient wine celler and at the best gelato place I've ever been to. Really worth doing and it's made me want to book more food tours.
This is the tour we booked: Food Tour in Trastevere
I hope you enjoyed our weekend in Rome. We had a great time combining food, drinks, history, art and culture. It's a brilliant city.
Links to the tours we booked:
VIP Colosseum Top Floor Tour
Vatican Museums Tour with Sistene Chapel and Basillica Access
Welcome Pickups Airport Transfers : Get a discount on your first trip here
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