After a Mediterranean cruise, a quick flight comparison revealed that staying two extra nights in Rome actually cost less than flying home immediately from Venice.
Highlights
- Stayed near the Pantheon at Hotel Abruzzi and explored Rome at sunrise, visiting the Trevi Fountain before the crowds and July heat descended.
- Joined a local food tour, then tackled a full “Rome in a Day” tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica.
- Took an ambitious 12–14 hour Amalfi Coast day trip from Rome with a teenager in tow, navigating torrential rain, dramatic coastal roads and a memorable lunch at Chez Black, in Positano.
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Why We Added Rome After Our Cruise
After realising that it would be cheaper to stay in Italy for a few more days after our cruise, instead of flying home for July 4, I did what any sensible (or slightly travel-obsessed) mom would do for their family, and booked us two extra nights in Rome.
And why not? After all, when you live on the West Coast of the U.S., it’s not every day you’re in proximity to such a historic city.
Founded, according to legend, in 753 BC by Romulus, Rome grew from a small settlement on the River Tiber into the heart of the Roman Empire. At its height, the empire ruled much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Rome reinvented itself as the spiritual centre of the Catholic world.
Today, Rome feels like a living museum. It’s a city where pagan temples, Renaissance palaces, lively bistros and neighborhood espresso bars exist side by side.
SheBuysTravel Tip: When traveling during busy holiday periods, always compare flights from nearby cities and different departure dates. Changing our departure from Venice to Rome saved money and gave us extra time in Italy.
Getting from Venice to Rome
Instead of flying from Venice to Rome, we took the high-speed train and enjoyed watching the Italian countryside whizz past our carriage window.
It took around four hours, was extremely comfortable and far less stressful than reorganizing complicated flight connections.
Traveling during peak periods often rewards flexibility. Changing cities or departure dates can dramatically lower airfare.
Where We Stayed: A Three-Star Hotel in a Five-Star Location
We booked into the Hotel Abruzzi, the only hotel that directly overlooks the extraordinary Pantheon, in Piazza della Rotonda. We found this hotel via Expedia and trusted the property’s extensive reviews.
My personal travel rule is simple – choose a three-star hotel with a five-star location. Apart from the fact that it didn’t have an elevator, which was slightly unfortunate with family baggage (porters kindly helped lug our baggage up), it had everything we needed:
- Air conditioning, essential in July (and for traveling with a teen!)
- Breakfast included
- A window view that made us gasp every time we opened the curtains
Stepping outside into one of Rome’s most iconic squares more than compensated for anything it lacked but the a/c worked as it should and that was more important than anything during a scorching July heatwave.
SheBuysTravel Tip: In major European cities, you will spend very little time inside your hotel room. Prioritize walkability, access to public transport, air conditioning and an all-inclusive breakfast (to save time).
Rome at Sunrise: The Secret Version of the City
Tourists flock to Rome (and for good reason), but I loved the ‘secret Rome’, the one found at sunrise. Seeing the Pantheon glowing in the soft morning light was breathtaking.
Waking up the family at 5 am might seem counter-intuitive but it meant having the world-famous Trevi Fountain almost to ourselves. Someone tossed the first coin of the morning, and the splash sounded surprisingly loud in the silence.
An hour later, the square was shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, but by then, we early birds had all the photos we needed and were thrilled to have experienced such a magical place at dawn.
Early mornings in Rome offer a completely different experience.
- Temperatures are cooler
- Streets are quieter
- Photographs are dramatically better
- The city feels calm and atmospheric
Yes, you’ll see the occasional influencer posing in a ball gown – but you’ll also be able to soak up some of the city’s magic in a truly memorable way.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Summer temperatures in Rome frequently reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Plan major sightseeing early in the morning and retreat indoors during the afternoon heat.An umbrella is excellent sun protection, and hydration is non-negotiable, so always carry a bottle of water.
Our First Night: A Trastevere Food Tour
On our first evening, we joined a food tour of the Trastevere district, hosted by The Tour Guy.
Eating here is a huge part of the experience – the real challenge is choosing where to start. A food tour solves that problem immediately. We visited a 100-year old-deli, enjoyed salted cod (a local favorite) and sat down to a three-course Roman dinner.
Over the course of the evening, we sampled:
- The city’s famous Saltimbocca alla Romana (veal, prosciutto, and sage)
- Traditional Roman pizza and pasta
- A selection of local wines, plus a limoncello digestivo
It felt less like a tour and more as if we were being guided around the city by a knowledgeable local – and we got to try dishes that we never would have been brave enough to sample by ourselves.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Booking a food tour on your first evening helps you orient yourself geographically, discover neighborhoods you might otherwise miss and eliminate dinner decision fatigue.
The Colosseum and Vatican in One Day
The next day, we tackled Rome’s biggest landmarks with a full “Rome in a Day” guided tour from The Tour Guy. We booked all our tours with the same provider for ease. Traveling with a teen, was glad I booked a tour, we would have certainly quit in the scalding heat on our own. The itinerary included:
- The Colosseum
- The Roman Forum
- The Vatican Museums
- St Peter’s Basilica
It lasted seven hours and was unforgettable. The crowds inside the Vatican shocked me. Without skip-the-line access we would never have managed it; we simply followed our guide and focused on absorbing the experience.
It was phenomenal and it also reinforced one very important lesson about visiting Rome: Plan well in advance. If you’re traveling during peak season, especially summer, aim to book major tours and entry tickets four to five months ahead whenever possible.
Even in that heat, the Colosseum was unmissable. Walking inside a structure you’ve seen in photographs your entire life is something else. The scale, the age and the atmosphere make it feel astonishingly real.
We also visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. I might not have prioritized the Vatican if I’d been planning the itinerary alone. If I hadn’t planned in advance, the lines that day would have certainly deterred me.
It was a long day, but also one of the most memorable experiences of the trip.
Why Use a Tour Guide
I know plenty of parents who would struggle to convince their teenagers to spend hours touring historic sites in extreme heat, but booking tours in advance and with a skip-the-line guide is my secret weapon. My son was enthralled.
Also, The Tour Guy website has excellent video content that I used to help drum up excitement for my teen ahead of time.
And despite their company name, the guide is not always a man. We were led by a fantastic female guide, Kate, who brought humor, context and insight to everything we saw.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Book major Rome attractions four to five months ahead in high season. Skip-the-line tickets are not indulgent. They are essential.
Real Life in Rome: Laundry Night
After our long, hot day of sightseeing, we did something less glamorous. Laundry. You can run, but you can’t hide from domestic chores!
We allowed our son to eat takeout in the hotel room while my husband and I headed for a local laundrette, four blocks from the Trevi Fountain.
We ended up grabbing a quick dinner at the café at the front of the launderette – an unexpected date night – and I think it might have been one of the best plates of lasagne I’ve ever eaten!
SheBuysTravel Tip: Build free days into your itinerary. A simple rhythm of a couple of sightseeing days followed by one slower day prevents travel burnout.
An Ambitious Day Trip to the Amalfi Coast
The day before we departed, I made a slightly questionable decision and booked a day trip from Rome to the Amalfi Coast.
It turned into a 14-hour adventure complete with torrential rain; one of our three scheduled stops had to be canceled and one of the two planned boat rides was also called off.
I was extremely glad we hadn’t attempted this journey independently. The Amalfi Coast road is famously narrow and winding even in good weather.
At one point, the entire bus fell silent as we rounded a tight cliff bend and another coach appeared coming the opposite direction.
Watching the driver navigate those cliffside bends made me realize very quickly that renting a car here in high season wouldn’t have been for me.
Positano: A Pastel Colored Dream
One of our stops was Positano, which is known as the ‘vertical village’ and famous for its pastel painted houses. We explored the main beach, wandered through the town and took plenty of pictures. It was easy to understand why travelers fall in love with the place.
Our visit ended with lunch at Chez Black (a name that amused us, the “Black” family), a well-known restaurant that has been serving visitors since 1949. I asked our guide to help reserve a table in advance.
The restaurant sits by the beach, and the tableware alone made me fall in love with the place. We dug into our favorite pizza, pasta and salads, and ultimately, it ended up being one of my core memories of the trip.
The Boat Ride That Saved the Day
Although one boat ride had been canceled, the weather had improved enough for a public ferry ride along the coast, and seeing the cliffs from the water was exactly the experience I had hoped for.
One of the best lessons travel has taught my family is to have a Plan B and go with the flow. By the time we returned to Rome that evening, we were exhausted, surrounded by half-clean and half-dirty clothes and ready to head home.
Despite the madness of attempting the Amalfi Coast from Rome in a single day, I was glad we did it. Sometimes, the slightly reckless travel decisions turn into the best stories.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you do not want to navigate narrow coastal roads or ferry schedules, book a guided tour. Let someone else manage the logistics.
The Energy of Rome
Rome is intense. It is heat, crowds and history layered on top of history. Would I return? Absolutely. Would I attempt the Amalfi Coast from Rome in July again? Probably not, but that’s travel.
Sometimes it’s careful planning, sometimes it’s pure madness – and sometimes it’s both. For us, our extra time in Rome was the perfect end to our cruise and Mediterranean adventure.
Visiting Rome After a Cruise FAQ
Yes. Many Mediterranean cruises end in ports such as Venice, Rome or Barcelona. Extending your stay allows time to explore major landmarks like the Colosseum, the Vatican and the historic centre without rushing.
Two to three days is ideal for first-time visitors. This allows time to visit the major historic sites, explore neighborhoods like Trastevere and enjoy Rome’s food scene.
Early morning is best. Visiting landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain or the Colosseum before 8am avoids the largest crowds and the hottest temperatures.
Yes. During peak travel seasons, tours for the Vatican Museums and Colosseum sell out months in advance. Booking early ensures access and reduces waiting times.
It’s possible but ambitious. Guided tours make the journey easier by handling transportation logistics, but travelers should expect a very long day. I wouldn’t recommend trying to undertake this one day journey without a guide or tour.
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