72 Hours In Rome: What To See & Do

This post will share how to spend 72 hours hours in Rome.

For the second lap of my birthday trip in June, I headed down to Rome after less than 48 hours in Venice.

I was pretty upset about the pricey transportation via the water bus and the little I could do by foot.

After an entire day of exploring under the scorching sun, I headed to Rome earlier than planned.

I booked the next available train immediately after having breakfast and was on my way.

Even though it was raining heavily when I arrived in Rome, it was a great decision as I could check in and begin the exploration early.

Thankfully, I had booked my return ticket from Rome Ciampino Airport, so returning to Manchester was quite a breeze.

Let’s get down to the details of my trip without further ado.

Here’s How To Spend 72 Hours In Rome On A Budget

When travelling to Italy or any other European destination, it is crucial to bear in mind the season.

Summer is the most expensive season to travel, especially now that people are finally going on holiday after two years.

So, expect to spend a bit more than usual.

If you want to avoid the overprices that come with the Summer, visit less popular destinations or stick to Eastern European countries where your money will go further.

Combined with the heat, crowds and prices, in hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have visited Rome.

I should have gone to a coastal city instead.

But then I had such a great time that I do not regret the trip.

Yes, I would have spent less money if I had gone to a cheaper, less popular city, but everyone knows there’s nothing quite like a European summer.

So yes, it was worth it.

Train Tickets

Cost: £65.17/€75.90 – one way

When buying any form of transportation ticket in Europe, there’s so much money you can save when you buy in advance.

I’m not sure what happened with this ticket, but for some reason, I left it till the day before buying a ticket to Rome from Venice.

In my defence, I wasn’t sure I would like Venice enough to stay an extra day.

So, I figured if I didn’t, I could take a morning train out of Venice, which eventually happened.

I ultimately had to get the cheapest high-speed train ticket I could find for the time I wanted.

Instead of the hourly Trenitalia Freece, which I was looking forward to using, I went with Italo, which runs four times daily because it was slightly cheaper.

Like the high-speed train I took from Amsterdam to Berlin, this Italo train was also comfortable with charging ports, shaky WIFI, a folding table and luggage storage.

The journey from Venice Mestre Station to Roma Termini Station took under four hours.

Return Flight Tickets

Cost: £50.64/€58.99 – Ryanair one way

Airport shuttle – £5.13/€6

Before I go on with my Rome Travel Guide, I want to briefly cover my return journey just in case anyone will be flying out of the Rome Ciampino Airport.

I bought my ticket in March, which still cost €59.

In hindsight, I should have flown out on Monday or Tuesday, and it would have been cheaper.

But it was too late to book two days off work when I realised this, so I had no choice.

When it was a few hours before my departure, I headed down to Roma Termini station to find an Airport shuttle since the airport is on the outskirts of Central Rome.

I used the Terravision shuttle, which I noticed going back and forth on my way to the hotel.

It cost €6 one way. Rome Ciampino is a small airport with basic facilities.

Even though my flight was delayed, I arrived in Manchester just after midnight.

Accommodation

Cost: £124.37/€145.80 for two nights

While I stayed in a lovely hostel in Venice, I wanted a bit of privacy in Rome, so I chose a super charming and cosy hotel.

It was a small hotel with basic amenities, but perhaps the most striking thing about Hotel Pisa is its hospitality.

The staff were friendly and ready to ensure your smooth trip by pointing out the must-visit attractions, transport links and nearby restaurants.

Even though the WIFI didn’t work half the time and the Air Conditioning needed improvement, this cosy hotel gave me pure Italian vibes and treated me to a lovely birthday buffet breakfast on the private patio.

The location is about 15 minutes’ walk from a Metro Station, a nearby supermarket, and affordable restaurant locations.

I recommend it.

Transportation

Cost: £5.98/€7 per day

Unlike Venice, moving around Rome is relatively cheap.

A day contactless Metro Pass costs €7, which you can buy from the ticket machines in the station.

I used my Apple Pay for the first couple of days, but on the last day, I decided to get the day pass to experience it.

All you need to do is tap in with the barcode, and the barrier will open up.

I didn’t use the bus or the tram because it was too hot.

But you can use the day pass across all transport modes.

Meals

If there’s one thing about Rome, there’s food everywhere you turn.

If you’re into Italian food, you’ll be in a food paradise in Rome.

A rule of thumb is to avoid overpriced restaurants around the attractions.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of street food vendors in Rome, but I can tell you that the farther you are from a major attraction, the cheaper the food is.

This way, I could get a bowl of takeaway pasta for under €10.

I honestly refused to pay anything above €7-9 for pasta.

So I had to look hard.

For a small cone, gelato generally starts at €3.50, so ensure you eat your heart out and try the Pistachio and Tiramisu flavours.

If you’re not a fan of whole pizza that costs about €10-12, get pizza slices that go for about €4-6 instead.

If you’re on a super tight budget, there’s always decent supermarket food available.

Attractions & Historical Landmarks

Can you spend 72 hours in Rome without the attractions that brought you to the eternal city in the first place? I think not.

Depending on your time, there are three major areas you need to cover in Rome.

These include Ancient Rome, the Piazzas and the Vatican City.

Let’s break down the must-see attractions in these areas:

Ancient Rome

• The Colosseum: the incredibly iconic and largest amphitheatre in the world. Expect tons of crowds, and ensure you get a miniature statue as a souvenir.
• The Roman Forum: explore the ruins of ancient Roman government buildings.
• Trevi Fountain: iconic 18th-century fountain also famous for coin throwing. Don’t forget to make a wish while throwing your coin.
• Pantheon: a former Roman temple, tomb and now a Catholic Church.
• Altar of the Fatherland: a historical monument to honour the first king of Italy.
• Campidoglio: one of the Seven Hills of Rome designed by Michelangelo.
• Spanish Steps: an iconic 17th baroque stairway with 138 steps.
• Castel Sant’Angelo: 2nd-century cylindrical castle and museum, formerly the tallest building in Rome.
• Trajan’s Market: ruins of the world’s oldest shopping mall.

Piazzas

• Piazza Navona
• Piazza del Popolo
• Piazza di Spagna
• Piazza Venezia

Vatican City

• St. Peter’s Basilica: the official church of the Vatican City & the most enormous Christian basilica in the world.
• Sistine Chapel: a chapel in the Apostolic Palace designed by Michelangelo.
• Vatican Museums: the public museum of the Vatican City displays over 70,000 works collected by the Catholic Church over the centuries.

There’s much to see and do in Rome; it’s incredible.

Rome requires a minimum of a week to thoroughly bask in the city’s ancient history and modern culture.

Shopping & Souvenirs

There’s no shortage of designer and high-street brands in Rome.

There are many options to explore, depending on your budget and taste.

As for souvenirs, they are at every corner, so make sure you grab a fridge magnet, a keyring, a tote bag and/or a miniature landmark.

Finally

I hope you have enjoyed my Rome Travel Guide on a budget.

I had such a swell time and look forward to returning soon.