48 hours ROME in
Visit the Colosseum and beyond with our insider’s guide to the Italian capital
DAY ONE MORNING
Of course, no first-time visitor can come to the city and skip big ticket items like the Colosseum (literally the most popular tourist attraction in the world!), and the Pantheon (a Roman temple turned Catholic church), but there is a way to see these attractions without battling the tourist masses. Top tip: tourists and locals don’t generally get up early, so set the alarm before sunrise, lace up your runners, and you’ll be rewarded by having an A to Z of the city’s most iconic sights almost to yourself!
MIDDAY
After burning calories, it’s time to refuel. To get an overview of the food scene here, skip breakfast and join a walking food tour instead. Eat With’s Unique Roman Food Walk With An Archeologist (eatwith.com) takes travellers through the lesser-known Prati area and pairs expert storytelling and history with more than 20 tastings – from espresso and handmade pasta, to gelato and bruschetta – each at uniquely local haunts.
AFTERNOON
Next, head out of town to take in the ancient Appian Way. A marvel of Roman engineering at the time of its construction 2000 years ago, the road was a major thoroughfare for the empire. Today, it’s a place for Romans to get into the surrounding countryside, run and bike, see ruins and – perhaps most importantly – to take a break from the
crowds of tourists in town. Expedia’s Ancient Appian Way e-bike Tour (expedia.com.au) allows travellers to pedal from the city to the country with an expert guide in tow.
EVENING
Forgo a sit down dinner and take another walking food tour — this one in the trendy, bohemian district of Trastevere. Compared to New York’s Greenwich Village, this former-working class area has become a local nightlife epicentre and its picturesque, winding cobblestone streets are packed with traditional and innovative trattorias, pubs and artisan shops. Eating Europe’s four-hour Twilight Trastevere Rome Food Tour