Looking for a budget friendly yet action packed one day trip to Rome?
I managed just that over the Bank Holiday weekend with a friend- and it turned out to be one of the most memorable 24-hour trips I’ve ever done.
I think this would class as an Extreme Day Trip to Rome, as we were there for just 24 hours!
With affordable flights, delicious food, stunning sights and a Vespa sidecar tour, Rome proved the perfect backdrop for a whirlwind trip.
Here's exactly how we did it, costs included, and how you can too!
Per Person it Cost:
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All the opinions in this blog are our own, including reviews of the activities and hotel.
Our trip began in the early hours of the Bank Holiday Sunday with a flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 5:55am.
It’s never easy waking up at 1am, but when Rome is waiting on the other side, it’s surprisingly doable! Unfortunately, we live 2 hours from our nearest airport, so any one day trip, always starts with a very early morning.
The flight departed on time and we landed at Rome Ciampino Airport at 9:35am (Flight time of 2hrs 40 mins from Liverpool to Rome).
Thanks to electronic passport gates rather than border staff, we were through security very quickly, although we were a little gutted not to get a passport stamp- one of those little mementos I love collecting!
By 10:00am we were outside the airport trying to book an Uber. This is where things got a bit confusing. Staff told us to wait at the taxi rank, but that turned out to be the wrong place for Uber pickups.
After our first Uber cancelled, we figured it out- if you’re ordering an Uber from Ciampino, wait by Bus Stop 6. Our second Uber arrived at 10:15am and took us straight to our first stop: the Trevi Fountain. The ride took about 35 minutes and cost €40, which we split (€20 each).
We arrived at the Trevi Fountain at 10:50am. As expected, it was heaving with tourists- I swear it's busier every time I visit. There is now a queuing system to get down the steps which initially looked daunting but actually moved fairly quickly.
We decided to take a few photos from the upper level and planned to return later that evening when it would (hopefully) be quieter.
From the Trevi Fountain, we strolled over to the Pantheon- less than a ten minute walk away. This area of Rome is full of beautiful side streets and little cafes, and the vibe is truly magical.
Outside the Pantheon, we found a charming café offering Aperol Spritz with a small aperitivo plate of nibbles for just €5. Absolute bargain! Sitting in the sunshine, sipping spritz and watching the world go by in one of Rome’s most iconic squares was a dreamy way to kick off the day.
At noon, we headed back toward the Trevi Fountain for our first booked activity—a pasta-making class hosted by the lovely Martina. This 3-hour experience turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.
Martina welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm. She began by telling us about her roots in Puglia and her memories of making pasta with her nonna. Then we got stuck in—rolling dough and learning how to make three different types of pasta: tagliatelle, tortellini, and ravioli.
Martina had prepared a rich ragu earlier for our tagliatelle, and for the stuffed pastas, she showed us how to make a butter and sage sauce that was genuinely mind-blowing.
Once all the pasta was ready, we sat down as a group (with fellow travellers from the US, Greece and France) to enjoy the meal. It felt like a big Italian family lunch, complete with red wine, chocolate salami (Salame Al Cioccolato) and a cheeky shot of limoncello to finish.
We were also given all the recipes to take home- so of course, I’ve already ordered some pasta tools from Amazon to recreate the magic!
We found this experience to be very good value for money- it cost £46, not much difference in price to a restaurant meal with wine and dessert, so the fact we had a truly authentic Italian experience too was great
We finished the pasta class around 3:30pm and grabbed another Uber to our hotel—Hotel Des Epoques near Porta Pia. This ride cost €20.50 (€10 each).
The hotel was great value at £99 for a triple room for one night, including breakfast. With traditional Italian decor, a grand lobby, and a 24-hour airport shuttle, it was perfect for our quick stay. The nearest metro station, Castro Pretorio, was just a 10-minute walk away, making it easy to get around.
We had a couple of hours to freshen up and take a much-needed nap before our evening activity.
At 6:00pm, we were picked up directly from our hotel for our 3-hour Rome Vespa tour with a sidecar- an experience we’d been excited about all day.
Our guides, Sal and Ali, were brilliant- knowledgeable, funny, and full of fascinating stories about Rome.
Our first stop was the Colosseum, followed by a whirlwind ride past both major landmarks and hidden gems.
We even got to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city from lesser-known viewpoints that weren’t overrun with tourists.
The tour ended back at the Pantheon, where we were treated to a double scoop of gelato—included in the tour price.
Chatting with the owner afterwards, we arranged a 15% discount code for our readers!
Just use the code BUILDABREAK at checkout on any of their tours. Genuinely, if you're short on time and want to see a lot, this is the way to do it! CLICK HERE TO BOOK!
At 9:00pm, we decided to stay in the Pantheon area. The square was beautifully lit up, with street musicians playing and restaurants buzzing with life.
We returned to the same spot we had our Aperol earlier in the day for another round of drinks, then wandered to a nearby restaurant for a late dinner at 10pm.
Despite not feeling super hungry (thanks to the pasta feast and gelato), we tucked into a tasty meal with plenty of drinks. The bill came to around €40 per person—not bad for Rome on a Saturday night!
At midnight, we took a short walk back to the Trevi Fountain. This time, it was much quieter. We walked straight down the steps, soaking in the view of the fountain lit up.
At 12:30am, we grabbed a taxi back to our hotel for €20 (€10 each), totally exhausted but absolutely buzzing with how much we had packed in to one day.
The next morning, we enjoyed a relaxed breakfast at the hotel before checking out and hopping in a taxi at 10:30am for our return to Ciampino Airport.
This was a set price of €40 (€20 each). Our flight back to Liverpool departed at 1:25pm—perfect timing after our whirlwind 24-hour Roman holiday.
Absolutely. From pasta-making to sightseeing from a Vespa sidecar, we squeezed so much into one day and made memories to last a lifetime. If you’re considering a quick escape with a friend, this is your sign to book it.
Rome in a day? Challenge accepted—and conquered.
Planning your own Roman holiday? Let me know your questions in the comments or follow me on Instagram and TikTok @BuildABreak for more travel tips!
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