Rome Discovery

What’s in Store! This is just an example of what you might do with your time in Rome...

Day 1: Arrival and get your bearings

• Travel from the airport to Rome Termini by either bus or train.
• Depending on your arrival time you may have access to your room or leave your luggage at the hotel and head of for a little exploration
• Meet the rest of the group and enjoy a few drinks and bite to eat.

Day 2: Rome's Colosseum

• Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Explore these iconic landmarks and immerse yourself in the history of ancient Rome.
• Take a stroll to the nearby Palatine Hill and soak in panoramic views of the city.

Day 3: Vatican City and Artistic Treasures

• Tour the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms. Admire the incredible art collections and learn about the Vatican's rich history. Visit St. Peter's Basilica and climb to the top of the dome for breath-taking views of the city.

Day 4: Ancient Rome Exploration

• Use your 24 hour hop on/hop off city bus tour ticket for an overview of the city.
• Stop at the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain for some photos and people watching

Day 5: Time to head for home

• Depending on your flight time it's time for a final wander thought this remarkable city before heading to the airport for your return flight.

Optional tours

Friday 28 Feb, Tour time 10.45am-2.00pm (provisional)

Gladiator’s Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor plus Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Get a gladiator's view of the Colosseum from the arena floor on this special access tour. Step away from the crowds on this in-depth Colosseum arena floor tour, complete with access to areas off-limits to most ticket holders. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors as your insightful guide demystifies the Colosseum itself, as well as the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, through engaging stories that will help you see these ancient structures in a new light.

You’ll enter the Colosseum via the “Gladiator’s Gate,” the side entrance once used exclusively by gladiators. This VIP entrance is not only the quickest way to get into the Colosseum—it also gives you the full gladiator's-eye-view of what it was like to enter the amphitheatre for combat nearly 2,000 years ago.

Once inside, your in-depth Colosseum arena floor tour begins on an unforgettable note. Standing on a wooden reconstruction of the original floor, you'll have amazing, 360-degree views of ancient Rome’s most iconic monument. This space isn't accessible by general admission ticket holders, so it's also one of the best places to soak up the majesty of the building away from the crowds. Listen to your expert guide tell stories about the famous blood sports that once took place on the very spot where you are standing.

After your Colosseum arena floor experience, you'll continue your tour through the general access areas of this monumental building with your guide and small group. Over the course of an hour, you'll explore the first and second tiers as your guide busts some of the most pervasive myths surrounding the Colosseum.

Embark on a complete tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Leaving the Colosseum, you'll head into the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for a fully guided tour of the centre of ancient Rome. As they are active archaeological sites, these attractions can be difficult to decipher on your own. But with an expert guide to lead you, the ruins will come to life. Highlights include the cremation point of Julius Caesar, the Senate buildings, opulent palaces, and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, just to name a few.

Saturday 01 Mar, Tour time 9.15-12.45am (provisional)

The Complete Vatican Tour with Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica

More than the Sistine Chapel—this skip-the-line tour shows you the best of the Vatican Museums. A complete Vatican tour that goes beyond the ordinary to give you insight into one of the world's most sacred sites. From the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms to incredible ancient sculptures you may never have heard of, our route through the Vatican Museums visits all the sights you wanted to see—plus some surprises you didn’t expect. The pièce-de-resistance, of course, is the Sistine Chapel. 

Also enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica (and skip the line!). Located outside of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica has its own entrance and its own rules, with limited hours for guided tours. Our Complete Vatican Tour ensures that you get inside the Basilica (and avoid the long line to get in!) with your expert guide to enjoy Michelangelo’s moving Pietà, Bernini’s ornate Baldachin, and the chair of St. Peter, among other treasures.

24 hour hop on/hop off Bus tour

The perfect introduction to the city and the best photo opportunities of iconic landmarks from the top deck.

Dharma Style Hotel

The Dharma Style is a 4-star boutique hotel, located on 3 of 4 floors, in a historic building in the center of Rome, a stone's throw from Via Cavour and the Opera House. The adjacent proximity to Termini Station means it's easy to travel from the airport to the hotel while also allowing you to reach the main attractions with ease!

Rooms consist of either a double bed or two single beds with ensuite facilities plus desk, LCD TV, Soundproofing, Kettle, Toiletries, Heating, Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, Wardrobe, Minibar (for a fee), Safe deposit box, Telephone, Hairdryer.

https://www.dharmagroup.it/hotel/dharma-style/

Provisional Flight Information

27/02/2025 London Stansted to Rome Ciampino Dep: 0600 Arr: 0925

03/03/2025 Rome Ciampino to London Stansted Dep: 1615 Arr: 1755

27/02/2025 London Gatwick to Rome Fiumicino Dep: 0920 Arr: 1250

03/03/2025 Rome Fiumicino to London Gatwick Dep: 1735 Arr: 1915

27/02/25 Manchester to Rome Fiumicino Dep: 0835 Arr: 1235

03/03/25 Rome Fiumicino to Manchester Dep: 1325 Arr: 1530

27/02/2025 Birmingham to Rome Fiumicino Dep: 0715 Arr: 1100

03/03/2025 Rome Fiumicino to Birmingham Dep: 1150 Arr: 1340

Included luggage allowance

Stansted - 10kg checked in (option to increase to 20kg)

Gatwick - 10kg cabin bag (option to change to 20kg checked in)

Manchester - 10kg cabin bag (option to add 22kg check in)

Birmingham - 10kg cabin bag (option to add to 22kg checked in)

Passport validity

For UK passport holders your passport must be:

• Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

The rules of travel to most European countries have changed. Starting in the first half of 2025 UK citizens are required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay.

ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to a number of European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.

With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport (and other documents if required) and verify that you meet the entry conditions.

NB - There is no official date for the ETIAS currently confirmed but when it is introduced it will be your responsibility to ensure that you have arranged this. We will update everyone when the ETIAS is required with information on how to apply for this online.

 Travel Insurance

Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel. Spice Escapes have arranged a scheme with Staysure who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 663617) full details of which can be found on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk. For an instant online quotation please click here.

Global Health Insurance Card

A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as GHICs in the EU.

Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.

NB – A GHIC/EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance!

The latest FCO travel guidance for Italy

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy