Arrive Rome

Clear customs and collect bags — allow about 45–60 minutes. Italian customs is generally straightforward for US passport holders but baggage claim can be slow.

Skip the private transfer touts inside the terminal — they are overpriced and you don't need them.

The most reliable, straightforward way into the city. Trains run every 15 minutes. Buy tickets at the machines in the arrivals hall — the train platform is well signed. Approximately €14 per person.

Once at Termini, take a cab or rideshare to The Hoxton Rome. You'll arrive by approximately noon. Check-in is after 11:00 AM — if you land and get there right at noon, you should be fine, but they can hold bags if the room isn't ready yet.

Check in or drop bags, freshen up. You've been on a plane all night — this matters. Even 20 minutes to wash your face and change clothes makes an enormous difference for your energy level.

Get outside as soon as you can. Sunlight is the fastest way to reset your internal clock after a transatlantic flight.

Roman street food at its best — supplì (fried rice balls) and pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). Perfect jet lag food: very cheap, no fuss, no decisions to agonize over, and genuinely delicious. Near Campo de' Fiori.

Fixed menu, no choices to make, extremely Roman, great value. The menu changes daily and the owner has been doing this for decades. Perfect if you want to sit down but can't be bothered to make decisions about food.

Your guided tour meets at Largo Gaetana Agnesi (just outside the Colosseum) at 2:00 PM — allow a few minutes to find the meeting point. The 3-hour guided tour covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with a guide, so you skip the general queue entirely.

Nearly 2,000 years old. 50,000 seats. The scale inside is genuinely staggering — the photos don't capture it. Take your time on the upper levels where the views across the arena floor are best.

The Colosseum ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — walk straight in from the Colosseum, no separate ticket needed. This is the political heart of ancient Rome: temples, arches, the Via Sacra where triumphal processions passed.

Palatine Hill is quieter and worth the climb — views down into the Forum and across toward the Circus Maximus. Finish here, and head back to the hotel by 5:00 PM. Your feet will be done.

Excellent wine bar, very local. Perfect pour, relaxed atmosphere, the kind of place Romans actually go. Grab an outdoor table if you can and let the city move around you.

Relaxed, good spritz, nice crowd. A slightly more casual option if you want something easy and unfussy after a long travel day.

One of Rome's most beloved spots — part deli, part restaurant, all extraordinary. Incredible pasta, cured meats, cheese, and wine. If you make one dinner reservation for this trip, make it here. Book well ahead.

Tiny, cash only, classic Roman trattoria with no tourists and fantastic food. The cacio e pepe and coda alla vaccinara (oxtail) are the reasons to go. Very cheap, very honest, very good.

Simple Roman cucina, great cacio e pepe, very affordable. A classic neighborhood trattoria that does the fundamentals extraordinarily well. No frills, no fuss.