Cheap 5-Day Italy Road Trip from Rome to Perugia and surrounding area

Your exciting road trip through Italy starts when you reach the incredible city of Rome, where you'll stay for 3 nights. You'll pick up your rental car in Rome and begin your adventure in Italy.

Rome is a popular cheap holiday destination in Italy with something to offer every traveler. When you're ready to explore the city, stop at some of the best places to visit in Rome and get this road trip adventure rolling.

A trip to the amazing Altare della Patria will make your cheap holiday in Italy truly special. This attraction is a fascinating architectural structure that has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from 49,843 visitors. Each year, approximately 1,683,070 people travel to Rome to see this attraction with their own eyes.

When you're done sightseeing for the day, you'll check in at one of the best budget-friendly hotels or places to stay in the city.

When you're hungry and ready to take a break from your adventure, treat yourself to a delicious meal at one of the best restaurants in Rome. An excellent example is the popular 433. Serving a menu of mouthwatering dishes, this restaurant is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 2,341 customers.

Another restaurant you should check out during your cheap vacation in Italy is Roma Sparita. Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by 2,073 customers, this famous restaurant is one of the city's most recommended places to eat.

D’Angelo Caffè & Gastronomia - Bar Bistro Caffetteria Napoletana a Roma is a great bar to relax after a busy day. About 1,054 customers have given this spot an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, making it one of the most popular bars in the area.

Another bar in Rome we recommend is Cantina e Cucina, an excellent place to meet new friends. This bar offers customers plenty of snack and drink options and is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 7,907 customers.

Ai Tre Scalini is also one of the best places to go to unwind and chat with locals. Over 2,950 bar-goers have rated it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Enjoy toasting the start of a terrific road trip vacation and cheap holiday experience in Italy!

Day 2’s road trip itinerary introduces you to many popular attractions and activities in Rome, proving that cheap holidays in Italy can be extraordinary.

You'll begin sightseeing at the extraordinary Spanish Steps. This attraction is a monumental staircase that has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 57,211 travelers.

Another of the best travel destinations you can explore in this fun and cheap holiday destination is the spectacular Piazza di Spagna. This popular place of interest is a stunning square that boasts an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 113,658 visitors.

To make your trip to Rome more memorable, spend time at the fascinating Trevi Fountain. With an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars in 343,494 traveler reviews, it’s not surprising that the fantastic Trevi Fountain is often mentioned in Italy road trip itineraries.

The magnificent Pantheon is another stop you might want to add to your sightseeing plans. This roman temple and popular travel destination is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars in 189,682 reviews, with a recently recorded annual visit of 30,000,000 people.

If you’re interested in seeing something else, make your way to the amazing Piazza Navona. More than 158,771 visitors have rated this square and tourist destination an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Your discovery of Rome does not have to stop there. You can add a budget-friendly activity on your itinerary and get to know more about Rome on a personal level. Check out the fantastic selection of affordable tours and tickets offered on this leg of your journey across this top cheap holiday destination in Europe, Italy.

After exploring some of the most remarkable sights in Italy, you also have the chance to experience the country’s food culture. Eat at Ristorante Amedeo, one of the best restaurants in Rome. This place is a local favorite and has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,798 reviews.

You can also check out La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali. Offering appetizing foods and refreshing beverages at reasonable prices, this restaurant is an excellent choice for budget travelers in the city. This restaurant is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,637 diners.

Another great restaurant we recommend you go to after your road trip activities is Maccheroni. With an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,633 customers, this restaurant is sure to provide you a memorable dining experience in Rome.

When you’ve finished your meal, head to some of the most popular bars in Rome for an after-dinner drink. Cap off your night in this cheap holiday destination at VinAllegro and try some of its cocktails and snacks. This bar has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,167 customers.

Ristorante Tema is another great place to hang out in and relax after a busy day in the city. This bar offers various drinks at affordable prices and is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 939 customers.

If you want to have a drink or two with locals, you'll want to visit Bar Tornatora Rome. Rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 952 customers, this bar is one of the best places to unwind and socialize in Rome.

Savor the rest of the night and celebrate another incredible road trip adventure in the magical Rome!

On day 3 of your road trip through popular and cheap vacation spots across Italy, you’ll experience two places in one day. You’ll start your day in Rome and end your day in the city of Perugia, where you'll stay for 1 night. How much time you’ll spend in each location is up to you.

One of the best places to visit in Rome is the amazing Roman Forum. This travel destination is a square that has been rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 114,450 visitors.

This day is also your chance to stop at the incredible Colosseum. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 328,821 travelers, a visit to this well-known roman amphitheatre and sightseeing spot in Rome is likely to make your vacation in Italy even more memorable. This travel destination welcomes around 7,400,000 yearly visitors.

Another unforgettable sight in Rome is the outstanding Castel Sant'Angelo. This museum has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 72,431 visitors.

To make the most of your day in this cheap holiday destination in Italy, drop by the popular piazza del Popolo. This attraction, an amazing square, has been rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 89,807 travelers.

If you’re keen to explore more, you’ll enjoy the fantastic Villa Borghese. This urban zone of rome is a popular attraction rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 69,749 visitors from all over the globe.

Cheap, budget vacations are nothing but incredible, especially when you’re in Italy. To have the best affordable travel experience in Italy, make time for some unique, challenging, or inspiring activities. Adding a tour to your travel plan promises a one-of-a kind adventure that will make your cheap vacation in Italy unforgettable. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of budget-friendly tours and cheap holiday deals in Italy.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Perugia. Perugia is another cheap travel destination in Italy where you have access to hotels, restaurants, bars, and other conveniences.

After a long day of driving and exploring some of the best attractions a budget vacation in Italy can afford, treat yourself to a hearty meal. You’ll find many great restaurants in Perugia that offer delicious food to help keep you going.

One restaurant we recommend you try in Perugia is Al Mangiar Bene. This restaurant provides good food and service and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 1,395 customers.

When talking about the best restaurants in Perugia, La Prosciutteria Perugia is a name locals often mention. This local favorite offers a variety of options, helping it earn an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 407 diners.

Another restaurant worth trying is Alphaville. Many locals and cheap holiday goers in Perugia enjoy dining at this restaurant. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 325 customers.

As the day is coming to an end, stop at some of Perugia’s best bars to celebrate this day of your road trip vacation in Italy. For example, you can visit Quei Bravi Ragazzi. Rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 543 customers, this bar is considered a favorite in the area.

Another great place to have a refreshing, celebratory drink is Elfo Pub Perugia. This popular bar in Perugia has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 754 bar-goers.

You can also go to Punto di Vista as an alternative. More than a bar, the popular Punto di Vista is also a place for fun or relaxation. Around 502 customers have given this city bar an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure and cheap holiday experience in Italy!

On day 4 of your road trip through popular and cheap vacation spots across Italy, you’ll experience two places in one day. You’ll start your day in Vatican City and end your day in the city of Rome, where you'll stay for 1 night. How much time you’ll spend in each location is up to you.

One of the best places to visit in Vatican City is the amazing Piazza IV Novembre. This travel destination is a square that has been rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 9,189 visitors.

This day is also your chance to stop at the incredible Rocca Paolina. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 7,128 travelers, a visit to this well-known rocca and sightseeing spot in Vatican City is likely to make your vacation in Italy even more memorable.

Another unforgettable sight in Vatican City is the outstanding Carducci Gardens. This park has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 1,768 visitors.

Cheap, budget vacations are nothing but incredible, especially when you’re in Italy. To have the best affordable travel experience in Italy, make time for some unique, challenging, or inspiring activities. Adding a tour to your travel plan promises a one-of-a kind adventure that will make your cheap vacation in Italy unforgettable. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of budget-friendly tours and cheap holiday deals in Italy.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Rome. Rome is another cheap travel destination in Italy where you have access to hotels, restaurants, bars, and other conveniences.

After a long day of driving and exploring some of the best attractions a budget vacation in Italy can afford, treat yourself to a hearty meal. You’ll find many great restaurants in Rome that offer delicious food to help keep you going.

One restaurant we recommend you try in Rome is Coso Ristorante. This restaurant provides good food and service and has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,275 customers.

When talking about the best restaurants in Rome, Pierluigi is a name locals often mention. This local favorite offers a variety of options, helping it earn an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,123 diners.

Another restaurant worth trying is Ristorante Ad Hoc. Many locals and cheap holiday goers in Rome enjoy dining at this restaurant. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 752 customers.

As the day is coming to an end, stop at some of Rome’s best bars to celebrate this day of your road trip vacation in Italy. For example, you can visit La Botticella of Poggi Giovanni. Rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 655 customers, this bar is considered a favorite in the area.

Another great place to have a refreshing, celebratory drink is Tigelleria Romana - Bistrot & Cafè. This popular bar in Rome has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 792 bar-goers.

You can also go to La Licata as an alternative. More than a bar, the popular La Licata is also a place for fun or relaxation. Around 2,067 customers have given this city bar an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure and cheap holiday experience in Italy!

It’s soon time to say goodbye to Italy as your road trip vacation is about to end. Day 5 is your departure day and your last chance to capture the beauty of Rome.

Depending on how much time you have before your flight back home, we recommend doing some last-minute shopping or sightseeing to make the most of your cheap holiday experience in Italy.

If you'd rather pass time visiting some attractions, this is your chance to go to places you may not have had the chance to explore yet.

One fantastic attraction you could visit on your last day in Rome is the remarkable Campo de' Fiori. This square and popular place of interest has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 51,133 visitors.

If you have an appetite for one last delicious meal in Rome, consider a top-rated restaurant like Antica Pesa. This restaurant has a menu of appetizing and affordable meals and is rated at an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 858 customers.

Hostaria Isidoro is an excellent alternative if you feel like eating something else. This restaurant serves a variety of savory and budget-friendly dishes and has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 909 customers.

You’ll then say farewell to Rome and begin your journey home. You’ll leave filled with unforgettable memories from your terrific and affordable travel experiences in Italy!