RIVER TRIPS · ROME RIVER CRUISES
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 8 rome river cruises worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Paddle through central Rome with a certified guide, passing Castel Sant’Angelo and Tiber Island before tackling rapids near Ponte Garibaldi. Guides such as Facundo, Julia, Greg, and Daniele add history and humor. Expect a 2-hour outing, wet shoes, safety gear, water, and Roman pizza.
“My boys 22, 17, and 11 and I, all had a great time! Our guide (from Argentina) was fantastic!!”
Use Rome’s Tiber as a quiet transport route between Isola Tiberina, Castel Sant’Angelo, Ponte Sisto, and Piazza del Popolo. Boats run about every 30 minutes, with open-air and covered seating, a smartphone audio guide in seven languages, and views of bridges, Castel Sant’Angelo, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
“The boat only runs until 7:00 so it’s not as useful transport as it could be have been. We paid for the all day transport but only used it for one stop in the afternoon so it wasn’t a great deal. Downstairs in the boat was a lot of fumes so everyone wanted to to sit upstairs in the open of course. But there weren’t a lot of seats and several of us stood. There is no tour guide talking so I don’t know what that part of the rating survey was about. It’s a nice little boat ride on the river, but if you are planning a ride, I…”
Meet beneath Porta del Popolo, then follow an English-speaking guide to the Tiber for about two hours of gentle paddling, floating, history, and two easy rapids. Guides such as Dario, Sebastian, Daniele, and Carlos lead the outing. Expect wet shoes, a pizza or street-food snack, and a different view of Rome.
“Something a bit different from the regular chaos of Rome which was very much welcomed by our two teenagers! Most of the journey is calm and quiet, then a short break for water and a slice of pizza (provided) before a couple of rapids (not too sinister and a chance to get wet - welcomed in the heat). Our guide filled us in with some interesting snippets as we went along and you get a different view of Rome. Only other comment is you don’t end up back where you started, which wasn’t overly clear in the tour description so it’s about a 20 min walk to the nearest metro…”
Settle at a reserved table beneath Ponte Sant’Angelo for a one-hour Tiber cruise with cacio e pepe, Roman maritozzo, meatballs, fried bites, and one glass of wine or prosecco. You’ll pass Isola Tiberina and the Saint Peter’s area, then receive next-day hop-on hop-off boat access.
“Sejlturen var hyggelig. Maden var elendig. Har fået dåsemad der var bedre.”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Tiber Island and walk into Trastevere at sunset for 2.5 hours of Roman food and stories. Expect cured meat, cheese, pizza, supplì, beer, wine, and gelato, plus stops at Santa Maria, Piazza Trilussa, and local eateries. Guides may include Marco, Francesca, Ramona, or Mattia.
“Our tour guide was wonderful! Overall à totally worth it experience! The only thing that I didn’t appreciate is that few hours before the tour they texted us that it will be canceled because the guide was sick but instead they suggested us à totally different thing and when we said that we are not interested in that and we will be happy with a refund all of a sudden the guide was ok and ready to do the food tour…… that felt weird and not honest”
Start with a guided tasting at Cantina Fabullus in Trastevere, where Ginevra introduces regional cheeses, cured meats, breads, wines, and dessert in a 1st-century Roman cistern. Add a flexible Tiber cruise with four stops and views of St. Peter’s Basilica, Castel Sant’Angelo, and Tiber Island.
“My three sisters, our mom, and I did this activity to celebrate Mother's Day! Our mom really wanted to do a boat tour of the Tiber, which was fine, but the highlight was the Food and Wine Pairing adventure! Ginerva, our host and teacher, was entertaining and very engaging! We tasted very delicious wines, and the food pairings were amazing! It was the best way to spend Mother's Day! Thanks!”
Start in Trastevere with cured ham and cheese at an open-air market, then visit Santa Maria, cruise the Tiber for 25 minutes, and walk through baroque Rome. Your guide leads you to Navona Square, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps, with one hour free for lunch.
Start above the Spanish Steps with a 2.5-hour guided walk led in English or Italian. See Rome’s grand squares, fountains, Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo, and St. Peter’s Basilica, taste gelato, then add a 24-hour Tiber River hop-on hop-off boat ticket.
“our guide was so knowledgeable and lovely! we went for the boat after our tour and used the boat the next day up to the Vatican. unfortunately we weren't offered gelato tasting?”
An hour, an evening, a set of rapids or a week aboard.
Every country and city on the site, from the Nile to the Chicago.
