Rome And Florence Trip Log Day 5: Exploring Rome via Gray Line Bus Tour - Visiting the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps
I think about this breakfast a lot
Since our first full day in Rome did not go as planned with the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off tour, we decided to try a different company for sightseeing around Rome instead of taking the Metro. This was a weekday, so we hoped there would be fewer crowds and that another company would take a better route around Rome.
We ultimately chose the I Love Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Panoramic Tour by Gray Line, and we were thoroughly impressed.
Meeting Location
Front seat on the top!
The first bus did not leave from Roma Termini; it left from Largo Peretti, which was a 5-minute-ish walk from Roma Termini. We were the first in line for the day and were able to get a prime front seat on the top level of the bus.
Cheap gas
Lateran Baptistery
Chariot races were held here. The grass never grew back!
The route Gray Line took was much more scenic, and I felt it was longer. They provided headphones for the audio guide at each seat. I highly recommend listening to it, as it provided a lot of great information, as I would have never known that we were passing by one of the sights of chariot races.
We then had lunch at Emanuel’s Food, a cute hole-in-the-wall place. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and our lunch was under 10 Euros and was delicious and filling. Unfortunately, Google Maps lists this place as permanently closed, which saddens me because we encountered genuinely nice people and felt welcomed into their restaurant.
Tomb of Umberto I of Italy
We then took the bus to the Pantheon. It is an incredible feat of ancient engineering. The Pantheon is also a religious site and a tomb for King Umberto I, so you will be asked to remove hats and sunglasses, and you should dress modestly. When we visited, the Pantheon was free to enter. As of February 2026, I believe there is a fee to enter, and it varies by the time of year you plan to visit.
We then walked to a McDonald's to use the restroom, and it was a very eventful time. I did not take any photos, but here are some I found on Google Maps.
We were so used to paying one Euro to use the bathroom that we weren't sure whether McDonald's had public restrooms, so we ordered drinks and then made our way up to the second floor to use them.
Upstairs, there was a long line for the restrooms, so we waited. Once we got in, we were shocked by what we saw.
They were disgusting.
Up until this moment, all the restrooms we have used throughout Rome and Florence have been clean, and we realized this was only true because we either paid admission to the facility, i.e., the Colosseum or the Uffizi Gallery, or paid one Euro to use the bathroom.
This was the first time we weren't required to pay for the bathroom, and, ironically, it was the worst bathroom experience.
I just wish I ordered food from McDonald’s so I could taste the difference. I didnt’t do that until I went to London months later.
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We then walked to the Trevi Fountain, and it was crowded. At the time of our visit, they did not charge an entry fee, but I know that they are starting to do that in 2026. Even though it was crowded, we easily got to the front and reached the fountain's barricade.
The obligatory touristy gelato in front of the trevi fountain photo
The Trevi Fountain is something I have dreamed of visiting ever since I was a child. I was so fascinated by how such a beautiful fountain was carved into the side of a building. Pictures don’t do it justice; it is a gorgeous feat of architecture.
One thing I found super fascinating was how, before you even see the fountain, you can hear the roar of the water, and it honestly gave me chills.
The Fontana della Barcaccia or Fountain of the Ugly Boat
After leaving the Trevi Fountain, we walked to the Spanish Steps and, along the way, passed numerous high-end stores, including Toys Con Te, an official Disney resale store. We had to go into that one. And of course, I walked out with something. I bought a Black Series Reva figure from Obi-Wan and a Black Widow plush keychain.
Kind of crazy that even halfway around the world, I can still find merch from my special interests.
The Spanish Steps were quite crowded, so we took a few photos and left to figure out what was for dinner. We didn’t want to eat at the Hotel again, so we found a burger place near the Trevi Fountain and got takeout.
We then headed back to the hotel for the evening to eat and rest up for tomorrow, as we would be getting up early once again to travel to Florence to visit the Accademia Gallery and see Michelangelo's David.
Yeah, the burger wasn’t good at all… very dry…
And Google Maps lists the location near the Trevi Fountain as permanently closed…
TRIP LOG INDEX
Day 1: Traveling Abroad For The First Time
Day 2: Exploring Rome via Big Bus Tour and Visiting The Colosseum
Day 3: Florence Day Trip Part One - Visiting the Uffizi Gallery
Day 4: Visiting The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Day 5: Exploring Rome via Gray Bus Tour - Visiting the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
Day 6: Florence Day Trip Part Two - Visiting the Accademia Gallery
Day 7: Last Day In Rome - Almost Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica
Hi! I’m Andrea, the creator of Cinematic Excursions.
I am a video editor, photographer, travel and events vlogger, and blogger who likes to write movie analyses and yap about fandom. I also have a useless film degree.
I have been creating videos since 2018. In 2023, I started Cinematic Excursions to share my unfiltered experiences traveling, cruising, going on excursions, and using city cards that are supposed to save money.
I also use my platform to document my experience attending events like New York Comic-Con, MCM Comic-Con London, and the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, advising others and covering news from these events.