Trastevere Food Tasting & Tiber River Cruise Roman Cistern

Sail the Tiber, then descend into a 1st-century Roman cistern for wine and food

You board at Ponte Sant'Angelo and drift downriver past St. Peter's and under Renaissance bridges, then disembark at Tiber Island for a short walk to Fabullus Wine Cellar. Underground in a restored Roman cistern, you taste five Italian wines paired with cured meats, cheeses, breads, and olive oils: all certified and sourced by their staff. The boat ride and tasting together run about three hours, and you need to arrive on time to keep your reservation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sant'Angelo Bridge10m
2. Castel Sant'Angelo National Museum10m
3. St. Peter's Basilicapassing by
4. Trasteverepassing by
5. Janiculum Hillpassing by
6. Ponte Sisto5m
7. Tiber Island10m
8. Rome Termini1h · entry included

Tiber River ride and wine tasting

• Embark at Ponte Sant'Angelo
• View Castel Sant'Angelo
• Pass by St. Peter's Basilica
• Pass by Vittorio Emanuele Bridge
• Pass by Ponte Principe Amedeo Savoia Aosta
• Pass by Trastevere district
• Pass by Janiculum Hill
• Pass by Ponte Sisto
• Pass by Pons Fabricius
• Pass by Pons Cestius
• Disembark at Tiber Island
• Walk to Fabullus Wine Cellar in Trastevere
• Enjoy food tasting with wine pairing

The experience

The boat leaves from Ponte Sant'Angelo (the bridge Hadrian built in 134 AD to reach his mausoleum), and you drift past St. Peter's Basilica, under Ponte Sisto, past Tiber Island where the Temple of Asclepius once stood. It's about an hour on the water, moving slow enough to actually see the city instead of rushing through it. The river narrows and widens. You pass the Janiculum Hill on one side and the old Campus Martius on the other. Then you disembark at Tiber Island, a five-hundred-meter walk through Trastevere's narrow streets to Fabullus.

Fabullus is underground, in the basement of an eighteenth-century building, but the cellar itself is older. It's a Roman cistern from the first century AD that someone excavated and restored. The walls are original marble and stone. There are ancient artifacts on the shelves, wooden furniture that looks like it belongs there. No neon, no modern bar design. You sit down and the staff brings out five glasses and starts pouring: one Prosecco first, then two white wines and two reds, all selected by their team. Each pour comes with an explanation, where it's from, what it pairs with, why they chose it.

The food arrives in courses. Three types of bread, three olive oils to taste. Roman pizza: what they call focaccia here. Then a board of cured meats: mortadella with pistachio, buffalo mozzarella, ricotta, vegetables preserved in oil. Fresh and aged cheeses. Honey and jams to go with them. It's not a meal. It's a tasting, so the portions are small and deliberate. Everything carries a certification (DOC, DOCG, DOP, IGP), which means it's tracked, it's real, it's Slow Food approved. You're not eating tourist food. You're eating what Romans actually source.

The whole thing, boat plus tasting, takes about three hours from start to finish. You need to be on time. If you're more than twenty minutes late, they cancel the tasting. Allergies and intolerances have to be declared when you book, not when you arrive. The boat ticket is one ride only, and you choose your departure point: either Ponte Sant'Angelo or Tiber Island. The recommendation is to start at Sant'Angelo and get off at the island, which puts you closest to the wine cellar. If you go the other way, you're walking longer through the neighborhood.

What’s included

• Your experience includes a one-hour Tiber River boat ride departing from Ponte Sant'Angelo (or Tiber Island, your choice), passing St.
• Peter's Basilica, historic bridges, and the Janiculum Hill before disembarking at Tiber Island.
• From there, a short walk brings you to Fabullus Wine Cellar in Trastevere, where you taste five Italian wines: one Prosecco and four superior selections (two white, two red), paired with three breads, three olive oils, Roman pizza, cured meats including mortadella with pistachio and buffalo mozzarella, ricotta, fresh and aged cheeses, vegetables in oil, honey, jams, and expert presentation by staff.
• Water is provided.
• All products carry certifications (DOC, DOCG, DOP, IGP, Slow Food).
• Hotel pickup is not included.

Options for this experience

4 options

Classic tasting only, no boatGuide in 4 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 19:00Wine pairing only, not boat. This experience can last between 60 and 75 minutes and consists only of a food tasting with wine pairing, without a river boat ride. Duration: 1 hour, though it can run between 60 and 75 minutes. Classic food and wine pairing only: only the food tasting with wine pairing at Fabullus Wine Cellar, Via dell'Arco di San Calisto, 20; river ride not included.

Classic tasting with river boat rideGuide in 4 languages · 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00Food and wine tasting with river boat: this option includes a food tasting with wine pairing plus river boat tickets. Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes, though it may vary between 60 and 80 minutes. Food and wine tasting: Prosecco, a selection of 4 superior wines, 1 Prosecco, typical slow-food Italian cheeses, cured meats and much more. Starting time: choose from 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 or 19:00 as the start of the wine and food experience. River boat embarkation point: Pier St. Angelo Bridge, Piazza di Ponte Sant'Angelo. Food tasting at Fabullus Wine Cellar, Via dell'Arco di San Calisto, 20.

Deluxe tasting only, without boatGuide in 4 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 19:00Deluxe tasting only, not boat: this option does not include the river boat ticket, only the food tasting experience. Deluxe menu food and wine only: only the food tasting with wine pairing at Fabullus Wine Cellar, Via dell'Arco di San Calisto, 20; river ride not included. Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes, though this experience can last between 75 and 90 minutes. Only the food tasting with wine pairing; river ride not included. Deluxe menu tasting: this menu gives you a food tasting with 4 top-quality wines, "Riserva Special", plus prosecco. River ride not included.

Deluxe tasting with river boat rideGuide in 4 languages · 5 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 19:00Deluxe tasting: this option's menu includes the wines Brunello di Montalcino, Amarone, Barolo and Asprinio. Special reserve wines: this option's menu includes the wines Brunello di Montalcino, Amarone, Barolo and Asprinio. Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes, though it may vary. Starting time: choose from 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 or 19:00 as the start of the wine and food experience. River boat embarkation point: Pier St. Angelo Bridge, Piazza di Ponte Sant'Angelo. Food tasting at Fabullus Wine Cellar, Via dell'Arco di San Calisto, 20.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 19:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (7 to 16 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Rome Fabullus Wine Cellar Food Tasting with Wine Pairing and Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see Rome from the river and then sit down to real Italian wine and food in a historic setting, not a restaurant. Plan for three hours total, with punctuality required: the tasting starts at a fixed time, and delays over twenty minutes mean the reservation is canceled.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 16 years); Infant (under 7).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Where does the boat depart from?

Ponte Sant'Angelo (Piazza di Ponte Sant'Angelo) is the recommended starting point. Tiber Island is also an option if you prefer to board there instead.

How long is the boat ride?

About one hour on the water, passing St. Peter's Basilica, Tiber Island, and several historic bridges before disembarking.

Is the wine tasting on the boat or on land?

The tasting happens at Fabullus Wine Cellar in Trastevere, on land. The boat ride is separate. You disembark at Tiber Island and walk about five hundred meters to the cellar.

What wines are included?

One glass of Prosecco and four glasses of superior Italian wines (two white and two red) selected by Fabullus staff.

What food is served?

Breads, olive oils, Roman pizza (focaccia), cured meats including mortadella with pistachio, buffalo mozzarella, ricotta, cheeses, vegetables in oil, honey, jams, and a selection of fresh and aged cheeses.

Can I book the tasting without the boat ride?

Yes. There is a food and wine tasting only option available without the Tiber River boat ticket.

What time should I arrive?

The booked time refers to the start of the tasting at Fabullus, not the boat departure. Arrive at least fifteen minutes early. Delays over twenty minutes may result in cancellation.

Are there any dietary restrictions I should know about?

Allergies and intolerances must be declared when booking. Vegan options available on request if available. Not recommended for people with diabetes. Inform staff of any dietary needs in advance.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You arrange your own transport to the departure point.