Find out how to Spend 2 Days in Rome, Italy

Some posts on this website comprise affiliate hyperlinks. When you e-book or purchase one thing by means of these hyperlinks, I earn a small fee (at no further value to you). Check out my privateness coverage for extra data.

An sincere, life like information & itinerary that will help you plan your 2 days in Rome – with out attempting to suit an excessive amount of in!

Because the basic cliche goes, Rome wasn’t inbuilt a day – and also you’ll want at the very least two days to see all of it. Extra, actually.

To get essentially the most out of your metropolis break, intention for 3 nights and two full days. When you solely have two nights, you may need to shift the under itinerary round somewhat – however you possibly can nonetheless cowl many of the massive sights.

When you’re brief on time and wish fast solutions, I’ve bought a brief model of all the itinerary (plus a map) on the very backside of the web page. Use the contents menu under or scroll proper down to search out it. In any other case, preserve studying for my detailed itinerary and information to planning your two days in Rome. Take pleasure in! 

My current go to to Rome was sponsored by hu Roma tenting on the town (extra on that within the “The place to Keep” part). All phrases and opinions are my very own.

Is a 2-Day Journey Lengthy Sufficient for Rome?

My sincere reply to that is no! Rome is a improbable metropolis and there’s SO a lot to see and do right here. Plus, in a metropolis that’s identified for its superb delicacies, great nightlife, and fabulous procuring scene, an extended go to permits extra time to wander and absorb that well-known “dolce vita”.

However generally, two days is all you might have! And in the event you solely have time for a whirlwind go to to Rome, the excellent news is which you could pack rather a lot into two days.

My most up-to-date journey to the town was nearly precisely 48 hours. In that point, I used to be capable of go to the Vatican, absorb the artwork on the Borghese Gallery, take an open-top bus tour, wander some fairly sidestreets, and cram a LOT of pasta into my face!

Prime Sights for Your First Journey to Rome

I’ll kick off with a fast listing of all of the “major” sights in Rome – good in the event you solely have a few days to discover.

The Colosseum & Roman Discussion board

Borghese Gallery

Vatican Metropolis (together with the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica)

Trevi Fountain

Pantheon

Spanish Steps

Notice: The final three sights are all positioned pretty close to one another within the Centro Storico

Two Days in Rome: Itinerary

In a rush? There’s a map and a fast model of this itinerary on the very backside of the web page. In any other case, right here’s my itinerary that will help you see as a lot of Rome as attainable in 2 days…

Day One in Rome

1. The Colosseum & the Roman Discussion board

The Colosseo (Colosseum) might be Rome’s most well-known attraction. Virtually 2,000 years previous, and the most important historical amphitheatre ever constructed, the stadium as soon as seated round 50,000 spectators and is really breathtaking to behold.

As the town’s most iconic sight, it’s often very packed and may have lengthy strains – so I like to recommend heading right here as early as attainable. Tickets additionally embody entry to the close by Roman Discussion board; a powerful expanse of ruined streets and buildings which had been as soon as the very coronary heart of Historic Rome.

Pre-book your tickets (ideally for the primary timeslot of the day) from the official website, or e-book a guided tour for skip-the-line entry and a few attention-grabbing historical past with an knowledgeable. This 1-hour Guided Tour is right for anybody on a decent schedule.

Very brief on time? Skip the Roman Discussion board and solely go to the Colosseum. When you’re actually pressed, you would skip the go to altogether and easily stroll across the outdoors of the Colosseum, which might take round 10-Half-hour.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Precedence Entry Colosseum, Roman Discussion board & Palatine Tour, 2.5 hours, from €62.40pp

2. Hop-Hop, Hop-Off Bus Tour

When you’re on a decent schedule, the hop-on-hop-off bus tour from Metropolis Sightseeing is a good way to see loads of Rome in a brief area of time. It’s additionally a lot much less tiring – and features a free audio information to share some background on the stuff you’re .

There’s a bus cease on the Colosseum, so you possibly can hop aboard when you’re executed exploring (or use the bus to get there). Using the whole circuit with out getting off takes round 2 hours. When you do hop off, there are buses each 15-20 minutes.

Prime tip: The fitting-hand facet of the bus has the very best views of the Colosseum as you strategy.

3. Tour the Borghese Gallery

Subsequent, head to Galleria Borghese to absorb Rome’s unimaginable artwork historical past. When you’re using the Metropolis Sightseeing bus tour, you possibly can hop off on the Piazza di Spagna and stroll up – in any other case, it’s a couple of 50-minute stroll.

The gallery is housed inside the historic Villa Borghese Pinciana, set inside a beautiful park. Enable a while to discover the encompassing gardens – you possibly can even hire a rowboat on the lake!

The structure and decor are beautiful, however the actual treasure contained in the villa is the artwork assortment. Highlights embody marble statues by the well-known Bernini and work by the masterful Caravaggio.

I like to recommend you pre-book your tickets as far upfront as attainable (that is the official web site – tickets are €13 + a €2 reserving charge). You can too pay a bit further for Skip-the-Line Tickets (from €40, a bunch will meet you and escort you thru the doorway). Nonetheless, guided excursions value about the identical quantity and in addition permit you to skip the road, so these are often higher worth.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Borghese Gallery Small Group Guided Tour (contains skip-the-line entry tickets) from €40

Night: Take a Meals Tour

When you’ve nonetheless bought some vitality left, I extremely suggest taking a meals tour of Rome. It’s such a enjoyable method to uncover the town and its unimaginable meals scene.

I booked this 2.5-hour road meals tour by means of Get Your Information (from €40pp) on my first journey to the town. I wasn’t upset: the tour was nice, our information Graziella was superb, and I ate a LOT!

Different tour: 4-Hour Meals Tour by Night time with over 20 meals tastings – from €109pp. 

Day Two in Rome

1. Go to the Vatican

Vatican Metropolis is a must-visit in Rome. Not solely is that this city-state the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and residential of the Pope, however it additionally homes an enormous assortment of artwork, structure and artefacts.

There are historical Roman sculptures, Renaissance frescos, masterwork work, and – in fact – the well-known Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo.

I extremely suggest taking a guided tour on the Vatican. The entry strains could be insanely lengthy (I met individuals who’d been queuing for 3 hours) and it will get very busy inside. A tour will permit you to skip the road, and can assist you navigate the crowds – plus I don’t assume I’d have had a clue what I used to be and not using a information! You may pre-book Skip The Line Tickets (click on right here), however this simply means skipping the queue to purchase tickets – you’ll nonetheless need to queue to get in.

Really helpful tour: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica Tour, from €95pp

2. Stroll alongside the River to Castel Sant’Angelo

Whenever you’re executed exploring the Vatican, it’s solely a brief stroll to the close by Castel Sant’Angelo – an iconic sight in Rome, greatest seen from the traditional Ponte Sant’Angelo bridge.

Initially constructed as a mausoleum for the Roman Emporer Hadrian (of Hadrian’s Wall fame!) and later used as a fortress, at present, the citadel is a museum. There are some pretty frescoes, fantastically adorned rooms, and a set of weapons – however on a brief journey to Rome, it’s not likely price going inside.

Detour: When you’ve got time, I extremely suggest a detour to the close by Neve di Latte gelato store, which was one in all my favorite discoveries! Learn extra in my Rome gelato information!

3. Centro Storico Strolling Tour: Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps

Rome’s Centro Storico (Historic Centre) is the center and soul of the town: a blinding neighbourhood of fairly piazzas, cobbled alleyways, historical structure, ornate palaces, and historic church buildings.

You possibly can spend hours (days, even) getting misplaced in its scenic facet streets. However we’re on a decent schedule! Fortunately, the three major sights kind a simple strolling tour that can take round an hour (permitting for stopping time):

Strolling Tour Route

1: Pantheon (15-minute stroll from Castel Sant’Angelo). A Roman temple relationship from round 126AD which was later became a Catholic Church. The facade is especially spectacular and there’s a really fairly piazza outdoors with a phenomenal fountain.

Prime tip: It’s price going contained in the Pantheon (€5, pre-booking not needed) to admire the spectacular domed ceiling – and to see the tombs of the painter Raphael and the Sardinian King Vittorio Emanuele.

2: Trevi Fountain (10-minute stroll from the Pantheon). Be ready for crowds at Rome’s most photographed fountain! Made well-known by the basic 1960 movie La Dolce Vita, the fountain was constructed between 1732 and 1762 and options a powerful facade with quite a few sculptures and icons.

Prime Tip: Come again within the night and also you’ll hopefully discover the fountain much less crowded.

3: Spanish Steps (10-minute stroll from the Trevi Fountain). This grand, historic staircase relationship from the 1720s leads from the Piazza di Spagna to the white, twin-towered Trinità dei Monti church. It’s one other Rome icon and a well-liked picture spot, however once more, be ready to share it with crowds!

Detour: Swing by the Don Nino gelato store close to the Pantheon to strive what may be the very best gelato in Rome.

The place to Keep in Rome

When you’re on the lookout for an amazing, reasonably priced place to remain in Rome, I can extremely suggest hu Roma tenting on the town. A part of the hu openair group, it is a peaceable, leafy tenting village on the very fringe of the town.

It’s like a mini vacation park – affording the proper escape after a busy day exploring Rome. You get the very best of each worlds right here: all of the motion of the town centre, plus the chilled-out vibes and self-catering affordability of a vacation park.

PROMO CODE: Use my unique reader promo code EMILYFORHU for a ten% low cost legitimate on villages and campings on the town for stays till 17/04/2025 (together with Christmas holidays).

hu Keep Premium Cell Residence

I stayed in one of many hu Keep Premium cellular properties. It sleeps 5 company throughout two rooms: a double and a triple with a bunk mattress. Each rooms have their very own ensuite rest room and bathe. Between the 2 bedrooms is a roomy kitchen/eating room. Click on right here to look at my video walk-through.

The most effective half is the big veranda out the entrance of the property, with a big desk for out of doors eating or night drinks.

From the surface, it appears to be like like a really small unit – however it’s truly surprisingly spacious. There’s a great deal of cupboard space, each bedrooms are very giant, and the kitchenette comes with a full-size fridge and many cabinets.

hu Roma tenting on the town

There are tenting and motorhome pitches, so that is the proper place to remain in the event you’re taking a street journey in Italy. If not, there are additionally cellular house models just like the one I stayed in: perfect for a self-catering getaway.

Though hu Roma tenting on the town is right for households, it didn’t really feel overly family-focused or completely geared in direction of younger youngsters. In actual fact, I’d say about 50% of the opposite company had been {couples} or teams of adults.

There’s an out of doors pool with two jacuzzis, a big BBQ space, a small playpark, a basketball & soccer court docket, desk tennis tables, and a really well-stocked mini marketplace for grabbing the necessities.

There’s additionally an amazing bar (good for a sundown Aperol Spritz!) and a beautiful onsite restaurant serving scrumptious Italian dishes at fairly cheap costs. Pasta dishes had been round €13 – and each meals I had at Rione had been glorious. I extremely suggest the tiramisu!

The one draw back is that you just’re somewhat removed from the town centre. It’s about 5km to The Vatican, however the site visitors could be fairly unhealthy, which slows the journey down. Taxis aren’t too unhealthy: I paid €18 getting back from the Vatican, and about €35 getting back from Villa Borghese (the far facet of Rome).

Fortunately, hu Roma tenting on the town runs a shuttle bus (€5 return) to the Cipro metro station – the place you possibly can stroll to the Vatican or hop on the metro to discover additional. You can too take public buses, which cease proper outdoors the park’s entrance, to achieve the closest metro station.

PROMO CODE: Use my unique reader promo code EMILYFORHU for a ten% low cost legitimate on villages and campings on the town for stays till 17.04.2025 (together with Christmas holidays).

Ideas for Making the Most of Your Two Days in Rome

Pre-book or arrive early.

Pre-book tickets (or excursions) for the big-hitter sights, particularly in the event you’re visiting in peak season. Queues can get VERY lengthy and also you don’t need to waste hours standing in line if you solely have a few days to play with.

Some sights promote “Skip the Line” tickets that are helpful for avoiding the longest queues.

When you haven’t pre-booked, arrive as early as you possibly can on the Vatican and the Colosseum. You need to be there earlier than opening time so that you could be first in line for entry.

When to go

Alternatively, go to through the low season. My first journey to Rome was in January and the crowds and queues in any respect the sights had been considerably lower than throughout summer time. I used to be capable of get same-day tickets for the Colosseum with zero wait time.

When you can, plan to go to mid-week somewhat than at a weekend. Throughout the week, sights are more likely to be a tad quieter than on the weekend.

Getting Round

Rome’s Centro Storico is pretty compact and walkable, however the remainder of Rome’s metropolis centre is sprawling. When you’re brief on time, it may be tempting to make use of taxis to get round – however this could add up quick.

Fortunately, there’s a fairly first rate public transport system in place. There are three metro strains within the metropolis: strains A (the pink line) and B (the blue line) cowl the town centre and a number of the most well-known monuments, just like the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and the Vatican. 

Trains are very frequent and the map is pretty simple to determine. Additionally, the ticket machines could be switched to English. You should buy a single journey ticket (100 minutes) for €2, or there are day and week-long tickets. Click on right here for an in-depth information to utilizing the metro.

When you do have to take a taxi, I like to recommend utilizing FREE NOW; a ridesharing app just like Uber however extra prevalent in Italy.

What and the place to eat

Top-of-the-line issues about visiting Rome is the FOOD. I might fairly fortunately spend two days within the metropolis with out visiting any sights, simply consuming pasta and gelato!

I’ve bought a separate publish in regards to the high native dishes to strive in Rome: click on right here to test it out. Under is a fast listing of a number of the greatest eating places – all of that are near the sights on the itinerary above:

Supplizio – An ideal place to strive suppli (conventional Roman road meals snack)

Panificio Bonci – Good for a fast lunch close to the Vatican. Order the porchetta sandwich!

Pizzarium by Gabrielle Bonci – Pizza by the slice, additionally close to the Vatican

Settimo – Prime ground of the Sofitel with beautiful views. Good for sundown drinks.

Da Sergio – Rustic little trattoria with red-checked tablecloths.

La Matriciana – Attempt the signature dish, Bucatini Amatriciana.

Roscioli – Presumably the very best carbonara in Rome. You might want to e-book a desk because it will get busy – in the event you’re eating solo, sit on the bar.

Rome 2-Day Itinerary: Map & Fast Model

Day 1

Go to the Colosseum (enable 1-2 hours minimal)

Pre-book tickets (ideally the primary slot of the day) or e-book a guided tour.

Go to the Roman Discussion board (included together with your entry ticket) if in case you have time.

Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour with Metropolis Sightseeing (enable 2 hours)

Go to the Borghese Gallery (visits are timed so you possibly can’t keep longer than 2 hours)

You need to use the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour to get there.

Prebook your tickets to ensure entry.

Afterwards, spend a while exploring the encompassing gardens. You may even hire a rowboat on the lake if you’d like!

Night: Take a meals tour (in the event you nonetheless have vitality!)

Day 2

Morning go to to the Vatican (enable at the very least 2.5 hours)

I extremely suggest reserving a guided tour to keep away from the queues.

Don’t miss the Sistine Chapel (search for!), the long-lasting St Peter’s Basilica, or the beautiful Gallery of Maps.

When you’ve got time – climb the dome of St Peter’s Basilica.

Stroll alongside the river to Castel Sant’Angelo (it’s a couple of 20-minute stroll)

You may go to inside if in case you have time.

Discover the Centro Storico (enable at the very least 1 hour, longer in the event you don’t need to rush)

The Pantheon (15 minute stroll from Castel Sant’Angelo)

Trevi Fountain (10 minute stroll from the Pantheon)

Spanish Steps (10 minute stroll from the Trevi Fountain)

Enable time to discover the varied piazzas and scenic facet streets.

Seize a gelato – I like to recommend Venchi, Gunther or Don Nino. Take a look at my information for extra suggestions!

Learn Extra

Why You Ought to Go to Rome in January

Is Rome Protected for Solo Feminine Travellers?

14 Dishes You Must Attempt in Rome

So, that’s my information to spending two days in Rome – with out exhausting your self! Obtained a query? Scroll all the way down to ask within the feedback!