Rome is an amazing city; I think most people already know this from its popularity. I may have some criticisms of Rome, but overall, it is a magical place. If you only have two days in Rome, you may find it overwhelming; what do you see and what do you leave out? The city is massive and would take months to fully explore. I understand circumstances outside of your control or over planning may have led you to shorten your time in Rome or combined it with other Italian areas.
More than most cities Rome has a lot of “must see attractions”. For example, you cannot go all the way to the Italian capital and not visit the Colosseum, even if you only have two days in Rome, some things are mandatory. Can you get to the major places to fill up your Instagram account with just two days in Rome? I would say yes, but you will have to hustle.
First things first, you need a plan. That includes where to stay on your trip and where to dedicate your precious time. As I write this it is difficult, Rome has so many beautiful things to see, 2 days in Rome is a tease. It will be enough time to realize why you need to go back and dedicate more days to this wonderful city. If I had to do two days in Rome, the below is the schedule I would use and the area I would make my home base.
First Things First: Where to Stay in Rome
I have only been to Rome one time, but I will say that I was extremely happy with my hotel and its location. The hotel I used was the HOTEL INDIGO Rome St. George, I have stayed at a Hotel Indigo a time or two around the world, this property was better than any others I have visited. The real gem of this hotel is the neighborhood, Trastevere.
The Trastevere neighborhood is worth visiting Rome for itself. I need to include exploring the area, even if you only have two days in Rome. Beautiful cobblestone streets, statues and fountains that are hundreds (if not thousands) of years old, it is what you expect Rome to be. Although popular it is a bit quieter than some of the other areas of Rome and is recommended as your home base. Since we have established where you should stay, let me begin with your two-day itinerary for Rome.
Two Days in Rome: Day 1
I am going to make some assumptions, that you have two full days in Rome and not 48 hours. There is a difference, but you can adjust this schedule however it suits you. You will want to hit some of the major things early, and quickly. Eating is optional in the morning, I recommend a pastry or sandwich, there are usually bakeries scattered around. Some hotel establishments offer a free breakfast, but I was never big on those, they are too cookie cutter for me.
Day 1: Morning Colosseum
As mentioned earlier, you need to see the Colosseum, it is the law when visiting Rome for the first time (not really). You only have 2 days in Rome, so set your alarm clock early. You can take a tour that lasts about three hours, or you can go it solo. Either way, just make sure you pay the extra money to skip the line. Time is more precious than money, you do not want to get there and have an hour wait. Of course, these days that is not likely.
I personally would just buy the skip the line ticket and go on my own. You can purchase a self-guided tour that will give you some of the history. The Colosseum is a must visit, but I was not enthralled with it. I liked it yes, but it is not worth three hours plus travel time a tour will take when you only have two days in Rome. Pop in, look around, learn some history and leave. It is time to eat. If you do nothing else, please follow this piece of advice…Do not Eat near the Colosseum, it is a waste of money and hunger.
Lunch: Wine, Cheese and Prosciutto
The restaurants near any tourist site are going to be twice as expensive and a third as good. They will be easy to spot, someone who is not of Italian descent will be attempting to usher you into their eatery. A better bet is to find a nice wine bar or small pasta guy. Surprisingly enough I was not overall thrilled with the food in Rome, but there were high points. Labottega Pastificio con Cucina Roma, which is right next to your hotel, is a great place to grab a quick (but authentic) pasta and keep moving. When I was there, he was open at 9:30am, looks like these days he opens at noon.
If you want to sit down and grab some wine (you are in Rome after all) there are great spots all over the area. My go to was Vino Olio, near the hotel in Trastevere. Just be careful, you only have a limited time in Rome… I spent many hours just enjoying the delicious bread and buffalo Mozzarella while sipping on some of the best wine of my life.
The Pantheon
The good news is you knocked out the Colosseum, the bad news is you are about 25% through your 2 days in Rome. My goal is to get some quick wins. You will be on foot most of the day, mainly because there is no better way to explore this city. The Pantheon was my favorite site in Rome, this beautiful building is about a 15-minute walk from the aforementioned Trastevere neighborhood.
The Pantheon is a newer building, it burnt down in a fire in 80AD and was rebuilt in 116AD, making it less than 2000 years old, practically a baby! It is located right next to the Piazza della Rotonda, you can kill two birds with one stone, seeing both the Pantheon and the famous Fontana del Pantheon. If you have time, grab some wine and just suck in the atmosphere. Like the Colosseum, stay away from the food in this area, although it is hard to mess up prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella. You will see a steady increase in tourists in this spot as well as the next few places I will lead you.
Spanish Steps
Go another 15-minutes on foot North (well North east) and you will come across the Spanish steps. Built in 1723 these steps were built to link the Bourbon Spanish Embassy, and the Trinità dei Monti church. I would not say these were amazing, in other cities they would be, but when compared to the rest of Rome, the monument is almost average. Still they are a quick thing to knock off your list of things to do in two days in Rome.
A word of caution, you will notice an increased collection of selfie sticks and restaurants with English tourist menus. The area is crowded with visitors, almost overwhelmingly, or at least it usually is during non-apocalyptic years. Maybe you will not want to eat around here, but gelato is generally good in Rome. Just be careful and avoid the places where it is piled up to the sky, that is fake gelato. After hanging around the Spanish steps and getting your photos, it is onto your next destination.
Trevi Fountain
Another quick must see in an overly touristy area is the Trevi Fountain. As luck would have it both the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain were closed when I visited Rome years ago. I was able to see both, just not fully experience them. It is my hope your luck is better, in this year there is no telling. Finished in 1762 it is one of the more well-known fountains on the planet. The design is beautiful, if you can wade through the millennials taking selfies, it is worth the struggle. Ok, you saw it and you only have 2 days in Rome…keep moving! Once again, we are venturing off on foot.
The Roman Forum
I realize I have you walking a lot, but there is a method to my madness. One of the most historically significant sites, the Roman Forum is a must stop on any visit to Rome. The Roman Forum dates to 500BC and was a center of Roman activity. It was used by many Romans as a place for public announcements, public affairs, criminal trials, a marketplace and even gladiator matches. Julius Caesar himself expanded the area when it became too crowded.
If you are a history nut like me, this is mandatory on your two days in Rome. The area is stocked with museums and buildings to explore. So much of it was in relatively good shape, it makes me wonder why I cannot get a house that does not start to fall apart after three years. I imagine you have seen enough for today and tomorrow will be busy as well so I will give you some ideas as to how to spend your night.
Dinner/First Night in Rome
As mentioned, you are going to want to stay clear of any restaurant that is close to a major attraction. Rome unfortunately is full of tourist traps; you will need to do some digging to find a good place. So many spots have closed this year and I would be dishonest if I said I could accurately recommend a restaurant. Your best bet is to find a nice, highly rated trattoria. I never had a bad meal in a trattoria, they are non-formal Italian eateries, usually family run. Whatever you do, have it picked beforehand so you do not waste too much time. At night stroll the neighborhood of your hotel, grab some wine and relax, it was a long day!
Two Days in Rome: Day 2
I wish I can tell you there will be less walking, but I would be lying. Rome has a lot to see and you were the one who only allotted 2 days in Rome. Your first stop is not technically in Rome, hell it is not really in Italy at all…that would be Vatican City.
Vatican City
Vatican City is big, I mean it is a city after all. You can easily spend a full day here and not see all of the grounds. There are what I consider “must sees” when visiting this Catholic city. It is recommended that you get a tour, you will save yourself a lot of headaches and wasted time. Many tours last 9-hours, but I recommend the 4-hour tours since you have limited time in the area. Make sure the tour you choose has the following stops.
St Peter’s Basilica
My tour brought me to St. Peter’s Basilica closer to the end. After a description of the building I was able to walk around freely. This building is home to the famous la Pieta statue (seen above). This is the nicest church I have ever seen, which makes sense since it is where the Pope is located. As a side, do not bother dipping your wedding rings into the holy water, it does not prevent divorce.
Sistine Chapel
No arguing, you need to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece. It is stunning and historical, but there were some things that surprised me. First, no talking… and the guards are anal about this. Secondly, no photos, which I did anyway (then lost the pictures). The most famous panel, the Vatican Palace, is a lot smaller than you would imagine. The Sistine Chapel is why you dedicate 25% of your two days in Rome to the area.
Vatican Museums
Surprisingly enough one of the richest, oldest, and most powerful organizations in the world has an amazing art collection. This is where a tour is both good and bad. Tours show a lot, but I found myself running past priceless artwork from Michelangelo and Raphael. They bring you to the best spots, but you barely have time to appreciate it. Still the Vatican museums are heaven for any history or art lover.
The Vatican is huge and if you are lucky the Pope will be giving a mass when you are visiting. Even if you aren’t, there is so much art it is breathtaking. To me one of the reasons to travel is to experience history, the Vatican City does this in ways you cannot even imagine. If you do not like this area, we cannot be friends.
Lunch
Given the time you spent walking, you will probably want to sit down. Rinse and repeat the lunch from the previous day. I personally love wine and I love Buffalo Mozzarella so that would be my late afternoon snack (again). Your tastes are different I am sure. You will also want to get some gelato on the way to your next stop. The road leading up to the Castel Sant’Angelo had the best gelato of my trip.
Castel Sant’Angelo
A lesser known attraction in Rome, but still outstanding, is the Castel Sant’Angelo. The place is practically brand new, since it started in 135AD. It was originally commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, and later was transformed into a military fortress. A interesting tidbit is that in time it was connected to the Vatican so the Pope could escape if there was a war. This is exactly what happened in 1527, when the pope used it as a refuge.
Ok, enough history lessons, why should you see it? Well it is awe inspiring. The building itself is like a maze and it is interesting to see how old forts were set up hundreds of years ago. Get all the way to the terrifying top and see some amazing views of the city as well as the Castel Sant Angelo angel which was put up in 139AD. This Castel truly embodies the history and art that is Rome.
Dinner: La Pergola
You only have two days in Rome and one life so why not have a blowout meal to close things out? I did not visit this establishment, but it is on my bucket list. La Pergola is Rome’s only three Michelin star restaurant and widely regarded as worth every star. You hit this city hard…go out with a bang! Afterwards you can find a nice spot and drink wine until the sun comes up and you must go to your next city.
Other Attractions
If what I gave you did not have you running around enough, here are a couple of other things to fill your time. Rome is filled with various churches, relics, ruins, and museums. There is a reason why people spend more than 2 days in Rome, it is full of things to do and see.
- Capitoline Museums – You can fit this in when visiting the Roman Forum, but it is not a quick walk. The Capitoline Museums has invaluable pieces of art such as the Capitoline wolf (I have a weird thing for this piece) among other works. If you like museums and have some extra time, look for the Capitoline museum.
- Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli – A small, somewhat empty church that is a bit out of the way. It may seem like just another church in Italy (which in it of itself is not a small deal), but it houses one of the most unique relics I have witnessed, the chains that held Saint Peter. There also happens to be Michelangelo’s statue of Moses in this church, among other amazing artworks. It really packs a lot in for a small church.
- Villa Borghese – If you like a little green with your ancient relics hit up the Villa Borghese, the third most popular park in Rome. The Villa Borghese is a beautiful grounds with a lot to do. It may be tight for your two days in Rome, but if you can find the time it is worth it.
Conclusion: 2 Days in Rome: A Rome Itinerary
Look at some old things, walk around, eat…. look at more old things, this is your itinerary for Rome. The above are the major attractions I would hit if I only had two days in Rome. The city is beautiful, and you will be tired, maybe next time you devote a bit more time to the city many consider the birthplace of civilization. Rome is both great and disappointing, the history is amazing, but the tourists are usually plentiful. When things open again, maybe it will not be so crowded, and you can enjoy your two days in Rome!
