I know it seems impossible to see the Eternal City in just two days but if the opportunity comes along to visit Rome, even just for two days, you take it! Rick and I certainly did with our most recent trip to Europe and it was worth the long days to explore this amazing city.
Steeped in history, art, culture, fashion, and of course delicious food and wine, Rome is a city you can simply get lost in and enjoy every minute of it – just watch out for the crazy drivers as you wander through the city! Whether you want to dive deep into the history of the Roman Empire or keep your sightseeing interests tailored around the modern lifestyle, there’s something for everyone in Rome.
They say all roads lead to Rome and if you’re off to one of the most famous cities in the world and only have 48 hours to spend there, here are some ideas for your ambitious Rome itinerary. Word to the wise, pack some comfortable walking shoes and be sure to secure tickets for your must-do activities or Rome tours well in advance!
An ambitious two-day Rome itinerary
Day 1 in Rome
Breakfast and coffee
Start your day off with some coffee or espresso, or perhaps a cappuccino if you want to feel somewhat authentic. Be sure to fill up and get caffeinated as you’ve got a busy day of exploring Rome’s impressive historic areas and famous points of interest.
Colosseum & Roman Forum
Your first morning is dedicated to some of Rome’s most recognizable ruins: The Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The Colosseum’s original name is the Flavian Amphitheater (commissioned in 72 AD) but is known as the Colosseum because of the colossal statue of Nero outside that people used as a meeting point. I’d recommend booking a guided tour of the Colosseum to skip the lines and enjoy a dedicated tour guide to show you around. See where the emperor sat to watch the games, see where the gladiators entered the arena, and use your imagination to recreate what the Colosseum probably looked like way, way back in the day.
Just outside the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, dedicated in 315 and built to commemorate the victory of Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
After seeing where the gladiators fought, head over to the ruins of the Roman Forum where you can see the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, as well as the Temple of Vesta where the Vestal Virgins lived and kept the flame of Rome alight. Hear about the daily lifestyle of the Senators as you see the ruins of the once great Empire – that spanned about two million square miles and had a population of about 60 million people.
Palatine Hill
Next on your trek through Rome’s history is a visit to Palatine Hill. Enjoy views of the Forum and Colosseum from this hill in the city. Not only are the views great, but you can also see other historic sites like the Flavian Palace, the Stadium of Domitian, and the Houses of Augustus and Livia. There’s also a museum here if you want to view some historic artifacts.
Circus Maximus
It might not look like much anymore, but this is where all the action happened when it came to chariot racing. Take some time to walk the route and imagine the site as it used to be as it accommodated 150,000 spectators.
Bocca della Verita
Take a quick detour to the Mouth of Truth as you make your way toward the River Tiber. It’s fun (unless you’ve been lying recently…) and makes for a great photo opp in the city.
Food tour in Trastevere
After crossing the river, it’s time to explore the trendy Trastevere neighborhood and enjoy some exceptional tastings of traditional Italian food! Join the Twilight Trastevere food tour, from 3:30 to 7 p.m., and visit an ancient wine cellar, try the famous, and yummy, suppli, and indulge in classics like pasta, pizza, and gelato – and of course Italian wine!
Spanish Steps
After your food tour, work off all your tastings by walking back over the Tiber and making your way to some more famous attractions, specifically the Spanish Steps! With 135 steps to the top, it’s a favorite spot for locals and tourists to take in the view, take a break from strolling the city, and just enjoying the moment.
Trevi Fountain
Continue on your evening stroll, or passeggiata, to visit the Trevi Fountain. It’s so majestic and magical all lit up at night, once you elbow your way past the crowds. This is another spot to just enjoy the fact that you’re in Rome and watch the cascading and sparkling water. Do not forget to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a return trip to Rome!
Did you know that all the money collected from the fountain goes to a charity/supermarket for the needy; and that it’s illegal if you try to take coins out of the fountain?
Perhaps by this point you’re ready for another sampling of gelato… but that’s just a suggestion!
Day 2 in Rome
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, & St. Peter’s Basilica
Rise and shine, as you have to be up and at ‘em early today for your tour of the Vatican! While technically you’re in another country while there, you won’t need your passport but you will want to reserve your tickets well ahead of time for your visit.
The most popular part of the Vatican tour is visiting the Vatican Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, Sala Rotonda, and the spiral staircase. You can do an audio guided tour of everything if you want to have a bit of control over your pacing, or you can find private tours for the full experience.
A great additional tour while you’re there is going down below to visit St. Peter’s tomb. You will need special tickets and advanced reservations for this experience.
Bonci
This was one of Rick’s must-dos in Rome as he is a pizza connoisseur and they’re known for their inventive menu and crazy good pizza! Be prepared for a wait and pushy crowd, but it’s well worth it. We tried some of their spaghetti suppli and carbonara suppli and the carbonara was to die for before moving onto our pizza selections.
Bonci sells their slices by weight and so we opted to try a few varieties: Cheese and onion, margherita, salmon and potato, and focaccia with ham and ricotta. The pizzas were flavorful and different compared to pizza we had at other restaurants in Rome. While you wait, check out what’s behind the glass and be ready to order a few flavors for the full Bonci experience.
Castel Sant’Angelo
Want to tour a castle, see historic artifacts, and enjoy impressive views of the city and St. Peter’s Basilica? Then, head over to Castel Sant’Angelo! The admission ticket is a bit pricey for the tour, but I promise the view at the top is totally worth it.
Piazzas
One one of our free days in Rome, Rick and I simply started following Via del Corso which links most of the major piazzas and points of interest in Rome. It was a great day just exploring the city and seeing what we came upon next. I also love visiting the piazzas to check out the fountains, which are works of art themselves, as well as see all the obelisks in the city (I’m a huge Ancient Egypt nerd).
Plus, visiting the piazzas are free, so what’s not to love about this activity?
Pantheon
Another free thing to do in Rome is visiting the Pantheon! Check out this stunning temple with its oculus – yes, it does rain inside the Pantheon. See the world’s largest unreinforced concrete doom and the beautiful works of art and statues within.
Gelato
After all that walking, get an energy boost with some gelato in Rome. Review our post on gelato in Rome to find the best spots in the city for the cool, creamy treat!
Check out a rooftop bar for an aperitivo
Find a hot spot for an aperitivo, similar to our happy hour. Treat yourself to a glass of wine, an aperol spritz, or try a craft cocktail.
Traditional Italian dinner
Go all out tonight! Order antipasti to start, then dig into your pasta dish or your primi, go for a secondo of meat or fish, and then save room for a shot of limoncello at the end of your meal.
Some of the best restaurants in Rome:
- Cesare al Casaletto
- Piatto Romano
- Supplizio
- Salumeria Roscioli
- Santo Palato
- Tonnarello
- Nannarella
- Tavernaccia Da Bruno
Our hotel in Rome was near the Borghese and we had a wonderful meal at Il Fellini, where we split a seafood antipasto, then Rick had the carbonara and I ordered the pistachio trofie.
Of course this was followed by some delicious gelato from Gelateria Come il Latte – a classic, nutty combo pistachio and hazelnut for me!
Rome ghost tour
Disappear into the night like some of the ghosts you’ll hear about on a haunted walking tour of Rome! I love, love, love ghost tours of cities and Rick trails behind me rolling his eyes but still comes along for the tour, too.
For some, the Eternal City may actually be for all eternity as you learn about Rome’s darker side with ghosts, mysteries, and some stories that are factual and some that are fiction with Dark Rome tours. This hour and a half walking tour starts at at 8 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. each night.
Want more ideas for your Rome itinerary? Check out our 10 free things to do in Rome post to add activities to your getaway!
What’s your favorite thing to do in Rome? Tell us in the comments below or join the conversation with Back to the Passport on Twitter!
