A 2 Days In Rome Itinerary That’s Customizable

Transportation In Rome

Generally speaking the way to explore Rome is to walk through it BUT the city is huge and it is tiring. It is especially difficult when the weather acts up. Luckily Rome has a good public transport system which includes buses, trams and even a small metro system.

You could choose to buy a pass at one of the bus or metro stations which you then just tap on whichever mode you use. Or you could buy a Roma card that gives you access to many monuments in the city while providing you with free transport across the city.

Where To Stay In Rome

Where to stay in Rome is rather tricky. Staying in the center of the city means that you don’t have to worry about getting about. If you are driving in, then this may not be the best alternative because you need to find parking. But otherwise it is perfect.

If you drive in then I would suggest staying closer to the Vatican but outside the main city. That way you get cheaper accommodation and can easily take the bus in. There are numerous buses that ply the route daily.

Here are some good options to check out when booking your trip:

• Hotel Fiori (Central)
• B&B Santi Quattro Al Colosseo (near the Colosseum)
• Casa per Ferie Santa Maria alle Fornaci (Budget near the Vatican)
• B&B Residenza Gregorio VII (Budget near the Vatican)

Why Do You Need To Plan Rome In Advance

One of the things that I have to emphasize is that you need to plan Rome in advance. It does matter if you spend 2 days in Rome or 5. This is because there are so many people that come to Rome every single day. Everyone wants to visit the popular attractions like the Colosseum and the Palatine hill, the Vatican and the Basilicas.

Generally, we plan where we are headed and work with what we have. Rome however demands a different strategy. Tickets to the Colosseum sell out weeks in advance. The same holds true for the Vatican museum. Booking these in advance is very important. If you book well in advance then you can easily plan your itinerary because you get to choose the time at which you visit.

Unfortunately for us 5 weeks in advance wasn’t good enough which meant we had to take whatever slot we could. That meant that we crisscrossed across the city more times than we had to. With just 2 days in Rome this would make it tight. That’s why my recommendation is to book these two sites on separate days so that you can work around them and not run from one end of the city to the next.

Why Should You Keep Half A Day For The Vatican

The Vatican is a small country but there is plenty to see while you are there. If you just want to visit Saint Peter’s Basilica then you can get in and out of the area quickly. If you want to add in the museum and the gardens, then it will definitely take a lot longer to do so.

2 Days In Rome Itinerary

As I mentioned before, I prefer to keep the Colosseum and the Vatican on two separate days. Which is why I’m going to curate an itinerary for a day in Rome and one for half a day in the Vatican and then the rest in Rome. These days can be swapped around depending on what dates you get for your booking.

Day 1

Day 1 of our 2 days in Rome itinerary will be spent roaming through Rome. Now it is important to note that this itinerary can change because it all depends on which slot you get for entry into the Colosseum. It is very important to book your tickets to the Colosseum in advance because they run out. I cannot emphasize this enough. I would advise checking it out as many as six weeks or more in advance if you are visiting during the peak tourist season.

I generally would try to get the morning or evening slot for the Colosseum but if you can’t that is fine too. Just rearrange the items on the list to suit you the most. On day 1 we will cover the following spots on our route through the city:

• The Colosseum
• Palatine Hill
• Roman Forum
• Pantheon
• Piazza Navona
• Trevi Fountain
• Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major
• Spanish Steps
• Senatorial Palace

Now one thing to note is that these are all very famous landmarks Some more popular than the rest. Each of these are located in different parts of the city which means covering all of them is rather challenging. Which is why I’m going to break it up in three parts. That way you know which sets you can cover together.

So for example if you head to the Colosseum first, you know to pick all the things next to it. That way you just reorganize the three parts to make the itinerary that suits you best.

Breakfast

For an 2 days in Rome itinerary, covering most of the sites in the city is ambitious. Which is one of the reasons why I’m not going to suggest heading to a specific site for breakfast. Many people get breakfast with their accommodation which sorts that out but if you don’t fear not, there is an easy solution which you will enjoy.

I would advise trying a typical Roman breakfast. This generally includes a coffee and a pastry. You will find that these coffee bars (yes that’s what they are called) are open between 6-11am. Which means that they are open early. The coffee bars are open all over the city so find he nearest one to you. More crowds generally mean that it is popular.

I always got a cup of milk for the kids in the morning. We have never been disappointed at them. Finding the one next to your accommodation is much more convenient and time efficient. It is important to remember that you have just 2 days in Rome.

Once you are done with breakfast head down to the Colosseum and the Palatine hill. If you arrive a little early in the morning, you will be able to click some great photographs of the Colosseum without the huge crowds.

Part 1 of the Day: Colosseum And Palatine Hill

The Colosseum and the Palatine hill are generally combined together especially people buy the tickets together. They are also right next to each other which means that getting into one and then the next makes a lot of sense. That being said, sometimes time is short and getting both covered is impossible. That’s why its good to check the tickets to that you are booking for the Colosseum.

Often the ticket will say that you can visit in 24 hours. This means you could visit the Palatine hill in the evening and the Colosseum in the morning because the countdown on the ticket starts when you check into the first place. This is exactly what we did. We arrived mid day and rather than not do anything, we visited the Palatine hill on the first day and then went to the Colosseum the next day.

Note that the timing that you enter the Colosseum is set in stone. You have to queue in front of the entrance a little in advance. They generally let you in very promptly. Also note that there is no protection from the elements. We almost got drenched in the rain while we were standing in line. Luckily we were prepared. If you aren’t sure what to carry, I’ve got a whole list on what to pack for Rome that you can check out.

Palatine Hill And The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum and Palatine hill is huge and there is a lot to cover here. Many people breeze through but it is still very interesting to put on your audio guide and listen to the different aspects of the area. There are many different online guides that you can use. If you don’t use them you can breeze through in less than an hour. If you are interested in the history then peg his landmark for an hour and a half to two hours.

A couple of things that you should note when visiting the Palatine hill and the Roman Forum:

• Its an old historical site so accessibility can be challenging in parts because its not an even part. This is aimed at people who are traveling with wheelchairs or strollers.
• Its uneven so wear good footwear.
• There is very little shade and on the hot days it drains your energy. Carry water and a hat.
• The lines to get in can be pretty frustrating. But there are dips in the crowds in between. There are also multiple entrances.
• If its raining be careful, the ground gets slippery.

Once you visit the Palatine hill, you can circle around the complex such that you are higher up on the hill. The path is steep but you get an amazing view from behind and there are barely any crowds.

Colosseum

Important Spots To Pay Attention To In This Region

There are a number of different important monuments in the area. The easiest way to discover them is to visit them while you walk towards the Colosseum. Or just wander around.

• Arch of Constantine
• Arcus Argentariom
• Temple of Venus and Rome

Senatorial Palace

Not everyone adds the senatorial palace to their itinerary but it was one of my favorite places to explore. The huge building commands your attention as you pass it by. Once you get in, you can admire the architecture inside the building and climb higher to catch a bird’s eye view of Rome.

Side Note

You could start off at the Senatorial Palace and make your way to the Colosseum like we did or start at the Colosseum and work your way backwards. It all depends on how much time you have and what time you need to report to the Colosseum.

Part 2: Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major And Spanish Steps

Part 1 of the first day in our 2 days in Rome itinerary will take you quite awhile to finish. It may even take you half a day. For some people, this may get split over two days depending on your plans. We took the long route and visited the Papal Basilica after spending time at the Colosseum. You could also use the public transport to get about.

There are a number of restaurants and cafes on the way which makes it a great place to stop for lunch. Generally speaking, the further away you walk from the Colosseum, the less crowded it gets so I wouldn’t pick a restaurant right next door.

Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major

The Spanish Steps

The Spanish steps feature on many people’s bucket list and it was on ours too. However after walking for hours with two kids aged 4 and 5, we were exhausted and chose to not go to them. These are another optional part of the itinerary.

Note: If you are running short on time, I would eliminate part 2 entirely. Or try to include it in Day 2 if you have the time.

Part 3: Central Rome

Let’s get to the last part of our 2 days in Rome itinerary. Remember that these parts are all interchangeable. For the last part of the itinerary, I would suggest heading into the central part of the city. Here you will see the narrow cobblestoned paths, the busy squares, the iconic buildings and more. There are a number of iconic places to visit in the city too.

Being in the central part of the city also means that there are a number of restaurants that you can try out. Here are the things that you should check out when in the central part of Rome.

Trevi Fountain

This is the most hyped fountain in Rome and it is really pretty but the crowds here are insane. It used to be open so that people could access it but now there’s a line that you have to stand in before you can snag a couple of moments near it.

Should you add it to your itinerary? I’m pretty meh about it. The crowds definitely pulled the fun out of visiting it but it is still pretty. So make the call for yourself.

Pantheon

The Pantheon is another iconic monument that you will find in the area. It is huge and was built way back in 118 – 125 AD. So it is one of the oldest structures around. The square in front of it is very crowded. Like the Colosseum, you need to book tickets to get into the Pantheon. Make sure you book your tickets online a couple of weeks in advance because they sell out.

We didn’t have a lot of time on our hands so we only caught sight of it from outside. Plus in retrospect I should have planned our route better.

Piazza Navona

There are so many pretty squares in Rome but I love Piazza Navona. It is larger than the rest so despite the numerous people passing through, it did not feel quite as claustrophobic. Now there are many side lanes with some pretty great food. We ate dinner in this area and also got ourselves some really nice tiramisu.

Catina e Cucina had delicious food and was very quaint but busy. It isn’t too far from the Piazza Navona. Two Sizes is a well known tiramisu spot. Yes you only get tiramisu here. Unfortunately for us it was closed when we arrived but if you are in the area, check it out and let me know if it is as good as they say it is.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo is another iconic monument. This is another monument that you can visit and enter. Again, make sure you book your tickets online for this one too. It sells out fast. That being said, with just 2 days in Rome, it is impossible to enter every structure and do justice to them. Which is why we chose to only see it from the outside.

My recommendation is to try and reach here around sunset. The views from the bridge are spectacular. People play music and the atmosphere is so pleasant. You can even see the Vatican in the distance. The sunsets here were definitely the highlight of our time in Rome.

Day 2

Day 2 of our 2 days in Rome itinerary is reserved for the Vatican and the spill over of whatever you could not finish on day 1 in Rome. I would suggest starting off your day in the Vatican. That way you know just how much time you have to spare and you could have a late night in Rome.

The Vatican can be divided up into parts.

• The Vatican museums
• The Gardens
• St Peter’s Basilica

The Vatican Museums And The Sistine Chapel

Most people head into the Vatican museums to see the Sistine chapel. The Sistine chapel is known for its gorgeous frescos on its roof and sides. Michelangelo’s painting on the roof of the Sistine chapel however is what most people come to see. The Sistine chapel is generally open to the public but there are days when it is close off. So even though you may have everything planned and tied up in a bow, you may not get to see the interiors. I should know because it happened to us.

Now that we’ve spoken about the Sistine chapel, let’s also talk about the Vatican museums. I have to say that the complex is huge and it takes time just to walk through it. Each section has so much to offer. I loved the Egyptian section. My kids loved the sculptures.

There’s a small restaurant/cafe in the center of the museum. The food here isn’t phenomenal but if you are tired and hungry, it will do.

Again, like most of the other places in Rome, book the Vatican museums in advance. I cannot emphasize this enough. You won’t get the slot you want or you may not get one at all.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Saint Peter’s Basilica is free to enter but the queues stretch out for itinerary. If you have just 2 days in Rome you just don’t have that kind of time to spare which is why you should consider getting a timed entry slot. This allows you to breeze past and get in.

You can also book tickets to climb up to the dome for a unique experience. Again, book these in advance because you aren’t the only one who comes to Rome for just a short while.

Generally speaking this will take about half your day. Which leaves you with half a day to spare. I know that my previous day’s itinerary was rather hectic. Which is why I suggest doing what you can on day 1 and leaving the rest for day 2. If you do manage to cover everything on your agenda, then you can wander around the streets of Rome, indulge in some of the local cuisine or take a bus down to the beach if that piques your fancy.

FAQ About The 2 Days In Rome Itinerary

I’m going to answer some of the questions that I get asked often. Some get repeated more than others. If you have any more that you need covered, just drop me a comment and I’ll try and get back to you as soon as possible.

Is 2 Days In Rome Enough?

No. 2 days in Rome is not enough. There is so much to see and do in the city that you have to be selective. You have to plan in advance which means that the flexibility isn’t there otherwise. BUT you can still see a lot in 2 days in Rome which is why you should still make the trip.

Is Rome Expensive?

Yes Rome is very expensive when compared to other cities across Europe. There are ways to budget though.

Is Rome worth visiting?

Rome is definitely worth visiting for a variety of reasons. I have talked about why you should visit Rome in detail but to summarize, you will find that the food, history, culture, art and more makes this city one of the most intriguing spots in Italy.

How Many Days Should I Spend In Rome?

I would say 5 days in Rome are perfect but more if you plan on keeping it as a base for day trips into the Italian countryside.

There you have it. This has been one long post but I’ve tried to divide all the information on my 2 days in Rome itinerary into bite sized pieces. I hope you will find the parts that I’ve divided it into intuitive so that you can construct an itinerary that works for your 2 days in Rome. Have fun!

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