Two Days In Rome Itinerary

Have you ever built a place up in your head so much that you’re nervous about actually going, because the reality could never live up to what you’ve conjured in your imagination?

That was Italy for me, but then I spent two days in Rome and I have to tell you: la dolce vita doesn’t disappoint. A weekend of sightseeing in Italy’s capital is just enough time to leave you desperate for another taste of Rome’s delicious food and romantic atmosphere.

Rome was everything I imagined and more. The peeling ochre facades of buildings with powder blue shutters line cobbled streets, where vespas wind through crowds of chic women and hunched widows with true Roman noses. Every turn reveals more trattorias with red and white checked tablecloths serving hearty but simple dishes, their names scrawled on chalk boards to entice passersby.

Oh, and the men in Rome. I’m basically in love with every Italian policeman under the age of 40. I spent two days walking around Rome channelling the heart-eyed emoji.

If you’re planning a weekend break in Rome and you’re looking for the best Rome attractions, unmissable foodie spots and general advice for what to see in Rome on a short trip, my guide will help.

What To Do If You Have Two Days In Rome, Italy (& Vatican City!)

The city may entice you to stay longer, but I’d say it’s more than possible to ‘do’ Rome in two days. I managed to create a busy but refreshing sightseeing (and eating) itinerary for my weekend in Rome and even visited the Vatican on my first day.

Here’s my full guide to what to see if you have two days in Rome. Let me know what you think!

Day 1 in Rome

A walking city tour, either self-guided or with a local, will help you get your bearings and allow you to see some of Rome’s must-see attractions on your first day. If you only have one day in Rome, you can also squeeze in a trip to the Vatican using the below one day Rome itinerary.

Eat breakfast the Italian way

When day breaks on your first day in Rome, grab a cornetto and an espresso from one of the many coffee bars: Caffe Sant’Eustachio or Cafe Cafe are firm favourites among locals. You won’t find a Starbucks in Rome, and that’s definitely a good thing.

Consume your coffee standing (you’ll be charged more for a table). This is how the Italians do breakfast.

Do a walking tour of Rome

Time is of the essence if you only have two days in Rome, but it’s easy to see Rome’s main attractions in one weekend if you plan ahead and pack your walking shoes. I took a Rome in a day tour with Walks of Italy, who have an excellent reputation, in order to maximise my sightseeing time.

Check out these Rome city tours and passes to help you save time and money:

If you’re not in to being on your feet all day, you can buy Big Bus Tour tickets online before you go to quickly get around during your weekend in Rome.

Follow the below Rome tour itinerary to see the best bits of Rome in one day on a self-guided walking tour.

The Colosseum

First stop was The Colosseum, an iconic symbol of ancient Rome and an obvious must-see. Once upon a time locals poured in through all 76 arches, but today only two are used. I could almost sense the anticipation the fighters must have felt as they stepped out to face 50,000 spectators.

Mornings at the magnificent amphitheatre were for animal fights, lunchtimes dedicated to capital punishment, and gladiators fought in the afternoon. The depths of the Colosseum are filled with stone tunnels, which were used to build agitation in animals before their performance. Gruesome stuff.

Roman Forum

The walking tour continued around Rome’s ancient historic centre to see the Roman forum.

Here, Rome’s past is so visible that it’s too easy to envision the era that made the city such an attraction for archeologists.

Replace the hoards of camera-toting tourists with burly men in togas, and the crumbling formations spring to life.

If you’re a proper history buff, you might enjoy going to gladiator school in Rome.

Altare della Patria

From there, we walked past Altare della Patria, a massive white wedding cake of a formation built in honour of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon was next, and we gazed up at the open spherical roof in awe.

Piazza Navona

We walked through quaint streets to discover more baroque architecture. Piazza Navona was my favourite spot.

There, you’ll see the church of Sant’ Agnese by Borromini. The Fountain of Four Rivers or Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in the middle of the square has an interesting story, as our guide related.

It was built ten years later than the church by Borromini’s rival, Bernini, and the statue is designed to look like it’s recoiling from his fellow architect’s design in horror.

What a joker, eh?

Grab an Italian gelato

A gelato stop is included in the price of the Rome in a Day Tour, and there are 150 flavours to choose from at Della Palma Gelato di Roma. I went for chocolate profiterole and Bueno.

Other gelaterias of note (trust me, I tried as many as possible) are Giolitti and Gelateria San Crispino.

Trust me, after a long morning of sightseeing in Rome, you’ll be ready for a pick-me-up!

The Trevi Fountain

The view I’d been waiting for was the exquisite Trevi Fountain, where Fellini’s lovers cavorted in ‘La Dolce Vita’. There are 280 fountains around Rome, but the Trevi Fountain is the most famous.

Every night, around 3,000 Euros are swept from the fountain. Be sure to toss your own coin in and make a wish – legend has it, that secures your return trip to Rome.

It’s a popular spot for proposals, and aside from the crowds, I can see why. This Rome must see truly lives up to the hype.

Stop for pizza

All of this exploring meant I had worked up an appetite, so I stopped at a pizzeria for rustic thin and crispy pizza with salty parma ham, mushrooms and olives, washed down with an ice cold glass of Peroni. Of course.

Visit Vatican City

One reason to visit Rome if you’re keen on ticking countries off your bucket list is that you can actually ‘do’ two countries in one day. Vatican City is the world’s smallest state, with a population of around 800, just nestled in the middle of beautiful Rome.

The queues are enough to put the keenest tourist off, but tour groups skip them – another reason to plan ahead.

There are loads of Vatican tours you can book online ahead of your trip – check out some below:

Inside the museums, Francesca took us through some of the elaborate neoclassical paintings, the Raphael Rooms, ancient sculpture galleries and the stunning Hellenistic ‘Laocoön’. 

The artworks were all full of people throwing themselves around in distress and my favourite thing was to spot the one sarcastic guy in every corner who can’t handle his mates’ drama. Or is that just me?

There are nine miles of art on display at the Vatican museums so it’s beneficial to have a guide or a plan to hit the highlights, especially if you’re trying to make the most of a short trip to Rome.

Lining each side of the long, narrow museums are huge windows which spill sunlight in to the halls. I couldn’t resist sneaking out to a balcony for a glimpse of Rome from above!

Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

Our Vatican experience ended with the crowning glory: Michelangelo’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel. Cameras are banned, as is talking, so no pics sorry! I also peeked in to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Changing of the Guards

Outside, I caught the changing of the guards (pretty boys), before waving goodbye to my tour group.

Aperitivo hour

As the sun begins to set on your first day in Rome, it’s time to experience a real Italian Aperitivo hour. Most of the bars around Rome serve tasty snacks to accompany your sundowner.

Try Antico Caffe della Pace, or La Bottega del Cafe in Monti. I quickly learned there’s only one proper order: an Aperol Spritz.

Eat some of the best pasta in Rome

Since I was only in Rome for two nights, I knew I had to be strategic with my restaurant choices. I was spoiled for choice and figured it was time to call in a Rome expert so I met an old uni friend who had been living in Rome (lucky).

She took me to La Tavernelle on Via Panisperna, where we both devoured comforting mounds of Cacio y Pepe served in bowls made from cheese! Life goals attained.

In the evening, you could roll your sleeves up and take a pasta making class, or drop in to an authentic Italian eatery.

Check out these foodie themed tours and activities in Rome for more ideas.

Did you know that the Ancient Romans used to force themselves to puke during meals so they could fit more in? I’m not going to lie, I can totally see why.

Experience Rome’s nightlife

It may have been a long day, but I wasn’t going to turn down joining the crowds of all ages in the streets – not when I only had two nights in Rome. Groups of tourists and locals alike congregate at the various fountains like teenagers, and the revelry continues to the small hours.

I didn’t last that long – two cities in one day catches up on even the most determined travel bloggers.

If you’d like to try something different to do at night in Rome, try one of the below evening tours.

Day 2 in Rome

Devote your second day in Rome to devouring the sights, sounds and smells of the city at your own pace. Having ticked off the main tourist places to visit in Rome on your first day, you an dedicate day two to wandering around some of the picturesque neighbourhoods that aren’t as heaving with tourists.

Breakfast time

After waking late, I headed to breakfast at a little cafe, and took my time over a saccottino al cioccolato. In Italian, a sacco is a sack, so this translated to “little sack with chocolate”. A chocolate croissant to you and me!

Get lost in Cento Storico

My first day in Rome had been dedicated to squeezing in as many of the main attractions as possible, so I spent the second day soaking up Rome’s true essence.

The three main roads leading to Piazza del Popolo from Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum feed off into some of Rome’s most picturesque streets. The baroque art, earthy leather shops selling handmade bags and vintage boutiques spilling their wares onto the street will keep you occupied for hours. I certainly lost track of time!

It was soon time for a coffee break, and I was looking forward to sampling more Italian coffee. I ordered a short, sweet ‘Caffe freddo’ to cool off.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps were under restoration during my visit but the Keats-Shelley memorial and Bernini’s Fountain at the foot of the steps were still beautiful. They’re one of the most popular places to visit in Rome so be prepared for crowds. I suppose it was sort of lucky that the steps were taped off during my visit, because it meant I got a picture with no people in it.

Dinner and nightlife in Trastevere

After freshening up at my hotel I took the H bus from Termini to Trastevere, the bohemian nightlife area for young and old across the Tiber river.

My hotel owner had recommended I eat at Da Augusto so I settled down for a huge serving of perfectly al dente rigatoni in a tomato and pork sauce and a fishbowl sized glass of good red wine.

Afterwards, I indulged in a quintessential Italian pastime. ‘Fare una passeggiata‘ means to go for an evening walk, and Trastevere’s narrow streets beg to be wandered.

Via della Lungaretta is lined with bars, restaurants and boutiques. Ivy tumbles down from windows and pavement seating creates a buzz in the night air. I joined the swaying crowd for a melty-voiced busker performance at the fountain, browsed the stalls for jewellery and called in at Long Island Night Cafe for a nightcap: Amaretto Sour.

Check out these Trastevere tours to see the highlights of this interesting area.

Best day trips from Rome

If you’ve got three days in Rome or even longer, why not see more of Italy? Check out these tours and excursions from Rome.

More Italy blog posts on While I’m Young

The Ultimate Guide to Mysterious Margherita Di Savoia, Puglia

How To Have A Perfect Day In Barletta, Puglia

Use my Travel Resources page to plan and book your Rome trip

Where to stay in Rome

I stayed at a wonderful hotel near Termini, and enjoyed a ‘hotel room at a hostel price’. You can read my full review of The Blue Hostel Rome for more information and book your stay here. It was an ideal place to stay in Rome for two nights.

There are a number of backpackers hostels and luxury hotels around Rome, it just depends on your needs and budget.

Find your ideal place to stay in Rome using the booking.com map below.

Booking.com

More Rome travel tips

• Taxis are expensive so take some time to suss out the public transport system before you go.
• Never order a caffe latte after breakfast time and if you do order one, don’t drop the ‘caffe’, or you’ll be served a glass of milk.
• The Leonardo Express Shuttle from Fiumicino airport gets you to Termini station in 30 minutes.
• Only buy gelato at shops displaying a sign that says ‘Artiginale‘ – that means it’s made fresh at the store.
• You’ll need to dress modestly to enter the Sistine Chapel. Bring something to cover your shoulders and leave your hot pants at home.
• Rome isn’t a coastal city so seafood isn’t a speciality. Instead, order creamy pasta dishes or try a Roman favourite: oxtail stew, or ‘Coda alla Vaccinara’.

Planning your own trip to Rome, ‘Caput Mundi’ (Capital of the world)? Lonely Planet’s Rome Guides cover everything you need to know and have lots more tips for what to do in Rome.

Rome is definitely a city whose inhabitants take the time to enjoy their life (and of course, their food). I left with a deeper understanding of why it’s known as the Eternal City and a niggling need to return.

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