This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commision at no additional expense to you.
Visiting Rome is almost like a right of passage for travelers. It’s such an iconic city with a rich history, numerous iconic landmarks, and world renowned food. As special as the city is, it really only takes a couple of days to see and enjoy Rome’s top sights. I’d recommend a 2 day itinerary in Rome to see all the sights and take in the history, then heading North or South to explore another region of Italy.
Here’s the perfect 2 day itinerary for visiting Rome.
Rome Itinerary: Day 1
Breakfast
Start your 2 day Rome itinerary by finding a cafe near your hotel and enjoy a morning cappuccino and pastry. You’ll be hard pressed to find coffee to-go throughout Rome. The morning cappuccino and pastry are best enjoyed inside the cafe.
Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Circus Maximus
After breakfast, head to the Colosseum, the most iconic sight in Rome. This ancient amphitheater, built in the year 80AD is one of the oldest and largest amphitheaters still standing. Taking a tour of the Colosseum feels like stepping back in time. You’ll climb ancient stairs to get a view of the Colosseum floor where gladiator matches used to occur. In it’s prime, the Colosseum could hold more than 50,000 spectators. Even now as parts of the Colosseum crumble, you can feel the history and imagine the spectacle that was an event in this space. Book your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line. Both guided and self-guided tours are available.
After the Colosseum, head across the plaza to the Roman Forum. Comprised of numerous ruins, the Roman Forum is an interesting area to wander through. In Ancient Rome, this area was the center of society. The area was comprised of government buildings, a royal residence, temples, monuments, and much more. Now, little more than ruins stand in their place. Some temples are still in tact and able to be entered. It doesn’t take too long to walk through the area and take in the history. Tickets to the Colosseum also include entrance to the Roman Forum.
A short walk down the road from the Roman Forum is Circus Maximus. Circus Maximus is an old stadium used in ancient Rome for chariot racing. At first glance, the area mostly looks like a large field, but the outline of a track can be seen. Viewing the park is free, but paid tours of the area are available. Tours include the use of a VR headset to visualize what the area was like during Ancient times. Now, the area is used as a public park that even hosts events like concerts.
Lunch
After Circus Maximus, wander your way through the Roman streets while making your way towards Piazza Navona. You’ll walk down cobblestone streets and narrow alleys. Take in the sights along the walk and take your time. You’ll pass plenty of unique shops, cafes, and restaurants. I’d recommend finding a local pizzeria and stopping in for lunch. Pizzeria’s sell pizza by the slice and make for the perfect quick local lunch. Grab a few slices of a classic margherita pizza or try something with cured meats and local veggies. After pizza, treat your self to some gelato. This is Italy, after all!
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is a large public square in the center of Rome where people like to hang out. In the middle of the Piazza you’ll see many elaborate fountains. Along the edges of the Piazza you’ll find restaurants and shops. Although I would recommend eating elsewhere (many of the restaurants in the Piazza are pretty touristy and overpriced), it can be relaxing to grab a drink at one of the restaurants and take some time to people watch.
Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and The Spanish Steps
A short walk from Piazza Navona will take you past 3 Rome icons. First, you’ll pass the Pantheon. The Pantheon, once a Roman Temple, now serves as a Catholic Church. It’s free to enter but can have a line. Inside the Pantheon you’ll find many statues and a gorgeous Rotunda letting in light. It’s worth walking through quickly to marvel at the ancient architecture that it still standing to this day.
After the Pantheon, walk a bit further and you’ll find yourself at the Trevi Fountain. Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous fountains in Rome and gets crowded. Visiting in the afternoon will most certainly have a crowd. With a little patience and persistence, you can make your way to the edge of the fountain. It’s said that turning your back to the fountain and throwing a coin over your left shoulder will guarantee your return to Rome.
From the Trevi Fountain, walk a bit more to the Spanish Steps. This famous set of stairs connects the Piazza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti church at the top of the stairs. There is a nice view from the top of the stairs, and shopping and cafes throughout the Piazza. For a short break, take some time to sit on the stairs and people watch.
Dinner
After a long day of taking in Rome’s ancient sights, find a local restaurant and grab dinner. I’d recommend getting a little ways away from the Piazza di Spagne before finding a restaurant. This is a touristy area and therefore restaurants might be a bit more expensive. I enjoyed a delicious pasta dinner at Coso Restaurante about a quarter mile away from the Spanish Steps.
Rome Itinerary: Day 2
Breakfast
Start today with another cappuccino and pastry at a cafe near your hotel. There are plenty of cafe’s throughout the city that it doesn’t take much walking to find a cafe.
Vatican City
After breakfast, head over to Vatican City. You can reach Vatican City either by walking or taking the Metro to the Ottaviano stop. For the world’s smallest country, there is a surprising amount to see at Vatican City. Start your day at the Vatican Museums. I would recommend purchasing your tickets in advance to avoid the purchase line in the morning. The Vatican Museums are huge. There are rooms after rooms after rooms filled with paintings, statues, and elaborate ceilings to see. The Museums are set up in a way that guide you through each room. Take your time admiring the artwork as you wander your way through. The grand finale of the Museums is the Sistine Chapel. Spend time admiring Michelangelo’s intricate work in the Sistine Chapel.
After the Vatican Museums, stay at Vatican City but make your way over to St. Peter’s Square. From here you’ll be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica and see the surrounding Vatican buildings and offices.
Castel Sant’Angelo
From St. Peter’s Square at Vatican City, make your way the short distance to the Castel Sant’Angelo back in Rome. Castel Sant’Angelo was originally constructed in AD 139 as a Mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It has since served as a Mausoleum, a castle, a fortress for the nearby Vatican Pope, and now a museum. It’s an interesting castle to explore. It felt very different from other European castle’s I’ve explored – most notably is that this one is circular. Inside you’ll read about the history of the location as you wind your way up to the top of the castle. The roof has one of the best views in Rome. From the roof you can see all the way to Vatican City where St. Peter’s Basilica towers in the distance, and you’ll see the beautiful rooftops of Rome.
Lunch and Beer
Once you’ve finished exploring the Castel Sant’Angelo, cross the Tiber river and make your way to lunch. A short walk through the neighborhood will bring you to the restaurant Supplizzio. Supplizzio serves a variety of suppli, a common Roman street food. Suppli are essentially fried rice balls with different flavors. At Supplizzio you can get suppli with common pasta varieties like cacio e pepe, classic marinara, and carbonara, among others.
After lunch, continue walking South along the river Tiber to Open Baladin, one of Rome’s few craft breweries. Grab a drink and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Afterwards, wander around the neighborhood or check out the market if happening in one of the nearby Piazza’s.
Trastevere Neighborhood
Cross the river Tiber on the Ponte Garibaldi bridge. Spend the rest of your afternoon wandering through this local neighborhood. Trastevere has plenty of shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants throughout it’s small winding cobblestone streets. This neighborhood feels quieter than the area’s around the historic sites you’ve seen over the past day and a half. It’s the perfect area to sip an Aperol Spritz while people watching and relaxing after a busy 2 day itinerary walking around Rome. Come dinner time, pop into any one of the numerous local restaurants int eh neighborhood for a Roman dinner before making your way back to your hotel.
