Two Days in Rome, Italy

Home to many notable relics from the Ancient Romans, Rome is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Italy, if not all of Europe. The country’s capital, Rome is located on the western coast of central Italy and is easily accessible by train, plane, or car. While many choose to extend their stay in Rome for up to a week, if you only have one or two days to explore the city we recommend prioritizing the activities below to make the most out of your trip. At the bottom of the itinerary, we also broke down these Roman highlights into a two day schedule (recommending what to do on what day!).

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1. Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain – or La Fontana Di Trevi as it is known locally – was completed in 1762 and is a symbol of abundance and health. Full of Baroque styled architecture, the fountain’s statues also pay tribute to the duality of the sea – both its chaotic strength and peaceful calm.

Today when visitors come to admire the fountain, it’s said to be good luck to make a wish and toss a coin into its waters. Popularized by the 1950’s film “Three Coins in the Fountain,” it’s said that if you toss one coin into the fountain you are destined to return to Rome. If you toss two coins in, you’ll fall in love with someone you’ll meet while there. If you toss three coins into the Trevi Fountain, you’ll marry the person you meet.

The Trevi Fountain is located in the Piazza de Trevi and is pretty hard to miss. You can (and should) enjoy it both during the daytime and at night. If you’re interested in getting some more in-depth history of the fountain, there is a combination fountain + aqueduct tour offered that will teach you about the Fontana Di Trevi and show you the underground “City of Water” that supplies it. For a less extensive but still guided experience, there are several walking tours that feature Trevi Fountain as one of their stops.

2. The Colosseum

The most famous and recognizable site of Rome, you don’t want to visit the city without stopping to see the Colosseum. “Cool but cruel,” the Colosseum is an impressive work of architecture dating back to ~ 70 C.E that served as an outdoor amphitheater where Rome’s elite & impoverished alike would come for entertainment. Most notably, the Colosseum was the site of Roman gladiator fights – high stakes events where either volunteers or the condemned would have to fight animals or each other, even to the death.

There are many tours offered of the Colosseum, and with so much history within its walls we recommend a guide to put everything into context while you’re there. If you have time for it, there are select tours that offer access into the underground chambers of the Colosseum, so that you are not only able to see the monument from the public’s point of view – but also the gladiator’s. For a more standard view of the Colosseum, you can also partake in a typical access guided tour.

3. The Roman Forum

Adjacent to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum, a dedicated space in the center of Rome that holds many relics and ruins of the ancient city. The forum once served as a public square in ancient Rome, with several government buildings and marketplaces within its bounds. People would gather there for elections, trials, and assemblies. Though once free, you now need to purchase tickets in order to walk through the Roman Forum.

If you would like a guided tour of the Roman Forum, prices are usually bundled with your access to the Colosseum. Both private tours and general group tours are offered and generally last a couple of hours.

4. The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Vatican City is its own city-state within Rome, and is home to the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel. It is also the home of the Pope – the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The site of many of Rome’s historic art pieces – including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel – the Vatican brings in millions of visitors a year, so it’s usually a good idea to book your visit in advance.

You’re able to purchase entrance tickets and do everything self-guided (that’s what we did), but if you’d like to know what you’re looking at (which we didn’t), it’s probably best to book a guided tour. You can check availability for your dates through the link below.

5. St. Peter’s Basilica

Also located within the Vatican is St. Peter’s Basilica, the “church of the popes.” This major basilica dates back to the Renaissance Era and boasts an intricate, iconic dome above its main altar. It holds a few holy relics built right into its structure, as well as many possessions of saints and popes that accumulated over the ages.

As with many of the historic sites in Rome, there are options to see St. Peter’s Basilica in great depth or casually. If you would like to learn the intricacies of the basilica, you could try a guided tour of the church, the cupola (Michelangelo’s dome), and the statue of St. Peter. For a quicker exposure, you could just stick with an audioguide!

6. The Pantheon

The Pantheon is another iconic emblem of Rome, located in the Piazza della Rotonda. Originally a temple for ancient Romans, the Pantheon is still used as a church and holds periodic masses. It was also used for burials of some famous residents, including the artist Raphael.

Access into the Pantheon is free, so you do not need to purchase any entrance tickets in advance. Similarly to the St. Peter’s Basilica, you are able to purchase either an audio tour or guided tour with an expert if you’d like to learn more.

7. Tiber River

The Tiber River is a fresh water source that runs through central Italy, and fortunately cuts right through Rome! When you need a break from all of the indoor museums and tours, head outside for a walk along the river and enjoy the beautiful Roman scenery.

If interested, you can also partake in a short river cruise – or even a nice dinner on the water. But at minimum, be sure to get out and take a stroll!

8. The Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Constantine is a monument dedicated to the Roman emperor, Constantine the Great. Completed in 315 C.E., the arch intends to celebrate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius – another former emperor – in the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

The Arch of Constantine is located along the Via Triumphalis at Via di S. Gregorio and is free to enjoy.

9. Castle of St. Angelo

The Castle of St. Angelo, also known as the Castle of the Holy Angel, was originally built as a mausoleum by Roman emperor Hadrian. Around 590 C.E., it was renamed after Saint Angelo because the pope at the time, Pope Gregory I, said that he saw archangel Michael appear at the top of it and signal the end of the reigning plague at the time.

The castle now has a tunnel that connects it to the Vatican, should the escape route ever be needed. Both group tours and audio-guided tours are available as bundles for the castle.

10. The Museum of San Salvatore

The Musei di San Salvatore in Lauro is located in the Piazza di Salvatore in Lauro (its namesake). Originally the Convent of the Marchigiani, it is now a museum that holds the collections of sculptors Greco and Mastroianni. It also hosts a rotation of exhibits in addition to its permanent galleries.

The museum is open from 10:00 – 18:00 Tuesdays through Sundays and is free for entry.

11. The Spanish Steps

The famous ‘Spanish Steps‘ in Rome connect the Piazza di Spagna to the French monastery (Trinita’ de’ Monti) in Rome. Easily identifiable, the steps are often used as a gathering point and photo opportunity for those in Rome.

The Spanish Steps are completely public and free for entry, and often included as a site-seeing stop on walking tours through Rome.

12. Eat at a Pizzeria

Last but not least, please don’t leave Rome without stopping at a pizzeria. Actually, go to many pizzerias. Have a lot of pizzas and pasta. It’s great.

Please let us know what your favorite part of Rome was in the comments below! Thanks for reading.

Day by Day Breakdown

Of the activities above, we recommend grouping the following activities together, but of course you and mix and match based on your interests!

• Day 1 Itinerary: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Castle of St. Angelo
• Day 2 Itinerary: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Museum of San Salvatore, Arch of Constantine

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are two days in Rome enough to see the city? Rome is full of history and culture, with a different tourist stop seemingly around every corner. How much time you need to explore it will completely depend on you, your travel style, and your interests! We were able to get our feel for Rome and see all of the major sites in a couple of days, but you may be able to get everything done in one day – or want to go at a more relaxed pace and stay for a week!
2. What shouldn’t you miss while visiting Rome? This itinerary tries to outline the things we think you should prioritize while in Rome, but if this still feels like too much for your visit, we recommend touring the Colosseum and Roman Forum. For the rest of your time, try to walk or bike through the city instead of driving, and you’ll probably pass many of the notable sites (like Fountain de Trevi, the Spanish Steps, the Arch of Constantine, and more) just while naturally going about your day!

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