2 Days in Rome

By Robert Heaney
Published: July 18, 2024
Dome of St. Peter's Basilica over the Rome skyline

One of Europe’s most popular city break destinations, the eternal city of Rome houses some of the continent’s most sought-after sights and attractions. As such, it can often seem overwhelming to try to fit everything in if you find yourself with only a short amount of time to explore it all.

Fret not, though, as we’ve put together this brief guide to some of the city’s most lauded attractions to help you decide how best to spend your time. With this guide, we’ve gathered a selection of popular attractions that you should easily be able to cover with 2 days in Rome, alongside average visit times to help you draw up your ideal itinerary.

Top Attractions

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Colosseum

Renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Colosseum is easily one of the most globally-recognized icons. Once the site of many battles, re-enactments and theater performances in ancient Rome, this impressive venue serves as the world’s largest standing amphitheater.

Average Visit: 1 hour

Pantheon

Another iconic UNESCO site, the Pantheon stands remarkably intact as both a former Roman temple and later Catholic church. Although famous for its pillared entrance and domed interior, the site’s main draw is the open oculus in the ceiling, permitting all natural light and weather into the vast space below. Visit on a rainy day for a true spectacle!

Average Visit: 20 minutes

Trevi Fountain

If you come across any front-page photos of Rome, chances are many of them include this iconic fountain. Built upon one of Rome’s oldest water sources, at the end of the Aqua Virgo Aqueduct, the elegant sculpture work of this fountain has undergone various transformations and reconstructions over the years to become the popular tourist hotspot we know today. As the local legend says, throw in a coin if you hope to return to Rome, or two if you hope to find love.

Average Visit: 10 minutes

Spanish Steps

Alongside the Trevi fountain, this famous stairway joining Piazza di Spagna to Piazza Trinità dei Monti is most popularly photographed with the emblematic Trinita dei Monti Church looming at the top and the quirky Fontana della Barcaccia at the foot. Built between 1723 and 1726, the site now stands as one of the most popular photo ops in Rome, making it a particularly busy destination the later into the day you choose to visit.

Average Visit: 10 minutes

Roman Ruins

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Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Atop the most central of Rome’s seven hills sit the oldest ruins in the city. Considered the cradle of all Roman civilization, Palatine Hill is replete with ancient history, with an added flair of mystique given its fabled reputation as the site of the Lupercal cave of ancient Roman myth.

Once the center of many important social, political and religious activities in Rome, the Roman Forum was originally the site of a number of impressive and important administrative buildings. Located at the foot of Palatine Hill, visitors can stroll among the remaining ruins and columns, now mere whispers of their former glory in an era long since passed.

Average Visit: 2 – 4 hours

Pyramid of Cestius

Though somewhat of a lesser known monument, the Pyramid of Cestius is nevertheless very much worth a visit if you can fit it into your route. Resting place to the once priest and magistrate Gaius Cestius and his family from the 1st century BC, the understated site is a prime example of Egyptian influence in ancient Rome ahead of the Empire’s conquest of Egypt.

Average Visit: 30 minutes

Rome Catacombs

Certainly not quite so mainstream as many of Rome’s most popular attractions, the Rome Catacombs are worth a visit for those with a penchant for the macabre. Over sixty subterranean passages stretch out for miles beneath the busy city streets, lined with the many skeletal remains of those who once walked them long ago. Though somewhat unsettling, these tunnels offer a unique insight into a more hidden side to the eternal city’s ancient history.

Average Visit: 1 hour

Vatican City

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St. Peter’s Square

Think of the Vatican as a whole, and it’s likely that the first image in your mind is the impressive vista of its vast courtyard. Named after the apostle St. Peter, believed by Catholics to have been the very first Pope, the square stands as a stunning example of Italian Baroque architecture and serves as the site of several annual religious events.

Average Visit: 20 minutes

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Founded during the early Sixteenth Century by Pope Julius II, the Vatican Museums are home to one of the world’s greatest collections of art and historical artifacts. Comprising roughly four miles of exhibits housing everything from Egyptian mummies to Old Masters paintings, the museum’s impressively lavish halls intersect with the Apostolic Palace, the official residence to the Pope himself.

Tucked away within the halls of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel houses perhaps the world’s best-known Catholic works of art. Though impressive enough in its vaulted, Renaissance-style architecture, the true jewels of the chapel’s crown are the renowned frescoes adorning the chapel’s ceiling, painted over the course of five years by the legendary Italian artist, Michelangelo.

Average Visit: 2 – 3 hours

St. Peter’s Basilica

Among the many outstanding churches and religious sites spread throughout Rome, none quite match up to the glory of St. Peter’s Basilica. Consecrated in 1626 after 120 years of construction, the basilica’s cavernous interior houses three of Italy’s most lauded masterpieces – Michelangelo’s Pietà sculpture, his imposing dome, and Bernini’s baldachin standing over the high altar, itself placed atop St. Peter’s grave.

Average Visit: 2 – 3 hours

Getting Around

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To make the most of your two days in Rome, you’ll want to be able to fit as much as possible into your itinerary. Although most of the city’s top sights and venues are easily accessible on foot and within relative walking distance of one another, you may find yourself looking for quicker and more convenient means of getting around.

Fortunately, Rome has a fairly extensive transport system covering much of the city. The fastest options are naturally the metro and tram services, but with only a small few serviced lines running through the city center, they aren’t always of much use to most tourists. Buses, on the other hand, operate a much more convenient alternative, with over 350 lines servicing over 8,000 stops throughout the city center and wider suburbs.

However, most public transport in Rome tends to get rather busy at the best of times, let alone over the weekend. For somewhat of a more convenient, comfortable and entertaining means of getting around, a Big Bus Rome tour runs a main route passing by most of the capital’s top attractions, along with a hop-on, hop-off policy and optional audio commentary in several major languages

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Couple throwing coins over their shoulders into the Trevi Fountain in Rome
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Neighborhoods in Rome

Exploring some of the planet’s best-preserved Ancient Roman architecture, wandering cobbled lanes lined with swoonsome palazzi and picture-perfect ocher-colored houses, or just watching the world go by over espresso at a sidewalk café: there’s really something for everyone in Rome’s patchwork of 21 districts, or rione. Hop aboard for our whistle-stop tour of seven of the best neighborhoods in Rome. Centro Storico Right in the heart of the action, Rome’s historic center is unquestionably the best place to start your voyage of discovery in this ancient city. The name is really a catch-all for the relatively compact area that encompasses – deep breath – the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Capitoline Museums and the Circus Maximus. And that’s just for starters. This magical labyrinth of atmospheric cobbled alleys, sprawling baroque piazzas and gleaming Renaissance palaces is a treasure trove for history lovers and, well, anyone with even a passing interest in beautiful art or architecture (you’ll find works by the likes of Caravaggio, Bernini and Michelangelo in many of the museums and churches around these parts). And, if it all gets too much, you can always rest up with tagliatelle at a traditional trattoria or people-watch over coffee and cannoli at a cute café. Afterwards, head over to the Largo di Torre Argentina, home of Rome’s biggest cat sanctuary, to spot felines basking in the sunshine amid the ancient ruins of Roman Republican temples and the Theatre of Pompey. Tridente Tridente picks up where the historic center left off, and is loosely defined as the area around the triple-prong of streets that radiate out south from Piazza del Popolo, a vast cobbled square lined with churches and palazzi, as well as several grand fountains and a monumental Egyptian obelisk (they don't do things by half in Rome). It’s here you can get kitted out in the finest Italian fashions in the boutiques on and around Via dei Condotti. We’re talking Gucci, Fendi, Armani, Valentino et al, so be prepared to splurge. Suitably attired, make for the Trevi Fountain where you can indulge in the age-old tradition of throwing in a coin. Assuming you have any left, that is. Then give the quads a workout on the 135-step climb up the Spanish Steps. At the top sits the magnificent Renaissance confection that is the Trinità dei Monti church. Step into its cool interior, where a pair of anamorphic frescoes from the 17th Century are among the many splendid decorative features. Monti Crammed in between the Colosseum, the Quirinal Hill, and the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, diminutive Monti is an attraction all of its own. Ivy climbs ocher-colored houses and wraps itself round iron balconies and locals chatter over morning coffee on the picturesque piazzas. In case it wasn’t already obvious, this largely residential Rome neighborhood is a photographer’s paradise. Budding snappers should head to La Casetta, a tiny trattoria for which the term ‘ivy-clad’ is something of an understatement – it’s virtually drowning in the stuff! Or make for Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, a vibrant square where sunset Aperols are accompanied by sensational views of the Colosseum silhouetted against the skyline. Monteverde Vecchio The clue’s in the name here: Monteverde Vecchio is one of the greenest neighborhoods in Rome. Go here to seek respite from the urban sprawl and enjoy the fresh air and tranquility promised by the Janiculum Hill and the expanse of landscaped gardens surrounding the grand Villa Doria Pamphili. Trastevere Just downriver from the Vatican, Trastevere is another of those Rome neighborhoods that just begs to be photographed, chock-full as it is of café-lined piazzas, achingly picturesque medieval churches and those familiar ocher-colored houses sporting quirky cast-iron door knockers and brightly painted window shutters. Grab a gelato and stroll across medieval Ponte Sisto to Piazza Trilussa, where locals meet and mingle in the evening by the monumental fountain. Visit the fine botanical garden that overlooks baroque Palazzo Corsini. And don’t miss the Sunday flea market at Porta Portese, an absolute treasure trove for diehard rummagers. Take your best haggling game to snare bargains on everything from vintage fashions and antique jewelry to pre-loved vinyl, classic comic books and, well, just about every other trinket and knick-knack you can imagine. Ostiense On the banks of the Tiber, Ostiense wears its industrial heritage on its sleeve, its landscape dominated by a huge metal gasometer from the decommissioned gasworks. If that’s already piqued your interest in this buzzing ‘burb, where ancient and modern Rome collide, you’re going to absolutely love the Central Montemartini museum, where dozens of ancient Greek and Roman statues, busts and friezes hewn from marble and stone are displayed against a backdrop of pipes, engines, turbines and dials inside a former electrical power station. And that’s not all. There’s a thriving street art scene here – meaning Ostiense is one of the best places to see work from up-and-coming Rome graffitos – as well as a number of hip bars, a smattering of craft beer pubs, and a cat café. One of Catholic Rome’s ‘big four’ basilicas, St Paul Outside the Walls, cuts an incongruous figure against what is an otherwise distinctly modern urban landscape. Parione The central rione of Parione is probably most famous for its two sprawling piazzas. Make for vibrant Campo dei Fiori, where Rome’s longest-running market (operating here since 1869), brings its riot of color, sound and scent every morning (except Sunday). Follow your nose past the rainbows of blooming gerberas to the unmissable foodie stalls. You’d require the willpower of a saint to resist temptation in the face of these mountains of homemade cake, freshly baked loaves and pungent Italian cheeses. In the evening, do as the locals do and soak up the baroque splendor of Piazza Navona on a twilight stroll across its cobbled expanse, pausing to swoon at Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), watch the street entertainers ply their trade and snap Instagram-ready shots of the fairytale palazzos and churches that line the square. Paper thin and ultra crispy wood-fired pizza at an authentic trattoria (washed down with local craft ales, natch) provides the perfect ending to a day in this historic Rome neighborhood. Save on things to do in Rome Save on admission to Rome attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Vatican City viewed from above
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Rome in January

One of Europe’s most popular destinations for its wealth of ancient historical sites, vibrant culture and world-class cuisine, Rome is genuinely a destination for all. While you can certainly enjoy the vast majority of the city’s highlights year-round, there’s a great deal to be said for the sheer freedom granted by a winter’s trip to Rome in January. Rome in January Average Temperature: 37 - 55°F • Average Rainfall: 7 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 4 hours/day With the main festivities of the holiday season and New Year’s Eve now little more than a recent memory, Rome tends to return to its usual low-season tourism rates. While the largely evergreen nature of the capital’s famous attractions means that you’ll never be far from other tourists, January nevertheless stands as one of the quietest periods to visit. For some, a winter trip makes for the ideal Rome experience. Fewer crowds mean admission to the city’s top sights should be much easier and seats at some of its more sought-after cafés, bars and restaurants should be more abundant and attainable. As the cherry on top, most airlines and hotels also operate low-season rates, often making for quite the substantial discount on their peak-time prices. As is the case for much of winter in Rome, temperatures throughout January flirt between cold and pleasantly mild, making it a little trickier to plan out more weather-dependent activities. One thing that’s almost guaranteed, however, is at least one day of rainfall per week, so it’s wise to pack for both the cooler weather and the chance of rain. Things to do in January Among the locations to benefit most from the smaller low-season crowds of January, the Vatican Museums and St. Paul’s Basilica may top them all. Aside from a few religious events throughout the month and the usual Sunday masses, this serves as one of the most serene periods for the Vatican, offering visitors the perfect opportunity to explore the renowned site at its most authentic. Equally ideal to explore during the quiet season for those with the stomach for them are the narrow and macabre passages of the Roman Catacombs. Over sixty of these subterranean passages stretch hundreds of miles beneath the city, lined with the hundreds of eerie Roman skeletons buried between the second and fifth centuries. January also offers one of the best opportunities to snap a much sought-after photo of the likes of Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona in their prime. Without quite the same intense crowds you’d expect from a visit in summer, these beautiful landmarks offer a peaceful space to take a break from the bustling streets of the Italian capital. Be sure to visit early in the morning if you truly want to experience these sights at their quietest. Typically beginning the first weekend after New Year’s Day, January marks the start of Italy’s annual winter sales. Throughout Rome, retailers big and small take this chance to offer a large portion of their inventory at often quite impressive discounts, sometimes as high as 70%. Most sales continue as long as stocks last, sometimes running through to the end of February. If you’re looking for an excuse to grab a souvenir or two from your trip, there’s no better time to bag a real bargain. What's On in January Feast of the Epiphany Throughout Italy, January 6 is a day full of festivity. Marking the day that the Three Kings were said to have arrived at the baby Jesus’ crib, the Epiphany sees Rome erupt in celebration. Revelers gather in many popular squares and parks throughout the city in a marvelous spectacle of dancing, live music, masquerades, fairground rides and family activities. A common character of the Epiphany is La Befana, a witch-like figure adored by children across Italy for her Santa Claus-esque status as official gift bringer of the festival. Many children will hang stockings by windows or fireplaces and leave offerings of wine and cake for La Befana, in hopes of receiving candies and other treats in return. The Viva la Befana procession is core to the festival, making its way through the city’s historical streets complete with Magi riding camels, ancient Roman chariots and various other historical characters. Many locals will join the parade in all manner of medieval costumes, carrying symbolic gifts for the Pope as the caravan makes its way to its final destination in St. Peter’s Square. Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate Another religious festival that offers quite a spectacle indeed takes place on January 17 with the ‘Blessing of the Animals’ as part of the Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate. Held in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, Italian patron saint of butchers and domestic animals, one of the festival’s central traditions sees many pet owners and farmers bring their animals to receive an annual blessing from a cardinal. Alongside this ritual of blessings, the festival is also celebrated with processions of dancers and performers, live music and impressive bonfires. Fire serves as a central symbol of the festival, in reference to a legend in which the saint stole the devil’s fire and gifted it to humans.
Robert Heaney
Tourist taking sunrise photos at the Roman Forum
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Things to do in Rome in the Morning

Rome’s embarrassment of ancient attractions – the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum among them – are best explored in the morning before the crowds arrive. You’ll find all these and much more in our guide to all the best things to do in Rome in the morning…
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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