Dome of St. Peter's Basilica over the Rome skyline

2 Days in Rome

By Robert Heaney

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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The dome of St Peter's Basilica silhouetted against a deep red sunset
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Things to do at Night in Rome

Rome is more relaxed, more romantic and altogether more enchanting in the evenings, when ancient monuments are beautifully illuminated and locals chatter over aperitivi at piazza bars and cafés. Our guide to the best things to do at night in Rome includes after-dark tours of the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, a moonlit stroll along the Tiber and a trip to trendy Trastevere.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Statues lining the halls of the Vatican Museum
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Rome in November

Considered by some to be one of the best periods in which to visit the eternal city, November sees Rome in one of its quietest states. With a couple major cultural events taking place throughout the month, combined with likely some of the year’s smallest queues and crowds at most major attractions, a trip to Rome in November is tough to beat. Visiting Rome in November Average Temperature: 46 - 64°F • Average Rainfall: 8 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 4 hours/day Ahead of the incoming surge in holiday-season visitors, Rome in November typically tends to experience a rare moment of serenity. Though the Italian capital can never truly be considered quiet, this is one of the few periods in which you may just get to see the city’s top attractions without excessive crowds. Alongside fairly straightforward admission to the likes of the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, visiting in this period should also come with the added benefit of low-season airfare, hotel rates and prices in some venues, often at quite a substantial discount on summertime rates. With winter just around the corner, Rome’s weather continues to dip, with temperatures typically ranging between cool and pleasantly mild for much of November. For the most part, you’ll want to pack warm clothes and assume that you’ll be in for at least one day of rainfall per week. Things to do in November A staple of just about any trip to the eternal city should be to explore the city’s renowned UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Taking pride of place is the Colosseum, the world’s largest-standing ancient amphitheater, followed close behind by the Pantheon, a former Roman temple, each of which offer visitors a unique insight into the daily lives and pastimes of a civilization long since passed. Rome’s historical trail continues through the Roman Forum, where iconic ruins now stand as mere whispers of the city’s once major administrative district. Following the trail to its origin will place you atop Palatine Hill, the cradle of Roman civilization and home to the city’s most ancient ruins. Equally remarkable but comparatively underrated are the likes of the 120-foot tall Pyramid of Cestius, resting place of priest and magistrate Gaius Cestius and his family from the 1st century BC. The site is a prime example of Egyptian influence in Rome in the wake of the empire’s conquest of Egypt in 30 BC, alongside landmarks such as the Flaminian Obelisk and Obelisk of Montecitorio on Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Monte Citorio, respectively. Aside from its world-class historical sites, Rome is incredibly well regarded for its many photogenic open spaces. Topping the list are naturally the expert craftsmanship of the Trevi Fountain and the impressive Spanish Steps bridging between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. Those looking for the best photo ops should be sure to catch these spots early in the day, ahead of most of the crowds. Another key player in the Rome package is Vatican City, the beating heart of Roman Catholicism and the permanent residence of the Pope. Aside from its huge religious value, the site is also famous for being the smallest country in the world, and remains incredibly popular for its wealth of lauded cultural offerings such as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the vast collection of the Vatican Museums. For somewhat of an alternative means of exploring Rome in November, a Big Bus tour offers a quicker and more rewarding way to get between attractions, enabling customers to hop on and off more or less at their leisure with stops near most popular sites. Optional audio commentary is provided at no extra cost, offering greater insights into Rome’s famous streets and monuments in a variety of major languages. Those with an eye for the macabre may know of the more hidden underbelly to the Italian capital. Just below the bustling city streets, the Rome Catacombs stretch for miles, lined with hundreds of centuries-old Roman skeletons. Though most of the passages are closed to the public, a small number are accessible to visitors. Should you find yourself with a day or two spare, you might want to take the time to discover more of Italy’s prime culture, cuisine and historical sites. The likes of Naples, Florence and Pompeii stand just a short train ride from Rome, each of which make for a fantastic day trip away from the capital. What’s On in November All Saints’ Day November 1 marks an important day for many Romans, held in honor of all Catholic saints collectively. The day takes on somewhat of a more somber character, with many families traditionally spending the day visiting the graves and resting places of loved ones. As a public holiday, you should expect a number of services, stores and restaurants to remain closed for the day, though many museums – excluding the Vatican Museums – should be operating regular hours. Romaeuropa Festival One of Rome’s most anticipated cultural events to take place each year, Romaeuropa brings together hundreds of artists across a wide range of disciplines and from a variety of countries to help put together an impressive program of dance, music, theater, circus and digital arts performances. Over the course of several months, Rome becomes the true cultural epicenter of Italy, with artists both established and upcoming sharing their multidisciplinary talents and passions for thousands to enjoy. Performances tend to range from classical compositions to cutting-edge technological displays, covering just about the whole spectrum of the modern performing arts. Don’t miss your chance to save with Go City Fewer tourists, nice weather, and the whole city of Rome to explore... What more do you need? Maybe a way to save on admissions to Rome's main attractions? Go City can help you with that: in addition to the discounts it provides, the list of experiences and attractions included in the Explorer Pass will help you put together an itinerary for your trip.Fai un buon viaggio!
Robert Heaney
Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo viewed from Ponte Sant'Angelo
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Rome in October

As fall well and truly comes into its own, Rome steps back into its familiar low-season buzz. Though the city is still far from quiet, the busy hubbub of summertime holidaymakers is now replaced largely by those looking to discover a much more authentic side to Italy’s renowned culture, cuisine and historical sites. If you’re in the market for more of a serene experience of the city’s renowned attractions, complemented by its pleasant Mediterranean climate and a host of unique cultural events, a trip to Rome in October is beyond a doubt the one to beat. Visiting Rome in October Average Temperature: 54 - 73°F • Average Rainfall: 8 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 6 hours/day With summer now but a fond memory, Rome rapidly returns to a steady baseline flow of tourists. While the eternal city is never truly quiet, owing largely to its many evergreen attractions, you can expect significantly smaller crowds from this point onward. With that, you’re also likely to notice a drop in airfare and hotel prices, often making for quite a substantial discount on high-season prices. Almost in parallel with the city’s tourism rates, the climate in Rome begins to dip significantly in October as fall comes into full swing. Temperatures flirt between pleasantly mild and warm throughout the month, a welcome respite from the summertime heat, and sunshine remains relatively regular and consistent. Though most of the month tends to be very pleasant across the board, be sure to pack an umbrella, as you can likely expect at least one day of rainfall per week. Things to do in October Taking pride of place on the Rome tourist trail are naturally the city’s globally-revered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Colosseum, named one of the seven wonders of the world, stands as the largest standing amphitheater on the planet and, much like the impressive Pantheon temple, gives visitors a unique glimpse into everyday lifestyles and pastimes of ancient Romans. Second only to these renowned historical sites is Vatican City, permanent residence to the Pope and the symbolic heart of Roman Catholicism. While incredibly popular with devotees from around the world, the site draws in huge waves of tourists with the iconic St. Peter’s Square and awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, adorned with the globally-recognized frescoes of Michelangelo. Popular among sightseers and photographers alike, the elegant craftsmanship of the Trevi Fountain and the vast Spanish Steps bridging Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti easily stand as some of Rome’s most lauded landmarks. Given their huge following among tourists, these sites tend to get very crowded during peak times, so you’d be best advised to visit early in the day for more of a serene experience and better photo ops. Those captured by Rome’s rich and complex history may find themselves inspired by a walk through the Roman Forum, where towering ruins now stand as mere whispers of the once great administrative district of the ancient empire. Older still are the ruins atop Palatine Hill, considered to be the cradle of Roman civilization and the fabled site of the Lupercal cave of ancient Roman myth, said to be the true birthplace of the revered historical empire. For a little more insight into some of the eternal city’s top sights, a Big Bus tour offers visitors a much quicker means of exploring Rome without cutting corners. The tour’s main route passes by the likes of the Colosseum and Vatican City, with stops strategically placed near key locations where pass-holders can hop on and off at their leisure. Audio commentary is also available in seven major languages, providing cultural and historical insights into many of the city’s famous landmarks. What’s On in October Romaeuropa Festival One of Rome’s most anticipated cultural events to take place each year, Romaeuropa brings together hundreds of artists across a wide range of disciplines and from a variety of countries to help put together an impressive program of dance, music, theater, circus and digital arts performances. Over the course of several months, Rome becomes the true cultural epicenter of Italy, with artists both established and upcoming sharing their multidisciplinary talents and passions for thousands to enjoy. Performances tend to range from classical compositions to cutting-edge technological displays, covering just about the whole spectrum of the modern performing arts. Rome Art Week For one week in October, Rome hosts a monumental festival dedicated to contemporary art in all of its forms. Exhibiting the works of over 300 visual artists across over 100 venues and workspaces throughout the city, the Rome Art Week brings together professionals, curators and aficionados of the art world together in one of Europe’s most culturally significant cities. Rome Film Fest Taking place over roughly two weeks in mid-October, the Rome Film Fest sees the eternal city host a vast program of film screenings, industry-expert conferences and panels, installations and exhibitions in celebration of all things cinema. Events throughout the festival take place across various venues, with the impressive Auditorium Parco della Musica at the center of it all, complemented by one of the world’s largest red carpets for the duration of the celebration. Halloween While of course not a traditionally Italian celebration, Rome – like many major European cities – has largely adopted this now globally-popular festival of ghosts and ghouls. As October draws to a close, you can expect to find many local retailers and venues embracing the spooky season with all manner of Halloween-themed decor and limited-time products. Many bars, clubs and restaurants across the city host their own – often spectacular – nights of terror, with the likes of the Hard Rock Café putting on a hugely popular event each year. Even the Vatican plays its own part, hosting its traditional Holy Halloween Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. If you find yourself in Rome around this time, a sure-fire way to get yourself into the Halloween spirit is to explore the eternal city’s macabre underbelly. The Rome Catacombs, for example, stretches for miles beneath the city streets, lined with the skeletal remains of those who walked them centuries ago. In the same vein, the Capuchin Crypt beneath the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione comprises several tiny chapels adorned with the skeletons of many of the site’s former monks.
Robert Heaney

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