Weekend in Rome, Italy is a perfect idea for all kinds of tourists – solo backpackers, couples, families. At the same time, it offers SO many atractions, it may seem overwhelming.
Which atractions to see if you only have two days? I planned an itinerary that will allow you to see most of the “must-visits” without running between sights. You will feel the city’s vibe and have time to enjoy your espresso, pasta and aperol spritz. Ready? Let’s go 🙂
Weekend in Rome, Italy
Practical information – weekend in Rome
- Rome’s history dates back to 21st April 753 BC, which makes it one of the most interesting cities in the world. For that reason, it’s also crowded with tourists in high season.
- Best time to visit Rome is spring and autumn (April-May and September-October). There are less tourists and less heat in the city than in the summer.
- Start sightseeing as early as possible to avoid crowds.
- If you visit in the summer months (June-August), the temperature is high. Again, it’s worth starting your sightseeing early, taking a break around midday and going out for the second round of sightseeing in the afternoon when the heat passes.
- If you only visit for two days, I don’t recommend entering museums (or for sure not more than one). You need a lot of time to explore them well and I think it’s better to enjoy the city from the outside first. You can always come back 🙂 If you want to visit some, choose skip-the-line tickets to save time.
- Rome has convenient tickets for public transportation – I recommend you to buy a 48 or 72 hours pass (Roma48h or Roma72h) which allow you to travel on buses, trams, trolleybuses, metro lines, regional trains (urban routes) and on the bus lines connecting Rome to Ciampino Airport. Check details here.
- If you arrive to Fiumicino Airport, the best option to get to Rome is by bus transfer. You can find more details here.
Accommodation in Rome
The city offers a wide range of accommodations for every budget. When searching, compare prices, locations and customer reviews to find the option that suits you best.
If you want the most comfort during your trip, search for serviced apartments in Rome or hotels of 3 stars and more. Try booking in advance for the best comparison and prices.
This article was created in cooperation with cozycozy.com.
Day 0: Arrival
If you’re arriving for the weekend in Rome in the afternoon or evening and still have time and energy to go out and explore, I’d recommend you to take a quick trip to The Colosseum area – it looks impressive after dark!
You may also choose one of the small restaurants to enjoy your pasta, pinsa romana and amazing Italian wine. My best meal in Rome was in Ristorante Trattoria Antonio al Pantheon – oh, I’m still dreaming about this pasta!
Day 1: Weekend in Rome
Start your weekend in Rome with a 3,5 kilometers stroll around some of the most famous attractions of the city. Arrive by metro to Flaminio station.
Piazza del Popolo
From the metro, walk through Porta del Popolo, one of the city gates to a large neo-classical square from the 19th century – piazza del Popolo. Pay attention to the giant Egyptian obelisk in the middle of the square, as well as two identical baroque churches across the square – Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto.
Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps
Let’s answer the question everybody asks first – why “Spanish”? In the 17th century, on the square you could find the Spanish embassy. There are 135 steps and they lead to a church from the XVIth century, Trinita dei Monti. Make sure to climb up, the view is great!
While at the square, pay attention to the fountain, Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro Bernini. It commemorated a flood that came to Rome in 1598.
Tip: water in Roman fountains is potable. You can find many dedicated taps to refill your water bottles, but you’ll also see lines of tourists waiting to drink from Fontana della Barcaccia. The water flowing there comes from the Acqua Vergine, an aqueduct built in 19 BC that still provides clean drinking water to a part of the city. (Why aren’t we building such durable structures nowadays?)
Fontana di Trevi
Built in the 18th century, it may be the most famous fountain in the world. The monument shows Neptune, the god of the seas.
Remember to throw a coin into the fountain! Keep your eyes closed and using your right hand, throw the coin over your left shoulder . According to the legend, you will one day return to Rome! If you throw two coins, it means you will find love in Rome, while three coins mean marriage or divorce.
Pantheon
Continue your walk to one of the few buildings from ancient Rome that has not been damaged. The Pantheon is currently a church, but we still don’t know it’s original purpose. Make sure to enter the Pantheon – it’s a short visit, but you will see stunning decorations, as well as the oculus in the dome.
Piazza Navona
Continue your walk to one of the most lively squares in Rome – piazza Navona. It’s a great spot to rest, grab a coffee and observe the city life. If you’re lucky, you may find street performers there. Pay attention to beautiful fountains. In winter, it becomes a beautiful Christmas market.
Castel Sant’Angelo
Continue your walk towards the Tiber river to enjoy a stunning view towards Castel Sant’Angelo. It was originally built in the 2nd century as a mausoleum by order of emperor Hadrian. It got the name of archangel Michael in the 6th century during an epidemic – the pope claimed to have seen the archangel with his sword announcing the end of the illness.
From here you have three sightseeing options:
- you can continue towards the Vatican – you’re very close. I wouldn’t recommend it though. It’s best to arrive to the Vatican before 9 a.m. and have less crowds and queues to enter the Basilica.
- Walk towards the metro stop Lepanto, go to Colosseo and continue sightseeing there
- Go back to your accommodation for a short siesta and continue in the afternoon 🙂
I recommend option 2 or 3.
Colosseum
The famous amphitheatre comes from 72-80 AD and could fit up to 50 thousand people! It’s like a big, modern stadium 😉
It was built as a location for gladiator battles to entertain people – and make them think well of the emperor. If you’d like to visit the Colosseum inside, make sure to buy tickets online here. You can buy a ticket including Colosseum and Forum Romanum.
Forum Romanum
It was the center of the Roman Empire and with a little bit of imagination, you can visit it and walk its ancient roads. You can enter the archeological site or walk around it and enjoy a view from the outside.
Tip: a good viewpoint to the Roman Forum is near The Capitoline Wolf, a replica of the sculpture showing a scene from the legend of the founding of Rome – worth seeing too 🙂
Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II
Walk towards the monument of the first Italian King and enjoy the spectacular building of ‘Altare della Patria’ – the altar of the fatherland.
The Mouth of Truth
What do I remember the most from a weekend in Rome with my parents when I was 9 years old? The fear of the Mouth of Truth! The legend has it that it will bite off your had if you’re a liar… I was terrified to put my hand there 😉 Luckily, my hand survived and as an adult I returned to the sculpture and tried again. Apparently, until this day I am not a liar… 🙂
It’s not a spectacular sculpture but it’s worth visiting for the emotions it can cause 😉
Circo Massimo
On your way back to the nearest metro station you will most probably pass the ancient Roman racing stadium, Circus Maximus. It could fit up to 150 000 visitors! There is not much left of the building itself but as you pass, you will be impressed by its size. Currently it’s a green area for Romans to hang out.
Day 2: Weekend in Rome
Explore the Vatican
Technically, it’s not Rome anymore so I was hesitant to include it in a weekend in Rome guide – but let’s be honest, you will want to visit the Vatican! 😉 Regardless if you’re religious or not, it’s a place of great significance.
The Vatican Museums are a must-see for any trip to Rome. With over 9 miles of galleries, you’ll find everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to Renaissance masterpieces.
I strongly recommend getting skip-the-line tickets as the Vatican museums are extremely popular. You may get such a ticket a bit cheaper at Get Your Guide website here.
Another interesting place to see in the Vatican (and free of charge) is St. Peter’s Basilica. The church is huge, beautiful and with numerous great pieces of art, like the sculpture by Michelangelo, La Pieta.
Make sure to come early in the morning unless you want to wait 2 hours in queue to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. I was there around 8:30 in the morning and entered in 5 minutes!
If you’re only visiting Rome for a weekend, choose your priorities 🙂 A visit to the Vatican museums takes long but I think it’s well worth the time. If you want to visit the museums, book your tickets in advance and come WAY before the opening hours.
Explore Trastevere
South of the Vatican lies the picturesque neighbourhood – Trastevere with its maze of colorful, narrow streets.
It’s a great place to take an afternoon walk with no specific purpose, enjoy food, coffee and drinks. There is no better place to spend your last evening in Rome.
If you’re planning to explore more of Italy, check also these articles:
Two weeks in Lombardy, Italy. Ideas & practical tips
What to do in Milan for a few hours?
