The Ultimate Guide to 2 Days in Rome

Wander With Wonder – Discovering Wow Moments Around the World or Across the Street

Read on to discover must-see sights and tips for an unforgettable 2 days in Rome. Embrace the beauty and chaos of this historic city!

This summer, I, an American who has visited Rome three times before, had the pleasure of introducing my Italian citizen husband to his own capital. Despite being an Italian who grew up in nearby Switzerland, he had never been to Rome. Clearly, we needed to fix this travesty!

Besides being the capital of Italy, Rome, or Roma as the Italians call her, is at the center of world history. Strolling through the cobblestone streets is like walking through my high school history book. The old and the new coexist side-by-side, creating a dizzying contrast as I imagine Julius Caesar at the Roman Forum while I try not to get hit by Vespas, Fiats, and taxis whirling around me.

Rome is not for the faint of heart. The compact city attracted 35 million visitors in 2023, and most congregate in the historic center, a 5-square-mile scrap of land within the city walls. Visitors to Rome should pack their patience to deal with the crowds and a sturdy pair of walking shoes to take in the beautiful chaos during a two-day stay. Read on for my suggestions for what you must see if you have two days to explore Rome.

How to Get Around Rome

Once you see the chaotic traffic of Rome, you’ll soon realize the best way to see the sights is by foot. Thankfully, most of the city’s must-dos are within a mile or two of each other. But even so, when you check your health app at the end of the day, you’ll likely see a step count pushing 20,000. So, don’t worry about that extra scoop of gelato you had.

When your legs give out, there is a metro and bus system to lean on. That being said, Rome isn’t as connected a city as Paris or London, but with our hotel right next to a metro and bus stop, we found it an easy solution. Buy a day pass for €7 and use public transportation for 24 hours.

Best Time to Visit Rome

We visited Rome at the end of September and were still elbowing our way on narrow sidewalks and at the most popular attractions. If that was the crowd during shoulder season, I can safely say avoid Rome during the summer. The volume of people, the heat, and the higher prices will sully your view of the city. With Rome staying in the mid-50s during the winter, that might be the best time to spend two days in Rome to have less crowds and chaos.

Where to Stay in Rome

When in one of the most historic cities on the planet, choosing a hotel with its own pedigree was a must. One of the newest luxury properties in Rome, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome is the perfect blend of old and new.

Anchoring Piazza della Repubblica, the hotel is a transformed 19th-century marble palace built over the Diocletian Thermal Baths dating to AD 298. Head to the hotel’s basement, where you can see the excavated foundations, pools, and mosaics of Old Rome’s largest public bath. The hotel’s Clementine Wing was initially built on the orders of Pope Clement XI in 1705 and started life as the Vatican’s granary. The building has been restored and reimagined throughout the years, with the latest update made in 2022 when the property joined the Anantara collection.

Our Junior suite overlooked the Piazza and afforded a great view of the newly restored Fountain of the Naiads and the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs, designed by Michelangelo. The neoclassical-style room is decorated in muted earth tones, has high ceilings punctuated with crown molding, and has (thankfully) soundproof windows. The bath is made of floor-to-ceiling travertine marble and has some of my favorite products from Acqua di Parma. It’s the perfect, classic luxury room for Rome.

One of my favorite parts of staying at luxury European hotels is the elaborate breakfasts; the Anantara doesn’t disappoint. The buffet has a dizzying array of classic Western staples like pastry, cheese, meats, and yogurts, along with Asian selections that Americans are always surprised to see at breakfast. Eggs are made to order, and Prosecco is free-flowing for mimosas.

Historic Heart of Rome

For first-time visitors to Rome, like my husband, there are some definite must-sees in the historic heart of Rome that you need to add to your two-day Roman itinerary. We went on a walking tour to view the Colosseum and Roman Forum. The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and is still the largest amphitheater in the world today. It dates to AD 70 and is famous for the gladiator battles that raged inside. The Forum was the center of life in ancient Rome. If you want to go inside either, skip-the-line tickets are a must.

We wandered to the Piazza Navona which is a study in Baroque architecture. Unfortunately, Bernini’s famous Fountain of the Four Rivers was under construction. No worries, we headed for the even more Instagramed Trevi Fountain, commissioned by Pope Clement XII and designed by Nicola Salvi. Legend has it that if you throw a coin in the water, your return to Rome is guaranteed.

After feeling like a gladiator battling the crowds in these tourist hot spots, we decided there must be a better way to see the sights.

Rome by Vespa

I can’t think of a more authentic and fun way to see Rome than by Vespa, so when the Anantara offered to arrange it, I jumped at the chance. While a part of me was afraid my husband and I might die in the crazy Roman traffic, we put ourselves in the hands of our guide and owner of Vespa Side Car Tours, Luca Di Trapano.

Channeling my inner Audrey Hepburn, I strapped on the helmet and eased into the sidecar while my husband jumped behind Luca. Ready for our own Roman Holiday adventure, we took off.

The three-hour tour typically takes in 12 sights, which we amended based on what we’d already seen. In the Quirinale, one of Rome’s seven hills, we drove past The Quirinal Palace, Italy’s presential palace and the world’s second-biggest of its kind. We stopped at the Pantheon and went inside to marvel at this open-air architectural wonder that dates to AD 125. On Gianicolo Hill we had a great view of Rome before exploring the Trastevere neighborhood and the Jewish Ghetto. We stopped for a gelato fix at Fatamorgana Gelato before motoring to view St. Peter’s Square and Aventine Hill’s Orange Garden for another spectacular city view.

The Vatican

Visiting the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica is mandatory in Rome. However, you’ll have to enter another country to do it. The Vatican is the world’s smallest independent country, at just 109 acres, with the majority of the city-state encased by the Vatican Walls.

The only way to see the Vatican is with a tour that allows you to skip the line and hear about the fascinating history as you visit. I booked a semi-private tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel with The Tour Guy to ensure our group was no more than 10 people.

Our guide, Stefano, regaled us with the history of the Vatican and the treasures we saw as we slowly walked between the Gallery of the Candelabra, Tapestry Room, Map Room, Raphael Rooms, and more. The Vatican Museum is always crowded, and there isn’t a chance to stop and admire the works. Look fast and keep moving is the mantra.

Before heading into the Sistine Chapel, Stefano described Michelangelo’s famous works and what to look for on the panels and the ceiling. We had 15 minutes to admire this iconic work. I can’t imagine how Michelangelo stood painting the ceiling for four years. In the short time I viewed it, I needed to see my chiropractor back home!

While the tour doesn’t include a guided visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, it does include skip-the-line entry to the world’s largest church. We had more breathing room and time to admire this massive gilded basilica here.

Italian Aperitivo

The Aperitivo is a time-honored pre-dinner Italian ritual you must indulge in while in Rome. Socialization and unwinding are as important as the drinks and appetizers. As an American, this is the charming Italian la dolce vita I love, where the focus is on community, connection, and relaxation.

I planned my aperitivo at Black Market Hall. In true Italian fashion, this is a reunion for me. I’m meeting up with a client who lives in Chicago and just happens to be in Rome. We haven’t seen each other in several years, so how grand is it to catch up than in Italy, sipping a Select Spritz and noshing on appetizers?

If you like your aperitivo paired with a great view, try SEEN by Olivier in the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome hotel. The atmosphere is more international than Italian, but it boasts one of the largest rooftop terraces in Rome and is a great place to drink in the Roman skyline and people-watch.

Where to Eat in Rome

Italy is probably the country where I’ve had the most consistently good meals, but in Rome, unfortunately, it’s too easy to find mediocre, pedestrian pasta masquerading as the real thing. If a restaurant has a menu with pictures, hosts trying to drag you from the street to a seat, or it is next to a major tourist attraction, keep walking.

In a town with as many tourists as Rome, it’s hard to find a pure local haunt in the city center, but if you can find a restaurant that a Roman also goes to, you’ve hit the jackpot.

The Trastevere neighborhood is a former working-class area now known for its bohemian vibe and restaurant scene. My favorite trattoria in the area is Vanda. Oenophiles will love the 800-bottle-strong wine list, and foodies will appreciate the restaurant’s reverence for classic Roman dishes like cacio e pepe and carbonara. While the restaurant, like most in Rome, has outdoor tables, book a seat in the cellar for a unique experience.

After hitting up the concierge at the Anantara Hotel for a less touristy area, he suggested the nearby Monti quarter. Monti is a residential area of town not far from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum but worlds away in terms of crowds and noise. The area is teeming with bars and boutiques. While there are many average eateries here, Barzilai stands above the crowd. The small bistro offers traditional Roman dishes and modern twists on classics.

Ending a 2-Day Visit to Rome

After our whirlwind two-day Rome adventure, we felt we were victorious in seeing the best of the Eternal City and conquering the crazy chaos that makes Rome. We invite you to explore Wander With Wonder to learn more about our favorite places in Italy. We also offer a wide selection of other two-day itineraries.

The post The Ultimate Guide to 2 Days in Rome appeared first on Wander With Wonder.