Rome in a Weekend: Two-Day Travel Guide
This Rome in a Weekend guide details a two-day stay in The Eternal City. A bustling, chaotic, enchanting, fascinating, timeless place. We will share where to stay, when to go, things to do, and our own walking tour that helped us make the most of the city in a short time.
Rome was the first place I stepped foot in Europe on my first international trip. As a small town American teenager, there was so much I didn’t understand about the world outside of my home state, much less the seat of an empire that existed hundreds of years before Jesus walked the Earth.
My first trip abroad completely changed my understanding of what was out there and sparked my love of travel. Rome and its enduring legacy impacted me in such a remarkable way. Recently, my husband turned 40 and we had the chance to sneak away to Rome for two nights. A whirlwind, but an incredible chance to revisit the city that really began all of my journeys in Europe.
Let’s plan a Roman weekend.
How to get there:
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Rome has two major airports – Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino – FCO), and Giovan Battista Pastine Airport, (Ciampino – CIA). You can find your ideal flight here.
Transport from the airport is easy. Simply take the Leonardo Express to the station closest to your accommodation. Leonardo Express stops at so many stations, including Roma Termini. The trip from Rome Fiumicino takes about 40 minutes and costs around 15 euros per adult.
When to go:
November was a really lovely time to visit Rome. The crowds are smaller than they are during the summer crush and the weather is ideal. Pleasant during the days, jacket weather at night, but never too cold. If you have flexibility, I recommend looking at dates that avoid major holidays and school closures, as well as the heat of the summer.
Where to stay:
Trastevere was the perfect location for our quick trip. I highly recommend it, even if you’re planning to stay for longer than two nights. It’s close to the heart of the city while still offering a buffer from what are the most tourist-heavy sites. There are countless cafes, restaurants, wine bars and shops along pedestrian friendly alleys.
In November, the store fronts were beautifully decorated with Christmas lights and greenery. Outdoor heaters made the street front dining comfortable and perfect for people watching and conversations over aperitivo.
To travel to Trastevere from Fiumicino, take the Leonardo Express to Roma Trastevere station.
For some excellent accommodation options, you can rent your own Trastevere apartment here. If you prefer a hotel, you can find options here.
What we saw:
When you’re seeing a city in two days, you have to go in with some choices made. What’s your priority? What kind of vibes are you looking for? It’s important to know your group’s as well as your own preferences if you’re working with a shortened time.
For us, being on our own without our kids, we just wanted to experience Rome as a living, breathing thing. We didn’t want to spend a lot of our time waiting in lines to get inside of the big tourist sites or on tours that lasted several hours. If you’re looking to do Rome within a short time frame and you’re really drawn to some of those big sites, decide which one or ones are your priority. Part of enjoying a short trip is accepting up front that you can’t do it all. If you can let that go, you’ll have a lot more fun.
Vatican City
We spent our first evening strolling through Trastevere, stopping for gelato and then venturing up to Vatican City, which is about a 20 minute walk from the northern side of the neighborhood. The walk offers great sites along the Tiber, including the Castel Sant’Angelo.
Entrance into St. Peter’s (the actual church) is free, but may require waiting in line for long periods of time. We went in the evening and in low-season, and the queues were really manageable at maybe a 15 minute wait. Words really can’t describe the grandness and opulence of this space.
If you hate waiting in lines, book a tour with Get Your Guide that allows you a timed entry.
You can also visit the Vatican Museums, which requires a ticket, but includes access to special sites, including the Sistine Chapel. I highly recommend if you’re interested. You can book tickets in advance here. Vatican City is easy to see within a few hours, at most half a day.
Rome City Center
Trastevere is also a great base for exploring the heart of Rome. Walk over the Tiber via the Ponte Giuseppe Mazzini and straight into some of the most famous spaces in this city. Plug these stops into your Maps and just follow along, taking time where you want it. We set out on this walk early Saturday morning and were at it most of the daylight hours, stopping and lingering as we felt led, drinking multiple cappuccinos, and finding good pizza. Here’s our route:
-> Piazza Navona -> Pantheon -> Trevi Fountain -> Spanish Steps -> Villa Borghese -> Capitoline Hill -> Roman Forum -> Colosseum -> Palatine Hill -> Ponte Sisto
Depending on your starting point, you can arrange your stops as they suit you. Your maps app will show important landmarks along the route. I recommend really lingering for a few minutes at the Spanish Steps (always busy, but in a good way).
The Pantheon is worth the 5 euro ticket to enter and stare up at the massive 2000-year-old dome.
Villa Borghese would be great to fit into your walking tour for a rest, or rent an electric bike for a fun zip around this lovely green space in the middle of the city.
Palatine Hill and the Forum is the perfect place to slow down and allow yourself a minute to really take in the heart of the Roman Empire. Even a self-guided tour will introduce you to many important landmarks, but, of course, among these sites are any and every guided tour. If there is a site that really speaks to you, make sure you book in advance to secure an entry time. A tour of the Colosseum includes entry to the Forum and Palatine Hill and may be the best bang for your buck.
Rome will marvel you through this walk. Turn a corner and you come across a temple built in the year AD 125. Stop at an overview to see the place where St. Paul was held in prison.
How to get around:
If you’re up for a lot of walking, you can manage seeing most of these sites on foot. You will get plenty of steps, but it’s doable.
We did a lot of it walking, but also opted to rent Lime bikes a couple of times when we wanted to make a big distance go quickly. Biking in Rome is a bit of a risky game – there are no bike lanes, so you’re in the midst of all kinds of traffic. Drivers respect your right to be there, but you need to feel comfortable on a bike and around cars.
If you are not a very confident biker, I recommend sticking to walking and public transport. You can buy daily passes here or use the Tap and Go system – simply tap in and out with a contactless credit card (one per adult).
Our second day in Rome, we were up early, so once again hopped on bikes and basically had the roads to ourselves. We rode from Trastevere, through the Forum and Colosseum areas to Piazza Campidoglio to Roma Termini (the main train station). We were almost completely alone and it was really incredible. If you are a morning person, or can force yourself to be one for a day, this is my biggest encouragement for seeing Rome in a really special way – by yourself!
When in Rome…
As the old saying goes, it’s important to embrace the cultural traditions that set Rome apart from the rest of the world. Live in their ways for a few days, as much as possible. You’ll always remember it – I know I’ve enjoyed trying to bring some of the fun (read: Roman pastas) back home with me.
Breakfast
Italian breakfast is simple – cappuccino and cornetti (croissant) are served in cafés all over the city. American drip coffee is almost impossible to come by, so if you’re not already, just become an espresso drinker for the weekend. Make sure to enjoy your cappuccino early, as coffee served with milk is traditionally only served before noon. After that, its espresso served black and sipped slowly.
There are more international places that provide a wider variety of breakfast options if you desire something more familiar, you just have to seek them out.
Aperitivo
Aperitivo is an Italian tradition meant to prepare you for dinner with light appetizers and fantastic cocktails. Aperol and Limoncello Spritz are favorites. Highly recommend taking the time to stop for one of these in the early evening. Remember that most restaurants start serving dinner at 7 pm earliest, and you will most likely be surrounded by non-Italians at this time. Go for an aperitivo at 5 pm and then dinner at 8 pm.
Dinner
As stated, dinner is served later in the evening. Antipasto are the starters. Pasta is served before the main course and NEVER INCLUDES MEATBALLS (as I heard a waiter exclaim at an American tourist). In Rome, you will see four pasta options listed on the menu. They are simple and delicious. Try as many as you can! The main meat dishes come after, if you’ve got any room left! Of course, you decide how many courses you want to try. If you enjoy it, be sure to add a bottle of local red wine to the menu. When you’re in Rome, you just should.
Rome is a city modern and alive, built amongst the relics of the past. An empire that lived and died and changed the world. Enjoy your visit and take a piece of it with you when you go.
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