How to Spend Only 2 Days In Rome: My Jampacked Itinerary

Although we would love to spend more than 2 days in Rome, this is the hand we were dealt.

Obviously 2 days in Rome is a little short, since Rome is one of those cities that you can spend 6 months in and still feel like you haven’t seen it all. There’s an enormous amount of history, beauty and delicious food to spoil yourself with. However, sometimes us travelers try to squeeze too much into one trip. How could we possibly fit the Vatican, the Colosseum, and all the pizza we wanted to eat into only 2 days in Rome?

This was our situation, and this is how it was handled:

Day 1: THE VATICAN

We made sure to reserve almost a whole day for the Vatican. I’m not religious in any sense, but religious or not, it’s a site to see. Spend the day sightseeing in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Pictures of the Sistine Chapel are a no-no, but we won’t tell if you won’t.

How to get there: Get off at Cipro-Musei Vaticani Line A (red) and walk to the Vatican from there.

Although your feet and your mind are tired of sightseeing, we’re going to make one more stop since you only have 2 days in Rome. Don’t worry, this stop will be a fun one. Make your way towards Plaza Navona via the St. Angelo bridge to get the best views of the sunset over the Vatican.

The Route:

Piazza Navona is one of the most famous squares in Rome, with 3 large fountains and a large Baroque church. Luckily for you, it is also one of Rome’s liveliest squares. You can find many outdoor cafes, restaurants and night clubs in this area. Sit down at a café for some wine and people watch until it is time to head into the night.

Day 2: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps

During the day you have the chance to tour the inside of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. I went in off-season (February) so it wasn’t too busy. If you are traveling in the summer, make sure to get there early. It will be busy.

How to get there: The public transportation in Rome is surprisingly easy to comprehend, get off at the Colosseo station on Line B of the Rome Metro.

Afterwards, take the subway to Spagna station to find the Spanish steps. The Trevi fountain and the Pantheon are both walkable from there. Make time to stop in some of the boutiques and restaurants around this area.

The Route:

And that’s it! It’s not everything in Rome (obviously), but it’s the major spots in only 2 days! If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or check out our video backpacking through Venice, Florence and Rome!