48 hours in Rome Italy: 2 days with a local

The first question that arises spontaneously is: Are 2 days enough to visit Rome? My answer is: even in just one. The most important thing when traveling is to have priorities . I often explore destinations even for a few days, giving myself priorities. But what does it mean? That, not having much time available, I give priority to things I like or iconic attractions. Ready for 48 hours in Rome? In the next paragraph I give you some statistics on Rome and its attractions.

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What are the most visited attractions in Rome?

Another question that arises spontaneously and has the answer:

Colosseum (tour with the Roman Forum and Palatino Museum) (between 5-7 million visitors per year)
Vatican Museums (between 5-7 million of visitors per year)

Our tour of Rome will be based on these 2 attractions. An itinerary in which you will have the opportunity to learn more about the eternal city. I call it open-air museum but you only realize it when you walk through the alleys. Its ancient beauty enchants and captivates you. I will also leave you a map to guide you as best as possible with some photo spots.

At the end of the article, I will give you a bunch of useful links to book tours and more. I will advise you on the best way to reach Rome and accommodations in the city. There will be no shortage of suggestions on delicious and typical Roman food. Iamme ià.

48 hours in Rome Italy: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatino Museum

When you reach this area of Rome you will feel like taking a dip in the past. Every time I go to Rome I am always fascinated by it and I can just admire it with love. I recommend you visit the main attractions during opening hours to avoid the crowds. Another good alternative is to visit attractions with the latest access time. The visit to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine lasts approximately 2-3 hours.

Immerse yourself in history and admire one of the most visited attractions in the world. Once the visit is over, from the Colosseum you can reach the Roman Forums and the Palatine. When you finish the tour, you can start a walking tour starting right from this area. The eternal city should be visited through its alleys, streets, squares, and fountains. It will be just like being in an open-air museum.

48 hours in Rome Italy: Altar of the Fatherland

A monument of unique beauty and architecture as well as being one of the largest in Italy. The altar is located in Piazza Venezia (not far from the Colosseum). It can also be visited partly for free, so take advantage of it for a quick visit.

48 hours in Rome Italy: Trevi Fountain

World-famous iconic monument of Rome. I don't know how to explain to you in words the incredible beauty of Trevi Fountain , you have to go there to understand. Every time I see it I am always amazed by the meticulousness of the sculptures. Attention to detail by great Italian master sculptors.

48 hours in Rome Italy: Piazza di Spagna

I like the squares of Rome because they are huge and I would also say fortunately. With all the tourists that Rome attracts every year, if they were smaller it would be a problem. Piazza di Spagna is another stop on the tour walk of the eternal city. If you are tired, take the opportunity to sit on the staircase of the Trinità dei Monti.

48 hours in Rome Italy: Pantheon

Free attraction of Rome whose name derives from Greek and means "of all the Gods". Take advantage of the fact that entry is free to visit it (if there isn't too much crowd).

48 hours in Rome Italy: Piazza Navona

I fell in love with the fountains of Piazza Navona . Let's start from the assumption that there are 3 and this already makes you understand how large the square is. Previously, it was a stadium and then made for what it is today. I shot some videos to show you how beautiful it is because sometimes words aren't enough.

48 hours in Rome Italy: Sant Angelo Castle

Another iconic attraction of Rome that is worth a visit even just from the outside. If I had to make a list of the top 3 attractions in Rome, the castle would be one of these. Returning, in fact, to the question of preferences, perhaps this could be an option. Obviously giving up one of the two that I mentioned at the beginning of the article.

Sant Angelo Castle is of unique beauty and it is located a stone's throw from the Vatican City. Given their proximity, you can dedicate a day to this area. Why do you need a day? I'll tell you in the next paragraph

48 hours in Rome Italy: Vatican City

First of all you need to know that Vatican City is a state in its own right which has its own headquarters in the heart of the city of Rome. Vatican City is famous for being the papal seat and more. Its architectural and artworks make it one of the most visited cities in the world. But what to visit once you set foot in Vatican City?

San Peter's Square

Certainly a tour of St. Peter's Square with its beautiful colonnades is more than due. In St. Peter's Square you will find yourself in front of the beautiful basilica with its famous dome. Can I give you some advice? Try to reach Vatican City through via della Conciliazione. Practically it is the road that connects Sant Angelo Castle to San Peter's Square. I leave you a photo below to help you understand the scenario you will find yourself facing.

Vatican Museums

My favorite attraction in Rome. As I often say, being a photographer, painting and photography are very related. This is why, when I travel, I prefer to visit museums and their works of art. I've seen many museums in my life, but this one, gentlemen... a lot of stuff. Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Tiziano, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Francesco Hayez, Vincent Van Gogh…

I could continue but the list would be endless. What I can tell you is that you cannot leave the Museums without having seen the divine masterpiece. Which…?

Sistine Chapel

Over 4 years to make it and what makes this place a treasure of art and culture. In the Sistine Chapel, among numerous frescoes and paintings, you will find the stories of Genesis. They are a series of 9 paintings and among these, there is one famous throughout the world. To be more precise, it is among the 10 most famous paintings in the world and that I saw live. With my head still towards the ceiling, for 5 minutes I scrutinized every detail. The painting in question is Michelangelo's Creation of Adam.

How long does it take to tour the Vatican Museums?

To visit the Vatican museums it takes 2-3 hours, in reality it also depends on the turnout. Considering this, I recommend a visit again either early in the morning or around closing time.

48 hours in Rome Italy: from where to start?

Where to start visiting Rome depends on a number of factors:

If you decide to visit as soon as you arrive, ( by train/plane) start from the Colosseum. Check into the accommodation at a later time, hoping you don't have heavy luggage.
If you have bulky luggage, leave it at the accommodation to relieve you. And at that point, I would advise you to book accommodation near the Colosseum. It is a beautiful area to stay also because in the evening there are many things to do. The Colosseum metro station is also close to Rome Termini. (consider that, as a rule, check-ins still take place at lunchtime).
If you arrived in Rome late (lunchtime) due to a long time travel, would be good to check in first. At that point, feel free to book accommodation wherever you like and is most convenient. If you are booking near Vatican City then consider spending the day there. Dedicating the following day to the rest (including the visit to the Colosseum) and vice versa. Below I leave you a map to make everything much clearer.

Map of Rome Itinerary 2 days

To help you orient yourself better during these two days I'll leave you a map. On the map, you will find red icons and blue icons. The idea is to visit places with red icons in one day and the one with blue icons the next. Where to start depends, again, on when you arrive in Rome and where you decide to stay.

Famous Rome foods

Rome, like many other cities in Italy, is famous for many traditional dishes. Among those you must try are:

Carbonara
Amatriciana
Cacio e pepe
Roman sliced pizza (different from those you find around Italy)

Best time to travel to Rome

The perfect months to visit Rome are: April, May, June , September and October. The Christmas period is also very nice, so I say yes to November and December. The months to avoid, also due to too much heat, are July and August.

Where to stay in Rome

On where to stay in Rome I leave you the link to my best friend booking and the best top choices in Rome . Take a look at it and see if it can help you book your accommodation. If you are looking for something cheaper, you can consult Hostelworld. Find many hostels in Rome where you can make new friends.

Colosseum and Vatican Museums tickets without guide

As promised at the beginning, I leave you with a series of useful links for booking tickets. These below are all entrance tickets WITHOUT GUIDED TOUR.

Colosseum and Vatican Museums tickets with guided tour

These below, however, are the links to book a GUIDED TOUR of the two attractions. If you are a history and art lover, the guided tour is the one for you.

How to get to Rome

My suggestion, unless you don't have to take the plane, is to get there by train. Convenient, fast (since there are now high-speed trains) and cheap ( if booked in advance). To help you, I leave you a link below to book the train from your departure city. Omio will also show you the list of the cheapest flights consulting different companies. So take it as a reference also for a possible journey by plane.

If you decide to arrive by plane there is one last thing to do. From Rome Fiumicino to Rome Termini there is the Leonardo Express (train) which you can book at this link . Once in Rome Termini, I recommend you travel by metro.

Conclusions

This two-day trip to Rome is, unfortunately, over. I hope I have given you as much information as possible to make your tour easier. I hope you enjoy Rome and that it leaves you something as it did for me. To the next trip and remember: those who travel live twice!

P.s. don't forget to click here to follow on my instagram page the places I've been.

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