In case you didn’t already know this, Rome is a big city with some cool ruins. Unlike Paris with great transportation and a city that is arguably walkable (I know that is debatable but so many of the tourist locations are close enough to walk to each other), Rome in my opinion is neither of those. Rome has the smallest metro system in all of Europe with only 3 lines currently. The best way to get around Rome is Taxi or Uber. Now technically yes you can walk from the farthest parts of Rome (let’s say Colosseum to Vatican) but it can be confusing and is at least an hour’s walk. Another option for transportation is to purchase a hop on/hop off bus tour that stops by all of the major attractions but it may not always take you the most direct route.
With that in mind, if you have a limited amount of time in Rome, you need to plan your time accordingly to account for getting from one location to another. As with any other European city these days, spontaneity won’t serve you well. You have to reserve and pre-buy your tickets for almost all of the activities on this itinerary. We are going to assume you have two full days and can start your day by 9:00 am.
Day One
We’ll start your day at the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica both of which can be found in The Vatican City. Population 500, home to the Pope and St. Peter’s Basilica – the world’s largest church. Vatican City is a country within Rome – that’s not confusing at all.
- Pre-purchase/reserve your Vatican Museum (includes the Sistine Chapel) tickets for 9:00am. The earlier you get in the better before the crowds ascend.
- Adults are €17 and Children/Students (6-26 of age) are €8.
- These tickets do not include entry into the St. Peter’s Basilica. But that’s okay because it’s free. The Basilica actually opens at 7:00 am so you could actually start your day there first and then be ready for your 9am start at the museum.
- A strict code is enforced requiring that all men and women cover upper arms and knees so bring a cover up or dress appropriately or you won’t be allowed entry.
We highly recommend, if you can do it, to climb to the top of the dome. This costs €8 to take the stairs or €10 to take the elevator. The views are incredible and you get a great view of St. Peter’s Square. Make sure to check schedules beforehand to make sure there are no special events occurring that can change the open/close times. You can purchase tickets approximately 3 months out.
Hot Tip
It’s important to note that the Vatican Museum is closed on most Sundays so you may have to adjust this schedule if you are starting on a Sunday. If you are lucky enough to be going on the last Sunday of the month, they are often open and free. And if the Pope is available he will host a Papal Audience on Wednesday mornings in the square.
When it’s your entry time for the Vatican Museum, make sure that you are in the correct line. It’s easy to confuse the ticket line with the entry line. Expect to spend a minimum of three hours at the Vatican. A guided tour or at minimum an audio tour is highly recommended. With so much to see and so much history, it’s easy to just walk through without fully appreciating where you are and what you are seeing.
Once you have completed your time in The Vatican City, head towards the famous Piazza Navona. It’s a 20-30 minute walk or you can taxi/uber if you need to rest from walking through the Vatican. You can grab lunch here with the many cafes or a quick snack and sit by one of the fountains in the square. Since it is a tourist area, if you want good Italian food, we would recommend you go a little farther out of the square for better options.
From here, you can head to the Pantheon, a short 5 minute walk. Almost 2,000 years old, it was once a Roman temple and more recently a basilica. The dome is the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. There is no entrance fee and no reservation needed.
The most likely route from here is to continue on to see Trevi Fountain, only another 10 minute walk. However, it is always busiest in the late afternoon and into night. The idea time to see the Trevi Fountain is early in the morning. We would recommend you start your 2nd day there on your way to the Colosseum. If you go that route, you will have much less crowds and can enjoy the fountain in peace. For your first night, take a quick break at your hotel/apartment and then set out for a late dinner not starting until at least 8pm if you want to be like the Romans.
Day Two
As noted above, we recommend you start your day early at the Trevi Fountain and then get a taxi/uber to the Colosseum for the first entrance of the day at 9:00. It’s recommended to arrive 30 minutes in advance (so 8:30 am). You can either do a self-guided tour but we highly recommend a tour. If you go with a tour, we recommend that you get one that includes the Roman Forum. Both sites are fascinating and worth the time. The cost for just entry is €18 (if purchased online) or €24 which includes the underground of the Colosseum. Expect 2-3 hours if you take a tour or even if you self-tour.
The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheater in the world and some may not realize that it’s elliptical and not round. Dating back to 80 AD, it was said that it could hold 50,000 – 80,000 people (the average NFL stadium seats roughly 70,000). The Colosseum is most famous for its Gladiator fights. Today, the only people who fight in the Colosseum are the 200+ cats who call it home.
While there are 3rd party tour sites, there are several that can be purchased directly through the Colosseum site and include the normal three sites (Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour), night tour of the underground, private tours and tours for families with kids. All the tours include a “skip the line”.
Included in your entry ticket for the Colosseum is the Roman Forum, a plaza in ruins which represented the center of day-to-day life in Rome. If nothing else but to walk through the ruins, it’s fascinating to think that this is where political, religious and economic events occurred. It’s where the idea of the first “shopping mall” was built. Paired as part of the Colosseum it’s an easy walk through and certainly recommended. Assume at least 60-90 minutes to walk thru the Roman Forum. If you plan to go to Palatine Hill, there is a bit of an incline walk but the views are worth it and the trek isn’t very difficult. Assume 1 more hour here. So total at the Colosseum is somewhere around 4-5 hours.
At this point, you will be starving and need a break from all of the walking amongst the ruins. Either find a local cafe near the Colosseum (note probably pretty touristy around there) or make your way by taxi/uber to the Villa Borghese Park. This lovely park does have a cafe onsite for a quick lunch or there are several cafes nearby. Villa Borghese Park has lovely walking trails, a zoo, carousel, small lake and two beautiful museums. We like the idea of casually strolling through the gardens, particularly if it’s a nice day. The kids generally will enjoy getting away from all of the “history” of Rome.
End your day at the famous Spanish Steps. It’s 135 steps up to the top but there are several places to stop along the way so no rush. If you get to the top of the Spanish Steps near sunset, it’s a lovely view. If the church is open at the top, it’s worth a quick peak (remembering to make sure your shoulders and knees are covered). The best part about the Spanish Steps is that they are of course free to visit. Rumor has it, you can get fined for sitting on the steps too long.
At this point, you have hit the high spots for Rome. Is there more to see? Of course, but you are most likely off to your next destination. Spend some time your last evening strolling the streets and enjoying a nice meal. Finish it off with gelato as you make your way back to your hotel/apartment.
Check out this recent blog about group travel options and why Rome is on that list.
Bellissimo!…I wonder if Julius Caesar had gelato on his last day in Rome. Caio, Baby!
According to google, Julius Caesar died around noon so probably didn’t have gelato that day. A missed opportunity for sure. Maybe he had some for dessert the night before:)