Rome was one of our mini stops on our ultimate Italian road trip. We did an open-jaw flight into Rome and then we flew out of Venice during this trip. Here is how to explore the best of Rome in 2 days.
Where to Stay in Rome
There are many lodging options to choose from in Rome. We chose to stay in a VRBO near the Trevi fountain. This VRBO was in a central location to many of the sites that we wanted to see.
The location allowed us to walk to most places of interest, and also gave us a gorgeous view of the Trevi Fountain. We were even able to sneak a picture with no crowd. The fountain is normally overrun with tourists at all sides.
Rome is a big city, so before searching for lodging, it is a good idea to know which sites you’re most interested in seeing. We decided to walk and use the taxi service while staying in the city of Rome. As we traveled throughout Italy, we used the train system, rented a car and even used a personal driver. You can read all about that here.
We only spent two days in Rome during this trip. The reason for our short stay was due to our jam packed itinerary as we traveled across the country. Even though our time was limited in the city, I felt like we were able to see everything we had our hearts set on.
Day ONE – Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain
On our first day, we decided to explore the city by foot. We walked to the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and we saw the Trevi Fountain. We explored many of the shops and vendors throughout the city. Travelers beware: peddlers will try to hand you bracelets, roses, trinkets, etc. These are not gifts, and if you take one into your hand, many of the vendors expect payment and do not want to take the item back.
We ate at an amazing, Italian restaurant for dinner on our first night. The restaurant was Il Ristoro dal Patriota. There was a live harpist playing the entire time. It actually felt quite romantic.
If you’ve ever been to Italy, you know that Limoncello is a well-loved drink. Italy is known not only for wine, but for Limoncello and olives. I love olives, but I am not a fan of the famous Limoncello. Most restaurants give you a Limoncello drink at the end of every meal.
I’m ashamed to admit how many times we had gelato during our two days in Rome. I will only say, we managed to adequately taste-test multiple flavors and multiple shops.
Day 2 – Vatican, Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum
On our second day, we decided to do a Vatican tour. There are many tours and tour operators to choose from in Rome. We decided to do a Vatican and Colosseum tour through City Wonders. You can find our exact tour here. It requires two separate check-ins and your own personal transportation. We decided on this tour because we wanted to make the most of our trip and squeeze in all of the sites. We took a taxi to the Vatican at 8:45 AM. We proceeded through the Vatican and Sistine Chapel with our tour guide.
(Note: photos are not allowed in the Sistine Chapel) I don’t have any personal photos from the chapel, but here is one of the famous ceiling.
Once our Vatican tour was over, we had lunch on our own nearby. We then made our way to the Colosseum via taxi. The Colosseum looks incredible from photos, but it is simply breath taking in real life. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are all larger than life. Pictures simply do not do the size justice. It blows my mind that these architectural beauties were crafted by human hands in a time where computer blueprints and heavy machinery did not exist.
That rounds up our two jam packed days in Italy. If you’d like to read more about our Ultimate Italy Honeymoon that covers Amalfi, Pompeii, Rome, Dolomites, and Venice. Click here!
