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48 Hours in Rome: The perfect

two-day itinerary
Rome, the Eternal City, is the capital of modern-day Italy,
as well as a storied hub for ancient architecture, history,
art, and food. Follow this guide to help you explore Rome
on foot over the course of two days, from St Peter’s
Basilica and the Colosseum, to the Tiber and Palatine
Hill — with more than a few pasta and shopping stops
along the way.

Day 1

Morning
1 Explore 2,000 years of history at the
Vatican Museums (2.5 hours)

Vatican City, encircled by Rome, is the smallest country

in the world and home to the Vatican Museums,
where more than 20,000 priceless pieces of history
and art are on display across 24 interconnecting
galleries. Although you can enter the museum for free
on certain days, you can’t book ahead and the line
will eat into your 48 hours — so book a ticket in
advance, and an audio guide at the very least, as its
sheer size can be overwhelming and there aren’t many
signs. Grab a map at the beginning and make sure
you leave time to explore the Sistine Chapel, which
sits at the end of this labyrinth of spaces, as well the
Salvador Dali painting in The Collection of Modern
Religious Art — it’s truly breathtaking.
Extra option

ENTRY TICKET
Vatican: Museums & Sistine Chapel
Entrance Ticket
4.5 Rp 444,210.00

More Vatican Museums activities

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Vatican Museum and Sistine
Chapel Official Guided Tour
4.4 Rp 695,649.00

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2 See the splendor of St Peter’s Basilica (2

hours)

Regardless of your faith, it’s impossible to imagine the

beauty of St Peter’s Basilica — one of the Catholic
Church’s holiest temples and the burial place of popes
and saints — until you see it in the flesh. Entrance is
free, and the often long lines are unavoidable but
move fast. Booking a guided tour can speed things up
and impart a detailed knowledge of the building’s
history and the many works of art on display. Make
sure you explore the basilica’s underground spaces
too, as well as climbing to its dome for unrivaled views
of St Peter’s Square and Rome beyond it.
More St. Peter's Basilica activities

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's
Basilica Tour with Entry
Rp 1,580,716.00
4.6 Rp 1,264,573.00

ENTRY TICKET
Vatican City: Saint Peter's Basilica
Digital Audioguide
4.1 Rp 100,576.00

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Afternoon
3 Stop for lunch in Prati (1 hour)

A short walk to the east of the Vatican will bring you

to Rome’s Prati neighborhood, a vibrant area filled
with cafes, restaurants, and gelato stands where you
can enjoy your lunch alfresco if the weather’s on your
side. Find a Rosticceria, which is typically a hole-in-
the-wall style spot with buffet-style food behind the
counter. Expect plates of lasagne, roasted meats and
vegetables, and pastas, paid for by weight and often
made according to age-old family recipes — it’s one
of the most authentic ways to eat in the city. Once
you’ve refueled, shop around the area’s tempting
boutiques, as you make your way south.

4 Explore the riverside Castel Sant'Angelo (1

hour)

South of Prati along the Via Virgilio, you’ll reach

Piazza Adriana. From here, it’s only a short stroll to the
Castel Sant’Angelo — aka Hadrian’s Tomb, which sits
on the River Tiber, Rome’s main artery. Completed in
139 CE, it was originally intended as a mausoleum for
the Emperor Hadrian, but eventually became a
military building. A guided tour is the best way to
become fully immersed in the history of this ancient
castle, making time to drink in its incredible
panoramic views of the city. While you’re there, walk
the length of the 2000-year-old St Angelo Bridge — it
holds the history of Rome in its sturdy arches and has
views over the Vatican, Castel Sant’Angelo, and the
Tiber.
Extra option

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo Fast-Track
Ticket and Express Tour
4.9 Rp 586,692.00

More Castel Sant'Angelo activities

ENTRY TICKET
Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo with
Priority Entrance
4.4 Rp 368,778.00

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo Tour with
Fast-Track Access
4.7 Rp 821,369.00

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Secrets Beneath Castel
Sant'Angelo Guided Tour
4.4 Rp 988,995.00

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5 Window shop Italy’s most famous designer

stores and climb the Spanish Steps (2
hours)

Wander along Rome’s stylish Via dei Condotti, which

is filled with designer boutiques from Gucci to Fendi
and before long, you’ll reach the Piazza di Spagna, os
Spanish Steps. You’ll find a perfect photo opportunity
in front of the Bernini Fountain, as well as standing
atop the iconic staircase named after the Spanish
Embassy it is built in front of.

Evening
6 Find the perfect mix of art and nature in
Villa Borghese (2 hours)

Head north to the Piazza del Popolo and the stunning

Villa Borghese, one of the largest parks in Rome and
a true green idyll in the heart of a bustling city. Art
lovers will want to visit the nearby Borghese Gallery
with its collection of masterpieces by artists such as
Caravaggio — if you prefer a guided tour, make sure
to book in advance as slots tend to fill up quickly.
Head to the western edge of the park to watch the
sunset from the Terrazza del Pincio, the views are
particularly magnificent from its Promenade.
Extra option

ENTRY TICKET
Rome: Borghese Gallery Ticket with
Escorted Entrance
4.4 Rp 553,167.00

More Villa Borghese activities

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Guided Villa Borghese
Gardens Bike Tour
4.8 Rp 653,742.00

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Day 2

Morning
1 Be an early bird at the Colosseum and
Roman Forum (3 hours)

Get up early to visit the Colosseum, Rome’s most

iconic sight, before the crowds descend. There is so
much to experience at this wonder of the ancient
world, that it’s best to book a guided tour and let an
expert guide you through it and answer any questions
you might have. Make sure you choose a ticket that
allows you to enter the underground passages, as well
as through the Gladiators’ Gate to stand in the Arena
floor — it’s pretty special to see from the gladiators’
point of view. From here, it’s only a short walk on to
the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the birthplace of
the city, and access is included in all Colosseum
tickets.
More Colosseum activities

PRIVATE TOUR
Rome: Roman Piazzas with
Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour
Rp 4,567,816.00

ENTRY TICKET
Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum,
Palatine Hill Entry Tickets
4.5 Rp 368,778.00

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2 Get a unique panorama of Rome at the

Altar of the Fatherland (1 hour)

A bold national monument erected in honor of Victor

Emmanuel II, Vittoriano — known as the Altar of the
Fatherland — stands elevated in Venice Square and
its terraces offer mesmerizing views of the city,
including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Taking the glass elevator to the top is something of a
hidden gem that not many tourists know about, but
you can visit the Altar’s terrace for free if you climb the
243 steps instead. A limited number of people are
allowed to do this at any one time, so be prepared to
wait.
Extra option

ENTRY TICKET
Rome: Panoramic Glass Elevator
Ticket with Audio App
4.4 Rp 502,879.00

More unique views

ENTRY TICKET
Rome: Colosseum & Panoramic
Elevator Audio Tour
4.1 Rp 871,657.00

ENTRY TICKET
Rome: Rooftop Bar Opera Show
4.6 Rp 2,816,121.00

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Afternoon
3 Book your return at the Trevi Fountain (30
mins)

Go down the Via del Corso to make your way to what

is arguably the world’s most famous fountain: the Trevi
Fountain. Make sure you have a spare coin on you to
toss into the water, which ensures you’ll return to Rome
one day, according to legend. Did you know that
more lies beneath the fountains jets and statues? This
tour delves deeper into the myths and legends behind
the famed Fontana di Trevi, before visiting the ruins of
the ancient aqueduct below.
Extra option

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Trevi Fountain and
Underground Guided Tour
4.7 Rp 586,692.00

More Trevi Fountain activities

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Moonlight Walking Tour
4.7 Rp 318,490.00

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4 Find the light at the Pantheon (30 minutes)

The Pantheon is one of the best preserved examples

of Roman architecture and has been in constant use
since it was built 2,000 years ago as a temple to the
gods. Stand beneath its open dome — designed to
symbolize the vault of heaven — and bask in the rays
of light that pour through the Oculus, a nine-meter
diameter hole in the dome’s roof. Entry to the
Pantheon is free whenever you visit, but on weekends
and public holidays, you need a timed ticket which
must be reserved online in advance.

5 Get a taste of Rome in the Jewish Quarter

(1.5 hours)

Rome’s Jewish quarter is the best place in the city to

get a taste of the authentic flavors of the city. Enjoy a
late lunch feast of Roman dishes with a heavy Jewish
influence: deep fried artichokes, fried courgette
flowers, and spaghetti with carbonara or cacio e pepe
— or, indeed, anything with pecorino cheese. Book
onto a guided tour of the Old Ghetto to dig a little
deeper into the Jewish influence on Italian dishes. On
your way to the Jewish quarter, stop by the ruins of
Largo di Torre Argentina, the location of Julius
Caesar's assassination and the site of four former
Roman temples that date back thousands of years.
Extra option

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Street Food Tour with Local
Guide
Rp 754,318.00
4.8 Rp 716,602.00

More food tours

ENTRY TICKET
Alfredo alla Scrofa Restaurant in
Rome: Eat Like a Star
4.6 Rp 1,005,758.00

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: 4-Hour Food Tour by Night
4.8 Rp 1,994,753.00

WORKSHOP OR CLASS
Rome: Pasta & Tiramisu Workshop
with Dinner
4.8 Rp 1,005,758.00

GUIDED TOUR
Rome: Food Tour and Wine Tasting in
a Traditional Trattoria
Rp 1,674,251.00
4.7 Rp 1,339,334.00

See all experiences

Evening
6 Walk it off en route to the Circus Maximus
(1.5 hours)

Once your appetite is sated, walk off the indulgence

on the way to Circus Maximus. Take the southeast
route from the Jewish quarter, strolling along
Lungotevere dei Pierleoni against the traffic. You’ll
pass by Rome’s original city gates, the Foro Boario —
the old cattle market and the site of the first
gladiatorial contest — and the site of the religious
temples of Hercules, Victor, and Portunus. If you pride
yourself on honesty, be sure you stick your hand in the
Bocca della Verita, aka The Mouth of Truth. Myth has
it that liars will have their hand bitten off. Finally,
you’ll come to the ancient Circus Maximus, where the
Romans once held their chariot races in a stadium
that is said to have accommodated up to 250,000
people.

7 Say arrivederci with dinner in Trastevere (3

hours)

Cross back over the river, stopping to admire the Isola

Tiberina — the island of healing — which sits in the
middle of the Tiber, and make your way to Trastevere.
It’s one of Rome’s most characterful neighborhoods —
packed with gelato stands and bars — and is just the
place for a few drinks to round off your two days in
Rome. Make time after to go inside the Basilica of Our
Lady in Trastevere to see the ornate and colorful
ancient mosaics, beautifully illuminated by night.

See all Rome tours and tickets

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