Essence of Rome: Best 2 days itinerary
Weather
First of all, it's always better to book everything in advance. I would recommend to book 2 months in advance for transport and accommodation. Here's the list of things you need to book:
Transportation
How to arrive:
If you travel from other cities in Italy, you can choose between the following options:
Flixbus : If you have more time and have no concern about the time spent travelling to destination, this is the best option.
Ryanair : Another budget option with faster travel time. Keep in mind that you need to pay for additional baggage other that small bag/bag pack, so that would change the price if you don't travel light
Italo : Cheaper fast train compared to Trenitalia. This is my favorite option if you travel within Italy.
Trenitalia : Offers more destination from/to small towns, also across European countries. The regional train costs less than fast train option (Freccia)
NCC: If you travel in group within Italy and prefer to rent a car with driver, this is a convenient option.
Best option to move around the city:
1. Public transport
The most convenient way is by downloading app MooneyGo
The transportation company is called ATAC and you can choose between 100minutes (1 metro trip) ticket that cost €1,5 or buy the 24hours ticket. If public transport will be your main option then the 24hours option is the best option for you.
2. Taxi
Download app FreeNow or itTaxi, both will let you easily book & schedule booking a taxi in Rome
Even though there are also options of bike sharing or scooter sharing, I wouldn't really recommend since they are not the safest options. The streets in city center are mostly made by black large blocks which are slippery when they are wet and that Rome is famous for the dangerous holes in their streets.
Accommodation
If you're looking for other options, I crafted a free guide about best hotels in Rome for budget, moderate to high end options. These are places where my family, friends, or important guests* stayed and had great experience.
*I used to work in the embassy and had experiences in arranging accommodation for government executive visitor, so also the high-end options in the guide are carefully curated too.
Day 1
Spend your day in the city center area.
📍Colosseo (Colosseum). If you travel with public transport then go to Colosseo Metro B stop.
Since this is itinerary of short trip, I would recommend you enjoy Colosseo only from outside. The line to get inside can be long and spending time inside can consume so much time.
📍Walk through the famous street of Fori Imperiali.
📍Your next stop is Piazza Venezia, with a building that is known also as Typewriter building because of the overall shape of it. At the front yard of the building, inside the gate there is the eternal flame that is always on, guarded by 2 armed soldiers.
🍝I know you must be hungry by this point! Next, you'll eat some traditional Roman dishes in a historic place nearby. I recommend to book the place in advance, at least a week before. This place is typically crowded.
☕️After lunch, don't forget to grab a famous Italian espresso at Sant'Eustachio bar.
📍By now you should have enough fuel to continue the journey! Let's move forward to our next destination : Trevi Fountain. This is another must visit in Rome.
🍕If you decided not to eat before, there is a good grab & go pizza place close to Trevi Fountain. Grab your pizza and eat it while admiring Trevi Fountain. If you go down to the fountain and go on the right side, you will find a drinking water fountain. No need to buy water, the tap water in Rome is very good and refreshing!
📍Alright, now let's move to Piazza di Spagna. Burn your lunch calories intake by climbing the stairs and enjoy the view from above! If you continue walking there, you can arrive until one of the entrances of Villa Borghese. It is one of the biggest Villas (House & park that was originally owned by an ancient Roman upper class) in Rome, and in my opinion is the most beautiful one.
☕️If you didn't take coffee before, now you have some great options nearby:
🍮or, if you want to grab some dessert, don't miss Tiramisu from Pompi.
🍷Next I will suggest to just walk to enjoy the city center, heading towards Piazza di Pietra. There, you can sit and grab some good aperitif at Salotto 42.
🚌 Let's head over to a beautiful scenery to enjoy sunset. Take bus n.83 direction from Corso/Minghetti to Partigiani or n.85 from Corso/Minghetti to Arco di Travertino, put your google map destination to "Giardino degli Aranci" (Garden of Oranges). If you take n.85, you can also stop to see Boca della verità (The Mouth of Truth) before walking to Giardino degli Aranci.
By this time, you might be hungry already! Let's go to the dinner place. You can choose between Felice a Testaccio or Trattoria Pennestri, but in both cases, remember to book the place at least a week in advance. You can try your luck and go show, but no guarantee that you'll get a place.
🚶🏻You have two options to go there, you can walk around 1 km directly to the restaurant (both are close to each other). Otherwise, walk to Metro stop Circo Massimo, and take the metro direction Laurentina until Piramide stop, then walk a bit from there.
🍝Felice a Testaccio is famous for their Caccio e Pepe pasta. The waiter will mix the cheese in the pasta in front of you on the table if you order this dish. Also, try their lamb chop, it's a traditional Roman dish as well, and they do it very well.
🍸If you want to continue with the evening, you can grab a drink before going back to the place you stay:
Take Metro B direction to Jonio/Rebibbia until Cavour stop. To grab a drink at Drink Kong or BlackMarket Hall.
🌉After the drink, walk a bit until Colosseo to enjoy the timeless beauty from higher level
Your day 1 is complete! now get some rest and be ready for the next adventure tomorrow.
Day 2
You'll get some taste of street food, Vatican, vibrant hang-out places in the city, and more food..prepare your tummy!
📍You will start from Metro A Ottaviano, then walk to Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica). Theoretically, when you are in the basilica area, you are no longer in Rome, you are in the smallest country in the world, Vatican City.
🍕After that, take a quick stop to grab something to eat because we're going to make a long walk. The options are pizza or pasta, both are grab & go. So you can take and eat just outside the shop.
Now you it's 12 minutes walk to Castel Sant'Angelo
🚶🏻Next you can choose between 20 minutes walk or take the bus N.115 direction to Paola, until Fontana di Acqua Paola. This is place is the intro of the oscar winning movie, La Grande Bellezza. Now take your time, sit down and enjoy this breath-taking view.
🍕Craving for a savory snack? Trastevere has Trapizzino for you! It's tipical snack, you don't want to miss this one.
🍦And it's probably warm in Rome, you might want to grab a gelato, I'll take you to one of the best Gelato place in Rome; Otaleg. Their pistacchio flavor is one of the best! You can now enjoy your gelato, while talking a walk in Trastevere.
🍺While of you are craving for some cold beers, Trastevere has a famous beer place:
📍Enjoy any snack/drink you took at Piazza di Santa Maria Trastevere. Normally there are street musicians playing music in this area. Enjoy the relaxing evening.
🍝 Trastevere is full of great Roman restaurants all within walking distance. Feel free to choose between curated options I provided below:
🍸Before heading back after dinner, I recommend to enjoy Trastevere's evening life with some cocktails
Your day 2 is complete at this point.
I hope you enjoy the trip!
If this is not your first trip to Rome Italy, here's another unique zone to explore:
The home for unique & authentic travel
