Rome in 2 days: day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 3 of 10 free; 7 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:36 each day
- Start and finish
- Colosseum → Vatican Museums
- On foot
- ≈ 50 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 20 min
- Lunch
- around 13:11
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- October to May. The Vatican Museums close on Sundays except the last of the month, so keep day two for a weekday.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Rome09:30–16:36 · 6 places · 7 h 10 min
Colosseum
· 2 h · ≈ €18
- 11 min on foot
Roman Forum
· 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- Lunch · 1 h
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Spanish Steps
· 20 min · Free
- 10 min on foot
Trevi Fountain
· 20 min · Free; basin €2
- 10 min on foot
Pantheon
· 30 min · ≈ €5
- 5 min on foot
Piazza Navona
· 30 min · Free
Day 2 · Rome09:30–16:14 · 4 places · 6 h 40 min
St Peter's Square
· 30 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
St Peter's Basilica
· 1 h 30 min · Free; dome ≈ €8–15
- 3 min on foot
Sistine Chapel
· 30 min · Vatican Museums ticket ≈ €25
- Lunch · 1 h
- 6 min on foot
Vatican Museums
· 3 h · ≈ €25
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
3 of 10 are free; 7 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Colosseum | 73 | 2 h | ≈ €18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Roman Forum | 63 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum |
| 4 | Trevi Fountain | 79 | 20 min | Free; basin €2 |
| 5 | Pantheon | 82 | 30 min | ≈ €5 |
| 8 | St Peter's Basilica | 71 | 1 h 30 min | Free; dome ≈ €8–15 |
| 9 | Sistine Chapel | 64 | 30 min | Vatican Museums ticket ≈ €25 |
| 10 | Vatican Museums | 44 | 3 h | ≈ €25 |
| Other 3 places | 1 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 10 h 40 min | 3 of 10 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Colosseum. The Flavian Amphitheatre. The ≈ €18, 24-hour ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine; book a time slot, and under-18s go free.
- 2
Roman Forum. The heart of ancient Rome: temples, arches and the Sacred Way. Same ticket as the Colosseum; there's almost no shade, so bring water.
- 3
Spanish Steps. 135 steps up to Trinità dei Monti. Free, but sitting on the steps is banned.
- 4
Trevi Fountain. Rome's most famous fountain. The square is free; reaching the basin costs €2 by day and is free early and late.
- 5
Pantheon. A 2nd-century temple with its famous open oculus. Tickets ≈ €5; 30 to 40 minutes is enough, and it closes to visitors during Mass.
- 6
Piazza Navona. A square on the site of an ancient stadium, with Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. Free; artists and buskers in the evening.
Day 2
- 7
St Peter's Square. Bernini's square with its 284-column colonnade. Free; the security check for the basilica starts here.
- 8
St Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's canopy. The basilica is free; the dome climb is ticketed.
- 9
Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgement at the end of the Vatican Museums route. No photos.
- 10
Vatican Museums. The popes' galleries: the Belvedere Torso, the Raphael Rooms, the map gallery. ≈ €25 booked; closed Sundays except the last of the month.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Rome
- You want antiquity and the Vatican
- A first trip to Italy
- Trastevere and the Aventine: see the 3-day route
- Young children: see Rome with kids
October to May. The Vatican Museums close on Sundays except the last of the month, so keep day two for a weekday.
What to see in Rome in 2 days
Day one is the classic centre route: ancient Rome in the morning, Baroque squares and fountains later. Day two is all Vatican, a separate state across the Tiber that's easiest to reach by metro to Ottaviano.
Book two things ahead: a timed Colosseum slot and the Vatican Museums. Without a booking the Vatican line can take over an hour. St Peter's Basilica is free but has a security check, which moves faster early in the day.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day two: the Vatican
There are two ways to do the Vatican. Start at the Museums at opening, walk the galleries to the Sistine Chapel, then cross to the basilica. Or start early at St Peter's while the security line is short and do the Museums after lunch. The planner picks an order by distance; switch it if the other suits you.
Allow 3 to 4 hours for the Museums and Sistine Chapel, about an hour for the basilica and another for the dome climb. No photos or loud talking in the Sistine Chapel, and covered shoulders and knees for St Peter's.
More to see
On the evening of day two, walk from the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo and back into town over Bernini's bridge of angels. With a third day, add Trastevere, the Aventine and the Borghese Gallery by booking.
How to do it right
- Book the Colosseum and Vatican Museums ahead for the morning.
- Do the Vatican on a weekday; the Museums usually close on Sundays.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- Take metro line A to Ottaviano for the Vatican.
Questions
What should I see in Rome in 2 days?
Day one: the Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Trevi, Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona. Day two: the Vatican with St Peter's, the Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
Are 2 days enough for Rome?
For the highlights, yes. Trastevere, the Aventine and the Borghese need another day.
How long do you need at the Vatican?
About half a day: 3 to 4 hours for the Museums and Sistine Chapel, an hour for the basilica.
When are the Vatican Museums closed?
On Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free and the queue enormous.
Do I need to book the Colosseum?
Yes, buy a timed ticket ahead on the official site.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Historic Centre of Rome (no. 91) and Vatican City (no. 286)
