If you only have 48 hours in Rome you need to make the most of it! This 2 day Rome itinerary. So you’ve found a super cheap Ryanair flight into Ryanair for the weekend, sweet! This itinerary is ideal for that.
But more broadly, this Rome travel itinerary is also great for anyone who is in Europe for any amount of time and is looking to see as much as they possibly can while staying on a budget. In my opinion, 2 days in Rome is definitely enough time to get a feel for the city and its history.
Here’s the tl;dr: you can see Rome in two days on a budget by staying a little bit outside the main tourist areas, leveraging public transit, and planning ahead.
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Arrive in Rome in the Evening
You’ll plan to land in Rome on a Friday evening. Your only plan for your first night in Rome is to get to your accommodations. If you arrive earlier in the afternoon, then you’ll have time to track down some mouthwatering Italian pasta or wine (not a bad Friday night if you ask me!).
Rome’s main airport is Fiumicino (FCO) but Ryanair flights do also fly into Ciampino (CIA). Triple check your tickets to make sure you book your transport accordingly.
There are many shuttles that leave Fiumicino that take you to Termini, the main train station in Rome that affords you access to all of the city’s great public transit. Each of the shuttles is going to take around 40-45 minutes and cost around €6.
Terravision is the most popular shuttle in Rome and services both Fiumicino and Ciampino. Their website, where you can book online ahead of time, can be found here (Ciampino) and here (Fiumicino). You won’t be saving huge chunks of money, but you’ll save i time at the airport pre-booking. No need to print the tickets ahead of time either, your e-ticket will suffice.
If your flight is delayed, don’t worry, your Terravision ticket is then valid for the next bus time without you having to do anything.
The shuttle leaves relatively frequently (about every 30-40 minutes) from both airports. Here is the timetable to and from Ciampino to Termini. Here is the timetable to and from Fiumicino to Termini.
This 2 days in Rome itinerary has you based near Termini Station, which is about a 25-30 minute walk away from sites like the Colosseum or Roman Forum. But that area is very conveniently located on the tram lines, and you will save a substantial amount of money staying there rather than in the heart of tourist areas (especially during high season).
In addition to being kind to your wallet, staying outside of the main tourist drag will allow you to have a more authentic Italian experience. For example, you’ll be within walking distance of restaurants and bars that cater to locals which alone makes it worth it.
Great hotel options for every budget:
- Yellow House Hostel – one of Rome’s most highly ranked hostels. Just a couple minute walk from Termini Station. Great option for solo travelers.
- Roma Vespahouse – great affordable option near Termini for those not interested in staying in a hostel. Only a 20 minute walk to the Colosseum and excellent restaurants within three minutes of the guesthouse.
- Camplus Hotel Roma Centro – an elegant building housing a no-frills hotel within a 5-minute walk to Termini. Still a very affordable option compared to some of the more touristy areas.
- Residenza Cellini – slightly more upscale hotel option, located a 10 minute walk away from Termini but a closer walking distance to sites like the Trevi Fountain.
Day 1
Seeing Rome in 2 days is no joke, so start your morning by grabbing some Italian espresso at a local cafe. Your hotel or hostel potentially offers breakfast for a surcharge, but I would just wander a block or two and find some coffee and pastries for a fraction of the cost (and probably better than our hotel will have on offer).
Once you’ve got a quick snack in your belly, you’re headed to a new country: Vatican City.
Getting to Vatican City from Termini
- You’re going to start at Termini Station. There you’ll buy a MetroBus 48 hour card for €12.50 at a vending machine. The 48-hour ticket allows unlimited use of Rome’s public transport for 48 hours from the time it is first used.
- Once you’ve bought that, you’re going to board the Linea A train that comes every 5-7 minutes. You’ll board the one headed toward Battistini. You’ll ride that for about 10 minutes until getting off at Ottavino, where you’ll follow the signs to the Viale Giulio Cesare (tbh, the signs will likely be unnecessary because a swell of tourists is going to get off the train at the same time as you). From there it’s about an 8 minute walk to the Vatican Museum.
The Vatican Museum’s Sistine Chapel is absolutely spectacular. It is one of those genuinely awe-inspiring places. You’ve only got limited time in Rome, so I would highly suggest paying the extra couple of bucks to skip the line and get in faster. Book your tickets here.
If you’re going in the summer, you need to book at least 30-45 days in advance. You can likely get away with less than that for off-season or shoulder season.
- “But Carmen, I’m on a budget and short on time, do I need to pay $30 to see something related to a religion I’m not that into??”
- Yes. This is one of the few things we forked out money for when we were broke college students; the Sistine Chapel is 100% worth it and one of the best things to see in Rome in 2 days. I’m not always much of an art person, (ok rarely), but I was stunned into silence craning my neck to look up there.
The rest of the museum honestly felt like a queue at Disneyland where there’s interesting things to look at while you wait for the main attraction. But if you like museums, you may thoroughly enjoy it. There’s also some great views of the city from the windows as you’re walking through the halls.
You can go to Saint Peter’s Basilica before or after the Vatican Museum depending on when you booked your tickets. The Basilica is free to enter, but the line does get long, so wear some comfy shoes. Knees and shoulders have to be covered to enter, so plan accordingly (especially if it’s a hot day in Rome; you’re going for practicality over fashion on this sightseeing day, so good luck).
- This scarf is my favorite lightweight accessory that doubles as a shoulder cover up if needed. (Check out my full packing list for Italy here!)
Saint Peter’s Basilica is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. You might still be thinking, “It’s just a really big church of a religion I’m not that into and I already saw the Sistine chapel” but this is THE really big church. If religion isn’t your jam but you can appreciate some amazing architecture, Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the best things to see in Italy.
You’re going to want to avoid seeing the Vatican on Wednesday or Sunday, as that is when the Pope performs mass, and the crowds of devotees swell. Or if you are a devotee, plan accordingly.
Rome, and Vatican City in general, is one of the worst places in Europe for pickpockets. I knew several people that had phones and wallets stolen there (which is especially astonishing considering I didn’t really know that many people living in Europe).
- I strongly recommend having your phone and credit cards in a money belt like this one or a crossbody bag like this one while visiting. At the absolute bare minimum, don’t have your phone or wallet in your back pocket.
From there you’re going to walk 20 minutes to Via dei Coronari. The stroll takes you across the river and next to the spectacular Castel Sant’Angelo, which you’ll be happy to admire from a distance unless you’re a big Roman history buff who needs to go in, then book your tickets here.
Via dei Coronari is a slightly less touristy area. In areas like that in Italy, knowing some Italian can really make your adventure that much richer. With my free instant download of essential Italian phrases, you can screenshot it and be blending in like a local in no time.
- Spend a couple of hours in Via del Coronari – this is one of the best things to do in Rome in 2 days to see a more authentic side of the city. It’s closed to public traffic and is also less filled with souvenir shops and waiters holding menus trying to get you to come inside. Enjoy a glass of wine and some authentic Italian food delight in not being on your feet after all the lines you waited in.
- If you’re balling on a budget, Lunch is definitely the time you should get a big meal at a nicer restaurant because prices are substantially cheaper than at dinner time. So fill up.
Once you’ve gotten your fill, start walking toward the Trevi Fountain. In total it’s about a 20 minute walk, but on your way there, you’ll pass by omse other great sites: Piazza Navona, the Fountain of Neptune, and the Pantheon. Stop and marvel at all of them before you eventually reach the Trevi Fountain.
It will be very crowded and not at all like how Lizzy McGuire experienced it. That’s OK, toss in a coin anyway. You should be able to bump enough elbows to get a decent picture in front of it.
After you wander around, head to the Barberini station, which is about a 10 minute walk from the Trevi Fountain. There you’ll board the A train toward Anagnina for a quick ride and get off at the Termini stop and find your way back to your hotel. Have a nap and a shower before finding some food near your accommodations.
Italian restaurants don’t open for dinner until 7:30pm at the earliest. If a place is serving dinner before then, just know that it’s catering to tourists rather than the local population (and I’ve definitely been hungry enough before where I simply didn’t care!).
Day 2
Repeat yesterday’s hunt for espresso and pastries. You’re about to walk the footsteps of Gladiators, so you won’t want to be peckish!
You may need to check out of your hotel and have them hold your bags. This luggage lock is cheap but provides real peace of mind, as they usually store them in a communal location where anyone could easily get in. Read my full list of tips for visiting Italy to know which scams in Rome to keep an out for.
Head to Termini and use your 48 hour card to board the B train toward Laurentina (comes every 5 minutes). You’ll ride it for 4 minutes and exit at the Colosseo stop, where the Colosseum will be 100 feet in front of you.
Like the Vatican, time is money, so I recommend spending the extra few dollars to skip the line. Book this express visit tour option that allows you to get a guided tour of the Colosseum and enter the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill thereafter on your own time (admission to those is included in the price).
After the Colosseum, walk 2 minutes over to the Roman Forum, open from 8:30 am–7:15 pm. Palatine Hill access is also right by if you’re up for more Roman ruins. The two are similar, but have slight differences in what you’ll experience.
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Palatine hill is the centermost of the seven hills of Rome and is one the oldest parts of the city. Imperial palaces were built on Palatine Hill, and it’s been called the “first nucleus of the Roman Empire.”
Not interested in Roman history as much as Italian cuisine? I fully get that, and I actually think your time would be better off doing something you enjoy that still doesn’t break the bank. Instead of the Colosseum, this 3-hour cooking class teaches you how to make homemade pasta and tiramisu and is a steal at less than $70 a person. It starts as early as 9:30am, so there’s plenty of wiggle room to fit it in your schedule.
This 2 day Rome itinerary assumes you have a late flight out on Sunday; if that is not the case, cut this short as needed to make your flight.
After all of the crowds you’ve run into, you likely want a second to recharge and get some space. Hop on transit to head across the city to Villa Borghese Gardens.
Side note: if you have more time in Italy and want a day to unwind after all the sightseeing, check out my 7 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Cortona in Tuscany post. You may need a hefty glass of vino in the Tuscany countryside if you’re traveling in high season.
To get there, you’ll enter the Colosseo station and board the B train toward Jonio/Rebibbia. You’ll exit at Termini and then board the A train toward Battistin. Exit at Flaminio and follow signs for Via A Ferrero. The whole trip should only take you 20 minutes or so.
The Villa Borghese Gardens are another great option to see the city of Rome on a budget, as they are an oasis in the eternal city. They are free to enter, and you can stroll through the greenery and see architectural masterpieces and natural splendors. If you have the time and are so inclined, you can even rent a row boat for an hour.
The Spanish Steps are a 10 minute walk from the gardens once you’ve enjoyed your stroll. Depending on your flight time, I’d recommend walking over to them. At the very least, they’re one of the largest sets of staircases in Europe and date back to the 1700s.
By now, you probably should head back to your hotel to collect your bags and head to the airport, factoring that the airport shuttle takes 40 minutes and leaves every 30 minutes. I’d give myself a little bit of a buffer for traffic in this case since it’s a bus and not a train like in some other cities.
You can purchase your tickets for your return shuttle back to the airport online at the same place you purchased your arrival tickets.
That’s it! You’ve seen the best of Rome in 2 days. Have more time in Italy? You lucky duck! Check out my 7-Day Ultimate Italy Itinerary for more trip planning resources.
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