Learn on to find must-see sights and suggestions for an unforgettable 2 days in Rome. Embrace the sweetness and chaos of this historic metropolis!
This summer season, I, an American who has visited Rome 3 times earlier than, had the pleasure of introducing my Italian citizen husband to his personal capital. Regardless of being an Italian who grew up in close by Switzerland, he had by no means been to Rome. Clearly, we wanted to repair this travesty!
Moreover being the capital of Italy, Rome, or Roma because the Italians name her, is on the heart of world historical past. Strolling by way of the cobblestone streets is like strolling by way of my highschool historical past e book. The outdated and the brand new coexist side-by-side, making a dizzying distinction as I think about Julius Caesar on the Roman Discussion board whereas I strive to not get hit by Vespas, Fiats, and taxis whirling round me.
Rome just isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. The compact metropolis attracted 35 million guests in 2023, and most congregate within the historic heart, a 5-square-mile scrap of land inside the metropolis partitions. Guests to Rome ought to pack their endurance to take care of the crowds and a sturdy pair of strolling sneakers to soak up the attractive chaos throughout a two-day keep. Learn on for my recommendations for what you should see when you’ve got two days to discover Rome.
Tips on how to Get Round Rome
When you see the chaotic site visitors of Rome, you’ll quickly notice the greatest technique to see the sights is by foot. Fortunately, a lot of the metropolis’s must-dos are inside a mile or two of one another. Besides, whenever you examine your well being app on the finish of the day, you’ll possible see a step depend pushing 20,000. So, don’t fear about that additional scoop of gelato you had.
When your legs give out, there’s a metro and bus system to lean on. That being mentioned, Rome isn’t as related a metropolis as Paris or London, however with our resort proper subsequent to a metro and bus cease, we discovered it a simple resolution. Purchase a day move for €7 and use public transportation for twenty-four hours.
Within the thick of Rome site visitors. Photograph by Dena Roché
Finest Time to Go to Rome
We visited Rome on the finish of September and have been nonetheless elbowing our method on slender sidewalks and at the preferred points of interest. If that was the gang throughout shoulder season, I can safely say keep away from Rome through the summer season. The quantity of individuals, the warmth, and the upper costs will sully your view of town. With Rome staying within the mid-50s through the winter, that could be the most effective time to spend two days in Rome to have much less crowds and chaos.
Iconic Rome is greatest within the shoulder season or winter. Photograph by Dena Roché
The place to Keep in Rome
When in one of the crucial historic cities on the planet, selecting a resort with its personal pedigree was a should. One of many latest luxurious properties in Rome, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome is the proper mix of outdated and new.
Anchoring Piazza della Repubblica, the resort is a remodeled Nineteenth-century marble palace constructed over the Diocletian Thermal Baths relationship to AD 298. Head to the resort’s basement, the place you possibly can see the excavated foundations, swimming pools, and mosaics of Previous Rome’s largest public bathtub. The resort’s Clementine Wing was initially constructed on the orders of Pope Clement XI in 1705 and began life because the Vatican’s granary. The constructing has been restored and reimagined all through the years, with the newest replace made in 2022 when the property joined the Anantara assortment.
Our Junior suite ignored the Piazza and afforded an ideal view of the newly restored Fountain of the Naiads and the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs, designed by Michelangelo. The neoclassical-style room is adorned in muted earth tones, has excessive ceilings punctuated with crown molding, and has (fortunately) soundproof home windows. The tub is product of floor-to-ceiling travertine marble and has a few of my favourite merchandise from Acqua di Parma. It’s the proper, traditional luxurious room for Rome.
One among my favourite elements of staying at luxurious European inns is the frilly breakfasts; the Anantara doesn’t disappoint. The buffet has a dizzying array of traditional Western staples like pastry, cheese, meats, and yogurts, together with Asian picks that Individuals are all the time stunned to see at breakfast. Eggs are made to order, and Prosecco is free-flowing for mimosas.
The historic Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Resort. Photograph courtesy of Anantara.
Historic Coronary heart of Rome
For first-time guests to Rome, like my husband, there are some particular must-sees within the historic coronary heart of Rome that you have to add to your two-day Roman itinerary. We went on a strolling tour to view the Colosseum and Roman Discussion board. The Colosseum is the biggest historic amphitheater ever constructed and remains to be the biggest amphitheater on this planet in the present day. It dates to AD 70 and is known for the gladiator battles that raged inside. The Discussion board was the middle of life in historic Rome. If you wish to go inside both, skip-the-line tickets are a should.
We wandered to the Piazza Navona which is a examine in Baroque structure. Sadly, Bernini’s well-known Fountain of the 4 Rivers was underneath development. No worries, we headed for the much more Instagramed Trevi Fountain, commissioned by Pope Clement XII and designed by Nicola Salvi. Legend has it that when you throw a coin within the water, your return to Rome is assured.
After feeling like a gladiator battling the crowds in these vacationer scorching spots, we determined there should be a greater technique to see the sights.
Throw a coin within the Trevi Fountain to make sure a return journey to Rome. Photograph: Dena Roché
Rome by Vespa
I can’t consider a extra genuine and enjoyable technique to see Rome than by Vespa, so when the Anantara provided to rearrange it, I jumped on the likelihood. Whereas part of me was afraid my husband and I’d die within the loopy Roman site visitors, we put ourselves within the arms of our information and proprietor of Vespa Aspect Automobile Excursions, Luca Di Trapano.
Channeling my internal Audrey Hepburn, I strapped on the helmet and eased into the sidecar whereas my husband jumped behind Luca. Prepared for our personal Roman Vacation journey, we took off.
The three-hour tour sometimes takes in 12 sights, which we amended primarily based on what we’d already seen. Within the Quirinale, one among Rome’s seven hills, we drove previous The Quirinal Palace, Italy’s presential palace and the world’s second-biggest of its sort. We stopped on the Pantheon and went inside to marvel at this open-air architectural surprise that dates to AD 125. On Gianicolo Hill we had an ideal view of Rome earlier than exploring the Trastevere neighborhood and the Jewish Ghetto. We stopped for a gelato repair at Fatamorgana Gelato earlier than motoring to view St. Peter’s Sq. and Aventine Hill’s Orange Backyard for one more spectacular metropolis view.
Seeing Rome by Vespa. Photograph offered by Dena Roché
The Vatican
Visiting the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica is necessary in Rome. Nonetheless, you’ll should enter one other nation to do it. The Vatican is the world’s smallest unbiased nation, at simply 109 acres, with nearly all of the city-state encased by the Vatican Partitions.
The one technique to see the Vatican is with a tour that lets you skip the road and listen to in regards to the fascinating historical past as you go to. I booked a semi-private tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel with The Tour Man to make sure our group was not more than 10 individuals.
Our information, Stefano, regaled us with the historical past of the Vatican and the treasures we noticed as we slowly walked between the Gallery of the Candelabra, Tapestry Room, Map Room, Raphael Rooms, and extra. The Vatican Museum is all the time crowded, and there isn’t an opportunity to cease and admire the works. Look quick and preserve transferring is the mantra.
Earlier than heading into the Sistine Chapel, Stefano described Michelangelo’s well-known works and what to search for on the panels and the ceiling. We had quarter-hour to admire this iconic work. I can’t think about how Michelangelo stood portray the ceiling for 4 years. Within the quick time I seen it, I wanted to see my chiropractor again house!
Whereas the tour doesn’t embrace a guided go to to St. Peter’s Basilica, it does embrace skip-the-line entry to the world’s largest church. We had extra respiratory room and time to admire this huge gilded basilica right here.
One of many many gorgeous rooms within the Vatican Museum. Photograph: The Tour Man
Italian Aperitivo
The Aperitivo is a time-honored pre-dinner Italian ritual you should bask in whereas in Rome. Socialization and unwinding are as essential because the drinks and appetizers. As an American, that is the charming Italian la dolce vita I like, the place the main target is on neighborhood, connection, and rest.
I deliberate my aperitivo at Black Market Corridor. In true Italian trend, it is a reunion for me. I’m assembly up with a consumer who lives in Chicago and simply occurs to be in Rome. We haven’t seen one another in a number of years, so how grand is it to catch up than in Italy, sipping a Choose Spritz and noshing on appetizers?
If you happen to like your aperitivo paired with an ideal view, strive SEEN by Olivier within the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome resort. The ambiance is extra worldwide than Italian, nevertheless it boasts one of many largest rooftop terraces in Rome and is a superb place to drink within the Roman skyline and people-watch.
Choose and Aperol Spritz make the proper Italian aperitivo. Photograph: Dena Roché
The place to Eat in Rome
Italy might be the nation the place I’ve had essentially the most persistently good meals, however in Rome, sadly, it’s too straightforward to seek out mediocre, pedestrian pasta masquerading as the true factor. If a restaurant has a menu with photos, hosts making an attempt to pull you from the road to a seat, or it’s subsequent to a significant vacationer attraction, preserve strolling.
In a city with as many vacationers as Rome, it’s laborious to discover a pure native hang-out within the metropolis heart, but when yow will discover a restaurant {that a} Roman additionally goes to, you’ve hit the jackpot.
The Trastevere neighborhood is a former working-class space now recognized for its bohemian vibe and restaurant scene. My favourite trattoria within the space is Vanda. Oenophiles will love the 800-bottle-strong wine checklist, and foodies will respect the restaurant’s reverence for traditional Roman dishes like cacio e pepe and carbonara. Whereas the restaurant, like most in Rome, has out of doors tables, e book a seat within the cellar for a singular expertise.
Vanda is a wine lover’s dream! Photograph courtesy Vanda
After hitting up the concierge on the Anantara Resort for a much less touristy space, he prompt the close by Monti quarter. Monti is a residential space of city not removed from the Colosseum and the Roman Discussion board however worlds away by way of crowds and noise. The realm is teeming with bars and boutiques. Whereas there are a lot of common eateries right here, Barzilai stands above the gang. The small bistro presents conventional Roman dishes and trendy twists on classics.
Ending a 2-Day Go to to Rome
After our whirlwind two-day Rome journey, we felt we have been victorious in seeing the most effective of the Everlasting Metropolis and conquering the loopy chaos that makes Rome. We invite you to discover Wander With Surprise to be taught extra about our favourite locations in Italy. We additionally supply a wide array of different two-day itineraries.
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