Weekend in Rome: Make the Most of Your Visit

Want to see Rome in a weekend? Here is the list of the most spectacular places to visit in Rome during your romantic getaway.

What to see in a weekend in Rome

Rome is one of the great European capitals. It is full of details, historical buildings brimming with art, hundreds of TOP activities to do in Rome.

Every corner, every street, every staircase, every perspective... is unique. 

Therefore, in a single weekend in Rome it is impossible to discover all the secrets hidden in this city. However, what you will achieve in 48 hours is to fall in love with Rome.

My recommendation? Don't try to see everything in such a short time.

Put on some comfortable sneakers, decide which monuments or places are a must for you and enjoy them at your own pace.

Between destination and destination, stroll around the city without stress. Eat, feel, listen, smell, contemplate, laugh and toast to the good fortune of being in the heart of the Great Roman Empire.

Notice:

I have marked all the places I mention below on the map at the bottom of this page. This way, you can draw yourself the route that most appeals to you, according to your preferences, and thus enjoy a wonderful weekend in Rome to suit you.

Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

The entrance to these sites is joint. It costs 12€ and lasts 48 hours, but only allows you to enter each site once. I recommend buying your ticket at the entrance of the Roman Forum, where the queues of tourists are usually smaller.

The Forum and the Palatine Hill are in the same enclosure and the visit can take half a day without messing up your hair. Seeing the inside of the Colosseum takes less time. Actually, it is more beautiful from the outside.

It is worth paying the entrance fee if you want to admire the most famous Roman ruins of the Italian capital and, at the same time, observe the wonderful views offered by the Palatine Hill. It was here, according to legend, that Romulus killed Remus and founded the city of Rome.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the iconic and best preserved buildings in Rome. It is accessible free of charge, which increases the length of the queues at the entrance.

Watch your neck, you could spend hours admiring its large dome from the inside.

Il Vittoriano

It is also known as the Altar of the Fatherland or the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. It is an imposing white marble building visible from almost anywhere in Rome with a little height. It will not go unnoticed.

It is said that one of the best panoramic views of the city can be obtained from its terrace Roma dal Cielo, which is reached by an elevator at a cost of 7€/person. Visiting the rest of the monument is free.

Mouth of Truth

Legend has it that if you put your hand in its mouth and tell a lie, this rock will bite it off. It is also rumored that if you are an adulterer, you don't need to lie to lose it.

Although it is a great tourist attraction, in my opinion, it is not worth the detour from your route just to see it. Of course, if you pass by it, will you dare to put it to the test?

Trevi Fountain

The square where this famous fountain is almost embedded is always crowded. During the day, you won't be able to take a picture without tourists, I assure you.

If you want to see it at your leisure, visit it at night. But don't have any illusions about having it all to yourself.

According to tradition, if you throw a coin into the water of the Trevi Fountain, you will visit Rome again.

Baths of Caracalla

These baths are one of the best preserved sets of ruins in the city. If after your visit to the Forum, Palatine and Colosseum, you still want to see Roman remains, this is your next destination. The entrance fee is 6€.

Basilica of San Clemente

Although I don't usually go for churches, and Rome is full of them, many people recommended me to visit this temple.

The main characteristic of the Basilica of San Clemente is its four layers of history superimposed one on top of the other.

It is built over an earlier church, the latter over a pagan temple and the latter over a Roman house dating from the first century. Thanks to subway excavations, the four levels can be visited for an entrance fee of €10. A journey into the past in four stages. Are you up for it?

The Vatican

St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square

Entering Rome's largest and most spectacular church is free. However, if you want to avoid large crowds and endless queues, avoid going to the Vatican on Sunday. This is the day when, every week, the pope addresses the public from one of the windows. And, as you can imagine, the influx of the faithful and tourists in St. Peter's Square is overwhelming.

If you want to enjoy the beautiful views offered by its dome, you will have to pay 8 or 6 €, depending on whether you want to walk up 551 steps or just the last 320 steps. The stairs are really narrow.

The Vatican Museums

Visiting the impressive Vatican museums is going to take you at least half a day, and you won't get to see them all. Even one day would not be enough. It is quite a demanding experience, due to the crowds and the length of the tour (about 7km in total).

It is best to select what you are interested in the Vatican museums in advance, so as not to waste time and energy wandering around inside. The entrance fee is 16€ per person, 20€ if you book online, which pays off if you want to skip the queues (but not the security ones).

If your main objective is to admire the Sistine Chapel, it is probably worth getting up early, entering first and going straight to it (it is quite far from the entrance). This way, you will be able to see it when it is less crowded. Then you can retrace your steps to visit other works.

An alternative option would be to enter the Vatican Museums during the afternoon, when the concentration of tourists decreases a bit.

Want to take a guided tour of the Vatican museums and basilica but hate large groups? Maybe this tour for 11 people maximum will suit your needs.

Whatever you do, avoid Mondays, as all other museums in the city are closed on that day of the week.

Castle and bridge of Sant'Angelo

The castle of Sant'Angelo is a papal fortress. The entrance fee is 10€ and its terrace offers good views of Rome.

Next to the Sant'Angelo bridge, guarded by angelic sculptures, it is one of the most immortalized images at sunset by professional photographers.

Places

Piazza Espagna

Piazza Spagna and its grand staircase are among the busiest places in Rome. However, in May 2016, when we visited, the steps and much of the square were closed for construction, so we were unable to see them. I hope you have better luck!

Piazza del Popolo

This huge elliptical square was once the northern gate of the city. It is very close to Mount Picio and its viewpoint.

Piazza Navona

It is one of the most emblematic and largest in Rome. It is bordered by baroque palaces, full of bars and cafes, and dominated by three fountains arranged along its central axis: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, del Nettuno and del Moro.

Campo de' fiori

During the day, it hosts a lively and photogenic market, much appreciated in Rome. But when night falls, the square is transformed into an open-air nightclub.

Free viewpoints

If you don't want to pay to see Rome from above, here are a couple of options at zero cost.

Pincio viewpoint

This terrace, located on Mount Pincio, offers good views of the city in the morning. I advise you not to go here in the afternoon. All your photos will be backlit (as happened to us).

Gianicolo Terrace

The perfect place to watch the rooftops of Rome during sunset.

Trastevere district

In my opinion, Trastevere is the most charming neighborhood in Rome. Cobblestone alleys, flowering plants and delicious restaurants. Don't miss the atmosphere of this unique Roman corner.

The Tiber River

Tired of crowds of tourists?

Relax a bit by strolling along the Tiber River.

Next to almost every bridge that crosses the canal, you will find stairs down to a much quieter and less busy walkway along the river that crosses Rome. From here you will have a new perspective of the city and find some peace.

As you can imagine, I was not able to visit everything I have just listed spending only one weekend in Rome. And this list doesn't even include everything you can see and do in Rome. There are dozens of museums and churches missing.

Personally, I made a selection of my favorite destinations and wandered around the city enjoying what I saw, the atmosphere, the food and, of course, the company!

Remember, you are on vacation.

Don't be overwhelmed by seeing everything in a hurry. Experience the city and come back home full of good memories..

Whether or not you throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, I'm sure you'll return to Rome, if that's what you want. And if you don't, won't it be better to miss it fondly than to remember only crowds, fatigue and stress?

Where to eat

A weekend in Rome is not enough to do a representative tasting throughout the city.

But I can give you some advice:

Flee from any establishment that smells the least bit touristy.

Italian food, and specifically the typical food of Rome, is delicious. If you stray a little off the beaten track and off the beaten tourist track, you will find hundreds of gems where you can eat luxury food for a reasonable price.

These are the restaurants that I tried and can recommend:

• Pizzeria Emmanear Campo de' Fiori. Although it may not look like it from the outside, its interior is very spacious and bright. They make good pizzas and have many vegetarian dishes at an average price.
• Ai Bozziin the Trastevere district. The best risotto I have ever tasted in my life was served at this restaurant. It is not an inexpensive place. However, the quality of the ingredients and the art with which they cook are worth it.
• Meridionalealso in Trastevere. They offer a delicious midday brunch at a very good price (15€, without drink). It is a small, casual and informal establishment in the heart of the beautiful Trastevere district.

Where to stay

Before choosing accommodation in Rome, consider these points:

• Arriving in the city with heavy luggage and by train? Look for a hotel or B&B not too far from Roma Termini station, but not too close either. In big cities, train and bus stations are often not the most pleasant.
• Traveling by car? Before booking, first find out about the parking policy in and around your hotel. If you are not willing to pay for parking, it is better to stay in the outskirts of the city.
• Feel like going out for a drink in the evening? Look for accommodation near the most lively squares, such as Campo de' Fiori, or in Trastevere.
• Do you have in mind to take night photos of a special monument? Stay as close as possible to it. After a day of wandering around Rome, you'll want to get back to rest as soon as possible.

The latter was our case. My partner and favorite photographer was obsessed with taking night shots of the colosseum, so we looked for an affordable Airbnb near it.

Specifically, we stayed at the "B&B Maison de Didi". The room was comfortable and spacious. They provide you with breakfast in a nearby bar (coffee and brioche).

One of its few negative points was that the noise from the street was quite audible from the room. However, we were going to bed so tired that it didn't bother our sleep.

In addition, the cleanliness of the bathroom, being shared, depended on the consideration of the other guests (3 or 4 rooms in total). In our case, we had no luck with the neighbors.

Despite this, for the price we paid, it was very good, and within walking distance of the Colosseum. Perfect for our weekend in Rome.

Directions

Aircraft

Rome has two airports:

Ciampino Airport

Ciampino is a secondary airport that only receives flights from the low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizzair.

To get from Ciampino airport to Rome you have two options:

• Take a Cotral/Schiaffini bus (5 minute ride, €1) to the train station in Ciampino town. From there there are trains to Roma Termini, Rome's central station (15 minutes ride, 1.5€).
• However, I recommend taking a Terravision or Sit bus direct to Roma Termini for 4-5€. The trip takes about 45 minutes at most, but you will avoid having to wait at the connection between bus and train.

Fiumicino Airport

Fiumicino is Rome's international airport, and therefore the one that receives the most flights.

You can find some offers in these search engines: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.

Personally, I like to start my flight search in Trabber because the price it shows you is final (including credit card and other fees). Of course, I always compare the results with the rest of the sites.

You never know who will have the best deals 😉.

Fiumicino is Rome's most convenient airport for travel, as it is connected to a direct train line to Roma Termini: the Leonardo Express. It leaves every 15 minutes, takes half an hour to reach the center of Rome and each ticket costs 14€. It is clear that comfort comes at a price, and what a price!

For one euro more, i.e. 15€, you can hire a "transfer" service by minibus from Fiumicino-Rome(or even back) that will drop you off and pick you up at the door of your hotel. Maybe you find it more comfortable, I leave it to your judgment 🙂 🙂

Train

If you are traveling in Italy by public transport, you know what they say:

All roads lead to Rome.

And trains are no exception!

If you buy your tickets well in advance, you can get super ecconomy offers on the official Trenitalia website.

Private transportation

In my opinion, this is the most complicated way to access Rome, especially if your accommodation is in the city center.

• Finding free parking in Rome is a miracle.
• Parking spaces are quite expensive.
• The few hotels that offer parking usually charge extra for it and it costs a lot of money.
• Traffic is heavy and stressful.

My advice:

Avoid entering Rome by car.

If you can't avoid it because you're touring Italy on four wheels, you have two options:

• Pay the price of a central parking lot and try to drive as little as possible in Rome.
• Stay in the outskirts of the city, where parking is not so expensive or restricted, and travel by train or bus to the center.

When to go

Rome has a typical Mediterranean climate. Rainfall rates increase from October to January, and are kept to a minimum during June, July and August. However, the high temperatures, coupled with the large influx of tourists that Rome receives during these months, can suffocate anyone.

My recommendation is that you avoid, at all costs, the summer.

• If you like to walk in high temperatures (I advise against it), September is a good month for you.
• If you prefer to enjoy Rome without the heat, try to go in April or early May.
• Are you one of those who prefer rain and cold to crowds? Winter is your friend, take advantage of it.

But, be that as it may, don't expect to be completely alone in Rome. The capital of the empire attracts tourists all year round.

We spent a weekend in Rome during the second half of May 2016 and suffered quite a bit of heat. If you visit during this time, I recommend wearing thin pants or shorts and short-sleeved shirts during the day. A long sleeve and jacket will suffice during the evening.

Anyway, remember:

"Until the end of May, don't take off your hat," is also a saying valid for Italy.

Precautions

Although Rome is generally a safe city, petty theft is the order of the day. And, as you might imagine, tourists are their main target.

Here are some tips to keep all your valuables:

• Always be alert in the most touristic places of the city.
• Be careful on public transportation, especially on the subway and crowded buses.
• It is best to carry a cross-body bag and arrange it so that no one can open it without you noticing.
• If you have a backpack, when you find yourself in a crowd, place it upside down on your torso.
• In case of a crowd, place your hand on the zipper of your bag, backpack or pocket. If someone tries to open it, you will notice it.

Budget

Keep in mind that the cost of your trip may vary quite a bit from mine because of transportation. Since I live in Italy right now, the most practical method for me was to take a train.

However, if you are traveling from Spain, you will probably arrive by plane. However, it is also possible that you will be traveling by car through the country.

In any case, these were our expenses for a weekend in Rome:

• Transportation: 96€ train + 6€ metro (51€/person)
• Lodging: 131€ (33€/person/night)
• Monuments: 24€ Forum-Colosseum-Palatine (12€ person)
• Meals: 169€ (42€/person/day)

In total, a weekend in Rome cost us 426€, 213€ per person, 106.5€ per person per day.

Useful Links

• Flight search engines: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo and Vueling. 
• Trenitalia website.
• Buses Sit.
• Terravision buses.
• One way minibus Fiumicino-Rome.
• Return minibus Rome-Fiumicino.
• Other activities organized in Rome.
• Offer of hotels in Rome.
• Get 5% off your IATI travel insurance.

If you are traveling in Italy, don't miss these other blog posts:

• Discover the 5 Terre from village to village.
• A week's tour of Umbria.
• A stroll through Florence.
• Tour of Tuscany: Siena and Val d'Orcia.
• Venice in low season.
• Driving along Lake Como.
• Bologna, the city of arcades.
• The wonders of the Amalfi Coast.
• Complete 7-day tour of Sicily.

Remember, if you have any doubts or questions, leave me a comment below. I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.

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