How to Do Rome in Two Days!

Yes, it is possible to “do” Rome in two days! When I say Rome, I’m referring to the one in Italy, and not the Rome in upstate New York. The key for me was the starting line for this race. Race? Yes, the word race was burned into my brain because the Rome Marathon was going on during my weekend there, so I wasn’t the only one rushing around Rome.

Step 1: Book an AirBNB: The hotels will be way too expensive. Book your AirBNB about two months ahead and in the middle of the city. Rome is a very walkable city, but not so much if you’re dragging your suitcase with you. If you can get into the AirBNB early you can drop your luggage. If not, there are several “Store Your Luggage” places. It’s usually a small unmanned shop with the front door unlocked during the day and you can rent a locker big enough for your luggage.

Step 2: Booking Flights: If you’re in the States or any country even further west, You’ll want to take an overnight flight and plan to land in the morning. If you’re coming from the States, you’ll probably be leaving from New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., or Atlanta. The overnight flight gets you there in time to have a decent morning. The Rome airport is about 45 minutes from the actual city of Rome, so you might want to plan a car rental, or just schedule an airport bus pick-up that will drop you near your AirBNB. I would go with the bus from the airport because it’s going to be very difficult to find parking in Rome.

Step 3: GPSMyCity: This app will organize your list of attractions and help you create the most logical schedule. Despite Rome being a big, busy city, it’s surprisingly walkable. I realize that “walkable” is different for different people. In a day, I was getting about 25,000 steps. If it’s hot, or rainy, or you just don’t like walking that much, there are plenty of cabs and Ubers around. Nothing is too far away.

 Step 4: Tour Guides: I know that we all hate paying for tour guides because we all know how to get to places on our own. There are, however, some times that I would recommend getting in a group tour. Why? 1. Because at many of the busiest attractions in Rome, such as the Vatican and Basilica, people line up early in the morning to get in and may wait a few hours. If you go there with a tour guide you get let in with very little wait and way earlier than the hordes of people that just show up on their own.

2. Tour guides know all kinds of details and stories about the place you are touring, and one of the most important things they know is where the restrooms are.

Step 5: Wander Rome on your own with no plans. Rome is a beautiful city with hundreds of surprising monuments and art works around every corner. Boy do they love sculptures! Also, stop for brunch, or lunch or dinner, wherever. There’s plenty of fantastic restaurants that have tables out on the sidewalk and into the street just about everywhere. The food is unbeliveably good.

The coffee is great, and the pizza is different and phenomanal at every restaurant.

Step 6: The Trevi Fountain: It’s believed that if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, using your right hand to throw it over your left shoulder, you will return to the city. Apparently that’s accurate because this was my second trip to Rome. But the practice of going to the Trevi Fountain changed just a couple months ago when Rome announced that it will cost you two Euros between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00pm. On your second day in Rome and get up early and walk to the Trevi fountain before 9:00 a.m. then go to the Trevi Fountain McDonalds for coffee. I kid you not, there really is a McDonalds next to the fountain.

That’s how to do Rome and see everything you want in just two days. Next up, Tuscany wine country…