48 hours in Rome

The architecture, the colours, the history, the gelato. Obviously two days isn't enough to explore this wonderful city, but if that's all you have, here's our 48-hour Rome itinerary with a mix of sightseeing, local areas and good food.

Day 1

Morning

Start the day with a quick cappuccino and cornetti at a coffee shop before getting a combined ticket to the Colosseum, Palatino and Roman Forum (€12). Although undoubtedly touristy, these sights are incredible and you'll want to spend a couple of hours taking them in.

After immersing yourself in Ancient Rome, make your way along quiet backstreets to the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta and peep through the keyhole for a great view!

Afternoon

Head to the Jewish Quarter around Via del Portico d’Ottavia for lunch and order carciofo alla giudia, deep-fried artichokes that are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

After lunch, visit the Pantheon and walk over to the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps (stopping for gelato on the way!). While the main streets are busy, if you stick to the quieter alleys you'll pass little cafes, bookshops and boutiques.

Evening

Go for an aperitivo in Piazza del Fico, a small laid back square. Or if you're tired from walking all day, have snacks on your hotel balcony and watch the sunset (guess which one we did!).

Day 2

Morning

Head to a local market for breakfast. If it's a weekend, try the market near Circo Massimo, which looks great (although it was closed when we were there in August). Instead, we went to the market at Testaccio for a breakfast of cannoli and cappuccinos. There's a really friendly atmosphere, a very local crowd and lots of fresh produce for sale.

After the market, get the metro to Monti, a quiet local area with a great weekend morning vibe, think people walking their dogs and chatting over coffee in doorways. This walking tour is quite useful.

Afternoon

Grab a quick lunch on your way to the Vatican. Arriving at the Vatican Museum around 1:30pm, when everyone else is at lunch, means you shouldn't have to queue. Classical art isn't really our thing, so we whizzed through to the Sistene chapel, which was incredible. Once you've managed to tear yourself away from that ceiling, head over to St Peter's Bascilica, the largest church in the world.

Then catch the 115 bus to Gianicolo for an incredible view over the city. Sit on the grassy area to admire the view or get back on the 115 bus to Trastevere.

Evening

Spend the evening wandering around the lovely Trastevere, a colourful area with terracotta buildings and lots of outdoor restaurants. Get gelato from Fatamorgana (the Venezuelan chocolate flavour is incredible) and explore the quiet alleyways before heading for pizza at Dar Poeta.

For more ideas of things to do in Italy, check out my posts on the best pizza in Naples, street art in Bologna and five of Puglia's charming towns.