Rome in a weekend is necessarily a selection — 28 centuries of history in 1,285 km² cannot be seen in 48 hours. The right strategy is to choose three or four absolute priorities and experience them well rather than rushing between 20 sites. In this weekend: Colosseum and Roman Forum, Vatican (Sistine Chapel), Pantheon and central Piazzas, Trastevere. From Milan: 2h 45' (Frecciarossa €30-70). From Naples: 1h 10' (Frecce €20-45). From Florence: 1h 30' (Frecce €30-70). Fiumicino airport (FCO): Leonardo Express to Termini (€14, 32 min). Ciampino airport (CIA): Terravision bus to Termini (€6, 40 min). ZTL active — do not bring a car to the centre.
Saturday — Colosseum, Roman Forum and Vatican
The Colosseum + Forum + Palatine ticket (€18, mandatory online booking — without booking 2-4h queue). The Colosseum (72-80 AD, 50,000 spectators, 80 entrances) is Rome's symbol. The Roman Forum: the Via Sacra, Temple of Saturn, Arch of Septimius Severus. The Palatine: the House of Augustus with its original frescoes (separate mandatory booking). In the afternoon: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (€20 online — without booking 3-5h queue). The Sistine Chapel: Michelangelo's Last Judgement (1536-41) on the altar wall, the ceiling (1508-12) with the Creation of Adam. St Peter's Basilica is free — Michelangelo's Dome (€8 on foot or €10 by lift) has Rome's finest view.
Sunday — Pantheon, Piazzas and Trastevere
The Pantheon (€5, online booking — free the third Wednesday of the month) is the world's best-preserved ancient building — built in 125 AD, the concrete dome (43.3m diameter, the 9m oculus open to the sky) has remained intact for 1,900 years. Piazza Navona (free) — Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers (1651). Trevi Fountain at dawn: empty, beautiful — in the evening it is unmanageable. Campo de' Fiori (the morning market). Trastevere (Rione XIII) — the osterie of Via del Moro and Piazza di Santa Maria, the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (12th century, mosaics, free). Roman cuisine: cacio e pepe (no cream, ever), carbonara (egg, guanciale, pecorino, pepper — no cream), supplì from Supplì Roma in Via di San Francesco a Ripa.
Practical tips
Book Colosseum and Vatican Museums at least 2 weeks in advance in summer — Italy's two most booked sites
Carbonara has no cream — ever. If they serve it with cream, change restaurant
Trevi Fountain is beautiful at dawn (empty) — in the evening it is almost unmanageable due to crowds
The Pantheon is free the third Wednesday of the month — check the date before leaving
Plan your Rome weekend
Colosseum, Vatican and cacio e pepe — tailored itinerary in 5 minutes.
Plan now
