Rome – a city where history whispers from every street, where classical ruins and Renaissance masterpieces intertwine with Vespa and the smell of espresso. And if you only have 48 hours? No worries, we have prepared the perfect must-see tour that will reveal the greatest charms of Rome and the Vatican - without unnecessary stress, but with plenty of “Mamma mia!” moments.
Rome – eternal, magnificent, sometimes chaotic, but always magical. A city where you are right next to history at every turn: beneath you is the ancient pavement, above you is the Baroque dome, and right next to you – the smell of espresso or freshly baked supplì. If you only have 48 hours, you don't go to Rome to "see" it. You go to taste it, experience it and let it enchant you a little.
This guide is designed for travelers with a soul – those who want to experience Rome authentically, efficiently and without unnecessary rush. A sophisticated selection of sights, views, hidden corners and restaurants that are not tourist traps is included. Entrance fees, distances and how to get between points are included - so you don't waste time (unless it's dolce far niente).
BOOK ACCOMMODATION: Rome (Italy)Day 1: Ancient Rome, Baroque and Gardens for the Soul
Morning on the Capitol – where the gods decided the fate of the world
Start in the square designed by Michelangelo himself – Piazza del Campidoglio. You stand on the hill where Roman civilization was born. Here are not only statues and palaces, here the air smells of centuries of decisions, triumphs and conspiracies. From one end of the square, a view of the Forum Romanum opens up to you – a sea of stone and silence, where Romans spoke, voted, celebrated and fell. Here you stand and see how history condenses into space.
The Capitoline Hill is the oldest of the seven hills of Rome and was considered the religious and political center of the ancient city. It was here that the Romans worshiped Jupiter and where the history of the first republic was written.
Today, the hill is artistically landscaped according to plans Michelangelo, who created a symmetrical piazza with elegant palaces. In the center stands a statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback (a copy, the original is in the museum).
Distance from the Colosseum: 15 minutes walk
Access: On foot from Piazza Venezia (2 min)
Enter Capitoline Museums, the world's first public museums, and let art embrace you. A walk through the galleries is like a journey through the soul of an empire – a she-wolf with twins, a statue of Constantine, a mosaic from Santa Maria in Trastevere, paintings by Caravaggio. Don't forget: the museum's terrace offers a magnificent view of the Roman Forum – a perfect spot for a photo.
Price: €15
Visiting time: 1.5–2 hours
Among the ruins, where the orator's speeches still echo
Go down towards Roman Forum, but not with the mindset of “these are just ruins”. No. Here you are walking the same path as Caesar. You are looking at the temple Antonina and Faustina, where the marble steps have already bent under the weight of history. You don't need much imagination here - just stand, close your eyes and listen: somewhere in the distance, the senators are still shouting. This is the heart of ancient Rome - here laws were made, gods were worshipped and executions were carried out. The most important buildings: Temple of Saturn, Basilica Julia, Temple of Vesta and Rostra (the rostrum).
Admission with a combined ticket for the Colosseum: 18 €
Viewing time: 1–1.5 hours
Hint: Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon – the light works wonders.
Then follows a magnificent image Colosseum, which opens up before you like a great stone crater. It makes you feel small – and rightly so. This architectural monster is a symbol of Roman power. If you enter, do so with respect – and make a reservation if you don’t want to wait in line with 2,000 people who came up with the same idea as you.
Lunch in Trastevere – where Rome puts away its tie and puts on its slippers
Cross the Tiber River, maybe across Palatine Bridge, and gets lost in the cobblestones Trastevere – a neighborhood that is a kind of Roman version of a relaxed jazz club. Here, it doesn't smell of perfume, but of carbonara, baked bread, and old oil from the fryer where artichokes are fried.
Here the world doesn't revolve around the clock. It revolves around the table. And the best thing is – nothing is really “the best”. But if you find Osteria da Enzowhere you are served with velvet cacio e pepe, your journey in paradise has temporarily ended. Bring patience and hunger – the wait is worth every minute.
Aventine Hill – peace among the orange trees and a view for the soul
When the afternoon is a bit golden and your legs are pleasantly tired, climb to Aventine HillThis hill is Rome's meditation – green, silent, holy. In Orange Garden You sit among the orange trees, listening to the whispering leaves and gazing at the dome of St. Peter's in the distance. There are no crowds, no shouting, just you and the healing view.
And then – lock (Keyhole) in Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Don't tell anyone too much about it, because it's one of those moments you have to find, not "Google." Looking through the hole puts St. Peter's squarely in the middle, surrounded by trees - a symmetry and symbolism that would have moved Michelangelo to tears.
Entry: for free
Distance from the Colosseum: 20 min walk or bus no. 81
The most beautiful visit: just before sunset
Evening Rome – Baroque, fountains and statues too beautiful to believe
The most cinematic part of Rome begins with the evening. Go to Pantheon, where you are overshadowed by the largest dome of the ancient world. Enter, raise your head and just breathe - here you realize how small you are in the universe and at the same time how magnificent the human mind is.
The Pantheon is the best-preserved ancient building in Rome. Built as a temple to all the gods, it now functions as a church. Inside, you'll find the largest unbuilt dome in history – with an oculus that lets in light (and rain). Price: 5 € – Reservations recommended for visits
Then – evening at Piazza Navona, where water dances from Bernini's fountains and people sit with wine in hand. This is not just a square - it's a theater. Tip: Drink an Aperol on the terrace, but don't eat here - expensive, mediocre. And if you want magic at the end, walk to Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin (or three – each for a different reason), then – gelato. Because that's how big days in Rome end.
Day 2: Vatican – art, silence and the holy door of hope
Vatican Museums – where beauty takes you over more than your own thoughts
Entering the Vatican Museums is not just a cultural experience. In 2025, it is a journey into the very heart of human spirituality, art and history – with special weight as Rome is the venue this year. Holy Year (Jubilee), which takes place every 25 years.
In the museums themselves, masterpieces await you that most museums would envy if they had just one: Raphael's Rooms, especially School in Athens, frescoes that reveal the intellectual grandeur of the Renaissance. Ancient Roman mosaics, Etruscan relics, Egyptian sarcophagi – here, every corridor is a new chapter in the human story.
But nothing prepares you for Sistine Chapel. There you stand silently under the frescoes that have become almost a myth. Looking up – Creation of AdamAt that moment you are no longer a tourist, but an observer of eternity.
Entrance fee: 17 €
Reservation: Vatican Museums
Viewing time: at least 2 hours
Tip: Go as early as possible – the morning silence works wonders.
St. Peter's Basilica - a door that only opens in times of grace
This year, the visit St. Peter's Basilica goes beyond the usual admiration of monumentality and art. The year 2025 is World Holy Year, in which the Pope opens Holy Door (Porta Santa) – a door that is opened only during holy years and remains closed the rest of the time.
This symbolic passage through the door on the right side of the basilica is an act of grace, of purification, of a new beginning. When you step through these doors, you enter not only a church, but a sense of community and history that transcends the boundaries of religion.
Even if you are not religious, you will feel the silence that speaks louder than words. All the grandeur of the basilica – Bernini's baldachin, Michelangelo's Pieta, marble floors and light filtering from the ceiling – invite you to take an inner break this year.
Entry: for free
Climbing the dome: €10 (with elevator), €8 (stairs)
Hint: Buy a postcard below and write it on top of the dome – an old, romantic custom that still seems very meaningful in Rome.
🕒 Viewing time: 1.5–2 hours
After spirituality – time for pizza spiritual
After taking a break from the grandeur of St. Peter's, take a stroll through the quarter Follow, where Rome returns to its everyday life: it is a world of pedestrians, bars and good bread ovens. At Bonci Pizzarium Every slice of pizza is a manifestation of taste. Here you don't just choose a "margherita" - here you can try combinations that even a top chef would envy: mortadella with pistachio cream, leeks with truffles, pumpkin cream with guanciale.
And if you want to continue the day on a softer note – there's something waiting for you Villa Borghese, with its peace, shade and space to reflect on how incredibly diverse Rome can be: from papal graces to salmon pizza. All in one day. And all for real.
Goodbye to gelato (and maybe the next card)
Last flavors. Teatro Gelateria offers combinations you never knew you needed: sage and raspberry, thyme and apricot. Standing by a fountain or on the edge of the sidewalk, gelato in hand, you realize – Rome is an experience, not a place.
