Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Rome?

Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Rome?

Many visitors spend three to seven days in Rome during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife.

Rome is the capital city of Italy, and for many visitors it serves as the entry and departure point of their trip. Rome is filled with ancient ruins hidden next to modern development. It's a history enthusiasts dream. The city is also filled with cafes and Italian restaurants where you can sip wine and dine on Italian pasta dishes.

Do you have one or two weeks to visit Rome? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one week enough time in Rome?

One week provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Rome at your own pace to browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, taste delicious cuisine, and dance the night away. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.

How to spend a week in Rome

When visiting Rome, you absolutely can't miss the Colosseum as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.

The culinary scene in Rome is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.

A few tour suggestions include:

Rome: 3 Spritz Cocktails & Fresh Pasta Cooking Class ($76)
Rome Fresh Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class ($58)
Rome: Pizza and Tiramisu Cooking Class near the Colosseum ($57)

Rome is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.

Rome is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.

Make sure to set aside around 4 hours for The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, which are €30. It's great for couples and are known for its famous painted ceiling and huge collections of artwork.

Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for MAXXI, which is €15. It's great for families and couples and is known for its large collection contemporary art and modern architecture.

It's worth around 2 hours for Galleria Borghese. Entry is €13 and children are free. It's known for its ornate collection of sculptures and paintings along with historic architecture and surrounding gardens.

It's worth around 2 hours for Castel Sant'Angelo. Entry is €25, or €14 just for the entry without the museum. Children pay reduced fare. It's known for its historic fortress with panoramic views and museum.

You'll want to have around 2 hours for The Capitoline Museums. It's a nice activity for any traveler and are known for its range of exhibits with Roman art and other rotating collections. It's around €10 and up, depending on the current exhibits.

You'll want to have around 3 hours for The Colosseum. It's a nice activity for families and is known for ancient gladiator battles and its grand historic architecture. It's around €20 for basic entry, or more if you join a tour. Many combination tickets with nearby sights are also available and are recommended.

Make sure to set aside around 1 hour for Trevi Fountain, which is €2. It's great for families and couples and is known for it classical Baroque sculptures and ornate fountain with a fun coin-tossing tradition.

Palatine Hill is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for families and couples. Known for its archaeological ruins and deep history of the city, entry is €16.

The Roman Forum is worth visiting for around 1 hour, which is great for backpackers. Known for being the heart of ancient Rome with an array of ruins, entry is €18.

It's worth around 1 hour for The Pantheon. Entry is around €7 depending on the ticket and tour option. It's known for its grand interior and as the final resting place of historic figures.

You'll want to have around 2 hours for St. Peter's Basilica. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its religious significance as the home of Catholicism along with gorgeous Renaissance architecture and artwork. It's free.

A few tour suggestions include:

Rome by Golf Cart Private Tour: Beyond the Landmarks ($210)
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica Private Tour ($245)
Hike Lake Castle and Good Food! ($162)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.

A few tour suggestions include:

Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl ($40)
Colosseum Viewpoint Pub Crawl with Pizza and Drinks ($81)
Rome Nightlife Party Tour in Monti District with Local Drinks ($66)

The public transit in Rome is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.

Since Rome is such a large city, you can spend at least a day exploring the many neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Break up visiting popular landmarks with the more authentic neighborhoods for shopping and dining. This is a big city with a busy atmosphere and historic vibe. Some of the most popular areas to visit include St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and the neighborhood of Campo Marzio which is full of cafes and shops.

The Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore is worth visiting for around 1 hour, which is great for backpackers. Known for exquisite artwork, mosaics, and religious treasures, entry is free.

A few tour suggestions include:

Rome's Best by E-bike: Guided City Tour (Small Group or Private) ($81)
Rome’s Highest Hills Skyline Vespa Tour with Driver and Photo ($88)
Transfer from Civitavecchia cruise port to Rome or FCO ($180)

Rome is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. With its many beautiful landmarks and impressive architecture, this city has a lot of attractive places to visit. Don't miss Villa Borghese Park, Trastevere, Palazzo Madama, the Appian Way, and Piazza Navona.

A few tour suggestions include:

Walking Tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill ($232)
Walking Tour at Catacombs as the Coolest Underground ($56)
Rome: Trastevere Food Walking Tour with Local Wine & Pasta Meal ($88)

Shopping in Rome is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.

It's worth around 2 hours for Mercato di Campagna Amica. Entry is free. It's known for the fresh produce and specialties from nearby farms.

A few tour suggestions include:

Farmers Market Shopping with Roman Full Course Class - (SHARED) ($210)
3-Hours Artisanal Shopping Tour in Rome ($140)
Vatican Market Food Activity and Shopping ($81)

Live music is very popular in Rome, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.

A few tour suggestions include:

Fun Golf Cart Tour with Music and Gelato in Rome ($111)
Open-Air Opera Concert with Terrace Aperitif in the Heart of Rome ($184)
The Three Tenors Concert in St. Paul's Within the Walls ($39)

After you've explored most of Rome, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

A few tour suggestions include:

Rome: Frascati Private Day Trip - Town Tour, Lunch & Wine Tasting ($202)
Rome: Tuscany Day Trip with Vineyard Lunch and Wine Tasting ($139)
Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius Day Trip from Rome with Lunch ($199)

Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.

Rome is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.

As the live music scene is so popular in Rome, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.

Because this is a world-class shopping destination, you'll need yet another day to find the best deals. Each area of Rome offers a different vibe and atmosphere, and along with it, different styles of shops.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Rome.

Is 2 weeks enough time in Rome?

With two weeks at your disposal, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Rome has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind in your hotel or use Rome as a base for day trips to nearby destinations. You can relax while enjoying the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, and the restaurant scene at your own pace. We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.

How to spend 2 weeks in Rome

With 2 weeks in Rome, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time perusing the musuems, experiencing the city's neighborhoods, dining at local restaurants, hopping around the bars and clubs, hanging at the music venues, and browsing the shops. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.

A few trip suggestions:

Rome: Frascati Private Day Trip - Town Tour, Lunch & Wine Tasting ($202)
Rome: Tuscany Day Trip with Vineyard Lunch and Wine Tasting ($139)
Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius Day Trip from Rome with Lunch ($199)
Day Trip from Rome: Explore Pompeii & Sorrento Amalfi Coast ($89)
Pompeii Express Day Trip: High-Speed Train from Rome ($149)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Rome, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Rome?

Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Rome?

Is one week enough time in Rome?

How to spend a week in Rome

Is 2 weeks enough time in Rome?

How to spend 2 weeks in Rome

More Info

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