Please help me plan a short break to Rome for DHs 50th

[TricNorthCarolina]

I need your help please! Im planning a surprise visit to Rome for DHs 50th & I have no idea what to book.

We always do package holidays but I don't think that will be right for what Id like us to do.

What I'd like:
Return flights from Gatwick/Heathrow to Rome (Bournemouth is our nearest airport but I dont think it flys to Rome)
3/4 nights during the week not over a weekend
Early/mid October 2026 (not over half term)
2 adults
Hotel - not bothered about board type, just central to Rome to easily get out & about, dont need a pool etc as we will only be sleeping there.
Want to visit the 'usual' sights and also want to visit Pompeii

So, how do I do this? Best places to research, best places to book flights, hotel, trips etc. Any recommendations for hotels, best places to visit, any tips or tricks I need to know about?

Im completely clueless as we usually just book directly with Tui and I dont have to think at all.

Any help is gratefully received - thank you!

Apologies, I said 2 mins, meant 20 mins!!

We went here 20 years ago and we loved this hotel
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187791-d529816-Reviews-Grand_Hotel_del_Gianicolo-Rome_Lazio.html

4 Days in Rome in very off peak season

• the Pantheon at least once
• the Colliseum - rock up
• the Vatican & St Peters - rock up
• trevi - go during lunch
• Capitoline museum - rock up
• Forum - rock up
• Trajans baths - rock up
• walk everywhere - buses and underground are insane

DD and I went to Rome at Easter.
I booked flights and Hotel with British Airways, got a great deal. We took the train and bus from the Airport to the hotel; you can also get a taxi for a fixed fare.
We stayed in Trastevere, it was perfect, loads of restaurants and a short walk to the sights.
I booked tickets for the sights we wanted to visit about a month before we went.
The hotels give you a map of the sights, it’s really easy to find your way round, we did loads of walking. There are water fountains at the major sights which we were glad of!

Thanks everyone for your help. Lots of ideas to help me arrange it all

A friend used this tour guide recently and speaks v highly

https://www.scootaroundrome.com/

We did airbnb, spent a week there, stayed in Trastevere.

Still didnt see everything and would go back for sure.

We didnt pre book anything but in future I would have pre booked the vatican OR gone mid afternoon instead as the queues were non existent when we left, the problem was 'getting there early'.

Book Things To Do, Attractions, and Tours | GetYourGuide https://share.google/lQbV1FLm1VncqVfhy

We used this company to book a combined colloseum and roman forum tour which was excellent. Booked the day before, good cancellation policy too.
I've used them for other city breaks too

https://share.google/X5xYNjALhxSP06YJC
You should go here for a cheap takeaway pizza slice at lunchtime. Its opposite the area excavated at largo di torre Argentina, where casear was allegedly stabbed. Pizza was incredible, like nothing I've ever tasted.

If youre reasonably fit pay to climb to the top of st Peters basilica at the Vatican. The stairs get pretty narrow but its worth it