Weekend to Rome

[useyourlookingeyes]

We are off to Rome for a little weekend break. Hit me with your top tips; where to go, what to see, tours, (booked or self guided, bus or walking) restaurants, food etc. and anything you'd give a miss. I'm landing Thursday lunchtime and leaving Sunday so at least two full days. I've never been to Rome so not sure what to expect.
TIA xxx

Be realistic in what you are going to be able to do in 2 days.

There is so much to see and do in Rome, and asking for tips you are going to be bombarded with 'must dos' that you can't possibly do in the time.

Assuming you haven't been before I would do day 1: Colosseum, Forum, Capitoline Museum. Day 2: Vatican.

Other options would be skip Vatican as it's a bit out of the way and wander around the centre going to Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps.

However you are going to have to be ruthless about what you do and don't see.

You should book the colosseum and Vatican in advance if you want to do those things. I think the colosseum was more impressive from the outside. Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Parthenon, Piazza Navarro and Campo di Fiori. Food in Trastevere.
We booked a skip the line tour to the Vatican and St Peters and thought it well worth it. We liked the glass lift to the roof of the Victor Emmanuel monument which has a fab view over the Forum and the city. My friend was there recently and really enjoyed the Villa Borghese.

I think two days is enough to have a great time and get a good flavour of Rome. We booked a really fun golf cart tour that took us around all the ‘must do’ sights in a whistle stop way which was our highlight. We also pre booked colosseum skip the line with access to the ground floor that was three hours, and the same at the Vatican.

You can do trevi fountain, pantheon and Spanish steps all in an afternoon...or even a pre dinner walk. They're close together. If you go in the pantheon it's only a 20-30min wander round. Eat out in the trastevere district ond eveningthough, love the cobbled streets and cafe culture here. We used 'get your guide' for the colloseum guided tour, it included the forum and palatine hill. Booked it day before. You can walk everywhere it's very compact. I liked the circus maximus too, nothing really to see but feels very historic, if you're short on time you'd probably skip it. Didn't bother with a guided tour of Vatican. Just wandered roubd by ourselves, climbed to top of St Peters basilica which was fun, do it if you're fit (and slim!!) and not scared of heights.

Don't bother with a boat trip, the hop on hop off bus would be good to get you around. We used the Greenline one which was highly rated. And check the temperature, it's bloody hot!

We went in January and really enjoyed it.

Someone on here recommended it on an earlier Rome thread but we downloaded and used Rick Steves' self guided walking Rome podcasts - I think there was 6 or so for Rome and all were interesting. We used the buses (using Google maps i think, and tap on boarding with bank card) and we also used the Lime electric scooters and bikes (but you are in the traffic with these so maynot suit if you have children/non drivers with you) to speed us up between locations, such fun!