DISCOVER: How to spend 48 hours in Rome
How do you spend a couple of days in the city where gladiators slayed in the world’s largest and oldest standing amphitheatre? Where Michaelangelo spent four years painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a fresco that has spawned countless replications, artworks, and even more stiff necks as thousands upon thousands look up to see that iconic history in the flesh. Where decades-old artisanal leather makers stand side-by-side with the world’s most luxurious fashion brands. How do you possibly choose between the osterie, the 17 Michelin-starred restaurants and the many corner gelaterie?
To parrot a cliché, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you certainly can’t explore it all in one (or two) either. So to make things a little easier, we’ve created a few different two-day itineraries. You’ve got 48 hours in Rome, and 48 hours only. Here’s how to spend them wisely.
For the first timer
Day one: Piazza di Spagna, art and the Trevi Fountain
At art’otel Rome we’re so close to Piazza di Spagna, that it’s the best place to start your Roman adventure. Walk up the iconic Baroque Spanish Steps and take in Rome in all its glory. After you’ve taken your obligatory snap (we recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds), it’s time for some art. Walk 10 minutes to see works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Rubens and Ribera at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica. For more recent art, you’ll find Monet, Jackson Pollock and Rodin covering the walls of Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, just a half-hour walk across the Villa Borghese.
If a trip to the Sistine Chapel is on your bucket list, give the art galleries a miss and walk for 40 minutes along the river to Vatican City instead. Book a ticket in advance to skip the line, then join the thousands that have gone before you to take in the glory that is Michaelangelo’s Renaissance frescoes.
No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to one of its most famous landmarks, the Trevi fountain. Round off your day with a wander there once the sun’s gone down. At night, the crowds clear and all the details of the 18th-century fountain are beautifully lit up.
Day two: Colosseum, Aventine Hill & Trastevere
If it’s your first time in Rome, the Colosseum is a must. Pre-book your tickets to avoid the queues, lace up your comfiest shoes to avoid the blisters, and take advantage of breakfast at art’otel Rome to avoid the hunger pangs when you’re stood in the very spots Caesar once graced.
Once you’re done, head southwest past Circo Massimo, the ancient chariot-racing stadium, until you get to the Aventine Hill. It’s one of the seven hills of ancient Rome and is well worth the climb up for the views of the city, plus a look (and a snap) through the famous keyhole. Look through the keyhole of the doorway to the Priory of the Knights of Malta and you’ll see the dome of St Peter’s perfectly placed in the middle of it.
After all that walking, you’ll want to stop and experience more of Rome’s culture — this time the gastronomic variety. Walk across the nearby Ponte Sublicio and you’ll land in Trastevere, the old working-class area renowned for its authentic bars and trattorie that line cobbled streets.
For the foodie
Day one: Pasta, gelato and natural wine
You won’t need to go far for an excellent breakfast. Fuel up at art’otel Rome before hitting the city streets, then do as the Romans do and grab a quick coffee. At the top of Via dei Condotti, you’ll find Antico Caffè Greco, the 18th-century cafe (the oldest in Rome), where Byron, Shelley and Keats used to while away the hours.
Fully caffeinated, take in the sights at the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, then grab a table for lunch nearby at Mimì e Cocò. This small joint has arguably the best carbonara in all of Rome, which for a city renowned for the classic dish, isn’t a comment we make lightly.
You’ll want to walk off that pasta so we suggest a stroll along the river and across Ponte Garibaldi to Trastevere, the bohemian neighbourhood where you’ll be tripping over excellent places to eat. Cleanse the palette with a gelato first at Otaleg. This spot is a bit of an institution, known for its all-natural gelato and unusual, but delicious, flavours (gorgonzola, anyone?).
For dinner, make your way to Enoteca L’antidoto, a small wine bar that’s popular with locals. They’ve got a host of natural wines to choose from, small plates that were made for sharing, and every month they run a chef residency so there’s always something new on the menu.
Day two: Visit the locals’ favourites in Testaccio
On your second day in Rome, we recommend a slight detour away from the tourist trail with a visit to the neighbourhood of Testaccio, along the banks of the river just south of the Aventine Hill. Head to Mercato Testaccio, the market where locals buy their fresh produce and friends and families meet to have lunch at one of the many restaurants tucked inside.
There’s plenty to do in Testaccio if you want to stick around. Spend your afternoon at Mattatoio, a contemporary art museum in a former slaughterhouse, then make your way to Ch1887, a somewhat hidden bar that makes for a unique space for aperitivo. For dinner, check out Perilli, an unpretentious family-run trattoria that’s been filling Romans’ bellies since the early 1900s, or Felice a Testaccio, another historic spot that fills up quickly, so book in advance.
Grab the metro from Piramide station to Castro Pretorio, where it’s a short walk back to art’otel Rome. There’ll be a nightcap waiting for you in our bar, if you’re not ready to conclude your foodie tour just yet.
For the fashion lover
Day one: The famous streets around Piazza di Spagna
Labels, labels, labels. Rome has them all and any fashionista will be spoilt for choice in the cluster of streets that surround the Piazza di Spagna. Make Via dei Condotti your first port of call and stroll along for the most exclusive Italian labels such as Gucci, Prada and Loro Piana (even if it is just to window shop). On the nearby Via Borgognona, Via Bocca di Leone and Via Frattina, you’ll find more contemporary labels lining these stylish streets.
For more shopping, head to Via dell’Oca, a small street near Piazza del Popolo where there’s a cluster of small boutiques that are favourites of those in the know. There’s Lucia Odescalchi for limited edition jewellery inspired by the shapes and lines of architecture, Laura Urbinati for clothing in colourful prints, and Artisanal Cornucopia for one-of-a-kind pieces from emerging designers.
If time allows, make a beeline for La Rinascente on Via del Tritone on your way home. This department store sells everything from big international designers to pieces from local artisans and homeware. Besides the fashion, you’ll find the walls of an ancient aqueduct in the basement and on the rooftop, an excellent bar and restaurant with views right across Rome.
Day two: Vintage and independent boutiques in Monti and beyond
Monti is Rome’s hip ‘hood, known for having the coolest array of vintage clothing shops in the city. It’s also packed with great restaurants so you could easily spend a few hours here (La Carbonara is a particularly good option). If you go to just one street, make it Via del Boschetto, home to the likes of Pulp Vintage and Blue Goose (where one shopper recently picked up a 70s-era Fendi bag), as well as contemporary stores Kokoro and Perlei.
Leave Monti and make your way to Piazza Navona. Walking in the direction of the River Tiber, you’ll get to Via dei Coronari, a narrow street that’s quintessential Rome and lined with specialist shops and antique dealers. Go to Silmaril for jewellery, Massimo Alba for contemporary men’s and women’s clothing, Essenzialmente Laura for perfume stacked in old apothecary-style cabinets, and Marta Ray for leather shoes made right in front of you.
Pack your carry-on and your comfy shoes and get ready to explore all the best bits of Rome. We can’t wait to share the city with you.
