Roma, Italy
Italy guide

2 days in Rome: itinerary with prices (2026)

Two days covers Rome's essentials: one day for ancient Rome and the historic center, one for the Vatican and Villa Borghese. Each day below leads with a stops table — entrance fee, time needed and a note — so the plan is visible at a glance.

On this page

Quick answer

Both days stay within walking distance in the center, and the Vatican is a short metro or bus ride from most hotels. Prices are adult admission for 2026 — booking the Colosseum and Vatican Museums online in advance matters, since both run mandatory timed entry and sell out on busy days.

Day 1 — Ancient Rome and the historic center

Start at the Colosseum for the first entry slot; the same ticket covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill next door, usable within 24 hours of the booked time. From there, walk into the centro storico for the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Day 1 entrance fees come to €27 including the mandatory €2 Colosseum booking fee.

StopEntranceTime neededGood to know
Colosseum€182–3 hrsCombined ticket also covers the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill below; +€2 mandatory booking fee; timed entry is mandatory
Roman Forum & Palatine HillIncluded in the €18 Colosseum ticket1.5–2.5 hrsNo standalone ticket — usable within 24 hours of the booked Colosseum entry time
Pantheon€730–45 minA timed digital ticket is required even for the nominal fee — via the Musei Italiani portal or the on-site machines
Trevi FountainFree15–30 minClose-up access at the steps runs on timed, capacity-limited entry, but there is no charge
Spanish StepsFree20–30 minAlways open — quietest early morning before tour groups arrive

Day 2 — The Vatican and Villa Borghese

Spend the morning at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, then St Peter's Basilica next door, and book an afternoon slot at the Galleria Borghese — visits there run in a fixed 2-hour window. Day 2 entrance fees come to about €38.

StopEntranceTime neededGood to know
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel€203–4 hrsOfficial online "Skip the Line" booking adds €5; free entry the last Sunday of every month (long queues expected)
St Peter's Basilica (nave)Free1–1.5 hrsNo ticket needed for the nave; the dome climb is separate, from €10 by the stairs up to €22 pre-booked with the lift
Galleria Borghese€16 + €2 booking fee2 hrs (fixed slot)Every ticket type, including free categories, must be booked; each visit is capped at 2 hours

What 2 days in Rome costs

Core entrance fees total about €65 per adult across both days for the full list above, including the mandatory €2 booking fees at the Colosseum and Galleria Borghese.

ItemTypical price (2026)
Day 1 entrance fees (Colosseum incl. €2 booking fee + Roman Forum, Pantheon)€27 / adult
Day 2 entrance fees (Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese incl. €2 booking fee)€38 / adult
Both days combined€65 / adult

More on Rome

FAQ

Is 2 days enough for Rome?
Yes for the highlights covered here — the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums and Galleria Borghese. Add a third day for the dome climb at St Peter's, Castel Sant'Angelo, or a slower pace through Trastevere.
How much are entrance fees in Rome?
The Colosseum's combined ticket (with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill) is €18 plus a mandatory €2 booking fee. The Vatican Museums are €20, the Pantheon €7, and Galleria Borghese €16 plus a mandatory €2 reservation fee. Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and St Peter's Basilica nave are all free.
Do you need to book Rome's sights in advance?
Yes for the Colosseum and Vatican Museums — both run mandatory timed entry and regularly sell out named slots in peak season. Galleria Borghese requires booking for every ticket type, including free ones, and caps each visit at a fixed 2-hour slot.
Is the Roman Forum included with the Colosseum ticket?
Yes — there's no standalone Roman Forum or Palatine Hill ticket. Both are included in the Colosseum's €18 combined ticket and can be visited within 24 hours of the booked Colosseum entry time.

Partner links

Book tours and activities in Rome

Guided tours, day trips and skip-the-line tickets in Rome, from our travel partners.

Opens partner sites for live prices.

Upcoming events

DateEventCity
Thu, Aug 6Matteo Mancuso - Route96 TourRoma
Fri, Aug 7Peppe Servillo & Solis String Quartet con la Medit OrchestraRoma
Mon, Jun 1Estate Romana 2026Roma
Mon, Aug 24DJORoma
Sat, Aug 29Tony PitonyRoma
Mon, Aug 31WILCO - A Tour With Wilco | Roma Summer Fest 2026Roma
Mon, Aug 31Geppo - DajeRoma
Tue, Sep 1BiniRoma
Wed, Sep 2Hermanos GutiérrezRoma
Wed, Sep 2Eri con me - Alice canta BattiatoRoma
Thu, Sep 3Quintorigo and John De LeoRoma
Fri, Sep 4KRS-OneRoma
Fri, Sep 4Fiorella MannoiaRoma
Sat, Sep 5Fiorella MannoiaRoma
Sun, Sep 6Il TreRoma
Mon, Sep 7LevanteRoma
Tue, Sep 8Massimo Recalcati - Genitori OggiRoma
Tue, Sep 8Tony BoyRoma
Wed, Sep 9Judas PriestRoma
Thu, Sep 10I CaniRoma
Thu, Sep 10INTI ILLIMANI HISTORICO - Tour EuropaRoma
Fri, Sep 11European Jazz Ensemble ELEONORA STRINO - FEDERICO MALAMANRoma
Fri, Sep 11Marisa MonteRoma
Fri, Sep 11i caniRoma
Sat, Sep 12Lorenzo JovanottiRoma
Sat, Sep 12LEZIONI DI OPERA LE NOZZE DI FIGARORoma
Sat, Sep 12European Jazz Ensembles Special Guest GREGORY PRIVAT - KARIMARoma
Sun, Sep 13Lorenzo JovanottiRoma
Sun, Sep 13European Jazz Ensembles Special Guest AVA ALAMI - FULVIO SIGURTARoma
Mon, Sep 14Pablo Trincia in L'Uomo SbagliatoRoma
Tue, Sep 15KandinskyRoma
Tue, Sep 15LE NOZZE DI FIGARO ARoma
Tue, Sep 15Vincenzo Salemme - ... e fuori nevicaRoma
Wed, Sep 16LE NOZZE DI FIGARORoma
Wed, Sep 16PowaqqatsiRoma
Thu, Sep 17LE NOZZE DI FIGARO BRoma
Thu, Sep 17Paolo Fresu - HeroesRoma
Fri, Sep 18LE NOZZE DI FIGARORoma
Fri, Sep 18CONWAY THE MACHINE | LIVE SHOWCASERoma
Fri, Sep 18INDIEITALY a RomaRoma

Browse all 48 upcoming events →

What's on near you

Planning a trip around this?

Combine these events with flights, stays and a day-by-day plan in the trip planner.

Plan your trip

Cities with upcoming events

Artists on the lineup

Sources