What to do in Rome at the weekend: the complete itinerary

Before leaving for the weekend in Rome, obviously, it is necessary to make the best organization for your travel itinerary to optimize the time available and be able to visit as many attractions as possible. Thanks to this guide on what to do in Rome at the weekend, you will be able to follow a truly complete tourist plan that will accompany you step by step discovering the most iconic places of the Eternal City, from your coming on Friday evening until Sunday.

For a truly complete tourist experience we suggest you take a look at the Visit Rome Pass, your key to an unforgettable trip to the Eternal City: with our city pass dedicated to Rome you can customize your city itinerary with free and/or discounted access to over 50 attractions and public transport, choosing between the two options available for 48 or 72 hours. For further information, check out the button below.

Moreover, don't miss our guide on where to stay in Rome and find out which are the best hotels and best restaurants in the Italian capital.

Here we are, it's Friday night and it's finally time to come to the city, ready to start this adventure to discover what to do in Rome at the weekend. What is the best way to immediately immerse yourself in the local spirit and culture and start your weekend in Rome with a bang? Well, we have the perfect solution for you.

We suggest you dedicate your first evening in the Eternal City to a fantastic experience in the iconic Trastevere district with an evening stroll through its suggestive alleys, the perfect setting for a happy hour and a typical Roman dinner, among street food delicacies and local cuisine. There is no better way to be welcomed by Rome!

Now your weekend in Rome officially begins, it's finally Saturday morning and a super intense day awaits you among the fantastic attractions of the Eternal City. You can't wait, right?

Let's start right away! Here's what to do in Rome at the weekend on Saturday:

- visit Colosseum, Roman Forum and the archaeological area of ancient Rome;

- visit Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), Piazza Venezia and Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland);

- visit Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona;

- visit Piazza del Popolo, Pincio terrace, Villa Borghese and Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square and Steps).

The first stage on Saturday morning, and the starting point of your weekend in Rome, is obviously the Colosseum, symbol of the city among the most famous and visited monuments in the world. It’s easy to get there by public transport, especially buses and the subway. Once there, let yourself be amazed by the magnificence of the most iconic arena in history, the scene of the legendary clashes between gladiators; a place which, now as then, is capable of arousing emotions in the gaze of those who admire this authentic architectural masterpiece.

A little further on, immerse yourself even more in the vivid atmosphere of imperial Rome by visiting the Roman Forum and the whole marvelous archaeological area: here you can walk along the streets that in the past were crossed by the men and women who founded the absolute center of international power, culture and art, and discover unique and stunning attractions such as the Palatine Hill, the Circus Maximus and the ancient Roman temples.

To best enjoy your adventure in the ancient Rome, check out the button below!

After this fantastic dive into history, in the second part of the morning you can proceed to discover the city by walking along Via dei Fori Imperiali and thus reaching Piazza Venezia, one of the largest and most important in the city. Here you will find the famous Trajan's Column and the forum of Caesar, as well as the majestic Vittoriano (or Altare della Patria; Altar of the Fatherland), behind which are (going upwards following the steps) Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), the Capitoline Museums and the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli.

In the surroundings of Piazza Venezia you can also visit the Basilica of San Marco al Campidoglio and some suggestive historical buildings such as Palazzo Grazioli, Palazzo Valentini and Palazzo Bonaparte; the latter is located at the beginning of Via del Corso, one of the main streets of Rome (one and a half kilometers long) full of shops and attractions to admire and photograph during your walk, in particular Palazzo Chigi (in Piazza Colonna) and the Basilica of Saints Ambrogio and Carlo.

In the early afternoon of Saturday, walking along some side streets of Via del Corso, you will be able to venture out discovering three iconic and absolutely unmissable places in the Italian capital: we are talking about Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. These three symbols of Rome, much loved by tourists for their immense charm, indeed can be visited leisurely in less than two hours thanks also to the support of expert tourist guides, who will accompany you on this wonderful walk through the most beautiful streets and monuments in the world.

For further information on the guided tour to Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, click the button below!

Over the afternoon, continuing on Via del Corso until the end of the road, in the evocative setting created by the majestic presence of the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli on your left and above all the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto on your right, you will arrive at Piazza del Popolo. From this huge square, dominated in the center by the Flaminio obelisk, you can go upwards along Viale D'Annunzio to the Pincio terrace, an extraordinary viewpoint over the Eternal City that will give you a breathtaking view of Rome, also watching in the distance the Dome of St. Peter and Castel Sant'Angelo.

Next to the Picio there is Villa Borghese, an immense city park full of gardens and monuments which houses the Bioparco (a zoo) and several museums, in particular Galleria Borghese which houses the works of artists such as Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, Canova and Titian.

We are now at sunset time, the most evocative moment of the day with its magnificent colors and its magical atmosphere, in any season. It's the right time to reach another essential stage of your weekend in Rome: the beautiful Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square), famous for its imposing staircase at the foot of the majestic building called Trinità dei Monti.

To get there, just continue from Villa Borghese along Viale della Trinità dei Monti, where you can also admire Villa Medici, until you reach the solemn-looking namesake palace. Here you will find the Sallustian obelisk dominating the staircase, colored for the occasion by the mixture of the natural hues of the sunset with the first urban lights that light up the Roman evening. Once you get to the end of the most famous stairs in Rome, you will be able to admire the square in its liveliness among the historic buildings and the Barcaccia, the baroque fountain symbol of this place. Among the most evocative attractions to visit, don't forget the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, a true historical and literary museum dedicated to these two important British poets.

How to spend a Saturday evening in the Eternal City? As the night time advances, our suggestion is to continue from Piazza di Spagna onto Via dei Condotti, another historic Roman street with luxury shops, and go straight up to the Tiber promenade. Here you can end this splendid day in the best possible way by treating yourself to a fascinating stroll along the banks of the river, enjoying a landscape that seems enchanted: it is the magic of Rome at night, a splendid postcard from the Capital!

Here we are, ready to start this second day of your weekend in Rome. You will see, if you liked the Saturday itinerary, then you will love the plan we have prepared for you to make the most of your Roman Sunday.

Here's what to do in Rome at the weekend on Sunday:

- visit Campo De' Fiori, Trastevere and Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden);

- visit St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica;

- visit Castel Sant'Angelo.

Sunday morning in Rome starts right away with a real dive into the city's culture, discovering places of great charm and beauty, but above all the goodness of traditional cuisine to taste to completely immerse yourself in the Roman atmosphere.

Join this fantastic food tour through the city discovering Campo De' Fiori, historic and lively square of the city famous for its market and the nightlife thanks to the clubs, and Trastevere, one of the most evocative districts of Rome characterized by its picturesque alleys full of colors.

This guided tour to discover Rome through food is unmissable for all foodies who want to indulge in a pleasant Sunday stroll in the unique scenery of the most beautiful city in the world.

In the late morning, we also suggest you take a trip to the Aventine Hill to visit Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden), or Parco Savello, a quiet green area in the heart of the city characterized by the presence of numerous plants of a particular variety of orange: from this place, also known as the Aventine's Belvedere, you will be able to enjoy an astonishing view of the city.

What better occasion than Sunday to visit the wonderful St. Peter's Basilica? We are obviously talking about the most important and largest church in the world, overlooking the majestic St. Peter's Square, the undisputed symbol of the Christian religion as well as a place of enchanting artistic beauty due to the magnificence of its interiors and its immense collection of masterpieces, among which the famous Michelangelo's Pietà stands out.

In the afternoon, to reach the Vatican City from Trastevere or the Aventine we recommend following the Tiber promenades up to the famous Via della Conciliazione, the large road that leads inside the papal city-state and into the grandeur of St. Peter's Square, dominated by the obelisk.

Here, by booking the guided tour of the Basilica by clicking the button below, you will meet your guide to begin a breathtaking adventure. Get ready to discover the Dome of St. Peter, the beautiful marble floor, the gilded ceilings and impressive mosaics; but above all, let yourself be overwhelmed by the unique emotions of those who admire for the first time the wonders of art kept in San Pietro, a true cultural treasure of inestimable value. The tour continues through the Vatican Caves in the basement of the Basilica, where the tomb of St. Peter is kept; last stage is the outside of St. Peter's Square, for a guided journey through the history of its majestic architecture.

In the late afternoon of Sunday, when the sunset begins to accompany Rome towards the evening with its wonderful colours, it is time to reach the last stage of your weekend in Rome: the suggestive Castel Sant'Angelo, not far from the Vatican, reachable crossing the Tiber on the iconic Ponte Sant'Angelo (Sant’Angelo Bridge) where you can admire the beautiful angelic statues (ten angels divided into five pairs, in addition to the sculpture of the archangel Michael on the top of the castle).

Both original structures are very ancient, dating back to the second century AD. during the age of Hadrian. It was the emperor himself who ordered to build it as a majestic personal mausoleum in the heart of the city; subsequently, both the castle and the bridge were the subject of restorations and embellishments especially between the Renaissance and the Modern age.

Inside Castel Sant'Angelo you’ll be able to visit the ancient tomb of Hadrian and experience an exciting journey among the artistic treasures kept within these ancient walls, especially spectacular frescoes and sculptures that will make you see this symbolic place of the Eternal City with the eyes of the Romans of the past. For a fantastic last evening experience on your weekend in Rome, book the 2-hour guided tour of Castel Sant'Angelo by clicking the button below!

Well, our fantastic adventure to discover the Eternal City ends here, a weekend trip full of emotions, unique experiences and beauty that only an extraordinary place like the Italian capital can convey!

Did you like our guide on what to do in Rome at the weekend? Therefore, discover all the other itineraries that we have prepared for you to discover this wonderful city:

- Rome in one day (or less!);

- Rome in two days (even during the week);

- Rome in three days;

- Rome in five days;

- Rome in a week.