Don’t just skip the line at the Vatican Museum to avoid the crowds... enjoy them all to yourself! With a little planning, you can arrange to visit the Vatican Museum and see one of the world’s most important art collections after dark, making for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Vatican Museums are famed for their extensive collection of ancient sculptures, Renaissance works and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. Many tour companies offer after-hour tours of the museums or book directly through the Musei Vaticani website.
You know the drill. Once you’ve been to Rome once, you’ll want to go over and over again. Rome is the kind of city where even if your days spent there are packed full to the brim, you’ll always feel like there’s more to experience.
The truth is, there is always more to see, do and eat in the Italian capital. But if you’re just here for 48 hours, there are a few things you absolutely must do. And just to make life that bit easier, we’ve designed a flawless 48-hour trip in the city, from where to grab coffee to how to spend your Saturday night. Here is how to smash the perfect weekend in Rome.
RECOMMENDED:
🍽️ The best restaurants in Rome
🍷 The best bars in Rome
📍 The best things to do in Rome
🏘 The best Airbnbs in Rome
This guide was written by Livia Hengel, a writer based in Rome. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.