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My fiancee and I are spending two weeks in Italy for our honeymoon, one week on Capri/Amalfi and the second in Portofino then on to Milan before heading home. We've just decided to stop off in Rome for two days during our train travel north and need some quick tips for Rome since time will be of essence. Fully understanding that two days in Rome does it no justice, what are the, mandatory visits and what are typical sites that can be passed. Secondly, because my future Mrs. in Milan with a credit card is a serious danger, what is a moderate hotel for central Rome. I came across the 4* Hotel Universo for $125/night, sounds too good to be true, unless their are drawbacks about the place. If you have a comparable, I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for the help.

Since you understand two days in Rome is nothing, plan to see the following and make plans to return to see all the rest: * St. Peters/Vatican Museums * Quick stroll through the Forum (you'll see much better ruins in Pompeii; since you'll be in Capri/Amalfi for a week, you should definitely go there) * Villa Borghese I'm sure others have suggestions as well, so I'll leave it at that. Central/affordable hotels: * Santa Chiara * Smeraldo

Please give a look to the site www.romaculta.com: I am an authorized guide of Rome, and I can propose the best to be seen in 2 days in Rome in a insigthful and satisfactory manner. Ciao

You can always see a lot in a short period of time. As long as you have certain rules. With only 2 days my guess has to be to drop museums except for the Vatican (Sistene Chapel). Someone suggested Hotel Santa Chiara. Excellent choice. Location is great. While Rome is a big noisy city, we were surprised how quickly we walked it (just there a couple of weeks ago). Assuming you have 2 full days, get up early the first day and get to the Vatican Museum by 8:15 (opens 8:45). That should get you in pretty quickly. Basically skip through until the Sistene Chapel. From there go to St Peter's. This may take a while due to security checks. From there walk to Castel Sant Angelo. I won't go on more except to give you an idea of times. The Spanish steps are less than half hour from here and then the Fountain of Trevi 15-20 minutes (obviously you will want to relax around each place. I'm just giving walking times). Piazza Venezia (Victor Emanual monument) is 20 minutes away from the fountain. Walk around to the right to Pizza del Campidoglio. Watch things go by. View the Forum from both sides of Palazzo Senatorio. On leaving here you have a choice: go left for the Ghetto and Trastevere or right around to Via del Fori Imperiali and on to the Coliseum. With good weather and walking shoes and stamina this is very doable in a day. Piazza Navona area the next day and repeat some areas such as go back to the Spanish steps and walk around the designer shops. Go up the Steps and walk through the Borghese Gardens (and great views of the city). Then walk in the other direction (check map) and find you way (not far) to the Via Veneto for a walk on a beautiful tree-lined boulevard. And More. Yes you can see a lot in 2 days if you give up on Museums.

mql, the read the previous two postings and they are good advise for your two days in rome. we went to sorrento and capri for our honeymoon and finished in rome. sorrento and capri was for relaxing and rome was for touring. we stayed at the continental de laville by the spanish steps. it was very expensive and very nice with a wonderful breakfast. we paid $350/night. the suggestion of santa chiara mentioned above is a good one and we will stay there in september for 4 nights for $190 per night. we booked directly with the hotel. another suggestion if you want to spend about $270/night is the raphael which has been well written. both are located within walking distance to everything you want to see. have fun, jim and camille

Take a look at my trip report: http://www.ramtops.demon.co.uk/4rome.html Doug

Forgot to mention. I posted a very long report under Rome, Sorrento and London. I documented every move we made.

uh..... one week in portofino is a very very long time for such a tiny town --even if you are on your honeymoon. (we usually stay in santa margherita but only for 2 or 3 nites max.) Day tripping to the cinque terre is very highly recommended or packing up early and spending 2 nites in siena enroute to rome would be great.

if you bus in to s. margherita go to baicin ristorante. they have great pasta there!

we just returned last week from the riviera and rome, etc. We stayed at the hotel santa anna which is less than 2 blocks from the vatican and we loved it. note: in the late afternoon/evening, the most wonderful, helpful and friendly young man, named Andrea was worth every penny of our stay there. I thought the accomodations were fantastic!

unless you stay at the santa anna (it has a website) and thus can stroll thru the castello area, i'd skip that but don't miss the enormous Trevi Fountain. While standing and facing the Trevi, head up the street on your right and take the first left for the most exquisite gelato in roma. It is the first door on the right. While world reknowned the prices are typical gelato prices. Please don't miss it and have your first pistacchio gelato coppa on me!

can't wait to hear about your $125 four star hotel! It can't be right! do they have a website you can check? where is it located? our 3 star was about $180 US, i think.

GailT

I hate to be the one to change one's honeymoon plans, but I would not spend a week on Capri and then a week in Portofino. I would suggest that you stay in Sorrento. At the Excelsior for a week. From there you can take day trips to Capri, Positano and see all that there is to see on Capri and in Positano. Sorrento is a romantic place, and you can get a driver to take you down to Amalfi if you choose.
From there, I would spend five nights in Rome, at the Santa Chiara Hotel, just behind the Pantheon. A great place to stay and very convenient. Within walking distance to the Piazza Navona, Trevi, The Spanish steps, and the forum. An 8 dollar cab drive to the vatican from here. They'll pick you up at the hotel. When in Rome, take the walks I suggested, visit the four major cathedrals, visit the Borghese museum, and just walk and enjoy. It is the most romantic city in the world if you stay around the Pantheon. From there you can also visit, the Cinque Castelli de Rome.
Ask around, I've been to Italy over 25 times. My parents were born there. Its the most romantic city in the world. I'll answer any questions you may have.

I doubt MQL is going to change his honeymoon plans based on a response posted a year after he asked the question.