How to "see Rome" in 2 1/2 days without exhausting yourself?

You are doing exactly what you should. You cannot see Rome in 2.5 days -- maybe two and a half weeks would get closer. So pick and choice what you want to see and save other things for the next trip - be it one year or ten years or the 50th. Over the years we have spent close to a month in Rome and still have a lot to see. Hit the TI at the train station when you arrivel and see what is going on that week that might be special, check their tours., etc.

You can't "see Rome in 2.5 days" even if you do exhaust yourself. So accept that. See some of the highlights.

This is why you buy a guidebook. Do you have one? One of the best things (IMHO) about the Rick Steves guides (you know, the business that hosts this forum) is that they list their picks of the "top sights" in any city. There's a handy section titled "planning your time" which usually says "If you have one day do this..if you have 2 days do this..." etc. Then a page or two of "(City Name) At A Glance " with a short summary of the top attractions/things to do, with ratings -- one, two or three triangles. 3 triangles = Don't Miss This! 2 triangles = Try hard to see this. 1 triangle = Worthwhile if you can make it.

Some guide books don't do this (the ratings) and just list everything - that drives me crazy. A comprehensive directory of everything to see and do in a city is great if you will be spending a year there, less helpful if you're there for 3 days.

These ratings are really helpful to answer the exact questions you asked. Individual tastes vary and your circumstances may dictate different priorities, but personally I have found most of these ratings in the Rick books to generally be pretty accurate. Even if you're not a fan of some of the things listed, it greatly helps as a starting point.

My view is that the more you invest in planning your trip and learning about the place you're going to, the better your trip will be. I also think that planning the trip is an enjoyable activity in and of itself (some disagree on that).

Either way, the books are cheap and IME pay for themselves 100X over. Buy the book, read it take it with you - you will be glad you did!

The Borghese is a lovely museum (need to make reservations) and they limit you to 2 hours. Even if you don't go into the museum, the gardens are pretty as is the park itself. You could easily spend an afternoon there and they have a cafe too.

You have the central location. The Pantheon area also has great restaurants so you're good there.
Learn how to navigate the bus and metro system to minimize footsteps. It is a city you can walk yourself to death in.
Go ahead and make a reservation for the Vatican Museum as it is a must see.
Don't think you can see.everything in a short visit. Remember that you will be back, and you can see those missed sights next trip.
There are about as many travel sights out in the suburbs that most travelers miss.

I second what David said. If you haven't read the Rick Steves Italy 2018 book cover-to-cover, you are missing out. Passagiata (sp?) is apparently a big thing in Italy - ie the evening stroll. He even has detailed "walk" routes so you can stroll in the best places. Amazing books.

My husband and I are doing a 5-year-belated honeymoon in Italy next week (nothing puts the kibosh on a honeymoon like a shotgun wedding) and also have about 2.5 days in Rome. We are doing the Colosseum/Forum (tour), the Vatican (tour), the Borghese Gallery (required to buy tickets ahead of time), the evening passagiata that includes the Trevi fountain area, maybe doing a day trip to Lago Albano...I don't think there's anything wrong with just hanging out, either. Don't feel obligated to make this a sightseeing marathon. Rick Steves says to assume that you will be come back to Rome again some day.

The simple answer? You can only do it by picking some and choosing to save the rest for a future trip. Try and do too much and you'll just end up frustrated, hot, exhausted, and possibly coming away hating Rome.

I'll emphasize that last one as people who report that they really disliked the city often gave it too little time and spent all of what little they had at the Top 10, fighting the mob. The mob can get real old, real fast if you don't balance it with some breathing room.

Spending time with a guidebook is an excellent suggestion. Pick some things you want to see and group your sightseeing by area so that you're not running willynilly from one end of the city to another. Then prioritize the chosen attractions according to YOUR interests. Make good use of the evenings for outdoor things, like Trevi, Piazza Navona, etc. so that you can use your daytime hours for attractions with visiting hours.

That said, I'll be the dissenting vote for the Vatican Museums. Along with the Colosseum, it's the most-visited attraction in Rome, and doing that + the basilica would put you squarely in the middle of another mob fest on your 2nd of only two full days. It can also eat a LOT of time. If you have an interest in art, I'll second the vote for the Borghese because it has excellent crowd control, a superb collection, the building itself is REALLY interesting, and you will see it in the two hours each group is allotted. As already noted, the park it's in (Villa Borghese) is nice for a wander and some breathing room. Walk all the way through to Piazza del Popolo, maybe stopping at one of several outdoor cafes for a rest and a beverage. Santa Maria del Popolo, on that piazza, is well worth a stop, IMHO. Anyway, I'd save the Vatican for another trip unless it's tippytop of your list and something YOU feel you must do. Not everyone does.

LOL, my husband, who has a healthy regard for things architectural and artistic, was less blown away by the Vatican basilica and museums than he was by the Borghese, Basilica of St John Lateran and some other churches in Rome. So there you have it. :O)

But the Borghese can be skipped as well in favor of just walking and looking, popping into a couple of cool, dark churches along the way or a bar seat for rehydrating and some people watching. It's up to YOU how you wish to spend your time, and you simply can't do it all so don't even try.

piazza's such as Piazza Michelangelo

You probably mean Piazza del Campidoglio, which the master designed. Do that on the same day as the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine as it's in that same area.

My only advice is to get up early one morning, around 6 am or so and go to the Trevi. I did this with a friend while in Rome and there were only 6 people there including us. It was pretty magical and we actually got nice pictures with the Trevi without anyone else in them. Plus most cities seem to glow more in the early morning light and just feel new I guess.

Ok, I lied, a couple more things, if the Vatican or Sistine chapel is not a must do, don't do it. You are going in tourist season and it will be crowded. I went (was on a RS tour Best of Europe-21 days, AMAZING!) and I felt like a cow being herded around. If possible plan museum trips for the middle of the day so you can be inside in the A.C. during the heat of the day, and plan at least couple Gelato breaks during the day as it is delicious there no particular place to mention all that I went to were fabulous.

plan at least couple Gelato breaks during the day as it is delicious
there no particular place to mention all that I went to were fabulous.

Yum. Agreed! 👍🍨

As others have mentioned, you can't see Rome in that short of time, but no amount of time probably would cover it, if you had a week...you would be burnt out after a few days and wind up not enjoying things as much anyway. Some advice:

• Do not fall into the trap of "must see" sights. Certainly you should be encouraged to at least see some Art, some Ancient sights, some Churches, but do not feel you "have" to do something. If you are not greatly interested in Art, skip the Borghese, no sin in that. Same goes for any place that takes time to get to and through; figure out your interests and concentrate on only a few that fit.
• Rome is great for walks, Rick's walk through the old center, and others in the Rome book are great. You can hit may sights just by doing that and it can be relaxing as well.
• If it interests you, on any walk, if passing a Church (there are a few in Rome) pop in and take a look. The simplest facade can hide some great glories.
• Do not overthink meals. The best Italian food is not fancy, need not be expensive, and many of the best known places often disappoint. Get off the tourist track, on the backstreets, and if a menu at a hole in the wall place looks good, go for it, you likely will create a great memory about "that little place in Rome we found". Also do not be afraid to take your time once seated, order wine, some bottled water, order an antipasti, a pasta to share, another dish, a side dish, and wind up with dessert and coffee...sounds like a lot, but over two hours or so it is just right.
• Finally, do not forget the purpose of the trip, time with each other will be the best thing about the trip, everything else is just filler.

some great stuff in here that i need to read through thoroughly and come back with additional questions.

just as a reminder, right now the only thing "booked" is the Open Colosseum ticket :)