Introduction and recommended hotels
Rome is a popular tourist destination in Italy full of attractions. Today’s Rome is a vibrant and lively city with reminders of its past everywhere. You’ll find ancient Roman sites, medieval and Renaissance buildings and fountains, great museums, and beautiful squares. The city is a living museum of history from Roman times to the present day. It also has many restaurants, cafes and good nightlife.
Before the first full day, you will check in at your hotel. Take some time to wander around the neighborhood near your hotel. Although Rome is a huge city, its historic center is small, making it easy to walk. If you want to see more of the city, take public bus number 110 (from the train station or ask your hotel for the closest stop). Riding this bus is an inexpensive way to get a good overview of Rome.
For a more in-depth and personalized introduction to the city, book a Viator walking tour. You’ll see top landmarks like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Palatine Hill, Spanish Steps, Trinita dei Monti Church, Trevi Fountain, and more.
Here are 4 recommended hotels, with additional reviews and prices from TripAdvisor:
- Daphne Inn – Small, personal bed and breakfast with 2 central locations, especially good for first-time visitors. They even give you a cell phone so you can call them if you have questions or need help.
- Hotel des Artistes: convenient central hotel and shared rooms near the train station.
- Hotel Residenza in Farnese: small and quiet 4-star hotel in a former monastery in an excellent location next to Piazza Farnese, near Campo dei Fiori.
- Palazzo al Velabro: short-term apartments, ideal for families.
Take a look at where to stay in Rome for other top-notch budget, luxury and historic hotels and more suggestions, or check out the best Rome hotel deals on TripAdvisor.
Tip: If you like to use physical maps, buy the Rome Transport Map from a newsstand or tourist shop. It is a good map and if you want to take a bus or the subway, it will be very useful. You may also want to purchase a Rome Pass or discount card to use for transportation and admissions.
Day 1: the glories of ancient Rome, the Trevi Fountain and dinner near the Pantheon
On your first full day in Rome, visit the best monuments and ruins of Ancient Rome.
Palatine Hill and Colosseum
The Roman Colosseum, the great amphitheater of Ancient Rome, was built between 70 and 82 AD. C. like place of fights of gladiators and wild animals. Today it is one of the best and most popular monuments of ancient Rome. See ways to avoid the long ticket line and Rome Passes and Cards for discounted admissions.
Nearby you can visit the excavations and the museum on the Palatine Hill, home to Roman emperors and aristocrats, also included with the Colosseum ticket.
Tip: On Sunday, the Via dei Fori Imperiali leading to the Colosseum is closed to traffic, making it a good place to walk.
The Roman forum
The Roman Forum, a huge complex of ruined temples, basilicas and arches, was the ceremonial, legal, social and commercial center of ancient Rome. Give yourself at least two hours to wander.
Trevi Fountain and Gelato Break
Now you will taste what many consider the best ice cream in Rome at San Crispino on Via Panetteria, near the Trevi Fountain. Then see the magnificent Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762. Toss a coin in the fountain to ensure your return to Rome.
Pantheon and Dinner
The Pantheon, the best preserved building in ancient Rome, has a spectacular dome and free admission, it closes at 7 pm. For dinner, try Armando al Pantheon, on a street to the right of the Pantheon as you face it. (Salita de ‘Crescenzi, 31, closed Saturday night and Sunday and part of August). After dinner, enjoy a drink in the lively Piazza di Rotonda del Panteon.
Tip: Bars and cafes charge more to sit outside, but it’s worth it if you hang around for a while and enjoy the atmosphere.
Day 2: Museums of the Capotiline hill, neighborhoods of Rome and traditional cuisine
Today visit some of Rome’s neighborhoods and museums and sample traditional Roman cuisine.
Campo dei Fiori, Trastevere and Ghetto judÃo
Campo dei Fiori is alive in the mornings with a market and flower vendors, making it an interesting start to your day. From there, stroll along the Tiber River to Ponte Sisto, cross the Tiber River to the Trastevere district, and visit the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere , the first Christian church in Rome. Cross back to the other side and continue towards the Jewish ghetto. There are several places to try Rome’s interesting Jewish cuisine in the Ghetto.
Tip: if you get up early and want good photos of Piazza Navona, start the itinerary there, before the tourists arrive. Then continue to Campo dei Fiori .
Capitoline Museums
From the busy Piazza Venezia, a transportation hub and home to the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, head up to the Capitol, where you’ll have a fabulous view of the Roman Forum. The square was designed by Michelangelo and the museums are the oldest in the world. Palazzo Nuovo has Greek and Roman sculptures and Palazzo dei Conservatori has art galleries, sculptures, and frescoes.
Testaccio District
Tonight, go to the Testaccio district by taxi, bus 75 or the metro. You’ll want to make a dinner reservation at Checchino dal 1887, a very nice restaurant serving ancient Roman cuisine. The Testaccio district has several good nightclubs if you want to go out after dinner.
Tip: Be on the lookout for pickpockets on the subway and in crowds.
Day 3: Catacombs of Rome, the ancient Appian Way, Piazza Navona and Tartufo
Today we visit the Ancient Appian Way, the catacombs and Piazza Navona with optional purchases. Alternative for Day 3 : A visit to Vatican City (technically not Rome, as it is a separate country) to see St. Peter’s Square and Basilica and the Vatican Museums instead of going to Via Appia Antica. Be sure to book your Vatican Museum tickets or take a tour in advance.
Via Appia Antica and Catacombs
The Via Appia Antica , the main road of the ancient Roman Empire, is now a regional park, Parco Regionale Dell’Appia Antica. Take bus 118 or 218 to visit the Catacombs of San Callisto, the largest and most impressive of the catacombs. Then walk or rent a bike and ride the ancient path, lined with tombs, monuments, and churches. A beautiful lunch spot is the Cecilia Metella restaurant, especially when it’s nice and you can sit on the patio.
Tip: You can buy bus tickets at kiosks or tabacchi. Validate the ticket on the little machine when you board the bus. If you say catacombs, someone will tell you when to get off .
Plaza de España and Shopping
If you have time in the afternoon, go to Piazza del Popolo and walk down Via del Corso , the main shopping street. Turn onto Via Condotti and proceed to Plaza de España. Window shopping and people watching is good in this area and won’t hurt your budget.
It’s fun trying a restaurant that you discovered on your own and after three days of walking around Rome, you’ve probably found something you’d like to try.
Piazza Navona y Tartufo
At night, Piazza Navona is a great place to continue people-watching and see the three splendid Baroque fountains. The much- desired frozen dessert, tartufo , is said to have originated here – you can try it outside at the Tre Scalini for a splurge, or go in and get a tartufo for less.
Extra days: suggestions for more places to visit in and around Rome
If you have more than three days in Rome, there are many things to keep you busy. Here are some suggestions on what to see and where to go in Rome:
Vatican City Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
Vatican City, a small independent state, is home to the Pope and the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, and the sprawling Vatican Museums. Vatican City is easy to visit from Rome, plan to spend at least half a day there.
Unique tours
If you’ve seen the main sites and want to do something different, try a guided tour that includes touring Rome in a Vintage Fiat 500 or Vespa, training to be a gladiator, or visiting the Sistine Chapel after hours.
Baths of Caracalla
At the foot of the Aventine hill are the monumental ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, used from the 2nd to the 6th century. Bathing was a social event for the people of ancient Rome and the huge complex could host up to 1600 bathers! In addition to the bathrooms, they had a variety of facilities, such as a gym, art galleries, gardens, and shops selling food and drinks.
Villa Torlonia
Mussolini’s former house is now open to the public. Inside the mansion, which dates back to the 19th century, there is a museum and the grounds have been converted into a public park.
Majestic churches of Rome
Visit the Cathedral of Rome, San Giovanni Laterno, Saint Peter in Chains with its statue of Michelangelo of Moses, Saint Paul Outside the Walls with magnificent mosaics, or Saint Mary in Cosmedin with its Byzantine mosaics and the Boca della Verita. Take a look at all the main churches during your visit.
Ostia Antica
The ruins of the ancient port of Ostia Antica in Rome are worth a visit. Ostia Antica is a huge complex and you can easily spend several hours wandering the old streets, shops and houses. You should plan at least half a day for this trip. To get there, take metro line B to Magliana or Piramide and take the Ostia Lido train from there.
A day on the beach
There are several beaches that can be visited on a day trip. If you are in Rome in summer and want to escape the heat of the city, visit one of these beaches in Rome.
Take a day trip from Rome
On a day trip from Rome, you can visit Tivoli and the Villa d’Este, Orvieto, Frascati, Florence or Etruscan tombs. Or if you’d rather have someone else make the arrangements, consider a guided day trip from Rome.
The 11 best day trips from Rome, Italy
