Day-by-day Itinerary with Local Tips!
Ciao everyone! Are you ready for an unforgettable holiday in one of my favorite cities? Then jump on this guide on how to spend 3 days in Rome!
I lived in Rome a while ago and since then I’ve visited the city frequently! Each time I came back with a bag full of useful tips. To help you plan the perfect Italian getaway to Rome, I’ve included them in this post so you can make the best out of your trip!
Below you’ll find a full itinerary for 3 days in the capital, with tips on how to avoid the lines, which attractions to visit first, and some restaurant options as well, plus much more!
Before we start, I want to remind you to book everything in Rome, from hotels and attraction tickets in advance! This city gets packed with tourists and the last thing you’ll want is to waste time sitting in a queue for hours!
NOTE: I made this itinerary for 3 full days, without the days when you arrive and leave the city.
Quick Picks for Your Stay
Check out the important details below that you should know about this 3 day itinerary for Rome:
- Cost: from US$500 if traveling on a tight budget & around US$700 for mid-range travelers, as for luxury you can go over that and beyond
- Transportation: Scooter, bus, tram & metro
- Best luxury hotel: Trevi Ab Aeterno
- Best value for money: Navona Gallery Suites
- Best affordable accommodation: Al Centro di Roma
Here’s a map of all the places and attractions that I’ve included in this short itinerary for 3 days in Rome:
Day 1: Roman Forum & Colosseum
Start your first day in Rome, with some of the most iconic attractions like the Colosseum and the city’s Old Town! I made sure that all the attractions are close by so you won’t waste too much time on getting from one place to the next.
1. Espresso & pastry at a cafe
Start your first day in a room in true Italian style with a cup of their strongest espresso to get you through the day and some pastries, of course!
If you’re looking for a great place where you can stop and get something quick on your way to the first attractions you’ll visit today (the Roman Forum and Colosseum), then I’d recommend La Licata (map) which is located only a 10 min walk away from those places.
The espresso bar has lots of yummy pastries and it also serves brunch. By the way, if you’re looking for other amazing cafes and restaurants that you can hit during these 3 days, check out our post with the best places to eat and drink in Rome!
2. Visit the Roman Forum + Colosseum
After you’ve had your coffee you can start the day properly, with a visit to 2 of Rome’s most iconic attractions, the Forum and Colosseum!
Since I’ve lived in Rome for a while and visited the city countless times, I got to learn lots of tricks on how to visit these world-known attractions and not wait hours in like. So before doing anything else I recommend reading my post on how to avoid waiting in line for the Forum and Colosseum, where I included some ways that will save you time.
Believe it or not, over 11,000 people visit the Colosseum in a day and it can go up to 30,0000 during the high season, so it’s good to be prepared!
PRO TIP: I recommend buying all your tickets for these attractions in advance, especially if you’re traveling during high season (June, July and August).
You can get the tickets from the official website and you’ll be happy to know that the Colosseum ticket includes the entrance to the Roman Forum as well, and it costs US$19.
Once you get there, be ready to remain in awe of their beauty! I recommend starting with the Forum (I mention in this post why), walk around the ancient temples and then head to the Colosseum where you’ll immediately feel as if you’ve time-traveled!
PRO TIP: Here is a free audio guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum that you can use to learn more about the history of both these places.
If you’re coming during summer or whenever you’re coming, definitely bring water with you while visiting these 2 places as you’ll walk around a lot in the open air and you definitely need to stay hydrated!
PRICE: US$19
3. Go through Monumento Vittorio Emmanuele II
From the Roman Colosseum, you can make your way to Monumento Vittorio Emmanuele II (the walk is only 20 min).
Honoring the country’s first king and soldiers of WW1, this huge monument looks absolutely incredible and you can admire it from the outside for free! However, you’ll need to get tickets from their official website for access to the Panoramic Terrace, the Central Museum of the Risorgimento and the National Museum of the Palazzo di Venezia.
Next, head to the Campidoglio Square (map), which is part of the monument (as I mentioned the monument is super big) and from there you’ll get a fab view of the Roman Forum!
PRICE: US$19
4. Lunch at Pizzeria da Baffetto
I bet you’re hungry after all the walking, right?
If so, then you can stop at Pizzeria da Baffetto (map), a restaurant set a 20 min walk away from the Monumento Vittorio Emmanuele II and it’s on the way to the next attractions that you can see on your first day, so it’s perfect!
Their pizzas are delicious and you can enjoy a yummy glass of wine or aperol, on their terrace! Once you’ve regained your strength, you can start heading to the next place on the list!
5. Walk around the Old Town
Just a quick warning before you get overwhelmed by all the places that I’ll include below, since most of them are just sort of things that you walk past by, sit for some minutes to admire them and take a pic, you won’t need that much time.
You can head from the restaurant I mentioned above, to Piazza Navona (map) which is only a 3 min walk away. The square has a beautiful baroque fountain and lots of bars, restaurants and gelaterias around it.
Its architecture is gorgeous and sometimes there are also some street artists performing here.
From there you can walk for 5 min and get to the Pantheon (map), a beautiful temple that you can admire from outside or go inside to explore as well! If you have the time, definitely do it as it looks incredible! Just remember to get a ticket from their official website. There are some tombs inside it, including Raphael’s, the famous artist.
Once you’re done at the Pantheon, you can head to the next stop, the famous Trevi Fountain (map)! Set only a 10 min walk away from the Pantheon, the Fountain is one of Rome’s most iconic attractions so expect to see lots of people here.
Underneath Fontana di Trevi, there’s a secret spot that not many people know about! I talk about it extensively in this post, and also give directions on how you can reach it, so definitely check it out.
What you’ll find underneath the fountain is an archaeological site with an ancient aqueduct (basically underwater channels that brought water from outside sources into the cities), and also a museum where you can see some historical artifacts from coins to pottery.
6. Enjoy the views from Rinascente Shopping Mall
Want to get a fab view of the city? Then just walk for literally 3 min from Trevi Fountain, to Rinascente Shopping Mall (map) that has an amazing rooftop terrace with a bar and restaurant.
Although the drinks and food are a bit more expensive, it’s definitely worth going there, just to admire those amazing sights.
And what’s even more exciting about this mall is that its basement (-1 level) also has an old aqueduct that is still working. To find the aqueduct, walk from the front of the store, towards a small cafe/bar and an area selling leather goods, and the aqueduct is the back wall of the area.
7. Dinner in the Monti area
Phew! You’ve made it to the end of your first day in Rome!
Take a breather and head to the Monti area, which is one of the best areas to stay in Rome! This bohemian neighborhood is known for its amazing restaurants and trendy bars, plus it has some fab hotels with views of the Colosseum!
al42 by Pasta Chef rione Monti (map) is one of the best restaurants in the area that serves homestyle pasta and other delicious dishes! Get a glass of wine (or preferred drink) and celebrate your first night in Rome, in style!
Day 2: Galleria Borghese & the Spanish Steps
Ready to start Day 2? I’ve included lots of fun things for this day and some fab dining options! You might need to use the bus today, although you can also just walk if you have the time and want to explore Rome’s streets.
NOTE: If you are going to use the bus, you’ll have to buy your tickets before you get on it (from tobacconists, bars, or vending machines at Metro stations and major bus stops) or you can just pay contactless with your credit card.
1. Visit Villa Borghese Park & Galleria Borghese
Before visiting Villa Borghese, head to Sant’ Eustachio Caffè (map), a super popular cafe, known for their home roasted beans that are blended with water from an ancient aqueduct.
It can get pretty crowded there, so I’d recommend heading there super early!
PRO TIP: When I was living in Rome, I actually rented a scooter (here’s a post on how you can do that) and I went to see all the major attractions super early in the morning, it was a bit chilly so take a jacket if you want to do this! But it was incredible! There were barely any people and you could just admire everything at your own pace! If you don’t mind waking up early, definitely try this out!
After you’ve had your coffee you can either walk the 20 min or take the 160 bus from Corso station (map) to S. Paolo del Brasile station (map), which is right near the Villa Borghese Park, a stunning place where you can explore the extensive green area and visit the Galleria Borghese.
Although you can enter the Park area for free, Galleria Borghese has a ticket policy and I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance. Get one from their website before you go as this is one of the most visited museums in Rome, after the Vatican Museums. If you want to learn more ways to avoid the lines, check out my post, where I give lots of tips on how to do this!
The gardens are huge, and there are other attractions on the grounds from a Zoo, to other museums. But since you don’t have that much time I’d recommend sticking to exploring the park to see all the fountains and flower gardens and then visiting the museum which has works of art by Bernini and Caravaggio.
While in the Park make sure you stroll down Passeggiata del Pincio (map), a historical promenade, during which you’ll get to see some incredible statues and also admire the city views!
PRICE: US$14
2. People-watching in Piazza del Popolo
Only a 20 min walk away from Galleria Borghese, you’ll find this beautiful square (map) where you can take a breather and relax after all that walking!
Don’t worry, it won’t be boring as the architecture is gorgeous and you can spend a few good moments just taking everything in and maybe cooling off (if it’s hot) by Fontana del Nettuno and Fontana della Dea di Roma.
3. Shopping on Via del Corso
From Piazza del Popolo you can make your way to Via del Corso (map), which starts right from the end of the square.
Via del Corso is a super famous street as it’s packed with lots of shops, from luxury ones to more affordable ones. So if you were looking for a place to do a bit of shopping this is it!
Or you can just walk down the street, do some people-watching and just admire all the amazing buildings.
4. Snap a pic on the Spanish Steps
Just a 10 min walk away from Via del Corso, you’ll find the super popular Spanish Steps (map)!
Apparently this place is one of the most photographed places in the city!
Decorated in Roman Baroque style, the steps which are located in Piazza Spagna (map) look really beautiful and they are the perfect spot to snap some amazing pics, so be camera-ready at all times!
After you’ve taken your pics, you can head to Pompi Tiramisù (map), which is just a 2 min walk away from the attraction and eat some yummy tiramisu! Beware though, there might be a line, but usually it moves pretty fast so don’t be scared if you see tons of people.
PRICE: Free
5. More shopping Via dei Condotti
I know I just mentioned shopping, but since Via dei Condotti (map) is so close to the Spanish Steps (just a 3 min walk away), I thought you could easily head there.
This street has mostly luxurious brands from Alexander McQueen, to Celine and Tiffany’s! So if you want to get some expensive souvenirs, definitely head there.
If not, you can just walk around and do some “window shopping”!
6. Check out the view from Giardino degli Aranci
For this next stop, you might need to take the bus, as it’s a 40 min walk away from Via dei Condotti.
You can totally do the walk if you’ve got the time and you want to see more of the city. If not then you can take the 83 bus from S. Claudio station (map) and stop right at Bocca della Verita station (map), the bus journey takes around 10 min.
Which is perfect, since I wanted to suggest stopping by the Bocca della Verita sculpture (map), that is right near the station, before you head to Giardino degli Aranci.
The sculpture looks so interesting and there’s a medieval legend that says that it will bite off the hand of any liar who places it inside the sculpture’s mouth!
Now that you’ve seen that you can make your way to Giardino degli Aranci (map) which is a 6 min walk away.
This garden is gorgeous and it has the most beautiful trees! You can admire the views over the Tiber River and just walk around, enjoy a peaceful moment, surrounded by nature!
PRICE: Free
7. Explore Trastevere & have dinner there
We’re ending your second day in Rome with dinner in Trastevere, another incredible neighborhood where you can enjoy the city’s nightlife!
Still, I’d recommend getting there while it’s still light outside so you can explore all the cobblestone streets and admire the colorful buildings! The neighborhood is a 25 min walk away from the last attraction, but you can also take the 44 bus from Bocca della Verita station (map), the journey is around 7 min.
Once you get to Trastevere, you can walk around a bit! The atmosphere is always buzzing here and it becomes even more fun at night! So go on a little exploration and then maybe stop at one of the aperitivo bars like Ferni e Frizoni (map).
For anyone who doesn’t know, an aperitivo includes drinks (that you pay for) and some snacks like peanuts, small sandwiches or something in that category that is for free. Definitely look for places that offer this, if you’re traveling on a budget!
If you get hungry, and want to have a proper dinner then head to Dar Poeta, one of my favorite restaurants in Trastevere, their pizza is so yummy! You might have to wait for a bit to get in as they don’t do reservations but trust me, it’s worth it!
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Day 3: Exploring Vatican City
Alright, we’ve reached the final day of your Rome trip! And there’s no better place to spend your entire day than Vatican City. Prepare yourselves because you’ll have to walk a lot on your last day!
1. Start the day early with coffee near Vatican City
You might need an entire day to explore this place as there are so many things to see! Of course, if you don’t want to see everything (although I do recommend visiting the places I’ve included) then you can spend half a day and go to some other places that maybe you didn’t get to see during the first 2 days.
Definitely start the day early so you can beat the crowds! If you didn’t have time for coffee at home, stop at Caffetteria di Borgo (map), which is right outside Vatican City and enjoy a quick espresso and a pastry there.
2. Visit the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
I would start with the Vatican Museums, a collection of galleries that are home to one of the biggest art collections in the world, with pieces by Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Titian!
The lines are huge here so I highly recommend booking your tickets way in advance (especially if you’re traveling during June, July, August and even early September). You can buy them from the official website or if those are sold out you can try GetYourGuide. The ticket includes entry for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel as well.
If you want to learn some tips and tricks to skip the line, definitely read my post, where I give a short list with things that will help you save time and avoid sitting in a queue for hours!
When you’re done with the galleries, you can head to the Sistine Chapel, famous for its ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo!
Needless to say how beautiful these places are! It can be easy to lose track of time, so make sure you stay on track so you have time to visit the other attractions too.
PRICE: US$21
3. Admire the unique St. Peter’s Basilica & St. Peter’s Square Obelisk
Ready to visit the largest church in the world?
Located in Piazza San Pietro, less than a 10 min walk from the Vatican Museums, this Church looks absolutely incredible!
NOTE: If it’s summer and super hot, make sure you bring with something that covers your shoulders and knees, maybe a scarf or kimono.
It’s free to visit the basilica, however, there’s another spot that you should definitely see while here, and that’s the Dome! You can actually climb up to the top of it and get a pretty unforgettable view!
However you’ll have to get tickets and yes, there will be a line for those! You can check the prices and information on how to visit the Dome on their official website. But definitely read my post on how to skip-the-line for St. Peter’s Dome, I’ve included lots of tips there!
Before or after you visit the church, definitely go see the Obelisk (map) in St. Peter’s Square and explore the piazza.
PRICE: Free
4. Go for a walk in the Gardens of Vatican City
Although not a must-see, the Gardens are super beautiful but they’re more of an optional choice, so if you don’t have the time, don’t worry!
They are pretty big though and have this little maze, a fountain, statues and just lush greenery everywhere! You’ll need to buy tickets for these, definitely in advance, and you can do so from their official website.
PRICE: from US$43
5. Castel Sant’Angelo & St. Angelo Bridge
Set on the banks of River Tiber, this place was built in the 2nd century as a mausoleum by order of emperor Hadrian and then turned into a castle, later on!
It’s a stunning place, and inside you’ll find a mausoleum, a prison, some exhibitions with weaponry, Renaissance art and furniture. You’ll also see the apartments that were built for the popes, in case the Vatican was under attack.
But probably one of the most beautiful parts is the rooftop terrace that has a unique statue with Archangel St. Michel! You’ll also get a breathtaking view of the city.
As you go in, make sure you check out all the statues on the St. Angelo Bridge too!
PRICE: US$19
6. Grab some dinner & explore Rome at night
Phew! That was a looong day!
There’s no better way to wrap up your 3 days in Rome than with a yummy meal, some drinks and maybe a passeggiata at night, around the city!
One of the closest areas to Vatican City is Prati, and there are a couple of great restaurants there, plus after your dinner you can explore around as there are some gorgeous buildings in this neighborhood!
Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale (map) is an amazing restaurant that serves yummy food and some great wine!
Or if you want to enjoy a bit more of the city’s nightlife you can head to Trastevere, the area I mentioned in Day 2, just above.
Do you have some time left, or maybe you want to swap an attraction that you’re not so interested in from this list? If so, here are some more places that you can visit in Rome:
- Gianicolo Hill – one of Rome’s hills that offers some incredible views over the city! You will have to do a short climb up to reach the hill (map) that’s located in Trastevere, but nothing too hard. Just make sure you wear comfy shoes
- Roman Catacombs – interested in something spooky? Then you might like visiting these catacombs! Only 5 are open to the public and these are the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, Catacombs of San Callisto, Catacombs of Priscilla, Catacombs of Domitilla and the Catacombs of Sant’Agnese (map)
- Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars – this is another kind of spooky place, the museum has the skeletal remains of 3,700 bodies which are believed to be Capuchin friars
| 🔱 Unique attraction: | Roman Colosseum |
| 🖼️ Top museum: | Vatican Museums |
| 🤩 Best free activity: | Spanish Steps |
| 🍝 Must-try food: | Pizza & Pasta |
Where to stay in Rome
Now that we’re done with the itinerary, let’s check out some of the best hotels where you can stay during your holiday!
I’ve included only a couple of places here, one for each budget, but we have many other options in our post on where to stay in Rome:
- Luxury: Trevi Ab Aeterno – a stunning hotel overlooking Trevi fountain, that has gorgeous rooms with beamed ceilings and an elegant decor.
- Mid-range: Navona Gallery Suites – amazing suites with a lot of space, a kitchenette and air-conditioning.
- Budget: Al Centro di Roma – this affordable hotel in the center offers family rooms, breakfast and an airport shuttle!
Tips for visiting Rome like a pro
Since I’ve lived in Rome for a while and visited the city so many times, I wanted to give you some tips on how to explore Rome like a pro!
Some quick tips that I think will definitely improve your holiday experience:
Let’s check them out:
- Buy all your attraction tickets and tours in advance
- Bring some cash with you
- Go to Rome during the shoulder season (mid-March to May and mid-October to November) or low season (January – March) for cheaper rates
- Visit museums for free on the first Sunday of each month
- Buy bus tickets in advance
FAQs about 3 days in Rome
🤔 Is it worth going to Rome for 3 days?
Yes! You can do Rome in 3 days and get to see all the main attractions in the city. You just need to plan everything out before so you don’t miss anything.
💶 How much money would you spend in Rome in 3 days?
You’ll probably spend around US$500 if you’re traveling on a tight budget, around US$700 for mid-range travelers and for luxury you can spend all that and beyond!
🚶Is Rome walkable?
Yes, Rome is a walkable city and some of its main attractions are set close to one another but you can always jump on the tram, bus, metro or even rent a scooter if you want to save some time.
Final thoughts on 3 days in Rome
You’ve made it until the end of this post on how to spend 3 days in Rome, yay!
Since I lived in Rome all those years back, I never stop returning to the city to enjoy its magic and beauty and I’m sure you’ll feel the same after your visit!
I’d recommend booking all your tickets for attractions and hotels in advance. Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world and trust me, it’s super important to secure your spots early!
Have an amazing Roman holiday, and don’t forget that I’m always around for questions! Just drop me a comment below and I’ll make sure to answer it ASAP!
Safe Travels,
Yulia
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