The Ultimate 3-Day Rome Itinerary

Last updated on February 2nd, 2022 at 05:15 pm

A Roman holiday is on everyone’s bucket list. Rome thrives on spectacular art and architecture, sumptuous food and centuries of history that make it one of the most visited cities in Europe. This 3-day Rome itinerary aims to cover most of the major attractions in the eternal city.

My crush on Rome dates back to my school days when I first read about the rich history of Roman civilization. It is debatable whether 3 days in Rome is enough to cover this iconic city. Certainly not! But you can surely cover most of the main attractions in three days.

All you need is a good pair of walking shoes and a fresh mind to revisit history. If you feel tired in between, your trusted friend gelato is always there as a savior.

Related : 50 Rome quotes for Instagram captions

Also Read : Venice, Florence and Milan

Overview Of 3 Days In Rome Itinerary

A quick summary of how can you spend 3 days in Rome. Although it might look like several things clubbed in one day, believe me, it is very much doable and there are breaks in between.

Day 1: Vatican City, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghes

Day 2: Colosseum, Palantine Hill, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona

Day 3: Campo de’ Fiori, Leonardo Da Vinci museum, Trastevere, Bocca della Verita

1) Day 1 of 3-Day Rome Itinerary

a. Vatican City

For visiting Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, you will need immaculate planning to make the most of it. You will be visiting Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica within Vatican City.

But, first and foremost, book your tickets in advance from Vatican’s Official Website for availing the Skip-the-Line facility. If you already have tickets with you, you can skip the long (I mean real long) queues and directly move to the Security check. This is very important because nothing is more annoying than standing in a ticket queue for hours.

The website offers different ticket variations – with or without a guided tour, tours with audio guides (recommended) and many more. Choose the one that suits your needs.

Vatican Museum

We started our tour with Vatican Museum (Mvsei Vaticani in Italian).

Vatican Museum has an amazing collection of art & sculpture covering all periods from Egyptian mummies to Renaissance art by maestros like Michelangelo, Raphael and contemporary art.

Take an audio guide and a route map to make the most of your visit because Vatican Museum is huge!

My absolute favorites are the Gallery of Maps. This stunning room consists of fresco-painted maps of different regions of Italy. The ceiling is so stunning that many visitors often mistake it as the Sistine Chapel. Gallery of maps is one of the last rooms you will visit before entering the Sistine Chapel.

Sistine Chapel

Towards the fag end of Vatican Museum is the Sistine Chapel. The chapel currently serves as the site for the cardinals to meet and elect the next Pope.

It is however most well-known for its high ceiling painted by Michelangelo and is one of his most famous works. This complex and elaborate fresco painting depicts several scenes from the scriptures.

Remember, photography is not allowed within the chapel and you will need to cover your shoulders and knees as a mark of respect.

As you come out of the chapel, you will be led to a hall from where you can buy souvenirs. Immediately after this, you will find the spiral staircase that leads you to the exit.

On the last Sunday of each month, the Vatican Museum is open to the public for free.

Did you know? Vatican has its own post office and you can post a letter with Vatican’s stamp from there. A fun thing to do with kids! Once you finish touring the Vatican museum, you will get to see the post-office right at the exit.

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the finest cathedrals in the entire world. Beautiful architecture inside and out, the scale of the cathedral is unimaginable. It has an enviable collection of art including Michelangelo’s Pieta.

You can climb the stairs of the cathedral to reach the top where a breathtaking view of Vatican City awaits you!

Break for Lunch after this. There are many eateries outside the Vatican Museum and you can settle down to a good meal at this point of time.

b. Pantheon

Your afternoon Rome exploration starts with the Pantheon. This part of Rome Itinerary covers the sites that are close to each other.

Be ready to marvel at the architectural glory of Pantheon – an ancient Roman temple turned church. With marble tiled floor and a magnificent dome, the Pantheon is perfectly proportioned. As you look up, you stare into the oculus (the ‘eye’ of the dome) through which the sunlight streams.
Spend some quite moment here and ensure to dress appropriately (cover the knees and shoulders) as you are entering a church.

Did You Know: The tomb of renowned painter Raphael is in the Pantheon!

c. Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps are a series of 135 steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to a Church at a steep slope.

Sitting on the steps have been restricted very recently, else, this used to be a favorite pass time for tourists. The streets right across the steps are a hub for designer stores. You can walk down the streets and go for a window-shopping ad buy as well if you fancy!

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Spanish Steps have been immortalized by Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in the Hollywood classic “Roman Holiday”!

d. Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is a sprawling landscaped garden. You can approach Villa Borghese from Spanish Steps. It is a perfect place to be in the afternoon as you stroll through the garden.

Amongst many attractions, it consists of Galleria Borghese which hosts the sculptures of Bernini.

With this, it is time to wrap up Day 1 in Rome and settle down for a sumptuous Italian dinner.

2) Day 2 of 3-Day Rome Itinerary

a. Colosseum

The 2nd Day of Rome itinerary starts with a visit to the historical Colosseum.

Hold your breath! You are in front of one of the Wonders of Ancient World. If Colosseum is breathtaking from outside, the interiors of the structure is awe-inspiring! This mammoth amphitheater was built during 70-72 A.D during the during the reign of the Flavian emperors and is the origin of Gladiator battles.

I would recommend to go for a guided tour for the interiors as well.  If you have traveled all the way till Rome, why not invest some time in getting to know the history of this magnificent structure and the gladiators. As you go up the levels of the Colosseum, it provides an awe-inspiring view of this mammoth structure. You can’t help but deeply admire the world class engineering!

Roma Pass has Colosseum Entry ticket included in it. Alternatively, you can book the entry tickets from the Official Website. Both Roma Pass or Online Ticket allow you to Skip the Line.

The entry ticket does not include guided tour. Hence, you will need to book a guided tour separately.

b. Palantin Hill

Palantin Hill is one of Rome’s seven legendary hills. It is said that Romulus founded Rome on this hilltop. The Palatine enjoyed a strategic position in ancient Rome, overlooking the Forum and Colosseum on one side and a view of the Circus Maximus on the other.

You can visit it with your Colosseum Ticket.

c. Roman Forum

Roman Forum is a forum or plaza located at the center of ancient Rome next to the Palantin Hill. This sprawling forum has the ruins of temples, government buildings and arches from the bygone era and is one of the most important archaeological sites of Rome.

You can visit it with your Colosseum Ticket.

d. Trevi Fountain

And the saying goes – If you throw a coin in Trevi fountain over your shoulder, you will come back to Rome again. This is a must-do while visiting Rome!

The Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi is Rome’s largest and Italy’s most famous Baroque fountain. Expect huge crowds here most of the time except early morning or late at night.

The fountain is stunning (probably more at night) and is free to visit.

e. Piazza Navona

My most favorite place in Rome is Piazza Navona. May be because we were staying at an AirBnB next to the Piazza, we ended up visiting Navona every single day. It is the most loved square of the Romans and probably the liveliest.

Navona has three fountains. The center of the square features Bernini’s Fountain of Rivers representing different continents – The Ganges, The Nile, Danube and Río de la Plata.

Cobble-stoned pathways, old buildings, restaurants serving authentic Italian food and proximity to major destinations – Piazza Navona still retains the old-world charm. The square comes to life in the afternoon with street artists.

Spend some good amount of time here and soak in atmosphere.

3) Day 3 of 3-Day Rome Itinerary

a. Campe de Fiori

Day 3 of Rome itinerary focuses on experiencing local Roman life.

Campe de Fiori is a lively square just next to Piazza Navona. Visit this place to get a glimpse of daily Roman life. The square hosts a marketplace in the morning and bursts with colors owing to the beautiful flower shops. In the evenings, it bustles with life with all the cafes and restaurants.

b. Leonardo Da Vinci Museum

If you are in Italy, you must explore the works of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Leornardo da Vinci museum is located between Piazza Navona and Campe de Fiori. You can explore the works of the maestro with real-life scale exhibitions and 3D models of his machine drawings. The museum also has a small shop to collect souvenirs.

Its a great place to take along the kids and acquaint them with the nuances of science.

c. Trastevere

Take a trip across Tiber river to Trastevere and explore the day-to-day life of the Romans. Bohemian and laidback, Trastevere is one of the most loved neighborhoods of Rome.

The best way to explore Trastevere is on foot as you discover quaint cafes, peaceful houses and stunning graffiti.

Related : Trastevere Neighborhood, Rome – Things to do in one day

At the center of Trastevere, you will find the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria, one of the oldest churches of Rome. The square in front of the church is the hub of Trastevere’s nightlife.

d. Bocca della Verita

Are you telling the truth? Test it out at Bocca della Verita or the Mouth of Truth.

It’s a huge marble mask fixed against the left wall of the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, at the Piazza della Bocca della Verità. The saying goes that if you put your hand in the mouth and tell a lie, the bocca (mouth) will bite it off!

It’s a fun activity to be done with young kids.

4) Where To Stay In Rome?

We prefer to stay at a central place within the city and AirBnB was an obvious choice for that for good locations.

We stayed in an AirBnB at Piazza Navona and it was our absolute favorite. Most of the major attractions were at a walkable distance from our accommodation or there was a bus route available.

My intensive search on the internet for preferred accommodation location in Rome yielded Piazza Navona as a recommended option which itself is a major attraction. I can vouch for the fact that it was the best decision to stay there.

You can also search in http://www.booking.com for some great deals for hotels.

5) How To Travel Within Rome?

Rome has very extensive transportation system. All the destinations are easily accessible by bus routes. You can consider buying 72-Hour or 48-Hour Roma Pass that covers all the public transportation system including entries to some of the major sites of attraction.

Cab service is also available although it can be expensive.

Roma Termini is the central railway station from where you can board trains to other locations like Venice or Florence.

6) What To Eat In Rome?

While in Italy, eat to your heart’s content!

Carbonara is a must-have in Rome. Its a creamy spaghetti tossed with eggs and chunks of bacon. And all meals need to be rounded up with gelatos!

7) Final Thought

This 3-Day Rome Itinerary should set you for your dream trip to this eternal city.

Have you been to Rome? Share your favorite places in the comments section.