Rome Itinerary 3 Days

Rome is often known as the ‘Eternal City’ in a mystical, magical way but in a literal sense, you could spend an eternity exploring its incredible streets, sights, food and history. The city is well known for iconic attractions such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican City, the Spanish Steps and more, but Rome’s charm goes far beyond its most famous spots. You can start your day with the crowds by the Trevi Fountain but easily get lost wandering cobbled streets, discover quieter neighbourhoods, admire stunning art galleries and museums and sample delicious Italian cooking all in one day.

So no matter if it’s your first time in Rome and you’re keen to tick off a few bucket list sites, you want a gastronomic city tour or you are searching for Rome’s hidden gems, it’s easy to find something to love. While you could easily explore forever, three days is a good amount of time to get to grips with the city, experiencing some of its highlights and lesser-known areas, with plenty to save for your next visit.

Rome Itinerary – 3 Days 3 Ways

3-Day Classic Itinerary

Day 1 – Ancient Roman Wonders

You should start any journey in Rome with a visit to the famous Colosseum, a worldwide symbol of the city.

Get there early to get tickets for a tour, where you can walk through the ancient amphitheatre where ancient gladiators once did battle.

Many of Rome’s most famous sites are close together, and just round the corner, you’ll find the Roman Forum, which was the heart of ancient Rome.

It’s now a huge area of Roman ruins, where there was temples, churches and buildings thousands of years ago.

Make sure to climb Palatine Hill, which has views over the Forum and over the entire city, with some nice shady spots and gardens to get out of the heat.

After all this exploration, it’s time for a foray into Italian food with a visit to the Monti neighbourhood where there are lots of local restaurants perfect for trying some caio e pepe, a traditional Roman pasta dish, or some classic carbonara.

The afternoon is a good time to dip into Rome’s museum scene, with a visit to the Capitoline Museum which houses a variety of beautiful ancient statues and artwork – it makes for a fun preparation before a more in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums on another day.

The museums here also have amazing views over Rome, where you can enjoy sundown on your first day in Rome.

Recommended tour: Rome: Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Tour

Day 2 – Vatican City and Beyond

The second day of your Roman itinerary is all about the Vatican.

Vatican City is its own country, meaning you can even tick off a new country while you’re here.

You’ll need a full day to explore everything here and the nearby sights, beginning at one of the most famous spots: St Peter’s Basilica.

Not only is this one of the most famous churches in Italy, but you can also climb its dome for incredible views over Rome and Vatican City – going early is best, not only to avoid the queues but to avoid the heat, and the climb to the top is a long one.

Next, head for the Vatican Museums.

You can buy tickets online, but you’ll also find lots of local companies selling tours.

A guided tour often works best, both because you can skip the lengthy queues and you’ll also get an expert guide.

Inside is a dazzling array of artwork, architecture, sculptures and interiors, including the world-famous Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, although you’re not allowed to take photos of it.

Close to the Vatican is Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian.

It is now a museum that you can visit, and it has three excellent viewpoints overlooking the river.

Make a stop there before heading for Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most famous squares.

It is touristy, and restaurants around here can be pricey, but enjoying a light lunch or espresso while people-watching here is quintessentially Roman.

Up next is an equally famous building just around the corner, the Pantheon.

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in the city and you can see its famous oculus at the top – which is a huge, spherical hole in the dome.

To round off a long day, check out the Trastevere district, one of Rome’s liveliest neighbourhoods, where buzzing piazzas and narrow streets have plenty of trattorias and bars to choose from.

Recommended tour: Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica Tour

Day 3 – Shopping, Art and Culture

On your final day in Rome, the exploring doesn’t slow down – get up early to throw a lucky penny in the Trevi Fountain, which ensures that someday you’ll return to Rome.

Before the crowds descend, take a stroll over to the Spanish Steps, which have a beautiful view from the top and an array of streets at the base filled with local boutiques and souvenir shops.

For a more relaxed activity, aim for Villa Borghese, Rome’s famous, sprawling park and gardens where you can walk, take a picnic, cycle or even hire a segway.

The park is home to the Borghese Gallery which houses masterpieces by the likes of Bernini, Caravaggio and Raphael inside a stunning villa and landscaped gardens.

To wind down the day, grab a coffee and explore the churches in Piazza del Popolo or settle down with a drink in Campo de’ Fiori, one of Rome’s many vibrant squares where locals go to enjoy an evening meal.

Recommended tour: Rome: Spanish Steps, Trevi, Navona and Pantheon Sunset Tour

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3-Day Food Lover’s Itinerary

Day 1 – Traditional Roman Food

If you love food, specifically Italian food, then Rome is one of the best places to enjoy a culinary experience in the country.

Begin by diving into Rome’s amazing local produce at Campo de’Fiori market, which has dozens of stalls selling meats, cheese, fruits, vegetables and more.

Another great way to spend a few hours introducing yourself to Roman cuisine is in a cooking class, which you can find online or via the tourist office.

Cooking classes in Rome are usually led by a local and will take you on a visit to a market to pick up ingredients before you can learn first-hand to make delicacies like bucatini all’Amatriciana and tiramisu and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch or dinner!

Spend the afternoon in Trastevere, which hides Rome’s most popular bars, restaurants and cafes, making it easy to stop for snacks, coffee and light bites.

Another popular place for a cocktail is Freni e Frizioni, a local bar with a panoramic terrace where you can sip on a sundowner before deciding on dinner.

Having had lots of food already on day one, for dinner swap the usual pizza and pasta for lighter Roman foods, such as deli meats and cheeses like burrata, salami and wine.

Recommended tour: Rome: 3-in-1 Fettuccine, Ravioli, and Tiramisu Cooking Class

Day 2 – Unique Roman Gastronomy

Wake yourself up on day two with a strong cup of espresso, which Italians prefer to drink standing at the bar counter while chatting.

For a lesser-known foodie neighbourhood, check out the Jewish Quarter or ghetto as it’s often known, which has a more local feel with some excellent restaurants where you can try favourites like carciofi alla giudia, which are fried artichokes.

Today, you can swap a fresh produce market for a hot food market at Testaccio Market, which has various stalls selling a variety of tasty street food which will fuel you up for discovering Testaccio, another one of Rome’s districts well-known for both its food scene and nightlife.

Before getting stuck into an evening of drinking, however, make time for some culture in the area, such as a visit to the ancient Pyramid of Cestius and the Non-Catholic Cemetery, where famous poets like Keats and Shelley are buried.

Also, don’t miss trying gelato at one of the city’s most popular gelaterias Gelateria del Teatro, which has weird and wonderful flavours like lavender and basil.

Recommended tour: Rome: Trastevere or Jewish Quarter Street Food Tour

Day 3 – Local produce and restaurants

If you’re not already stuffed from your Roman food adventure, your final day will probably require a stretchier pair of jeans.

Kick off the morning with a coffee and pastry at Forno Campo de’ Fiori, a much-loved local bakery that sells freshly baked bread, croissants and more.

Having done a cooking class on day one, it’s now time to try a wine tasting – you can either find one online or do it yourself, by simply hopping around Rome’s many hole-in-the-wall wine bars.

If you can’t quite bring yourself to do this in the morning, start with a city food tour first, or combine the two by finding a food and drink tour of the city.

An iconic place to sample all things Rome and Italy is at Eataly, which is like a giant department store just for food.

Eataly has gone global, with outlets in London and New York, but if you haven’t been, visiting in its native country is best as it sells thousands of local products, from pasta to oils, wines, bread, sauces and more.

Plus, it houses a range of restaurants and bars serving local cuisine, offers cooking classes, has demonstrations and often has lots of free samples!

To splash out on your final evening, you’ll need to book far in advance to get a reservation at La Pergola, Rome’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant, but the food is mind-blowing, and it’s within walking distance of the city’s best cocktail bars to ensure the holiday lasts right until the end of the night.

Recommended tour: Rome: Guided Food Tour in Trastevere

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3-Day Hidden Gems Itinerary

Day 1: Local neighbourhoods

So you think you know Rome?

Maybe you’ve been to the biggest sights before, or maybe it’s your first time and you’d rather avoid the touristy spots.

Luckily, there’s still a lot to discover when visiting Rome that’s completely under the radar.

A perfect example is the neighbourhood of Quartiere Coppedè which is filled with some of the city’s most unique architecture, and the buildings are an eclectic mix of Art Nouveau and Baroque.

Next, head to the beautiful Villa Torlonia, a stunning local park home to Casina delle Civette, which translates as the House of Owls, which is famous for its pretty stained-glass windows and manicured gardens – a great alternative to the crowds at Villa Borghese.

To discover where Rome’s younger crowd like to spend time, check out the quirky Ostiense district, where local and international artists have galleries and the walls are covered in graffiti that you can explore on a street art tour of the area.

Recommended tour: Roma Pass: 48 or 72-Hour City Card with Transport

Day 2 – Catacombs and the Tiber

On your second day discovering the undiscovered, begin with a relaxing amble through the neighbourhood of Garbatella, a beautiful and quiet residential area full of old-fashioned architecture and pretty gardens.

After that, check out the Appian Way, which is one of the earliest-ever Roman roads that originally connected the city with Brindisi and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Follow this with a visit to the Catacombs of San Callisto, which is also on the Appian Way and is one of the largest and most important underground cemeteries in Rome.

The maze of tunnels and crypts includes thousands of graves, including those of many martyrs and several popes.

Rome isn’t all about ancient history, and you can see it uniquely fused with modern art at the Centrale Montemartini, a museum where dozens of beautiful, historic sculptures and artwork are displayed in the museum’s industrial interiors and set against modern equipment.

Back in Rome’s centre, the Tiber River runs through its heart and while it can get busy, you can easily get away from tourist crowds at lesser-known spots like Ponte Sisto and the Tiber Island.

For dinner, it’s time for some city views which can be found at restaurants up on Gianicolo Hill, which are upmarket and local and serve delicious Roman specialities.

Recommended tour: Rome: Crypts and Catacombs Underground Tour with Transfers

Day 3 – Churches and Architecture

You aren’t quite done with discovering all Rome has to hide, and on the last day in the city you shouldn’t miss the Basilica of San Clemente, which is not only a magnificent church in itself, but it also has underground floors and multiple churches have been built on top of each other throughout history that you can explore on a tour.

Next, swing by the Baths of Caracalla – Romans loved their baths but many people forget this when visiting Rome itself, yet this bath complex is an incredible look at the ancient bathhouses that the Romans used to relax, before spas even existed!

The engineering is impressive, thanks to their use of plumbing which ensured natural hot spring water trickled into the baths and fires were lit to create the first saunas.

After a quick bite to eat, head to Giardino degli Aranci, the Orange Garden, which has panoramic views of the city from the Aventine Keyhold – a genuine keyhole that uniquely frames the skyline.

Also here on Aventine Hill, which is the southernmost of Rome’s seven hills, is the Basilica of Santa Sabina and the colourful nearby Rose Garden.

The hill is the perfect spot to bring some local produce picked up at a market or shop, to enjoy a final picnic with a view of the Eternal City.

Recommended tour: Rome: Caracalla Baths & Circus Maximus — Private or Shared

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