Italy

3 Days in Rome: Ultimate Itinerary

3 Days in Rome: Ultimate Itinerary

Are you going to visit Rome in 3 days and are looking for the must-see sites to see during a city trip? This guide full of practical advice tells you what to do in Rome during a weekend of 2, 3 or 4 days. The capital of Italy and its 3,000 years of history is an open-air museum, and it is better to prepare your stay as there is so much to discover between the Roman remains and the museums.

What to do in Rome? What are the must-see monuments and museums? Which itinerary to visit Rome in 2, 3 or 4 days? Which ticket and pass to choose? I explain everything in this blog post.

Day 1: The must-see sites

The Italian capital has such a rich heritage that it would take well over 3 days in Rome to visit everything. Nevertheless, in a long weekend you will have plenty of time to see all the must-see sites. But for that you will have to prepare your visits well because the crowds can be important on the most famous monuments (Colosseum, Saint Peter’s basilica, Vatican museums, …). Booking your tickets in advance is therefore essential. I indicate throughout this guide to Rome the links to the official sites to buy your skip-the-line tickets.

In the second part of this guide, I will tell you about the different passes offered to visit Rome. And you will see that depending on your program, it is not necessarily profitable to buy a pass (besides we did not buy one during our 3-day stay in Rome).

A little reminder for lovers of aerial photos and videos. The use of drones is prohibited in Rome, signs in the city center remind tourists. Violating this prohibition is punishable by a fine of up to 516 euros and up to 2 years in prison. You will understand, you can leave your drone at home to visit Rome.

Since April 1, 2022, it is no longer necessary to have a green pass (equivalent to the French health pass) to visit the museums of Rome (this does not apply to the Vatican museums, however). Wearing a mask remains compulsory.

Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Entrance Ticket

During our stay in Rome in January 2022 it was not possible to buy a ticket for the Colosseum directly on site. There was no ticket office (maybe due to Covid-19). And it still is today. It is therefore advisable to buy your entrance ticket on the internet before coming to visit Rome.

But beware, the sites that come out in the first results of Google and even the blogs that I had consulted all refer you to partner sites that sell tickets at a higher price (30% more expensive for the ticket of the 3 sites) . The only official site to buy tickets is the coopculture one to which the official site of the Colosseum in Rome refers. And no need for a skip-the-line or priority ticket since it is already included in the basic ticket! Indeed it is mandatory to choose the time of his visit when buying on the official website.

There is no ticket to visit the Colosseum alone. You must take a combined ticket that gives access to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine. The ticket is valid for 24 hours and you must choose the time of entry to the Colosseum (slots every 5 minutes). Respect the time of your ticket, otherwise you will not be allowed in.

You cannot buy the tickets more than a month in advance to visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine. Tickets are on sale on the official website only for the next 30 days. If you can’t find tickets for your dates try GetYourGuide or Tiqets to see if there are places left.

You can also choose a guided tour. It is not possible to book a visit with a guide on the official website, this is only done once on site. If you prefer to book in advance, the blog’s partner site offers this guided tour from 1 to 3 hours (from €34.9).

3 different tickets are offered to visit the Colosseum :

  • 24h – Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine: €18 which allows you to visit the 3 monuments of ancient Rome. Ticket valid for 24 hours. Reservation on the official website. This is the ticket you bought.
  • Full Experience ticket: 22 € which offers in addition to the previous ticket the visit of the arena and the Colosseum underground (as well as other minor sites in the city). The ticket is valid for 2 consecutive days. Reservation on the official website.
  • Forum Pass SUPER ticket: 16 €, this ticket allows you to visit the other sites without the Colosseum, but it is not of much interest as the latter is to be seen.

After your purchase you will receive the electronic ticket by e-mail. You can print it or simply keep it on your smartphone to present it at the entrance to each site. For each monument you will have to go through security (much like at the airport), which can create queues. You only have the right to enter each site once, it is not unlimited access even if the ticket is valid for 24 or 48 hours.

Colosseum

We begin this guide to Rome with the emblematic monument that best represents the capital of Italy, the Colosseum ( Colosseo ). This 50,000-seat amphitheater, the largest built in the Roman Empire, was built between 72 and 80. For nearly five centuries, shows were held in the Colosseum where gladiators and wild animals clashed. Re-enactments of naval battles were even organized there. The Colosseum fell into neglect from the 6th century, then was stripped over the centuries of its decorative elements such as marble. It is today a ruin that we visit, but which remains well preserved despite its 2,000 years.

The exterior is made up of three levels of arches and superimposed columns, which inside delimit the different levels of bleachers. The noble and wealthy citizens occupied the two lower levels, while the people were relegated to the third level. In the center of the amphitheater is the arena and below the hypogeum with its ingenious system of elevators which made it possible to raise the decor and the participants.

After going through security at the entrance to the Colosseum, you go directly to the 3rd level where there is an exhibition retracing the history of the monument. There are also pieces of marble, mosaics and even graffiti made on stones. The corridor then leads to the level of the old bleachers from which one can measure the immensity of this remarkable building. The visit allows you to take a complete tour of the two floors where there are some explanatory panels.

The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine are among the must-see sites in Rome. If you are not staying there for a short time, I advise you to visit these monuments as a priority.

Opening hours : 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. from April to September (closed at 6.30 p.m. in October and 4.30 p.m. from November to March). Last entry 1 hour before closing. There are toilets and water fountains inside the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine.

colisee-rome
colisee-rome-2
Visit Rome: the Colosseum

Palatine Hill

It is one of the seven hills of Rome, to reach it you have to take the stairs at the beginning of the Roman Forum on the Colosseum side. According to legend, it is here that Romulus would have founded the city in 753 BC. At the time of the Roman Empire, it was the place of residence of the emperors who had sumptuous palaces built there. The gardens were made much later during the Renaissance. It was also during this period (1691) that the large fountain that can be seen when climbing the stairs to the Palatine was built.

Do not miss to pass by the Palatine Hill because it is from here that you will have the best views of the Roman Forum. To do this, go all the way west to the Orti Farnesiani sul Palatino park where there is a large terrace overlooking the entire Forum.

Leaving the Roman Forum by the Via dei Fori Imperiali, one comes across the ruins of the Imperial Forums. This set of five forums was built when the Roman Forum became too small. The ruins are much less preserved and access is free. To see if you pass otherwise we cannot say that it is one of the essential sites to visit in Rome.

forum-romain-colisee

The view from the Palatine Hill in Rome

Romain Forum

This set of ruins of temples and basilicas formed the heart of social life during the time of the Roman Empire. It is the most important archaeological site to visit in Rome. The Forum began to be developed from the 7th century BC and lasted until the fall of the Roman Empire in 476.

The main entrance in front of the Coliseum passes under the Arch of Titus which served as the model for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. You have to try to be methodical to see everything because with ruins all over the place, you are quickly lost when you arrive at the Roman Forum. The main thoroughfare, the Via Sacra , crosses the entire site. I spare you the description of all the ruins, with a good paper guide you will have all the explanations. Otherwise you can opt for a guided tour (see the links above in the “entrance ticket” section) but I warn you it can be long

To take the most beautiful photos of the Roman Forum, you have to climb the Palatine Hill which offers an overview of the site.

forum-romain-rome
Forum romain

Trevi Fountain

Leaving the Ancient Rome district to the north, one can either head towards the Historic Center or towards the Trevi district. The latter houses the most famous fountain in Rome, an obligatory place for all tourists who come to visit Rome. The Baroque work (1762) in white marble, 20 m wide and 26 m high, occupies the entire Piazza di Trevi square .

It is customary to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain to be sure to return to Rome one day. It is forbidden to sit on the fountain, to eat or drink, to go into the water or to pick up coins from the bottom of the water. Police officers present on site ensure that the rules are respected with a loud whistle. Be sure to come back in the evening to see the illuminated Trevi Fountain. To photograph the Trevi Fountain in its entirety, you absolutely need an ultra wide angle because there is little perspective.

fontaine-trevi-rome

Day 2: Piazza di Spagna and the Trinité-des-Monts staircase

Continuing north past the Trevi Fountain, one comes across another of Rome’s iconic landmarks, the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) and the Staircase of the Trinity of the Hills. The square owes its name to the presence of the nearby Spanish Embassy and not to the presence of a Spanish community. We are here in the most chic district of Rome, as evidenced by the many boutiques of major brands and luxury hotels.

The small Barcaccia fountain (1627) and a majestic staircase (1725) which climbs up to the Church of Trinité-des-Monts make up most of the Piazza di Spagna. The church is quite classic (there are much more beautiful ones in Rome) and a gate prevents you from visiting it. It is forbidden to sit on the steps, to eat or drink under pain of a fine of 400 €. There are also many police officers there.

piazza-spagna-escalier
Piazza di Spagna and the Trinité-des-Monts staircase

Piazza del Popolo

From the Piazza del Spagna and continuing on the semi-pedestrianized street Via del Babuino lined with many shops, we arrive at the Piazza del Popolo (People’s Square). In the center of this square laid out in 1538 is an obelisk and to the south two twin baroque churches (Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Chiesa di Santa Maria in Montesanto). On the east side, the Pincio gardens overlook the square.

It’s not the prettiest square in the capital and if you’re in a hurry you can skip Piazza del Popolo. After that does not represent a big detour from Piazza del Spagna and the passage through Via del Babuino will delight shopping enthusiasts.

Pantheon

We are now attacking the historic center district ( centro storico ) in this guide to Rome. The first of the must-see sites is the Pantheon. It is the best preserved ancient building in Rome since this temple dedicated to all the gods was built 2,000 years ago. It was transformed in the 7th century into a Christian basilica (Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres).

The visit is free and open, but what we didn’t know was that because of Covid-19 (we were there in January 2022), you had to book to visit the Pantheon on Saturday or Sunday. So we couldn’t get in. So if you come for a weekend in Rome, remember to book your visit on the official website.

For those who prefer guided tours, I recommend this 40-minute tour of the Pantheon (€22).

visiter-rome-pantheon
What to do in Rome: the Pantheon

Church of St. Louis of the French

Between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, stop at the Saint-Louis-des-Français church built between 1518 and 1589. It bears this name because it was partly financed by the King of France and then consecrated as the Church of the French in Rome. . The Renaissance style facade has several statues of figures from the history of France such as Charlemagne. The interior is decorated in a Baroque style with lots of marble and frescoes. But the Saint-Louis-des-Français church is best known for its 3 paintings by the Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi known as Caravaggio. Free visit.

eglise-saint-louis-francais-rome
The Church of Saint-Louis-des-French

Piazza Navona

With its fountains and baroque palaces, Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. It is a masterpiece of Baroque art and a must when visiting Rome. It is also a very lively place with many cafes set up all around. What to enjoy the view and the atmosphere.

Three fountains are installed in Piazza Navona. The most imposing is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers, 1651) in the center of the square with its Egyptian obelisk. The four figures arranged around symbolize the four continents then known at the time. The Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor, 1576) to the south depicts a Moor surrounded by tritons. The last to the north, the Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune, 1574) depicts the god Neptune surrounded by nymphs and confronting a sea monster.

In the center of the square is the Sainte-Agnès-en-Agone church (9am-1pm / 3pm-8pm, closed on Mondays) typical of the Baroque style of Francesco Borromini, an Italian architect considered a major figure in this art. It was completed in 1657 on the ruins of an 8th century oratory . The interior is covered with numerous frescoes. Underground passages lead to a Roman mosaic and remains of the stadium of Domitian which preceded the square in the 1st century.

piazza-navona-rome

Day 3: St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican)

Visiting the Vatican City is one of the must-do things to do in Rome. Difficult to ignore the smallest country in the world located in the heart of the capital. There are two major sites not to be missed: St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums (with the Sistine Chapel).

St. Peter’s Basilica is the most important building for Catholics and is a place of pilgrimage. But you don’t need to be a believer to marvel at the Pope’s Church, one of the most visited monuments in the world. The basilica was completed in 1656, and what strikes as soon as one passes the front door is its immensity. It can accommodate more than 60,000 people. The interior has a superb cupola made by Michelangelo and inspired by the Duomo of Florence, as well as numerous works of art.

Admission is free but before accessing the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, you must go through security checks. This is one of the few places where we had to wait during our stay in Rome in January. Luckily the line moves pretty quickly.

If you want to book a visit in the company of a guide (duration 1 hour) I recommend this guided tour of Saint Peter’s Basilica (27 €). You can also visit St. Peter’s Basilica on your own by purchasing the official audioguide (€5).

Opening hours : 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. from April to September / 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. from October to March. Proper attire required (knees and shoulders covered).

basilique-saint-pierre-vatican

Access to the dome

You have to pay to access the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica from where you can enjoy a superb panorama. The entrance ticket to buy on the spot is 10 € with elevator or 8 € by the stairs. There are a total of 551 steps to get to the top, and the elevator skips the first 231. It therefore remains to climb 320 steps. This should be taken into account especially if you are not in good physical shape. Some passages are in fairly tight corridors, if it’s busy and you’re claustrophobic this can be a problem. As you go up, you will be able to observe the details of the dome much more closely.

I strongly advise you to climb up to the dome. Once at the top, you have a magnificent view of St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Gardens.

Opening hours to access the dome : 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. all year round with the lift / 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from April to September (4 p.m. the rest of the year) by the stairs.

place-saint-pierre-vatican
St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican

Vatican Museums

A visit to the Vatican Museums, which includes the Sistine Chapel, is one of the must-do things to do in Rome. This set brings together one of the most important art collections in the world. Bring comfortable shoes because there are about 7 km of exhibitions.

The entrance to the museums is north of the Vatican City walls. You have to go all the way around from the outside from Saint Peter’s Square. It’s well signposted, you won’t be able to get lost. Watch out for touts on this course trying to sell you tickets.

Tickets for the Vatican Museums

I strongly advise you to buy your ticket for the Vatican Museums (skip the line ticket) in advance, it will save you the long queues. Then I admit that we were there in January, and between the Covid-19 and the low season there was no one at the ticket office.

To book your skip-the-line entrance tickets, go to the official Vatican website. As with the Colosseum, many sites offer or encourage you to buy more expensive tickets from resellers, don’t be fooled! The official Vatican website also offers guided tours of the museums and the Sistine Chapel (€34 in French) as well as visits to the gardens.

The price is 17 € + 4 € reservation ( reservation here ). If you wish to visit the museums and the Sistine Chapel on your own without a guide, you must select the “Admission tickets – Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel” ticket. When purchasing, you must choose the time of your visit in 30-minute increments. As an option you can add the audio guide for 7 €.

You will receive after the validation of the purchase an e-mail with the voucher which contains a QR code. You can print it or keep it on your smartphone. By presenting this voucher at the reception upstairs (and not at the ticket office on the ground floor) you will obtain your entrance ticket. There is a line reserved for those who have already booked their ticket on the internet, which saves you from queuing outside.

If there are no more tickets on sale on the official website for your dates, try to see on GetYourGuide or Tiqets which offer last minute tickets. They sell the same ticket but a little more expensive. Those who like to have complete explanations can choose this guided tour of 2 to 3 hours.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month, but that’s also when it’s busiest (Rome locals also take advantage). In short, this is not necessarily the best time to go.

Please note, since the Covid-19 crisis, access to the Vatican Museums is only possible on presentation of the health pass and by wearing an FFP2 mask.

What to see in museums?

The set of rooms and galleries that make up the Vatican Museums is huge and looks like a labyrinth. The plan given at the entrance allows you to find your bearings because with the signage you are still a little lost. I advise you to bring the Lonely Planet Rome which details everything there is to see in the museums and gives a lot of explanations.

It is impossible to visit everything in one day, so it is better to head directly to the wings that interest you the most. Don’t worry you won’t be able to miss the Sistine Chapel, it is at the end of the 1st floor before going down. It is forbidden to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel (you will have to explain to me why this is the only place where it is forbidden). Many guards in the room call him back as soon as they see someone pull out a camera. But hey, I still managed to bring you back a shot

To take a breather and get some fresh air between the different museums, take advantage of the outdoor terrace and the gardens. This is where the sculpture of a sphere made by Arnaldo Pomodoro is located.

Among the museums that we appreciated the most, the rooms of Raphael ( Stanze di Raffaello ) covered with frescoes are particularly beautiful (2nd floor ). The famous Renaissance painter decorated two personally. The Gallery of Maps ( galleria delle Carte ) 120 m long with a magnificent painted vaulted ceiling, presents 40 topographic maps from the 16th century (2nd floor ). In the Borgia apartments there are more contemporary works, which changes a little, with paintings by Dali or Matisse for example. Just after we arrive in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The exit from the museum is via a superb spiral staircase (Bramante staircase).

chapelle-sixtine-vatican
Sistine Chapel – Vatican Museums

Trastevere district

Trastevere is south of Vatican City across the Tiber from the historic center and the Colosseum. It is a very picturesque district made up of small alleys and houses where there are many restaurants and bars. It is a very popular place to go out and one of the most touristic areas of Rome. To reach the Trastevere district from the Vatican we took the bus (one of the few times during our stay in Rome). From the historic center you just have to cross the Garibaldi bridge.

Trastevere is a neighborhood where you mainly enjoy the atmosphere. There are not many monuments to see, one of the main ones is the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere set in a pretty square. It closes many mosaics. Unfortunately we could not observe them because the day of our visit it closed exceptionally at 5 p.m. and we went too late.

In terms of restaurants, we ate excellent rigatoni all’amatriciana at Nannarella. They serve most of the day which is convenient as we ate at 4pm. By dint of visiting Rome you can’t see the time passing The prices are quite correct, a nice address that we recommend (and Daniela who is Neapolitan is very fond of pasta, impossible for her to eat it at the restaurant in France for example).

place-santa-maria-trastevere-rome
Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere and the basilica

Castel Sant’Angelo

This imposing circular fortress built between 135 and 139 was originally a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian. It was in the 6th century that the mausoleum was transformed into a castle. Since 1925 it has housed the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo which houses a collection of paintings and armor. There is a secret passage, the Passetto di Borgo, which connects Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican. It allowed the Popes to flee in case of danger. The terrace at the top of Castel Sant’Angelo offers a lovely panorama over Rome and the Vatican City.

You can purchase the ticket in advance through the official Castel Sant’Angelo website. Otherwise, for a few euros more you can buy a skip-the-line ticket. Access to the castle is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Opening hours : 9am – 7.30pm, closed on Mondays | Price : 13 €

castel-sant-angelo-rome
Castel Sant’Angelo and Pont Saint Angel

Which pass to visit Rome and should you buy one?

Like most big cities, Rome is no exception to the rule by offering 2 official tourist passes (available in 4 versions) of which I give you the details below. Before buying this type of pass, think about what you plan to do in Rome because it is not necessarily profitable.

On our side we did not buy any pass to visit Rome in 3 days. And that didn’t stop us from seeing most of the must-see sights. We didn’t need to have an unlimited transport pass since with accommodation not too far from the center (Aventino district) we did everything on foot.

As for the passes that are sold by ticket or activity reservation sites, if you want to save money and pay the right price, you simply have to buy your tickets on the official sites that I give each time. As much as I am for this kind of site when it comes to organized excursions, as much for the same entry ticket sold at a higher price, I do not wish to promote it. I will not receive a commission but at least you will pay the cheapest rate

Roma Pass 48h / 72h

  • A free entry (or 2 entries for the 72h version) in a museum or archaeological site of your choice ( list here )
  • Free use of public transport during the period of validity of the card (48h / 72h)
  • Discounts for tourist attractions
  • Experience with an augmented reality headset at Circo Maximo ( detail here )
  • Free access to the toilets of the P.stop network

Price: €32 for 48 hours / €52 for 72 hours | Where to buy : Roma Pass official website

My opinion : this pass is interesting if you plan to visit many tourist sites and museums in Rome (it does not include those of the Vatican). It can also be useful to have unlimited transport if you have accommodation far from the city center. For our part, we did everything on foot, taking the bus only twice in 3 days (ticket €1.50).

Omnia Card 24h / 72h

You will find all the detailed information and the links to buy the pass on the official Omnia Card website

Omnia Card 24h

  • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
  • Open Bus  Vatican & Rome  (hop-on hop-off bus)
  • Carcer Tullianum (Prison Mamertine)
  • Basilica of Saint John in Lateran and Cloister with audio guide, Entrance to the Treasury Museum
  • Guided tour of one of Rome’s Catacombs of your choice
  • Vox City Guide ,  the innovative app that will guide you around the city

Fare : 69€

Omnia Card 72h

  • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
  • Multilingual audio guide app for St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Basilica of Saint John in Lateran and Cloister with audio guide, Entrance to the Treasury Museum. (access to the Sancta Sanctorum is not included)
  • Open Bus  Vatican & Rome  (hop-on hop-off bus)
  • Entrée au Carcer Tullianum
  • Vox City Guide , the innovative app that will guide you around the city.
  • 2 free admissions to museums and/or archaeological sites in the city of Rome
  • Discounted entry for the following visits to the museums and/or archaeological sites of the city of Rome included in the Roma Pass
  • Free access to Atac public transport in the city of Rome for 72 hours

Fare : 129 €

My opinion :The 24-hour version has relatively little interest because it is difficult to visit all the sites offered in the pass in a single day. Knowing that the ticket for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel only costs 21 € (see above), the Omnia Card 24h is not a good plan.

The 72h version seems perfect for a 3-day stay in Rome, the only problem is that it is relatively expensive (too much for my taste). It is advisable to make your calculations according to the sites and museums that you plan to visit to see if it is profitable. The Vatican Museum (€21), the Colosseum Archaeological Park (€18) and the Borghese Gallery (€13) are the most expensive sites included (total €52). If we remove the audio guides which are not necessarily essential with a paper guide and if you do not intend to take the public transport included, this leaves a nice margin to reach 129 €. Here again if you want to visit Rome quietly without having to race to museums and without needing public transport, the Omnia Card 72h is not interesting. To make this pass profitable, you must use all the options and take public transport frequently (a bus/metro ticket costs €1.50).

vittoriano-rome
Vittoriano, the monument to Victor-Emmanuel II

Practical tips for visiting Rome

How to go to Rome

Although “all roads lead to Rome” as the saying goes, here are the main ways to reach the capital of Italy:

  • Plane : it is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to go to Rome. Many lowcost companies offer cheap tickets.
  • Train : Rome Termini train station is in the city centre. The train is a good solution if you come from another Italian city, like Pisa for example. From France the trip is a bit long.
  • Car : this is not the most practical and quickest solution, since you will not need a car to visit Rome. However, if, like us, you are on a road trip in Italy (we came from Tuscany ), you will arrive in the capital by car. In this case the best is to look for accommodation with parking to leave it during your entire stay in Rome.

How to reach the city center from Rome airport

From Fiumicino airport ( Leonardo da Vinci) located 30 km from the city, you have the choice between:

  • The direct Leonardo Express train to Rome-Termini station which runs between 6:08 a.m. and 11:23 p.m. with a departure every 15 minutes (30 minutes during off-peak hours). This is the best and fastest solution. Price: €14, duration 32 min. You can buy the ticket on site or on the Trenitalia website (official website for trains in Italy). Select from “Fiumicino Aeroporto” to “Roma Termini”. If you can’t find it, you can buy it directly on this booking site (€17.9).
  • The bus for Termini station which runs between 6:05 a.m. and 12:40 a.m. It’s cheaper (6€) but longer (1 hour) and you’re not safe from getting stuck in traffic. You can buy the ticket on this site.
  • The shuttle between Fiumicino Airport and your hotel located within the Aurelian Walls (the whole center of Rome). Reservation here (€18.46).
  • The taxi , the price for the center of Rome is 48 € (fixed price).

When to visit Rome

The Italian capital can be visited all year round, but the best times to visit Rome are spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October). In summer it can be very hot, and between the queues in front of the monuments and the visits outside (like the Roman Forum), we spend a lot of time in full sun. This can be distressing for some.

For our part, we visited Rome in the middle of winter in January. And as you can see from the photos we had sunny weather the whole time we were there. The temperatures were only chilly after dark (which required us to pull out the hats!). The advantage of visiting Rome in winter is that there are not many tourists, and that we really appreciate if you follow us on the blog. On the downside, the only one I found is that the sun sets early and is not positioned very high in the sky, which often causes shadows on the photos.

For your stay in Rome, avoid Catholic religious holidays (especially Easter) which see many tourists flocking to the city and the Vatican.

Pont-vittorio-emanuele-rome
Vittorio Emanuele II Bridge and St. Peter’s Basilica

Accommodation in Rome

The city offers a wide range of accommodation ranging from youth hostels for travelers on tight budgets to 5-star palaces. No matter what time of year you come, the main thing is to book well in advance because Rome is a very touristic city where prices are high. It is the first Italian city and the 5th city in Europe in terms of tourists.

Each district has its advantages and disadvantages, here are some good addresses located in the city center and classified by budget.

  • €82: Roman Central House, well placed 800 meters from the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, this guest house offers a room with a private kitchen.
  • €99: Coliseum top floor with terrace and view, this apartment near the Colosseum located on the top floor has a terrace with a view.
  • €107: B&B In Piazza, a bed and breakfast very close to the magnificent Piazza Navona which offers rooms with breakfast included.
  • €135: Gemini Suites Navona, this bed and breakfast offers beautiful modern rooms just 20 meters from Piazza Navona.
  • 139 €: Monti First, this 3-star hotel is very well located, it is located in the center near the essential sites to see in Rome.
  • 147: B&B Insula Urbis, located 400 m from the Pantheon, this bed and breakfast offers pretty modern rooms with balcony. Breakfast included.
place-saint-pierre-rome
St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican

Where to eat in Rome

Any trip to Italy gives pride of place to gastronomy and Rome is no exception to the rule. To eat like a Roman, I advise you to go to the trattorias. These restaurants serve simple but delicious home cooking. On the menu the traditional pasta ( alla carbonara and all’amatriciana which are my favourites) and Roman specialties such as saltimbocca alla Romana. The city also has a large number of pizzerias that serve Neapolitan-style round pizzas (for the record pizza was born in Naples ) but also slices of pizza by the meter called pizza al taglio whose dough is thicker.

The Trastavere district is renowned for its many trattorias, bars and cafes, it is the ideal area for lunch or dinner in Rome. There are very good addresses there, we went to Nannarella and it was excellent.

Testaccio, a former working-class district of Rome, is also a Mecca for Roman gastronomy. As our accommodation was right next to this district, we were able to test several addresses. We recommend Masto, a restaurant that also does groceries. The room is very small, reservations are essential. Still in Testaccio but a little more upscale (it is recommended by the Michelin Guide), the Felice restaurant is also a nice address that we tested.

To discover Roman cuisine in the company of a guide, you can opt for this evening culinary tour.

What to do around Rome

Pompeii and Vesuvius

Want to get out of the capital to discover other riches of Italy? This day trip to Pompeii and Vesuvius from Rome will give you a change of scenery.

Aboard a private air-conditioned bus, you will discover Pompeii accompanied by an archaeologist guide. The skip-the-line entrance ticket as well as the guided tour of the ancient city is included. After visiting Pompeii, you will climb the slope of Mount Vesuvius (April to mid-November), one of the few active volcanoes in Europe located in the Vesuvius National Park. From here, you’ll take a short hike to the Smoking Crater for stunning views of Capri and Sorrento. During the winter season, between November and March, Mount Vesuvius is closed, so your tour will follow the coastline and take you to the city of Naples.

The Tuscany

Escape the hustle and bustle of Rome with this Tuscany tour with lunch and wine tasting. With travel and sightseeing already arranged, enjoy the famous food, wine, and scenery of this scenic region in just one day.

First, you will visit the hilltop town of Montepulciano on foot. Admire an ancient but still functional wine cellar and ruins that predate Rome. Then visit San Biagio, a 16th-century Renaissance church. A short drive away awaits a delicious Tuscan lunch. The 3-course meal with wine pairings is taken in the wine cellar of an authentic wine farm, including the famous Brunello di Montalcino. The last stop is at the village of Pienza before heading back to Rome.

If you are interested in Tuscany, you can also visit Florence and Pisa from Rome with this excursion.

Positano and the Amalfi Coast

Fall in love with the Amalfi Coast on this day trip to Positano and surrounding area and travel by high-speed train from Rome to Naples. Then, travel by minibus to Positano and Amalfi and enjoy the beaches and Italian shops at leisure.

Positano is considered one of the most beautiful villages in southern Italy. On site, stroll through the narrow streets to reach the port and its flamboyant colors and find some unique local products in the many souvenir shops in the village. Then set off to discover authentic Italy by entering the heart of Amalfi where the characteristic Mediterranean architecture, represented in particular by sublime white houses as if stacked on top of each other, will seduce you.

Map of your 3-day itinerary in Rome

To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 3 days in Rome, I have created this map with all the places to visit day by day. You can view the legend of the map by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow.

You are ready to visit Rome in 3 days, or even a little more if you want to make excursions outside the city. If you have any questions to organize your stay in Rome, do not hesitate to comment.

Are you going to Rome? Read also:

7 Days in Rome: Ultimate 1-Week Itinerary

Jennifer Bringardner

Through BonAdvisor, I share my passion for travel since 2017. A hobby at first, I quickly realized that my articles could inspire travelers like you to better organize their trips. A question about a destination, a visit, a good plan? I'll answer in the comments.

Related Articles

Back to top button