Three days in Rome is just enough time to see all of the major sights and attractions. We have visited Rome a few times and have perfected this 3 Days in Rome Itinerary to ensure that you make the most out of all three days. In this guide, we have outlined the best sights to see each day and included a map to help you navigate to all of these places.
Day 1: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo & Villa Borghese
To start our 3 days in Rome itinerary, we always recommend spending your first day closer to your hotel. You never know how exhausted or jetlagged you may be, so it is always nice to plan to not go too far. Depending on where you are staying, feel free to also alternate days 1 and 3. We find Rome extremely walkable. If you were to walk straight from the Trevi Fountain to Villa Borghese, it would only take about 20 minutes.
Trevi Fountain
Standing 86 feet high (26.3 meters) and 161 feet (49 meters) wide, this famous fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city of Rome. The Trevi Fountain dates back to 19 B.C. when the Aqua Virgo Aqueduct was built in Rome to provide water for the city’s residents.
The Trevi Fountain is located about 10 minutes from the Spanish Steps. And like the steps, if you want a photo without anyone in it, you need to get there early, like 6:00 am early.
Don’t forget to toss a coin in the fountain with your right hand over your left shoulder! Apparently, if you throw one coin, it means you’ll return to Rome. If you toss two coins, it means you’ll return and fall in love. Throwing three coins means you’ll return, find love, AND get married! Whether this comes true or not, the money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Roman’s in need.
From Madison
Our entire trip centred around visiting the Trevi Fountain after I watched The Lizzie McGuire movie back in 2003. For the record, it was everything I imagined it to be! However, I couldn’t believe all of the people there! As we’ve mentioned, if you want a photo with no one in it – you need to go super early in the morning.
Spanish Steps
We stayed near the Spanish Steps which was central to a lot of popular attractions. We spent most evenings just sitting on the steps, people-watching. However, since 2019, you’re no longer able to just sit on the steps.
These stunning steps were built between 1723 and 1725 to connect the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Trinita dei Monti (and Trinita dei Monti church). The Spanish steps are currently one of the longest and widest staircases in all of Europe! The steps can be very busy during the day, so we recommend getting there early in the morning if you’re looking to snap some photos without anyone in them.
Via Margutta
Depending on how much time you have during your first day, if you’re already at the Spanish Steps, we recommend taking a stroll along via Margutta towards Piazza del Popolo. Via Margutta is said to be one of the most romantic streets in the world! In its prime, the street had some of the best craftsmen and workshops in all of Italy. Today, we think it’s a great spot to snap a few photos for the Gram.
Piazza del Popolo
After walking down via Margutta, you’ll be steps from Piazza del Popolo, also known as the People’s Square! Here, you’ll find all kinds of families and kids playing in the square. In the middle of the square is an Egyptian obelisk that’s a towering 73 feet tall (22 meters). This obelisk was initially located in Circus Maximus, but can now be found in Piazza del Popolo!
Pincian Hill – Terrazza del Pincio & Villa Borghese
After spending some time in the square, we recommend walking up to the Terrazza del Pincio where you’ll not only get a stunning photo of Piazza del Popolo, but also a panoramic shot of Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica!
Continue walking down viale Gabriele D’Annunzio, until you get to the intersection of it and viale Adamo Mickievicz, where you’ll find another awesome lookout point.
If you still have time, we also suggest taking a stroll through the gardens of Villa Borghese.
The gardens cover 80 hectares with all kinds of statues, lakes, museums, and fountains, complete with pathways lined with trees and flowers.
As you close out your first day in Rome, we recommend grabbing a bite to eat near the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain and get a goodnight’s sleep, you’ll need it for Day 2!
Day 2: Vatican City
With only 3 days in Rome, we recommend visiting the Vatican on your second day. That being said, you should avoid the Vatican on Sundays as it is an active church. The museums are also closed on all Sundays, except the last Sunday of each month, when the museums are free. Because they are free, we also don’t suggest going then.
The Vatican is a day trip in itself.
For those of you who don’t know, the Vatican is a city-state surrounded by Rome. So, if you’re like us and trying to visit as many countries as possible, the Vatican is considered its own country, and you can check another one off the list! The Vatican is home to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and of course, the Pope!
Whether you’re religious or not at all, it is worth a visit to marvel at the architecture and history itself. If you don’t want to do a tour, you should plan to arrive VERY early to see inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The lineup to enter can last about four hours, and there’s very little shade. Be prepared for the sun and heat in the summer months!
When we arrived via the Metro, we were approached by random tour guides, and while we usually wouldn’t recommend going this route, it worked out for us!
Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Tour
If you’d like to go on a tour, our recommendation would be to make a reservation in advance!
The first 30 minutes of the tour were spent learning more about this incredible place and the fascinating history. From there, we were able to use the facilities near St. Peter’s Square and then proceed through the Vatican Museum. The tour guide provided information throughout the museum, but we opted to go at our own pace and just look around (keeping a close eye on the group, of course).
After the museum, we went into the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. The best part? NO LINE! We just walked in. If you wanted to go up the tower of the Basilica, there was about an hour wait.
Once we got to the Basilica we were on our own. We spent a few moments taking everything in, snapping a few photos (with no flash, of course), and then carried on our way!
Important Tips when Visiting the Vatican
A few important things to note when visiting the Vatican:
- Proper Attire – your shoulders should be covered (no low cut or sleeveless clothing) and bottoms below the knee. No hats should be worn indoors, either.
- You will go through a metal detector and security upon entry.
- There’s no talking in the Sistine Chapel – be prepared!
Liam’s Hot Tip
Having visited a lot of museums and churches in Europe, nothing quite compares to the Vatican. If you’re hesitant about whether Vatican City should be added to your list of places to visit, it should be on your list! I’m not the biggest history/museum buff, but this place blows my mind that every square inch has some sort of spectacular design, often in gold.
Day 3: Colosseum, Piazza Navona & Castel Sant’Angelo
To close out the 3 days in Rome itinerary – we have all your main sights between the Colosseum and Piazza Navona. They are only about 30 minutes (walking) apart, and between these two spots, you can see a lot of popular attractions and check several Instagrammable spots off your list!
We recommend starting at the Colosseum, then heading to the Roman Forum and Altare Della Patria (aka. Victor Emmanuel II National Monument; aka. the Wedding Cake). After you’re finished there, continue on your way to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. If you still have time, we also suggest hopping over to Castel Sant’Angelo (and even back to Piazza Navona afterward)!
Colosseum
Created as a gift to the Roman people, the Colosseum was built between 72 A.D. and 80 A.D. and is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Rome. It is a must-visit in Rome and something you should visit as part of your 3 days in Rome itinerary! This massive amphitheater could once seat between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators and was the largest built during its time. The Colosseum has had many uses from gladiator battles and animal hunts to housing, workshops, and quarters for a religious order. Parts of the Colosseum were ruined because of earthquakes and stone-robbers.
Today, the Colosseum is listed as one of the New7Wonders of the World, and in 2018, it was the most popular tourist attraction in the world, with 7.4 million visitors.
It is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance, especially if you want to tour the Arena or the Underground. However, we purchased a ticket the same day for entry to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum (costing €18). This didn’t include access to the Arena or Underground. We visited in May and didn’t wait more than 10-15 minutes to enter. That being said, the Colosseum can only hold up to 3,000 people at once, so we recommend going early in the morning!
Roman Forum
The Forum was initially built as the central hub for political and social activities in ancient Rome. Now, the Forum consists of several ancient Roman ruins that you can walk around and explore.
If you’re visiting the Colosseum, it’s worth visiting the Roman Forum since they are side-by-side (and you can get one ticket that includes admission to both).
We always have a hard time finding the website for the Colosseum & Roman Forum, so you can access it here!
Altare Della Patria | Victor Emmanuel II National Monument
After exploring the ruins at the Roman Forum, stop for a few photos in front of Altare Della Patria and see why it has so many names! This monument was built as a tribute to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy. Inside the building is also the Institute for the History of the Italian Risorgimento and the Central Museum of the Risorgimento. Since 1921, this monument also holds the tomb of the unknown soldier – where the eternal flame shines and is always guarded by two soldiers.
If you’re on a limited schedule and don’t have time to spend inside, we recommend just sitting for a couple of minutes across the street for a quick break. There are plenty of spots to sit and it’s also pretty entertaining to watch the crazy round-about traffic in front of the monument.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved buildings in all of Rome. It was once a Roman temple dedicated to all the Gods of Rome. The word Pantheon is a Greek for “honor all Gods”. Today, it is a Catholic church, and the dome of the Pantheon remains the largest unsupported dome in the world. The diameter of the dome is 142 feet (43.3 meters), and as a comparison, the United States Capitol dome is 96 feet (29.2 meters) in diameter.
Entrance into the Pantheon is free and requires no ticket to enter. The Italian Culture Minister had announced a €2 per person entry fee that was supposed to go into effect in May 2018, but this hasn’t seemed to have happened yet.
There’s a small piazza and fountain in front of the Pantheon that we recommend stopping at for a few photos. While this is a great place to stop for a bite to eat, our opinion is that you should wait a few more minutes until you’re at Piazza Navona.
Piazza Navona
Our favourite piazza in all of Rome, and really, one of our favourite places in the city! We could spend hours on end here, eating, drinking, and people-watching. Piazza Navona is also a great spot to shop for souvenirs!
Before you visit, we’ve compiled 25 useful Piazza Navona facts to know before you go!
Castel Sant’ Angelo
Once the tallest building in Rome, this cylindrical building is now used as a Museum. It was initially built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emporer, Hadrian, and his family. Then, the building was used by popes as a fortress and castle and was said to have had a secret passageway to the Vatican.
Admission to the museum is €20,50, but from October to March, admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.
For some awesome photos, come here as the sun is setting or at night when the lights are lit up!
Read More
25 Useful Piazza Navona Facts to Know Before You Go
41 Instagrammable Spots in Rome
3 Days in Rome Itinerary
Day 1:
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Via Margutta
- Piazza del Popolo
- Pincian Hill – Terrazza del Pincio & Villa Borghese
Day 2:
- Vatican Museums
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica
Day 3:
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Wedding Cake
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Castel Sant’Angelo
Map: 3 Days in Rome Itinerary
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