Embrace Your Wanderlust

Do you dream of visiting the Eternal City but don’t know where to start with planning? I’m here to help you create the perfect three day itinerary for visiting Rome.

I’ve included most of the popular spots but you can always tweak this to fit your personal must-see sites. I’ll try my best to keep the ticketing info up to date but my suggestion is to always double check the official website to get the most up-to-date information.

If you’ve pre-purchased tickets and they don’t align with the way the days are laid out in this itinerary, for example, you have the Colosseum ticket for day three and the Vatican for day one, just switch the days around to best fit your needs.

Here is a full list of the sites requiring paid tickets mentioned in this itinerary, with the links to the official websites:

• The Colosseum (plus Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum)
• The Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica
• Vicus Caprarius: underground aqueduct
• Pantheon
• Borghese Gallery

Day One

We’re going to start this itinerary off with the assumption that you will be arriving in Rome in the morning on day one (and want to hit the ground running) but you can change this to fit your timeline if you’re arriving later.

• Head to the Trevi Fountain

Start your first day in Rome with a self-guided walking tour of popular and (mostly) free sites. Make your way to the Trevi Fountain and make sure to bring some coins with you to throw in!

Just to note, the Trevi Fountain will likely be very busy by the time you make it here. That’s okay! Plan to just do a cruise by and come back tomorrow earlier in the morning for better photo ops.

DID YOU KNOW: there is a proper way to toss coins into the fountain. First, stand with your back to the fountain and hold the coin in your right hand. Throw the coin over your left shoulder and into the fountain behind you.

NOTE: there’s a store right across from the fountain called United Colors of Benetton. Go inside and up the stairs for a view out the window directly overlooking the fountain.

• Walk around the corner to Vicus Caprarius

Around the corner from the Trevi Fountain is a little known gem called Vicus Caprarius — the Water City. This is an underground archaeological museum and aqueduct just beneath the fountain. It costs €4 to get in and takes less than 10-15 minutes to explore but it’s pretty cool to see.

NOTE: Vicus Caprarius doesn’t open until 11am so if you’re doing this walking tour earlier than that, you’ll skip this part. You can always come back another time!

• Walk 10 minutes to the Spanish Steps

In Italian, the Spanish Steps are actually called Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti, which translates to stairway to Trinità dei Monti, the church at the top of the steps. The steps have been dubbed the “Spanish Steps” because of their proximity to Piazza di Spagna, or the Spanish Square.

DID YOU KNOW: as of 2019, it is illegal to sit on the Spanish Steps; this includes lying down, eating, or drinking on them. You can receive hefty fines for doing so.

Take a walk up to the top to look out onto the piazza and fountain below. You can also visit the church at the top, just keep in mind that visits to the public are closed during services, though you are welcome to join services if you would like.

• Walk 10 minutes down Via del Corso to Piazza del Popolo

Via del Corso is one of the most famous streets in Rome. It runs from the entrance gate at Porta del Popolo (in the piazza you’re heading to now) all the way to the heart of the city at Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill (where you will end this walking tour).

As you walk along Via del Corso, feel free to stop in the many shops along the way. Once you reach Piazza del Popolo, turn around so you face the street you just exited with your back to the piazza, and look at the two beautiful churches framing Via del Corso. This view makes for a beautiful photo.

NOTE: while in this area, you can choose to combine it with a visit to Galleria Borghese and/or a walk through Villa Borghese (the gardens outside the gallery). If you choose to visit the gallery, please see the information below regarding visiting and timed tickets. The gardens are free to enter and walk at your leisure.

Even if you don’t choose to visit the gallery or gardens, you should walk to the staircase to the right of the piazza (when facing it from Via del Corso) and head up the steps to the Pincio Terrace, a beautiful viewpoint of the piazza and city below.

• Walk 20 minutes to the Pantheon

The Pantheon, which has the distinct look of a Greek temple from the front, was a Roman temple originally dedicated to all of the gods. The best view of the Pantheon is from the piazza and fountain right outside, Piazza della Rotunda. Stop here for a minute and take some photos before heading inside.

As of 2023, entry to the Pantheon is no longer free. It costs €5 and you can buy it online here or with cash or credit card in person.

DID YOU KNOW: Rick Steve’s, the popular international travel writer, has a completely free app called Rick Steve’s Audio Europe with audio tours of popular sites in Europe. Included in his Rome guides is an audio tour of the Pantheon. I personally love and recommend his audio tours when possible, especially the Pantheon one.

• Walk 5 minutes to Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is one of the piazza’s that many people will recognize from famous photographs and movies alike. It’s an elongated oval-shaped square that has three fountains, bearing the work of notable artists Bernini and Borromini, among others.

By now, you’re probably starting to get a little sleepy and might need a sugary pick-me-up. If that’s the case, I have a couple options for you. Just a couple blocks away from Piazza Navona is Mr. 100 tiramisu which boasts 100 different kinds of tiramisu. Or in the opposite direction is Two Sizes, which offers just that: two sizes of tiramisu, large or small.

Feel free to sit on a bench and relax with your tiramisu, people watch, and revel in the fact that you’re in Rome!

• Walk 5 minutes to Campo de’Fiori

I promise, this walking tour is almost done and then you can head back to your hotel to rest your feet if you’d like. The next stop is Campo de’Fiori: home to a well-known outdoor market during the day, and popular nightlife after the sun sets.

At this point, even after your little treat, you’re likely going to want some lunch. Nearby Campo de’Fiori, there’s a quick grab-and-go place called Antico Forno Roscioli, which has my favorite: supplì, a Roman fried rice ball similar to arancini from Sicily.

If you’re in the mood for more of a sit down lunch, Cantina e Cucina is a good option nearby. I personally love their carbonara. And if you want some gelato (and the answer to this is you always say yes to gelato), Fatamorgana is nearby as well.

• Walk 15 minutes to Piazza Venezia

To finish off this morning of walking, head over to Piazza Venezia. Here, you will find the heart of the city as well as the Capitoline Hill.

If you’re up for climbing just a few more steps, go to the top of the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy. If you walk up the stairs at the front of the monument (this part is free), and then walk around to the side/back of the building, you get a beautiful view of ancient Roman ruins and the city itself. There is also an elevator that costs money that you can take up to the top for a better viewpoint, though I did not do this and was perfectly happy with the view I got for free.

At this point in your day, you might want to head back to your accommodations to check in, if you haven’t already. If you already have, or your accommodations aren’t ready yet, you can continue walking past Piazza Venezia to see the Colosseum from the outside. You’ll do your guided tour of the Colosseum on day two, but it’s always fun to see it from the outside beforehand.

In the early evening of day one, book a guided walking food tour of the Jewish Ghetto and/or Campo de’Fiori areas. Plan for this to be your dinner, as there will be a lot of food incorporated into the tour. Many tours also offer wine and other drinks at each of the stops along with history lessons along the route. I’ve linked a few options below that are highly rated, including the one I did and loved.

• Tasty Rome Street Food Tour at Campo de’Fiori & Ghetto Area on Airbnb Experiences — this is the one I did and really enjoyed it
• Rome: Campo de’Fiori & Ghetto Street Food Guided Tour on GetYourGuide
• Eternal Rome Food Tour: Jewish Ghetto, Campo de’Fiori, and Trastevere on Eating Europe

Day one is done! Go relax and enjoy the rest of your evening and prepare for a deep dive into Ancient Rome tomorrow.

Day Two

You’re going to want to start the morning bright and early, head over to the Trevi Fountain, and get your photo ops without the crowds this morning. I’d recommend being there no later than 8am but even earlier is better, if feasible. After you’ve gotten your pictures and thrown your coins into the fountain (note the right way to do it above!) you’ll want to head over to the Colosseum for your entrance into Ancient Rome.

NOTE: if your Colosseum tour is for a time that doesn’t align with this schedule, feel free to switch this to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill visit first, then go to your Colosseum tour after. If your ticket is through a third-party site and includes a guided tour to both sites, then you can adjust this schedule to fit your tour start time.

My biggest recommendation for Rome, and specifically the Colosseum, is to get tickets from the official website. However, that’s not always the easiest thing to do because tickets sell out FAST. So if your only option is a third-party tour, that works well too.

I will make a more in depth post about the different types of Colosseum tickets in the future, but for now, you’ll want to look at the official website for the different ticket types and what’s included/not included.

Whether you do the Colosseum first or second, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill will be included in the tickets for the Colosseum so you can visit those sites on the same day. Rick Steve’s Audio Europe also has an audio guide for the Roman Forum, which I did and enjoyed, but I also ended up wandering around on my own for another hour after the audio was finished.

After you’ve gone back in time to witness gladiator battles and ancient Roman government, it’s time for you to choose between art and food.

• Option 1: The Art Lovers Tour

If you didn’t do this on day one, you can get a ticket to visit the Galleria Borghese this afternoon. To get there from the Colosseum, I would suggest getting a taxi or Uber, otherwise it’s a 45-50 minute walk or a subway and bus ride, with transfers, so a cab is the quickest and easiest option.

The gallery houses some of the most incredible art in Rome, but just know that visits to the gallery are strictly two hours and you must exit once your two hours are up. Tickets need to be purchased in advance for your designated timed entry.

After your museum visit, you can walk around the massive gardens outside the gallery, Villa Borghese, and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding natures and Rome itself. Entry to the gardens is free.

• Option 2: The Food Lovers Tour

If you’d prefer to do something more food-centered, now is the time to take a pasta (or pizza) cooking class! I’ve linked a few options below that are highly rated, including the one I did and loved.

• Handmade Pasta & Roman Sauces with local chefs on Airbnb Experiences — this is the one I did and highly recommend it! It’s outside of the city center but very easy to get to and was a wonderful experience
• Rome: Pasta & Tiramisu Class with Fine Wine by the Vatican on GetYourGuide
• Rome Pizza-Making Class in Trastevere on Devour Tours

If you choose to do option 2, I’d recommend making this your dinner as you’ll get to eat your creations at the end of the cooking class.

Day Three

For your final day in Rome, we’re going to head over to Vatican City to explore the holiest of the Catholic Churches.

This morning, you’ll need to be up and out early because lines can get very long when it comes to the Vatican sites.

You’ll want to start by purchasing a ticket to see the Vatican Museums (which include the Sistine Chapel) from the official website, if possible. As with the Colosseum, tickets tend to go quick so if you can’t get one from the official website, using a third-party site works too.

Depending on the time of your entrance to the Vatican Museums, you may want to get in line for St. Peter’s Basilica first. Entrance to the basilica is free, but lines get extremely long and there is no skip-the-line option — beware of scammers trying to sell you skip-the-line tickets to the basilica!

NOTE: entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica requires specific clothing and you will be denied entry if they catch you not abiding by the rules. For women and men alike, shoulders and knees must be covered and no bare midriffs.

Once you’re finished with your visit to Vatican City, you’ll want to head over to the Trastevere neighborhood for some delicious food and drinks. This is where some of the best food in Rome can be found.

VinAllegro is a great little wine bar to enjoy some aperitivo in Trastevere. Trattoria Da Enzo Al 29 is also in the neighborhood and while they don’t take reservations, I believe the food is worth the wait.

DID YOU KNOW: there is no such thing as too much gelato.

And that concludes your three days in Rome! I hope this itinerary helps you with your planning and that you enjoy your time in the Eternal City. Rome is one of my favorite cities and I hope it becomes one of yours too.

The world is waiting for you so go embrace your wanderlust!