3 Days in Rome: A Complete Itinerary

Spending 3 days in Rome is the perfect way to discover the city. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The capital of Italy has so much to offer, making it a great place to visit. This 3 days itinerary shows you how to make the most out of your time in Rome!

Although three days is the ideal number of days to spend in Rome. If you have less time, you can also visit Rome in a day.

Why go to Rome?

There are many reasons to visit Rome. One of the most important reasons is the history of the city.

The history goes back about 2800 years. Rome is one of the oldest cities in Europe where people lived without a break.

One of the most interesting things is that Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, lots of people believe that Rome was the first Imperial City.

When you're in Rome, you can learn a lot about the amazing history of the city. You can still find many interesting remains.

For example, the Roman Forum is a place where you can admire ancient buildings. Also, the Colosseum is an old amphitheater. The construction started in AD 72 and you can still admire it!

In short, the history of Rome is a very important reason to visit the city. The historic center of Rome is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Besides that, there are many other reasons to visit this beautiful city.

The food in Rome is great. There are countless restaurants with delicious meals and a great atmosphere. Those who love traditional Italian food will love Rome. Also, the ice cream in the city is amazing.

Furthermore, Rome is an affordable place to visit. There are plenty of accommodations that aren't very expensive. You can also go to several affordable restaurants in Rome.

Another very important reason to go to Rome is that there is so much to do! There are many interesting sights and beautiful places to go to. It's one of the cities that will never get boring.

Also, the city is in Italy, which is a very beautiful country. Rome is one of the best cities to visit in Italy! Thus, if you're going to spend 3 days in Rome, you'll have an amazing time!

When to visit Rome?

The best time to visit Rome is in April, May, June, September, and October. But, it depends on your preferences.

In these months, there aren't many tourists in Rome. Thus, it won't be very busy and accommodations are more affordable. This is in contrast to July and August when it's very crowded.

Also, these months it isn't very cold in Rome, making it more comfortable. In July and August, it can get very hot in the city.

But, some people may prefer November until March. Then, it's much colder in Rome, which can also be very charming. The prices for accommodations are also not very high during these months.

So, if you don't mind bringing a good coat, then you can consider these months too!

Keep in mind that there isn't a time that you should definitely not travel to Rome. Rome is beautiful in every season, even though some are a bit more convenient.

How to get to Rome?

There are several ways to get to Rome. You can travel by airplane, train, and bus.

Airplane

Rome has two airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino. People also call Rome–Fiumicino the Leonardo da Vinci Airport.

Fiumicino

Fiumicino is the main airport in Rome. It's a very large one with five terminals. Many flights go here, both from within Europe and from outside Europe.

There are many things to do at the airport. For example, you'll find lots of shops here.

Furthermore, there are several public transport options to get to the center of Rome. There are trains and buses. Also, you can also travel by taxi or rent a car.

Ciampino

Ciampino is a smaller airport. If you're going to Rome from another European country, this airport is often cheaper. Many budget airlines go here.

Since the airport is very small, things go faster than at the other airport. For example, bags will be there faster.

To get to the center of Rome, you can travel by bus. Besides that, you can also rent a car or travel by taxi.

Train

You can also travel to Rome by train. Several international trains go to Rome. So, if you're in Europe, you can get here by train.

Besides that, you can also travel to Rome by train if you're already in Italy. There are some great high-speed lines. For tickets within Italy, you can check out Trenitalia.

Bus

You can also travel to Rome by bus. Companies like Flixbus offer journeys. This takes more time than the train and airport, but it is often more affordable.

Getting around Rome

There are various ways to get around in Rome.

Many sights are walkable. Walking in the city is fun and a good way to get around.

Furthermore, there's also great public transport in Rome. There are buses, trains and there's a good metro network.

Besides that, you can also rent a car or scooter. Moreover, you can travel by taxi as well.

Overview of itinerary

If you're spending 3 days in Rome, you can get a perfect experience in the city. This 3-day itinerary makes sure you will have the most amazing time and see the best sights!

Rome Itinerary Day 1: Ancient Parts

Day one is all about the ancient parts of the city. You're going to explore the history of Rome. This is a very fun day, as the history is very impressive.

Colosseum

You will start your day at the Colosseum. Colosseum is an amphitheater in the center of Rome. It's one of the most famous sights in the city. Going here is one of the best things to do in Rome.

The Colosseum has a very interesting history. In AD 72, the construction started.

There were many events here. For example, there were gladiatorial games. Often, emperors attended the gladiatorial games.

Through the years, many things happened to the Colosseum. For example, there were earthquakes that destroyed parts of it. Thus, not the whole Colosseum is still there. But, you can see the remains and that's very interesting. One side of the Colosseum is exactly like it was in the past.

You can admire the Colosseum from the outside. But, you can also go inside. It's a very impressive experience!

Furthermore, the Colosseum is very photogenic and one of the best places for photography in Rome.

Roman Forum

After that, you can go to The Roman Forum. This is next to the Colosseum, so you can walk there. You can buy a combi ticket, so you can see both sights.

There are ruins of buildings that were very important during Roman times. It's the old center of Rome. You can see many statues and monuments here.

Then, you can have lunch at Vinando a Tor Margana. This is a lovely restaurant with delicious pizza and pasta. It's only a seven-minute walk from Romanum Forum

National Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II

After lunch, you can go to the National Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II. This is a very famous monument in Rome. Victor Emmanuel II was the first king of Italy as a whole.

You can find this monument on Capitoline Hill.

The construction of this monument started in 1885 and it was ready in 1935. The architecture of the monument is very interesting. Furthermore, the style is neoclassical and it's an interpretation of the Roman Forum.

Musei Capitolini

After you saw the monument, you can go to the Musei Capitolini. Musei Capitolini is also on the Capitoline Hill. It's one of the best museums in Rome!

This is a very interesting museum that you should definitely see when you're in Rome! You can learn a lot about history here. For example, you can see old Roman statues at this museum.

You can also admire a collection of medieval art here. Furthermore, there are also objects from the Renaissance.

For dinner, you can go to La Vacca cucina e cantina. This restaurant serves the most delicious pasta dishes! And it is close to the Colosseum.

If you want, you can visit the Colosseum after dinner. This is one of the best things to do at night in Rome. There are wonderful night tours.

Rome Itinerary Day 2: Stroll through the city

On the second day, you will get to know the city better. You can stroll through Rome and see some famous sights.

Trevi Fountain

In the morning, you can go to the Trevi Fountain. This is a very large fountain and it's one of the most famous fountains that exist! It's very impressive to see.

People believe that if you throw a coin in the fountain, you will get back to Rome in the future. You have to do this while holding the coin in your right hand and throwing it over your left shoulder.

Also, fun to know is that you can see the fountain in a few famous movies. For example, it was in La Dolce Vita.

Spanish Steps

Then, you can walk to the Spanish Steps. This is a monumental stairway and people built it in the 18th century. Furthermore, it's a fun place to sit down for a while.

Piazza Navona

When you saw the Spanish Steps, you can go to Piazza Navona. Piazza Navona is a famous square. Here, you find some impressive monuments and fountains.

In the middle, you can see the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. The design of this fountain is very special. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed it for Pope Innocent X around 1650.

Furthermore, for 300 years, this was the place of the city market of Rome. Also, nowadays, there's a Christmas market every year.

Pantheon

Then, you can go to the Pantheon. This Roman temple is beautiful to see. The construction of the temple was in 126 AD, so that's very impressive.

The architecture of the Pantheon is gorgeous. Both from the outside and from the inside, this is a very interesting sight.

Furthermore, nowadays this is a Catholic church.

Then, you can have lunch at Pastificio Guerra. This is a place where you can have affordable pasta. They have two different pasta dishes every day.

Furthermore, it's very close to the Spanish Steps. This place is also popular with the locals.

Villa Borghese and Galleria Borghese

When you finished lunch, you can go to Galleria Borghese. This is a beautiful gallery where you can see art. The location of this gallery is in Village Borghese Pinciana.

You can find here many pieces of the Borghese collection. For example, there are sculptures and beautiful paintings.

Besides that, the gardens of the villa are a popular sight as well!

In the evening, you can go to Pizzarium & Trieste Pizza for dinner. The pizzas at that restaurant are amazing!

Rome Itinerary Day 3: Vatican City and surroundings

On the last day of your 3 days in Rome, you can explore Vatican City and the surroundings. This is a very fun day as well!

Museums in Vatican City

Vatican City is an independent country surrounded by Rome. You should definitely go there if you're in the city. Moreover, it's even the smallest country in the world! The leader of the country is the pope.

In the morning, you can go to the museums in Vatican City. You can find the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. The church collected all pieces to form the collection. There are many sculptures and paintings here.

For lunch, you can go to 200 Gradi. This is a sandwich shop with a large number of options. Furthermore, it's very close to Vatican City.

St. Peter’s Basilica

When you had lunch, you can go to St Peter's Basilica. St. Peter's Basilica is a church in Vatican City. This is the first thing you'll see when you enter Vatican City.

The architecture of the church is wonderful. It's in Renaissance style, so that's very interesting. People even consider it to be one of the best pieces of Renaissance architecture.

Furthermore, it's the largest church in the world! You can also go to the top, so that's very fun. This is definitely a must-see during your 3 days in Rome!

Castel Sant’Angelo

When you leave Vatican City, you can walk towards Castel Sant'Angelo. This is an ancient building. It's more than 2,000 years old.

The popes used it as a fortress and castle. Nowadays, it's a museum.

Dinner at Roscioli Salumeria is great for the last evening. This lovely restaurant serves very delicious pasta dishes! This is the perfect way to finish your 3 days in Rome!

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