Visit Rome in 3 days
Rome is full of treasures and must-see sites. How to visit Rome in 3 days ? We offer you a detailed itinerary to discover the city.
How to prepare your 3-day trip to Rome?
By reading our article with all the Practical Information ! How much should you budget ? Do I need to buy the Roma Pass or the Omnia Card to visit the must-see monuments ? Where to stay ? How do I get to Rome city centre from the airport ? Here’s our advice on how to organise your 3-day trip to Rome.
Where to stay ?
- Upscale : At the Hotel Capo d’Africa, just a 5-minute walk from the Coliseum in Rome. One of the assets of this hotel is its rooftop with a superb view of the Colosseum. The Capo d’Africa is a 4-star hotel. Prices range from €147 to €324 per night, depending on the season.
- Excellent value for money in Rome : Room With a View 105. Price : €50 per night with breakfast. It is located 10 minutes’ walk from Termini station and 10 minutes from the Coliseum. The only negative point is that the flat is a little noisy despite the double glazing. Yes, Rome is a lively city !
Where can I buy my plane ticket ?
✈️ To find good prices on our plane tickets, we always use the Ulysse comparator. You can take advantage of a €10 discount on your first Ulysse flight to Rome by registering via our link ! To book your airport car park, go to OnePark. You can save 10% on your reservation via our link.
Day 1 : discover the historic center of Rome – Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is one of the busiest places in the city. To be able to explore it in peace, we therefore advise you to go there at sunrise. Yep, visiting Rome in 3 days doesn’t have to be a long, quiet river. You’ll have to wake up early.
✨Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain
According to custom, tourists visiting Rome throw coins into the Trevi Fountain while making a wish there. The wish differs according to the number of coins thrown : for 1 coin, we will return to Rome; for 2 coins, we will meet love; for 3 coins, we will get married. You are free to believe these superstitions, but if you too want to perform this symbolic gesture, know that you have to swing the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder for it to work !
At 7.45 am at the Trevi Fountain
– The Pantheon
Also a must-see in Rome, we advise you not to wait too long to visit the Pantheon and its pretty square. You can get there from the Trevi Fountain in 5/10 minutes on foot. Apart from the splendid facade, you can visit the inside of the Pantheon free of charge (doors open at 9am).
– The place Navona
The place Navona is the largest in Rome. Very touristy, it consists of 4 fountains and a huge obelisk. You will find many cafes, street artists, entertainment for tourists.
-The place Venezia
Of interest in Piazza Venezia is the monument erected in honor of Victor Emmanuel II (first king of unified Italy). Inside is a museum on the history of Italian reunification. It is also possible to go up to the roof of the museum by an elevator to have a superb view of Rome (price : € 7 per adult, € 3.50 for children aged 10 to 18, free for children under 10).
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– Lunch at Pizza e Mozzarella
After this morning roaming the streets of Rome, nothing better than one or more slices of pizza at Pizza e Mozzarella. The snack bar is very small (3 or 4 tables) so there may be a bit of a wait if you want to sit down. If the weather allows it, you can definitely have your take-out meal and sit in one of Rome’s pretty squares ! The prices are reasonable, the pizzas are super good and the owner is adorable.
– Via Del Corso (shopping)
For shopping in Rome, head to Via Del Corso. Most of the big brands are there. Go up the street until you find the next must-see square of Rome.
– Place of Spain
For those who want to spend money, the Spanish place are bordered by luxury boutiques. We just looked at the windows and then admired the square and its fountain 🏘️
– Place of Popolo
It was when we got to Piazza del Popolo that we said “wow” the most. This place was one of our favorites during our visit to Rome. We got there from the Flaminio metro and the gate that gives access to the square is magnificent (Porta del Popolo). It’s worth going and have a look, because if you can walk from the Spanish Steps (in 10 minutes), you won’t go under it.
– Sunset at Villa Borghese
Dominating Piazza del Popolo, the park of Villa Borghese is magnificent. It is to Rome what Central Park is to New York. When the temperatures are warm enough, we recommend that you take a boat trip. After wandering around the park, we came to Terrazza del Pincio which offers an incredible view : the sun setting over the rooftops of Rome. The downside : it gets very crowded at the end of the day.
– Where to dine in the historic center of Rome ?
Here are the restaurants that we have been suggested on several occasions for dining in the historic center of Rome : La Carbonara, Cantina y Cucina, Mimi e Coco.
As you can see in the story, we do not recommend the mythical “Osteria da Fortunata” which has appeared on TV and in many travel guides – we found the service very impersonal (tourist factory), the prices too high (30 to 50% more than elsewhere, € 7 a glass of wine for example!) And very very salty Carbonara pasta. This is from our personal experience but others may have appreciated it. We just believe that there are better value for money in all the restaurant offerings in Rome.
Day 2 : stroll through the Colosseum and Testaccio district
-The Colosseum, the emblem of Rome
You are going to visit Rome in 3 days, you cannot miss the Colosseum, meet at 8:30 am, you will be quieter there than during the day. To avoid endless queues at the cash desk, book your tickets in advance online, all the information is here. They will also give you access to the Roman Forum next door. Allow between 1h and 1h30 for the visit.
There are also Rome Tourist Passes that include multiple accesses to several paid monuments (the Omnia Pass and the Roma City Pass (we discuss that in this article.)
-The Roman Forum
To learn more about life in Ancient Rome, you absolutely must visit the Roman Forum ! It’s impressive to see its remains and to imagine 20 centuries back. We recommend that you take an audio guide to understand the story. Allow around 2 hours for the visit. Do not buy a ticket for the Roman Forum, it is included in the Colosseum ticket.
-Lunch at Pane e Vino
After this morning rich in culture, it is necessary to regain strength ! Go and taste Fabio’s delicious sandwiches at Pane e Vino, a small sandwich shop located 5 minutes’ walk from the Colosseum. 🤤 The prices seemed a bit high for sandwiches, but the quality of the products is really good.
-Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
You can admire and visit the Basilica of San Giovanni di Laterano for free. It is located a 15-minute walk from the Colosseum. Its large 140-meter-high facade is truly magnificent. Inside, the volumes and precision of the decorations are not to be missed.
– Orange tree garden
The Orange tree Garden is located on the heights of Rome. You will have a very nice view of the city. This place owes its name to the many orange trees present.
-The key hole
A hundred meters after the park, at number 4, you will discover the keyhole of Rome. We were lucky to have only 2 people before us … But sometimes the line is long to admire the view of St. Peter’s Basilica. As the name suggests, you’ll have to bend down and spy through the lock on this great door. We don’t put a photo on you to surprise you! And also because we were too stressed out by the people waiting behind us to take one 🤭.
-Pyramid of Cestius
This pyramid is a funerary monument. It is located at the Acattolico cemetery. It is 36 meters high and 30 meters wide. It is named after the person who was buried there: Caius Cestius. We went to see it because it surprised us that there was a pyramid right in the center of Rome ! In fact, the Roman Empire had just completed its conquest of Egypt. Free access.
-Market Testaccio (closing 3.30 pm)
If you have time to get there before closing time, we advise you to come and stroll in this market. There are plenty of stalls offering authentic Italian products.
-Where to have dinner in Trastevere ?
Trastevere is the most emblematic district of Rome for its nightlife. It’s very cozy, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, terraces … We have also found our best places to eat in Trastevere.
- For the pizzas we highly recommend those of Dar Poeta ! The price is very correct and the service pleasant.
- If you prefer pasta, it will be at Pasta e Vino. Be careful, the quantities are not huge. If you are very hungry, plan to order 3 plates for 2. The prices for pasta dishes range between € 9 and € 10.
- For the undecided, Tonnarello offers several Italian specialties. This restaurant has great reviews and reasonable prices.
- A wine bar with gigantic boards ? Go for a walk to the Prosciutteria Trastevere. We didn’t have time to test it but heard great things.
- Finally, if you want a typical Roman trattoria, go to La Meridionale – Trattoria. The atmosphere is good, the decoration original, the service very good and the food excellent.
Day 3 : Vatican City
-St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
If you’re planning to visit Rome in 3 days, you’ll need to set aside a good half-day to visit the Vatican. It lies to the west of the city, on the other side of the Tiber. It’s also a must-see in Rome ! To get there, it’s best to take the metro. The nearest stop is Ottaviano.
⭐️ Book your skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican and Sistine Chapel now ! Saint Peter’s Basilica is the most important building and the symbol of Catholicism. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most visited monuments in the world. This is definitely a must see if you are visiting Rome in 3 days !
It’s better to go when it opens or take skip-the-line tickets if you don’t want to waste two hours of your day.
- Saint Peter’s Basilica opens at 7 a.m.
- Go when it opens or book a guide tour as the wait can be very long.
- Access to the dome: €10 with lift, €8 by stairs.
The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel are part of the must-see of the Roman capital. The place actually brings together 12 museums and houses many paintings, sculptures and monuments, including the Sistine Chapel. The latter, being inside the museum, is included in the entrance fee to the museum.
- To book your access without queuing, click here
- Every last Sunday of the month, admission is free.
- Hours Monday to Saturday: 9 am-6pm (last admission 4pm).
- Hours the last Sunday of the month: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last entry at 12:30 p.m.).
All of the Vatican’s must-see sites are included in the Omnia Card (we explain everything in this article).
-Castle of Saint Angelo
Castle of Saint Angelo is on the same shore as the Vatican, a short walk away. Its architecture is really atypical and its construction dates from 135. This building has had different roles throughout its history. In the Middle Ages, it was a fortress to protect the Vatican, while serving as a prison. It was subsequently used as a refuge for Pope Clement VII in 1527 and transformed into a palace by Pope Paul III. The view of the Vatican dome from its top is very beautiful.
- The price is € 19 (€ 7 for Europeans aged 18 to 25)
- It is included in the Omnia Card and the Roma Pass.
- Hours : 9 am-7:30pm every day
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-Lunch at Vuliò
For lovers of bruschetta, it is essential to go and taste those of Vuliò. Perfect for a quick lunch and a final touch of Italy for your taste buds !
– Walk in Trastevere during the day
Trastevere isn’t just a nightlife district, it’s worth a visit during the day too ! The alleys are very charming.
We hope that you are now ready for your visit to Rome in 3 days. We are happy to help if you need any further information ! See you soon 🥰
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