3-Day Rome Itinerary: A Practical Day-by-Day Guide

I visited Rome in Italy on a family trip with my grandma and my sister, and we spent around three full days exploring the city. It was our first time in Rome, so we focused mainly on the big highlights — the places you’ve seen in photos a hundred times and still want to see with your own eyes.

This itinerary is based on what actually worked for us and what didn’t. We followed a similar route, but not always in this exact order. Some days felt too rushed, others were perfectly balanced — and if I were to visit Rome again, I’d plan it exactly like this to make better use of time and avoid unnecessary backtracking.

If you’re looking for a flexible overview of the city, you can also check out our full guide on the best things to do in Rome and our detailed where to stay in Rome guide to help you choose the right area and hotel.

This 3-day Rome itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors who want to see the main sights without trying to cram in too much. It’s ideal if you only have a few days in the city and want a plan that’s realistic, walkable, and based on real experience rather than theory.

How many days to spend in Rome

For a first visit, three days in Rome is the sweet spot. It gives you enough time to see the city’s main highlights without turning your trip into a constant race from one attraction to the next.

With three full days, you can move at a comfortable pace, group sights by area, and still leave room for wandering, long lunches, and evening walks. You’ll get a good balance between must-see landmarks and simply enjoying the atmosphere of the city.

If you only have two days, Rome will feel rushed and you’ll have to be very selective with what you visit. On the other hand, four or five days allows for a slower pace and extra day trips.

3-day itinerary for Rome

Day 1: Ancient Rome & Trastevere

• Colosseum
• Roman Forum
• Palatine Hill
• Piazza Venezia
• Trastevere
• Gianicolo Hill (Janiculum Hill)

Morning

We started our first day right at the Colosseum, which was number one on our Rome list. We came to Rome in the afternoon and made it to Colosseum right at the sunset. But if we had a full day, we’d start it right here.

Seeing it in real life for the first time felt unreal — no photo really prepares you for how massive it is. Even just walking around the outside is special, with cafés and little streets all around where you can stop for a quick coffee and take it in.

If you plan to go inside, we highly recommend buying a 24-hour combined ticket for the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill a few days in advance. These tickets often sell out, even outside peak season, and booking ahead saves you from long queues. We like this option because it also includes an audio guide and gives you the flexibility to explore the sites at your own pace.

From the Colosseum, it makes perfect sense to continue straight into the Roman Forum and up to Palatine Hill. Walking through the ruins is a great way to learn more about Rome’s history, and we loved how much space there is. The views from Palatine Hill over the Forum are worth the climb and give you a great sense of how huge ancient Rome really was.

Afternoon

Once we were done exploring the Forum and Palatine Hill, we made our way toward Piazza Venezia, which felt like a clear shift from ancient Rome back into modern city life. One minute you’re walking between ruins, and a few streets later you’re standing in front of massive white monuments with traffic rushing past — the contrast is pretty wild.

By this point, we were definitely ready to slow down. This area is perfect for a lunch, and we didn’t overthink it — we just picked a small trattoria that looked busy with locals. After such a full morning, taking time for a long lunch and a cold drink felt necessary.

Evening

Later in the afternoon, we would head across the river to Trastevere, which instantly feels like a different side of Rome. The streets are narrower, the buildings are covered in ivy, and everything feels more lived-in. We didn’t follow a specific route here — we just wandered, turned into random alleys, and stopped whenever something looked interesting.

To wrap up the day, we walked up to Gianicolo Hill (Janiculum Hill) for sunset. The climb is slow and steady, but it’s absolutely worth it. From the top, you can see rooftops, church domes, and the whole city stretching out in front of you.

We didn’t have the best weather visiting in February, but despite grey skies it was a great viewpoint.

Day 2: Vatican City & Castel Sant’Angelo

• Vatican Museums
• Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• St. Peter’s Square
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Campo de’ Fiori (optional)
• Jewish Ghetto (optional)

Morning

We dedicated the morning to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, and honestly, this is one place where going early really matters. Even before opening, there were already queues forming, so having a pre-booked ticket made a huge difference.

Inside, we took our time and didn’t try to see everything — we focused on the parts that truly stand out, like the Gallery of Maps and Raphael’s Rooms, before reaching the Sistine Chapel.

Standing under Michelangelo’s ceiling was one of those unforgettable moments. After exiting the Sistine Chapel, we headed straight to St. Peter’s Basilica, which is easy to combine on the same morning. The scale of it is overwhelming at first — marble, gold, light everywhere.

Afternoon

Once we stepped back outside, we spent some time in St. Peter’s Square, just sitting and watching the crowds flow in and out. It’s a good pause after a heavy museum morning and helps reset before moving on.

From there, we walked toward Castel Sant’Angelo. Crossing the bridge with the angel statues already feels special, even before you get inside. We went up to the terrace, and the view over the river with St. Peter’s dome in the background was one of our favorite photo spots in Rome.

It’s a nice change of pace after the Vatican — less formal, more about wandering through corridors and enjoying the views.

It was already too late by the time we reached this area, so we ended our day here.

Evening

If you still have energy, this is a great time to head toward Campo de’ Fiori or the Jewish Ghetto for dinner. Campo de’ Fiori is lively and social, while the Jewish Ghetto feels quieter and more local, especially in the evening.

Day 3: Historic Center Highlights

• Spanish Steps
• Trevi Fountain
• Pantheon
• Piazza Navona
• Via del Corso
• Villa Borghese (optional)
• Borghese Gallery (optional)
• Rooftop bar or Trastevere evening

Morning

We originally saw the Spanish Steps the day before, but if we were doing this trip again, we’d start the day here instead. It’s much nicer in the morning, when the area feels calmer and you can actually enjoy the view from the top without squeezing through crowds.

From there, we’d walk straight to the Trevi Fountain, which is one of those places that’s always busy — but still worth seeing properly. Throw in a coin has been on my travel bucketlist for a while. Since February 1, 2026, there’s a 2€ entrance fee.

Next, we continued to the Pantheon, and this was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Walking inside and looking up at the open dome felt unreal, especially knowing it’s over 2,000 years old. We went earlier in the day, when it was quieter.

Afternoon

From the Pantheon, it’s only a short walk to Piazza Navona, and this became one of our favorite places to slow down. We grabbed a drink, watched the street artists, and just enjoyed how lively the square feels.

After that, we wandered along Via del Corso, which works well if you want to browse shops or just enjoy a more modern side of Rome between historic sights.

If you feel like a break from the city streets, Villa Borghese is a great option. It’s green, spacious, and perfect place to slow down after two busy days of sightseeing. If you’re into art, this is also where the Borghese Gallery fits in — but only if you book ahead, since entry is strictly timed.

Evening

For the last evening, we kept things flexible. One option is heading to a rooftop bar to see Rome from above one last time, which feels like a proper end to the trip. The other is going back to Trastevere if you loved it as much as we did — just wandering again, finding a small trattoria, and enjoying the scrumptious Italian food.

Where to stay in Rome

Choosing the right area in Rome makes a big difference, especially if you only have three days. Staying central saves you time and energy, while Trastevere is great if you want lively evenings and a more local feel. For a short stay, we’d focus on places that let you walk most of the city and still sleep well at night.

If you’re still deciding which part of Rome suits you best, check out our full guide on where to stay in Rome — it breaks down the best areas, including hand-picked hotel recommendations.

Here are the ones we’d happily book again:

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ara di Marte Suites (our top pick) – Located just steps from the Spanish Steps, with rooms that are beautifully designed with natural tones. In our opinion the higlight are the spacious terraces adjacent to rooms. Everything you want to see — from Piazza del Popolo to Via del Corso — is within walking distance.
Best for: Design lovers and couples who want a luxurious, quiet stay near the Spanish Steps
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⭐️⭐️ Hotel Artemis – Just 10 minutes from the Colosseum, we love how it feels — warm, welcoming, and full of personality. The rooms have elegant vintage décor, marble bathrooms, and that cozy atmosphere perfect after a long day of sightseeing. It’s incredibly convenient for exploring the city, whether on foot or by metro.
Best for: Couples and travelers who want comfort, style, and walkable access to all main sights
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⭐️ Suites Trastevere – This small, creative B&B in the Trastevere district has such a personal feel that it immediately stands out. Every room is different, hand-painted with murals inspired by Rome, and it’s just a few minutes from the train station. We love that breakfast is served right to your room — a beautiful box filled with pastries, juice, and coffee.
Best for: Couples or travelers who want a cozy, well-connected stay in Trastevere
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Final Thoughts

Three days in Rome is just enough to fall in love with the city — and still leave feeling like you’ve only scratched the surface. This itinerary focuses on the places that truly define Rome, without trying to squeeze in too much or rushing from one sight to another.

We built this plan based on what worked for us and what we’d do differently next time, grouping sights in a way that makes sense on foot and keeps each day realistic.

If you follow this route, you’ll get a great mix of history, art, and everyday Rome — from ancient ruins and world-famous museums to lively neighborhoods and evening walks.