Rome in 3 days

As you’ll be overjoyed at the prospect of finally visiting Rome, we recommend you start in the historic center first, to get into the swing of things.

Of course, all this takes place after you’ve dropped off your luggage at the hotel. If you arrive directly at Roma Termini station, you’ll have easy access to the metro and then to the A and B. We suggest you then take metro B and get off at the Colosseum stop.

You can’t start your trip to Rome without seeing the monument that best represents the ancient city, also known as the Flavian amphitheater.

The Colosseum (see our article) is famous not only for its architectural beauty, but also for the inspiration it has provided through the legends of the Romans. These legends have been around for so long that it now seems absurd to believe them. But the monument has stood proudly since 753 BC.

The world’s largest amphitheater could accommodate up to 80,000 spectators. Access to shows featuring gladiators, competitions and exotic animals was free.

Starting your visit to Rome with the Colosseum is the best way to get a feel for the heart of Rome, after all, we’re starting with a monument that’s one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site.

Our tour continues with a visit to the Roman Forum and Imperial Forums: archaeological areas that are among the most beautiful places to see in the city, a must for anyone visiting ancient Rome. Just a few minutes’ walk from the Colosseum.

The Roman Forum dates back to the 6th century BC. It tells the story of Rome, enclosed between the Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill, when it was the center of commerce, politics and religion.

Let’s continue on foot, using Google Maps to get around and make our route easier.

You now arrive at the Altare della Patria, one of Rome’s most fascinating monuments.

Built at the end of the 19th century and embodying Italian values, it has great symbolic value. Access to the terrace in the middle of the structure is free. The view is magnificent, and a photo is a must.

Don’t forget to take time out for a typical Roman lunch. There’s no shortage of good places to eat around the Roman Forum.

There are many things you’re sure to want to try, and Rome’s culinary delights are numerous.

You can have several lunches in the Italian capital, but for the first, we’d advise you to find a good “trattoria” by consulting Tripadvisor according to your location, and try the famous Pasta alla Carbonara.

A delicious dish that’s well worth eating. If you fancy a small starter without overdoing it, because then you’ll have to walk again, we recommend you try some supplì.

Our Roman tour now takes us to the Piazza del Campidoglio. One of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, it stands on one of the seven hills on which Rome was founded. A truly important square, home to Rome’s City Hall and the Capitoline Museums, we can now see the statue of Marcus Aurelius.

Keep going and of course you’ll be pretty tired, so we suggest you stop and have a good coffee, if you’re a bit hungry we suggest you try a good maritozzi with cream, it really deserves it. We continue our journey and arrive at the Pantheon. A temple dedicated to the deities of pantheism, founded in 27 BC, its beauty is undeniable. The splendor of the Pantheon and the Piazza are sure to delight you.

The last, but not least, stop on your first day: the Piazza Navona. We’re sorry at this stage if your feet hurt, but this Piazza really deserves it. To find out more, read our dedicated article.

You can’t end your first day in Rome without tasting the “pinsa”. It’s an Italian-style pizza but in a rather different version, thin, crispy and with a typical local dough.

There are lots of places you can find on Tripadvisor depending on where you’re staying!

So here we are on day two, discovering some of Rome’s best-known sights. We recommend you take the metro A to Ottaviano. There you can visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and whatever else intrigues you. What’s sure to leave you breathless is entering Raphael’s chambers and the perfection of the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo recounted some of the most beautiful scenes from Genesis. You can buy a fantastic cumulative ticket.

It’s sure to be lunchtime, and among the things we recommend today is a taste of Roman cuisine. So we recommend: a delicious artichoke “a la Giudìa” and why not some pasta “Amatriciana”.

Let’s continue our tour of the city with : Castel Sant’Angelo. You’ll need some time to visit it properly, as you’ll have to walk the full length and width of Hadrian’s tomb. In front of Castel Sant’Angelo you’ll find the magical Sant’Angelo Bridge, which links the Vatican and the Roman dikes. You’ll find statues of angels flanking it, a truly marvellous effect, also because you’ll arrive there in the late afternoon.

If you feel like it, you can stop for dinner at one of the region’s typical trattorias, where you can taste the famous “saltimbocca alla romana”, a delicious meat roulade accompanied by a typical local wine.

It’s your third and last day in Rome, and we don’t want to stress you out. So let’s start our itinerary at Santa Maria Maggiore, which retains its early Christian architecture and can be reached from the Cavour metro station. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary inspired its construction on the Esquiline hill, appearing in a dream to the pope of the time, Liberius.

As you continue to admire the beauty of the capital, you’ll arrive at the Quirinal, the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic and former residence of the popes. A few steps away, you’ll find the magnificent Trevi Fountain, which we’ve talked about extensively in our dedicated article, and which really deserves a lot of attention and is one of the most poetic places in Rome.

Walk further and you’ll find before your eyes the magnificent Piazza di Spagna with the legendary Via Condotti. We have the Barcaccia fountain, the symbol of the Piazza, of unique beauty built in the mid-16th century and renovated only a few years ago, one of Bernini’s most significant works.

We recommend climbing the Spanish steps for a magnificent view.

We don’t want to stress you out any further, there are plenty of other things to see, we’d like to point out a few so you can choose for yourself:

• Pincio Terrace
• Trastevere
• The Borghese Gallery
• Piazza del Popolo
• The Circus Maximus
• Foro Boario
• The orange garden.

Your day could end in magical Trastevere, a truly exceptional district just waiting to be discovered. A visit to Trastevere and its art and gourmet stores is a unique experience. One of Rome’s most beautiful districts. You can have an excellent dinner and perhaps eat something that particularly inspires you.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed our itinerary for discovering Rome in 3 days, and that you’re making the most of your long weekend in the city!