One of Europe’s great weekend destinations, with a plethora of monuments, museums, and culinary delights, it can be hard to decide where and how to spend your hard-earned cash and precious time. I spent over a decade living in Rome and working as a tour guide. I’ve made remarkable discoveries and made my fair share of mistakes. This article will lead you away from the mistakes.
Planning Tools:
- Rome Insider’s Guide – tons of info on where to stay, what to do, and leads to many other resources
- Rome tours – doing tours in the Eternal City is a must
- Vatican Online Guide – Full guide to Rome’s greatest museum
Rome Tips You Wouldn’t Think Of
- Remember to take Museum openings into account. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays. This means the Colosseum is busiest Sunday and Vatican Monday when it reopens.
- Most sites are closed on May 1st and December 25th, with limited hours on December 24, 31st, and January 1st.
- A great tour is 65% history and storytelling and 35% logistics. Taking the guesswork out of your visits is well worth the money.
- Book your visits to the Colosseum, Vatican, and Galleria Borghese in advance. Other national museums will be easier to get into and navigate.
- Choose your hotel based on what you want to do when you wake up and just before bed (eating). See our where to stay in Rome guide for advice.
Rome Itineraries for 1 to 4 Days
Day 1: Arrival, Piazza Navona, Passagiata, Regola
This itinerary assumes you are arriving in Rome at 8 am.
8:00 am: Arrive @ FCO airport – take a taxi (45€ + small tip) or an airport transfer.
- We recommend Amico Limo. They have been providing services to our customers since 2019. New clean vehicles, always on time or early, drivers speak English. The link allows you to book online with your credit card which checks a vital box in your travel planning.
10:00 am: Arrive at hotel. Haven’t picked one yet? Check out our breakdown or Rome’s top neighborhoods.
- You’re room will likely not be ready, drop your stuff and get moving to keep yourself going
10:30 am: Coffee #1 – Bar della Pace
- On day 1, you’ll want to be in the coolest part of Rome and Piazza Navona has a lot to offer. Bar della Pace is a great place to stand up or sit down for a coffee. See our best restaurants, caffes, and bars in the area.
11:30 am: Passegiata Piazza Navona through Pantheon, and back to Campo dei Fiori
- Passegiata means “stroll” and a major component of any day in Italy, especially before and after meals. The walk from Piazza Navona through Campo dei Fiori, and Piazza Farnese is quite pleasurable. You’ll see amazing sites, shop, and easily kill an hour before lunch.
12:30 pm: Lunch @ La Fiaschetta in Regola
- Just west of Campo dei Fiori and south of Piazza Navona is my favorite area of Rome to relax. Somehow, Via del Pelligrino and Via di Monserrato stay relatively quiet regardless of the season, and they are in the middle of it all. La Fiashetta is stellar on an international level and good on an Italian or Roman basis. The cozy and chill atmosphere keeps me coming back.
2:30pm Check in to your hotel
- By now, you’re room is ready and you may want to freshen up. Avoid laying down unless you believe you can rise and shine within 60 mins. Taking a nap on day 1 is the thing I avoid to cure jetlag fast.
5:30 pm: Trastevere Food Tour
- A great first evening option is a food tour. You get to meet a lot of people which will keep you away, drink which brings energy, and learn some of the basic dining rules of Rome. Not to mention, have a killer meal at multiple locations.
9:00 pm: Night Cap @ Santa Cocktail Club
- Do you appreciate a rooftop bar and are willing to dish out 20€ per drink? Santa is a great choice. Consider calling ahead as this is in the Tiziano Hotel and they may have a private event that evening.
- Don’t go out too late, tomorrow you have the Vatican!
Day 2: Vatican, Boozy Lunch, Shopping, Palazzo Altemps
8:00 am: Vatican Tour
- If it’s your first time in Rome, I recommend a this Vatican tour. It includes the Vatican and St. Peter’s Dome climb which is super cool. You could also skip the Dome, although I love that portion, and just jump on this Vatican tour which is our most popular. You 100% need a Vatican tour. Our groups are smaller, we pay great so we get the best guides, and it takes a ton of guesswork out.
1:00 pm: Lunch @ La Zanzara
- Lunch is later in Italy. 1:00 pm is still pretty early. 1:30/2 is in line with Italians. Get in the habit of having a small toasted sandwich from a bar around 10:30/11 to make it all the way through.
- La Zanzara is a local favorite. Its not “traditional” mom and pops, but a staple for Romans working in the area for lunch, dinner, and aperitivo.
3:00pm: Colosseum or Palazzo Altemps
- If you are a rare person who is in Rome 1.5 days, you’ll need to double up on Colosseum and Vatican in a single day. You can book them separately, check out our Colosseum tours–I like the Arena Floor tour, or book our Rome in a Day tour, which does it all in a single day. I personally like to break things up, take it slow, and book one structured activity (guided) per day. That said, Rome in a Day is our most popular Rome tour, so tons of people find it useful.
- If you have a day 3 in Rome, pop into Palazzo Altemps to see the Suicidal (Ludovisi) Gaul – wow! This article has a mini itinerary for the museum (scroll down), but you can also search our IG page for reels that explain it all! @thetourguy
6:00 pm: Coffee or Cocktail @ Ciampini in Piazza San Lorenzo
- One of the things I try to motivate people to do is sit at a boogie “in-piazza” bar or restaurant for a coffee. You could say you’re “over-paying,” or you could say you’re paying for the view. I used to walk by Ciampini in Piazza S. Lorenzo, thinking it was so boogie but overpriced. Today, I look past the cost of consumption and soak in the experience. If you’re on a budget, drink a little bit less.
7:00 pm: Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
- A few drinks open up the wallet, and Rome has some of Italy’s best shopping. Some incredible brands, both known and popular amongst Italians, will help you lighten the weight of your wallet. I like to walk up Via di Campo Marzio (where Ciampini is), turn down Via della Fontanella di Borghese which turns into Via Condotti (super lux). You can check out some shopping itineraries in this article. Then, when you get to the Spanish Steps, turn left and head north to Via del Babuino for some of my favorite shops in Rome.
9:00 pm: Dinner @ Casina Valadier (Expensive) or Ciampini Bistrot (less expensive)
- Having an expensive night out can definitely get the endorphins, amongst other things, pumping. Keep pushing it and have a night of a lifetime at Casina Valadier. An incredible restaurant with arguably the best views in Rome. RSVP in advance.
- On more of a budget, trust us we get it, try Ciampini Bistrot. Same owners Ciampini, but just a block down the street. They have reasonable prices for traditional dishes and decent pizza. If you can snag a seat outdoors, it’s a great evening.
At this rate, you’re probably heading home after. That said, you did get the early Vatican out of the way so if you want a good night out, consider Ex Galleria in Monti – Wa Wa We Wa!
Day 3: Catacombs, Borghese, Vino e Olio
8:00 am: Breakfast at Emporio alla Pace
- I love this little place. It just attracts a good morning crowd of Italians and is in a lovely piazza. Try getting your breakfast standing up today at the bar–that’s how locals do it, and it’s cheaper. Another great way to avoid tourist crowds is in the morning when only Italians are getting breakfast at the bar because you really don’t eat breakfast at home.
10:10 am: Catacombs Tour
- Yes, you can do a Catacombs visit on your own, but it doesn’t make sense. You’re either going to struggle to figure out the bus or pay the same price for a taxi as our tour would cost.
- A Rome Catacombs tour also includes a visit and entrance to the Bone Crypt on Via Veneto and a stop at Santa Maria Cosimedian Church which is home to the Mouth of Truth and St Valentines skull!
- Bring a snack with you–late lunch today!
2:00 pm: Lunch @ Tiberino Ristorante
- Again, my mentality in Rome is really driven by the experience. Tiberino is right across Rome’s oldest bridge, Ponte Fabricio, from where the Catacombs tour will end. Eating on Tiber Island is pretty cool, and this place has some outdoor seating. Maybe RSVP to get an outside table for the view.
5:00 pm: Borghese Gallery Visit or Passagiata Audible
- Borghese Gallery is a museum not to be missed. They do staggered fixed time entrances to manage crowds and it is easy Rome’s greatest collection of Baroque art. The Bernini sculptures here are incredible. I recommend a Borghese tour since this museum is all about the stories, but this article should help if you want to attempt doing it yourself.
- You must 100% reserve a ticket or tour in advance. You cannot walk up and get in.
- Worried you’ll be overwhelmed with info? Plan to at least stroll through Villa Borghese.
- Want to explore Trastevere instead? Try this itinerary in Trastevere.
7 pm: Aperitivo and maybe dinner at @ Trapizzino Trastevere
- Trapizzino is an overnight phenomenon in Rome and now internationally. These delicious little sandwiches are great and cheap. My favorite location is in Trastevere because you can sit at the bar and enjoy a glass of vino or drink. My wife often come here for a pre-dinner glass of wine and end up staying for a cheap, but extraordinary dinner.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out the Best Vatican Tours to Take and Why
Where To Stay in Rome
Rome has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the magnificent Eternal City in the best neighborhoods.
Here is Where to Stay in the Most Popular Destinations
Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast & Capri
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