The best 3 day itinerary for Rome

Ahhh, Rome.

What can you say about Rome that hasn’t already been said?

It’s an amazing city filled with numerous historic wonders that you simply can’t find anywhere else.

And therein lies the issue… so much to see, not enough time!

Well, there are a few must do activities that should top your list for your first stay in Rome.

The initial visit for most people who visit Rome is about three days.

Therefore, we’ve put together the best 3 day itinerary for Rome that will check off most of your boxes.

Before we get to that, you should probably learn a few things about traveling to Rome so you can set up your ideal trip.

How to fly to Rome

First, we highly recommend that you try to find a direct flight from North America to Rome.

The reason being is that the primary airports where you will deal with a layover are massive and can be a real pain in the ass when dealing with customs and security.

We have witnessed people miss their connecting flights due to huge lines getting through customs.

However, direct flights to Rome are more expensive than the flights that have a stop or two.

Therefore, if you are on a budget, at least consider the 3-hour layover rule.

This means that you need to use a connecting flight, then you want to have a layover of 3 hours or more at the airport where you pick up the connection.

This will provide you with at least some wiggle room to be sure you don’t miss your connecting flight due to any sort of delay.

Also, be absolutely sure that you never choose a flight with a connection less than an hour.  There will be a high probability that you will miss your connecting flight.

As I mentioned, some of the main airports in which you will often have a layover are massive.  Even if your flight to the connecting airport is on schedule, you can still miss your connection very easily.

To look for flights, we recommend CheapOair, as they’ve provided us with great service in the past.

Arriving in Rome

The primary airport serving Rome is Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino, which is over along the coast to the west of the city.

To get to your hotel in the city, we recommend hiring a car.

Check out Welcome Pickups to find rates for transportation directly to your hotel.  You can typically expect to pay about 65 Euros.

The time of the ride will take about 40 to 50 minutes.

Otherwise, you can grab a Leonardo Express Train from the airport to Roma Termini for about 18 Euros per person.

Once you arrive at Roma Termini, you’ll need to find the line to grab a taxi, and you will pay another 15 to 20 Euros for the ride to your hotel.

For a stay in Rome, we do not recommend renting a car.  The traffic is insane and difficult to navigate if you don’t have local knowledge.

Where to stay in Rome

Pantheon

Now the question is… where to stay?

If you are able to walk upwards of five miles per day, then we highly recommend staying near the city center, close to the Pantheon or in that general vicinity.

This allows you to walk in the neighborhood around the Pantheon and over to Trevi Fountain.

If you are particularly ambitious, you can walk all the way up to Piazza del Popolo at the north end of Via del Corso, a main shopping corridor.

You can also walk south down to the Colosseum and Forum area.

If you plan on using public transportation to see the city, then you can stay virtually anywhere.  Some people prefer to stay near The Vatican, which is a long walk away from sites such as The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and The Colosseum.

In general, hotels in Rome range in price from $250 to upwards of $500 per night.  This is the case for properties near The Vatican, Pantheon and even near the main train station (west side… do not stay east of Roma Termini).  For cheaper hotels you must go further away from the primary attractions.

Ok, back to the area near The Pantheon…why stay near there?

Yes, it’s crowded, but most everything you want to see and do is walkable from here.

There is good shopping, and despite being a main tourist area, we have enjoyed our meals in this area.

Also, many of the narrow streets are pedestrian only.  Therefore, it is a great neighborhood for strolling.

Check out the map below to get yourself oriented.

What to see and do in Rome in 3 days

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Many visitors to Rome are most interested in The Vatican.

Others are most interested in visiting the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

And still others are interested in visiting the many museums in the city.

Here’s the deal… you can’t see all of Rome in a day or two unless you are just rushing around from site to site.

And if you do that, you are going to miss what Rome is all about.

For this slower Rome itinerary, here is what we recommend when spending three full days in Rome.

The Vatican – St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum

The Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus

Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori, Via del Corso

These last three items are simply sites to see in Rome.

Piazza Navona is a beautiful, elongated piazza surrounded by beautiful buildings and cafes.

Campo de Fiori is an open market where you can shop for apparel and food.

Trevi Fountain

Via del Corso is a main shopping corridor, and a small stretch is pedestrian only.  The north end stops at Piazza del Popolo, another cool site.

Naturally, if you are staying near the Pantheon you can choose to check that out, and from there you must also walk over to Trevi Fountain at some point.

To give yourself more time to stroll around the neighborhood surrounding the Pantheon, you should consider taking transportation to the Colosseum area and of course over to The Vatican.

In this case, bus service is the way to go.  Consider purchasing a three day bus pass for 18 euros per person ahead of your trip.  Once in Rome, just figure out the times you want to visit any particular site and locate the nearest bus station, then you’ll be good to go.

Ahead of your visit, you should purchase tickets for the activities you wish to experience ahead of time.  This will allow you to skip most of the line when you get there.

This is of particular importance when visiting The Vatican and Colosseum area.

You can check out tickets and private tours at Klook.

What to eat in Rome

As with many major Italian cities, Rome is noted for a few particular dishes.

The one that stands out most for us is Cacio e Pepe.  Incredibly simple with just three ingredients (pasta, pecorino cheese and black pepper), it is a must try when in Rome.

Add some pork jowls to Cacio e Pepe and you arrive at Spaghetti alla Gricia, another simple but flavorful dish.

Two other notable pasta dishes are Carbonara and Amatriciana, both of which employ the use of salt cured pork.

Arrabbiata is a spicy tomato based sauce served with pasta.

A common type of pizza sold by the slice in Rome is pizza al taglio.  Made with a variety of toppings, it is cooked on large rectangular trays.

As in other Italian cities, gelato and pastries are favorites for dessert.

Final thoughts for this 3 day Rome itinerary

We deliberately did not provide you with a huge list of things you need to see in Rome.

To truly embrace what Rome is all about, you need to give yourself time to just wander and explore.

You’ll find some of the best food, and some of the best small shops off the beaten path, and you will get amazing views of sites you would not see if you were rushing between the Vatican and Colosseum.

Now go and enjoy Rome!