Three Perfect Days in Rome

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Being thrown into an empire of fountains, frescoes, gladiators and gelateria can be overwhelming. It’s easy – and tempting – to get lost wandering Rome’s romantic streets, stopping only to drool over pasta and pizza-laden menus. When it comes to tourist hotspots, the list of things to see in Rome is endless.

Sure, Rome wasn’t built in a day – and you could spend years here and still have beauty, history and stories to discover. But with a nifty itinerary, you can experience its greatest hits in one whirlwind weekend. Our three-day guide to Rome packs in the Eternal City’s most important landmarks, attractions and delicious dining options. Once you’ve completed it, you can wave ‘arrivederci’ to Rome in the knowledge you’ve lived it to the max(imus).

Day one: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill Pantheon

Grab yourself a hearty breakfast at the hotel and kick-start your weekend in Rome in the place where it all began – the Colosseum. Start early, jumping onto Line B of the Rome metro and jumping off at the stop marked ‘Colosseo’. Arriving first thing in the morning means you can skip the hordes of crowds that fill up the larger-than-life Colosseum every day.

Spend an hour exploring the grand amphitheater from all angles, letting your imagination run wild as you picture the mighty edifice once filled with battling gladiators, wild beasts and thousands of spectators. Following the audio guides is a good way to get to know the ruins as you’re going around.

Once you’re all Colosseum-ed out, head up the bank, following the signs to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You can use your Colosseum ticket to enter both of these landmarks. Allow at least half an hour to walk up the famous hill, which links back to the mythical founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, and soak up the astounding view of the Forum from here. Spot fragments of ancient palaces and villas and enjoy snapping photos of the stunning garden areas.

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Head down into the streets around the Forum and travel back in time to the era of Julius Caesar, who once roamed there. Arm yourself with a map and you’ll find the Trajan’s markets – the first covered shopping mall in the world. Close by, you can also look upon the Forum of Augustus and the Via Biberatica, an ancient Roman street that’s still in pretty good shape.

Pounding the streets of ancient Rome will have worked up quite an appetite, so head to the Piazza Venezia for a late lunch at La Cabana. Fill up on classic Italian favorites and just round the corner you’ll be stopped in your tracks at the Pantheon. No tickets are required, so head into the religious masterpiece and look to spend around 45 minutes marveling at its interior and astonishing dome.

Day two: St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel Trastevere

You’ve done ancient Rome, now it’s time for Christian Rome. If you want to see the Vatican and Roman ruins in one handy package, many of the hop-on hop-off Rome buses are valid for 48 hours, with tickets that include skip-the-line entrances to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, as well as the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. If not, there are plenty of buses you can take across the Tiber River to Vatican City, officially the smallest country in the world.

Start bright and early to avoid the inevitable queues. Tickets are available online, so you can smugly jump to the front without waiting around. Most tour groups will be taking to the Vatican first, so do your trip the opposite way round and start at St. Peter’s Basilica, exploring the tombs of Popes, spotting Michelangelo’s signature and getting your cardio fix with a dome-climb.

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Next, head left and soak up the atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square before following the walls around to the world-famous Vatican Museums. Get lost in artistic glory: study Raphael’s Transfiguration, marvel at Caravaggio’s The Entombment of Christ and fall in love with Wenzel Peter’s Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

No trip is complete without slipping down into the Sistine Chapel. No photos are allowed in here, so crane your neck and take as many mental pictures of Michelangelo's most famous works as you can.

You’re in the best place for lunch. Stroll through Trastevere’s cobbled streets to find hidden corners of the city. You’ll encounter trattorias galore, many serving up special Roman artichoke dish ‘carciofi alla Romana’, which you just have to try. Make a beeline to Checco er Carettiere, a foodie haven which hits the spot with dishes including traditional cacio e pepe pasta, beautifully tender veal and a mighty fine tiramisu.

Day three: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese

An action-packed weekend in Rome is best rounded off with a slow morning watching this romantic city awaken and taking in the sights, smells and sounds of the ancient capital as you go. Start your day the Roman way, with a rich coffee and a delicious Italian pastry at Bar San Marcello or Trecaffe, both just around the corner from Trevi Fountain.

A Trevi Fountain coin toss is something that definitely needs to be on your agenda. Located in the Trevi district, you’ll turn an unassuming corner of souvenir shops and come face-to-face with the ethereal fountain – gigantic sea-gods carved out of marble with turquoise waters glittering around them. Directly opposite is one of the best pizza places in the area – Pizza in Trevi – boasting a classic Italian menu with an abundance of gluten-free options.

Label hounds can take a stroll through the designer-lined streets from the Trevi Fountain, following the signs to the Spanish Steps. It’s the place to go if you want to see gleaming designer shops like Armani, Prada and Gucci. But the Spanish Steps are also a must-see on any weekend in Rome – a majestic Baroque staircase that’s shrouded in pink blooms in the spring. Grab an ice-cream from one of many gelaterias and recreate Audrey Hepburn’s shot from the movie Roman Holiday.

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Close by is the beautiful Villa Borghese, where you can spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing in the gardens, wandering the park or scoping out the fascinating art collection at the Borghese Gallery and Museum.

What would you do during your dream day in Rome? Let us know what Roman sights you would see by tagging us on Twitter.