Rome in 2 days, 3 days… – TUTTA ROMA

Would you like us to help you plan your trip? Here are our suggested itineraries for visits to Rome ranging from one to four days. We also offer alternative options, so you can tailor the plan to your preferences.

We recommend that you print our map of Rome’s monuments (optimized for printing on A4 paper) and mark your daily itinerary on it.

1-day stays

If you’re only going to be in Rome for one day, you probably won’t have time to visit the interiors of many monuments. In any case, we recommend that you at least visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Pantheon. For the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, you can be satisfied with just seeing them from the outside.

Around Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, there are some very interesting monuments that you can visit quickly. Check out our information about that area.

A good place to have dinner: Trastevere.

PERIOD	MORNING	AFTERNOON	ON THE WAY
1 DAY	1. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City 2. Castel Sant’Angelo	3. Colosseum 4. Campidoglio Square (views of the Roman Forum)	5. Trevi Fountain 6. Pantheon 7. Piazza Navona

2-day stays

Day One

The first day is devoted to the Vatican and the historic center of Rome, with visits to the most iconic squares, ending at Piazza del Popolo. Around Piazza Navona and the Pantheon you’ll find a remarkable concentration of beautiful churches. If you’d like to step inside, remember that many of them close around 12:30 pm, reopening later in the afternoon around 3:30–4:00 pm.

Other options for the day include:

Around Piazza Venezia, you’ll find plenty to explore: the Basilica of San Marco, the grand Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, and stunning views of the Imperial Forums and Trajan’s Markets (even from the outside they’re impressive).
The Jewish Ghetto in the morning.
Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus in the afternoon.

Day Two

The second day is dedicated to Ancient Rome, starting at the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio). How long you stay here depends on your pace: simply walking past the Roman Forum takes about 15 minutes, but a full guided visit can easily last 2–3 hours. Our Rome audioguide, for instance, offers a detailed tour lasting about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

In the afternoon, leave the ruins behind and head toward the Esquiline Hill to visit Santa Maria Maggiore, then continue to the Quirinal Hill to admire Sant’Andrea al Quirinale and San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

Other possibilities for the day include:

Visiting the Jewish Ghetto and the nearby Tiber area (Bocca della Verità, Foro Boario, Theatre of Marcellus, Portico of Octavia) before arriving at the Campidoglio. This detour takes less than an hour.
Exploring San Clemente, near the Colosseum.
Reversing the itinerary: visit churches in the morning while they’re open, and end the afternoon at the Colosseum and Forum.

What about the Museums?

Many visitors don’t want to leave Rome without seeing the Sistine Chapel. If that’s your case, you’ll need to allow about 4 hours for the Vatican Museums. However, if this is your first trip and you only have two days, we suggest leaving them for your next visit. That way, you’ll already have a great reason to return.

On the other hand, the Capitoline Museums are much more manageable: there are no long lines, and you can enjoy them in about 90 minutes, provided you don’t linger too long.

Evenings in Trastevere

For dinner, Trastevere is the perfect choice on either of the two nights. If you arrive before 9:00 pm, be sure to step inside the beautiful Santa Maria in Trastevere before settling into one of the neighborhood’s lively trattorias.

PERIOD	MORNING	AFTERNOON	ON THE WAY
DAY 1	1. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City 2. Castel Sant’Angelo	3. Campo de’ Fiori 4. Piazza Navona 5. Pantheon 6. Piazza Venezia 7. Piazza del Popolo	8. Gesú 9. Spanish Square
DAY 2	The Forums 1. Campidoglio Square 2. Roman Forum 3. (Palatine Hill) 4. (Bocca della Verità…)	From the Colosseum 1. Colosseum (exterior) 2. Basilica of St. Peter in 3. Chains – Moses statue 4. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore 5. Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli 6. Quirinal Hill area	1. Trevi Fountain 2. Santa Maria della Vittoria Church 3. Churches of the Quirinale Hill

3-day stays

Day One

The first day is dedicated to the Vatican and the historic center of Rome, with a tour of the city’s most famous squares, ending in the Piazza del Popolo. Try to arrive before Santa Maria del Popolo closes so you can step inside this remarkable church.

Around Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, you’ll find a high concentration of fascinating churches. Many of them close at 12:30 pm and reopen in the afternoon around 3:30–4:00 pm, so plan your visits accordingly.

Other options for the afternoon include:

Exploring the area around Piazza Venezia, where highlights include the Imperial Forums and Trajan’s Markets, the Basilica of San Marco, the imposing Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, and the impressive Palazzo Valentini.
Visiting the Ara Pacis and the nearby Mausoleum of Augustus.
Walking up to the Pincio Hill to enjoy a stunning sunset if the weather is nice.

Day Two

The second day focuses on Ancient Rome, starting with a walk through the Jewish Ghetto and Campo de’ Fiori. From there, head to the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio) and descend into the Roman Forum.

A quick walk through the Forum takes about 15–30 minutes, but with a good guide you could easily spend over two hours. Our Rome audioguide, for example, dedicates about 1 hour and 45 minutes to this area. From the Forum, continue directly to the Palatine Hill—remember that once you exit, your ticket won’t allow you to re-enter.

In the afternoon, move toward the Tiber River area for more discoveries.

Other options for the day include:

The Capitoline Museums, located right on Piazza del Campidoglio.
Wandering through the Jewish Ghetto, either at the start of the day or in the evening after your Forum and Palatine visits.
Before entering the Forum, you could also explore the Imperial Forums, Trajan’s Column, and Trajan’s Markets (from outside or inside, depending on time).

Day Three

On your third day, explore the eastern part of Rome, from the Colosseum to Santa Maria Maggiore and St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano). Don’t miss San Clemente, a little-known gem with layered excavations beneath the church.

Your Colosseum ticket is the same one you used for the Forum and Palatine—it’s valid for two consecutive days, so plan accordingly. Keep in mind that Santa Maria Maggiore and St. John Lateran remain open at midday, but most of the other churches along this route close for several hours. Make sure you time your visits carefully.

Other possibilities for the day:

Near Termini station, the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme museum, with its extraordinary collection of Roman frescoes and mosaics.
Expanding your itinerary to include the Baths of Caracalla, the Catacombs, or the Via Appia Antica—though these are farther away, and you’ll need to sacrifice other visits to fit them in.
St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s four papal basilicas. It lies outside the center but is accessible by Metro.

Museums in Rome

For a 3-day stay, you may want to consider one or two museums, but be mindful of timing:

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: If this is your first trip and you only have three days, fitting them in will be a challenge. The visit requires at least half a day to be done properly.
Galleria Borghese: A must for many travelers. Visits are limited to two hours, and advance booking is required. Since it’s outside the historic center, allow extra time for the journey.
Capitoline Museums: Ideal for a short trip. Centrally located, less crowded than the Vatican, and perfectly manageable in about 90 minutes.

PERIOD	MORNING	AFTERNOON	EVENING
DAY 1	The Vatican 1. St. Peter’s Church 2. Castle Sant’Angelo	Downtown 1. Piazza Navona 2. Pantheon 3. Piazza Venezia (Imperial Forums) 4. Trevi Fountain 5. Zona del Popolo	1. Gesù 2. Piazza di Spagna 3. Quirinal
DAY 2	Roman Forum 1. Campo de’ Fiori 2. Campidoglio Square (Imperial Forums) 3. Roman and Palatine 4. Forum	Next to the Tiber 1. Boario Forum (Bocca della Verità) 2. Tiber Island 3. Trastevere	1. Ghetto 2. Marcelo’s Theater
DAY 3	Around the Colosseum 1. St. Clement 2. Coliseum 3. S. Pietro in Vincoli (Moses)	The Great Basilicas 1. St. Mary Major 2. St. Mary of the Angels 3. St. John Lateran (St. Croce in Jerusalem)	1. Numerous churches around these basilicas

4-day stays

Day One

The first day is dedicated to the Vatican and the historic center of Rome, with a walk through the city’s most famous squares. The last stop is Piazza del Popolo—try to arrive before Santa Maria del Popolo closes so you can admire its treasures.

Around Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, you’ll find an impressive number of fascinating churches. Plan your visit carefully: many of them close at 12:30 pm and reopen around 3:30–4:00 pm.

Other afternoon options include:

Visiting the Ara Pacis and the nearby Mausoleum of Augustus.
Climbing up to the Pincio Hill for a breathtaking sunset, if the weather is kind.

Day Two

The second day is dedicated to Ancient Rome, starting with a walk through the Jewish Ghetto and Campo de’ Fiori. From there, head to the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio) and descend into the Roman Forum.

Your time inside the Forum can be as short as 30 minutes for a quick walk or over two hours with a detailed guided tour. Our Rome audioguide, for instance, devotes 1 hour and 45 minutes. From the Forum, continue straight to the Palatine Hill—remember, once you exit the archaeological area, your ticket will not allow re-entry.

In the afternoon, explore the Tiber River area and its surroundings.

Other possibilities for this day include:

The Capitoline Museums, located on Piazza del Campidoglio.
Wandering through the Jewish Ghetto, either early in the day or after your visit to the Forum and Palatine Hill.
Before entering the Forum, you could also see the Imperial Forums, Trajan’s Column, and Trajan’s Markets (whether from outside or with a visit inside).

Day Three

On the third day, focus on the eastern side of Rome, from the Colosseum to Santa Maria Maggiore and St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano). Don’t miss San Clemente, a hidden gem with layered excavations beneath the church.

Your Colosseum ticket is the same one you used for the Forum and Palatine Hill—it’s valid for two consecutive days. Keep in mind that Santa Maria Maggiore and St. John Lateran remain open at midday, but most other churches along this route close for a few hours, so plan accordingly.

Other possibilities for the day include:

Near Termini station, the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, with its extraordinary collection of Roman frescoes and mosaics.
Expanding your itinerary to include the Baths of Caracalla, the Catacombs, or the Via Appia Antica—though farther away, they’re worth it if you can spare the time.
Visiting St. Paul Outside the Walls, another papal basilica beloved by many visitors. It’s outside the city center but accessible by Metro. For the other two remarkable extramural basilicas—San Lorenzo and Sant’Agnese with the Mausoleum of Santa Costanza—you’ll need alternative transport.

Day Four

The final day is reserved for the Vatican Museums (unless it’s Sunday, when they’re closed). Expect to spend almost the entire morning there. In the afternoon, stroll through Trastevere, then continue via the Aventine Hill toward the impressive Baths of Caracalla.

Other options for this day include:

Following our suggested route on foot, or skipping Trastevere and taking the Metro directly to the Circus Maximus.
If walking, consider stopping on the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo) for lunch and a well-deserved break while enjoying one of the best panoramic views of Rome.

Other Museums to Consider

In our plan, we reserved the fourth day for the Vatican Museums, but if you have extra time or want alternatives, here are some excellent choices:

Galleria Borghese: For many, this is a must-see. Visits are strictly limited to two hours, and advance reservations are required. It’s located outside the center, so allow extra travel time.
Capitoline Museums: Centrally located, fascinating, and manageable in about 90 minutes—perfect for shorter stays.
Other top-tier museums include the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (mentioned on Day Three), the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, the Etruscan Museum, and the Palazzo Barberini.

With four full days in Rome, you’ll have time to enjoy both the must-sees and some quieter treasures. From the grandeur of the Vatican and Colosseum to the charm of Trastevere and the hidden beauty of San Clemente, this itinerary balances iconic highlights with authentic experiences—leaving you with memories (and reasons) to return.

PERIOD	MORNING	AFTERNOON	EVENING
DAY 1	The Vatican 1. St. Peter’s Church 2. Castle Sant’Angelo	Downtown 1. Piazza Navona 2. Pantheon 3. Piazza Venezia (Imperial Forums) 4. Trevi Fountain 5. Zona del Popolo	1. Gesù 2. Piazza di Spagna 3. Quirinal
DAY 2	Roman Forum 1. Campo de’ Fiori 2. Campidoglio Square (Imperial Forums) 3. Roman and Palatine 4. Forum	Next to the Tiber 1. Boario Forum (Bocca della Verità) 2. Tiber Island 3. Trastevere	1. Ghetto 2. Marcelo’s Theater
DAY 3	Around the Colosseum 1. St. Clement 2. Coliseum 3. S. Pietro in Vincoli (Moses)	The Great Basilicas 1. St. Mary Major 2. St. Mary of the Angels 3. St. John Lateran (St. Croce in Jerusalem)	1. Numerous churches around these basilicas
DAY 4	Vatican Museums	South Zone 1. Villa Farnesina (Trastevere) (the Gianicolo) 2. Baths of Caracalla	1. S. Sabina (colina del Aventino)