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Rome in 1 or 3 days, plus a nine-day Italy grand route

Rome can fill any number of days, but a carefully ordered route makes even a short visit rewarding. These plans cover a sunrise-to-sunset day, a fuller 3-day stay, extra time in and around the capital, and a nine-day journey from Venice through Ferrara, Bologna, Florence, Lucca and Pisa to Rome.

In a nutshell: Begin with the Italy itineraries overview, then choose the Rome plan that fits your time or follow the nine-day Venice to Rome route. The schedules are frameworks, not commands: keep the order of the major sights, but leave space to wander and absorb the city between them.

Rome in 1 day

Rome has more sights than one visit can contain. With only 1 day, start early, wear stylish but comfortable sneakers, pick up a cappuccino and prepare for a full sunrise-to-sunset circuit through the Baroque centre and the Ancient City. The walking and transfers are busy, so protect a little time simply to wander and get a feel for Rome.

Itinerary

Rome in 1 day - Baroque Rome, the Vatican and the Ancient City

  1. 01Start near Piazza Navona at the bar of Sant'Eustachio il Caffè as it opens at 7:30 am. Nearby, see the painted ceiling of the church of Sant'Ignazio and the Old Master paintings in the princely Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, two lavish expressions of Rome's Baroque side.
  2. 02In midmorning, walk west for a few blocks to the Pantheon, which still has the presence of a place where Emperor Hadrian might appear at any moment. Then go a few blocks north to San Luigi dei Francesi, home to Caravaggio's earliest major commissions.
  3. 03Just before lunch, stroll about a block west into Piazza Navona and take in its Bernini fountains. Leave from the piazza's south end along Via della Cuccagna and continue for several blocks to the open-air food market at Campo de' Fiori, a natural place to stop for lunch.
  4. 04Walk 2 more blocks toward the Tiber to reach Via Giulia, one of Rome's most romantic streets, laid out by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. Follow its 10 blocks of Renaissance palazzos and ivy-draped antique shops, then take the bus from the stop near the Tiber across to the Vatican.
  5. 05Look around St. Peter's Basilica, then visit the treasure-filled Musei Vaticani in the early afternoon for the Sistine Chapel. The crowds thin out somewhat around lunchtime. Reserve online at the official Vatican Museums ticket portal to avoid the lines; the €5 service fee is worthwhile for the time saved. Allow about 2 hours, then walk to the Ottaviano stop near the museum and take the Metro to Colosseo.
  6. 06Climb into the Colosseum and imagine the arena filled with toga-clad citizens watching gladiators fight to the death. Continue along Via dei Fori Imperiali to the Roman Forum entrance. By a ruined column, pose for a raised-hand version of a Friends, Romans, Countrymen speech. At sunset, the Forum closes and its floodlights come on.
  7. 07Follow the Forum's ancient Via Sacra back to Via dei Fori Imperiali, walking around the looming Vittorio Emanuele II Monument, known as the wedding cake, to reach the Campidoglio. On Capitoline Hill, visit the Musei Capitolini for its ancient Roman art, see the Forum from the Tabularium and look toward St. Peter's from the terrace beside the museum caffè. If you are not entering the museum, the top of Via Monte Tarpeo on the Capitoline Hill gives a spectacular Forum view.
  8. 08After dinner, hail a cab or take a long passeggiata along a La Dolce Vita memory lane to the Trevi Fountain, which is especially beautiful at night. Toss a coin over your shoulder to ensure a return trip to Rome.

Rome in 3 days

Three days make room for a longer look at the Roman Forum and the Vatican Museums, some less-touristed sights and evenings in lively neighbourhoods such as Trastevere. Give each day a distinct centre of gravity rather than trying to repeat the one-day sprint three times.

Day 1 - Ancient Rome

Itinerary

Day 1 - Roman Forum, Musei Capitolini and Colosseum

  1. 01Use the first day for the Roman Forum, the Musei Capitolini and the Colosseum. The area is compact, but the ruins, collections and viewpoints can easily fill a full morning and afternoon.
  2. 02Reach the Colosseum at its 8:30 am opening to get ahead of the crowds. Advance tickets are useful here, and a guided tour of the Forum can make the long afternoon visit more rewarding.
  3. 03After sightseeing, stay close to the ancient centre for a classic Roman dinner in Monti.

Day 2 - The Vatican and Piazza Navona

Itinerary

Day 2 - Vatican City, the Pantheon and Campo de' Fiori

  1. 01Give the second day to the city-state of the Vatican. Reserve the Vatican Museums online ahead of time, especially if the Sistine Chapel is a priority; the reservation adds €5, but it saves waiting. A guided museum tour generally lasts about 2 hours. Leave time to marvel at St. Peter's Basilica as well.
  2. 02Have lunch in nearby Prati. Once the Vatican visit is over, cross the river to Piazza Navona and its sculptures, then stop at the Pantheon.
  3. 03Continue to the area around Campo de' Fiori for dinner at an outdoor restaurant. The nearby bars provide plenty to do afterward.

Day 3 - Piazza di Spagna, Villa Borghese and Trastevere

Itinerary

Day 3 - From the Trevi Fountain to Trastevere

  1. 01Have breakfast near the Trevi Fountain, then window-shop along Via Condotti and the surrounding streets while making your way to the Spanish Steps. Pause there for postcard-worthy photographs.
  2. 02Continue to nearby Villa Borghese. If you need a break from museums, explore Rome's main park and its fine views. If you want more art, the Galleria Borghese is one of the city's best art museums.
  3. 03Spend the last evening in trendy Trastevere. Have dinner there, then move through the cobblestone streets and medieval houses, stopping at bars for a final night of bar-hopping.

If you have more time

An additional day can be an archaeological outing, a day trip into the hills or a chance to explore Rome at a slower pace. Choose one direction and give it enough time rather than trying to fit every alternative into a single extra day.

Itinerary

An extra day - Ostia Antica or a slower Rome

  1. 01For a close archaeological escape, take the train from Porta San Paolo to Ostia Antica, an ancient port and one of Italy's best-preserved archaeological sites. Trains leave every 15 minutes and take only 35 minutes. Explore the ruins at leisure and stop for lunch in town.
  2. 02Other strong day trips are the beautiful villas of Tivoli, the small villages of the Castelli Romani and the whimsical gardens of Bomarzo.
  3. 03If you prefer to stay in Rome, spend the extra time with churches and cathedrals such as Sant'Ignazio or San Clemente, palaces such as Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, or less familiar but impressive museums including MAXXI and MACRO.
  4. 04The ancient Via Appia Antica and its spooky yet mesmerising catacombs offer another afternoon immersed in Roman history.

Venice, Florence, Rome and highlights in between

Treat this nine-day circuit as a draft to adjust around your interests and time. It combines Venice with Ferrara and Bologna, Florence with Lucca and Pisa, and a final 2 days in Rome before departure. The rail journeys are part of the structure, not just the gaps between destinations.

Day 1 - Venice

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Venice

  1. 01Arrive at Venice's Marco Polo Airport and continue to Venice by Alilaguna boat or bus. Check into your hotel, then spend a couple of hours getting happily lost along the canals before dinner.

Day 2 - Venice

Itinerary

Day 2 - Giudecca, San Marco and the Zattere

  1. 01If you enjoy photography, rise before dawn for a vaporetto to Giudecca. Walk along the long Fondamenta as the golden-hour light reaches Palladio's Redentore and the canal views. Before the main sights, have coffee at a real Italian coffee bar.
  2. 02Visit the Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and Galleria dell'Accademia. Do not skip Piazza San Marco: the anticipation of approaching the giant square ends in a remarkable view of the piazza.
  3. 03For lunch, try sarde in saor, sardines prepared in a sweet-and-sour style with onions and raisins. Then see the fish market at the foot of the Rialto Bridge and watch the sunset from the Zattere before dinner.
  4. 04Later, have a drink at a bar on Campo San Luca or Campo Santa Margherita. Students and families gather in these open spaces, where the freedom from automobiles is part of the atmosphere.

Day 3 - Ferrara and Bologna

Itinerary

Day 3 - Ferrara to Bologna

  1. 01Take the train to Ferrara, a journey of about 90 minutes and your first stop in Emilia-Romagna. Visit the Castello Estense and the Duomo, have lunch, and then wander the cobblestone streets.
  2. 02Continue by train to Bologna, less than 1 hour away. Check into your hotel, then walk around Piazza Maggiore before dinner, taking in the bustle and architectural details such as the Fontana del Nettuno.
  3. 03Leave the evening open for some of Italy's best nightlife.

Day 4 - Bologna and Florence

Itinerary

Day 4 - Bologna to Florence

  1. 01After breakfast, explore some of Bologna's churches and piazzas. Walk under the porticoes, admire the medieval towers and browse the tempting delis.
  2. 02After lunch, take the short train ride to Florence. Arrive in time for an afternoon siesta and an evening passeggiata.

Day 5 - Florence

Itinerary

Day 5 - Uffizi, the Duomo and Florence views

  1. 01Start at the Uffizi Gallery. Look for Botticelli's Primavera and Birth of Venus, Raphael's Madonna of the Goldfinch and Caravaggio's Bacchus, among the other works in the collection.
  2. 02Walk to Piazza del Duomo for Brunelleschi's spectacular dome. Climb it for an equally spectacular view, then have a simple trattoria lunch.
  3. 03Spend the afternoon either with more art or hiking up to Piazzale Michelangelo for its view across Florence. End the day with bistecca alla Fiorentina, a traditional grilled T-bone steak served with olive oil.

Day 6 - Lucca and Pisa

Itinerary

Day 6 - Lucca to Pisa

  1. 01After breakfast, take a train for the 90-minute journey to Lucca, the walled medieval city. See the Romanesque Duomo and walk along the city's ramparts, then have lunch in a trattoria.
  2. 02Continue to Pisa, 30 minutes away, and spend the afternoon in the Campo dei Miracoli with the Leaning Tower, the Duomo and the Battistero.
  3. 03Walk down to the banks of the Arno and eat at one of the inexpensive local restaurants in the real city centre.

Day 7 - Rome

Itinerary

Day 7 - Florence to Rome

  1. 01Take a high-speed train to Rome, a 90-minute journey from Florence or 3 hours from Pisa. The Eternal City took millennia to build, but this whirlwind route gives you only 2 days to see it.
  2. 02After checking into your hotel, relax for a while, then walk through Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori and the Trevi Fountain, which is at its best in the evening. Have a stand-up aperitivo at an unpretentious local bar; Campari and soda is a classic. For dinner, choose one of Rome's popular local pizzerias.

Day 8 - Rome

Itinerary

Day 8 - Vatican, the ancient city and Piazza di Spagna

  1. 01In the morning, visit the Vatican Museums for Michelangelo's glorious frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. See St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square before having lunch near the Pantheon.
  2. 02Visit the magnificent Pantheon after lunch, then go to the Colosseum. Along Via dei Fori Imperiali, stop to look down over the Roman Forum from above.
  3. 03From the Colosseum, walk or take a taxi to Piazza di Spagna and browse the stylish boutiques there.

Day 9 - Rome and departure

Itinerary

Day 9 - Termini to Fiumicino

  1. 01Take a taxi to Termini station and catch the train to Fiumicino Airport.
  2. 02For most people, the train from Termini is preferable to a taxi ride.
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