Rome in 3 Days: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Three days in Rome is enough to see the highlights — if you plan it right. The city rewards those who are organised but also those who leave room to wander. Here's our tried-and-tested itinerary for making the most of 72 hours in the Eternal City.

• BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: BOOK THESE IN ADVANCE
• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel — skip-the-line tickets sell out weeks ahead in peak season
• Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — book online to avoid queues of up to 2 hours
• Borghese Gallery — mandatory booking, strict timed entry, maximum 360 visitors at a time
• Any restaurants you particularly want — popular spots fill up fast, especially on weekends

DAY 1: ANCIENT ROME

Morning — The Colosseum and Roman Forum Start early — arrive at the Colosseum by 8:30 AM before the crowds build. With pre-booked tickets you'll skip the queue entirely. Allow 45 minutes inside the Colosseum, then walk through the Arch of Constantine and into the Roman Forum.

The Forum is where the Roman Republic was born and where Julius Caesar was cremated. Walk the Via Sacra — the ancient main street — past the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Curia (Senate House). Climb the Palatine Hill for views over the Forum and the Circus Maximus. Allow 2–2.5 hours for the Forum and Palatine combined.

Lunch Walk 10 minutes to Testaccio for lunch. The neighbourhood's trattorias serve excellent Roman food at reasonable prices — try cacio e pepe or carbonara at one of the restaurants around the Testaccio Market.

Afternoon — Circus Maximus and Aventine Hill Walk to the Circus Maximus — the ancient chariot-racing track that held 250,000 spectators. Then climb the Aventine Hill to the Orange Garden for panoramic views and don't miss the Knights of Malta keyhole for the famous framed view of St. Peter's dome.

Evening — Trastevere Cross the Tiber into Trastevere for dinner. Explore the neighbourhood's cobbled streets before settling into a traditional trattoria. After dinner, walk along the river — the Tiber embankment is beautiful at night.

DAY 2: THE VATICAN

Morning — Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel An early morning tour is ideal — enter at 8:00 or 9:00 AM before the crowds arrive. Allow 2.5–3 hours for the Vatican Museums. Don't try to see everything — focus on the Gallery of Maps, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. A guided tour makes a significant difference here.

Late Morning — St. Peter's Basilica Walk directly from the Vatican Museums into St. Peter's Basilica. The basilica is enormous — allow at least an hour. If you have the energy, climb the dome for panoramic views over Rome.

Lunch Eat in the Prati neighbourhood, just north of the Vatican. It's where locals who work at the Vatican eat — good quality, reasonable prices and none of the tourist markup of the restaurants immediately outside the Vatican walls.

Afternoon — Castel Sant'Angelo Walk along the Tiber to Castel Sant'Angelo — the former mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, later a papal fortress and prison. The views from the top are excellent and the interior is fascinating. Allow 1.5 hours.

Evening — Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori Walk to Piazza Navona — one of Rome's most beautiful Baroque piazzas, with Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers at its centre. Then walk five minutes to Campo de' Fiori for an aperitivo at one of the bars around the square.

DAY 3: THE HISTORIC CENTRE

Morning — Borghese Gallery Start with your pre-booked Borghese Gallery slot (9:00 or 11:00 AM). Two hours with Bernini's sculptures and Caravaggio's paintings in an intimate, uncrowded setting. One of the best museum experiences in Rome.

Late Morning — The Pantheon Walk or take a taxi to the Pantheon — the best-preserved ancient building in Rome, built by Emperor Hadrian around 125 AD. The unreinforced concrete dome, with its 9-metre oculus open to the sky, is an engineering marvel. Entry now requires a timed ticket — book in advance.

Lunch Eat near the Pantheon. Try the Jewish Ghetto, a 10-minute walk away, for Roman-Jewish cuisine: carciofi alla giudia (deep-fried artichokes), baccalà (salt cod) and ricotta-based pastries.

Afternoon — Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps Walk to the Trevi Fountain — best visited in the early afternoon when the morning crowds have thinned slightly. Throw your coin, then walk north to the Spanish Steps. Climb to the top for views over the rooftops of central Rome.

Evening — Farewell Dinner For your last evening, book a restaurant in the historic centre — somewhere with outdoor seating if the weather allows. End with a gelato from one of the city's artisan gelaterie and a final walk through the illuminated streets.

• PRACTICAL TIPS FOR 3 DAYS IN ROME
• Wear comfortable shoes — Rome's cobblestones are beautiful but unforgiving
• Carry a refillable water bottle — Rome's nasoni (street fountains) provide free, clean drinking water throughout the city
• Validate your public transport ticket before boarding — inspectors do check
• Most churches are free to enter and contain extraordinary art — pop in whenever you pass one
• The city is best explored on foot — many of the best moments happen between the main attractions