Itinerary | 3 or 4 Art-Filled Days in Rome

For first-timers in Rome, it can be overwhelming to choose what to see as this ancient city has so many artistic highlights collected over the centuries. For those who want to take in the absolute best sights for art, culture, and exploring the city – this itinerary is for you.

To keep things manageable, each day is anchored by 2 main activities with stops and sights in between. Everything is grouped together by area with day 4 being ‘player’s choice’ in case readers can only spend 3 days in town.

Day 1: See the New Wonder

Morning: Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (map)
Purchase a ticket for both the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Even
though the Colosseum is the new wonder of the world, the Forum and
Palatine Hill are absolute highlights. Since the Forum and Palatine
Hill are outdoors with little shade, morning is the best time for a visit.

Lunch: If you leave the Forum at the L.go della Salara Vecchia exit, you’ll
be across the street from Via Cavour where many restaurants await.

Afternoon: Colosseum
Once you’re finished with lunch, the Colosseum will be a 10 minute
walk south-east. Take your time through the fascinating displays on the 2nd
floor and keep an eye out for some amazing pockets of views over
Rome as you gaze out the exterior arches.

Late-Afternoon: Sight Walk (30min~)
From the Colosseum headed back into the city centre, take a walk to see
the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. This monument will shock you for
its grandeur and sheer size. Afterwards, head over to Largo di Torre
Argentina which is a sunken open square that is both a historical site
and a cat sanctuary.

Evening: Eat & Relax
The evening is yours to enjoy, eat, and relax. Do make reservations if you
have your eye on a popular dinner spot. If you want something quick,
cross the road from Largo di Torre Argentina (the cat sanctuary) to Pizza
Florida for some amazing pizza charged by the pound.

Day 2: Vatican City

Morning: Sight Walk (30min+)
Day 2 begins with a sight walk starting at the Trevi Fountain and going
west. This walk includes notable city squares as well as the Pantheon.
Even though the walk itself is less than half an hour, stopping here and
there for photos and coffee is expected.

Lunch: Eat & Cross the River Tiber
Whether you decide to get lunch in the city centre or near Vatican City is
up to you. Either way, the mid-day mission is to fuel up and get across the
River Tiber to Vatican City. From the end of the sight walk, this would be a
30 minute walk or a 25 minute bus ride. I’ve found buses unpredictable in
Rome so I do recommend walking.

Afternoon: Vatican City
This afternoon is allotted for exploring Vatican City. Highlights include
checking out Saint Peter’s Square and booking tickets to visit the Vatican
Museums (map) as well as the Sistine Chapel. Do book your tickets as soon
as you can as reservations are limited.

Dinner: Sight Walk (25min~)
Take advantage of your walk back into the city centre by following this
sight walk which will take you through Castel Sant’Angelo and end up at the
beautiful Piazza Navona where there are many restaurants nearby.

Day 3: Villa Borghese

Morning/Lunch: Free time
Today’s itinerary focuses on the Villa Borghese Park. Because of the park’s size and distance from restaurants, the two activities will both be in the afternoon so take the morning to caffeinate, eat, and put your walking shoes on.

Afternoon: Galleria Borghese (map / 2 hr visit)
This villa was one of the busiest museum lobbies I’d ever been to. Be sure to grab your tickets online as they do limit capacity.

Late-Afternoon: National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (1.5 hr visit)
From the Galleria Borghese, walk (20 mins) through the park to the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (map). This museum was surprisingly quiet but it includes monumental pieces that are not to miss. It’s lobby pavilion also includes a charming coffee corner where you can drink and relax.

Dinner: Sight Walk (40 mins)
From the National Gallery, follow this sight walk through various highlights of the Villa Borghese to end up at the Spanish Steps where there are many restaurants close by. Alternatively, pause midway during the sight walk just before Via Margutta to dine in the elegant outdoor restaurant at Hotel de Russie.

Day 4: ‘Choice’ Day

You’ve covered a lot of ground through days 1, 2 and 3. Congratulations! Day 4 can be a well-earned breather, a leisure/shopping day or time used to punctuate the magnificent art you’ve already seen. Here are some ideas:

• Wander through the artsy Trastevere (map) neighbourhood
• Go to the Capitoline Museums (map)
• Explore the Testaccio Market (map)
• Visit MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Art (map)
• See what’s on at Chiostro del Bramante (map)

I hope you’ve found something interesting and helpful in this itinerary. Safe travels!