The PERFECT 3 Day Rome Itinerary (With Hidden Gems)

Three days it the perfect amount of time to spend in the Eternal City if you want to see the highlights and hidden gems. In this carefully crafted Rome itinerary, we visit the Vatican City, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and more. We also bike the ancient Appian Way, take a cooking class, and find a few stunning scenic viewpoints along the way!

Woman gazes up at the walls of the Baths of Caracalla, one of the highlights of this Rome itinerary

Woman sits on a ledge overlooking the city of Rome

🇮🇹 About the Author’s Rome Travel Experience: Annie has lived in Italy and visited Rome several times, most recently in August 2024! Some of the photos in this article are from her previous visits.

☀️🌺🌿 Article Outline (Jump Ahead)

Where to Stay in Rome

Out of everywhere I’ve stayed in Rome, my favorite is Trastevere, which is where we stayed on our last trip. This offbeat riverside neighborhood is full of romantic, pedestrian-only streets lined with pink and orange stuccoed buildings draped in ivy.

Most people visit Trastevere once during their Rome trip to dine at its famous restaurants. But I love staying here because it allows me see a side of the neighborhood most others miss. We started most days with a cappuccino and pastries from a classic Italian neighborhood bar, and in the evenings we’d sip local wine from our balcony overlooking the winding streets.

Top boutique hotels & B&Bs in Trastevere:

🍷 Ripagrande a Trastevere: Rooftop terrace and simple rooms in a historic home
🌿 Horti 14 Borgo Trastevere Hotel: Garden-side rooms with modern touches
✨ Donna Camilla Savelli: Stay inside a charming converted Baroque monastery!

Since they’re so unique, these Trastevere hotels sell our far in advance—be sure to book as soon as you’re able!

Also See: Where to Stay in Trastevere, Rome: Boutique Hotels + Bed & Breakfasts

Getting Around Rome

The highlights of central Rome are easily explored on foot, with an occasional taxi. The city has busses and metros, too, but we never felt the need to use them.

Use the FreeNow app—which is similar to Uber—to order taxis. Most of our taxis were 20+ minute rides that cost us anywhere from €15-25. We were happy to pay that much becuase we spent so much time walking and only ordered taxis when we really needed to get somewhere!

If you do plan to walk a lot in Rome, make sure you have comfortable shoes! In the summertime you’ll see a lot of locals and tourists wearing Birkenstocks and sneakers. Figure out what shoes work for you before your trip so you don’t miss anything becuase you’re uncomfortable!

Day 1: The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon & Secret Spots

Be warned—this is going to be a 20,000+ step walking day! (If you aren’t comfortable walking that much, consider this excellent golf cart tour after visiting the Colosseum!)

So make sure you wear comfortable shoes and if you’re visiting in the summertime, something airy!

But all the walking will be so worth it—we’re going to visit the majority of the classic Rome highlights, plus some hidden gems!

A cappuccino, espresso, and pastries on a table at Caffè Trastevere in Rome

Optional Morning Coffee & Pastries

When in Rome, do as the Romans do… and they start their days with a quick espresso (or cappuccino) and fluffy pastry at a neighborhood bar—yes coffeeshops in Italy are calls bars!

If you’re staying in Trastevere like I suggested, the place I’d go is Caffè Trastevere (pinned on my free Rome map) which is a classic Italian bar—and although you wouldn’t expect it, they have several vegan pastry options! Even though most locals drink their espresso at the bar itself, you’re welcome to take your drink to their outside seating to sip a little more slowly.

☕️ More coffee *with a Colosseum view* later today: In a few hours we’ll stop by a hidden coffeeshop overlooking the Roman Forum and Colosseum! If you don’t want two coffees in one day, wait for this place—it doesn’t open until after we visit the Colosseum.

Woman standing in front of the Colosseum, an essential place to see in Rome

Couple standing in front of the Roman Forum in Rome

The Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Walk or taxi to the Colosseum to kick off your first day in Rome! While it needs little introduction, here are a few things worth knowing:

The Colosseum was built in just 8 years, from 72 to 80 AD, by tens of thousands of enslaved people, including prisoners from the Jewish-Roman wars.
Though its stunning and impressive, we can’t forget that the arena games that took place here led to the deaths of more than 400,000 people and 1 million animals, and the extinction of several animal species.
Although Rome built arenas like the Colosseum all around the empire, the Colosseum was the largest. But what you might not realize that the near by Circus Maximus—where chariot races took place—is six times the size of the Colosseum! We’ll check out the Circus tomorrow.

The Colosseum usually opens at 8:30am, and I recommend trying to get an early reservation to beat the crowds and summer heat. Your ticket will also include entry into the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and I recommend spending about 30 minutes at each!

While you can explore on your own, I highly recommend a tour guide—or at least an audio guide to bring the ruins to life! Out of the hundreds of Colosseum tours, I recommend this one, becuase its so loved and highly rated by everyone who does it—and it allows you to skip the entire line and is offered nearly every hour of the day.

Woman holds a cappuccino while overlooking the Roman Forum, with the Colosseum in the distance

Hidden Coffee with a Colosseum View

Next, it’s time for that promised coffee with a view of the Colosseum and Roman Forum! To get to this hidden cafe, you’ll have to enter the front of the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II (also known as the Altar of the Fatherland), which is about a ten minute walk from the Roman Forum.

Climb the 243 steps up this grandeur 19th century monument which was created to celebrate Italy’s unification. Follow the signs up to the Caffetteria Italia al Vittoriano coffeeshop which is free to visit and overlooks the Roman Forum! Then order yourself a coffee or juice and soak in the views for a bit before we continue our Rome adventures.

Couple poses in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome

Standing in front of the Pantheon, one of the most important sites to visit if you have 3 days in Rome

The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps & Lunch

Next, we’ll walk to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps.

Each spot is a 10-15 minute walk apart, and I’d recommend stopping somewhere in between for lunch—your best bet is to find a hole-in-the-wall panini place on your way!

Start at the Pantheon, which was originally built as a temple to all the Roman gods and later converted into a Christian basilica. Besides being one of the few ancient temples still standing, the Pantheon is famous for its 142 foot dome and 30-foot-wide oculus (opening) that shines sunlight on mosaiced marble floors below.

The Pantheon is a 15-minute walk from The Altar of the Fatherland. These days you need a reservation to visit, and it costs €5.00 per person. This one hour guided tour is great option if you want a deeper understanding of the Pantheon’s complicated history and architectural significance.

The Trevi Fountain, an essential spot to add to your Rome itinerary

Next, walk 10 minutes east to the Trevi Fountain, a Baroque masterpiece that is one of the most photographed places in Rome! It’s built on an ancient aqueduct and legend says that throwing three coins over your shoulder into the water guarantees your return to the Eternal City. Tourists throw over a $1 million in the fountain each year, and the coins donated to a local charity for the poor.

The Trevi Fountain is free to visit, but expect massive crowds, especially if you’re here at mid-day in summer. That’s okay though, the fountain is still worth stopping at for a few moments before we continue on.

The next spot is the famous Spanish Steps, which are a ten minute walk away. Here’s a secret—I’ve always thought the Spanish Steps are a little overrated… but they’re part of the journey to our next stop, which happens to be one of my favorite places in Rome! And the Trinità dei Monti church at the top of the steps is worth a look too.

But before you climb the 135 Baroque steps up, take a look at the Fontana della Barcaccia at the bottom—it’s a fountain shaped like a sinking boat, and like most fountains in Rome, the water is safe to drink!

Taking in the view at Terrazza del Belvedere, a hidden gem in Rome

Views from nearby the Terrazza del Belvedere in Rome

City Views at Terrazza del Belvedere

Walk just ten more minutes up to the Terrazza del Belvedere, where you can peer over Rome’s church domes, towering spires, and terracotta rooftops as they strech toward the horizon. It’s one of the best—if not the best—views in Rome!

The terrace is located on the edge of Villa Borghese, which is home to the Galleria Borghese—a lovely art museum that you’ll want a reservation for. Feel free to wander the gardens or visit the museum, this is our final stop on our first day in Rome!

Couple embarcing on a balcony in Trastevere, Rome

Dinner & Wandering in Trastevere

Order a taxi to head back to your hotel in Trastevere—or if you’re okay with walking, start the 1 hour journey on foot.

Stay around Trastevere for the rest of the night, it’s the heart of Rome’s restaurant and bar scene, after all! Here are our favorite places to eat in Trastevere:

🍝 Tonnarello PoP: The low-key hidden sister location to Tonnarello, Trastevere’s most famous restaurant. Unlike the main restaurant, you can easily stop here with a reservation, and it feels more like a local spot!
🍸 Big Star Bar: Our favorite bar in Trastevere, which attracts mostly locals but is Texas-themed… but way cooler than it sounds! They make incredible foccacia and have a variety of cocktails and other drinks.
🍕 Pizzeria La Boccaccia: Delicious fresh pizza to-go if you want to eat something back at your hotel. They always have a vegan option and it was one of our favorite places we ate in Rome!
🥪 Donkey Punch: Another great to-go spot with the best paninis I’ve ever had! We ate their paninis on our terrace more than anything else! Be sure to get something with their truffle spread 😋
🍦Fonte della Salute: The best gelato we tried in Trastevere, with a few dairy-free options.

All of these spots (and more) are pinned on my free Rome map!

Man walking up to the ruins of aqueducts at Parco degli Acquedotti in Rome

Day 2: Appian Way E-Bike Tour & Baths of Caracalla

For day two, explore the ancient Appian Way on an e-bike tour! First built in 312 BC, this road eventually connected Rome to Brindisi, Puglia—which is 430 miles away in the ‘heel’ of southeast Italy and was the shipping port that connected Rome to Greece and Egypt.

Today we’ll join this e-bike tour down the first ten miles of the original Appian Way, stop at several significant ancient sites along the way, including:

Circus of Maximus: Nearly six times the size of the Colosseum, the Circus was could hold over 250,000 spectators. This is where Rome hosted brutal chariot races, gladiator games, and public festivals for over a thousand years.
Ancient Roman Gate: Along the Appian Way you’ll travel beneath Porta San Sebastiano, one of the best-preserved gates of the Aurelian Walls, which once encricled all of ancient Rome.
Christian Catacombs: The underground tombs along the Appian Way were the final resting place for around 500,000 early Christians. You’ll get tour one of the two catacombs, depending on the day.
Villa dei Quintili: Here you’ll see the ruins of one of Rome’s most luxurious private residences, equipped with its own bathhouse, aqueduct, and countryside views. It was originally built by the wealthy, respected Quintili until Emperor Commodus killed the brothers and took the villa as is own.
Parco degli Acquedotti: An expansive park where you can see some of Rome’s best preserved aqueducts up close!

If you have extra energy after the tour, I highly recommend stopping by the nearby Terme di Caracalla, one of the best-preserved Roman bathhouses—and honestly, one of my favorite archaeological sites in Rome!

Standing beneath an archway at the ruins of a Roman bath

Woman standing amongst the ruins of Terme di Carcalla, a great addition to this 3 day Rome itinerary

🚲 Money saving Rome tip: If you prefer to bike the Appian Way without a tour, you can rent bikes for as little as $5 here! That said, if you’re visiting in the heat of the summer, I recommend an e-bike which costs $28 for 4 hours.

You should end up with some free time after your e-bike tour of the Appian Way! On your way back to Trastevere, intentionally walk through Rome’s ancient Jewish Ghetto, which is home to Teatro di Marcello—a theater that looks a bit like the Colosseum, just much less crowded!

Then cross the river toward Trastevere via Isola Tiberina, a picturequse island in the middle of the Tiber River!

Day 3: The Vatican & Pasta Cooking Class

We’ve arrived at our last day in Rome… but don’t despair, we’re visiting a brand new country today and cooking pasta with an Italian grandma—what could be better!?

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is stunning, but one of the most important things to know before visiting the Vatican is that you cannot take pictures here

The Vatican City drone shot with a view of St Peter's Square

The Vatican: Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica

Start off your morning at the Vatican, the world’s smallest country, steeped in two thousand years of history.

Landlocked within the city of Rome, the Vatican is the spiritual heart of Catholicism, and an essential place to visit whether you’re religious or not. It’s home to over 70,000 pieces of art, ranging from statues once owned by Roman emperors to Michelangelo’s famed frescoes painted across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Make your reservations for the Vatican’s Museums and Sistine Chapel advance—tickets open up 60 days before and get booked up fast Book directly on museivaticani.va and expect to pay €20.00 per person, plus €5.00 for skip-the-line access (worth it)—or book one of the many excellent guided Vatican tours on Viator.

Either way, try to show up early on the day and expect to spend at least 2-3 hours here. Know that St. Peter’s Basilica is completely separate from the museums and Sistine Chapel, and there is no way to make a reservation—so if you want to visit, you will have to wait in line!

🔔 Planning a trip to the Vatican: I have a full article covering all my Vatican tips for first time visitors!

Lunch & Gelato

After a morning at the Vatican, we walked about 15 minutes away to Mondo Arancina, a local deli serving a Silician street food I’ve always wanted to try—arancini! We ordered a few of these deep fried rice balls, plus some other treats to enjoy for lunch. Then we walked next door to Gelarmony Roma for some much deserved gelato!

🏰 Optional add-on: Castel Sant’Angelo is another one of the most popular landmarks in Rome and it’s very close to the Vatican. Although I’m not including it in this itinerary, if you wanted to add it, now would be the time!

Italian Cooking Class

Spend your final afternoon in Rome learning how to bring all the delicious flavors of Italy home with you! There are tons of cooking class options, including the newly popular tipsy cooking class where you make pasta from scratch while sipping three different cocktails—an aperol spritz, hugo spritz, and limoncello spritz (my favorite). If you have dietary restrictions, check out classes with Madonna del Piatto!

And that marks the end of your three days in Rome! Unless of course, you want to go see the Colosseum one last time as it lights up on your last night here!