A 3 Day Rome Itinerary To Help Plan Your Trip
Rome is an incredible city with so much to see and do that it can be a bit daunting when it comes to planning your trip to make sure you can experience as much as possible. For your 3 day Rome itinerary you’ll want to balance visiting the historic sights with time to relax and enjoy the culture, as well as the incredible culinary offering and hopefully some hidden gems too. As part of my recent trip to Rome with Jet2CityBreaks, I managed to do it all without feeling rushed or like I’d missed out on anything. Here’s my perfect 3 day Rome itinerary to help you plan your trip.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary 3 night city break to Rome with Jet2CityBreaks, however all activities and experiences I did while I was there I paid for myself. This blog is my genuine 3 day Rome itinerary that I put together and followed myself.
I’ll start by saying this was my second trip to Rome, the first one was also with Jet 2 a good few years ago with my family, and I think visiting once previously really helped me plan this trip. I always find that as incredible as it is visiting a place for the first time, I have a better time the more I go as you become more familiar with the city. Hopefully I will pass on that knowledge and experience to you for your own 3 day Rome itinerary.
When planning this trip I had in mind the sights I wanted to dedicate more time to as priorities, such as the Colosseum, somewhere I find absolutely fascinating, sights I knew I could see in passing such as the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, and those that I didn’t mind missing out on during this trip – the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.
But don’t worry, just because I didn’t visit during my time in Rome doesn’t mean you can’t. This itinerary is flexible and can be adapted to the sights you want to target.
Finding some incredible bars and restaurants was also a top priority for me, especially as this was a solo trip I wanted to make sure I had places booked – advisable anyway for a city like Rome, but also based on a lot of research I had in mind evenings spent on Rome rooftops taking in the view after busy days and lots of walking. If that sounds like a good plan to you then this 3 day Rome itinerary is for you.
Getting to Rome with Jet 2 City Breaks
As I travelled in August, my flights to Rome were from Manchester airport, but Jet2 offer Rome flights from almost all major UK airports. July and August can be extremely hot, and although I’m definitely a lover of the heat I personally think that shoulder seasons are the perfect time to visit.
I was on an early flight out which meant I arrived in Rome at lunchtime, and a lunchtime flight back which gave me half a day and full evening on my first day, and two full days on the Tuesday and Wednesday. This is my ideal type of itinerary, especially the early flight out as you can make the most of that first day.
From what I can see Newcastle offers very similar flight times, and there are other options available so you can choose what is best for you and wherever you’re flying from UK wide. The Jet2 City Breaks packages include your flights and hotel, and mine was Hotel Villa Glori in the Flaminio District, a four star boutique style hotel just a 20 minute walk from central Rome.
Hotels are a personal choice but I have found on both my visits to Rome that staying slightly out of the historic centre gives a much better experience when you’re combining location, budget, chance of a peaceful night’s sleep and quality of the hotel. I loved my stay at Villa Glori, and you can read my full review of the hotel, its amenities and location in my Villa Glori review here.
The good thing about city breaks is you can travel with hand luggage only, so I was one of the first out of the airport and into my transfer heading to my hotel. You can add transfers as part of your city break package, however I booked mine through Airports Taxi Transfers, I did a lot of research and pre-booking with them was the cheapest. It was £103.95 for a return booking, and the journey from the airport to the hotel is about 40 minutes.
3 Day Rome Itinerary: Day 1
Arriving in Rome on your first day is very exciting, and the best thing to do to kick off your 3 day Rome itinerary initially is go for a walk. I dropped my bags at the hotel at midday, check in was at 2pm so I did the walk from the hotel to the nearest point of central Rome. From where I was staying, that was Piazza del Popolo.
Piazza del Popolo
Rome has many piazza’s, which are essentially city squares that have points of interest, lots of cafes, bars and restaurants, and things to see. Piazza del Popolo is known for its design, it’s huge and very symmetrical, and it also holds a lot of history.
The Flaminio obelisk is in the middle, and the two churches form the symmetrical appearance either side – Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. The Egyptian obelisk is ancient at over 3000 years old, and it’s not the only one in Rome, another stands in St Peter’s Square.
Also found here is Museo Leonardo Da Vinci, a museum dedicated to his life and works, especially his inventions. Find details of visiting the museum and how to book tickets on the official website here.
Piazza del Popolo is a good place to get dropped off, or to pick up a taxi or scooter as it’s a central place and easy to get to for transport. It’s also not far from the Borghese Gardens.
Via del Corso
Via del Corso is one of the most famous streets in Rome, and it runs right from Piazza del Popolo for well over a kilometre, to Piazza Venezia on the other side of Rome. As one of the busiest streets it is packed with shopping and food opportunities, street entertainers, as well as historic buildings and gets very lively. It is closed to cars from 2-6pm on weekend afternoons.
The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are a short walk from Piazza del Popola and are fabulous to witness. Known as Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti to the locals, the 135 step staircase that stretches from Piazza di Spagna leads to the Trinita dei Monti church that sits at the top. The steps date back to the 18th Century and are perceived as the most beautiful staircase in the world.
Despite being ‘Spanish’, the church itself is a French Renaissance church, and attracts both tourists and locals. Piazza di Spagna is always very busy with people taking photos, and take note that you are no longer allowed to sit on the stairs. You can walk up and down them but you need to keep moving, or you’ll get told off by the police.
The fountain at the bottom is Barcaccia fountain and it’s a great spot to get some beautiful photos of the steps, the church and the fountain in the foreground. At early parts of the day it’s even more beautiful when there are fewer people about. The street that leads away from the Spanish Steps is Via dei Condotti, and it’s lined with designer shops to window browse.
Trevi Fountain
From Piazza di Spagna it is a ten minute walk from here further into the heart of historic Rome, until you get to the Trevi Fountain. This is one of my favourite sights in Rome, it’s absolutely fabulous.
Piazza di Trevi doesn’t feel that big of a square, largely because the Trevi Fountain takes up so much of it, and the crowds fill the space. It is one of the busiest spots in Rome, with people filling the square and the steps waiting for their turn to toss a coin in and take photos right by the fountain.
Dominated by the marble Neptune statue and cascading waters, it’s a sight to behold and I visit it numerous times during my trip. Being so central it’s likely you will pass it plenty of times too, but if you’re wanting to see it without the crowds then very early morning is your best bet.
I’ve shared full details of what you can get up to at the at the Trevi Fountain and nearby in this post, but for this first day I just went to see it.
The heat of the day was quite intense at this point, and after a lot of walking so far you might like to stop for some lunch and a cocktail. One of my best finds of the entire trip is actually very close to the Trevi Fountain, at the Trevi Garden Rooftop and Bar.
Full details can be found in this post on my three rooftop bar finds in Rome, but essentially it is a fabulous bar overlooking the fountain away from the crowds. I’ll call it a hidden gem as you’d probably never see it from Piazza di Trevi, but it offers incredible views, great cocktails – I’d recommend the aperol or limoncello spritz, and classic Italian pizzas for lunch. I thought the margarita was phenomenal.
You could continue to enjoy the surrounding area here for a while, there’s so many gelato shops, other shopping opportunities and little bars, but it is very touristy, and by late afternoon you’ll be able to head back to your hotel. I walked through Rome to Piazza del Popolo and got a taxi back to the hotel from there to check in and get ready for my first evening in Rome.
Bistro Ora
Researching my evenings in Rome led me to finding my second rooftop bar, and I booked myself a table here on the first evening. After I’d unpacked and showered, I got an uber to Piazza Venezia Square, at the far end of Via del Corso where I mentioned earlier.
Near to here is the NH Collection Hotel Fori Imperiali, and Oro Bistrot is the hotel rooftop bar and restaurant that sits on top. You could book for dinner here, but I preferred to just book for an evening cocktail experience which you can do via their website.
It’s absolutely beautiful, with incredible panoramic views over three major Roman sites; the enormous Altar of the Fatherland, Trajan’s Column and Forum, and the Church of the most Holy Name of Mary. It makes for beautiful photos across the skyline while you’re sipping on your cocktail or wine, and enjoying aperitivo served by the chef.
Again, you can find more detailed information in my post on the three rooftop bars, but your table booking lasts for two hours, enough to work up an appetite.
Altar of the Fatherland
You can’t miss this huge monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, otherwise known as the Altare della Patria. It’s actually free to visit for anyone, but one of it’s main attractions is its roof terrace for sunset. There are two glass lifts that take you up there, offering unrivalled photo opportunities of Rome at sunset. You do have to pay to do this, it’s 32 euros per person and tickets can be purchased here.
The Peroni Bar
There are countless restaurant options in Rome to enjoy, and I can’t begin to list all of the recommendations I have either been to or that are on my list. That evening, I went to L’Antica Birreria Peroni, the original ancient Peroni brewery that is also a restaurant because it was so close by.
It has retained many of the original features dating back to 1906, and the history is written across the walls and the menus for you to take in. It’s also a casual option with great hearty Italian food, so after a long first day in Rome after an early start, a good bit of sightseeing and a fair few cocktails, I got myself a carbonara. Needless to say it just hits different when in Rome.
3 Day Rome Itinerary: Day 2
I honestly think the best bit of advice I can give to anyone visiting Rome, even when it’s not in the peak summer season, is to get up early to see some of the most popular sights. My entire 3 day Rome itinerary was built around early starts and rooftop bars, the rest fell into place. Getting up early really is so worth it, especially if you enjoy taking photos without swarms of people in them. There are too many sights to target so early in the morning before they quickly attract the crowds, so choose carefully!
Pantheon
As much as I’d have loved to see the Trevi Fountain without anyone else there, I chose the Pantheon and Piazza Navona for my first early morning in Rome on day 2. I was in an uber and into central Rome by 7am, and had Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is located almost to myself. Having been here when it was busy during my last visit I’m so glad I did this.
The Roman Pantheon is a remarkable building, a former temple and now a church; it is one of the oldest buildings in Rome. It was first commissioned in BC, but the current building dates to Hadrian around 126 AD.
There are some beautiful photo opportunities to be had here early morning, with the fountain in the centre of the square providing good viewpoints and perspectives of the ancient building behind it. From here you can’t see the impressive and ancient dome that it is so well known for, but you do get the outside perspective of the pillars.
The dome is one of the biggest concrete domes in the world, requires no reinforcement thanks to the impeccable Roman architecture that makes up so many of their buildings, and it has the giant hole in the roof that is the only source of light, was a way to tell the time as it focuses above the door at midday, and it allows rain to fall to the slanted floor beneath it.
It opens at 9am, so I was too early to go inside, but I’m so glad I went to experience the square and the area around the Pantheon before it became crowded.
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is my favourite square in Rome, with its colourful buildings that go right the way around, the choice of restaurants to enjoy lunch while musicians play, and the beautiful fountains that you might recognise from Angels & Demons.
From the Pantheon it is less than ten minutes walk to Piazza Navona, and although it comes to life when everything opens, it is still amazing to see before it gets busy. The nearby streets are also lovely to witness early morning.
For breakfast, there is plenty of choice and despite being so centrally located there is one just to the left of the Pantheon as you look at it that I love to sit at. You’d imagine it would be ridiculously expensive and touristy, but it actually isn’t and is very reasonable. I sat and had a cappuccino and pancakes here while the Pantheon queue slowly grew longer as it crept closer to 9am.
If you choose to visit the Pantheon now, be aware that you can pre book tickets, or you can stand in one of two lines to pay by cash or card. It’s only 4 euros per person so well worth doing. Look how much you’ve already done and it’s not even 10am!
The Vatican, St Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel
If the Vatican, St Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel are on your list to visit especially if it’s your first time in Rome, then now is a good time to head over there to do this.
I’ve previously shared a detailed blog post on visiting Vatican City and how to make the most of doing it all in one day, so take a look at that for all of my tips and advice. It’s a lot to take in so this would take up most of the rest of your day.
It wasn’t something I wanted to do on this visit, I loved the Sistine Chapel but the queue and walk through the museum to reach it was a lot, so I decided to continue to enjoy ancient Rome instead.
Roman Forum
Over 2000 years of history pop up all over Rome and it’s a lot to get your head round, so the best place to start is the Roman Forum. This preserved area was once the heart of ancient Rome, where emperors ruled, political decisions were made, and people worshipped in the temples.
The ancient forum dates back to 500 BC and was filled with government buildings, temples, law courts and religious buildings that made up the Roman empire. What’s left of this focal point of Rome has been preserved across the historic site for us to visit.
To visit on its own it’s approximately £16-£19, but it’s worth noting that most Colosseum tickets include entry to the Roman Forum so if you pre book those you don’t have to pay again. There are a number of entry points to the Forum, I chose the one near the Arch of Titus as it also has a cafe and toilets here.
Like everywhere in Rome there are many different ticket and guide options available, but most places do have signs and descriptions up, so I took it at my own place and wandered around the Forum and Paletine Hill.
Even though I’d walked here first thing, by the time I came out of the Forum it was in the heat of the day, so I needed some shade and a cocktail. I got an uber which are really easy to get across Rome back up to Piazza Navona.
Lunch at Piazza Navona
As mentioned previously this square is great for people watching and taking in the local atmosphere. Restaurants are still fairly reasonable in my opinion, so I got a table outside one of them and enjoyed a long lunch of seafood linguine and a Belini cocktail watching the world go by.
Of course it’s up to you how much time you spend at each location, I felt like during this second visit I was much more relaxed about the areas I wanted to put more time to, and I didn’t feel pressure so it was nice to enjoy relaxed, wine fuelled lunches rather than rushing about too much.
There’s a great gelato shop right at the far end of the square too so get one after you’ve eaten!
Vicus Caprarius
From Piazza Navona I enjoyed a leisurely walk back towards the Trevi Fountain, where I had an afternoon time slot at Vicus Caprarius. This is an ancient Roman apartment complex and aqueduct underneath the Trevi Fountain, and it still supplies the water today.
I was a bit early, and hot, so I filled my water bottle from the lovers’ fountain by the Trevi and sat in the shade admiring the view for a while, before making my way to Vicolo del Puttarello, the tiny street where you’ll find their office and the entrance.
It’s 5 euros per person to enter Vicus Caprarius without an audio guide, in my opinion you don’t really need one. Find more information on both the Fontanella degli Innamorati and Vicus Caprarius in my guide for what to do around the Trevi Fountain.
Vista Rooftop Terrace
My final rooftop terrace was booked for my second evening in Rome, the Vista Rooftop terrace. This is a very trendy, cool bar again on top of a hotel, but it definitely doesn’t feel like that while you’re there or getting to it.
Head to Via di Torre Argentina and from the outside it is essentially a black door that looks a bit dodgy, but if you push the buzzer they let you in, and then through another security gate to a very old looking lift. When you emerge on the top floor, you realise it’s where you should be. The Vista staff show you up to the table you have booked and booking is essential.
The beautiful Mediterranean sun terrace is everything you need at the end of a busy day of Rome exploration, and a chance to relax and recharge with tapas, sharer boards, and well made cocktails while the sun goes down and music is playing.
The location in the heart of Rome is stunning, with panoramic views across the city, including the ancient Pantheon rooftop over one side, and the orange and pink colour palette of Rome with the church bells ringing over the other.
Find more details of Vista Rooftop Terrace in my post on Rome rooftop bars.
3 Day Rome Itinerary: Day 3
For your final full day in Rome, you can’t miss out on a visit to the Colosseum. Like most tourist attractions it’s best to get there early to avoid the huge crowds that build and the Colosseum is no different. If you’re visiting on a standard ticket then it opens at 9am, so you could visit another site early in the morning if you’re happy to get up early again.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is my favourite place to visit in Rome, I think it’s absolutely incredible and it’s worth dedicating a full half day from your 3 day Rome itinerary to it. It was the one thing I didn’t mind spending a bit more money on for a guided tour, and after a lot of research I found a new tour that has only been available since June 2023.
The VIP early morning glass lift tour will see you visit before opening as part of a very small group – no more than 7 people, and you’ll get access to the higher levels of the Colosseum via a new glass lift.
It was an amazing experience especially with so few people inside, you could really appreciate the place, and learn a lot more about it by doing it this way. I’ve shared full details and my experience on the VIP early morning glass lift Colosseum tour here.
Even if you don’t do this particular tour, there are many available at different prices and that include various extras that you could choose from. Just don’t skip it, it’s fantastic. Remember that many Colosseum tickets include access to the Roman Forum, and the entrance is very close by, so if you did the Vatican on Day 2, then now would be a good time to visit the Forum straight from your experience at the Colosseum.
Breakfast at L’Antico Forno
There are too many amazing cafes in Rome to choose from, and be aware that in Rome a cafe is called a ‘Bar’, so people aren’t offering you to visit a pub so early in the morning, they’re inviting you for coffee.
L’Antico Forno is the one that I chose to head to for breakfast, close by to the Trevi Fountain. I’m aware that a lot of the places I’m recommending here are in tourist hot spots, but I think if you’re visiting Rome on this type of city break either for your first or second time in Rome, then there’s nothing wrong with that. Of course feel free to head to any type of breakfast spot you choose, but don’t dismiss this one because of it’s reputation as a tourist magnet.
It appeared on so many lists of great cafes to visit in Rome, and I found that despite being so central and in such close proximity to the Trevi Fountain, the majority of people in the queue for coffee were locals picking up their regular morning order on their way to work. The people sitting at the little tables on the street and in the window were tourists, so I joined them to sit down after my incredible time at the Colosseum.
The croissants here are unbelievable, chocolate or pistachio and again I found prices to be very reasonable considering, washed down with a cappuccino – before 11am only in Rome.
More sights or shopping
Once refuelled, my last afternoon was spent enjoying some more of the historic centre. As it was a bit later in the day I went into the Pantheon, as it had been too early to go in when I went first thing.
I also went to see the painted ceiling and dome in Sant’Ignazio Church, just a few minutes walk from the Pantheon afterwards. It’s free to enter but there are donation boxes where you can leave donations. And Hadrian’s Palace.
Via Margutta
As I slowly made my way back through Rome to Piazza del Popolo for a taxi, I went along to Via Margutta.Via Margutta is a very picturesque little street, with boutiques shops, cobble stones and tiny bars, so much so that it is often voted one of the prettiest streets in Rome. It’s not far from the Spanish Steps, so if you’re looking to do some shopping now is a good time in these areas.
Borghese Gardens
The Borghese Gardens were somewhere that I hadn’t intended to visit, but as they were on the way back to my hotel I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to walk through. I’m so glad I did, the gardens are beautiful and there’s a lovely little boating lake where you can hire rowing boats.
The gardens are extensive so if you’re looking to have a picnic, a slow paced afternoon or just to enjoy the scenery then the Borghese Gardens are the place to do it. There’s little stalls for refreshments as well as plenty of water fountains too.
Trastevere
My last evening and the dream end to your 3 day Rome itinerary is an evening spent in the Trastevere neighbourhood, which is across the river and is very much a cool, relaxed and artistic neighbourhood popular with students. Every city has a neighbourhood like this, but I think Rome’s Trastevere is my favourite. It’s a must to fit into your 3 day Rome itinerary.
This charming and historic area can be reached by taxi, and they’re likely to drop you in the small square on the outskirts, Trilussa Square. If I’m honest the best thing to do is just dive into the streets that lead off from the square, and let yourself get lost.
There are more little wine bars, restaurants, cocktail bars, and quirky little shops to discover than you could ever manage to visit in one evening, but enjoy the experience nevertheless.
Trastevere has an enchanting atmosphere of old-world Italy, narrow cobblestone streets, ivy-clad buildings, vibrant colours and graffiti that’s embraced rather than frowned upon. It’s absolutely filled with character and the streets smell of homemade Italian food. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It really comes alive as the evening goes on, as trattorias, cafes, and bars spill onto the streets, the smell of garlic and the clink of wine glasses – it’s a feast for the senses. The main square is Piazza di Santa Maria where you’ll also find the Basilica di Santa Maria, one of Rome’s oldest churches.
From here it’s a further network of streets with everything from bars and restaurants to bookshops, jewellery shops, arty stalls and local markets. Just wander around and enjoy. If food tours are your thing then in Rome this is the place to do it.
Every single restaurant looks and smells amazing, some had very long queues and I’d usually say they’re probably the best but not in Trastevere. Everywhere good gets booked up, so the big queues are for the places that didn’t. Before heading here for dinner, head to Mimì e Cocò for a cocktail or wine beforehand, they bring amazing platters to pick at with your drink and it’s an ideal place to people watch.
For dinner there is a family run restaurant tucked away with no queue that is simply unbeatable, called Impicetta, I don’t think anyone would find it if you didn’t know to go looking, and it was recommended to me by a colleague years ago.
I took my family on our first visit to Rome and we went twice, and I looked forward to this meal my entire trip. The menu is very traditional which is why it’s always filled with locals, and they do pasta dishes by weight. It’s the perfect way to finish your trip before heading home.
Was 3 days in Rome long enough?
3 days in Rome is never long enough, I could have stayed all summer. But like any city break, Rome is tiring when you’re on the go constantly for three days. By the end of each day I was tired, but I loved every minute of it and felt like I achieved a good balance of sightseeing, being on the go, and time spent in bars and restaurants, watching the world go by.
As with most places the more you visit the better time you have as it becomes more familiar, but I think the Jet2 City Breaks are a very good time frame to be able to fit a lot in, yet still leave you wanting to go back. I don’t think any city is possible to ‘do’ in just a few days, but you can certainly experience a lot during your few days and this 3 day Rome itinerary should help you maximise your time.
As mentioned at the start, I think the temperature and time of year can really affect your trip, and shoulder seasons such as Autumn and Spring are perfect conditions for a city break.
Whether you fancy Rome or any other, Jet 2 offers a vast range of Autumn City breaks to choose from. I’ve also been to Florence with them in September and it was a great time to visit. If you do choose to jet off to the Eternal city, I hope this 3 day Rome itinerary is helpful for getting the most out of your trip. I’ve also shared a lot of photos, and videos of everything mentioned here on my Instagram, and they’re saved to my highlights.
Other posts you might like:
VIP Colosseum Early Morning Tour