This post is my 3 day itinerary for Rome.
I feel like I just got back from my summer Italian vacation even though it has been a couple of months. I had an amazing time visiting Italy, especially one of my favorite cities in the world- Rome. This was my second time visiting Rome, however, since it had been a while from my previous trip, it felt like my first time.
I instantly fell in love with the beautiful, white architecture. It was such a change of pace from Milan, completely different vibes.
Rome is capital city of Italy. It is one of the most visited cities in the world and I can totally see why. There is so much history, stunning architecture, culture, delicious food, as well as shopping which has to be my favorite part!
THINGS TO KNOW- HOW DO I PLAN A 3 DAY TRIP TO ROME?
When is the best time to visit Rome?
June to August are considered peak season for travelers to Rome and it gets reallyyy crowded. Summer temperatures can get pretty high and walking all day in the sun is exhausting. So drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated. I carried my blue colored water bottle everywhere with me, did not care how “touristy” I looked. I needed to stay hydrated!
I visited Rome in early June when flights were still under a $1000 roundtrip from New York City. I recommend planning an early summer or fall trip, if you prefer cooler weather.
How to get around in Rome?
There are a few ways to do this. Firstly, Rome has it’s own major international airport which can be easily accessed by flights from many of the major US cities such as New York City, Miami, Boston, etc. as well as from around the world.
Next, the high speed train system in Italy is fantastic! I flew from NYC > Milan and then took a 3 hour train from Milan > Rome. You can read about my Milan trip here. I loved the ease of train travel. The trains were on time, clean, efficient and you can purchase your tickets in advance (which I recommend) from the Omio website or from the Omio app. I booked some of my tickets from the Omio site and then bought my train tickets to Venice from app the night before my trip. My point being I enjoyed using the train system in Italy and it is pretty easy to book your tickets.
The one thing I would like to point out here was the unexpected train strike on the day of my train to Lake Como which meant most of the trains were canceled from Milan. I did get a refund on my tickets, however, it was disappointing to miss out on a day trip to Lake Como and since I found out about the train cancellation while I was at the train station, it was too late to find other modes of transportation.
The other options that I researched to travel within Italy are:
- Renting a car- can be expensive, parking and driving in major cities is a hassle for me personally and gas isn’t the cheapest in Europe. However, it is a great option to road trip around Italy or even out of Italy, let’s say to Switzerland, stop and go as well more economical for 2 or more people traveling together.
- I used Uber in Milan and Rome. It is pricey, however, it was convenient and reliable especially at late hours in Milan.
- Public transportation such as public buses and the metro is another option. Click here for the schedules.
- Lastly, some group tours provide transportation from the major tourist attractions. These 2 tours are a good alternative: Option 1, Option 2.
I used the high speed trains to get in and out of Rome and then Uber for travel within the city or walked from one tourist attraction to the next (wouldn’t recommend doing this during the summer).
What to pack for Rome?
I highly suggest packing light for a trip to Rome because firstly, it is a pain trying to drag your heavy luggage on cobblestone. Secondly, shopping in Rome is it’s own experience. You can find a ton of inexpensive and cute clothing in the city, so I suggest you pick up some pieces from there. Having said that, I do like to travel with some key pieces which are mentioned below.
- You can also checkout my Amazon storefront for some inspiration. Click here.
- A travel plug adapter for your electronics. Click here.
- Portable phone battery charger. Click here.
- Portable fan to keep cool in the blazing heat. Click here.
- Makeup- mostly my essentials and whatever fits in this bag. I have it in brown. Click here.
- Skin care- travel size only, the Origins travel skincare set was perfect, I use most of their products at home too. Click here.
- Sunscreen- again travel size only, I like the Neutrogena stick version which works for face & body. Click here.
- Camera- I have the Canon EOS T7i, there is a great bundle deal on Amazon. Click here.
- Waterproof camera- under $50, loved it! The quality is pretty good for the price. Click here. I also purchased a wide angle lens. Click here.
- Tripod- solo traveler problems. Get something sturdy and lightweight, especially if you plan on taking pics when it is windy. Click here.
- Shoes- 2-3 sandals, a reliable pair of sneakers and some comfortable heels.
- Packing cubes- to keep things organized especially when you have limited space. Click here.
- Blister bandages because you never know how painful walking all day can be. Click here.
- Portable luggage scale because shopping is unavoidable in Italy. Click here.
Where to stay in Rome?
I loved staying at one of the neighborhoods near the Vatican City. We stayed at this property hosted by Simone, click here. I can totally see myself spending a few weeks living here. The apartment had all the essentials that I needed.
There were local restaurants/cafes and small grocery stores within walking distance from the apartment. One of my most cherished memory from the trip was going to the local neighborhood cafe early in the morning to grab some coffee and a breakfast sandwich, sat outside, watching the older Italian men meet each other for a weekend coffee and chat.
Here are some of the other options I narrowed down during my research but didn’t book for one reason or the other.
- Suite Dreams Roma– excellent location
- Domus Liberius– the aesthetics caught my eye
- Tullia e Prisca Relais– 7 mins walk to the Colosseum
What to do in 3 days in Rome?
In my opinion, Rome is best experienced slow and one piece at a time. The city is full of history and magical neighborhoods that you will want to explore something new everyday. I had 3 days to take it all in so I created a bucket list to make the most of my time there.
These are some of the things that were on my bucket list and I suggest them for first time visitors to Rome:
- Have some gelato while strolling the streets of Rome.
- Tour the Roman Colosseum.
- Make a wish and toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain.
- Explore the smallest country in the world, Vatican City.
- Take a pasta and tiramisu cooking class.
- Taste some Italian pizza and pasta!
- Visit the Spanish Steps.
Any other tips for visiting Rome?
- Summers can get really hot in Rome, so make sure you are prepared with the right clothing, a hat, and a reusable bottle.
- Wear comfortable shoes! I can’t stress this enough. The streets of Rome were built for gladiators, not heels. You will walk a lot, so make sure you bring comfortable shoes.
- Pickpockets are a thing.
- Book your attraction tickets in advance, they do actually sell out during peak seasons. I had a heard time finding tickets to the Vatican as I waited till the day of to purchase them. My tour guide in the Colosseum ended up calling her contacts to help us find tickets last min.
- Train travel tips- Pack light if you can. I read about it online and they weren’t lying. It was really hard for 2 girls to carry their overweight suitcases up and down all those stairs and cobblestone streets. So I say back packs or pack light.
STEAL MY 3 DAY ITINERARY FOR ROME
DAY 1- Visit Colosseum + other historical sites
For the first day I planned to visit most of the major attractions. I started the day early at the Trevi Fountain because it does get crowded (see video below). There is no entry fees to the Trevi. After tossing a coin twice (I didn’t get a good pic. on the first try), I made my way to tour the Colosseum. This took a good chunk out of my day as the lines were pretty long.
After some lunch, I stopped at the Pantheon. And lastly, the Spanish Steps. By the time I got to the Spanish Steps, the sun was getting ready to set which made for some beautiful pictures.
DAY 2- Tour of Vatican City
I spent day 2 of my 3 day itinerary for Rome exploring the smallest country in the world, the Vatican. Starting off the day with a quick and early morning breakfast along with some freshly brewed Italian espresso. Then I made my way to the Vatican city.
First observations, it is a pretty big country especially when you have to walk around it and secondly, you have to go through a long security checkout point line to get in. Unfortunately, you can not escape those long lines, even with the “skip the line” tickets.
After the security check point, I headed to the beautiful Vatican Gardens and Saint Peter’s Square for some pics. All the museums and exhibits are stunning in general and I felt that I can spend several days going back to take it all in. Instead, I had one day to explore the Vatican. Some of my favorites were the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Square itself. Even though, this was my second time to the Vatican City, everything felt so different and new.
Also, I highly recommend booking your tour well in advance, summers are busy and tickets sell out quick. Click here for my recommendation.
PRO TIP: You will do a lot of walking while visiting Rome, wear some comfortable walking shoes. Click here for my favorites.
DAY 3- Shopping + Food tour + Cooking class
One of my favorite days of my 3 day itinerary in Rome! I love shopping in Rome, there are so many options, regardless of your budget. I could not leave Italy without buying an Italian made pair of heels and handbags. I also bought couple of pieces of jewelry from a local boutique as gifts for my family.
A cooking class is another great way to fully immerse yourself during your trip. Click here for my recommended cooking class. An indoor cooking class also helps escape the summer heat as well as meet some other travelers.
Lastly, enjoy a food tour! Yes, you can walk around and eat at different restaurants & cafes. However, there is something about a guided food tour that I personally enjoy. Whether it is meeting travelers from all over the world, learning about the local cuisine and culture or just eating delicious food, I always recommend adding a food tour to your itinerary. Click here.
CONCLUSION
I loved visiting Rome for the second time. Summers are considered peak season for travelers from all over the world, so be prepared for large crowds and higher prices. And of course hot weather!
Rome has a lot of history and culture, soak in every bit of it. You are going to have a great time just like I did. I would go back for a longer trip to spend more time shopping and trying out some of the local restaurants and cafes. Hope you plan your 3 day itinerary for Rome and as always comment below with any questions or comments.
SAVE ME- 3 DAY ITINERARY FOR ROME
I now offer a custom vacation planning service. Check it out here!
