How to Visit Rome & Rome Itinerary

In December 2021, we made a 5-day trip to Rome, the Italian capital. With this, we had quite enough time to visit most of the main landmarks of Rome and do most of the best things to do there.

In 5 days, we spent 4 nights there and had a total of 4 full days of visiting, as we needed one day to travel there. We arrived in the late afternoon of the first day and left in the evening on the last day. We stayed in the city center near Campo de’ Fiori, which was perfect as we could reach everything on foot. Vatican was up north, 25min, Coliseum was south, 20min, and so on.

We tried to make sense of this Rome itinerary to avoid going back and forth. This guide is based mostly on how we did it, with a few corrections to improve it.

Where to Stay

For us, a big part of the travel experience is where you stay. In Rome, the right accommodation can truly enhance your visit, offering comfort, convenience, and a sense of local charm. Here are some great options we recommend for your stay in Rome:

• (€): Residenza Maritti
• (€€): Martius Private Suite
• (€€€): Umiltà 36

Rome Itinerary Day 1: Main landmarks

Map of the Rome Itinerary

Churches and Basilicas

Let’s start with the day going out. We stayed at Campo di Fiori, so on our way to Piazza Venezia, we popped by a few churches. You can either enter them quickly or just pass them. There are so many of them that it’s hard to truly recommend one or the other. During your stay in Rome, you should explore as many places as possible. Most of them are breathtaking.

Piazza Venezia & Altar of the Fatherland

The first stop on day 1 of the Rome itinerary is Piazza Venezia, one of Rome’s main squares. As this square is only a big roundabout, it’s a quick stop to simply enjoy the Altar of the Fatherland. If you have some free time later in the day, you can always visit it, but we didn’t. Most of those recent monuments are often more majestic from the outside.

Be careful on Venice Square, it is not easy to cross, and there are lots of cars. Unfortunately, to pursue the day, you will have to.

Trajan Forum

Next, on your way to the Colosseum, you will walk through the Trajan Forum, the last of the Imperial fora to be constructed in ancient Rome. The ruins are simply amazing and super big. You just need to walk all along them toward the colosseum.

In the middle, there is a bridge where you can sit for a while and enjoy the Roman sun and the ruins altogether. This is one of our favourite spots in Rome. Perfect to enjoy some sun in the middle of a unique landscape.

If you feel like it, the ruins can also be visited.

Arch of Constantine

Right next to the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312.

You can simply admire it for a few minutes before entering the Colosseum.

Colosseum

Now, the main attraction of the Rome Itinerary day 1: The Colosseum. With a capacity of more than 50,000 spectators, it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire.

Before entering it, you can go around it as well as on the small hill on its left side for some nice views. You can get a great view from the small hill on its left. To get there, go straight, then up left.

To visit it, you need to buy a ticket online. We bought the “Full Experience ticket” for 22€, which gives access to additional parts of the Colosseum, as well as the Roman Forum, the Palatine, and other attractions managed by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo.

Also, we personally got an audio guide in the colosseum, and we found it worth it. It was nice to learn about the place firsthand.

With the full experience, you will get access to the small inner court of the arena and get a better view of its underground. If you want to go underground, this can be done with a group or private tour.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Next to the Colosseum, you can access the Roman Forum, a vast archaeological complex where the life of Rome unfolded. You can either first walk the Palatine Hill or the Roman Forum. To do both, you need to go back and forth. In the past, there was an exit from the Roman Forum toward the Capitol Square, but it was closed in December 2021.

Still, we would recommend starting with the hill, get an amazing view of the site, stroll on it, and visit the Palatine Museum. Take a short break on one of the benches in front of the old center, then go to the forum. In the forum, you can also visit temples and other sites.

From the forum, if you go backward within the complex, you can also get nice views of the Colosseum.

Campidoglio & Capitoline Museums

Once out, and if the exit from the Roman forum is still closed, you can just walk back out and toward the Altar of the Fatherland. A bit before, turn left to go up the Capitol Square. Once there, hike up the stairs and visit the church on the right side, then, if you feel like it, you can visit the Capitol Museum.

We did visit the museum, and it was Ok and cool to see the famous statue, but that was all.

End of Rome Itinerary Day 1

If you still have some time and want to add to this Rome Itinerary and how to visit Rome day 1, from there you could slowly stroll back, passing by the Pantheon or Plaza Nueva. If not, this is the end of How to Visit Rome Day 1

Rome Itinerary Day 2: Vatican & North

Rome Itinerary Map

St. Angelo Bridge

Let’s start our Rome Itinerary  and how to visit Rome day 2 by going toward the St. Angelo Bridge. This will give you a top view of the Castel Sant’Angelo. And in the morning, it won’t be crowded at all.

The Vatican

From there, head toward the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square, which is a 5-minute walking distance from St. Angelo Bridge. On your way, you will get one super famous picture of the Vatican.

St. Peter’s Square

At the end of the street, you just step into the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square. You just changed countries. At the centre of the square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, erected at the current site in 1586. Early morning, the square shouldn’t be too crowded, and from it you can admire the façade of St Peter’s Cathedral. This is the spot where all believers gather when the pope is talking from the small balcony on St. Peter’s Cathedral.

Vatican Museums

From there head out from the left (with St Peter’s Cathedral behind you) and walk around the Vatican wall until the museum.

There are 13 museums in total, and their collections are just amazing. There is an order to follow within the museum, but you can go as you want as well.

Here, we would recommend that you also visit the smaller museums where there are fewer people. Even though we were there, it was apparently not crowded.

Sistine Chapel

At the end of the museum, you will visit the Sistine Chapel, where Cardinals unite to elect the new pope. From there, keep toward the exit, make a small stop at the small garden before going out on the square.

Vatican Step

At the end and on your way out, you will use the famous Vatican Steps. A Picture that became famous lately.

St Peter’s dome

Now, you can line up to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world.

But before entering the huge Basilica, you can get to its dome to get the best view of St Peter’s Square. To access the rooftop, you can either take the stairs or an elevator and then walk some stairs. While going up, it gets pretty tight in there.

Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but the dome costs 8 or 10€.

St. Peter’s Basilica

At the exit of the dome, you will be in the Basilica. This one is the largest on earth and is quite beautiful.

Swiss Guard

While in the Vatican, try to stop the Swiss Guards, which are a minor armed force and honour guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects the pope and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the Vatican City. Established in 1506 under Pope Julius II, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is among the oldest military units in continuous operation.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Time to walk back to the Fortress. On your way, you could grab a pizza from a smaller street near the Vatican and then go eat it in the park around the Castel Sant’Angelo.

Then, you can visit the Castel Sant’Angelo. The entry is not free, but it’s an impressive monument to visit: it was the Mausoleum of Hadrian, later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.

Flea Market

On your way toward the modern city center, walk along the river where you will find a small flea market after Castel Sant’Angelo. On your way, you will also get to see amazing buildings.

Modern city center

You are now in the modern part of Rome with shopping streets. Simply stroll around those streets, stop at Venchi for the best ice cream, and then head to Piazza Del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo, or people’s square, is the end of all the main streets of the area. Famous for its obelisk and churches.

You can get to a small viewpoint on the right side of the square.

Spanish Steps

Then walk back to Piazza di Spagna, where the Spanish Steps are located. A 135-step stairway built in Rococo style between 1723 and 1726. There are 135 steps and three terraces, representing the Holy Trinity, and it was actually built by the French and is famous as a place to chill and relax in Rome.

Finish your day with a sunset there.

Rome Itinerary Day 3: Castel Gandolfo

Rome Itinerary Map

Pantheon

Let’s start this Rome Itinerary and day 3 of how to visit Rome by heading to the Pantheon. Be there 20 minutes after its opening time to avoid the line. If you want to be the first in, you will need to arrive at least 20 minutes early.

At this hour, it will also be quite empty. On the weekend, you need to reserve a spot (free). It says to do it 1 day in advance, but we did it early, and it was OK.

Trevi Fountain

From the Pantheon, head to the Trevi fountains to admire the most famous fountains of Rome and maybe the World.

Within the fountains, numerous statues form an allegory of the Sea, with the god Neptune at its center. Tradition has it that you should throw 2 coins in the fountain: one to make a wish and the other to be sure to return to Rome.

As it is still early in the morning, it will not be too crowded either. Which is perfect for taking a nice picture with it.

Quirinal Palace

Time to go to the train station. On your way, pop by the Quirinal Palace, which is one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic. You can just walk by it.

Castel Gandolfo

Take a train at the end of the morning. You have one at 10h28 that lasts 53min, or at 12h21 that lasts 41min. From the train station of Castel Gandolfo, you will have a 10-minute walk uphill to reach the village. Once there, you will get an amazing view of the lake.

We found this place AMAZING and worth spending time there, even though it is quite small. Once in the village, visit its main streets, stop at some shops, and then go for lunch in one of the restaurants there.

To book a train ticket, you can go on Trenitalia (Roma to Castel Gandolfo)

Papal Garden

Since 2015, it has been possible to visit the Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo. It is there that the pope rests but also works when staying in its summer residence. The garden is also the place where all the food for the Vatican is produced.

The garden can only be visited on a walking tour or a golf cart tour. We opted for the walking tour. The guide was super friendly and made the tour really nice. The garden itself is, of course, stunning.

We visited them at 15h, but depending on the season, it could also be only in the morning. In this case, you will have to switch to this guide.

You can book your ticket there under Castel Gandolfo Residence.

Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo

Once out of the garden, you can visit the huge 17th-century villa that was used as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope. It is interesting to do, but there is a lot to listen to from the included audio guide. As you can get to know each pope! And there weren’t only a few of them.

Then you walk past many different rooms in the villa. Once out, simply walk back to the train station to go back to Rome.

Rome Itinerary Day 4: Garden of Rome

Rome Itinerary Map

Campo di Fiori

Start this Rome itinerary and learn how to visit Rome day 4 by visiting Campo di Fiori and its flea market. It’s a nice market, and there is a lot. The only downside is that it’s a bit touristy, and it feels like there isn’t much Italian selling stuff on it.

Piazza Navona

Then head to our favourite square in Rome. It is one of the only squares in Rome that doesn’t have a road (so no cars in it!!!). Meaning it is quite nice to sit on a bench there and enjoy the view of the 3 magnificent fountains.

Later, you can also visit the Sant’Agnese in Agone Church. The Breath-taking church in the center of the square.

Smaller streets

From there, just stroll around the smaller streets of the city. It took us a while to find those smaller streets, but they are super nice. It is also great to get away from the main places and all the tourists. Our favourite streets were:

• Via dei Coronari
• Via di Monte Girodano
• Via del Governo Vecchio

They are located between Piazza Navona and the Tiber River. In them, you can stop at a coffee shop and some boutiques.

Villa Borghese

Next, head north toward people’s square, where you can find the Villa Borghese Garden, one of the nicest parts in Rome, and a great place to get some fresh air.

Within the garden, you can also find the Borghese Gallery and Museum, showcasing paintings and sculptures, as well as the Villa Medici, if you are in for some historic visits.

End of Day 4 and the Rome Itinerary

From there, it’s time to end our Rome Itinerary and how tov visit Rome. Leave Rome and take the plane back home. If you have more time, you could go back a place you really liked in the previous day. We went back the Trojan forum and Colosseum