Three Days in Rome - The Perfect 3 Days in Rome Itinerary
Spend three days in Rome and have the best 3 days of your life. Rome was my favorite stop on our epic ten day trip to Italy. The architecture, history, and food of this amazing city are truly one of a kind. If you’ve never visited Rome, I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list.
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Is Rome Worth Visiting?
Rome is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world. I found myself in constant awe of the beauty of the architecture there. The food in Rome is some of the best in the world too. Give me some homemade pasta, a glass of locally grown wine, some gelato and I’m a happy gal. If you are planning a trip to this great city, read on for tips on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.
How To Get Around in Rome
The train system in Italy is very efficient and runs through many of the towns you might want to visit. We used the metro within Rome and booked train tickets on ItaliaRail for our longer day trips to other cities during our 10 days in Italy. We only used a taxi once because it is more expensive (and dangerous) than taking public transport in Italy.
How Many Days to Spend in Rome
You could honestly stay in Rome for months and not see everything so a 3 day Rome itinerary is pretty packed. If I was to just visit Rome for the first time I would stay at least a week to see most of the hightlights. We only had 10 days in Italy so we spent 3 full days in Rome and slept there every night (which I highly recommend).
Where to Stay in Rome For 3 Days
If you stay in the right area, all of the major attractions in Rome are within walking distance. That’s another thing I love about this city. Back in the day before they had cars, people needed cities to be more compact and Rome is no exception. I highly recommend staying in the Monti neighborhood of Rome, between the Roman Forum and the main train station (Roma Termini) because it’s the most central. They also have some of the best restaurants and shops in this area.
Best Hotels in Rome
There are so many gorgeous hotels in Rome. The most important factor when picking a hotel to stay in Rome for 3 days is location. If you find a centrally located hotel you will be able to walk to all the sights in this 3 day Rome itinerary. We also wanted to stay close to the main train station in Rome so we could do day trips to other places in Italy during our 10 day Italy itinerary.
Here are some great hotel options in the Monti neighborhood in Rome:
Salotto Monti - a retro classic Italian style hotel
The Inn at the Roman Forum - this is where I will stay if I return to Rome someday. Luxury hotel at a decent price with a view of the Roman Forum.
Monti Palace Hotel - this modern hotel won a 2024 Travelers Choice Award on Tripadvisor.
Best Restaurants in Rome
We had so much great food while in Italy that it’s hard to pick favorites but I’ll tell you a couple places that I still think about to this day. The first restaurant is Ristorante Alessio. This classic Italian restaurant is in an unassuming building just a couple blocks from Roma Termini train station. Walk down a few stairs into the dining room and have one of the best meals of your life. I still remember the fresh pasta, my husband’s delicious steak, and the house red wine that we couldn’t get enough of.
The Best Gelato in Rome
When we were in Italy we had gelato pretty much every day. It’s the creamier, richer, and fresher cousin of our ice cream here in the states. Needless to say, I’m a fan. One of our favorite gelato shoppes in Rome was La Gelateria Frigidarium, near Piazza Navona. L'Arena del Gelato was another favorite located just outside the grounds of Castel Sant'Angelo. I’m a dark chocolate fan myself but my husband always tried one of the fruit flavors and loved those as well.
What To Do in Rome For 3 Days
We saw as much as we could during our Intro to Italy trip and several days were spent in Rome. Three days is not a lot for this city because you could spend months in Rome and still have more to learn, eat, and see. There are a lot of churches on this list but the basilicas of Rome are unlike anywhere else in the world and they have some of the richest history, art, and architecture around. Here are some key attractions you don’t want to miss during your three days in Rome:
3 Days in Rome Itinerary
Day 1 in Rome:
The Pantheon
The Pantheon of Rome is one of my favorite places. This former Roman temple is one of the best preserved buildings from ancient Rome and has the most unique architecture.
CHURCH OF ST. IGNATIUS
Even if you aren’t religious I highly recommend walking through some of the gorgeous churches in Rome. They are some of the most impressive buildings I’ve ever seen. The amount of detail in the architecture is simply remarkable. This 17th century Roman Catholic Church is one of the best and is located right next to the Pantheon.
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain in Rome is one of the most iconic fountains in the world. Unfortunately it was under construction while we were visiting. They spent 2.4 million on the restoration and it’s now more beautiful than ever.
The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps were a little underwhelming if I’m being honest but if you’re passing by on your way to another attraction it’s a good photo op. If you want to get your steps in during your first day in Rome then head up for a quick photo op on the Spanish Steps.
Day 2 in Rome
Vatican City
The Vatican City (which is technically its own country) encompasses the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Basilica and of course the Sistine Chapel. Not only is it the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church but it is arguable one of the most historic areas near Rome.
Day 3 in Rome
Arches of Rome
There are a few historic archways in Rome. The Arch of Titus (pictured below) is located right by the Roman Forum and the Colosseum so I recommend checking it out on your way to your Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour on day 3 of your Rome itinerary.
If you have More than 3 Days in Rome:
Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
Mercato di Campo de Fiori
Piazza del Campidoglio
Capitoline Museums
Best Guided Tours of Rome:
More of The Best Churches in Rome:
Chiesa del Gesu
Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi
Santa Maria d’Aracoeli
Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo (Piazza del Popolo)
Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano
Basilica Di Santa Prassede
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Basilica S. Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri
Three Days in Rome
While 3 days in Rome simply isn’t enough, I hope this itinerary gave you an idea of what this amazing city has to offer. I will definitely be back to Rome someday because I think it’s one of the best cities in the world and there is so much more to see!