1 to 5 days in Rome, Italy: build your perfect Rome itinerary
Perfect Rome itinerary for first time visitors
Italy has always been at the top of my bucket list for travel because of its rich history and amazing food.
The very first chance I got to travel to Europe, I booked flights to the eternal city of Rome, Italy.
Planning a trip to Rome was harder than I expected because there are so many amazing sights to see, especially for first time visitors.
So, if you’ve found this article and it’s your first time experiencing Rome, I hope I can help you build your perfect itinerary to Rome!
One day in Rome itinerary
If you are only visiting Rome for one day, I would suggest trying to work your overall travel itinerary to include more days!
The city of Rome is so rich with history and sights, that you will barely scratch the surface in one day.
However, if that’s all you have, let me tell you the absolute must see attractions in Rome.
The Colosseum
Is a visit to Rome even complete if you haven’t set eyes on one of the most iconic structures in the world?!
After all, it is one of the seven new wonders of the world.
The Colosseum is an amphitheatre built in ancient Rome, opened in 80 CE, with 100 days of games. 50,000 people could be accommodated in the stands.
Go and see the Colosseum, you won’t regret walking in the footsteps of the ancient Roman people.
Visiting Tips:
The best time to visit the Colosseum first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. It does get very busy throughout the day.
It is best to visit on a guided tour because a guide will help navigate the really long lines just to enter the site!
A guide will usually have more in-depth knowledge, so you will learn more about the site.
Opening hours: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Entrance fee: 18 euro for a 24 hr pass to both the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Getting to the Colosseum: the closest metro station is Colosseo, and when you exit the station, trust me, you cannot miss it!
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
The city of Rome was founded upon Palatine Hill. It is also the location where Romulus and Remus were found after being abandoned in the Tiber River.
Legend has the twins then raised by the she-wolf, Lupercal. The original Capitoline Wolf statue can be found in the Capitoline Museums.
The Roman Forum, in the heart of Rome, is where early courts of law and public meetings would take place for the Roman people.
Visiting Tips:
Combine your visit with the Colosseum as they are next to each other. Book a tour that will take you to both sites to maximise your time.
The Roman Forum site is huge! You will need more time here than the Colosseum.
Opening hours: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Entrance fee: 18 euro for a 24 hr pass to both the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Getting to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill: if you’re coming from the Colosseum, it’s next door. By train, also use the Colosseo metro station.
If you want to join a hassle-free tour, this is the one I did:
The Capitoline Museums and Piazza del Campidoglio
If you want to see one museum in Rome, this is the one to visit.
Piazza del Campidoglio or Capitoline Square, sitting atop Capitoline Hill, was designed by Michelangelo. In the square is a magnificent statue of Marcus Aurelius, placed in 1537.
Here you will find the world’s oldest public museum, the Capitoline Museums, which was opened in 1734. This was the museum I enjoyed the most that I visited in Italy (and there were a few!)
Make sure you don’t miss the Capitoline Wolf statue or the colossal statues of Constantine in the courtyard, but really, even the staircases are beautiful here.
Visiting Tips:
The museum is open later than some of the other attractions you will see today, which is useful if you only have one day to visit Rome.
Opening hours: 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
Entrance fee: 7 euro for an adult
Getting to the Capitoline Museum: from the forum, it is about a 600 m walk along Fori Imperiali street and around the front of the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. It’s an easy and short walk with lots to see. The closest train station is Colosseo again.
The Trevi Fountain
If you’re visiting Rome for the first time, and you still have energy and enough time to see one more thing, I would definitely recommend going to the Trevi Fountain.
Let me preface this by saying, yes, it is just a fountain. Yes, it is really busy.
But don’t let that deter you, because it is one of the most beautiful baroque fountains you’ll ever see.
Designed by Nicola Salvi, it was finished in 1762 CE.
When you’re there, with your back to the fountain, toss a coin over your left shoulder and if it lands in the fountain, you will return to Rome.
Visiting Tips:
It is very busy here, so make sure you keep your belongings safe from pickpockets. Don’t have any items whatsoever in your pockets. Don’t make it easy or obvious where your important belongings are.
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: free
Getting to the Trevi Fountain: from the museum, it is a 1 km walk. But it is along the streets of Rome, so just stroll along and enjoy the scenery. Otherwise, it is a 600m walk from Barberini metro station.
One day Rome itinerary conclusion
The majority of the day has been spent on your feet! But these sights are the best Rome has to offer. Your first day has been filled with amazing history, art, and architecture.
Personally, I don’t feel that 1-2 days is enough to spend if this is your first time visiting.
With day 1 complete, it’s now time to either rest up for day two in Rome, or continue your travels to another destination.
Two days in Rome itinerary
The second day of our itinerary will take us on a little day trip to a different country!
We need to start the day early to avoid the crowds! I know, I don’t like getting up early either, but it’ll be worth it.
The Vatican City
Visitors to Rome will most probably want to visit the Vatican City too.
This micro-nation had always intrigued me, so of course, I wanted to spend one day exploring here (it probably had something to do with all the Dan Brown books I read as a young adult).
For me, the preferred way to visit the Vatican was with a tour group. I felt this would give me much more information about the city than I could discover on my own.
I am glad because the lines for public visitors was so long when I was leaving that it snaked all around the Piazza San Pietro.
When you first visit with a tour, you are taken through the Vatican Museum.
Many galleries make up the Vatican museums. My favourite is the Gallery of Maps as the ceiling looks like it is covered in giant postage stamps!
The Sistine Chapel
The amazing ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo is not to be missed!
It is forbidden to take photos in the chapel, which is a shame, but there are plenty of photos online to look at to remind you of the beautiful paintings.
There are also time limits on how long you can stay in the chapel because it is a small space with lots of people visiting.
St Peter’s Basilica
This is where our guide left us, but you can get other tours which include the basilica.
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is so beautiful. You can purchase tickets to climb the dome for 17 euro. I didn’t as the queue was quite long, but looking back, I wish I did.
One thing not to be missed is the Vatican Necropolis. To find the stairs to the lower level of the basilica, go to the big column on the left side of the dome and it is tucked in behind there.
There was only a tiny sign indicating stairs, so try not to miss it!
Visiting Tips:
Book days in advance to make sure you get the dates you want.
Make sure you wear appropriate clothing, even if it is super hot outside. Pants and skirts should be below the knee and tops should have sleeves and not be too low-cut.
Opening hours: 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday through Saturday, and 9.00 am to 2.00 pm on the last Sunday of the month (but check before going).
Entrance fee: while it is cheaper to book everything separately, it’s quicker and easier via a tour.
Getting there: if you’re travelling from central Rome, make your way to Ottaviano metro station, as this is the closest stop.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive tour, this is the same one I did:
Food tour in Trastevere
When you’re in Rome, you have to try out all the delicious food!
And one of the best places to eat is in the Trastevere area.
End your day with a food tour that will take you to some of the best restaurants in Rome where you get to experience amazing homemade pasta.
Join a street food walking tour to try delicious Italian food:
Two days in Rome conclusion
What an amazing day for your second day. If that’s all you have time for, then I hope you’ve experienced everything you’ve always wanted to.
If you still have a few more days to experience the amazing city, rest up as tomorrow is going to be another busy one!
Three days in Rome itinerary
The third day will include more history and buildings! I hope you’re ready for another exciting day!
Make sure you refuel during the day by grabbing a delicious lunch!
The Pantheon
One of the oldest monuments in Rome, the Pantheon was built between 27 and 25 BCE, and it was a temple dedicated to the twelve gods.
Rebuilt by Hadrian around 128 CE, the current structure is remarkable. The dome is amazingly unique, with an opening that allows water to fall into the building.
In 608 CE, the building was dedicated, and it has since been the Church of Santa Maria Rotonda.
Here, you will find the tomb of artist, Raphael.
Visiting Tips:
Wear appropriate clothes as this is a church
Opening hours: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Entrance fee: free on the first Sunday of the month, otherwise 5 euro per adult
Getting there: Barberini is the closest metro station, 700 m away
Joining a tour was an excellent way to learn about this incredible building. Here’s one similar to the one I did:
Mercati di Traiano Museo dei Fori Imperiali
This was a suprise packet of a museum! We had walked past it a few times and decided it needed a proper visit.
It’s a museum and archaeological park dedicated to some forums and markets that once stood in its location.
The architecture of the market buildings is so pretty, and while you can see a lot of the market buildings without visiting the museum, you get a better understanding of the area because of the additional information from within the museum.
Visiting Tips:
It’s not as busy as other places, so just go and enjoy
Opening hours: 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
Entrance fee: 15 euro per adult
Getting there: from the Pantheon, it is a 1 km walk
Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was consecrated in 434 CE.
It is one of four papal basilicas in Rome and there are seven popes buried here.
The basilica is beautiful and definitely worthy of a visit.
There is a museum here also, but I only visited the basilica.
Visiting Tips:
Wear appropriate clothing
Opening hours: 7.00 am to 7.00 pm
Entrance fee: free
Getting there: it’s a 1 km walk from Mercati di Traiano Museo dei Fori Imperiali and only 500 m from Roma Termini station
Three days in Rome conclusion
You’ve now visited the main attractions in Rome. In three days you can see and experience so much.
Four days in Rome itinerary
Our fourth day exploring Rome will continue to feature a lot of walking because I like playing games! I’ll get to that, but first, we head to the Castel Sant’Angelo.
Castel Sant’Angelo
When researching Rome and all the things to do, I saw the most unique star-shaped area on the map of Rome.
Castel Sant’Angelo is one of Rome’s most interesting buildings. It was originally built as Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum and final resting place in 139 CE.
It has since gone through many periods of change, including being a fortification for the city, a refuge for popes, a prison, and now a museum.
It is one of the longest continuously occupied buildings, which is why it has been preserved so well, because with each iteration, restorative work was completed.
The castle has many rooms and collections to look at, but the outside terrace is the perfect place to see the best view of Rome and the Vatican City.
Visiting Tips:
Visit first thing in the morning to avoid large crowds.
Opening hours: 9.00 am to 7.30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with last entry at 6.30 pm
Entrance fee: 16 euro for an adult
Getting there: the closest metro station is Ottoviano, and then it’s a 15 minute walk
Self-guided walking tour
As there are so many amazing places, we decided to download a game for us to play while visiting the best of Rome and it’s attractions.
The game starts from Castel Sant’Angelo and weaves its way around the city. Each location we stopped at gave us information about it and then a clue to solve to get to our next destination.
Our hunt takes us to some amazing places, such as the Piazza Navona, where the stunning Sant’Agnese in Agone church stands beautifully.
We solve puzzles at the Pantheon and Piazza Della Minerva and then end up at the Basilica di Sant’Andrea della Valle.
The game then takes us to the Piazza Venezia, where we climbed the stairs on the amazing Monument to Victor Emmanuel II building.
As it is close to the Colosseum, it is no surprise that the final puzzle was related it. I didn’t mind seeing the Colosseum again. It’s certainly a sight to behold.
This was one of our favourite things to do.
Visiting Tips:
Wear very comfortable shoes!
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: 15 euro
Getting there: Luckily, this game started right where we already were!
Four days in Rome conclusion
Day 4 was another cracker of a day!
Five days in Rome itinerary
How can one city have so much to see? You really do need a lot of time in Rome. Your fifth day should round out your itinerary nicely.
Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps connect the Piazza di Spagna to Trinità dei Monti, the chapel of the church being built in 1570 CE.
The steps were built over a century later, consisting of 135 steps and finished in 1725 CE.
The stairs are beautiful, especially at Christmas, when they are adorned with a giant decorated tree!
Visiting Tips:
One of the busiest spots in Rome, try and visit early to get some good photos.
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: free
Getting there: it is right next to Spagna metro station
Borghese Gallery
With 20 rooms across two floors, the Borghese Gallery is a must-see for art enthusiasts.
It houses many works of art from the 1st to 3rd centuries. Notably, there is a large collection of Bernini works.
Visiting Tips:
Visitors are limited to 2 hours, so a guided tour is recommended
Opening hours: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm Tuesday to Sunday
Entrance fee: 15 euro per adult
Getting there: it is a 1.5 km walk from the Spanish Steps, but through the beautiful Villa Borghese Gardens, so it hopefully won’t feel too difficult!
Five days in Rome conclusion
Day 5 has been another day filled with incredible sights and history.
Final thoughts
Even with five full days, there’s still so much more to see and do. Rome would have to be one of the world’s largest archaeological cities.
I hope your stay in Rome will be as amazing as mine.