3 days in Rome · Tips for your Rome short trip

After 3 days in Rome you will know one thing for sure: you will want to come back. Plan with us your individual short trip in no time. Optimize your visit to the sights, enjoy Roman life off the beaten track.

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Rome, the eternal city, has so much to offer that you hardly know where to start. Whether it’s art, culture, history or culinary, there’s something new to discover here every day. Some come for three days and stay for a lifetime. But what can you experience in three days in Rome? In this article we take you on a journey through the Italian capital.

Arrival day

You will want to get rid of your luggage as soon as possible to plunge into the city life. For this to succeed, the hotel should not be too far from the city center and you should get there as soon as possible. Or you can deposit your luggage at the luggage storage at Termini Station.

There are many cheap hotels at Termini Station and connections from the airports are frequent and cheap. From there you can get to the center by bus or metro. Also the hop on hop off buses leave at Termini and so the zone is not bad for a short trip to Rome. To live directly in the center is of course nicer, but also more expensive and rooms are harder to find.

After you have deposited the luggage at the hotel, you are ready to go. Take a hop on hop off bus and get a first overview of the city center and the sights. Three bus companies have joined forces and you can ride the three bus lines with one ticket. They are: the Omnia Pilgrim LineCity SightseeingBig Bus. Our information about the routes and stops of the hop on hop off buses is always up to date.

What to do in 3 days

1. Sightseeing

There is a lot to see and do in Rome. The question is what you want to see and what you can manage. Most tourists have on their list the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and maybe the Borghese Gallery. Is that possible in 3 days? We think looking at everything from the outside might be possible, going in everywhere is not.

And then there is a big problem: in high season it is difficult to get tickets and at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the entrance is free, there are long queues. Therefore, our recommendation is to shorten your wish list.

Fast, comfortable and ecological you will be on a tour by electric golf cart. You will see the most beautiful places and attractions in the center that cannot be seen from the hop on hop off bus, such as Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.

To visit St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Museums, there is only one time saving option: the guided tours in Vatican Museums with passage to St. Peter’s Basilica. But beware. The passage is closed on Wednesday mornings during the Papal Audiences and when St. Peter’s Basilica is closed for Papal Audiences. If you only want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, you should be at the security checkpoint between 7 and 8 a.m. to avoid waiting in line for up to two hours.

With the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, you’ve already amply fulfilled your daily quota of art and culture. Only the very hardcore add a visit to Castel Sant’Angelo (tickets without queuing) or go to the Colosseum in the afternoon. Otherwise, just continue across the Bridge of Angels to Piazza Navona and the city center.

The Colosseum is located in the ancient center, the archaeological park with the Imperial Forums, Roman Forum and Palatine. To find tickets at short notice is almost impossible. But to properly understand all the ruins and their history, a guided tour is worthwhile anyway. Tickets and guided tours for the Colosseum

2. Food

Rome is ranked #1 in the world in terms of food by Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2023, and Roman gastronomy and cuisine are excellent. So Roman food belongs at the top of your to-do list.

Pecorino, a sheep’s cheese, and guanciale, a fried cheek bacon, are among the signature ingredients. Sandwiches are also filled with rustic sauces. While at lunchtime you might just take a short break in a street food store, in the evening you should make yourself comfortable in one of the good restaurants that can be found all over the city. In between, try the imaginative flavor combinations of Rome’s best ice cream parlors.

3. Relax

What would Rome be without La dolce vita. Don’t rush around but take your time. Take a leisurely stroll through the city’s alleys or sit in a square and watch the Romans and tourists stroll by. Go to a viewpoint like the Gianicolo, the Aventine or the Pincio or enjoy the view over the city with an aperitif in a rooftop bar.

4. Shopping

Are you in the mood for shopping? Then Rome is the place for you. You will find an abundant selection of fashion in the center, but also jewelry, art and antiques. Of course, Rome also offers culinary specialties from all regions of Italy. Romans talk about nothing as much as food, where to buy the best specialties and where to eat the best.

Combine time saving

In Rome you can do a lot without visiting the Colosseum or St. Peter’s Basilica. We have prepared some suggestions for this, which can be combined with each other.

Choose from our suggestions and become an experienced Rome visitor in a short time. Find out about the best times to visit the attractions, waiting times, travel times and how to optimize your program according to your interests.

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Days of the week

Many museums in Rome are closed on Monday, the papal audience is on Wednesday. Here you can find out what is going on in Rome on each day of the week.

Active in Rome

Rome is a liveable and very green city. Rome is criss-crossed by green spaces and parks, and there are many opportunities to do sports.

Read Jogging in Rome and Rome on foot. The center of Rome is not that big and if you are good on foot you can walk around the center and the archaeological area around the Colosseum.

Rome wants to become a bike-friendly city and is building new bike lanes. There are some beautiful routes for cycling in Rome.

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1 thought on “3 days in Rome · Tips for your Rome short trip”

  1. Hi, I’m planning a trip from the 2nd Dec until the 6th Dec for a surprise trip for my sisters birthday, what are the queues like at this time of year??? Would I get away without purchasing skip the que tickets, thanks in advance Carol.

    Reply