We got a chance to visit Rome, few months ago.
3 days is a perfect itinerary for Rome. It will give you ample time to get a essence of this eternal city and to see some important sights. Please note that 1 day out of the 3, was dedicated solely for visiting Vatican city.
As you already know, Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world and this fame comes with a price. Sometimes you can expect to wait several hours to to get your entrance ticket to the city’s top tourist attractions.
We took an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin, Ireland to Rome, Italy.
We could see the Alps mountains from the flight and it was a spectacular view. It’s always a treat to fly across the European Alps on a clear day. It would be good to get a window seat (left preferred), while doing the booking, in case if you wish to get an aerial view of the Alps.
After landing at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, we took a taxi (normally most of the taxi here are white) to the hotel Novotel Roma Eur (approximately 30+ minutes). Remember that there is a monorail facility available to move between the terminals. It was a bit strange to notice that the tourist office were not open after 8PM.
Rome has two major international airports that you might fly into – Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Rome Ciampino (FCO). Flights from the North America usually arrive at Fiumicino, whilst flights from Europe may arrive at either. You can also find lot of Train tickets vending machines within the teminals.
Novotel Roma Eur is away from the city centre. Eveytime getting a taxi from this hotel to city center is going to be costly.
Metro would be the best option to get into the city from this hotel. You willl have to walk around 1.7Kms to the Metro station ‘EUR Palasport’ (B Line) (EUR Palasport is a station on Line B of the Rome Metro, in the EUR district of Rome between Viale America and Piazza Umberto Elia Terracini).
You can also wait for a bus (bust stop is just opposite to the hotel) to reach the metro station. The frequency of buses are not great. From the Metro station palasport, you can get a metro to the city (6 stops to the Colosseo, the stop that takes you just next to colosseum). Always keep this distance in mind while booking this hotel. This hotel is a good choice if your don’t mind using the metro everyday to get anywhere.
If you are staying here in this hotel, don’t forget to visit the nearby EUR lake and EUROMA Mall.
The Metro comprises of three lines – A (orange), B (blue) and C (green). You have several options for buying tickets at the ticket machines. It is important to know that the same ticket is valid for all public transport (ATAC) including metro, trams, buses (with the exception of the tourist buses) and even a number of regional trains.
Some important ticket types are:
- BIT Metro Ticket: This ticket costs 1.50 € and allows you to use public transport for 100 minutes after you stamp it. You are only allowed to make one trip by metro or train.
- Roma 24H Ticket: This 7 € ticket allows you to travel for 24 hours after activation
Other Travel Card options:
One option to save a lot of time and money during your 3-day stay in Rome is to get the “Rome Tourist Card”, also called “Rome City Pass”. You’ll bypass the queues and have priority entrances to the most famous tourist attractions of the city. The pass includes:
- Colosseum entrance ticket with audio guide + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill (1st day of my itinerary)
- St. Peter’s Basilica: entrance + audio guide (2nd day)
- Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (optional – Day 2 of this itinerary)
- 10% discount for museums and tourist attractions such as the Castel Sant’Angelo or the Galleria Borghese
Another option will be to take ‘Omnia Card’. This card is also called the “Rome and Vatican Pass”.
The Omnia Card includes the following:
- Priority admission to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (scheduled for the second day of your trip)
- Skip-the-line ticket to St. Peter’s Basilica + audio guide (2nd day too)
- Visit to St. Peter’s Prison + audio guide
- Lateran Basilica and Cloisters: entrance + audioguide
- Free tickets for 2 tourist attractions from the list below:
- Colosseum (1st day of this itinerary)
- Palatine and Roman Forum (1st day too)
- Castel Sant’Angelo (2nd day)
- Borghese Gallery
- Capitoline Museums
- Free access to public transportation during your 3 days in Rome – Perfect to get around quickly if you don’t want to do everything on foot!
- Discounts for museums and activities
- Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket (tourist bus)
- A map of Rome
While thinking about Rome, somehow we get a feeling that its a huge city, and in many ways it is. However, it’s actually smaller in population than other European cities like London, Paris, and so on.
Day 1:
Start off your 3 days in Rome by exploring the historic city centre. This area is filled with some of the most famous sights. You’ll learn tons of history, take stunning pictures and eat some incredible food along the way.
One thing Rome is not short of is, fountains. There are around 300 monumental fountains as well as many small public drinking fountains.
When in Rome, you can’t miss the street performers.
We decided to do a walking tour and a sight seeing tour in bus on Day 1.
In the walking tour, we covered 3 main attractions:
- Spanish Steps (PIAZZA DI SPAGNA)
- Trevi Fountain
- Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
a) Spanish Steps:
A frequent stop on any Rome walking tour, the Spanish Steps are a lovely way to start the day.
Admire the fountain at the square below before heading up the stairs. Climb the 135 steps to the top for a stunning view of the city.
The area surrounding the Spanish Steps is known for its luxury shopping and designer boutiques.
In 2019, a new law was put in place to crack down on “bad behavior” in Rome. If you are caught sitting on the Spanish Steps, you risk paying a €400 fine.
b) Trevi Fountain:
One of the most famous places to visit in Rome, the Trevi Fountain is indeed stunning. The problem is that everyone else seems to think so and it’s one of the most chaotic and touristy places in the city.
If you want to really experience this place, it better to go there around 6:30-7 AM or late evening, as the crowd will be very less.
Don’t forget to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure your return to the Eternal City! These go to a good cause – each night the coins are removed from the fountain and used by a charity that helps those in need of food.
Standing 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.
c) Monument to Victor Emmanuel II:
Dedicated to the first king of Italy (who is buried in the Pantheon), the Monument of Victor Emmanuel II is located between Piazza Venezia and Capitoline Hill. It’s hard to miss this monument, with its two bronze statues and white exterior perched high over Rome.
After the sighseeing, We did the Greenline Tour (Bus trip) aswell on Day 1.
We decided to proceed with Greenline Tours. Based on my experience, the tour tickets were cheaper through the agents rather than booking online. You will encounter a large number of agents on the road (mainly near the attractions).
Greenline provides 3 Routes (Green, Orange and Blue). We covered the Green route. It is a highly recommended tour, as you get an oportunity to explore the main places in a short span of time and that too with a Guide.
Bus Stops in Green Line (Eternal City Tour, Circular):
1A TERMINAL
Piazza dei Cinquecento (corner Via Cavour)
2 Santa Maria Maggiore
Piazza dell’Esquilino, 12
3 COLOSSEUM
Via di San Gregorio
4 Circus Maximus
Via del Circo Massimo, Belvedere di Romolo e Remo
5 PIAZZA VENEZIA
Via del Teatro Marcello (in front of civic numbers 32-34)
6 VATICAN CITY
Lungotevere Tor di Nona, n. 7
7 VILLA BORGHESE
Via Ludovisi, n. 48
8 BARBERINI SQUARE
Via Barberini, n. 14
Please use the link to explore more à https://www.greenlinetours.com/en/tours/rome-bus-tours/hop-on-hop-off
Day 2:
We took the combination tickets for Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & Mamertine Prison: Reserved Entrance from Tiqets (Non Guided Tour).
Duration: Mamertine Prison: approx. 30 minutes,
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: approx 2.5-3 hours
Colosseum and Roman Forum might be the main highlights of your trip to Rome.
Starting point of the tour was Mamertine Prison. At the Mamertine Prison, receive your ticket with a specific timeslot for the Colosseum (about 1.5 hours later on the same day).
Please make sure to be at the Colosseum, 15 minutes before the timeslot that was given to you at the Mamertine Prison.
In our case, we got the Mamertine Prison ticket for 9:40AM and we got the Colosseum ticket only for 3:40PM. So be ready with flexible schedule, while planning for this day trip.
a) Mamertine Prison:
According to the history, the apostles Peter and Paul were also imprisoned in this prison, although there is no real evidence for this. Keep in mind that the attraction as a building itself is not much, but that it is mainly the dark history that attracts the visitors.
Expect some rush/delay in getting the tickets.
b) Explore the Roman Forum and Paletine Hill:
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill are in the same compound.
Roman Forum – This sprawling complex was once the center of political, social, and religious life in ancient Rome.
The Roman Forum is the old town where the Romans lived thousands of years ago. Some of these buildings still stand today and the rubble for the others are there too. There is so much to learn here and it shows a lot about what life was like back then.
Palentien Hill – Discover the birthplace of Rome on Palatine Hill. According to legend, this is where Romulus founded the city in 753 BC. Explore the ruins of imperial palaces, gardens, and stadiums that once housed Rome’s elite. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum from the hilltop.
c) Colosseum:
Its better to book your tickets in advance.
You can book tickets directly or through some guided tours. We did not book a guided tour and we still regret that. We would have understood a lot, if we had a guide with us.
We tried the online audio guide (Voxcity), but it was a big flop. So we always suggest to proceed with a travel guide instead of online or audio guide.
Take as many photos and videos when you are at Colosseum, afterall you are stading in one of the wonder of the world.
Since the 6th century, the Colosseum suffered damages from earthquakes, lootings, and World war II bombings. That’s why only part of it is still standing today. Thanks to its extensive history, it is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions.
This colossal amphitheater is a testament to the grandeur of ancient Rome. Undoubtedly it is a symbol of Rome that every tourist should see. Colosseum is most famous for being the home of gladiators, who would battle it out in front of audiences that could number as many as 80,000 people.
At 157 feet, the Colosseum was also the tallest amphitheatre ever built, falling only 26 feet short of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Colosseum has a fascinating architectural design, featuring three levels of arches and a complex network of tunnels and chambers beneath the arena.
As we had enough time between Mamertine Prison and Colosseum, We did an additional walking tour to see:
- Piazza del Popolo
- The Twin churches of Rome
- Piazza Navona
- Pantheon
a) Piazza del Popolo:
Piazza del Popolo is a large urban square in Rome. This was the location of the northern gate of Rome, and is where, for countless years before trains, planes and cars, travelers would actually arrive into Rome.
On the south side of the Piazza are the twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto, and Santa Maria del Miracoli, sitting either side of Via Corso.
b) The Twin churches of Rome:
Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria di Montesanto are two churches in Rome. They are located on the Piazza del Popolo, facing the northern gate of the Aurelian Walls, at the entrance of Via del Corso on the square.
c) Piazza Navona:
This is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. It’s very long with a central fountain called La Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (The Fountain of the Four Rivers, with four statues representing the Donau, Ganges, Nile, and Rio de la Plata). This is a great spot for people-watching and enjoying free street performances.
d) Pantheon:
We couldn’t get inside as we missed to do a pre booking. So ensure that you do a booking before reaching here. As of July 2023, entrance is no longer free and costs €5 (during weekends + holidays, as far as I know). The Pantheon is one of the best preserved buildings from ancient Rome (alomost 2000 years). Its an ancient Roman temple turned church.
Day 3:
The day 3 was dedicated for Vatican city. You can find more details in my travel blog :
In case if you have more days in your plan, there are many more interesting places to explore.
A few of them are listed below:
Rome to Pompeii (historial places)
Appian Way
Catacombs of Rome
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Baths of Caracalla
St. John in the Lateran
Borghese Gallery & Borghese Gardens
Tiber River Walk
Capitoline Hill
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Galleria Sciarra
Terrazza Del Pincio – Sunset View
Hop on the fast train that takes only 1 hour 15 minutes from Rome to Naples
Rome Travel Tips:
- Rome is a popular tourist destination, so it’s best to plan ahead.
- You will do so much walking during your 3 days in Rome, so wear comfortable shoes!
- Rome has a great public transportation system including buses, trams, and the metro. These can be convenient when exploring Rome in 3 days.
- As you explore the ancient wonders, take moments to appreciate the rich history and culture that surround you. Rome’s streets are filled with hidden gems and stories waiting to be discovered. Embrace the city’s vibrant energy and let yourself be transported back in time.
- To get the most out of your trip and to be sure you see all the major attractions, you will need to do a bit of forward planning and even reserve your entry time to the key attractions – otherwise you’ll waste your time standing in lines unnecessarily and even miss out on being able to visit.
- Rome is really easy to get around, with much of it very walkable.
- Some of the museums and attractions are closed on Mondays.
- Rome is relatively a Tourist safe place.
- The water in the taps is safe to drink, although many locals prefer the taste of bottled water. You can also drink the water that comes out of the taps in the fountains, so just carry a drinking water bottle with you and hydrate as you go.
- Many of the attractions in Rome are holy places, and you need to be dressed appropriately.
- Avoid the tourist traps directly outside the main tourist attractions. Instead, walk a few minutes in any direction, and you’ll come across much more affordable and authentic options.
- It is good to choose a accomodation near to the Metro line.
- And last but not the least, don’t forget to try Galeto (and/or other sweets) and Pizza.
Summary:
Rome is such a fascinating city and we are glad that we got an opportunity to visit this beautiful city.
Certainly, 3 days in Rome is not enough to see absolutely everything that the city has to offer, but it’s definitely enough to see all the highlights if you manage your time effectively.
