What’s not to love about Rome? All of this history, art, and culture just at your fingertips, and few can honestly say they’ve never dreamed of an exotic Italian vacation. However, with all of the things available to do in Rome, it can be hard to narrow down what you actually want to do during your short time there.
What are some of the best things to do in Rome in 3 days? There are actually several great things you can do in Rome in 3 days. Sure, you won’t get to everything. But you can hit all of the highlights and still have some time to spare! The great thing about Rome really is all of the options you have available for exploration.
Are you headed off to Rome – or still putting your itinerary together? Make sure that you read this entire guide before you go – we will go over fun activities, great places to eat, and even ways to save money during your vacation. With all this information, you will be sure to have the best vacation that your budget can buy.
The 10 Best Things To Do In Rome In 3 Days
Before you decide what you want to do in Rome, make sure you know what you – and anyone you’re traveling with – want to do with your trip.
After all, this is your vacation, and you should make the most of it. Think about what your interests are, and what you would want to do in any city with which you were not familiar.
One thing I dislike about some travel guides is how one size fits all they are. When I planned my own trip to Rome, I knew that I wanted to see all of the sites that were related to Roman mythology, which is something I was really into when I was a kid. I knew that the ideal trip would let me see the cool things I had already read about.
But most travel guides don’t actually take that into account. All of the “best” sights or things to do are just the most popular ones. I’ve said all this to say that make sure you know what’s important and meaningful for you to see – not just what the places with the most traffic. This is your trip, and you want to be memorable!
On that note, I’ve decided to break up this guide into a few parts. Yes, we’ll be talking about the 10 best things to do in Rome, but I have broken it up into 2 different sets of best things to do in Rome:
- Historical and cultural sights
- Tourist and popular sights
In each section, you’ll learn more about all of the most fun places to visit in Rome.
What are 5 historic and cultural sights you can see in Rome?
These are sights with an impact, ones you’ve probably read about in school and seen in your Latin textbook.
If you’re a history buff or a book nerd, you’ll probably get a lot of inspiration from this section. And if you’re planning to read up before your visit, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to this list.
- Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, also known as Rome’s National Gallery of Art
Calling all art lovers! The first thing you’ll probably notice about Rome is the stunning architecture, and this museum does not disappoint.
Founded in 1883, it has many paintings and sculptures from the past few centuries. And while many of the artists are Italian, the museum also has selections from artists across the globe.
- Palazzo Doria Pamphili
If you’re excited to visit a private art collection, you’ll adore the Palazzo Doria Pamphili. With one of the largest private collections in Rome, you’ll be dazzled by how beautiful the museum is, as well as the artists behind its collections.
You can see works from the famed Raphael and Guercino. You’ll love its famous gallery of mirrors, which has breathtaking frescoes painted on the walls and ceilings.
- Museo Nazionale Romano, or the National Museum of Rome
This is definitely the place to visit if you want to learn more about Roman history. While they all exist under this one umbrella museum, the National Museum of Rome is technically four museums put together.
The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme has a lot of ancient art, so it’s a must see if you enjoyed the first two museums on our list.
The Palazzo Altemps has the museum’s collections on the history of collecting, as well as some objects from Egyptian collections. If you’re looking for a slightly more off the beaten path experience, you should definitely look into this museum.
Even though you’re obviously in Rome to do as the Romans do, don’t forget what a cultural centerpiece Rome was in its heyday. People from many ancient cities and countries traveled through Rome, so don’t forget to see what they left behind too!
The third museum is the Crypta Balbi, which has many art and archaeological exhibits, as well as Rome’s antiquarium, frescoes, and pieces from several collections. The last museum branch is the Baths of Diocletian, which houses thousands of inscriptions and writings.
One cool thing about the Baths is that Michelangelo actually came up with the architectural design, so if you want to truly immerse yourself in the Roman artistic experience, the Baths is a great stop.
- Museo Napoleonico
You might think that a museum focusing on just one person could be a little limiting, but the Museuo Napoleonico shows that big things come in small packages. And obviously, such a museum is fitting because of how popular and enduring Napoleon’s legacy has been despite his diminutive stature.
This museum is a historical homage to Napoleon’s life, and you’ll not only learn more about his personal history, but you’ll also get to see artwork from that period as well.
If you love both history and art, this is a great stop to make as your travel throughout Rome. Besides, as you travel to other places, it’ll be helpful to know a little more about Roman historical context.
After all, imagine walking through Rome with a little more awareness of what was happening in and around the city when the buildings and ruins were built.
- Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
One of the things I love about the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is that also contains jewelry, a part of the collection that I find super fascinating and fun to look at.
Beyond jewelry, you can also find classical art, sculptures, and mosaics among its collections. If you really want to immerse yourself in the beauty of Roman culture, this museum is a great place to start. When you visit, make sure you don’t miss the collection of coins they keep tucked away in the basement!
If you’ve had your fill of the historic parts of Rome, buckle in for some of the more popular destinations. Even though Rome has many destinations, you should still see what you’re interested in. Don’t skip something you’ve been dying to see just because it isn’t on a path less traveled or you feel like you need to get all of the art and history.
My travel motto is “balance.” Thes best way to hit the highlights is to have a balance of every kind of activity you want to do. We talked about museums earlier, now we’ll get into the more popular activities, and later we’ll talk about some of the coolest places you can visit in Rome.
What are 5 popular and touristy activities to do in Rome?
5 Tourist Activities To Do In Rome:
- Colosseum
- Peter’s Basilica
- Roman Forum
- Sistine Chapel
- Vatican Museums
The first activity I recommend is visiting the Colosseum! When you first started researching Rome, this is probably one of the first sights to come up, and for good reason. Also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum is one of Rome’s signature sights and a prime tourist destination.
Like many things in Rome, it is incredibly old – the Colosseum was built between 70 and 80 AD.
This structure is believed to have been constructed in honor of the king Nero, and it often hosted gladiator events and other spectator shows. Some estimates guess that it can hold up to 80,000 people, but that number does not even touch the 7 million visitors that it now hosts yearly.
(Wondering why is the Colosseum broken? We have the answer in that amazing article!)
As you can see, skipping the Colosseum during your trip to Rome means missing out on some big history.
If you’re up to visiting the home of the Pope, think about visiting St. Peter’s Basilica. Located in Vatican City, it is an Italian Renaissance church and the world’s largest Christian basilica.
While anyone can visit of course, this may be of special interest to you if you are Christian and want to learn more about your religion’s history. Even if not, you’ll still probably want to see this stunning building, which was actually architected in part by the famous Michelangelo.
The church holds up to 20,000 people, making it a fascinating spectacle of both architectural beauty and size.
Do you love government, law, and/or politics? Don’t forget to stop by the Roman Forum. If you’ve taken a high school civics or Latin class, you probably know about the ways in which the ancient Romans inspired some of America’s current governmental principles.
If this is an interest of yours, make sure you check out where it all began. The Roman Forum is now partially ruins, but it was once the home of many important government buildings all surrounding a marketplace.
While today we call this area the Roman Forum, the ancient Romans who used it called it the Forum Magnum or simply the Forum. In the center of the city, it was as important a landmark then as it is now.
It is also an excavated area, meaning that archaeological digs have been completed all around the places you’ll explore. Also helpful is that you can use the same ticket you used for the Colosseum for the Forum.
If you’re a Michelangelo fan, you cannot leave Rome without visiting the Sistine Chapel. While the chapel is famous in its own right, it is perhaps best well known for the expansive fresco Michelangelo painted on the ceiling back in the 16th century.
The chapel is also located in Vatican City, within the Apostolic Palace in which the pope resides. It was actually first known as the Cappella Magna, but it was renamed after Pope Sixtus IV restored it between 1477 and 1480.
A few decades later, Michelangelo painted the ceiling that remains one of the most famous and influential pieces of Roman artwork to date. And, despite its name, the chapel is also an art museum, which only adds to its appeal for tourists.
One of the great things about Vatican City is how many cultural hotspots are packed into a relatively small piece of land. While we’ve already talked about the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, don’t neglect to stop by the Vatican Museums.
The Vatican Museums were founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, and now serve as Christian and art museums within the city. Inside you will find tons of classical art, as well as Renaissance art pieces and breathtaking architecture.
The museums are also within the papal palace, and every tour through the museum actually ends with the Sistine Chapel. So, if you’re looking to see a lot of art all in the same place, a stop by the Vatican Museums is a must. Especially since you’ll only be visiting for a few days, it’s key to make the most of your time.
Now you’ve got a good idea about what kind of culture and sights are available in Rome, and the popular places you can visit. Since we know what’s on the surface, let’s get a little deeper and talk about places that might not be on your radar.
Along with above you can also explore the best Carnival Cruises departing from Rome, Italy, for an incredible Mediterranean adventure and memorable sailing experience.
The Best Sights To See In Rome
In this section, we’re going to dive into some of the more off the beaten path sights that Rome has to offer.
The Best Sights To See In Rome:
- See St. Peter’s Basilica from above street level. While I certainly hope you get to visit the Basilica, this is probably the next best thing. Find a building a few streets away and gaze out of the window a few floors up. The view is breathtaking and a pro-tip: try doing this just before sunset!
- See the remains of ancient thermal baths. If you’ve ever read about Roman history, you’ve almost certainly heard of the Roman bath houses that used to populate the city. While you probably aren’t going to find an ancient one you can use for yourself, there are still ancient baths you can wander through. The Baths of Caracalla are some of the oldest baths still standing.
- Walk Rome’s longest road. If you want to see more of the city but don’t know where to begin, the Appia Antica, Rome’s longest road, is a great place to start. It covers more than 186 miles, so you probably aren’t going to get through the entire stretch, but it offers beautiful wildlife and great views of the Roman countryside. Try to visit on a Sunday so you can enjoy the road without cars.
- See where the gladiators hung out before matches. This activity is only available to small parties, to you will definitely need to plan ahead if this is something you’re interested in. But one of the coolest, less known things to do in Rome is walk beneath the Colosseum. This is actually where gladiator would have been before their matches, eating, resting, or otherwise preparing. You will also run into places where slaves would have worked, and where animals were kept.
- Walk! While you are on a limited schedule, I really recommend just wandering the streets for at least a few hours of your visit. Some of the most memorable gems I’ve found while traveling I found because I just stepped out of the door of my hotel and wandered about until I found things that caught my eye. Many attractions in a city are more well-known among the locals than they are advertised to tourists, and you don’t want to miss out on them. If you don’t want to spend too much time just walking, ask a Roman local about the best spots to visit and explore. With just a little more flexibility, you can have a much better experience in Rome.
What Are The Must-Eat Foods In Rome?
So you know where you’re going, but you don’t want to get hungry on your way! Since what you like to eat is pretty personal, I’ve listed a few restaurant selections sorted by price point.
You’ll notice that I did not include restaurants that are easily attainable in the states: this is a vacation abroad, and I want you to branch out!
Many of these restaurants serve pizza, pasta, and sandwiches made in the traditional Italian style. If you want to truly experience Italian fare, this is the article for you.
For planning purposes, I also added a brief description of the kind of food each restaurant serves. However, try to look up the menu before you go so you know exactly what to expect, especially if you have some kind of food sensitivity.
What are some less expensive restaurants?
- Pastasciutta: pasta
- Kathmandu Fast Food: Indian food
- Banco Fast Food: vegan food, including wraps and burgers
- Mato Street Food: pizza and sandwiches
What are some mid-tier cost restaurants?
- La Tavernaccia: Multiple meats, pastas, and pizzas
- Trattoria Otello Trastavere: pasta, pizza, and other side dishes and entrees
- La Locanda dei Pugliesi: sandwiches
- L’Angolo di Napoli: pizza and pasta
What are some high end restaurants?
- Enoteca Ferrara: best known for wine selection
- Cul De Sac: wine
- Mamma Angelina: seafood
- Osteria Siciliana: Sicilian food
How To Save Money During Your Trip To Rome
Yay, your itinerary has come together, and you know where you’re going to eat. Great. But you still have to get there, and traveling to Rome is certainly not cheap.
Before you go, you should make sure you follow a few travel guidelines so that you can minimize some costs – and even have the money to splurge on some others!
When it comes to saving money for a vacation, the most important thing to do is know what’s at the top of your list.
If you really want to dine at all the finest restaurants, or shop in the best Italian designers’ stores, then those are expenses to keep in mind. Inversely, if there’s something you’re flexible about, remember that too.
Too keep you in your budget, I’ve made a list of a few simple steps you can follow to make sure your trip to Rome doesn’t break the bank.
- Know your budget before you go. This is most important, especially because there are some expenses you are most likely going to have to deal with before you even get on the plane. These early expenses include your hotel, airfare to and from Rome, and possibly travel from the airport to your hotel. The sooner you know your budget, the sooner you can start planning these things.
- Account for where you’re staying and how you’re getting there. Your hotel and flight will probably be the most expensive things you pay for during your trip, so decide what they will be first. This is also a good time to be thinking about your list. Do you want a five star hotel experience, or will staying at a hostel do? Do you want to be flying first class, or will you just take whatever seat you can get? You don’t have to scrimp about every detail, but you can certainly cut costs just by knowing what you want out of your trip. These also happen to be great places to minimize your costs. Save money by staying with a host in their home or by renting an AirBnB for a day or two instead of renting a hotel room. Take an airplane that doesn’t have every amenity you’re used to, but will save you a hundred dollars. You should also go ahead and subtract this total from your budget.
- Have a guess for what you’ll spend daily. While it probably won’t be exact, knowing what your spending goal is for the day will help you not spend too much on the first day and have to miss out on later days. I like to make daily budgets that are actually less than I can spend. That way, I save money if I only spend my budget, but I also don’t go over-budget if I want to splurge on something I like. Overall, you’ll save money just by planning ahead and knowing what you want out of your trip.
Discover the charm of Rome with our curated selection of the best hotels in Rome, Italy, offering unparalleled comfort and luxury for your unforgettable Italian getaway.
Tips For Traveling To Rome: Before You Go
Before you jet off, there are still a few things to keep in mind. Since you’ll be traveling many miles away, and you may be by yourself, there are some safety precautions you should take before leaving, as well as some general wellness tips and tricks you will want to know ahead of time.
Also, please note that most of my tips are not Rome-specific. If you want to apply them to another trip you’re headed on, feel free!
- Dress for the weather. This is actually one of the biggest travel mistakes I see. Sometimes people forget that weather is different in other places in the world, and summer doesn’t always mean hot! Also don’t just pay attention to the temperature: research the humidity, and the chance of precipitation too.
- Have an emergency contact. This person should know where you’re headed to, and have at least a basic outline of your itinerary. While you don’t have to call them every day, you should still check in just so they know you’re okay. Being in a different country means you want someone to know where you are.
- Be vigilant. You can ask locals what the safest places in the city are, but the best thing you can do is be aware of your surroundings. Stay among crowds of people, don’t go places alone late at night, and make sure you stay in well lit areas. Just a few precautions can prevent you from being one of the stories of tourists who are robbed or worse.
- Have all of your documentation. Lastly, keep track of all the documents you need to leave and return to your home country. There is nothing as stressful as arriving to the airport to go home and being turned away because you’ve misplaced your passport. As soon as you’re done using it, put it away somewhere safe in your bag. When you get to where you’re staying, make sure to store it somewhere it won’t be disturbed.
By now, you should have a glimpse into how a well planned trip to Rome can look for you. If you know what you want to get out of your trip, and are willing to do a little bit of research, you can make the most out of your three days in the city.
(When you finish your three days in Rome, you can do Paris in three days as well!)