THE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE TO A PERFECT WEEK IN ROME 🇮🇹
I've been fortunate enough to visit Rome multiple times and even more fortunate to have been guided by true Italian friends. Here I take all that I've learned from those travels and distill it into one perfect week.
This itinerary is great whether you've been to Rome before or are returning and hoping to explore some new spots. You'll visit classics like the Colosseum and the Vatican (where I still find something new to drop my jaw every time I go) as well as more underrated places that most tourists mistakenly skip in a rush to see other parts of Italy.
With that in mind, you'll notice this itinerary is a full 7 days. I see this as the minimum to truly see Rome. Many people only spend 2-3 days here, and I completely understand. Europe is expensive and you want to make the most of your trip. If that's you, this itinerary can still help - just pick your favorite days. Or, check out the 3-day itinerary I've created and linked below. But, I think you'll find that even a full 7 days barely scratches the surface of the Eternal City, and you'll be itching to come back to see (and eat) everything Rome has to offer!
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🛎️ Leading Hotels of the World & Anantara
Not only is this a beautiful hotel with an extremely rare rooftop pool, it's in a great location with easy access to places in Rome and the train for when you want to explore more of Italy!
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🏆 Forbes 5-star
🛎️ Dorchester Collection
Absolute luxury with panoramic views from one of the best locations in Rome - between the Spanish Steps and the Borghese Gardens!
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🏆 Forbes 5-star
🛎️ Rocco Forte
Check out the chic, secluded walled-garden restaurant and bar at this luxury hotel near the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese.
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🛎️ Small Luxury Hotels of the World
You can't get much closer to the Colosseum than this!
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DAY 1: A Stroll through the Historic Center
Start your trip off with a classic walking tour through the historic center. Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain are quick stops & closer than you think. After lunch, head to Santa Maria della Vittoria and the Baths of Diocletian to see works by Bernini & Michelangelo.
Come stroll & check out the street artists. The Piazza was once an ancient Circus. Now it's baroque, headlined by Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain, which depicts the then Christian world's main rivers (Nile, Danube, Ganges, & Rio della Plata).
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🚶♀️ Walk about 6 minutes
The Pantheon
⏳ Quick (about an hour)
💡 Tip: Make sure you reserve a timeslot in advance!
As impressive today as it was when it was built (~128 AD), the record-setting concrete dome of the pantheon has inspired architects and artists a world over - Michaelangelo, Bernini, Brunelleschi, and Thomas Jefferson among them.
💡 Tip: Make sure you reserve a timeslot in advance!
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🚶♀️ Walk about 8 minutes
Trevi Fountain
⏳ Fly-by (less than an hour)
💡 Tip: Whether you throw 1, 2, or 3 coins each has a different superstition. Most just throw one over their shoulder to "guarantee" their future return to Rome!
Toss a coin (or three) in the fountain and you'll guarantee your return to Rome (or that you'll find a spouse) - at least according to Three Coins in the Fountain. Yeah it's touristy, but it's big, it's beautiful, and it's a must when you're in Rome.
💡 Tip: Whether you throw 1, 2, or 3 coins each has a different superstition. Most just throw one over their shoulder to "guarantee" their future return to Rome!
These baths were once the largest in Rome, but after sitting abandoned, Pope Pius IV hired Michelangelo to convert part of the complex into a church.
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DAY 2: Vatican City
Today your jaw will drop - no joke. Book an early-entry or exclusive after-hours tour to see the Sistine Chapel with few(er) crowds. Spend the rest of your time gawking in the museums and Basilica. Be sure to climb the dome! Start or end with a walk around Castel Sant'Angelo - it'll be plenty for one day!
Morning
Musei Vaticani & the Sistine Chapel
⏳ Few hours (or more)
💡 Tip: Book a tour for early-entry to help limit the crowds! You can also shift this to the end of the day for an after-hours tour!
Most people dash past these star-studded galleries on their way to the Sistine Chapel, but you'd be missing out on one of the most incredible collections of art in the world!
💡 Tip: Book a tour for early-entry (or after-hours) to help limit the crowds! It's worth it, I promise. Also, do some homework about the Sistine Chapel and its art in advance because you and your guide will have to stay silent once inside.
It's perhaps the most impressive room of art you will ever set foot in. Stars including Botticelli, Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Ghirlandaio painted frescoes in the chapel, and Michelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgement are the headliners.
💡 Tip: Book a tour for early-entry (or after-hours) to help limit the crowds! It's worth it, I promise. Also, do some homework about the Sistine Chapel and its art in advance because you and your guide will have to stay silent once inside.
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If you are on a tour, you won't have to walk extra to get to the Basilica. Your tour will get to go through a special entrance that bypasses security.
St. Peter's Basilica
⏳ Few hours (combined with square below)
💡 Tip: If you haven't done it before, I highly recommend the climb to the top of the dome. You can see the mosaics up close and the views of the city are incredible.
Standing on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope, was buried after his upside-down crucifixion, the Vatican is a feast for the eyes. It's one of the most impressive churches in the world - featuring masterpieces by Michelangelo, Bernini, & others.
💡 Tip: Make sure you plan to have your shoulders & knees covered. Also, if you haven't done it before, I highly recommend the climb to the top of the dome. You can see the mosaics up close and the views of the city are incredible.
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St. Peter's Square
💡 Tip: Stand on the dots in the square to make all the columns line up!
The square is a masterpiece of art and geometry in itself, spend some time soaking it in!
💡 Tip: Stand on the dots in the square to make all the columns line up!
The Castel has a rich history. It began as Hadrian's Mausoleum, then became a Roman military building, and later a Papal residence.
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DAY 3: Ancient Roman Icons
Take a guided tour to bring the excitement & history of Ancient Rome alive at the Forum and Colosseum. You'll be ready for lunch after walking in the sun, but there aren't great options nearby, so head to Trastevere for a relaxing afternoon stroll with a stop at the kid-friendly Bocca della Verite.
Morning
Altare della Patria
⏳ Fly-by (photo-op only)
💡 Tip: You have a big day ahead of you, so just grab some quick shots of this famous "Wedding Cake"
This colossal monument to Italy’s first King, Victor Emmanuel II, is known as the wedding cake for its opulent white exterior.
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🚶♀️ Walk about 10 minutes
Roman Forum
⏳ Half-Day (combined with Colosseum)
💡 Tip: A guide can really help bring the Forum to life. I also highly recommend looking up before and after photos to help visualize what life was once like in this bustling place.
Once a hub for Roman life, the forum is still alive and abuzz today (now with tourists). Gone are the markets and public speeches, but the history is still palpable as you walk among the ruins of temples, palaces, and government buildings.
💡 Tip: A guide can really help bring the Forum to life. I also highly recommend looking up before and after photos to help visualize what life was once like in this bustling place.
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🚶♀️ Walk about 10 minutes
The Colosseum
⏳ Half-Day (combined with Forum)
💡 Tip: Lines at the Colosseum can be very long, and "skip the line" tickets only help so much. A guide is the only real way to skip to the front. Bring water for while you wait, especially at midday or in the summer.
Lions and Tigers and Gladiators! The Colosseum is one of the must see stops in Rome. Men and beasts once fought here in what was not only the largest ancient amphitheater, but a feat of engineering that has survived since its grand opening in 80 AD.
💡 Tip: Lines at the Colosseum can be very long, and "skip the line" tickets only help so much. A guide is the only real way to skip to the front. Bring water for while you wait, especially at midday or in the summer.
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Midday
Stop and take a break for lunch!
Afternoon
Bocca della Verita
⏳ Very Quick (less than an hour)
💡 Tip: This is a great spot for kids, where you can play up the legend that if you told a lie, you would lose your hand!
This charming, colorful neighborhood across the Tiber is a favorite for tourists to wander thanks to its bohemian vibes and meandering cobblestone streets. Catch a hilltop view from Piazzale Garibaldi, visit the mosaics and frescoes of the Basilica of Santa Maria, get lost at the Porta Portese (Rome's largest flea market), or dine al fresco at one of the neighborhood's many restaurants.
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DAY 4: Underrated Rome
Rise early to climb the Scala Sancta & visit St. John Lateran. After lunch, take advantage of the 2-day forum pass to return to Palatine Hill, which overlooks the Circus Maximus. Another option - check out the nearby Capitoline Museums, home of the famous she-wolf statue, Caravaggios, Rubens, & more.
Faithful come to climb these stairs, believed to be the same stairs Jesus climbed during his passion. The stairs were relocated from Jerusalem to Rome in 326 AD.
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🚶♀️ Walk about 2 minutes
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano (aka St. John Lateran)
⏳ Few hours (with Scala Sancta)
💡 Tip: Check out the impressive doors that once belonged to the Roman Senate.
This Archbasilica (not St. Peter's) is actually the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, and is the Catholic Mother Church. It also happens to be the oldest church in Europe.
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Midday
Stop and take a break for lunch!
Afternoon: Option 1
Palatine Hill
⏳ Few hours
💡 Tip: Doing this the day after visiting the Forum & Colosseum allows you to make the most of your 2-day ticket!
Rumor has it Romulus and Remus were cared for by a she-wolf in a cave on this hill. Later, it became home to palaces owned by Rome's wealthiest citizens.
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🚶♀️ Walk about 15 minutes (or you can also view from the hill!)
Circus Maximus
⏳ Fly-by to quick (less than an hour)
💡 Tip: This is another spot where some homework ahead of time can help you visualize the past!
An impressive square designed by Michelangelo in honor of the Holy Roman Emperor's visit
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DAY 5: Day Trip
Escape the city with a day trip! Head to Herculaneum & Pompeii to see how Vesuvius caused instant destruction, freezing the ancient towns in time. Alternatively, head to Tivoli to see the impressive gardens & gravity-fed fountains at Villa d'Este and the elaborate ruin of Hadrian's Villa.
Option 1: Pompeii
🚗 Drive about 2.5 hours or catch the new high-speed train
Ruins of Pompeii
⏳ Half-Day
💡 Tip: Take a tour to bring the city to life! Be forewarned, some of the frescoes have imagery that is graphic for children.
Tragedy struck in the year 79 AD when Vesuvius erupted in explosive fashion, burying the cities under ash. The plight of Pompeii froze the city in time, providing an extraordinary glimpse into what Roman life was like. Herculaneum was impacted by the volcano differently leading to amazing preservation (there are also lower crowds).
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🚗 Drive about 20 minutes
Ruins of Herculaneum
⏳ Half-Day
💡 Tip: Also visit here. The ruins are just as impressive but often far less crowded!
Tragedy struck in the year 79 AD when Vesuvius erupted in explosive fashion, burying the cities under ash. The plight of Pompeii froze the city in time, providing an extraordinary glimpse into what Roman life was like. Herculaneum was impacted by the volcano differently leading to amazing preservation (there are also lower crowds).
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Option 2: Tivoli
🚗 Drive about 30 minutes
Villa d' Este
⏳ Half-Day
💡 Tip: As impressive as the fountains are, check out the beautiful inside of the Villa!
Situated in the beautiful hills of Tivoli, the Villa was commissioned by Cardinal d'Este as an instrument of influence in his lifelong campaign to become Pope. The villa itself is beautiful, but the real star here is the garden. The dramatic landscape, elaborate detailing, and hundreds of gravity-fed fountains are truly dazzling.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
💡 Tip: Look down through the glass panels in the Villa, where you can see remnants of Ancient Roman floors.
Emperor Hadrian was not a fan of his Palatine Hill palace, and instead sought refuge at this complex he built in the cooler hills of Tivoli. The "villa" is actually an extensive complex with baths, auditoriums, banquet halls, and more - all built in a fabulous style with fountains, canals, and stylistic nods to Hadrian's travels.
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DAY 6: Art & Fashion
Start your day off at Borghese. The collection belonged to one of Bernini's first sponsors, the avid collector Cardinal Borghese. After, stroll through through the expansive gardens. Later on, check out the Spanish Steps, explore the nearby fashion district, and take part in the Italian passeggiata tradition.
Morning
Borghese Gallery
⏳ Half-Day (with gardens)
💡 Tip: Make sure to buy your timed ticket in advance!
Once an elaborate villa, Borghese is now one of the world's preeminent museums with works by masters like Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, and Rubens. The surrounding gardens are also home to Rome's zoo and a variety of idyllic sights.
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🚶♀️ Walk outside of the museum to the surrounding grounds.
Admittedly, the history here is a little lacking, unless you count their appearance in Roman Holiday. But, the steps are beautiful, especially when the azaleas are in bloom, and a quick and easy stop when you're in the city center.
💡 Tip: You can’t sit on the steps anymore! Check out the azaleas in late April to May.
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🚶♀️ Walk about 3 minutes
Via Condotti
⏳ Few hours
💡 Tip: Depending on your budget, you might head elsewhere if you want to actually buy vs. window shop.
One of Rome's most iconic (and expensive) shopping districts!
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DAY 7: The Appian Way
Venture a little outside the walls to see a different part of Rome. Start at the Baths of Caracalla to see the extensive infrastructure Romans built to relax. In the afternoon, walk along Via Appia Antica to see the origin of "all roads lead to Rome." Then, beat the heat with an under-ground tour of the Catacombs.
Morning
Baths of Caracalla
⏳ Half-Day
💡 Tip: Check out the augmented reality experience!
Let me help you spend your PTO like a pro! I know what it’s like to have a busy career and love travel - and how hard it can be to balance both. My destination guides can help you plan better trips with less headache so you can make the most of your time out of the office!
I build out guides here on Thatch, but also check out ptotravelpro.com where I go into even more detail about what to do, where to stay, and how to string it all together in jam-packed destination guides!
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🇰🇪Kenya | Maasai Mara, Chyulu Hills, & Nairobi
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