Rome - 3 Day Travel Guide

Here you’ll find everything I discovered during my trip to Rome — all the little things I had to figure out myself. I’ve organized everything in one simple guide so your experience becomes smoother, easier, and stress-free.

The map below is fully customized with layers, so you can use it like a step-by-step travel companion:

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 layers:
These show the places you’ll cover each day.

• Walking routes:
Each day has an optimized blue/green/orange walking path so you don’t backtrack or wander in circles. Just follow the route and enjoy the city.

• Food & Coffee layer:
Turn this on anytime — it highlights the best gelato, pasta, tiramisu, and street food spots around you.

• Transport layer:
Includes airports, important train stations, and shuttle spots so you can move around Rome without confusion.

How to use it best:
Turn on only the layers you need for that day.
For example:
Day 1 places + Day 1 walking route + Food layer ON
(next day → switch to Day 2 + its walking route)

Save the map to your Google Maps app and it becomes your pocket-friendly Rome guide — clean, efficient, and ready to follow.

Open in Google Maps

DAY 1 — The Historic Day 1 — The Historic Heart of Rome (All Free Except Pantheon)

Day 1 is the classic Rome warm-up: everything is walkable, exciting, and completely free — except the Pantheon. Start at Trevi Fountain before the crowds hit, then climb the Spanish Steps and drift into Piazza di Spagna. From here you’ll walk down the luxury street Via dei Condotti (fun to see, no shopping pressure).
The only ticketed spot today is the Pantheon — €5 online, and trust me, book it early because the walk-in line is chaos. After that, head to Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori, and finish at Largo di Torre Argentina, a square full of ancient ruins (and cats).
Perfect intro day — all highlights, almost no stress.

View of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, at sunset with a fountain in the foreground, and historic buildings surrounding the steps.

Baroque-style historic building with ornate sculptures and columns, featuring a fountain with mythological figures and water in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.

People gathered on a terrace with a view of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, framed by tall trees with dark branches.

A historic square in Rome featuring the Pantheon, a classical Roman temple with large columns and a Latin inscription, along with a fountain in the foreground and surrounding city buildings with many pedestrians and cars.

Busy city street with many pedestrians walking and talking, surrounded by old buildings with balconies and street lamps.

Famous Fountain at Piazza Navona in Rome with Baroque sculptures, surrounded by historic buildings and tourists.

Ruins of an ancient Roman building with brick walls and columns, surrounded by modern buildings and trees under a blue sky.

DAY 2 — Vatican & Trastevere (Tickets Needed!)

This is your “book ahead or suffer” day. The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums require a ticket — absolutely book a timed entry unless you enjoy two-hour queues. St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but the climb to the dome is ticketed and totally worth it on a clear day. (All official booking links are listed in the section below.)

After the Vatican, cross the river to Castel Sant’Angelo (ticketed but optional), then wander into Trastevere — the coziest neighborhood in Rome and home to some of the city’s best food. End your day at Janiculum Hill, one of Rome’s top sunset viewpoints.

If there’s one day that benefits the most from planning ahead… it’s this one.

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica featuring ornate ceilings, columns, and religious sculptures.

Interior view of an elaborately decorated ceiling with frescoes, arches, and windows, likely in a historic church or cathedral.

View of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy, with statues on the bridge in the foreground and tourists walking beneath a clear blue sky.

Empty cobblestone street lined with outdoor tables and chairs of a restaurant or cafe at night, with ivy-covered walls and warm street lighting.

DAY 3 — Ancient Rome & Aventine Hill (Mostly Ticketed)

Today is your big Roman Empire day. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are all on one combined ticket — book online or you’ll lose an hour in line. From there, walk to Campidoglio Square and Piazza Venezia, both free and impressive.
Then climb up to Giardino degli Aranci (free — beautiful orange garden with a panoramic view). Finish at the famous Knights of Malta Keyhole — but be warned: expect a 45–60 minute queue for a 3-second view. Go early or skip if you hate waiting.
A perfect finish with history, views, and a little mystery.

Panoramic view of ancient Roman ruins with modern cityscape in the background, including several columns, arches, and historic buildings, under a clear blue sky.

An old, ornate building with detailed carvings on the facade, a large arched entrance, and a tower in the background. Several people are standing and walking outside, some with luggage.

The Roman Colosseum, an ancient elliptical amphitheater with multiple levels of arches and partially reconstructed exterior, viewed at sunset with a clear sky.

Ancient ruins and historic buildings in Rome, Italy, with cloudy sky overhead.

View of the Altare della Patria monument in Rome, Italy, with two Italian flags on flagpoles and a clear blue sky in the background.

Ancient Roman statues in a historical site with a building featuring classical architecture and a statue of a winged figure on top, under a blue sky.

Online Tickets Official Links:

These are the official websites I used to book my tickets online. It’s simply my personal preference — feel free to compare other options if you like. I don’t earn any commission or benefit from these links.

Tips:

At night, raise your hand when your bus approaches. Rome buses do NOT stop unless signaled, even if you stand at the stop.
Most restaurants close at 3 PM and reopen around 7 PM, so plan lunch properly.
Italians don’t drink cappuccino after 11 AM — order espresso later in the day if you want to blend in.
Many small cafés and gelato shops prefer cash — always keep a little on you.
“Coperto” (table fee) is normal — usually €2–€4 per person. If you only grab a coffee and stand at the bar, you don’t pay the extra fee. If you sit at a table, the coperto is added automatically.
Don’t waste money on bottled water. Rome has over 2,000 public drinking fountains (“nasoni”) with clean, cold water — refill your bottle anytime for free.

Rome