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Rome is one of the truly must-visit cities in Europe, right up there with grand capitals like Paris and London.

And while you might be tempted to only dedicate a day or two to the Eternal City, it really does deserve a longer stay.

MY FIRST VISIT TO ROME WAS FOR FIVE DAYS, AND IT ALLOWED ME TO EXPLORE THE CITY AT MY OWN PACE.

I was also able to see off-the-beaten path areas of Rome that I never would have ventured to if I was under a time crunch.

As much as I enjoyed seeing Rome’s iconic landmarks, I also loved long lunches eating cacio e pepe and getting lost on residential streets with a gelato in hand.

If you’re traveling to Rome for five days and want your itinerary to strike the balance of major sights, hidden gems, and time for spontaneity or relaxation, then I’ve got you covered.

THIS 5 DAY ROME ITINERARY IS PACKED WITH HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE AS WELL AS ART AND ADVENTURE.

Let’s get into it!

5 Day Rome Itinerary: How To Explore The Eternal City

Top Experiences in Rome

Planning your trip to Rome?
Here are my FAVORITE experiences for a memorable visit to Rome.

🔍 Discovery | Learn more about your destination

🤝 Connection | Meet locals, learn a craft, and trade stories

🎭 Performance | Immerse yourself in the local art and culture

Rooftop Bar Opera Show

🚌 Excursion | Explore nearby places of interest

🚀 Adventure | Seek thrill and excitement in the great outdoors

Curious how to find the best experiences no matter what destination you visit?
Download my Europe Experience Planner now!

How to Get Around Rome

ROME’S HISTORIC CENTER IS BEST EXPLORED ON FOOT, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO PACK A COMFORTABLE PAIR OF WALKING SHOES.

For one, distances between attractions can be significant; it’s not uncommon to walk between 15,000–20,000 steps a day.

And second, the city is known for its seven hills east of the Tiber River, meaning that the cobblestoned terrain will suddenly become hilly when you’re wandering through town.

Though the city has a metro system, as well as buses and trams, I only ever used the bus during my time there.

For car rides, Uber is available in addition to traditional taxis, but it tends to be more expensive.

You’re better off just hailing a taxi or asking for your hotel front desk to arrange one for you.

Where to Stay in Rome

DURING MY 5 DAYS IN ROME, I STAYED AT A SMALL HOTEL IN THE MONTI NEIGHBORHOOD.

Monti is close to the Colosseum and was a central base for my time in the city.

The Pigna neighborhood is a prime location close to major sites like the Pantheon, and a good choice for travelers who want to feel like they are in the center of everything.

Other areas of Rome that would be a good base for a five day stay include:

Parione — a historic neighborhood close to Piazza Navona
Prati — an upscale residential district near the Vatican
Trastevere — for a more local, bohemian feel on the other side of the Tiber

If you prefer a quieter evening atmosphere, Prati or Trastevere might be a better fit than the city center neighborhoods of Monti and Pigna.

When to Visit Rome

The best time to visit Rome is in spring, from April to June, or autumn, from September to November.

These shoulder seasons offer ideal weather and thinner crowds.

I VISITED ROME IN MID-JUNE AND THE DAYS WERE ALREADY VEERING INTO TOO-HOT TERRITORY.

I would really avoid visiting Rome in July and August — it’s very hot in southern Italy during these months, and the crowds make it difficult to enjoy your visit.

During the off-season months of January and February, Rome is much calmer and prices are typically lower.

CTA Graphics for Summary Blocks

Day 1: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Ancient Rome Highlights

Colosseum
Roman Forum
Palentine Hill
Piazza Venezia & Altare della Patria
Pantheon
Largo di Torre Argentina

SPEND YOUR FIRST DAY IN ROME DIVING INTO THE CITY’S ANCIENT PAST.

You’ll need a timed ticket to access the Colosseum, and I’d advise an early morning start to beat the heat and avoid the crowds.

From there, explore the Roman Forum, once the political heart of the ancient empire.

On Palentine Hill, you can see the ancient ruins of multiple imperial palaces, as well as views of Circus Maximus, the site of Roman chariot races.

→ This small-group tour includes the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palentine Hill all into one three-hour experience.

FROM THERE, WALK TOWARD PIAZZA VENEZIA AND THE ALTARE DELLA PATRIA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE VICTOR EMMANUEL II MONUMENT, A GRAND SYMBOL OF ITALIAN NATIONAL UNITY.

→ For lunch, I recommend L'Antica Birreria Peroni, which has a great Italian beer hall ambiance and serves traditional Roman fare. Best of all, it’s on the way to the next stop on this itinerary.

After lunch, head to the Pantheon, home to the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world and a perfectly preserved example of Roman engineering.

Then, take a short walk to the recently reopened Largo di Torre Argentina area, the site of four temples’ ruins and a famous cat sanctuary.

Also here, behind the remains of Temple B, are the ruins of the Curia of Pompey, the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination.

AT THIS POINT, IT’S TIME FOR A REST!

Head back to your hotel and soak up the air conditioning, maybe have a small nap.

Dinnertime in Rome begins around eight in the evening, so you have plenty of time to relax before heading out again.

Day 2: Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
St. Peter’s Basilica
Castel Sant’Angelo
Ponte Sant’Angelo & Ponte Umberto I
Stroll through Borgo Pio

IT’S BEST TO DEDICATE AN ENTIRE DAY TO DISCOVERING THE VATICAN.

This microstate, the smallest country in the world, is also the seat of the global Catholic Church.

It’s made up of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Just like with the Colosseum, I recommend getting an early start to this day in order to avoid the huge crowds.

→ This small-group tour includes skip-the-line access to the three major sites of the Vatican, along with an expert guide who will add context and insights into what can sometimes be an overwhelming site.

YOU CAN EVEN CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE DOME IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA FOR FANTASTIC VIEWS OF ROME.

→ For lunch, I suggest Pizza Zizza not far from the Vatican. It’s a budget pizza spot that is a true hidden gem.

After lunch, walk toward Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, and tour the historic fortress.

You can take some great photos along the Ponte Sant’Angelo, though I think the best vantage point for photos of Vatican City is from Ponte Umberto I.

End the afternoon with a bit of window shopping, or stroll with gelato in hand along the charming Borgo Pio district before heading back.

Day 3: Trevi Fountain, Caravaggios, and Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto

Trevi Fountain
Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
Piazza Navona
The Jewish Ghetto & Trastevere
Sunset at Janiculum Hill

I’D SUGGEST YOU START DAY THREE WITH A MORNING PILGRIMAGE TO THE TREVI FOUNTAIN.

This gorgeous spot is typically mobbed by crowds, but in the early mornings the light is perfect for photos and the crowds are minimal.

From there, walk to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi to admire three paintings by Caravaggio that depict the life of St. Matthew, and then continue through Piazza Navona.

In the afternoon, spend time wandering two of Rome’s most distinctive neighborhoods, the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere.

→ This tour of Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto explores the unique histories of each neighborhood, and the small-group format allows plenty of time for asking questions.

YOU’LL HAVE TIME TO WANDER AROUND EACH NEIGHBORHOOD, TOO.

If you really want to cap off the day with a special experience, head up to Janiculum Hill at sunset.

→ If you’re looking to dine in the area, I’d suggest Taverna Trilussa in Trastevere or Trattoria Sora Lella on Isola TIberina.

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Day 4: Galleria Borghese, Piazza del Popolo, and the Spanish Steps

Galleria Borghese & Villa Borghese Gardens
Pincio Terrace
Piazza del Popolo
Via del Corso
Spanish Steps

AFTER THREE BUSY DAYS, IT’S TIME TO SLOW DOWN THE ITINERARY ON DAY FOUR.

It may feel counterintuitive to carve out time for an art museum in a city overflowing with masterpieces in churches and at the Vatican.

But the Galleria Borghese is absolutely worth it, both for its curated collection and its stunning setting inside the Villa Borghese Gardens.

Begin with a morning visit to the museum, and then explore the stunning gardens afterwards.

→ If you prefer guided museum tours like I do, this tour of the Borghese Gallery includes skip-the-line tickets. For the expansive Villa Borghese Gardens, this e-bike tour will quickly take you to all of the highlights.

As you exit the gardens, head to the Pincio Terrace for one of Rome’s best views, then descend to Piazza del Popolo.

THIS GRAND, NEOCLASSICAL SQUARE ONCE WELCOMED TRAVELERS ENTERING ROME THROUGH THE NORTHERN GATE.

Today, it’s a stunning gathering place for locals and visitors alike, anchored by its twin churches and intriguing monuments.

Spend the afternoon shopping on Via del Corso, enjoying a slow lunch, and maybe a gelato.

Make your way to the Spanish Steps, an iconic site in Rome that is often popular with visitors, before heading back to the hotel for a bit of rest.

Day 5: Bike the Appian Way and Choose Your Own Farewell to Rome

The Appian Way
Basilica di San Clemente, or
Aventine Keyhole & Orange Garden, or
Catacombs of San Sebastiano or San Callisto

ON YOUR FINAL DAY IN ROME, VEER OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO A PART OF TOWN THAT MOST TOURISTS RARELY SEE.

Spend the morning biking the Appian Way, one of Rome’s oldest roads, lined with aqueducts, ruins, and pine trees.

→ While you can rent bikes and DIY the trail, I suggest joining a guided bike tour of the Appian Way. The guide will highlight points of interest that you would otherwise miss along the way. If mobility is an issue, or you just don’t feel like biking, there are golf cart tours of the path, too.

After touring the Appian Way, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite.

→ I suggest a leisurely lunch at Trattoria Luzzi, close to the Colosseum.

ENERGY LEVELS COULD VARY WILDLY AFTER LUNCH, SO CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE FOR THE AFTERNOON.

You could:

See the layered history of Basilica di San Clemente, a unique church built over a 4th-century basilica and a 1st-century Roman house and Mithraic temple;
Peek through the Aventine Keyhole for a perfectly framed view of St. Peter’s Basilica;
Or explore the hauntingly beautiful Capuchin Crypts, where the bones of thousands of monks have been transformed into elaborate, macabre displays of devotion.

If I had it to do all over again, though, I would probably book an afternoon spa treatment at Six Senses Rome!

Traveling is tiring, and I’m a big fan of taking time to relax and unwind.