Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Rome?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Rome?
Many visitors spend three to seven days in Rome during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife.
Rome is the capital city of Italy, and for many visitors it serves as the entry and departure point of their trip. Rome is filled with ancient ruins hidden next to modern development. It's a history enthusiasts dream. The city is also filled with cafes and Italian restaurants where you can sip wine and dine on Italian pasta dishes.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Rome? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Rome?
With only three days, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, Rome holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. To fully embrace Rome, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate at least 3 or as many as 7 days to browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, taste delicious cuisine, and dance the night away. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Rome
When visiting Rome, you absolutely can't miss the Colosseum as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.
The culinary scene in Rome is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pasta Cooking Class Near the Colosseum with 3 Spritz Cocktails ($95)
- Fettuccine Ravioli and Tiramisu Cooking Class in Rome ($84)
- Pizza, Gelato & Fun – a Tasty Cooking Class in Rome City Center ($66)
Rome is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.
Rome is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.
Make sure to set aside around 4 hours for The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, which are €30. It's great for couples and are known for its famous painted ceiling and huge collections of artwork.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for MAXXI, which is €15. It's great for families and couples and is known for its large collection contemporary art and modern architecture.
It's worth around 2 hours for Galleria Borghese. Entry is €13 and children are free. It's known for its ornate collection of sculptures and paintings along with historic architecture and surrounding gardens.
It's worth around 2 hours for Castel Sant'Angelo. Entry is €25, or €14 just for the entry without the museum. Children pay reduced fare. It's known for its historic fortress with panoramic views and museum.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for The Capitoline Museums. It's a nice activity for any traveler and are known for its range of exhibits with Roman art and other rotating collections. It's around €10 and up, depending on the current exhibits.
You'll want to have around 3 hours for The Colosseum. It's a nice activity for families and is known for ancient gladiator battles and its grand historic architecture. It's around €20 for basic entry, or more if you join a tour. Many combination tickets with nearby sights are also available and are recommended.
Make sure to set aside around 1 hour for Trevi Fountain, which is free. It's great for families and couples and is known for it classical Baroque sculptures and ornate fountain with a fun coin-tossing tradition.
Palatine Hill is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for families and couples. Known for its archaeological ruins and deep history of the city, entry is €16.
The Roman Forum is worth visiting for around 1 hour, which is great for backpackers. Known for being the heart of ancient Rome with an array of ruins, entry is €18.
It's worth around 1 hour for The Pantheon. Entry is around €7 depending on the ticket and tour option. It's known for its grand interior and as the final resting place of historic figures.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for St. Peter's Basilica. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its religious significance as the home of Catholicism along with gorgeous Renaissance architecture and artwork. It's free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel Tour ($143)
- Vatican Evening Tour: the Museums at Their Best I Max 6 People ($227)
- Hike Lake Castle and Good Food! ($130)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town ($23)
- Rome: Sex, Love, and Scandal Nightlife Tour in Ancient Rome ($66)
- Discover Rome's nightlife with a Local ($119)
The public transit in Rome is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.
Since Rome is such a large city, you can spend at least a day exploring the many neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Break up visiting popular landmarks with the more authentic neighborhoods for shopping and dining. This is a big city with a busy atmosphere and historic vibe. Some of the most popular areas to visit include St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and the neighborhood of Campo Marzio which is full of cafes and shops.
The Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore is worth visiting for around 1 hour, which is great for backpackers. Known for exquisite artwork, mosaics, and religious treasures, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Rome in a Day golf cart tour for cruisers with Pizza & Gelato ($131)
- Rome Highlights City Tour by Golf Cart with Gelato ($120)
- Transfer Civitavecchia Cruise Port>Rome/FCO/or Private Revers ($144)
Rome is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. With its many beautiful landmarks and impressive architecture, this city has a lot of attractive places to visit. Don't miss Villa Borghese Park, Trastevere, Palazzo Madama, the Appian Way, and Piazza Navona.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Walking Tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill ($239)
- Rome by Night Private Walking Tour ($156)
- Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome ($4)
Is 4 days enough time in Rome?
As a popular and famous city, Rome offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. Four days is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of Rome such as the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule at least 3 or as many as 7 days to fully experience the fun-filled city. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.
How to spend 4 days in Rome
With 4 days in Rome, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Shopping in Rome is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.
It's worth around 2 hours for Mercato di Campagna Amica. Entry is free. It's known for the fresh produce and specialties from nearby farms.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 3-Hours Artisanal Shopping Tour in Rome ($120)
- Shopping tour to Castel Romano Designer Outlet from Rome and back ($154)
- Private Shopping Tour from Rome to Castel Romano Designer Outlet ($222)
Live music is very popular in Rome, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Open Air Opera Concert with Terrace aperitivo over Navona square ($178)
- Rome: PUCCINI'S GREATEST HITS (Concert + Aperitif) ($35)
- I Virtuosi dell'opera di Roma: OPERA CONCERTO ($30)
Is 5 days enough time in Rome?
For many visitors, five days in Rome would be just the right amount of time. In fact, lots of tourists spend roughly three to seven days in the fun-filled city to check out the amazing museums and landmarks and terrific big city activities. Below we have some suggestions on how to spend your time here.
The Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy
How to spend 5 days in Rome
If you have more than 5 days in Rome, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
After you've explored most of Rome, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Amalfi Coast & Positano - Full Day trip from Rome or Naples - Semi private ($230)
- Florence Day Trip by High-Speed Train From Rome ($189)
- Rome: Tuscany & Montepulciano Day Trip with Lunch & Wine Tasting ($107)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
More Info
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