Rome is such an iconic city with so much beauty, amazing history, interesting attractions, delectable food, and more. I’ve been lucky to have visited before with my family, but this trip was Matt’s first time in Italy. So, we set out to do some of the iconic touristy things in the city during our visit. Here’s our five-day Rome itinerary, including a day spent in Vatican City.
Day #1:
Our first day didn’t start out too early since we had gotten in super late after flying into Florence and a delayed train to Rome the night before. We got up, had breakfast at our little apartment, and headed out to explore. With the long travel day before, we didn’t plan anything too crazy for our first day in the city.
Aventine Hill
We started our day at Aventine Hill, which is one of the seven hills Rome was originally built on. In the area, there are various pretty churches and quaint streets.
We strolled around for a bit, making our way up to Piazza Cavalieri di Malta to look through the Knights of Malta Keyhole. Visitors can put their eye up to the keyhole to get a unique view of St. Peter’s Basilica through it. We were there before mid-morning and there was a short line ahead of us. It wasn’t long before it began to grow and wrap around the square. The line does move fairly quickly because you only need a minute to take a look through the keyhole. While we waited, vendors began to open up their booths and a man played music and sang in the square. This was a cool little stop, but we wouldn’t waste your day waiting hours to see it if the line is super long.
We then strolled over to Giardino degli Aranci, a garden with orange trees, historic walls, and gorgeous views over Rome. This is considered to be one of the most romantic places in Rome. We have to say that it was quite beautiful and serene. We took in the view there for a bit, then moved along.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
Mouth of Truth
We meandered down the hill to the Mouth of Truth. This is a large marble sculpture of a man’s face hanging on the exterior wall of a church. There are various legends surrounding this face, but most center around the mouth biting the hand of those who have lied. So, it has become an attraction where visitors come to place their hand in the mouth of the statue.
When we arrived, there was a long line wrapping around the building. We didn’t have the desire to wait long to place our hand in the mouth of the statue, so we just walked along the outside of the church and looked at the Mouth of Truth as we wandered by.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
Arch of Janus, Teatro di Marcello, & Temples of Apollo Sosiano & Bellona.
Our next plan was to explore the Jewish Ghetto. But there were many interesting things to see on the walk over there. We walked by the Arch of Janus, Teatro di Marcello, and Temples of Apollo Sosiano and Bellona. It’s so cool to see these ancient structures still standing among the modern-day city.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
Jewish Ghetto
After wandering around the temples, we were right in the Jewish Ghetto. This Ghetto is the oldest in the western world. After it’s construction in the 1550s, all Jews in Rome were ordered to live in this area. Even after the area’s liberation, many Jews continued to reside here. In the 1940s, Nazis captured and killed over 1,000 Jews from this neighborhood.
Today, this is an interesting and beautiful area to explore. You can get a deeper look into the history of the Jewish Ghetto by taking a walking tour. Otherwise, you can wander about and see the main sights on your own. Some sites to see include the Tempio Maggiore Synagogue, Portico d’Ottavia, and Turtle Fountain.
The streets and various plazas in this neighborhood are really pretty too. There are many shops, art galleries, and restaurants in the area. Some of the famous bites from the Jewish Ghetto include artichokes and cherry-ricotta cakes.
Cost: Free to explore the area, but bring payment for any shopping eating, or to visit the Synagogue museum (€12.00 per adult)
Reservation Required: No, unless you want a guided tour.
Largo Argentina
Largo Argentina is a large square containing more ruins tucked among the modern streets. It’s famous for being the place where Julius Caesar was killed.
You can see most of the ruins for free from street level as you walk around the square; however, you can also buy a ticket to explore among the ruins and see the little exhibits if desired. We just walked around and admired the ruins from the sidewalk surrounding them. There is also a cat sanctuary here, so you’ll likely see cats lounging among the ruins.
Cost: €7 per adult
Reservation Required: No, but you can buy tickets online in advance if desired.
Campo de’ Fiori
Campo de’ Fiori is a bustling square surrounded by restaurants and shops. Monday through Saturday, you’ll find many vendors selling flowers, fresh produce, kitchenware, souvenirs, and more. We walked among the booths, sampled some balsamic, and just enjoyed the bustling atmosphere. It is best to come between 9am and 2pm because most of the vendors pack up by 3pm.
Cost: Free unless you plan to shop – bring some cash.
Reservation Required: No
Trastevere Area
After wandering around Campo de’ Fiori, we walked over to the Trastevere neighborhood. We crossed the Ponte Sisto with pretty views over the river and city.
We strolled down some of the Trastevere side streets and it really was so peaceful and picturesque. This area is not only known for its beauty, but also its many great restaurants and artisan shops. We definitely recommend putting some time aside to walk the various streets in the area.
As evening neared, we walked up Janiculum Hill, stopping at the gorgeous Fontana dell’Acqua Paola on the way. Janiculum Hill has a beautiful park and terrace area that offers stunning views over Rome. This makes it a popular place to watch the sunset. We took in the views up there for a long while as golden hour set in over the city.
Afterwards, we wandered back down into the Trastevere streets to stroll around some more and grab dinner. We really had such a great first day together in Rome!
Cost: Free, except any shopping and dining you plan to do.
Reservation Required: No
Day #2:
The second day of our Rome itinerary was filled with some of the city’s most iconic sights. We set out early with the intention of making it to the Colosseum for sunrise. Luckily, being there in February, sunrise wasn’t as brutally early as it is in the summer months.
Giardinetto del Monte Oppio
Our first stop was Giardinetto del Monte Oppio, a pretty little garden with views of the Colosseum. Being there as the sun rose was amazing! There weren’t many people around and we just enjoyed the view of the Colosseum as the warm morning sun lit up the arches of this iconic structure.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
The Colosseum
Ahh, the Colosseum! This is one of the most famous structures that remains from Ancient Rome. This massive amphitheater held thousands of gladiator games, animal hunts, and other performances in its prime. We definitely recommend a visit if you’d like some insight into Roman culture at the time and to learn more about this famous building.
On this trip, we were lucky to secure tickets to the Colosseum Underground. We were able to walk the areas where animals, weaponry, and gladiators were staged before performances. We then walked through the exhibits and admired the architecture from the amphitheater arena and main levels. For more details on visiting, read our other post.
Cost: Tickets start at €18, but there are other tickets that have add-ons available.
Reservation Required: Generally, yes. Even if you choose to buy tickets the same day, you will be given a ticket based on the earliest availability. We highly recommend booking tickets and a time slot online in advance. Otherwise, your entry is not guaranteed and you’ll likely have to wait in a long ticketing line just to see if you can get a ticket before entering the entrance line.
The only time a time slot is not reservable is on the first Sunday of each month. Entry is free on these days and tickets are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Palatine Hill & the Roman Forum
Just near the Colosseum is Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. These two complexes are filled with interesting ruins and museums that give visitors a glimpse into what life might have looked like here in Ancient Rome’s peak.
We first wandered around Palatine Hill, which, according to legend, is the hill Rome was founded on. It was also once the neighborhood of Rome’s aristocracy. We then headed down to the Roman Forum, which was once a bustling hub where public meetings, trade, and more took place.
Cost: Entrance to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum are included with most Colosseum tickets, which start at €18.
Reservation Required: No, you don’t need a time slot reservation to visit Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. You can buy tickets onsite near the Colosseum. However, since these tickets are sold in combination with the Colosseum tickets, we do recommend booking them online in advance.
We wrote a more detailed post on Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum – check it out here!
Via dei Fori Imperiali
Via dei Fori Imperiali is a popular avenue that runs along the Roman Forum and up to the Colosseum. In the area, there are tons of restaurants and shops. It is a pretty touristy spot, so expect there to be crowds and to have to maybe wait a bit at popular restaurants.
We strolled around a bit and grabbed some lunch and gelato before making our way over to Capitoline Hill.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
Capitoline Hill
Capitoline Hill is one of the seven original hills of Rome. We walked to the north end of the hill to admire the front of the massive Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. This huge white building stands out among the others in the area. It was completed and dedicated to the first King of Rome in 1911. We walked up the front steps, admiring the architecture and statues. There’s a terrace area at the top of the steps that offers pretty views over the surrounding city. We hadn’t known that visitors could enter a portion of the building without a ticket, but we were ushered inside and walked through some of it. For more info on visiting the museum and such, click here.
After exiting the monument, we headed over to Piazza del Campidoglio, a gorgeous plaza designed by Michelangelo. A major draw to this square is not only the beauty, but the famous statue of the wolf with Romulus and Remus nearby. If you don’t know this interesting legend of the beginning of Rome, definitely look it up before you visit!
Cost: Free to walk up the steps and access the terrace via stairs, €18 to visit the Central Museum of the Risorgimento and panoramic terrace via elevator. Free to access Piazza del Campidoglio.
Reservation Required: No
Capitoline Museum
The last main stop of our day was the Capitoline Museum. There are amazing sculptures and artwork displayed in various pretty rooms within this historic building. Additionally, there’s a terrace at the back of the building that offers great views over the Roman Forum. We were there at sunset, which was absolutely stunning, and there was hardly anybody else in the museum with us.
Cost: €20.50 per adult (+ €1 if you buy online or buy at the office some days in advance). €4 for an audio guide.
Reservation Required: No – you can buy tickets on arrival if desired.
Giardinetto del Monte Oppio
We meandered back towards our hotel, ending the day back where we started. As we walked around the Colosseum glowing at dusk, we couldn’t resist going back up to this pretty little garden to get a good view. Unlike the early morning there, there were quite a few others up there enjoying it now too.
Day #3:
Our third day had another early start. We got up and caught the metro with the intention of reaching Vatican City by sunrise. Before spending a day in Vatican City, note that most attractions require appropriate clothing that goes below the knees and covers the shoulders.
St. Peter’s Basilica
The early wake-up call was absolutely worth it because blue hour and sunrise at St. Peter’s Basilica were incredibly stunning. Plus, being there at sunrise allowed us to enjoy the area before the crowds.
We hopped in the short line, went through security, and strolled through the basilica for a bit. Right before the dome opened, we got in line for that. We made the climb up the hundreds of stairs and were one of the only ones at the top as the morning light brightened the city. It really was one of the most memorable moments from the trip. For more details on visiting the basilica and climbing the dome, read our other post.
Cost: The basilica is free to enter, but if you want to reserve a time slot online to avoid lines, it costs €7. Tickets to climb the dome cost €10 when purchasing onsite and €17 when booking online. The dome tickets include access to the basilica at the indicated time.
Reservation Required: No, but highly recommended
Vatican Museums
We had a bit of time to kill before our ticket time slot for the Vatican Museums, so we walked around the area just outside Vatican City and enjoyed a coffee and croissant.
When it neared the time on our ticket, we headed to the entrance and waited in line. After going through security, we were free to explore the museum. Of course we wanted to see the iconic Sistine Chapel, but there are many other interesting works of art and artifacts held in the exhibits. We really could spend many hours in here. For more info on visiting the Vatican Museums, click here.
Cost: €20 per adult (+€5 when booking online). Audio guides cost €8.
Reservation Required: No, but highly recommended
Necropolis Tour
The Necropolis is a burial ground dating back to ancient times that was discovered under St. Peter’s Basilica. It is also significant because Saint Peter’s tomb lies down there. Touring the Necropolis was definitely one of the highlights of the day. It’s pretty difficult to get tickets, so we felt lucky to be able to tour the Necropolis and take a deep dive into the history of the area. For more visiting details, read our other post.
Cost: €20 per adult
Reservation Required: Yes. You must request one through the Excavations Office.
Castel Sant’Angelo
Our Necropolis tour ended in the late afternoon, and that concluded our day in Vatican City. We had planned to visit Castel Sant’Angelo next. But at this point, we were pretty tired and decided we didn’t want to pay to enter just to be too tired to absorb any of the information in the exhibits inside. So instead, we admired it from the outside and watched the sunset over the river and castle from near the bridge just in front of it.
For more information on entering the castle, click here.
Cost: €16
Reservation Required: No, but recommended if you plan to visit during busy times of day or year.
Day #4:
Trevi Fountain
Surprise, surprise – another early rise! We took an early metro to make it to the Trevi Fountain at sunrise to beat the crowds. Others had the same idea too, because, even at that early hour, there were a good many people there taking pictures. We were really glad we got there early because, when we passed by later that day, the plaza around the fountain was absolutely packed.
We took some photos, admired the fountain, people watched, and just enjoyed the area for a bit before moving on.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No. But give yourself a bit of time because you might have to wait a while to even get up to the fountain when it’s busy.
Piazzas and more Piazzas
Between sunrise at the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon opening, we had some time and decided to stroll the area and admire some of the plazas. The first one we passed by was Piazza Colonna with it’s historic marble column at the center.
Next we wandered to Piazza di Pietra, which is lined by the beautiful columns of Hadrian’s Temple. Next up was Piazza della Minerva, which contains an obelisk and a glimpse of the Pantheon between the historic buildings. We then walked over to Piazza di Sant Eustachio, which has a couple pretty churches around it.
We still had time, so we walked down more of the streets in the area, grabbed a coffee, and admired the Pantheon’s exterior.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
The Pantheon
The Pantheon is another one of Rome’s iconic ancient buildings and is the best preserved from that time. This ancient temple-turned-church is known for its incredible architecture and the prominent figures laid to rest here.
Since we were there at open, we just bought our tickets at the door. We spent a little while walking around in there, admiring all the intricate details. For more visiting info, read our other post.
Cost: €5 when buying onsite, €15 when buying online.
Reservation Required: No, but you can buy tickets in advance if desired. You’ll have to weigh the difference in price with the possibility of no tickets being left or having to wait in a long ticketing line.
Church of St. Louis the French
After our time in the Pantheon, we headed to the Church of St. Louis the French. So many of the church interiors in Italy are absolutely stunning, and this was no exception. Not only was it gorgeous, but there are also a few Caravaggio pieces in here! There were also only a couple other people in there that morning, so it was incredibly peaceful. We’ve heard that it can get really crowded in here, so maybe try to come early.
Cost: Free to enter, but bring a couple Euro coins to activate the lights for the Caravaggio paintings if desired.
Reservation Required: No
Piazza Navona & Sant’Agnese in Agone
Our next stop was another gorgeous plaza – Piazza Navona. This plaza is known for its beautiful fountains at either end, the fountain and obelisk monument at the center, and the pretty buildings surrounding the square. In some of these buildings are shops and restaurants, making this quite a bustling place.
Also sitting on Piazza Navona is the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. This is another church with a pretty and intricate interior. We’d say it’s worth a quick look inside if you’re in the area.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
Vicus Caprarius
Our next stop was the Vicus Caprarius, or Water City, museum. It sits near the Trevi Fountain, so we started to walk back to where we started our day. On the way, we grabbed lunch near the Pantheon. The streets in this area are so pretty and are lined with many cafes and restaurants. At this point, it was midday, so the area was really busy, and it was just nice to stroll around this bustling area.
The Romans are known for their incredible aqueduct systems, a few of which exist in their original state and are in use today. A portion of this ancient system is on display at Vicus Caprarius. This underground museum showcases a portion of the ancient city, artifacts recovered in the area, and highlights part of the water system that currently feeds the Trevi Fountain.
Cost: €4 per adult.
Reservation Required: Yes for visits on weekends. On weekdays, a reservation is not required, but highly recommended. You can book a ticket via WhatsApp. Learn more here.
Via del Corso
Via del Corso is one of the main streets in the heart of Rome. There are tons of shops along this street and down the surrounding ones, from smaller boutiques to international brands. There are also a bunch of restaurants in the area. We didn’t have room in our luggage to do much shopping, but we enjoyed going in some of the stores and just taking in the bustling atmosphere.
This night was the earliest we had gotten through our planned activities for the day. The apartment we were staying at had a cute little rooftop area, so we grabbed some wine and enjoyed it out there while playing cards together. It was a nice and relaxing end to the night.
Day #5:
Capuchin Crypt
Our final day in Rome had somewhat of a macabre start. We visited the Capuchin Crypt and museum, which contains exhibits detailing the lives of the Capuchin Friars that once lived here and thousands of bones of Capuchin Friars that have been laid out in ornamental designs in the crypt. It was definitely interesting to learn of this piece of Rome’s history.
Note that you have to be appropriately dressed to enter the museum and crypts. Learn more about visiting in our other post.
Cost: €10 per adult
Reservation Required: No, but buying tickets online in advance is recommended to avoid a long ticketing line.
The Spanish Steps
Before heading straight to the Spanish Steps, we walked down Via Vittorio Veneto a bit. This street is lined with trees, pretty architecture and has various interesting sculptures along it.
We made our way over to the Spanish Steps, arriving there from the upper end. While we were up there, we took in the views over the city and stopped in Trinità dei Monti, the beautiful church seen towering at the top. We then headed down these iconic stairs to Piazza di Spagna, the plaza with a pretty fountain just at the base.
The Spanish Steps are another spot we recommend arriving early to if you can. We were there midday and the plaza was absolutely packed. Luckily, the law preventing people from sitting on the steps made the steps themselves not too congested. With the crowds, we didn’t spend too much time in the plaza before moving along.
Cost: Free
Reservation Required: No
Piazza del Popolo
Another plaza was next on the list. We strolled down the picturesque Villa Margutta on the way to Piazza del Popolo. This is another iconic square in the city known for the tall obelisk (the oldest in Rome!) at the center, the fountains on either side, and the twin churches – Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. On the opposite side of the square from the twin churches is another basilica, Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo, and Porto del Popolo, a city gate from the mid-1500s.
When we were there, there were many visitors, children playing, vendors selling various items, and performers. The churches are free to visit and are worth a stop for the beautiful interiors and various renowned works of art inside.
Cost: Free, but bring some Euro coins to light up the paintings in the church if desired.
Reservation Required: No
National Gallery of Modern & Contemporary Art
Just a short walk beyond the Porto del Popolo and it seemed like we had left the touristy center behind. Our walk towards the National Gallery of Modern & Contemporary Art was quite leisurely as we had some time before our ticket time. We ended up relaxing in a green space just across from the museum for a little bit before heading in.
After presenting our pre-booked tickets and placing our belongings in a locker, we began making our way through the museum. We enjoyed the wide variety of incredible art in here, and it was definitely something a little different after all of the ancient sculptures and baroque and renaissance works we had been admiring on this trip. It was also quite empty in there, so we enjoyed a peaceful afternoon among the art.
Cost: €15 per adult
Reservation Required: Yes. Visitors must book tickets with a time slot online in advance before visiting.
Villa Borghese
Our last evening in Rome was spent strolling through the beautiful Villa Borghese. This park is big and contains pretty ponds to take a boat ride on, gravel paths to stroll down, grassy lawns to lay out on, fountains, sculptures, and a few historic buildings and museums.
We were there in the evening when a warm golden light bathed the park and it truly was beautiful. We took our time to meander down the various paths before walking back across the city center to grab dinner and head back to our apartment.
Cost: Free to access the park. €5 per person to take a boat out on the pond. Museums and other buildings require ticket purchases to enter; however we didn’t go in any on this trip.
Reservation Required: No, but recommended for the museums in the park
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