3 Days in Rome: the Itinerary You’ll Actually Enjoy

There are so many attractions in Rome that it's impossible to know the city inside out in 3 days. Still, it's a good start. Some travel guides claim 4 days are enough; we think you'd need a couple of lifetimes.

If you have a weekend or 3 full days, you're in luck, because in this walking itinerary we share the best places to see in Rome in 3 days. By the end of your trip you'll have seen the city's most essential and famous corners, plus a few you probably had no idea existed.

What to see in Rome in 3 days

Before we start, take a look at the routes and places we recommend for your first two days in Rome:

• Rome in one day
• What to see in Rome in 2 days

Bocca della Veritá

A good place to start your 3-day route in Rome is at the Bocca della Veritá. If you happen to be coming from the Jewish Ghetto of Rome, a great spot for breakfast is Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria (Piazza Benedetto Cairoli, 16).

If you're in a hurry, grab a kosher treat for the road at Pasticceria Boccione (Via del Portico d'Ottavia, 1). Your taste buds will thank you!

Anywhere else on the planet it's hard to tell when someone is lying, but not in Rome. Whoever stands accused of lying has to put their hand inside the Mouth of Truth. If the mouth detects a lie, it swallows the hand. If it detects the truth, well, nothing happens and everyone keeps clapping.

The Mouth of Truth is thought to be a drain cover that belonged to the Temple of Hercules, though archaeologists aren't certain. What we do know is that it's a legend deeply rooted in Roman folklore.

To see it, head to the outer wall of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Depending on the day, you may have to wait in line a bit if you insist on taking a selfie. Entry is free (and we're not lying). 

The Mouth of Truth opens every day at 9:30 am.

Teatro Marcello

Very close to the Mouth of Truth and Rome's Jewish quarter (also well worth a visit) you'll find the ruins of a building that at first glance looks like a miniature Colosseum. 

The Theater of Marcellus was the first permanent theater built in Rome and, although travel guides don't say much about it, it's a beautiful Roman monument in very good condition.

During the day you can walk around it for free, and if you come at night, even though you can't go inside, you'll be surprised how lovely it looks lit up from the outside.

You can explore this area with a Spanish-speaking guide on this guided tour of the Jewish Quarter. There's also the option of a free tour of Rome's ghetto (available in English only).

Piazza del Campidoglio, one of Rome's prettiest squares

Climbing up behind the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele in Piazza Venezia, you reach the beautiful Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo. It's the gateway to the Capitoline Museums.

This is one of the most famous squares in Rome. Besides offering one of the finest panoramic views of the city and the Roman Forum, you'll find a statue of Marcus Aurelius and a copy of the famous She-Wolf.

To reach Piazza del Campidoglio you'll have to tackle a staircase. It isn't especially steep, though some may disagree. What we can promise is that, by day or by night, the effort is worth it.

Capitoline Museums

If you've made it to Piazza del Campidoglio, there's no excuse not to step into the Capitoline Museums. Inside are some of the icons of world art, such as the bust of Medusa and the famous Capitoline Wolf, the starting point of all Roman mythology. 

Originally the museum housed mostly sculpture, but an important painting gallery was added later. Today it's where most of the archaeological finds unearthed in the city are displayed.

The first Sunday of every month is one of the free days at Rome's museums, and this one is no exception. If you're not that lucky, you can buy a ticket to the Capitoline Museums or get in free with the Omnia Card and Roma Pass.

Largo di Torre Argentina

About 650 meters from the Capitoline Museums, roughly a 10-minute walk, you'll find the ruins where archaeologists believe Julius Caesar was murdered.

Largo di Torre Argentina takes up about a city block and sits below street level. You look down on the ruins from above, and there's no way to go down and see them up close.

What you'll see are the remains of four Roman temples from the Republican era and what's left of the Theater of Pompey. Fun fact: it's also home to hundreds of stray cats.

Church of San Luigi dei Francesi

Our route continues to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. Walking from Largo di Torre Argentina takes barely 8 minutes. It sits between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.

The highlight of the visit is seeing the Caravaggio paintings, in the chapel at the far end on the left. If the lights are off when you arrive, look for a small box: drop in €1 and the chapel lights up.

Before you go, make sure you don't turn up at midday, as the church closes from 12:45 to 14:30. Entry is free, so all you need to remember is a coin for the light.

An affordable way to take a guided tour is to join a free tour. One of the best free tours in Rome, the Free Baroque churches tour, goes inside San Luigi dei Francesi.

Mausoleum of Augustus

At 87 meters in diameter, it's the largest circular tomb in the world, and it's where the leading members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty were laid to rest.

The site was closed for several years for extensive conservation work, then opened to the public for a few months, and is currently closed again. It stands right next to the modern Ara Pacis museum, which displays the spectacular Ara Pacis of Augustus.

So the walk isn't wasted, if you get hungry we recommend stopping at Ristorante Alfredo alla Scrofa (Via della Scrofa, 104), famous for its fettuccine.

Piazza del Popolo

To take in the grandeur of this place, there's no better approach than entering from Via Flaminia. Piazza del Popolo is fairly asymmetrical and has a pair of identical churches that form the start of a trident.

At the other end of the square is the prettiest church, Santa Maria del Popolo, which completes that trident. The best part is the great atmosphere at all hours around the rather impressive central obelisk.

To get the full picture of what we're talking about, take a look at the guide we've written about Piazza del Popolo.

Villa Borghese, Rome's green lung

Right next to Piazza del Popolo you'll find the entrance to Villa Borghese, one of the greenest and prettiest corners in all of Rome. Entry to the park is free.

It's a perfect park for a lovely stroll or simply lying on the grass to rest. It also has a great viewpoint over the city  and a lake where for €4 you can rent a small rowing boat.

The Borghese Gallery, a must-visit museum in Rome

Inside Villa Borghese park stands the world-famous Borghese Gallery, home to one of the most important painting collections in Italy.

A visit to this museum is a real treat for art lovers. Its walls hold works by Caravaggio, Titian, Rubens, Raphael, Bernini and Sanzio, among many others.

You need to buy tickets to visit, sometimes well in advance. To keep things simple, head to our Borghese Gallery page, where you'll find everything  you need to plan your visit.

The Pincio Terrace, for the best sunsets in Rome

In Villa Borghese you'll find the Pincio Terrace, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Rome. In fact, if you visit in the late afternoon, it's one of the best spots in Rome to watch the sunset.

To enjoy this and other floodlit monuments, we recommend taking the Rome by night tour, which includes transport and groups of no more than 6 people.

Map of places to visit in Rome in 3 days

Here you can see the full route for this itinerary. Click on the image to download it as a PDF or view it in detail on Google Maps.

We know putting together a travel itinerary isn't easy, but in our Rome guide you'll find everything you need to do it.

Here are a few links we think you'll find useful when planning a trip to Rome:

• Information about Rome's airports (and how to get into the city)
• The best areas to stay in Rome
• What to see in Rome with kids
• The best day trips from Rome
• Find affordable places to stay with our recommendations for hotels in Rome.