The Perfect Rome Itinerary
There are two types of people in the world: those who love Rome and those who didn’t see Rome properly. Exploring Rome can be the best travel experience of your life — or a nightmarish dive into tourist hell. The choice is yours. Take your time to savor the sights and flavors of Rome at a manageable pace, or cram two thousand years of history into three chaotic days. The key to maximizing a Roman holiday is to give yourself enough time (4 days at a minimum, 5-7 is ideal) plan well in advance: make reservations, book the right tours + meal reservations, and put in the work up front so you can relax and let Rome’s beauty unfold.
Step One: Read My Map
Seriously, read it. Every point includes a description that I’ve updated for years. I shift my top recommendations (marked in green) as I discover new favorites. I go to Rome every year — I know a lot about Rome. You can choose to ignore my advice and still have a great trip. Experience is subjective. But those who follow my recommendations have a better shot at greatness in the Eternal City. Read it here.
Big Rule: Don’t Overload Yourself
I won’t give you a rigid day-by-day itinerary, but here’s the golden rule: Don’t do the Vatican + St. Peter’s and the Colosseum + Roman Forum on the same day. Each one deserves a full day at your own pace. Rather, schedule them on separate days (on at least day 2 btw) and then group the rest of your experiences by location for the other days. For example, on one day you might do the baths of Caracalla and Circus Maximus in a day (the Boca della Verita is nearby as well), plus visit the Mercato Testaccio for an amazing sandwich at Mordi e Vai. You get the idea…
Sample Perfect Day:
Sleep in. Have coffee and a pastry at an amazing café.
Take a leisurely walk, maybe do some shopping.
Have a long lunch — this is one of Rome's greatest pleasures. Try to book Armando al Pantheon or Salumeria Roscioli.
After lunch, either take a nap or keep walking.
In the late afternoon, visit the Roman Forum. Arrange for a guide or just wander with a good app. Spend time exploring the Palatine Hill and the emperor’s palace.
Grab aperitivo at Anima Mundi in front of the Arc of Janus.
Take the night tour of the Colosseum around 7–8 PM.
Afterward, grab late-night pizza at Ai Marmi or Da Remo.
Another Example:
Start early at the Vatican Museums. Book a combined ticket with St. Peter’s Basilica. Get it done early and stay as long as you like (3–4 hours is my limit).
Have a late lunch at Romanè or grab pizza by weight at Bonci Pizzarium.
Relax in the afternoon — maybe get a hammam treatment at Acqua Madre or sit at a piazza café and people-watch.
Do some light shopping along Via Leonina, Via del Corso, or Via di Campo Marzio during passiagiata.
Have a casual dinner at Dar Filettaro or Supplizio — or just go for snacks at an aperitivo spot.
Aperitivo and Passeggiata
Romans take their early evenings seriously. Start around 6 PM with a walk through the main shopping streets — Via del Corso, smaller streets around Monti, or Trastevere. The city teems with energy as people stroll arm-in-arm, check out stores, and head to bars for cocktails and nibbles.
Aperitivo hour runs from about 7 PM to 9 PM. Most bars will serve average snacks with drinks — but some places serve great small plates. (Check my recommendations for those.)
Key Warning:
This is also the time when tourist-trap restaurants lure unsuspecting visitors. If a place is packed at 6 or 7 PM with a waiter standing outside holding a menu with pictures (or, worse, plastic food), avoid it. Romans don’t eat until at least 8:30 PM — most wait until 9 or later. If you want the real deal, make your dinner reservations for 9 PM.
Dining Strategy
Making reservations can be tricky because many of the best places don’t have online booking. If you’re staying at a hotel or Airbnb, ask your host to call for you. Do this at least a few weeks to a month in advance. I made series of videos about eating in Rome on my instagram @zolotadam - go check them out for some insights.
General Food Tips:
Don’t double-book big restaurant meals for lunch and dinner — you’ll regret it.
On busy sightseeing days, have street food or snacks for lunch and book a nice dinner.
On slower days, go big at lunch and keep it light at night.
Always have gelato. Get to Come il Latte at least once — it’s worth it.
Try maritozzi from Regoli — also worth it.
Compare pizza from Forno Roscioli, Forno Campo, and Pizza Rustica in one day — it’s worth it.
Touring Strategy
Once you’ve done the major sites, Rome opens up. Don’t hit the Vatican or Colosseum on your first day — give yourself time to acclimate. I think Rome is best with at least 4 full days, 5-7 are even better.
First day suggestion: Take a big walking tour to cover the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon (book tickets).
After the big stuff, hit the second-tier gems — often superior to the main sites:
Baths of Caracalla – Marvel at the scale of Roman architecture.
Circus Maximus – Imagine the emperor presiding over the races.
Trajan’s Market – Study the impressive barrel vaults.
Domus Aurea – The underground palace of Nero — one of the best tours in Rome.
Castel Sant’Angelo – Take the audio tour and have coffee at the top. (Then head to Lilia for carbonara.)
The Caravaggio Tour
If you’re even mildly interested in art, do not sleep on the Caravaggios. Caravaggio’s work is not just beautiful — it’s haunting and alive. His ability to capture light and shadow is unparalleled, and Rome has some of his finest pieces tucked away in its churches and museums.
Hit these key stops:
San Luigi dei Francesi – Houses the Contarelli Chapel with three Caravaggio masterpieces: The Calling of St. Matthew, The Martyrdom of St. Matthew, and St. Matthew and the Angel.
Santa Maria del Popolo – Holds two of his greatest works: The Crucifixion of St. Peter and The Conversion of St. Paul.
Basilica of St. Augustine – Houses Madonna di Loreto — one of his most intimate and spiritual paintings.
Galleria Borghese – A paid visit, but worth it for David with the Head of Goliath and Boy with a Basket of Fruit.
Capitoline Museums – For The Fortune Teller.
If you hit all of these, you’ll see some of the greatest art in the world — bar none.
Church Strategy: Don't Sleep on the Churches
Every church in Rome hides a treasure. Seriously, just pop into random churches as you walk around — you'll be amazed at what you find.
Essential Churches:
Santa Maria in Trastevere – Stunning early Christian mosaics.
Santa Maria del Popolo – Two Caravaggios, a Raphael, and breathtaking architecture.
San Luigi dei Francesi – Home to Caravaggio's masterworks in the Contarelli Chapel.
Basilica of St. Augustine – Contains Caravaggio’s Madonna di Loreto — humbling and emotionally raw.
Sant'Ignazio – The ceiling fresco gives the illusion of a dome — you don’t need the mirror for the photo; just look up.
San Clemente – A layered experience — the 12th-century church is built over a 4th-century church, which sits above a 1st-century Roman temple.
Santa Maria della Vittoria – Home to Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa — eroticism disguised as religious art.
Santa Prassede – The mosaics in the apse are jaw-dropping.
Final Advice
Take your time. Don’t burn yourself out. Live like a local. Watch the Romans. Get away from the tourists. Plan, plan, plan — and reserve in advance. You’ll appreciate the effort when you can relax and enjoy the best Roman holiday of your life.
This version tightens up the writing, adds more depth on Caravaggio and the churches, and improves the overall flow. Let me know if you want to tweak anything!