It isn’t easy to decide how many days will be sufficient to explore many areas and to do several fun things. However, the perfect duration to experience all the specialties offered by Rome is 4 to 5 days. You might not be able to see everything during this short period, but you will be able to explore some good portions of Rome.
Though a trip of 2 to 3 days will also be enough to visit a few major attractions of Rome, you will miss a lot of things. So, deciding on the number of days, you first brainstorm what places you want to visit and then plan your entire trip. Don’t know where to start? We have got you covered with a pre-made trip plan to visit some of the best places within 5 days.
How Many Days In Rome Is Enough?
Rome, also known as The Eternal City, is one of the most visited cities in Europe due to its ancient Roman history, delicious meals, unique architecture, and much more. However, for how many days in Rome, you should try to spend more days to get a chance to get deeper into the city’s culture, history, cuisine, and other hidden gems.
Here are our suggestions to plan a 5 days tour to Rome to visit many places within a short duration.
1 Day In Rome - Visiting The Heart of Ancient Rome
On the first day, visit the main attractions in Rome, as you can find most in the center of the city. During your visit, get a pass by restaurants to sit and eat delicious food.
Here are a few places you must visit on day 1:
- Colosseum
The Colosseum is a good starting point, and to make it memorable, just buy online tickets in advance to avoid time wastage by sticking inside the rush. You can also go on a guided tour to get knowledge about all the wonderful places.
This amphitheater is the world’s largest and was used to hold up to 50,000 viewers to witness animal hunts, famous battles, and gladiator fights. You will get back to the Ancient Flavian era.
- Palatine Hill
With the tickets to the Colosseum, you also get tickets for Palatine Hill, also known as the first nucleus of the Roman Empire. Visiting on the first Sunday of the month will cost you nothing, but there will be more crowd, and you may not enjoy it.
- Roman Forum
With Colosseum tickets, you can visit the Roman Forum, where you can recall the history of this place, which was the center point of Roman life.
You will also see the iconic building Temple of Antonius Pius nearby.
- Altare delta Patria
After visiting all these three places, head towards Altare delta Patria or the Altar of our Fatherland. It is beautiful and informative, pompous and gaudy, but one thing’s for certain – you shouldn’t miss this site.
- Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
Lastly, finish your day by exploring Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, an ancient Catholic Church considered one of the largest dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome.
2 Days In Rome - A Glance At Roman Culture
Visit these places on your second day of the tour in Rome to keep it light. All these places are within walking distance.
- Piazza Navona
Start with Piazza Navona, which is a lively square packed with cafes, shops, palaces, and fountains. You must also visit Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fontana del Nettuno, and Fontana del Moro.
- Pantheon
Head towards The Pantheon to please your eyes with one of the most famous Roman temples. It is one of the best-preserved monuments in Ancient Rome, attracting every visitor. There are no tickets required for entry.
- Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain is quite popular, and you might have seen lots of people posting pictures of this place. The best time to visit this place is March to May or September to November to experience the least crowd.
- Spanish Steps
Another best and worth-watching place is Spanish Steps, which attracts thousands of people and inspires artists and cinematographers.
- Campo de’ Fiori
Pay a visit to the Field of Flowers, as it is one of the liveliest plazas in Rome, having a famous statue of Giordano Bruno.
3 Days In Rome - A Tour To Vatican City
- Castel Sant’Angelo
Start your third day in Rome by visiting Castel Sant’Angelo, famous for being Emperor Hadrian's tomb. It is also well known for serving as a fortress and prison to the Papal residence throughout history.
- Vatican City
How could it be possible to visit Rome without visiting Vatican City? It is considered a holy place linked with the ancient history of Christianity. No matter what your religious affiliation is, Vatican City welcomes all who want to visit.
- St. Peter’s Basilica
Then go to St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica, which is well known as one of the holiest sites of Christianity and Catholic Tradition.
- Sistine Chapel
It is located inside the Vatican Museums, and to visit it, you must buy online tickets.
- Trastevere
Move towards Trastevere, get your lunch from the streets, and grab some drinks. It is home to various artisan shops, craft beer pubs, trattorias, and street entertainment.
- Aventine Keyhole
End your third day by visiting Aventine Keyhole, which is on the top of Aventine Hill, one of the 7 ancient hills of Rome.
4 Days In Rome - Time To Visit Museums of Rome
Though you can visit many of Rome’s places within 3 days trip, there is still so much left to see. Not even the full 5 days will be sufficient to explore the main areas of Rome, but we have tried our best to add as many cool attractions as possible to make your tour memorable.
On day 4, start your journey from Galleria Borghese.
- Galleria Borghese
At a close location to Spanish Steps, you can visit Villa Borghese and Galleria Borghese, where you will find some famous art pieces. It contains one of the largest private art collections in the world of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The work of most popular artists such as Raphael, Caravaggio, Titan, and Bernini is displayed here.
- Capuchin Crypt
Then move towards the Capuchin Crypt, which has crypts filled with darkness and bones. It is considered a sinister place in Rome. You can learn the history of Capuchins and the crypts. You also get a chance to see a tremendous small museum on the Capuchin order as well.
- Four National Roman Museums
There is no need to visit all four museums, but we have added a few worth seeing. The Museo Nazionale Romano includes the four archaeological museums of Rome, present all around Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, and Baths of Diocleziano.
5 Days In Rome - What's Left?
As your last day in Rome will be, you should visit places you always wanted to see. Here are a few places you can go on day 5:
- Baths of Caracalla
Start your fifth day’s tour by visiting the Baths of Caracalla, the best place to relax, exercise, build social connections, and be a significant part of Roman life.
This one should be on your list among the top 10 best places to visit in Rome due to its splendid and magnificent beauty.
- Appian Way
Your next destination should be Appian Way, the first great highway of the Roman world with an enchanting setting for a rustic country walk, bike, and horse ride. You can recall the history of this road used for triumphal processions where victorious Roman generals marched back to Rome to celebrate their victory.
- Four Roman Pastas
Try all four Roman Pastas at Otello; it will be the best ending to your busy day.
Other places you can visit instead are the city of Pompeii, the Amalfi coast, or Naples on the final day of your trip.
Is 5 days enough in Rome?
Though five days are good enough to visit the best places in Rome, the entire tour will make you want to see more of it. Within five days, you can easily visit the major attractions.
If you are an average traveler who is more into looking at everything for a few minutes, even a 3 to 4 days trip will be sufficient for you. If you love to learn more about ancient history and want to visit archeological sites, 5 days or more will be good to get the most out of your tour.
If you get a chance to stay for a few more days, add these places to your Rome Itinerary:
- Santa Maria Maggiore
- San Giovanni in Laterano
- Baths of Diocletian National Museum
- Monti and Borgo neighborhoods
- Ostia Antica
- Testaccio
- The Arch of Constantine
Things To Consider When Deciding On How Many Days In Rome
Thinking about visiting Rome is easy, but you may get stuck when trying to plan the entire tour. You must plan everything from budget to places, accommodations, foods, and duration to enjoy it at its finest.
We have enlisted a few important things you can consider when planning your tour and use as a checklist as a part of your Italy itinerary.
Time of Arrival And Departure
If you have planned for a 5 days trip, arriving at night and leaving early in the morning won't be similar to arriving early in the morning and leaving late at night because it will alternate the entire timeline.
The best time to start your tour is during the full day and take a rest at night to start another busy day.
When Is The Best Time of The Year To Visit Rome?
To visit Rome, you do not need to look for the perfect time of the year as you can arrive anytime you want to spend a memorable time with ancient history. However, Rome is the perfect place to visit from March to November due to its relaxing weather, cool environment, and beautiful sights.
The peak time of the year is usually June, July, or August, but there will be massive crowds and hot weather. You can visit from March to April or August to October to experience fewer crowds and temperate weather.
You shouldn't take the massive crowds for granted as it is one of the world's most famous cities and will be tightly packed with people during certain times of the year.
Where To Stay
Accommodation should be your major consideration when planning a visit to Rome. Luckily, there are plenty of good places to spend days and nights. You can find anything from hotels to private rooms.
Here are a few places where you can reserve your booking for a stay:
- Pantheon
You can stay at The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel, Autograph Collection, which is a five star at a little distance from Pantheon Piazza Navona.
The panoramic terrace will give you some of the best views. You can also get the true feel of The Eternal City by staying here.
- Trastevere
The narrow valleys and cobbled streets make Trastevere the best place to stay. You can also enjoy some of the best foods here.
This accommodation is close to the Colosseum. The day 1 destination will be within walking distance.
- Roma Termini
Roma Termini is another best place to stay, with a train station in the middle of the area. You can easily get on a train to visit Florence, Napoli, or Venice once your tour to Rome is completed.
Another great thing about it is the cheaper rates as compared to other accommodations in Rome.
- Vatican
Staying in Vatican City will benefit your third-day trip as most places will be at your nearest. Also, it is one of the most peaceful places where you will enjoy a lot. Some amazing restaurants and beautiful nightlife are also worth experiencing in this place.
Places of Your Interest Among Rome's Main Attractions
Where To Eat
Italian food is often praised worldwide, and you will have some of the best meals during your tour. Here are a few places to try the best Italian and other dishes to satisfy your hunger.
- Marzapane
It is located at north of Piazza del Popolo and is a perfect place to get a variety of food items from the top chef. But remember, you will get three and five-course menus for a fine dining experience.
You will get the unique experience of having cuisine showcased in beautiful dishes full of flavors. You must also try a barbecue grill.
- Otello
To get the best Roman pasta, Otello is the ideal place. But not just pasta, you will also get other Italian staples.
Nothing is better than Otello for dining out.
- Pizzeria La Boccaccia
Who doesn't love pizza? Well, pizza is one of the most favorite foods of Italian people. So you can find the best pizzas at Pizzeria La Boccaccio.
During your tour, you must stay here for a while to have lunch and try out different pizza varieties.
- Tonnarello
With a long history since 1876, Tonnarello is a place where delicious dishes of Rome and Italian favorites are served.
If you visit Tonnarello, try Carbonara, which is appetizing.
Final Thoughts On How Many Days In Rome
So, how many days in Rome are sufficient to get everything you have planned for? It'd be hard to experience the best things within short periods, so a minimum of 4 to 5 days will be good enough to visit places from Colosseum to Sistine Chapel, St. Pete's Basilica, and Pantheon; you will get some of the best memories in Rome.
For eating, you can try the restaurants we have mentioned or ask your guide or locals for recommendations to try the best Italian foods. We hope you will enjoy this collection of Rome Itineraries during your visit to Rome.
