What to Do in Rome in 3 Days – Top Attractions and Things to See
What are the must-sees in Rome (3-day itinerary)?
Circus Maximus, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona are just a few of the must-see sights to include in your 3-day Rome itinerary, alongside the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Vatican Museums, and all the other iconic landmarks the city has to offer. At first, planning an itinerary and fitting everything in can feel overwhelming. So how can you make the most of your 3 days in Rome and cover the top highlights?
Most of the places in our Day 1 itinerary are located close together in Rome’s city centre, so you will not need to spend hours getting from one to the next.
If you are eager to see as much of ancient Rome as possible, you will want to follow the full agenda for today. Prefer to focus on just a few highlights? Feel free to skip some stops — there is no shortage of Roman ruins, archaeological treasures, and cultural sites packed into this itinerary!
Best things to see & do in Rome in 3 days | Photo: Lili Y 2025 / Pixabay
You will start your 3 days in Rome with one of the city’s absolute top sights. Be sure to buy your ticket online in advance to secure your preferred entry time. There are several ticket options available, including a combined ticket that gives you access to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
The Colosseum is the giant amphitheatre commissioned around 70-72 AD by Emperor Vespasian and completed by his son and successor, Titus, in 80 AD. It was inaugurated with 100 days of gladiatorial combats and animal fights. Over 9,000 wild animals seem to have lost their lives during the inaugural games.
Vespasian’s younger son, Domitian, added a gallery to the top of the Colosseum and constructed the hypogeum, tunnels used for animals and slaves.
The combatants, the gladiators, were often slaves, condemned criminals or prisoners of war.
If you please (and are ready to donate a few dollars), you can have your picture taken outside the Colosseum with a ‘modern’ gladiator!
See the Colosseum – 3 days in Rome | Photo: Sun Rae Kim / Pixabay
The massive stone amphitheatre, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was an entertaining theatre, and it was beyond the gladiatorial combats used for various plays and activities like sea battles, dramas and even executions. Over the years, it also served other purposes, such as being a fortress and a quarry for the cathedrals of St Peter and St John Lateran, the Palazzo Venezia, and fortifications along the Tiber River.
As probably one of the most popular and iconic sights in the world, the Colosseum still stands in the centre of Rome as it has for two thousand years. Although partly damaged, it has resisted both earthquakes and fires.
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After visiting the Colosseum, you will walk right over to the ancient Roman Forum, in Latin Forum Romanum, which you enter through the Arch of Titus, the triumphal arch commemorating Rome’s victory over Jerusalem.
Forum Romanum is packed with ruins of important government buildings, temples and monuments from the Roman times. It is, along with the Colosseum, the most significant remains of the Roman Empire! This map gives you an overview.
You can easily spend an hour or two here, soaking in the splendour of ancient Rome while exploring the rich history of its many ruins. Nowhere else will you find such a concentration of magnificent temple ruins dating back to the Roman era.
Forum Romanum – the Roman Forum | Photo: Kirk and Mimi / Pixabay
Some of the most remarkable structures in the Roman Forum include the following:
- Via Sacra: the main street in ancient Rome running through the Forum.
- Temple of Castor and Pollux: temple built in gratitude for victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus in 496 BC.
- Temple of Saturn: temple from 497 BC dedicated to the Roman god Saturn, the god of agriculture.
- Temple of Vesta: temple dedicated to the Roman goddess of the hearth, Vesta.
- Temple of Romolus: Emperor Maxentius dedicated the temple to his son, Valerius Romulus.
- Arch of Titus: triumphal arch constructed by Emperor Domitian in 81 AD, commemorating Rome’s victory over Jerusalem.
- Arch of Septimus Severus: triumphal arch from 203 AD, dedicated to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta.
- Cloaca Maxima: the world’s earliest sewage system, constructed in the 6th century BC to drain the marshes and remove the waste from Rome.
- The Curia Julia – Senate: the third senate house in ancient Rome built in 44 BC by Julius Caesar.
- Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine: the last Roman basilica built in 312 AD in the city of Rome – and at the same time the largest building in the Forum Romanum.
Next, continue your sightseeing alongside the ancient Forum, where you’ll find Palatine Hill. The attractive Palatine has been an inhabited hill since 1000 BC. It is probably the most famous of Rome’s seven hills and used to be the home of Roman aristocrats and emperors.
The Palatine is also believed to be the site where Romulus and Remus lived in a cave (known as the Lupercal) and were found by the she-wolf – which has contributed to the fame of the hill.
View from the Palatine Hill | Photo: Ben Faist / Pixabay
On this tranquil site, you can explore the ruins of ancient palaces and experience the history of Rome’s elite. You can stroll through the lush trees, feeling a world away from the hustle and bustle of central Rome. From the Palatine, you have the most breathtaking views over ancient Rome: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus – all easily visible from the hill.
Among other ruins, remains of the Flavian Palace and the Stadium of Domitian are still here, as well as the remarkable Hut of Romulus. Remnants of the House of Augustus and the House of Livia can also be found on the hillside.
As you leave Palatine Hill, you will be close to the Capitoline Museums, which you may choose to visit next. Alternatively, if you are not ready to be overwhelmed by sculptures, statues, and archaeology just yet, you can save the Capitoline Museums for another day — especially if you have more than 3 days in Rome.
After a morning filled with Roman archaeology around Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, you’ll be more than ready for a (late) lunch! You will find excellent dining options just north of the Roman Forum.
Trajan’s Market | Photo: Serge Jové / Pixabay
Continue to the Trajan’s Market, which dates back to 107 – 110 AD – and is believed to be the first covered shopping mall, not only in Rome but in the entire world. Here, you will gain insight into the everyday life of ancient Roman citizens.
The Trajan’s Market was an ingeniously constructed gigantic complex, built by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. It was connected with the adjacent Forum of Trajan and had far more than a hundred shops on multiple levels.
To visit the Trajan’s Market, you will need to enter through the Museum of Imperial Forums.
The Trajan’s Column, located close to the Trajan’s Market, has a magnificent spiral frieze picturing the two battles Trajan had in Dacia (which is modern-day Romania). Emperor Trajan’s tomb is underneath the Trajan’s Column.
Next, you will visit the Circus Maximus. This is the 600-metre racetrack, also known as Circo Massimo. Already, the Etruscans used the site for public entertainment, and Julius Caesar expanded it to the area it covers today, including seating tiers around the track.
A canal was dug between the track and the seats to protect the spectators and for drainage purposes. Moreover, there were subterranean cells (‘cavea’) with the animals. Seating was subject to a hierarchy: front seats were only for the aristocracy, whereas the rest were for the common people, the plebs.
Circus Maximus | Photo: David Mark / Pixabay
The stadium was the largest in the ancient Roman Empire (seating 150,000 people) and was particularly used for the popular chariot races. The course was a simple hippodrome with banks for the spectators to sit on. Starting stalls were added in 329 BC, where up to 25 four-horse chariots could wait for the races to begin.
There could easily be a hundred races a day, but also other events like battles, acrobatics, processions and animal fights took place at the Circus Maximus.
Visiting the Circus Maximus is quick, as it only takes a few minutes to walk along or across the chariot racing stadium (and there is no fee!).
The final stop for today’s sightseeing is a visit to the Baths of Caracalla (or Terme di Caracalla), which you will find within walking distance southeast of the Circus Maximus. Massive and impressive baths appear along an area brimming with archaeological remains stretching from the ancient Roman Forum to the Via Appia Antica.
It is a significant complex of thermal baths, built by Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, also known as Emperor Caracalla, between the years 212 and 216, which could accommodate around 1,600 bathers. At the time, it consisted of 3 large bathing rooms, including a cold pool, a medium-temperature pool and a hot pool. The water was ingeniously heated by fires under the pools themselves.
Baths of Caracalla | Photo: Gianni Crestani / Pixabay
In ancient times, the Baths of Caracalla also included two libraries, a gymnasium and some lovely gardens where the visitors could relax.
Even today, the Baths of Caracalla remain imposing, with their walls, foundations, and mosaic floors still relatively well-preserved – although most of the marble coating and stucco have long gone.
That concludes your visit here — and your first day of sightseeing in Rome! Now you are ready to enjoy a delicious meal at a fantastic restaurant — and experience Rome’s vibrant nightlife! Check out awesome places to eat in Rome for some great dining options!
On Day 2 of your 3-day Rome itinerary, you will enjoy a visit to the Galleria Borghese, located in the northern part of central Rome, surrounded by the beautiful Villa Borghese Gardens.
Galleria Borghese is the world-famous art museum featuring the collection initiated by Cardinal Scipione Borghese between 1576 and 1633. He was no other than Pope Paul V’s nephew!
The exhibitions include classic antiquities dating back to the 1st – 3rd centuries AD and significant works by renowned artists such as Caravaggio, Raphael, Rubens and Botticelli.
Villa Borghese | Photo: xlizziexx / Pixabay
Afterward, you can meander through the Villa Borghese Gardens, a lush public park filled with monuments, a zoo, ponds, fountains, flower beds, and sculptures—a true delight! It is the perfect spot to relax and unwind in central Rome.
The area here used to be a vineyard, but from 1605, the vineyard was converted into an enchanting park by Domenico Savino da Montepulciano and Flaminio Ponzio. In 1903, the Roman government took over the Villa Borghese from the Borghese family and opened it to the public as a small cultural and refreshing oasis in Rome.
Just outside the gardens, you will find the charming Piazza del Popolo, also known as the ‘People’s Square’. Looking north from here, you’ll see the massive northern city gate, the Porta del Popolo, designed by Buonaroti and adorned with marble columns and statues. It is a gate of the Aurelian Walls, originally built between 271 AD and 275 AD by the Emperors Aurelian and Probus, later replaced by a gate built by Pope Sixtus IV for the Jubilee Year 1475, and now a construction erected by Nanni di Baccio Bigio in 1562 – 1565 with inspiration from the Arch of Titus. Previously, it was named Porta Flaminia after the consular Via Flaminia.
The beautiful Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo also flanks the piazza.
Fountain in the Piazza del Popolo | Photo: Riccardo Parasassi / Pixabay
Piazza del Popolo is an impressive square, home to a 36-meter-high Egyptian obelisk from 1300 BC, which Emperor Augustus brought to Rome from the Sun Temple of Heliopolis, originally intended to stand at the Circus Maximus. Nevertheless, after a restoration in 1589, the obelisk was moved to the Piazza del Popolo.
On the western side, you will discover the divine Neptune fountain, Fontana del Nettuno, with Neptune fighting with an octopus and surrounded by tritons.
The Pincio hill, on the eastern side of the square, above the Fontana della Dea di Roma, offers panoramic views over Rome.
The Spanish Steps – 3 days in Rome | Photo: Frank P / Pixabay
Just a few hundred meters from Piazza del Popolo, you will reach the renowned Spanish Steps, set on a gentle slope between Piazza di Spagna at the lower level and Piazza della Trinità dei Monti in front of the Renaissance church Trinità dei Monti above.
The Spanish Steps is always lively in Rome, crowded with visitors, artists and painters portraying people. Take a well-deserved break here, people-watching, and discover the multitude of nationalities coming to step on the iconic stairs. However, do not sit on the stairs – this is, since 2019, no longer allowed since it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you walk for another 10 minutes, you will reach the equally iconic Trevi Fountain.
The architecturally sumptuous Baroque fountain ranks among the most famous fountains in the world. Due to its location as a meeting point of three streets (tre vie means ‘three ways’, giving name to the Trevi district), the fountain is named after this district in Rome.
The gorgeous fountain was designed by the architect Nicola Salvi and had the last details completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762. Anyway, its history goes much further back in time since the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct brought water to the city of Rome here.
See the Trevi Fountain – 3 days in Rome | Photo: Kitty van Rooij 216 / Pixabay
According to the superstitious beliefs, you will return to Rome if you throw a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand. If you throw two, you will fall in love with an Italian, and if you throw three, you will get married to him or her! Give it a try yourself!
If you haven’t had lunch yet, it is probably time to grab a bite — perhaps followed by some high-quality Italian gelato!
In the afternoon, you will indulge in the spectacular Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and one of the grand basilicas in Rome.
According to the legend, the Roman patrician John and his wife experienced a snowfall in August year 358 on the summit of the Esquiline Hill. They had a vision of the Virgin Mary the same night, and on the same spot the snow fell, they now built the church in honour of the Virgin Mary. That gave rise to the other name of the church, Our Lady of the Snows.
Take your time to view the splendours and details of the construction. Other particular points of interest you can enjoy inside the Basilica are the sumptuously decorated Cappella Sistina and the Museo del Tresoro with a range of symbolic and religious artefacts.
Although not located in the territory of the Vatican City State, the Holy See juridically owns the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore!
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore | Photo: Lapping / Pixabay
To wrap up your day, you might want to take a stroll along the iconic Via Appia Antica. You will find it, for instance, a bit southeast of the Terme di Caracalla at the Porta San Sebastiano or the Punto Informativo Appia Antica (you may catch a bus down here).
Along the way, you will pass by the Catacombs of San Callisto Callisto and the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, where the early Christians were buried, and piled up on shelves in underground tunnels. The catacombs were only rediscovered in the 16th century – and stretch much further under Rome than you can imagine! You might want to take a look!
After exploring the Via Appia Antica (or at least the part you want to see!), you will head back to Rome’s culinary scene for a superb evening!
Photo: Andrea Spallanzani / Pixabay
Day 3 includes some of the top sights around Piazza Navona:
14. Campo de’ Fiori
15. Pantheon
16. Piazza Navona
17. Castel Sant’Angelo
18. Vatican Museums
19. St Peter’s Basilica
Click here for a detailed description of the Day 3 sights: Day 3 Itinerary Around Piazza Navona
Best Things to Do in Rome – What to See in 3 Days
If you have more than 3 days in Rome, you may also consider visiting
Domus Aurea – Nero’s Golden House
Book a guided tour to the Domus Aurea, Nero’s sumptuous palace, which had 300 rooms and an area 25 larger than the Colosseum! The octagonal room with an oculus in the ceiling, pavilions, sculptures, atria, fountains, spectacular paintings, frescoes and décor was at the time a combination of marble, semi-precious stones, mosaics and ivory – all lavishly constructed for parties and entertainment. It covered an area which included Palatine Hill, Esquiline Hill and the Caelian Hill (including the area where the Colosseum now is).
There are so many more fascinating things to see in Rome, and if you have the time, you might also consider visiting sites such as
Santa Maria in Trastevere in the Trastevere district, one of the oldest churches in Rome dating back to the 340s, or
The Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano, which ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, including St Peter’s Basilica! It is the official seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope!
Are you going to Florence? Check out here which museums and sights you can cover in 3 days in the Renaissance city: Top Things to See in Florence in 3 Days
Read next: Discover Siena
Best Things to Do in Rome – What to See in 3 Days
Best Things to Do in Rome – What to See in 3 Days
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Best Things to Do in Rome – What to See in 3 Days:
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Things to see in Rome | See Rome in 3 days
