italy trip for 3 days

Broken Down By City, Here's How To See Italy On A 3-Day Trip Itinerary

Seeing some of Italy's best features is possible in three days, and this is how to do it if that's all you have in this beautiful country.

Visiting the most beautiful country in the world is definitely a dream come true. With its magnificent scenery and inspiring cultural treasures, Italy has held the first spot being the most beautiful country globally. Even writing about this magical part of the globe for ages won’t do it justice. From the Italian cuisine being the most delicious among all to Italian cities, coasts, and islands stunning the world with their unique magnificence, the country well deserves its earned international recognition. No matter how long a trip is to Italy, it will never be enough to witness all the wonders of this land.

However, for first-time visitors, it is recommended that they start with a classic tour that includes the country’s capital, Rome, and its other two renowned cities, Florence and Venice. Those are known as The Big Three.

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What To Do During The First Day In Italy’s Historic Capital, Rome

Many people will need more than a week to visit The Big Three in Italy. Yet, some would like to stay only for a total of 3 days and witness only the top attractions of those cities. While it is recommended that they spend more on these gems, one can do much during 1 day in each of Rome, Florence, and Venice. The minimum recommended time to see all the top attractions in Rome is 2 days, and one can spend up to a week and further explore the city. When forced to spend only one day in Italy’s capital, visitors must start their journey by hitting the Roman Forum and then the Colosseum, the largest amphithéâtre in the ancient world that welcomes 4 million tourists every year.

Tourists must next explore the Vatican City and behold its unique points of interest, including the Vatican Walls. Taking a tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica is also a must. After having lunch at one of the restaurants near the Vatican, visitors can walk to Castel Sant’Angelo to view the iconic landmark from the outside. Unfortunately, it is not possible to tour the castle during a one-day itinerary in Rome. The Pantheon is a crucial stop when in Rome. The monument offers a glimpse of the history of Ancient Rome and its spiritual side. Next, tourists can head to the marvelous Trevi Fountain, spend the evening, and have dinner at Piazza Navona. The Spanish Steps can also be visited later during the night.

A Day In The Picturesque Town Of Florence

It is pretty easy to reach the beautiful town of Florence in Italy on a train from Rome. The trip takes 90 minutes to reach the final destination.

While one day is not enough to savor all the attractions in the area, one can still see the top features of Florence . Visitors can start their trip by hitting the Piazza Della Signoria, which boasts historical sculptures. They can also go inside the city hall of Florence, Palazzo Vecchio, and then climb the tower by Arnolfo to behold the magnificent views of the whole city. Next on the list is a free visit to the Piazza Del Duomo, home to the iconic Duomo.

A tour of the Opera Del Duomo Museum is recommended for the chance to witness art by Michelangelo and Donatello. A walk to the Accademia Gallery is a must to see the unique and original David sculpture. Next on the list is the marvelous Gothic Basilica of Santa Croce, where the most famous Italians are buried, including Galileo, Michelangelo, Rossini, Foscolo, and others. At the end of the day, visitors can enjoy a mesmerizing sunset while watching the beautiful Ponte Vecchio aboard Ponte Santa Trinita.

• Recommended: Tour the Baptistery for an 18€ pass that includes a visit to the Opera del Duomo Museum.

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24 Hours In La Serenissima, The City Of Water, Venice

It is pretty easy to reach Venice from Florence by train, and the trip takes only 2 hours to get to the city. While it is recommended to spend more than one day in one of the most unique cities on earth, one can still manage to see the top attractions of Venice for 24 hours. Tourists can start their day by walking early to the Rialto bridge before the place gets too crowded. Rialto is the oldest and most beautiful of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal of Venice. People can also visit the various shops that line the sides of the stone bridge. After exploring the Rialto Market and admiring the mesmerizing views of the Grand Canal, visitors can head to the most famous Piazza San Marco and then to St. Mark’s Basilica. It is recommended to reach the Basilica before 9:30 pm to avoid long lines. It is a must to enter the iconic St. Mark’s Basilica and tour its beautiful Byzantine-style art. The entrance to the landmark is free of charge.

Next, visitors have to choose between touring the Doge’s Palace or Climbing San Marco Campanile since both activities cannot be done during a crammed 24-hour schedule in Venice. After that, one must head for a walk along the Riva Degli Schiavoni to enjoy some fascinating scenic views of San Giorgio Maggiore and the Bridge Of Sighs. Going to Ponte dell’Accademia is next on the list. It is a must to explore the canals of Venice through a water cruise. Depending on their budget, people can choose between a Private Gondola Ride, a Shared Gondola Ride or a Grand Canal Cruise, or a Vaporetto, a water bus.

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3 Day Italy Tours & Trips

Filter for departure dates and price to find the right 3 day Italy tour with TourRadar. Choose from 30 trips with 23 customer reviews, that range from 3 up to 3 days.

30 Italy 3 day tour packages with 23 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Milan & Lake Como - 3 Days/ 2 Nights

Eduardo was fantastic! He paid great attention to every little detail throughout our tour. He has great knowledge of history and background of places we covered, and most importantly he ensured everyone was having a great time. Thanks Eduardo!

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

La Dolce Vita Experience

The tour was fantastic and the hotel Michaelangelo in Sorrento was amazing. The service and meals were perfect. The only part of the tour that was disappointing was the tour in Naples . Also the initial pick up for our tour from Rome to the bigger tour bus was delayed and for over an hour 1/2 wait . We almost gave up and we would have missed a great tour . Our tour guide to Capri and Sorrento was fabulous. Capri was one of our favorite spots on our vacation.

• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

Beautiful Campania

The jewels of the North Italy 3 days private tour

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Rome To Amalfi Coast

Really great itinerary, lots of different activities to choose from and lots of information from the guides. Accommodation and meals really good, no complaints. Only thing I would say, need to know how many steps up front he Sorrento Ferry, as it was difficult for me to climb up and keep up with the group. Feel others need to know or alternative ways to reach the bus.

• Wine tasting

Florence City Break - 3 Days/2 Nights

Great tour guide (Mano) keeps the group entertained and time seemed to fly by really quickly

3 Day Excursion to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento & Capri

The food was fantastic, and in particular the tour of Pompeii was incredible! Do wish we'd spent a little more time in Naples, but there was a lot to see/do anyway.

Bike and Wine

Capri and Amalfi Coast by Sailing Yacht

Florence To Amalfi Coast

Marvellous Amalfi

Absolutely love Amalfi - so beautiful! Accommodation was great and our guides were terrific through Naples and Pompei. The rest stop in the way down and back was questionable when you order your food first then join the throng to get it - just doesn’t seem logical. It was chaotic!

Eco Etna Valle del Bove

I really enjoyed the trip up to Mount Etna. Being the only customer, I got plenty of information from my very informative guide. I also enjoyed the lunch, and especially the wine and honey tasting. I would definitely recommend the tour.

Discovery of Naples & Pompeii & Sorrento - 3 Days

Isola Bella with Blue Grotto Included!

3 Day Highlights of Florence & Tuscany Tour Package

What people love about 3 day italy tours.

Our guide, Ned, was great. The hotel Meininger was clean and comfortable in a college dormitory way, but not very friendly. I asked to reduce the centrally controlled thermostat because I sleep better when it’s cooler, and they said no. The hallways are not air conditioned at all. The rooms get hot during the day and the air conditioning won’t stay on without the key in the slot. I’d rather pay a few dollars more and adjust the temperature to my own needs. The tour has lots of walking but it was enjoyable to see Milan’s highlights. Lake Como was gorgeous scenery, perfect weather, and we had enough time for a nice meal in Bellagio and a drink in Varenna. The train ride back to Milan was standing room only, and hot and stuffy, followed by a long wait in line at the taxi stand. I’d rate the tour guide higher than the accommodations. I suppose that the name of the tour agency (Italy on a Budget) should give a warning that all is not going to be first class.

Our trip to the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Sorrento was great. The tour guides were very well organised and led three very good tours for us. Each tour was of a different theme and this made for an interesting few days. Our accommodation at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio was very comfortable, and the pool on a hot day was an added bonus. The staff were very nice and most helpful.

Regions in Italy

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Italy: Best first-time Italy itineraries for 3 days to 2 weeks

Even though Italy is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, planning your first trip there is not easy or obvious. Unlike France where most people focus on Paris or the UK where most people focus on London, Italy has at least three must-visit destinations and dozens of other great choices. Rome and Venice are the most famous two, and you should visit both of them if you can, but each has its own issues and focusing on just one or the other would be a big mistake.

As a veteran of many Italy trips and countless hours of research, I’ve written a guide below that should help most visitors choose the best places to go and how long to stay in each one. The shortest version is you should absolutely visit Rome and also spend some time in Florence and Venice if at all possible, but you’ll see below it’s more complicated than that if you want to plan the perfect trip.

By the way, if Italy is just one place you are considering you might want to check out our guide to the best first-time Europe itineraries , which covers Italy and other great choices. Or if you will also be visiting France on your first trip, we’ve got itinerary suggestions for first-time visitors to Italy and France on the same trip.

Racing through Italy will make for a miserable trip

This topic comes up so often that I wrote a detailed article on  why 3 nights is the best stay in nearly all European cities . Venice is a rare exception as either 1 or 2 nights is probably best, and we will discuss that below. Aside from that you really don’t want to race. If you don’t have at least 6 nights to spend in Italy, you’ll want to visit just one or two cities and then see more on a future trip.

If you've only got 3 days in Italy spend them in Rome

Venice is amazing and you’ll definitely want to see it in person at some point, and Florence is packed with many of Italy’s most interesting sights, but Rome is still the king of the hill and it’s the place you should focus if you’ve only got 3 nights in Italy. Most likely you’ll visit Rome and then realize you’ll need to come back to Italy as soon as possible, and then you can choose some of the other places mentioned below for your next trip.

Three nights gives you two full sightseeing days and those will be so packed in Rome that you’ll realize that trying to add anything else would be insane.

Rome in 3 days highlights

• Full day: Colosseum, Ancient Rome, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain
• Full day: Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Basillica, Sightseeing bus tour or walking tour

During those two full days you’ll have time for lunch and a gelato and then a nice sit-down dinner near your hotel, but the main sights generally don’t stay open into the evening so you’ll usually finish sightseeing before dinner. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain are always open (and free), so visiting those in the evenings can be nice.

Rome is also fairly chaotic, so 3 nights is enough for most people

As one of the world’s most famous and historically important cities, you’d be right to assume that it would be packed with amazing sights. The problem is that Rome feels fairly disorganized and a bit gritty, so most people prefer not to linger there. For example, crossing the streets near the main attractions can feel dangerous and there will be people everywhere going in all directions. That isn’t true in most large European cities, so Rome is just not a place to relax for most people.

>>> Rome prices and travel tips

With 4 or 5 nights you can add a day or two in Florence OR Venice

If you’ve got exactly 4 or 5 nights to spend on your first Italy trip it’s STILL recommended to do the 3 nights in Rome. Your best options are these:

• All 4 or 5 nights in Rome
• All 4 nights in Rome with a one-day Florence day trip
• Do 3 nights in Rome and 2 nights in Florence
• Spend 3 nights in Rome and take a train to Venice for 1 or 2 nights

As we’ll see just below, the shortest recommended visit to all of the Big 3 is six nights. So if you’ve only got 4 or 5 nights it’s really best to choose Florence OR Venice and save the other for your next trip. Better still, add at least one night to your Italy stay and do the best fast trip discussed just below.

6 or 7 nights in Italy: Fastest recommended trip to Rome, Florence AND Venice

Fast Italy trip in 6 or 7 nights:

• Land in Rome and spend 3 nights there
• Take a train (90 minutes) to Florence and spend 2 or 3 nights there
• Take a train (2 hours) to Venice and spend about 24 hours there

Of course you can do these three things in the reverse order, but most long-distance flights land in Rome (or Milan) so this is the best way to do it if you are starting your trip in Italy. On the other hand, if you are coming from France or Switzerland it’s much easier to go from there to Venice and end your trip in Rome.

Why you want to go to Florence

If all of that weren’t enough, Florence is also about 90 minutes by train from Rome and under 2 hours by train from Venice, so it’s the ideal place to stop in between to understand Italy on a deeper level than you can if you only visit both super-crowded Rome and Venice. Also importantly, Florence is the easiest place to sample the famous Tuscan dishes (pastas, breads, desserts etc) with the freshest local ingredients. Honestly, Rome and Venice are NOT really known as culinary cities but Florence really is one.

Basing yourself in Florence is now even easier

The hotels in Rome and Venice are generally more expensive than similar hotels in Florence, so one alternative is to base yourself in Florence for your whole trip. As of 2022, Trenitalia has finally added a new high-speed train directly from the Rome Airport to Florence. Honestly, Rome and Venice are relatively hectic and Florence is more low key, so going straight there might be the low-stress way to visit Italy’s Big 3.

Highlights of Florence in two full sightseeing days

The highlights of Florence aren’t quite as famous as those in Rome, but many travelers decide this is their favorite stop in Italy.

• Florence Cathedral and Giotto’s Tower (Famous and worthwhile)
• Uffizi Gallery ( Birth of Venus  and  Primavera  by Boticelli)
• Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo’s  David )
• Ponte Vecchio Bridge and Palazzo Vecchio (Famous bridge and plaza)
• Tuscan food, gelato, and wine

>>> Florence prices and travel tips

Why go to Venice and why not stay too long

That said, Venice is packed every day of the year with tourists, cruise passengers and day-trippers on bus excursions, to the point that it’s frustrating. Think about Venice as a theme park such as Disneyland or Disney World. It’s amazing to visit them for the first time ever, but after dealing with those crowds all day the idea of spending a second day there is a bit less appealing.

Highlights of Venice in 1 or 2 sightseeing days

The main attraction is wandering around and enjoying the views of the canals and gorgeous buildings, not to mention the gondolas.

• St Mark’s Square (crowded all day and lovely at night)
• St. Mark’s Basilica (cathedral overlooking the square)
• Rialto Bridge (Venice’s most famous sight)
• Doge’s Palace (The main palace and museum if you only see one)

Spend 24 to 48 hours in Venice if you can

The key is to splurge a bit for a hotel or hostel on the main island and preferably near St. Mark’s Square. The restaurants around the square are full in the evenings, but most of the walkways are not so you’ll be able to appreciate Venice in a way that the day-trippers can’t. Spending one night is enough as long as you use the evening and morning for some exploring, and two nights is better as long as you avoid the worst of the crowds in the middle of the days.

>>> Venice prices and travel tips

Places to add if you've got 8 or more days in Italy

Needless to say, if you’ve got 8 or more days on your first Italy trip you’ve got the option of staying even longer in Rome, Florence, and/or Venice. But in my experience most people want to move quickly and see more things so I’ll discuss the best options for those who want to see more.

Day trips from Florence (1 to 4 additional days)

Another popular reason to stop in Florence on your way between Rome and Venice is that it’s the ideal base for most of Italy’s best side trips. You can literally stay a week in Florence doing something really great every day, so it’s all down to how much time you have.

Pisa (half day)

Cinque Terre (1 to 2 days)

The most photographed village in the Cinque Terre is Vernazza so if you want to take a train from Florence and visit just one, that’s probably the best one. When the weather and conditions allow you can hike between the five villages (for a fee), although the path isn’t easy in some spots. The thing is, this area is packed from June through September and the weather is really lousy from December through February (at least most of the time). March, April, October, and November can be nice with decent weather and smallish crowds, so that is something to consider.

Siena (1 day)

The large brick town square is one of the top attractions and it’s a nice place to eat or relax except during the two days per year (July 2 and August 16) when the square hosts a horse racing event that packs the place with enthusiastic locals. The nearby cathedrals are also notable and worth a look.

Tuscan hill towns (1 or 2 days)

Tuscany has many hills surrounded by valleys and most of those hills have medieval or older towns built on top of them for defensive purposes. Some of them are reachable by train (at least the area below the towns), while others are best reached by rental car. Visiting one or more of these cities is a wonderful contrast to the busy cities because they are truly small and simple towns with great local food and wines on offer.

Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Gimignano, and Volterra are some of the better ones, although each can get pretty crowded on popular summer weekends.

Milan (1 day, if that)

Aside from those things, Milan probably isn’t worth a special stop. It’s the main transit hub for long-distance trains so there’s a decent chance you’ll be at least visiting the main train station. If you do decide to stay it’s probably best to make it just one night. Trains from Switzerland to Venice will change in Milan, so if you’ve got time that could be a good time for a visit.

>>> Milan prices and travel tips

Lake Como (1 or 2 days)

The easiest town to reach by train is Varenna (about an hour from Milan Central) and from there you can take frequent and inexpensive ferries to Bellagio, Menaggio, and other small towns. From November through March Lake Como is pretty dead and maybe not even worth the trip. In fact, many of the shops are closed in these months and so are some of the restaurants.

Southern Italy (1 to 5 days before or after Rome)

If this is your first trip to Italy it’s probably best to focus on the places mentioned above, but you’ve got some interesting options a bit south of Rome as well. I’d recommend focusing your next Italy trip on the section below, and you might include a visit to Sicily as well.

Naples (Day trip from Rome or Sorrento)

Naples is also famously gritty and somewhat dysfunctional with almost no green space and a history of problems with petty crime. For those reasons many people choose to just visit during the day to have a look and visit the amazing Naples National Archaeological Museum, which houses many of Pompeii’s greatest finds.

Actually, as of 2024, reports are that Naples is emerging as a popular tourism city again and that its attractions are crowded. If you can find a hotel in the tourist area and focus your stay in areas where there are plenty of other tourists around, it sounds like it’s as safe as the other cities now, or close to it. Still, this is not a place to just go wandering around on your own after dark.

>>> Naples prices and travel tips

Sorrento (1 to 4 days as a base to explore the whole area)

Sorrento is a lovely seaside town that is an ideal place to base yourself to explore this part of Italy. Not only can you use it for a day trip to Naples and also  Pompeii , but you can catch a bus (or taxi) from the Sorrento train station to explore the  Amalfi Coast  with its main highlights being Positano and Amalfi itself.

You can also take a ferry from Sorrento to Naples, as well as to the Isle of Capri, which is another famous and worthwhile destination just an hour away. The Blue Grotto is the main attraction, but shopping and eating are also popular in the warmer months. The caprese salad is named after Capri and possibly invented there as well, so it’s a good place to order one.

>>> Sorrento prices and travel tips

Options for food lovers and those looking for rural or farm visits

Since every traveler is different, let’s include two more options that should definitely appeal to quite a few first-time visitors to Italy.

Italian food lovers should consider a stop in Bologna

Bologna, which is conveniently in between Florence and Venice, is actually considered by almost all Italian food experts to be the culinary capital of the country. Obviously you’ll be able to find Spaghetti Bolognese, but that is just the beginning. Bologna is a big city that doesn’t get much tourism, so it’s developed a culture of outstanding restaurants that only succeed by being good enough for repeat guests and word-of-mouth. Do some research and it’s pretty easy to even stop in for lunch or dinner and a few hours on your way between Florence and Venice, or stay at least one night if you want to try multiple meals and shopping experiences.

Tuscany is far more famous, but Umbria is an interesting option for a slower pace and lower prices

Umbria is obsessed with pork and the food is generally filling. If you’ve dreamed of staying in a working farm that rents rooms (known as Agritourismo in Italy), you’ll have many choices in Tuscany, and many other great (and usually cheaper) choices in Umbria. This might be a better choice for someone who has visited Italy before, but for some first-time visitors it will be one of the top highlights.

Bari is where to eat Assassin’s Spaghetti

This is a spicy spaghetti dish that is made by “frying” dry pasta in a wide pan and then cooking it with wave after wave of tomato sauce to build up kind of a crust and deep flavor. I’ve visited cities for worse reasons than this so it’s something else to think about.

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Italy: Best first-time Italy itineraries for 3 days to 2 weeks " --> All Comments

Hi Roger Im going through your articles and basically i want to go everywhere! (we are over 45) We are looking to go to europe from Australia next year we will have aprox 12-16 weeks. Do you think it is good to base in London and do flights from london (we have friends we can stay with in London or would you go direct to Rome? Our main destination that we want to visit is Italy, wouldn’t mind a visit to Paris, Monaco and croatia or sicily/sardinia in the mix maybe even Greece but we do want to relax and spend at least 4-5 nights on the amalfi coast and maybe another 4-5 nights somewhere – I don’t want to overload and pack too much in what would be your must do recommendations for destinations given the time frame?

I know what you mean and I want to go back to all of these places as well! If you have friends you can stay with in London I would definitely try to use that resource as much as possible, although it might depend a bit on the time of year. You could even break your Italy adventures into 2 or 3 visits from London. The first thing would obviously be flights back and forth. As long as you book at least a month or two in advance, you can probably get cheap fares from one or more London airports to several different Italian cities. And once in Italy, the high-speed trains between the major cities are cheap if you book those well in advance as well.

I’ve lived in London before and I find it very easy to get around and enjoy a pleasant time. Rome, on the other hand, is quite chaotic, especially near the Termini train station and main tourist attractions, and it could be a bit stressful if you just wanted to hang around for a week between tourist trips. If, say, you got an Airbnb in a quiet neighborhood outside of the city center, it could be nice, but you’d also be in an area where very few people speak much English.

As for where specifically to go, I’ve put all of my best recommendations for both countries into the article above. I’ve yet to visit Sardinia myself and I’ve heard it’s not quite as tourist-friendly as the popular regions in Italy itself. I’d probably focus on the more famous places in Italy on a first trip. Again, once you get outside of the popular tourist cities, very few people will speak any English.

My recommendations would depend on the specific months you’d be there. For example, on the Amalfi Coast, the main beach towns are overflowing in July and August, very pleasant in June and September, and mostly closed down from January through March.

As for Greece, I’d recommend spending maybe 2 or 3 days in Athens and then take a flight or ferry to one of the islands. I’d avoid Santorini and Mykonos because people are saying that they are so insanely crowded these days (at least in summer) that they are hard to enjoy. Rhodes, for example, is larger and less crazy, although there are dozens of other options. Just try to pick an island that doesn’t also have cruise ships stopping there.

I’m happy to try to help more if you tell me when you are going and maybe a bit more about what you are looking for. -Roger

Hi Roger My husband and I are going to middle & northern Italy in March 2023 for 4 weeks. We will be hiring a car in Rome and intend to visit Florence, Bologna, Rome, but I love the smaller towns like Brescia and Spoleto (actually my favourite place in the whole of Italy). I have one day left on my itinerary and not sure how to spend it. Would you say any extra time should be spent in Lucca, Parma or Brescia where I already have a couple of days in each. No Venice for me, too busy. Thank you so much. Your website is a beaut. Jackie Australia

This sounds like an amazing trip and I wish I could help more. I must admit that I’ve yet to visit any of the three towns you mention, although I’ve heard good things about Lucca and Parma. My hunch is that you’ll be happy with whichever one you choose, especially since you already seem to know the area well.

The one thing I would be looking into is how well each of them is suited for cars. As you know, Italy’s largest cities are not really auto-friendly, and many of the smaller ones are not car-friendly as well. Since those are all mid-size towns I’d think finding parking would not be too difficult, but I’m not really sure. For example, the Siena city center is not a place I’d want to be driving around or parking.

I’ve also heard a lot of good things about Modena and the videos look beautiful. I’m going to try to visit there on my next Italy visit next year. Sorry I couldn’t be more help! -Roger

Hi Roger. If I have only six or seven days in Italy, is it possible to base myself in Rome the whole period and just take a one day trip to Florence and then another one day trip to Venice? I find it’s a hassle to hop from city to city and book an accommodation for just an overnight stay or two? What do you think? Thank you in advance for your advice.

Visiting Florence on a day trip from Rome could be okay, especially if you are staying fairly close to the main Termini train station in Rome. The high-speed train takes a bit under 90 minutes and the best sights in Florence are all fairly close to the train station there. However, Rome to Venice on a day trip would be kind of a slog. The train takes almost four hours each way, and then getting from the Venice train station to St. Marks Square will probably take another 30 minutes. I’d highly recommend staying in Venice for at least one night if you want to visit.

Another thing to consider is that Venice small and it can be insanely crowded during the middle of the day, so you’d get the worst of that. Tens of thousands of people visit Venice on day trips on bus excursions and cruises and so forth, so the city is packed from 10 AM through about 4 PM each day. Before or after that it’s much more pleasant and far less crowded. If you pack light (a good idea anyway) then changing hotels shouldn’t be too challenging compared to the rewards. I hope that helps. -Roger

Comment*I’m so happy I found your post. We’re booked for NY to Milan 9/29-10/10 following your advice we need to move around Italy. What should be our itinerary? Should we do a day trip to Switzerland or Lake Comp or both?

I’m glad you found it as well. Honestly, I put all of my best advice for Italy itineraries into the article. Don’t plan on spending any or much time in Milan. And if you have a couple of days I’d highly recommend Switzerland over Lake Como. Head to the Interlaken area for the best experience. I have several articles about it on this site. I hope that helps. -Roger

Comment* planning a trip for June wanting to go to Paris Amalfi coast and Sicily… Thoughts on all of it would be appreciated

I’m happy to help if you narrow the question a bit. I’d plan on at least 9 days, with 3 days in each place at a minimum. Getting between these three isn’t too easy. You could fly from Paris to Naples and then take a train to Sorrento as a base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. The trains between Naples and Sicily are quite slow and it would take a whole day, so it’s better to fly from Naples to Palermo and explore from there.

Let me know any specific questions and I’ll be happy to answer. -Roger

Thank you very much for this, Roger!

We really wanted to join a group tour to Positano and Amalfi for our extra day in Rome. But i find it very expensive. 🙁

Or do you think it’s worth it?

Choosing between Naples Pompeii or Positano Alamfi for our extra day. Which would you recommend?

Hi Roger! Flying to Italy early next month! Thank you so much for answering all my questions. you have been a big part in my Euro Trip planning 🙂

We will be staying in rome for 4 nights. Was planning to do a day trip somewhere. What can you recommend?

And also. Do you recommend i stay longer in Madrid or Barcelona? Because i read that there are much more things to see and do in Barcelona than Madrid.

Is the day trip to Toledo worth it? Can i do it on my own? or you suggest i join a tour group?

I’m happy to have helped. You can reach quite a few great places as day trips from Rome. If you are already covering Florence and Venice as full stops I’d go south of Rome on a day trip. You can reach Naples in about 90 minutes on a high-speed train and that is a great day trip to visit the home of pizza and see the famous archeological museum. From Naples you can take the Circumvesuviana train about 30 minutes south to reach the Pompeii ruins, which are also amazing. If you start early from Rome you can spend a few hours in Pompeii and also spend a few hours in Naples and still make it back to Rome for dinner if you like.

Barcelona has become a booming tourist destination in the last 10 years or so, but Madrid is still the capital and it’s loaded with great sights as well. My recommendation is three nights in each city. If you have one more night then Barcelona could be a good choice, but using it for the Toledo day trip from Madrid might even be better. You don’t need to go on a group tour of Toledo unless you prefer it. The train from Madrid to Toledo leaves at 50 minutes past every hour and only takes 33 minutes to reach Toledo. From the train station there it’s a pretty short walk to the historic town center and all of the sights are close together. You can also take the hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Toledo, which I enjoyed a lot. It stops at the train station, and that saves you the uphill walk into town. You can see all of the main sights from the bus as well as great views of the town from different angles, and then walk to various sights on your own from the closest bus stops. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

How do you book train tickets with the interrailpass in Italy? I have been looking everywhere on the website and cannot figure out how to do it.

It is definitely confusing at first. Actually, the Interrail Pass covers your “train ticket” so all you need to do is book a seat reservation if you want to travel on one of the lines where they are necessary. In Italy the high-speed trains between the larger cities all require a seat reservation. They tend to be about €10 each, but they often include a drink (including beer or wine). It looks like you can make seat reservations through Interrail using their reservation service .

But you should be able to make seat reservations from the official Italy rail website. It might ask you to verify that you have a Eurail or Interrail Pass to be sure you are getting the right thing. And you can also make seat reservations in person at train stations, but of course by that time it’s possible that the seats will be sold out, so it’s best to do it at least a day or two in advance. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

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How to Spend 3 Days in Florence, Italy: A Complete Guide

Florence is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in all of Italy. Known as the ‘Birthplace of Renaissance’, the city is an unparalleled hub of world-class art and architecture. From Michelangelo’s Statue of David to the towering Duomo and its renowned dome, Florence is home to more masterpieces than you’ll know what to do with.

The rich and sometimes salacious history around the Medici family, one of the most famous families in Florence’s history, is worth learning about. And I do mean “rich” in multiple ways. 

At one time Florence was the banking capital of Europe, and was where the first gold florins that were later used as international currency were minted. Florence was, like, a big deal. Florence wasn’t rich because it had a lot of art. It was, in fact, it was quite the opposite. Florence had a lot of art because it was rich, and that wealth allowed for the commission of all these amazing works of art. 

Florence’s history has all the makings of a good HBO series – murder, mystery, intrigue, and plenty of scandal (a pope with a son, who was made the duke of Florence? Questionable at best). 

We’ve set up this 3 day Florence itinerary to help you learn alllll about it. From world-class art museums to walking tours, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to dive into the stories that bring the city’s history to life. 

Our favorite thing to do in Florence , though, is to wander the quiet streets before 9:00 am, which is just about when all the tourists seem to wake up. It’s so calm and serene, and the architecture is beautiful.

Three days in Florence isn’t a huge amount of time. While the city may be small in size, there are countless fantastic things to do, including several huge museums where you could easily spend an entire day alone.

This 3 day Florence itinerary is here to help you experience both the city’s most famous attractions, and save some time for other experiences so that you get as much out of your time as possible. 

With three days, we also think you should take advantage of Florence’s amazing location in the heart of Tuscany to get out of the city and explore other parts of this glorious region on your third day.

The easiest way to do that is to take a guided tour, but you could also do it yourself via train or renting a car. We’ve got plenty more on where to go on a day trip from Florence and what to do and see below. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

Where to Stay in Florence

Being a small city, you can’t really go too wrong wherever you choose to stay in Florence. We have an entire guide on where to stay in Florence that dives deeper into the specifics and details – make sure to read that if you’re trying to decide where to stay and want more details.

These are a few of our top suggestions. 

The Historic City Center: Best Overall Location

The historic city center of Florence is fairly compact and is where you’ll find the majority of the city’s main attractions and hotels. For context, no matter where you stay in this area you’ll likely be no more than a 10-minute walk from most of the places you’ll want to visit. 

Staying in the historic city center will ensure you get as much out of this 3 day Florence itinerary as possible.

The best hotels in Florence’s historic center:

• Palazzo Gamba Luxury Apartments – An amazing aparthotel with elegant and spacious rooms, all with their own private kitchen and some of which have frescoed ceilings and a balcony. But the best part? It’s just a few steps away from the iconic Cathedral so is about as central as you can get in Florence.
• Arte’ Boutique Hotel – A super stylish and cozy boutique hotel sitting between Accademia Gallery and the Cathedral. The spacious suites can sleep up to six people so are a great option for larger groups or families. Some rooms also have a private terrace with stunning views across the Florence skyline.

Oltrarno is the area to the south of the Arno river – Oltrarno translates to ‘across the Arno’ – and is Florence’s artisans quarter, with plenty of small workshops and independent boutiques. There are also a few nice piazzas filled with restaurants and bars.

While technically still a part of the historic city center, Oltrarno is usually a little quieter than the main tourist district north of the river. It’s a neighborhood where you’ll be able to get a glimpse into authentic local life in Florence.

Some parts of the neighborhood are outside of the ZTL so it’s also a convenient place to stay in Florence if you’re traveling by car.

The best hotels in Oltrarno:

• The House of Books – A modern and spacious apartment that is guaranteed to give you interior design envy. The chic split-level apartment has a large kitchen, views across to the Duomo and a beautiful shared terrace. It’s conveniently located just a short walk from the center but outside of the ZTL area so you can park your car on the street right outside.
• Hotel Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio – An affordable 4-star hotel sitting right next to Ponte Vecchio (bridge), which means that while it’s in Oltrarno, the hotel is only a couple of minutes walk to the many attractions north of the river. The highlight of the hotel has to be its top floor restaurant terrace with panoramic views.

Your Complete 3 Day Florence Itinerary

There are a number of amazing things to do in Florence , and it’s definitely not possible to fit it all in if you only have 3 days in Florence. In this guide, we’re going to help you figure out what to prioritize (and by doing that, what to save for next time). 

We think that Florence is best experienced slowly. Of course, you’re going to want to see the Uffizi Gallery and some of the other famous sights in Florence. But you’ll also want to save time to experience the magnificent food and wine scene of Tuscany and to wander along the river.  

One of our favorite parts about Florence is that it serves as a fantastic home base for exploring the surrounding area of Tuscany. On your third day in Florence, we highly, highly recommend you take a day trip either to Lucca, Bologna, or the wine region of Chianti.

Here’s what the itinerary looks like at a high level. 

Day 1 : Brunelleschi’s Dome, an Introduction to Florence, and the Statue of David Day 2 : The Uffizi Gallery and Exploring Oltrarno Day 3 : Choose Your Own Day Trip Adventure

For this itinerary, we’ll assume you’re arriving the evening before and have three full days to explore. 

Planning a trip to Italy? You won’t want to miss our guide to planning an incredible Italy itinerary , with ideas for one week in Italy , 10, and 14 days in Italy , how to organize your trip, and the best things to do and see along the way.

Day 1: Brunelleschi’s Dome, an Introduction to Florence, and the Statue of David

On your first day, take in the view from the top of Florence’s Duomo before diving into the history of the city and finishing with the David.

Brunelleschi’s Dome and the Florence Cathedral

You’ll want to get out nice and early on the first day of this Florence itinerary so you can hit the main attractions of Piazza del Duomo before the crowds get too big. 

The Piazza is where you’ll find several of Florence’s most important landmarks, including the iconic Duomo, as well as the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile. It’s not hard to see that these three buildings are all part of the same complex from their shared Gothic-Renaissance architecture and famous marble design.

We’d strongly recommend choosing one attraction here to focus on (there are five separate pieces of the complex) rather than trying to see it all. And we’d recommend that one attraction is Brunneleschi’s Dome. Here’s why. 

The Dome gives you both the best view of Florence from the top (the Campanile or Bell Tower has a netting at the top, which makes it hard to take pictures), and an up-close-and-personal view of the best part of the interior of the cathedral, the dome (which means you don’t have to wait in the crazy line to get into the interior of the cathedral). 

If you are interested in visiting all of the attractions on Piazza del Duomo, you’ll save both time and money by purchasing a combined Duomo complex ticket . You could also book a guided tour of the Duomo complex .

Opening times for key attractions on Piazza del Duomo:

• Campanile : 8:15 am to 6:45 pm
• Baptistery : 8:15 am to 10:15 am and 11:15 am to 7:30 pm
• Duomo Museum : 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (closed Sunday afternoons)
• Duomo : 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
• Brunelleschi’s Dome: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome

The striking 13th-century Gothic-Renaissance cathedral is one of the largest Christian churches in the entire world. But the real highlight of the Duomo has to be its magnificent dome – known as Brunelleschi’s Dome – which was once the largest of its kind in the world. 

Be sure to admire the outside of the Duomo first, which is intricately decorated with amazing sculptures and designs. Once inside, you’ll notice that the cathedral is a little less elaborate. Don’t miss the marble floor and its pure immense size. 

Then, climb up to the top of the dome to see its striking frescoes up close and to take in the fantastic views over Florence. 

We did this first thing in the morning, and would strongly recommend that you do the same for the best light over Florence and fewer crowds. Which means you’ll want to buy tickets for the 8:15 am time slot and be in line by 8:00 am. 

It’s an early morning, but we think it’s worth it. 

The website to buy tickets for the Dome is here . You’ll follow that link, click on “Brunelleschi’s Dome,” then choose a date and time slot and go from there. Alternatively, if you want to avoid the sometimes confusing official website, you can book skip-the-line tickets here , which are exactly the same thing – tickets for entry to the Dome. 

There are another 463 steps (there’s no elevator) to reach the top of the dome. The walkways to the top are a little narrow and cramped so it’s not something we’d recommend for anyone who is super claustrophobic. 

There’s a point where you are shuffling along a narrow balcony (behind a glass wall, of course, it’s not like you’re at risk of falling) around the base of the dome high above the floor of the church below, which is spectacular. 

From there, you can see the details in the art on the interior of the dome, which is worth stopping to admire. There are depictions of heaven and hell, and some of the figures in the hell portion really make me wonder exactly what drugs artists back then were taking. The imagination that went into creating this piece is truly wild. 

However, by stopping to admire, and everybody else doing the same, you will be standing there, suspended several hundred feet up on a narrow ledge, which isn’t for everyone. Alysha was a little antsy to be done with it after about five minutes, which is why I’ve included this little blurb. I’m not a fan of heights, but I was totally fine on this one.  

A Walking Tour with Andrea

A walking tour is our favorite way to get to know a new city when we first arrive. And it’s how we’d recommend spending the first morning of this 3 day Florence itinerary after climbing the dome. 

Not only will you be able to get to grips with the layout of the city and where to find all of the main attractions, but you’ll also learn about Florence’s fascinating past and have a chance to ask a knowledgeable local guide any questions you might have. 

There are a few different walking tours of Florence that we’d suggest as an introduction to the city, but we have a specific recommendation based on our own personal experience in Florence. 

We did Andrea’s Walking Tour on our first evening in Florence, and we thought it was one of the best walking tours we did during our three month adventure to Italy, Spain, and Portugal! Andrea is about as Italian as it gets, and we loved the energy and enthusiasm he brought. 

His tour is a great overview of the city, and we liked that it was only two hours long, so it’s plenty of time to dive into the history, see some sights, and give you enough knowledge to know what to focus your time on or come back to later, but not so long that it feels like a slog by the end.

You’ll start from Piazza di Santa Croce on the eastern side of the city and make your way to Piazza di San Lorenzo over the course of the tour, with stops at Piazza della Signoria to learn about Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and see the bronze statue of Perseus, which has stood in the same spot for more than 500 years. 

We highly recommend it as an introduction to Florence, and you should do it as early in your trip as you can. 

Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability for Andrea’s Tour.

There are a few other walking tours of Florence that we’d suggest as an introduction to the city.

Take Walks Best of Florence Tour (2 hour 30 minutes) – If you’ve read our guides to Rome , then you already know we love Take Walks (if you’re interested, you can read about our amazing Colosseum tour ). This is a great small-group walking tour of Florence which covers the histories and stories of all of the city’s highlights, from the unique Ponte Vecchio bridge to Florence Duomo and plenty more. The tour also includes a skip-the-line entry to see Michelangelo’s David at the Florence Accademia, which we have you doing later in the day on this itinerary. Two birds, one stone. 

Context Travel: Introduction to Florence (3 hour 30 minutes) – With Context Travel, a local historian will help you to get acquainted with Florence’s main sites and neighborhoods while talking you through the city’s fascinating history. The tour also includes a visit to see Michelangelo’s David and the Accademia Gallery.

Lunch at Mercato Centrale (San Lorenzo Market) or Sant’Ambrogio Market

Florence has a duo of food halls, and they offer slightly different experiences. Both would be a good option for lunch in between attractions here, though San Lorenzo Market is in a more convenient location given the agenda for the day. 

San Lorenzo Market (also known as Mercato Centrale ) has two levels – the lower dedicated to fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats, and the upper being a hip food hall with tons of different stalls and options. There’s also an outdoor market that is full of leather goods, trinkets, and other gadgets. 

The other market – Sant’Ambrogio – is filled with locals going about their weekly shopping, particularly on Saturday. There’s a smaller but more authentic selection of stands ranging from butchers and cheesemongers to ready-to-eat foods. 

Better yet, take a guided food tour that includes a visit to the markets and try some local delicacies with the help of a knowledgeable guide!

The Statue of David and the Accademia Gallery

We would say that the Accademia Gallery is one of the three things you shouldn’t miss in Florence, along with the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo di Firenze (specifically, the view from the roof and the art on the inside of the dome). 

My memory of seeing the statue of David for the first time is realizing just how huge this statue is. It’s not life-sized, which is kind of what I had thought before seeing it in person. It’s actually 17 feet tall. 

The Accademia Gallery is really all about the David, though there are a couple of other noteworthy pieces that you should spend some time exploring.

You essentially have two options to see the Galleria dell’Accademia. You can pre-book tickets yourself (and yes, we’d highly recommend pre-booking here ), or you can join a guided tour . If you want to do it on your own, you should know that tickets sell out months in advance for peak season (aka the summertime), so book as early as humanly possible. 

If you’re planning a trip at the last minute and tickets are sold out, jumping on a guided tour is the best way to see the David. 

The museum is closed on Mondays , so plan accordingly. 

Day 2: The Uffizi Gallery and Exploring Oltrarno

This day is action-packed, starting with one of our favorite art museums in the world, the Uffizi Gallery, and moving across the river to explore a more low-key neighborhood, Oltrarno, finishing with one of the best views in all of Florence. 

Santa Croce Church (Basilica di Santa Croce)

Start your day with a quick visit to the Basilica di Santa Croce . The Gothic-Renaissance church is a little removed from the other main attractions (and by that we mean a 5-10 minute walk away) but it’s worth visiting, being the burial place of many notable Italians.

Some of the most famous names you’ll find buried at the church include artist Michelangelo, who called the neighborhood of Santa Croce home, scientist Galileo Galilei and political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. The church also has an impressive art collection.

Our favorite part of the church is the facade, which you can see from different angles was basically just added on to the front of the church to make it look prettier from the front. Other parts of the church are less ornate and more austere, which shows how the church evolved over the years from a humble place of worship to one of the more important churches in Florence.  

Piazza della Signoria

While there are numerous piazzas in Florence, Piazza della Signoria is the city’s main square and a definite must-visit.

The large square is somewhat of a free open-air gallery, with numerous statues and sculptures in every direction you look.

Keep an eye out for :

• The Fountain of Neptune
• Cosimo I de’ Medici on horseback , one of the most important figures in the sometimes salacious history of Florence
• A replica of Michelangelo’s David – don’t let anyone convince you it’s the real one! – in the place where the original used to stand before being moved indoors out of the elements
• The many lifelike statues of important historical figures like Galileo and Da Vinci along the Loggia dei Lanzi

Piazza della Signoria is also home to Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of Florence and one of the city’s most important historic government buildings. You won’t be able to miss it.

A History of Renaissance Art at the Uffizi Gallery

Round off your second afternoon in Florence by ticking off another of the city’s most famous attractions, the Uffizi Gallery . The gallery is just to the south of Piazza della Signoria.

The world-famous Uffizi Gallery has an unparalleled collection of Renaissance and European art assembled by the Medici family over the course of their centuries at the top of the Florence food chain. 

It’s an absolute must-visit in the city known as the ‘Birthplace of the Renaissance’. The gallery is home to many priceless masterpieces from different famous Italian artists including Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’, Michelangelo’s ‘Doni Tondo’ and Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation’.

With an astounding 101 rooms and thousands of artworks to explore, you’ll need at least a couple of hours in the Uffizi Gallery. But how do you know what to focus on?

This is the part where we tell you that the best way to see the Uffizi is on a guided tour , which is exactly what we did.

We like taking guided tours of places like the Louvre in Paris and the Vatican in Rome , because the expert guides are able to give you so much context and color that is lost on us when we walk through the museums on our own. 

Otherwise, we’d look at the art, say “yeah, that looks pretty,” and move on without really understanding the context behind what we’re looking at.

We believe that a guided tour is worth it for a few reasons. 

• As we already mentioned, the gallery is massive. Which means, unless you’re an art history buff, you’re going to want someone to help curate the pieces and artists that you should focus on . 
• An art historian brings two important things to the table that will help bring the pieces of art you’re going to see to life. They are historical and cultural context (who was the artist and what was happening in the world when this piece was created?) and stories . The added richness will help you understand the piece of art and its role in the history of Florence and broader Italy. 
• Skip-the-line tickets . The ticket line is always huge, and whether you do a tour or not, you should book your tickets in advance to walk right past them directly to the security line. 

We booked this tour of the Uffizi in Florence , and we really enjoyed it. 

Visiting Independently : If you want to visit independently, we’d definitely recommend investing in the audioguide. Being one of the city’s most popular and busiest attractions, you’re going to want to book your ticket and time slot online in advance . The entrance can be booked in 15 minute time slots until 5:00 pm each day. The museum stays open until 6:50 pm so you’ll have plenty of time to wander around, even if you arrive late in the afternoon.

Lunch at Via dei Nei

Imagine our surprise when we exited the Uffizi Gallery onto Via dei Neri ( here on Google Maps) only to find ourselves in the midst of another long line. 

“Oh, this must be the line for the ticket office? Or is the line wrapped around the building? Weird that it’s all the way over here.”

We meandered alongside the line, curious to see what exactly all these people were not-so-patiently waiting for. At the front of the line was a surprise. 

They were in line for a sandwich. Not just any sandwich, though. A “Schiacciata” (we also have seen Schiacciate, which I think is the plural form) from All’Antico Vinaio , one of the most reviewed food establishments IN THE WORLD. 

The sandwich is a very popular form of street food in Florence, which we learned when we saw multiple different shops selling essentially the same thing, all with long lines pouring into the street. 

The sandwich itself is basically two pieces of focaccia (though, I want to be clear – it’s not focaccia, it’s made differently and with more salt than your typical focaccia), with some sort of cured meat, a cheese, and some other accouterments stuffed in between.

Either stand in line for the famous one, find another alternative nearby that looks good to you, or head a half block down the street to Sgrano for a gluten free version made in a 100% gluten free restaurant. 

Take your sandwich over to the Arno and enjoy it on the banks of the river before making your way to Ponte Vecchio and preparing to cross the Arno. 

Ponte Vecchio

Just a two minute walk away from the Uffizi Gallery you’ll find Florence’s famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) crossing over the Arno river.

The unusual-looking bridge is the oldest in Florence and was the only one to survive the bombings of World War II. It’s been lined with shops since the 13th century. Originally, many of the shops were butchers or fishmongers, but due to the awful smell they were banned and most of the shops you’ll find there today are high-end goldsmiths and jewelers.

You’ll probably catch glimpses of Ponte Vecchio a couple of times while exploring Florence during this itinerary, but our favorite time to visit is when it starts to light up around sunset.

By the evening, most of the shops will be closed. However, taking a slow stroll across the bridge with all of the wooden shutters down, stopping to marvel at the sunset views along the Arno river, is one of the most romantic things to do in Florence in our opinion.

Don’t forget to look up and see the Vasari Corridor, a raised corridor built by the Medici family so they could cross without rubbing shoulders with commoners.

Oltrarno: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Between Ponte Vecchio and the Boboli Gardens, take some time to explore the neighborhood on the other side of the river, which is full of great food, drinks, and piazzas that are worth a stop. 

Here’s a map of a route you could start from, but we’d encourage you to do some exploring on your own. 

Here are some stops we’d recommend based on our own experience. 

• Ditta Artigianale : One of the O.G. specialty coffee shops in Florence, this location is newer, and has a beautiful interior and nice outdoor patio. Great coffee, too. 
• Gelateria Della Passera : Alysha’s favorite gelato in Florence, and maybe all of Italy. It’s on a nice little square too, which is a good spot to relax, eat gelato, and do some good old fashioned people watching. 
• Piazza Santo Spirito : Andrea, the walking tour guide mentioned above, told us this is where the locals hang out. It’s a big piazza, with the Basilica Santo Spirito at one end, and a nice fountain on the other. The outside of the square is lined with bars and restaurants, and it’s a good place to pass the time in the sun. 
• Le Volpi e l’Uva : One of our favorite wine experiences in Florence. They have a wide range of Italian wines, both from Tuscany and from other Italian regions, and are passionate about wine and willing to chat about different grapes and wines they’re loving at the moment. 

The Boboli Gardens

After a glass of wine or two, head up the street to Pitti Palace .

We actually don’t recommend doing the Pitti Palace if you have limited time – you’ll find it in the “with more time” section below. Instead, focus on the lovely green space that sits behind the palace, the elegant Boboli Gardens. 

It’s part of the Pitti Palace Complex, but you can buy a separate ticket that is significantly cheaper and just covers the gardens. 

The vast grounds span over 45,000 square meters, making them the largest green area in all of Florence. On a stroll around, you’ll discover fountains, pergolas, grottos, a small lake and hundreds of ornate Renaissance statues. A lovely way to take a break from the crowds of the busy city outside.

On a warm day, we’d also recommend bringing some drinks (Aperol Spritz?) and snacks to enjoy a late lunch or afternoon aperitivo as a picnic in the tranquil gardens.

Note : The entrance to the gardens is the same as the entrance to Pitti Palace ( here on Google Maps). If you’re looking at Pitti Palace, the ticket office is off to the right. 

Get your tickets in advance – the ticket line can be very, very long, and you get to skip right to the front if you already have tickets. You will still need to exchange your electronic tickets for paper tickets, though, which surprised us. Again, though, you skip the line, show a barcode, and off you go! Learn more and get tickets here . 

Piazzale Michelangelo

Finally, end your day on the other side of the river with a walk up to the best viewpoint in the city, Piazzale Michelangelo. Follow the crowds of locals and tourists up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the most spectacular sunset views in the city.

The large hilltop terrace has a bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David – once again, don’t let anyone convince you that it’s the original – as well as a restaurant and plenty of vendors catering to the crowds that flock to this stunning spot for the views each evening. 

From Le Volpi e l’Uva, you can walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo in around 20 minutes, and you’ll walk up through the rose garden, which is worth a stop to admire the blooming roses in the spring and summer. You’ll get some great panoramic views on your stroll.

If you don’t feel like walking, jump on bus line 12 to the top, which you can catch from the southwestern end of Boboli Gardens at Porta Romana ( here on Google Maps).

Dinner at Mister Pizza or Ciro and Sons

On your second night in Florence, it’s pizza time!

We spent five weeks in Italy, and ate our body weight in pizza over that timeframe. We love pizza, even though Matt has Celiac Disease and needs to eat gluten free. 

There are two places we’d recommend for pizza (including gluten free options) in Florence. 

Mister Pizza was our favorite pizza in Florence, and they have two locations in the city center. One right under the Duomo, where you can eat with a view of the dome, and one quieter location towards Santa Croce, which is where we ate lunch on our last day in Florence. 

Ciro and Sons is a few blocks from the main attractions in Florence, but that doesn’t mean the food isn’t good. The biggest problem is the huge line and unorganized staff, which meant we were standing in a line (and by line, we mean blob of people) waiting for our table that we reserved for over an hour after our reservation. The pizza is good, but it wasn’t our favorite in Florence.  

Day 3: Choose Your Own Day Trip

For your final day in Florence, make the most of the city’s prime location in the heart of beautiful Tuscany by taking a day trip from Florence out to one of the amazing nearby destinations.

You might be wondering about Pisa and Cinque Terre, and we wouldn’t recommend either as a day trip from Florence for different reasons. We wouldn’t recommend Pisa because it’s not that cool. There’s the leaning tower, sure, but that’s it. And it’s absolutely swarming with tourists. Guess what? There’s a leaning tower in Bologna too, which is a day trip we’d recommend. 

Cinque Terre is too far to comfortably tackle as a day trip, and it requires more than a day to see it properly. 

Instead, we would recommend either doing a day trip to Bologna , one of the best food cities in Italy (if you’re a foodie and you’re into prosciutto, parmesan, and bolognese, this is the place for you), to Lucca , a charming town whose medieval walls are still intact, or the Chianti wine region . 

Option 1: Bologna – the Choice for Foodies

Bologna is our number one recommendation for foodies in Florence. Bologna is known for its food, both within Italy and throughout the European continent. 

We were lucky enough to experience Bologna with friends who had moved there from the United States, and they did a great job showing us around and introducing us to the Emilia-Romagna region.

This is the region that is known for Italian delicacies like tagliatelle al ragu (which is similar to the American version Bolognese, but is very different than what I think you’re probably picturing, at least if you’re American), parmigiano reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar from Modena, and mortadella.

Basically, if you want to experience some of the best food Italy has to offer, a day trip to Bologna should be on your agenda. 

Getting to Bologna

Bologna is easy to get to from Florence – there’s a high speed train that gets you from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Station to Bologna Centrale in 40 minutes or so. From the station, it’s a 20 minute walk to the main attractions in Bologna.

What to Do in Bologna

Basically, walk, eat, repeat. 

We have an entire guide dedicated to spending a day in Bologna , which you should read if you choose this one.

Climb the Torre degli Asinelli : Did you know Bologna has its very own leaning tower? It’s just not nearly as famous as the one in Pisa. Climb to the top of the Torre degli Asinelli for great views out over Bologna. 

Eat your heart out : A good place to start would be the Quadrilatero, which is a huge area just east of the main square – Piazza Maggiore – full of amazing eateries, market stalls, and shops to buy meats, cheeses, and all of the foods. Specifically, we’d stop by Mercato di Mezzo , which is a food hall with tons of different options. We stopped at Tamburini , a gourmet grocery store, to buy some prosciutto and parmesan to take back to Florence with us. 

Option 2: Lucca – a Beautiful Town with Medieval Walls

Lucca is a great day trip if you’re looking to experience a Tuscan town that is less visited than other cities in the region like Florence and Siena, but still has all the charm you’d expect from Tuscany. 

Located west of Florence towards the coast, Lucca was founded by the Etruscans more than 2,000 years ago before becoming a Roman settlement. It’s unique because it has a set of medieval city walls that completely encircle the city, which is fairly hard to find. 

Getting to Lucca

We have good news and bad news for this one. 

The good news is that getting to Lucca from Florence is both easy and cheap. 

The bad news is that the journey is on a regional train, which is slower and takes a long time. 

It’s 10 Euros each way, and takes an hour and twenty minutes if you opt for a direct train (roughly once an hour). 

What to Do in Lucca

Circumnavigate the city on the walls : Far and away our favorite thing to do in Lucca was to circumnavigate the city walls, which is a 4km journey that takes you allll the way around the city along its intact medieval walls. It’s a unique experience, and it’s gorgeous. We were there in the fall, so there was plenty of nice fall color to go around. A lovely way to spend your morning before venturing into the center of Lucca. 

Climb the tower : Torre Guinigi is the main tower in the middle of Lucca, and it’s unique because it has a little garden growing on top. From the top, you have incredible 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape, which includes the city and the mountains in the distance. You’ll climb 230 steps up to the top of the tower, which sits at 145 feet above the ground. 

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro : One thing you should definitely do is wander around the old medieval center of town a bit. And Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is a great place to start. It was a Roman amphitheater for centuries, but now all that remains of that structure is the shape of the public square, which is distinct because it’s the same shape as an amphitheater rather than being square or circular. This would be a good place to take a break from exploring with a glass of wine or an espresso in the sun. 

Option 3: Chianti – Taste Some of the Best Wine in the World

If you’re interested in wine, you’re in the right place. Tuscany is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, and is easily accessible by day trip from Florence. Big bold reds rule the roost here, and you’ll find famous grapes like sangiovese and barolo at wineries just outside of Florence. 

The best way to do a day trip into wine country from Florence is with a guided tour . 

You could also do it independently if you have a rental car. But, it’s going to be a much more enjoyable experience with a group tour where you have a driver so you can imbibe in all the amazing wine without worrying about getting behind the wheel. 

You have two options – do a tour that visits multiple wineries and includes transportation (like this one or this one ), or go DEEP with a single winery, and deal with getting to and from the winery on your own (like this one or this one ). 

The former is easier because there’s no trains and buses to worry about, the latter is cheaper, but you’ll have to deal with the logistics of getting there. 

They’re both great ways to experience one of the most famous wine regions in the world. 

Planning a trip to Florence? We’ve got some detailed travel guides to help you plan an unforgettable trip.

• The Best Things to Do in Florence: A Complete City Guide
• Where to Stay in Florence: A Complete Guide to Florence’s Best Places to Stay
• Gluten Free Florence: A Complete Travel Guide for Celiacs
• Where to Find the Best Coffee in Florence: A Specialty Coffee City Guide

What to Do with More Time in Florence

If you find yourself with more time in Florence, below are a few other attractions in the city worth adding to your itinerary.

Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti)

The Pitti Palace is a series of museums and galleries housed inside a grand 15th-century Renaissance palace. For many years the palace was the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The palace is now split into four main museums:

• The Treasury of the Grand Dukes
• The Palatine Gallery and the Imperial and Royal Apartments
• The Gallery of Modern Art
• The Museum of Costume and Fashion

To really explore the entire palace you could spend an entire day here. But for a leisurely couple of hours, we’d suggest visiting the opulent Appartamenti Reali and the Costume Gallery, a stunning collection of clothing including pieces from brands such as Gucci, Versace, and Prada.

You can buy a single ticket to visit all of the museums of the Pitti Palace . However, if you’re following this itinerary and plan on visiting the Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and Uffizi Gallery, you’ll save money by purchasing the PassePartout combination ticket for all three instead (€38).

The Campanile di Giotto (Giotto’s Bell Tower)

The Campanile di Giotto is the bell tower of Florence’s Duomo. 

The impressive 277.9 foot tall free-standing tower dates back to the 14th century when it was originally designed by celebrated painter Giotto di Bondone, after whom the building is named. However, Giotto died long before the tower was complete and it took another two architects 25 years to complete the job.

To reach the top of the Campanile you’ll have to walk up the 414 steep steps (there’s no elevator). As long as you don’t mind a little morning workout, the climb is worth it for the amazing views back over Piazza del Duomo and out across Florence from the top.

The Campanile opens at 8:15 am, so the earlier you arrive, the better to avoid the crowds in Florence. 

The Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni)

From the Campanile, head across to Florence Baptistery, which is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in the city.

While many people choose to view the Baptistry from the outside, we’d recommend heading inside to admire the incredible Byzantine ceiling mosaic which dates back to the 12th century.

One of the most famous parts of the Florence Baptistery is the Porta del Paradiso (Gates of Paradise). However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that the current gates are only a replica of the original. The original gates are kept in the nearby Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum) .

The combined ticket includes entry to the Cathedral Museum so it won’t cost you any extra to pop inside and see the original gates, even if you don’t have long to spend there. Although, if you’ve got more time on your trip to Florence, you could easily spend a few hours exploring the fascinating museum.

The Baptistery opens at 8:15 am, but it’s important to note that it shuts for a short period between 10:15 am – 11:15 am each day. This is why it’s best to arrive early in order to visit the Campanile and Baptistery between 8:15 am – 10:15 am.

Even More Things to Add to Your Florence itinerary

• Medici Chapels . The two chapels of Basilica of San Lorenzo are the final burial place of many members of Florence’s important Medici family. Parts of the chapels were designed by Michelangelo himself.
• Strozzi Palace . A 15th-century palace hidden with an impressive courtyard that now hosts contemporary art exhibitions.
• San Marco Museum . Located in a former convent, this museum houses the largest collection of sacred art in Florence 
• Piazza della Repubblica . With extra time in Florence, you’ll be able to spend more time simply enjoying Florence’s many lively piazzas. Piazza della Repubblica ( here on Google Maps) is a busy square where we love to grab a coffee or spritz and just watch the world go by.

What to Do with Less Time in Florence

Only have a day or two in Florence? Here’s how to make the most of your time on a shorter Florence itinerary.

Florence in Two Days

With two days in the city, just follow days 1 and 2 of this Florence itinerary. You can always come back again to explore more of the Tuscany region.

Florence in One Day

With just one day in Florence , spend the morning on a walking tour to get to see as much of the city as possible in a few hours. Try to choose a tour which includes a visit to see Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery. 

In the afternoon, fit in a visit to the Duomo to climb the dome then on to Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery . 

End your day by walking over Ponte Vecchio and climbing up to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. 

Eating and Drinking in Florence

What’s a trip to Italy without eating and drinking as much as possible?

Eating in Florence

• Schiacciata on Via di Neri . All’Antico Vinaio , which is one of the most reviewed restaurants in the world on all sorts of platforms, which means hundreds of tourists flock there every day to get their hands on one of their Insta-famous focaccia (ish) sandwiches. There are multiple lunch options on this street, and it’s a must-do if you’re visiting Florence. 
• Da Garibardi . For traditional Tuscan cuisine (and good wine), head to this small Trattoria and order the pici with wild boar or pumpkin tortelloni (they have Celiac-safe gluten free options, too). 
• Mister Pizza . Delicious pizzas at a quick and easy canteen-style restaurant close to the Duomo. Every pizza can be cooked on a gluten free base!
• Grom Gelato . Our favorite gelateria in Florence, if not all of Italy. Everything they serve is 100% gluten free, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. Their gelato is top notch, and you should order the pistacchio. 
• Ciro and Sons . Florence’s first gluten free pizzeria serves delicious Neapolitan style pizzas that are both gluten free and lactose free. Ciro and Sons have even won the world champion award for their amazing gluten free pizzas.

Psst! Need to eat gluten free? Check out our gluten free guide to Florence for the best gluten free eats.

Coffee and Tea in Florence

• Ditta Artiginale – Via de Neri & Via dello Sprone . Elegant and picturesque specialty coffee bars owned by modern-day coffee artisans and Italian roasting company Ditta Artigianale. Definitely some of the highest quality coffee you’ll find in Florence.
• Coffee Mantra . A cozy little local coffee shop with fantastic coffee and friendly knowledgeable baristas. It tops our list of the best coffee in Florence because they rotate through different single origin coffees every day. 
• Caffe Piansa . Small family-run coffee roasters that use only the finest varieties of beans and prepare its blends and mono-varieties using artisanal processing techniques. Sit and enjoy a cup in their cafe or grab a bag to take home with you.
• Le Murate . One of the most unique spots to stop for a coffee in Florence. Le Murate is located within a former prison. The popular student hangout has a lovely large terrace to use during the day and a variety of live entertainment each evening.

Bars in Florence

• Casa del Vino . There are countless wine bars all over Florence, but Casa del Vino has to be one of our favorites. A cozy local wine bar with a comprehensive wine menu and extremely popular with locals – so you know it’s good!
• Loggia Roof Bar . A romantic rooftop terrace bar in the Oltrarno district, close to the Pitti Palace, with a great cocktail list as well as amazing panoramic views over the city and surrounding hills. 
• Beer House Club . The best selection of beer in all of Florence, with over 100 bottles from all over the world. Plus, don’t miss their unusual Birramisù, the popular Italian dessert made with beer instead of coffee.

The Best Time to Visit Florence

Florence is a popular tourist destination all year round, so there’s no real low season. However, the height of summer is when the largest crowds descend upon the city. So this is the time to avoid unless you want to spend your entire trip waiting in line for attractions in the grueling summer heat. 

The shoulder months of April, May, September and October are the best time to visit Florence, with pleasantly warm weather and fewer other tourists to share the city with.

• Summer sees temperatures in Florence rise to the high 80s and 90s. So hot that many locals choose to escape the city in August to cooler destinations. July and August are also the peak tourist season so you can expect much larger crowds.
• In Fall , the weather in Florence remains warm and sunny, and you can still enjoy open-air dining and the city’s many festivals, but with fewer tourists than summer.
• Winter in Florence doesn’t get too cold and there’s an extremely low chance of snow, making it a popular winter destination in Italy for people who prefer to avoid extreme temperatures. You’ll also get to experience the city’s Christmas decorations and festivities.
• Spring is a beautiful time to visit Florence, with long sunny days, slightly fewer crowds, and the flowers in full bloom in the city’s parks. It’s also the perfect time to explore the surrounding Tuscan countryside.

Getting to Florence

For the most part, you’re probably going to be arriving for your trip to Florence either by train from another place in Italy, like Rome or Venice , or you’ll be flying in from somewhere outside of Italy.

Flying to Florence

There are two main airports from which to reach Florence; Pisa International Airport and Florence Airport.

Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei Airport, PSA) is the main airport in the Tuscany region and the airport where most international flights arrive.

To get from Pisa Airport to Florence there are a few options:

• Train . Take the Pisa Mover shuttle train from Pisa Airport to Pisa Central Station (€5) where you can catch one of the regular trains to Florence Santa Maria Novella station (€13.70). This takes around 1 hour 30 minutes and is the method we would recommend.
• Bus . Sky Bus Lines Caronna runs a bus from Pisa Airport to Florence for €19 which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. However, these only run a few times a day so it’s important to check whether timings lineup with your flight.
• Taxi . While a taxi is a convenient option, it is extremely expensive. You’ll pay around €150-200 to get from Pisa Airport to Florence. 

Florence Airport (Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola, FLR) is a smaller international airport, just 4 km from Florence city center. Many European and internal flights arrive at this airport.

To get from Florence Airport to Florence city center:

• Tram . The new Tramway Line T2 is now the easiest and cheapest way to reach Santa Maria Novella train station in the city center. The journey takes 15 minutes and tickets are only €1.50 one way.
• Bus . The ‘Vola in bus’ shuttle bus is another easy way to get from the airport to the city center. The bus runs every 30 minutes during the day and every hour at night, takes just 20 minutes, and costs €6.00 for a single ticket and €10.00 for a return.
• Taxi . A 15-minute taxi from the airport to the center will cost you around €25.

Arriving by Train

If you’re arriving in Florence by train, you’ll want to head to Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) which is right in the heart of the historic center.

The other two major stations on the outer edges of the city are Firenze Campo di Marte and Firenze Rifredi . If your train arrives in either of these, just swap onto a connecting train into Santa Maria Novella station. 

Arriving by Car

Florence isn’t the most car-friendly city. Much of the historic center is pedestrianized and the few roads are a ‘Zona a Traffico Limitato’ (ZTF) or Limited Traffic Zone. This means you’ll get a fine for driving or parking there. 

Even if you do manage to get a ZTL permit, the narrow one-way roads are extremely difficult to navigate your way around.

If you’re arriving in Florence by car as part of a wider Tuscan road trip, try finding a hotel on the outskirts of the city away from the ZTL zone. You can park at your hotel and get the local bus into the historic center.

Getting Around Florence

Considered a ‘living museum’, there’s only one way to properly explore Florence’s stunning historical center – on foot! 

Wander around the ancient streets, soak in the atmosphere and admire the city’s world-renowned Renaissance architecture. Florence is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world so you won’t want to miss a thing.

Plus, the historic center is pretty small. You can walk from one side to the other in roughly 30 minutes.

If you’d rather use public transport, you can also make the most of Florence’s fleet of small electric ATAF buses.

Tickets (valid for 90 minutes) cost €1.50 and can be purchased from convenience stores around the city. If you can’t find a store and need to purchase a ticket on the bus it will cost you €2.50 instead.

Don’t forget to validate your ticket as soon as you step onboard the bus.

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

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I really enjoy your blog, mostly because you inject your personal observations and experience and very importantly you impart important gluten free information. That is priceless! Just wondering how you made out at Mercato Centrale in finding gluten free food. Was it easy? Available?

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Travel Italy Guru

• Jun 20, 2021

Tuscany in 3 days - A Three Day Itinerary in Tuscany

Planning the perfect 3-day vacation in tuscany: tuscany 3 days itinerary.

Let me just begin by stating the obvious - if possible, do try to spend at least 5-7 days in Tuscany. There’s just so much to see and do in this stunning region! That said, it is still possible to do a great deal, and have an amazing vacation, even if your schedule allows for only 3 days in Tuscany.

So - what do you need to know before you start planning your itinerary? Which attractions in Tuscany are a must-see? How can you build the perfect vacation in Tuscany if you only have 3 days here? And what are the best sites in Tuscany? Hopefully this blog post will provide you with some useful pointers :)

Tip: When planning your trip to Tuscany (or anywhere else, for that matter), keep in mind that the internet is both your best friend and a potential source for trouble.

While I am the first person to admit that there is a plethora of useful information online, I also know that unfortunately, there’s a lot of nonsense out there… Partial information, misleading reviews, paid content, and various articles by self proclaimed experts who copy-paste random pieces of content that they found online....

Forgive me if I sound blunt, but I’ve heard too many sad stories from disappointed clients to blindly trusted the recommendations that they found online, only to discover that in some cases, certain restaurants and attractions rise to fame not because they are exceptional, but because they have a very good digital marketing team. So please be aware of this issue, and only use trustworthy websites and guides ( or our private itinerary planning service, obviously ).

The Best 3-Day Itinerary in Tuscany? It Depends on Your Personal taste

When my team and I put together an itinerary for one of our clients, we first ask them to fill out a detailed questionnaire. Why? Because we want to get a clear idea of what they love and enjoy. That way, we can plan the perfect trip for them. (All of our itineraries are custom made.)

So, before you start looking for recommendations online, and googling “3-day itinerary Tuscany”, try to take some time to figure out what YOU love. What might the perfect vacation in Tuscany for YOU look like? What are YOU dreaming of?

For example:

Do you dream of three days of spectacular art, stunning architecture, and infinite amounts of hearty pasta dishes and Chianti wine?

Or are you a nature lover, and you’d rather go hiking among the vines or along the mountains, drink spritz cocktails on the beach, and sail between the islands (yes, it’s true, Tuscany has a number of beautiful islands you can explore!)

Or are you mainly interested in small and ancient towns, Italian village life, and leisurely tours?

Once you figure out what your principal interests are, and what your ideal vacation might look like, planning a solid itinerary becomes much easier. Sure, you might still want to incorporate the “must-see” attractions into your schedule, but the entire experience will be a better fit for you and your group, and far more enjoyable.

Tip: Don’t limit yourself to the classic route

Most websites will suggest you follow the classic route if you only have 3 days in Tuscany - Florence, Chianti, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca, Siena. This actually makes sense. All of these sites are beautiful and famous for good reason. However, as someone who has been specializing in tours in Tuscany for over 15 years , I’d like to point out that there is so much more to see and do here.... And adding even just one little “extra” thing to your itinerary can turn a “regular” vacation into a memorable experience.

Tuscany Recommendations: A 3-day Itinerary in Tuscany for Art Lovers

Florence: Tuscany’s capital, Florence, is one of the most beautiful and admired cities in the world. A true open-air museum, it is the perfect destination for art lovers. Here you will find jaw-dropping masterpieces by famous medieval and Renaissance artists (from Giotto and Massaccio to Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci), stunning churches adorned with beautiful frescoes, and world-famous museums that attract millions of visitors yearly.

If art is your passion, try to dedicate at least one full day to Florence. Ideally, spend two days in this jewel of a city. Some of the must see attractions in Florence are the Uffizi museum (which boasts marvellous pieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Caravaggio, and many others), the Accademia Gallery (where you will find Michelangelo’s famous statue, “The David”), the Santa Croce church (famous for its stunning frescos and the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and others), Santa Maria Novella, San Marco monastery, and the city’s main cathedral, the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore (featuring Brunelleschi’s dome, a true architectural feat).

Siena : Siena is not as famous as Florence, but honestly, it’s such a beautiful gem to discover, especially for art-lovers. Even if you only have half a day to spend here, it should be enough to see the main sites: the incredible Duomo (Siena’s cathedral is one of the largest and most beautiful churches in all of Europe), the world-famous Piazza del Campo (where the Palio, Siena’s famous horse race, takes place twice a year), and the Palazzo Pubblico (Siena’s town hall).

Then, take some time to wander the ancient streets that haven’t changed much since the 14th century, and enjoy a delicious meal in one the traditional italian trattorie that hide between the red-brick alleys.

In the afternoon, take some time to explore the countryside, and do some wine tasting in the Chianti hills. Check our best recommendations on our popular guide book, “Tuscany for the Shameless Hedonist”.

Pisa and Lucca : Combining these two cities will guarantee a perfect day for art lovers. Pisa is famous for its Leaning Tower, and the surrounding monuments (such as the marvellous Duomo and the Baptisterium).

Lucca is small and simply delightful, a perfect place to discover beautiful art and architecture (don’t miss the Duomo of San Martino and the church of San Michele).

Most of all, it’s a pleasure to wander around the colorful streets and between the little piazzas, rent a bike and ride along the perfectly preserved Renaissance ramparts, and enjoy the city’s vibrant food and wine scene. (In fact, one of our best-loved wine tasting experiences is held in Lucca - you are welcome to join us!)

Tip: It’s probably better to visit Pisa in the morning and Lucca in the afternoon.

That way you can start your day with a visit to the Leaning tower, and then enjoy a good lunch and an afternoon stroll/bike ride along the walls in Lucca. Lucca also offers a better selection of restaurants than Pisa, which makes it the perfect destination for a very good dinner.

Tuscany Recommendations: A 3-Day Itinerary in Tuscany for Travelers who Love Charming Ancient Villages and Italian Food and Wine

If you have already visited Florence and climbed the Tower of Pisa, toured Siena and enjoyed the charms of Lucca, it's time to head out to the countryside and discover some of Tuscany’s magical ancient villages.

Driving along the Tuscan country roads, savoring the views of rolling hills, vineyards and farms, is the epitome of a true Tuscan experience.

If this is your first visit to Tuscany, I would probably recommend that you focus on the classic and beautiful villages in the Chianti region . You can dedicate the first day to Greve in Chianti and the tiny village of Montefiorale , which hasn’t changed one bit in the last 1000 years or so. From there, head to Castellina in Chianti , a three street hamlet surrounded by wonderful wineries and stunning views.

Alternatively, head to Pienza and Montalcino , in the magical Orcia Valley. Very few villages can compete with the charms of these two popular destinations. Pienza offers charming alleys, good food and stunning views, while Montalcino is home to one of the best known wines in Italy - the Brunello di Montalcino.

If you need to recharge and relax, consider incorporating a visit to the thermal baths in Rapolano Terme into your itinerary. A dip in the healing waters, rich in minerals, is just the thing to sooth your body and soul after two intense days of sightseeing.

For additional ideas, especially if you are looking to get off the beaten path, either consult our travel guide or contact us directly for a custom made itinerary.

On your third day, consider visiting Volterra and the Etruscan beach . Start your morning in Volterra, small yet widely famous for its Etruscan past (which can be discovered in the small but fascinating local Etruscan museum).

The drive to Volterra is as rewarding as touring the town itself - the views are spectacular! Once you’ve visited the local museum, the Duomo and the alabaster workshops that Volterra is famous for, head south to the Etruscan coast, and visit Bolgheri

Bolgheri is one of the most charming villages in Tuscany, and a destination that no food and wine lover can afford to miss! ( Some of our best and most unforgettable wine tours take place in this part of Tuscany!)

Make sure you spend some time on the beach, too, and enjoy a wonderful Tuscan sunset, with a good cocktail in your hand :)

Tip: Tuscany is much bigger than you might think

Contrary to what many travelers assume, Tuscany is actually quite big. When planning your vacation, try to choose destinations that are within a reasonable driving distance from one another. Otherwise, you will end up spending too much time behind the wheel, and not enough time having fun!

Tuscany Recommendations: A 3-day Itinerary in Tuscany for Nature Lovers

If hikes and lakes and secret walking paths are your passion, then this itinerary is for you!

While not many tourists are aware of this, Tuscany is actually a little paradise for nature lovers. There is so much to explore here, from the mountains up north (in the Garfagnana area), to the forests in the east (near Arezzo), to the wild parks and beaches down south (in the Maremma).

The Garfagnana offers unspoilt hiking paths, ancient fortresses (google Fortezza Verrucole to learn more), hidden lakes and wildlife.

The Maremma offers nature lovers several attractions, including the Parco della Maremma, famous thermal springs (google Terme di Saturnia), and some of the best beaches in all of Italy.

The Casentino forest near Arezzo is wild and brimming with wildlife, hidden waterfalls and fantastic hikes.

Last but not least - all three regions remain relatively undiscovered by main-stream tourism, which is a true blessing!

Tip: Family-friendly destinations

All three regions (Garfagnana, Maremma and Casentino) are perfect for families, too. Consult our popular travel guide, Florence & Tuscany with Kids 2020 to learn more

Need Some Help Planning the Perfect Vacation in Tuscany?

If you have any further questions, or if you need any help in planning the best itinerary in Tuscany, we are here to help! We have more than 15 years of experience in planning incredible itineraries in Tuscany for private travelers and groups, and we will be happy to create the perfect, custom-made, Tuscan adventure for you.

Looking for food tours, wine tastings, winery visits, cooking classes and hikes?

We offer a variety of original tours and activities , including guided visits to the best organic and biodynamic wineries, foodie tours, hikes and foraging tours, cooking classes (including special classes that take place in the homes of Italian families), urban shopping adventures, and so much more!

Please contact us for details - Ariela Bankier and her team will be happy to assist you in planning a memorable trip to Tuscany :)

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A 3-day itinerary to experience the best of Italy

April 27, 2017.

Italy is one of the most charming countries in the world. Be it the fashion capital of Milan, the romantic Venice, the picturesque Florence and the architectural landmarks in Rome – all of this and more make Italy a must-visit in your bucket list.

But the best of Italy can be experienced in 3 days. This is how you do it.

Day 1 – Arrive at the Rome Airport

Fondly called as the Eternal City, Rome is where the Roman Empire emerged. Over time, this vibrant city has evolved into a popular hub of art, culture, and religion. The first day of your Italian holiday should ideally begin with a sightseeing tour of Rome. Take a walk through history and explore the Roman ruins. Marvel at the magnificent monuments and incredible works of architecture. Explore the thousand-year-old churches - especially the St Peter’s Basilica of the Vatican City - the vibrant piazzas and Vatican museums. Of all the legendary structures in Italy, Colosseum is the most iconic of them all.

Day 2 – Take a train to Tuscany

Time required – 1.5hrs to 2hrs

Tuscany is popular for its lush landscape and laidback charm. It is best to find an accommodation in Florence's city centre to ensure that you are close to all the major landmarks. Even though Florence is popular for its museums and monuments, it is better to stay away from them since you have already visited them in Rome. We recommend that you take a trip to Chianti, the Tuscan region that is popular for its picturesque countryside. You can also explore Siena,a beautiful medieval city that is worth visiting.

Day 3 – Take a train to Venice

Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world. A favourite among the honeymooners, you must not miss the Gondola ride. The other attractions in Venice include Doge’s Palace and Torre dell Orogolia, a clock tower built in the 15 th century. Another must-see is the Grand Canal, a 2-mile-long street which is also one of the most highly photographed attractions.

Day 4 – Fly back to Dubai from Venice Airport

By Neetu George

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

3 Days in Rome: The Perfect Rome Itinerary

Last updated: April 15, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 234 Comments

Planning on spending three days in Rome? We think this post will help you make the most of your trip!

Rome is easily one of our favorite cities in Europe. It is absolutely stuffed full of sights, with thousands of years of history layered upon itself – you’ll find everything here from Roman ruins to Renaissance art.

It’s also home to fantastic food, the Vatican City and sights like the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps.

We have visited Rome many times over the years and always find more to see and do. Certainly, three days in Rome is not enough to see absolutely everything that the city has to offer, but it’s definitely enough to see all the highlights if you manage your time effectively.

With a focus on the highlights in Rome, we wanted to share what we think is an excellent itinerary for your time in Rome, which covers the attractions that visitors to Rome are most likely going to want to visit. This covers all the major highlights for your three day visit.

Following the itinerary, this post is then full of tips and advice for visiting Rome that will help you get the most out of your stay, as well as save money on attraction entry, transport and accommodation.

To get the most out of your trip and to be sure you see all the major attractions, you will need to do a bit of forward planning and even reserve your entry time to the key attractions – otherwise you’ll waste your time standing in lines unnecessarily and even miss out on being able to visit.

Don’t worry though, we explain everything in this post to help you save time and make the most of your budget, whatever that may be.

If you are visiting Europe on a longer trip, this guide to 3 days in Rome fits in perfectly with our 2 week Europe itinerary , which you might also want to check out for some ideas and advice on travelling in Europe. We also have a 10 day Italy itinerary to help you plan further adventures in Italy.

Now, let’s get started with our guide to the best things to do in Rome in 3 days.

3 Days in Rome

This guide to Rome is quite full, so do feel free to adjust it to meet your own interests.

It is certainly possible to do everything in this guide with three days, and you can see the comments at the end of the post for feedback from many visitors who have used this guide to do just that!

However, if you would prefer a more relaxed itinerary, you can definitely adjust it to suit.

Day 1 in Rome

Vatican city.

The Vatican City is the first thing on our list for your visit to Rome. It’s a country of its own, inside Rome, and is home to world-famous sites including the Vatican Museums , the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

We recommend you come here early and head straight for the Vatican Museum with your pre-booked ticket. We cover ways to skip the lines in Rome further on in this post, but if you purchase a Rome Tourist Card or Omnia Rome and Vatican pass , you will have the option to pre-book a timeslot for your skip the line entry.

If you don’t get a pass, another option is to book your tickets online which will give you skip the line access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. You can buy tickets online with GetYourGuide here and Tiqets here (for Tiqets we have a 5% discount on their normal price with our link).

You can also book tickets directly from the Vatican here. Prices and availability fluctuate, usually the Vatican site is the best value but it can vary so do check them all.

Doors to the Vatican Museum open at 9am, so we recommend you arrange your entry for as close to then as you can manage. The Vatican Museum gets really crowded as the day progresses, so getting here early will let you enjoy it for a while before it gets too busy.

You can also book to take a tour which gets you early entry to the Vatican before the doors open for general admission. This tour for example starts at 7.30am and includes breakfast in the Vatican, as does this tour with Take Walks.

We’ve done the Take Walks early entry Pristine Sistine tour and can very much recommend it, the tour guides are excellent and can really bring what you are seeing to life.

For an even more exclusive experience, you might consider the VIP Vatican Key Master’s Tour . This is a premium tour that has you in the Vatican at 6am to accompany the Key Masters as they open the museums up. It’s an amazing experience, and one we thoroughly enjoyed; however it has limited availability and is more of an experience than a tour. Check that out here .

There is loads to see in the Vatican Museums, which span 7km of exhibits, so you could spend a whole lot of time here.

Our favorites include the Map Room, the Sistine Chapel, and the fabulous double helix exit stairwell, but we’re sure you’ll discover treasures of your own.

See our guide to visiting the Vatican for everything you need to know, including all the highlights.

Next, it’s back outside and on to St. Peter’s Basilica .

St Peter’s Basilica doesn’t have an entry fee, but as of March 2023 it also doesn’t have skip the line tickets (skip the line tickets used to be a paid alternative and we hope they come back soon!).

So the best option if you want to skip the line at St. Peter’s Basilica is to invest either in a tour like one of these or a pass which includes a tour like the Rome Tourist Card . Some tours of the Vatican,  like this one , also include skip the line access to St. Peter’s Basilica which can be a good all in one option.

At busier times of year some form of quick access like a tour is absolutely worth it, but if you are visiting in the off season it’s not really necessary.

Once inside, you’ll be able to enjoy visiting the world’s largest church, and what is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines.

With designers including Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo, it’s a truly Renaissance building, and is a work of art in itself – before you even start to consider all the artworks within! If you’re up to it, we highly recommend the climb to the top of the dome. This offers superb views across the city, as well as the chance to see the Basilica from above.

Once you’re done with the Vatican City attractions, you can head on to our next stop. Don’t feel you need to rush though – the Vatican City is definitely going to be a highlight of the day, and you are welcome to spend a few hours exploring at your leisure. The rest of Rome will wait. When you’re ready, a short walk will take you to the next stop on our list.

Note, the Vatican is closed on Sundays and some other days – you can see all opening times and days on the official website here .

In terms of timing, you’re probably looking at spending around half a day in Vatican City at least, finishing up around midday or 1pm. Just in time for some food.

TIP: If you are an early bird, come to St. Peter’s Basilica at opening time. It normally opens around 7am, and if you come here at this time there’ll be barely anyone else about, and no lines to worry about. You can explore in peace, and then head over to the Vatican Museums when they open.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian, Castel Sant’Angelo has been sitting on the banks of the river Tiber for nearly two thousand years.

In that time, it has evolved from its initial role as a tomb, becoming a fortress, a castle, and finally, a museum.

Today it is open to the public, and you can climb right to the top, for gorgeous views of the city. You’ll also be able to marvel at the building techniques that have allowed it to survive for two millennia.

The Castel is open every day from 9am – 7.30pm with some holiday exceptions – see more here . You can buy tickets in person or from the official ticket site here .

You can also buy tickets from GetYourGuide here or from Tiqets here . It’s always worth comparing as prices vary, in most cases the official site will be the best value but not always.

We’d suggest spending around an hour here.

Piazza del Popolo

From the Castel Sant’Angelo it’s a pleasant twenty-minute walk along the banks of the river Tiber to the Piazza del Popolo.

This was the location of the northern gate of Rome, and is where, for countless years before trains, planes and cars, travelers would actually arrive into Rome.

From here, three roads span southwards in a trident formation, with the central road, the Via del Corso, running dead straight through the centre of Rome to the Piazza Venezia.

Originally this would have been the route from the northern gate of Rome to the Roman Forum.

In the centre of the Piazza is an Egyptian obelisk, dating from the rule of Ramses II, which was brought to Rome in 10BC, and put in this plaza in the 16th century.

On the south side of the Piazza are the twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto, and Santa Maria del Miracoli, sitting either side of Via Corso.

Spanish Steps

We’re going to continue our first day by taking in a few of Rome’s highlights that you can take as long or as little time to visit as you wish. First on the list are the Spanish Steps .

You can access these by walking in a south easterly direction through the Villa Borghese Gardens and down Viale della Trinita dei Monti.

This 135 step staircase was opened in 1735 to link the Spanish Embassy near the bottom of the steps to the Trinita dei Monti staircase at the top, and are today a popular spot to stop, eat Gelato, and watch the world go by. They were made particularly popular in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday , starring Audrey Hepburn.

Note that as of August 2019 , it’s no longer permitted to sit on the Spanish Steps as they have been classified as a monument, and there is the potential of being fined if you do so. So stick to standing on them instead!

Trevi Fountain

Continuing our must-visit Rome highlights, our next stop in our wanders through Rome is the Trevi Fountain.

This is the world’s largest Baroque fountain, and is always a popular location – whatever time of day (or night!) you visit. Built in the early 18th century, it is said that if you throw a coin into the fountain, you are guaranteed to return to Rome.

This seems to be a popular past time, as over three thousand euro’s worth of coins are throw into the fountain each day.

These go to a good cause – each night the coins are removed from the fountain and used by a charity that helps those in need purchase food.

In our experience this is nearly always a crowded location. If you want to visit it without the crowds then come here early in the morning when central Rome tends to be a bit quieter.

The Pantheon

A little walk from the Trevi Fountain is the incredible Pantheon. This building, which has been standing for almost 2,000 years, is the best preserved Ancient Roman monument in Rome.

I dare you not to be impressed by its incredible dome, which even today, two thousand years since it was built, still holds the record as the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Originally built as a temple to the Roman gods, the Pantheon was converted for use as a Christian church in 609 AD, which is the main reason it survives in such excellent condition today.

It’s also notable for being home to the graves of a number of important folk, including the painter Raphael and two Italian Kings.

For a long time the Pantheon was free to visit but as of July 2023 there’s a small fee. You can pay this on-site, or you can buy it online in advance from the official site here (you’ll need to create an account).

Tickets with an audioguide are also available from GetYourGuide online here , although they are a bit more expensive.

You also can book an audioguide in advance here to help explain what you are seeing.

We think it’s very much worth the small fee as we have never failed to be impressed by this incredible building when we have visited it!

Piazza Navona

Wow, this has been a busy first day in Rome! We recommend finishing your adventure off with a visit to the Piazza Navona.

This has been a designated public space since the 15th century, and is full of gorgeous Baroque architecture.

Its most famous feature is undoubtedly Bernini’s fountain, which stands at the center – the Fountain of the Four Rivers, which dates from 1651.

The Piazza is a fun place to be, and often features street performers and markets, depending on the time of day and week that you visit. We always enjoy sitting and watching the fun in the evenings here.

There are a lot of options here for dining and drinking as well, although bear in mind that you always pay more in Rome at the more popular locations, especially if they have a terrace or view.

We ate at Caffe Domiziano, which has two seating areas. It’s cheaper to sit in the section on Corsia Agonale rather than on the main square. The food is the same, just the price is different.

Our current favourite cafe in Piazza Navona though is Ai Tre Tartufi, which has friendly staff and a good selection of drinks and food.

Another option to consider, rather than ending your day here, is to take a food walking tour.

We’ve taken many food walking tours in Rome, with this evening food and wine tour of the Trastevere neighborhood being one of our favorites. A food tour is a great way to try a lot of local food (and often drink), and also to get some recommendations for other locations to eat in Rome.

See our complete guide to food tours in Rome for more suggestions. Now, time to rest before day two of our three day Rome itinerary!

Day 2: Rome Itinerary

Our second day in Rome starts with another Rome highlight – the Colosseum , also referred to as the Coliseum.

Built in Roman times as a space for holding public spectacles, the Colosseum is most famous for being the home of gladiators, who would battle it out in front of audiences that could number as many as 80,000 people.

The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world, and despite suffering some damage in its two thousand years of existence, is still hugely impressive to visit.

It’s one of the most popular destinations in Rome for visitors, so again, our advice is to come as early as you can and take advantage of a pass or advance ticket purchase options so you can skip the ticket queue and go straight to the security line.

You can book entry to the Colosseum directly from the official website here , which tends to offer the best value for standard entry tickets.

If you do decide to just get a standard entry ticket rather than taking a guided tour, then I highly recommend picking up a guide book which includes details on the Colosseum like this pocket guide , or downloading a free audio guide which covers the Colosseum like this one from Rick Steves .

This will really help you navigate the site, as there is so much to see and it can be quite overwhelming otherwise.

There are also a range of Colosseum entry options on GetYourGuide here and on Tiqets here . These include tours and tickets with addons like multimedia guides or bundles which include other attractions and activities in Rome.

These are going to be a little more expensive but can definitely be worth it if you want to take a tour or will take advantage of the other bundled products.

If you are interested in purchasing an attraction pass for your visit to Rome, skip the line access for the Colosseum is included on the Rome and Vatican Pass , the Roma Pass and the Rome Tourist Card .

Colosseum entry is also included if you take a guided tour like this one with Take Walks , or one of these options on GetYourGuide .

We highly recommend taking a tour of the Colosseum like this one or this one if your budget allows for it, as it is a complex site with a lot of history. But it’s up to you of course!

Note that as of October 2023 all Colosseum tickets are issued in the name of the person visiting, and you need to bring ID with you to use your ticket.

If you are using a city pass that includes access to the Colosseum, you will still need to make a reservation to visit.

You need to do this as far in advance as possible to secure the time you want. You can make the reservation either by calling the reservation line, or (more easily) by booking online.

If there are no timeslots available, your best option for visiting the Colosseum is to take a guided tour like this , or like this , as guided tours have a separate ticket allocation system. If you book a guided tour, you don’t need to book a separate ticket or timeslot for visiting the Colosseum.

We highly recommend reading our detailed guide to visiting the Colosseum , which will help you make the most of your visit and not waste time in lines, as well as to understand the rules around passes, time slots and so on!

The Colosseum is open every day, with times varying depending on the time of year. You can see more information here . We’d suggest you’re going to want to spend between 90 minutes and 2 hours on site.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Your Colosseum ticket is also good for entry to the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (as long as you visit on the same day), which is conveniently located right next door.

If you don’t buy a ticket in advance for the Colosseum, then we suggest you visit the Roman Forum first, as the queues for tickets are much shorter.

However, they can only sell same day timeslots for entry to the Colosseum, and in the busy months these are not available.

Again, we highly recommend advance booking your tickets and timeslots for the Colosseum to avoid disappointment, or booking a tour which includes both like this one from Take Walks .

So what’s special about the Forum? A lot! This was the seat of power during the reign of the Roman Empire, as well as the central marketplace and business district. Basically, Roman life for centuries revolved around this area of Rome, and no visit to the city is complete without walking these ancient ruins.

The Forum is open every day, you can see full opening hours here .

Most people visit the Forum using their Colosseum ticket, which will give you access into the main parts of the Forum.

However, there is also a “S.U.P.E.R.” ticket, which can be purchased separately on the official site here . This gives access to a number of additional sites inside the Forum, which you may be interested in visiting depending on how deep into Roman history you want to go.

These additional sites vary depending on archeological works, but usually include the Palatine Museum, House of Augustus, Aula Isiaca, Santa Maria Antiqua, Curia Iulia, Domus Tiberiana, Domus Transitoria and Livia’s House. So that’s something else to consider.

We’d suggest allocating around 90 minutes to 2 hours to exploring the Roman Forum.

Mouth of Truth

Time for a bit of fun! If you’ve seen the movie Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn, you’ll remember that Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn pop their hands into the mouth of this massive stone figure, which is said to bite off the hands of liars.

It’s not exactly known when or how this belief originated, but the good news is that you too can visit the Mouth of Truth, or Bocca del Verita, and pop your own hand in for a photo opportunity.

You’ll find it outside the entrance to the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, which is also worth visiting. In can get busy here in the summer months, but the line is kept moving fairly quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long.

Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Did you know that Rome has a two-thousand-year-old Egyptian style Pyramid? Well, it does. The Pyramid of Cestius was built around 12BC, at a time when Rome was obsessed with all things Egypt, to serve as the tomb for a wealthy Roman.

The tomb has since been looted, and little is known about its original occupant, but the marble covered 36 meter high pyramid is the only one of its kind in Europe, and we think is definitely worth your time to visit.

Whenever we visit Rome with friends or family, we love taking them to see this as it’s such an unexpected sight in the city.

It’s now incorporated into the Aurelian Walls of the city (which helped to ensure it’s preservation), and one of the best places to see if from is the non-Catholic cemetery of Rome.

Whilst you’re at the cemetery, which is a beautifully peaceful spot, do take the time to visit the grave of the English poet Keats, one whose “name is writ in water”, who died in Rome at the young age of 25, far before his recognition as one of the greatest English poets of all time.

Baths of Caracalla

Those Romans really liked to build stuff on a big scale. The Baths of Caracalla are no different. This vast bathing complex could accommodate up to 1600 bathers at one time, in a complex that covered over 62 acres.

Whilst time has taken its toll on the Baths, they are still open to visitors.

You can wander between the mighty walls and  appreciate the vast scale of the operation and the millions of bricks that were used to construct them, as well as some of the surviving details like the mosaic floors.

It’s not at the top of visitors lists to Rome, but is definitely one of our favorite spots to visit in the city, so we urge you to include it in your itinerary, especially as you’re already in the area.

The Baths of Caracalla are open every day except Christmas Day. Opening hours vary by time of year, you can see more here .

St. John in the Lateran

The Papal Archbasilica of St. John in the Lateran is the cathedral church of Rome and the seat of the Pope in the city, and as such, is one of the most important churches in the city.

Whilst nearly everyone makes it to St. Peter’s Basilica, less people make it out here, to what is in fact the oldest Basilica in the city, making this a quieter and more relaxing place to visit.

Highlights include the Lateran Obelisk, the largest standing Egyptian obelisk in the world, the Borromini designed Knave, the Cloister and the Scala Sancta.

These last are a stairway of 28 steps, found in a building just across the road from the Basilica itself, which are said to be the same steps that Jesus walked up on his way to trial in Jerusalem.

Today, pilgrims to Rome can be seen climbing the stairs on their knees, which is the only way you’re allowed to ascend.

Finally, find yourself some delicious food or perhaps a gelato , and congratulate yourself on another excellent day in Rome!

Note that St. John in the Lateran is closed on Sundays.

Day 3: Rome Itinerary

Appian way and the catacombs.

For the third day on our three day Rome itinerary, we suggest you take a break from the city centre sight-seeing and head out along the Appian Way.

Built in 312BC, this is believed to be one of the oldest surviving roads in the world, and was of enormous importance to the Roman Empire, linking the capital to southern settlements including Naples and Brindisi, and allowing for the quick movement of troops and goods.

At the time, it was the widest and longest road in the world, and in testament to the quality of its construction, much of what you can see today is still original stonework. Those Romans built things to last!

There are a variety of attractions to see along the Appian Way, beyond the road itself, and the key sights are to be found along the first ten miles of the road, in the Parco dell’Appia Antica.

You can visit the road yourself, or you can take a tour which includes parts of the Appian Way. We have done and enjoyed this one from Take Walks but other are available including this one on GetYourGuide . Most tours focus on the Appian Way and Catacombs.

Another popular option is to take a bike or e-bike tour with catacomb visits along the route.

If you decide to visit yourself, you’ll want to head to the start point of the road, the Porta San Sebastiano. You can reach this via public transport from the city.

From here, it’s a ten-minute walk to the first major sight on the Appian Way, the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, which dates from the 9th century.

Alternatively, as the walk along the first part can be a bit tricky, you can take the bus a little bit further than the start point if you prefer.

After the Church, there are two Catacombs you can visit, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian . The former are slightly larger and were the burial place of 16 popes, numerous Christians and a number of martyrs.

Following on from the Catacombs, you can continue your journey along the Appian Way should you so wish, to the tomb of Cecilia Metella and the Circus Maxentius, which are about another 10 – 15 minute walk along the Appian Way.

All in all, from the Porta San Sebastiano to the tomb of Cecilia Metella, you’re looking at about a thirty-minute walk, with plenty of attractions on the way. Whilst you can continue on at this point should you wish, we’d suggest returning to the city now, and heading to the:

Borghese Gallery

The Borghese Gallery is in the Villa Borghese gardens, and houses the Borghese collection, a collection of art that is easily one of the finest in Rome. This is by far our favorite art gallery in Rome.

With incredible pieces from the likes of Raphael, Bernini and Caravaggio, to name but a few, this museum is truly a must visit.

It’s not huge, spread across two floors and twenty rooms, but the high quality of work on display means that everything you see is basically a masterpiece.

It’s also guaranteed not to be too crowded, as they only allow 360 people in at a time. Compare this to the 30,000 visitors a day that the Vatican Museum hosts, and you will enjoy being able to breathe whilst you appreciate the art on display.

It’ll take forty-five minutes to an hour to get to the Borghese Gallery from the Circus Maxentius part of the Appian Way, so you need to factor this in when planning your routes. Also, be aware that if you visit on a Sunday that public transport can be reduced.

The reason I mention this is because the Borghese Gallery has timed entry and reservation is mandatory.  To reserve, just call the reservation line: +39-06-32-810. Once you enter, you have two hours to see the Gallery.

Alternatively, if you wanted to do a guided tour like this , your tour company will arrange the time for you, although again, these need to be booked in advance. Read about our experience touring the Borghese Gallery with Take Walks here .

The Borghese Gallery is closed on Mondays, but is otherwise open every day from 9am – 7pm. See more here .

Note – usually the Borghese Gallery is included on the Roma Pass and the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card, but it has had availability issues on these cards of late. Always check with the official website for any card you purchase to be sure everything you want to see is included.

Villa Borghese Gardens

Once you’re done with the Borghese Gallery, we recommend heading over to the west side of the Gardens, towards the Piazza del Popolo.

The view from the terrace overlooking the Piazza del Popolo is one of our favourite views in Rome, especially at sunset.

If you can, try to time your visit here to enjoy that and reflect on three wonderful days spent exploring Rome!

Rome 3 Day Itinerary Map

Here’s a map of the above itinerary showing all the attractions across the three days you’ll be in Rome. You can click here to see this map on Google.

3 Day Rome Itinerary Overview

• Day 1 : Vatican City, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, optional food and wine tour
• Day 2: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Bocca Della Verita, Pyramid of Caius Cestius, Baths of Caracalla, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
• Day 3: Appian Way, Borghese Gallery, Terrazza del Pincio

How to Save Money and Skip the Lines in Rome

As with many cities around the world, Rome has a number of passes that help you get free and discounted admission, as well as skip the line privileges at key attractions – including many of the above.

There are three main attraction passes for Rome that we usually recommend – the Rome Tourist Card , the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card  and the  Roma Pass.

Which you choose will depend on your sightseeing goals, so we’re going to go through these in a bit of detail now to help you choose.

It’s worth saying that none of these passes are quite as obvious a purchase as something like the London Pass , which nearly always saves visitors money when visiting London. The passes for Rome are a bit more complex and require a bit of work to maximise available savings. They do offer convenience though. Let’s look at the available options.

For our three-day Rome itinerary we suggest checking out either the Rome Tourist Card  or the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card .

Both of these passes offer skip the line entry to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, which are the most popular and busiest attractions in Rome. However how they work is a bit different.

Rome Tourist Card Overview

The first option we suggest is the Rome Tourist Card . This includes pre-booked skip the line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as the Colosseum.

When you buy the pass, you select your entry time for the attractions, making this a seamless process for your visit.

It also has some useful audio tours for the city. It then includes a 10% discount on other Rome attractions.

This is a great option as it includes the pre-booked timeslots for the major attractions in Rome like the Vatican and Colosseum, making this a very convenient pass to use. It’s also cost-effective, and you can then add on other attractions you are interested in. You can buy yours in advance here .

Omnia Rome and Vatican Card Overview

If you plan on doing absolutely everything in our itinerary, then you might instead consider the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card . The main downside is that it requires a bit of planning to make the most of it, and it doesn’t currently (as of March 2023) include skip the line access to St. Peter’s Basilica.

This pass is brought to you by the same folks who also run some of our other favourite city passes including the London Pass and the Barcelona Pass , and consists of two physical passes – an OMNIA card and the aforementioned  Roma Pass .

Here’s what the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card covers:

• Free entry with Skip the Line access to the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel, and the Basilica of St. John in the Lateran and the Cloister. Note it does not include skip the line access to St. Peter’s Basilica, which is a definite issue at busier times of year
• Free audio guide at St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. John in the Lateran and the Cloister
• Free entry to two out of six listed attractions, which includes the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Castel Sant’Angelo
• Skip the line entry at the Colosseum and Roman Forum (these count as one attraction when visiting using the card in the same day). Note you still need to book a timeslot for the Colosseum  with these cards.
• Discounted entry at attractions once you have used up your two free visits – this will be the concession rate
• Discounted entry at over thirty other sights in Rome, including the Baths of Caracalla and Appia Way attractions
• A 72 hour travelcard for Rome which covers all the major public transport, including buses, trams and metro
• A 3 Day Hop-on Hop-off Bus ticket
• A detailed guidebook to Rome and map of the city

As you can see, this pass includes a lot. To get the most out of the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card though, you have to be a little bit clever, and plan ahead. Or, you can just follow my itinerary, as I’ve ordered the attractions in a way that will save you the most money when using the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card.

As you can see, there’s a list of six attractions , of which you can choose two that you get free entry to with the card. As these are not all the same price, to maximise your savings you want to try and use your free entry on the most expensive attractions.

Once you’ve used those two entries up, you will get a discounted admission when you use your card. Based on the three day itinerary above, we recommend you use the pass for free entry to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo, and then for the combined entry ticket to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. This will save you around €35.

The other thing to be aware of is that for some attractions you need to book your entry in advance. These include the Vatican Museum and the Colosseum.

My advice, as you can see in the itinerary, is to book the earliest entry you can. The Vatican Museum gets very busy, and the first hour or so in the morning is the quietest time to visit.

For the Colosseum, you need to book your timed entry slot separately. This is a major downside of this pass, because you can buy the pass and not actually get Colosseum entry if it’s sold out.

If entry to the Colosseum is important for you , please check availability on the official website here before purchasing the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card .

Be sure to check for availability for the €2 Roma Pass reservation option rather than general availability as they come out of a different pool, and Roma Pass reservations are often available even if general tickets are showing as sold out.

If there is no availability, then you will not get access to the Colosseum even with the pass.

Instead, read our guide to visiting the Colosseum for other options you have.

Alternatives to Passes in Rome

You don’t have to book a pass for Rome of course, and for many visitors a pass won’t make sense. Instead, you can either book tickets or tours individually for many of these attractions. This will be more economical if you only plan on visiting some of these attractions.

If you don’t plan on buying a pass, then we strongly recommend booking your timeslots or tours well in advance of your visit as most of the attractions in Rome are hugely popular and do sell out.

For example, you can book Vatican tickets here and Colosseum tickets directly here .

If you go down this route, make sure you choose the option that lets you print the ticket yourself so you can proceed directly to the security line. Note that the Colosseum now operates a timed entry system as well, which as of 1st March 2019, includes pass holders.

Also be aware that there are many sites that sell tickets at a mark-up, so if you want the best prices it’s best to compare against the official site for the attraction, although we would add that these tend not always to be super user-friendly!

The exception to this is St. Peters Basilica, which doesn’t currently have fast-track tickets and so if you want to skip the line the best option is to book a tour.

The other pass that you might consider is the Roma Pass . Whilst this comes with the Omnia Vatican and Rome card, it can also be purchased separately, in a 2 day (48 hour) or 3 day (72 hour) version.

The Roma Pass includes free / discounted admission to many of Rome’s attractions as well as a transport card for the public transport network in Rome.

However, it doesn’t include entry or skip the line access to any of the Vatican attractions, including the Vatican Museum or St. Peters Basilica, nor does it include the Rome Hop on Hop off bus.

We think that for 3 days in Rome, either the Rome Tourist Card or the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card is a better option.

Summary of Best Pass Options for Rome

Here’s a quick summary of the main pass options for Rome.

First, the Rome Tourist Card . This includes skip the line entry to the Vatican, the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and an audioguide tour of Rome, amongst other things. There’s also a 10% discount on a number of other attractions. You can book your timeslots for the attractions when you book the pass, which makes everything a lot easier.

Second, the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card . This includes the Vatican Museums, as well as a choice of a number of major attractions like the Colosseum and Castel Sant Angelo. It also includes transport in Rome and a Hop on Hop off bus. It’s more expensive than some other passes and you do have to book other attractions like the Colosseum separately, but it does include pretty much everything you might need for your time in Rome.

Third, the Roma Pass . The previous pass actually includes this pass, which includes free / discounted admission to many of Rome’s attractions as well as a transport card for the public transport network in Rome. Notably it does not include the Vatican attractions.

Fourth, consider the Best of Rome All Access pass . This 3-day pass includes fast track reserved entry to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, and Roman Forum. There’s no transport included on this pass, or discounts on other attractions.

Hopefully that gives you plenty of ideas as to which Rome discount card might be best for your trip!

Getting Around Rome

Rome is really easy to get around, with much of it very walkable. The itinerary we’re laid out is designed to be logical and easy to follow, so you won’t waste time getting from place to place. Getting from each location to the next should be either a short walk, or a single bus or metro ride away.

If you decide to buy the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card it includes free public transport for your three days in Rome, as well as the Hop on Hop Off bus.

Alternatively, you can either buy a travelcard yourself, or just buy tickets as you go. A one way ticket, known as a “B.I.T” costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes from when you activate it.

With the B.I.T. you can change transport types as you go, with the exception being you cannot re-enter the metro system if you leave it.

These single tickets can be bought from metro stations as well as convenience stores and newsagents, and need to be activated with a timestamp when you board the first transport.

For buses this will require putting the card into a machine located on the bus. Metro entry barriers will automatically timestamp your ticket as you insert them at the barrier.

Not stamping your ticket is the same as travelling without a ticket, and you can be penalised for doing this.

As of 2023, many Rome buses now have contactless payment options as well, so you can just pay as you board by touching your contactless card to the terminal.

How to get into Rome from the Airport

Rome has two major international airports that you might fly into – Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Rome Ciampino (FCO). Flights from the North America usually arrive at Fiumicino, whilst flights from Europe may arrive at either.

It’s easy to get into central Rome from either airport.

From Rome Fiumicino, you can take the train, bus, or taxi. There’s a train station on site which will get you into the city centre in around 30 minutes to an hour. Prices range from €8 – €14, depending on if you take the fast  Leonardo Express  or the local train services (FL1).

Note that the local train service (FL1) does not go directly to Termini – it goes to Rome Trastevere, and then you would need to change onto the FL5, which you can take to Termini.

There are also a number of bus options which cost from €5, and which take around 50 minutes to an hour, and take you to Termini train station. There’s also a taxi stand. You can also arrange either a  shared shuttle  or a  private transfer service , which needs to be booked in advance.

From Rome Ciampino, there’s no on-site train station, but there is a local train station just five minutes away by bus. This train costs around €1.50. There are also buses from Ciampino, which also cost €5. Ciampino also has taxis, although as this is a smaller airport there are generally fewer available. You can also  book a shared shuttle  or  private transfer service in advance .

Both airports also have private and shuttle transfer options that you can book in advance.

Where to Stay in Rome for 3 Days

Rome certainly has no shortage of places to stay. For this three day itinerary, we’d suggest you stay somewhere central, to make accessing all the attractions as easy as possible. Our suggestion would be to stay somewhere in the area between the Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo.

For some options close to the historical city centre and all the sights in our itinerary, consider the following. These are ordered approximately by price, from low to high, but do always check prices for your dates as they can vary.

• The RomeHello – found just a few moments from Rome’s Termini Station, this hostel features a range of room types, from dormitories to private en-suite rooms. There’s free WiFi, fantastic reviews, and it’s a great value option.
• Orsa Maggiore Hostel – just across the river in Rome’s trendy Trastevere district, this female only hostel features a range of room types including dormitories and private rooms.
• Di Rienzo Pantheon Palace – a very well reviewed guesthouse option in the heart of the city, just moments from the Pantheon and other attractions. The building is a 16th century property, and rooms feature en-suite facilities, free wi-fi and breakfast
• The  Mimosa Pantheon Hotel – right next to the Pantheon, and therefore well placed for the city’s attractions, this is a well reviewed good value 1* hotel. Rooms feature private bathrooms, air conditioning and free WiFi. A solid budget choice.
• The  Navona Theatre Hotel – just five minutes walk from Piazza Navona, this is a very well rated 3* hotel within easy walking distance of most of Rome’s main attractions
• The  Hotel Navona – another well reviewed 3* hotel in central Rome near Piazza Navona. This hotel is in a restored 15th century building which features restored original frescoes. Rooms have en-suite facilities, air conditioning and free WiFi
• Hotel Valentino Palace  – a fantastic mid-range 3* property, just 150 yards from the train station
• Gioberti Art Hotel  – 50 yards from Termini Station, a well rated excellent value 4* hotel
• NH Collection Palazzo Cinquecento – Good value 5* hotel just a few steps from the train station

Of course, there are many more options. We tend to use Booking.com for most of our accommodation when we travel, they have a wide selection of options, with everything from hostels to apartments to hotels . The review system makes it easy to pick a good option, and they have an excellent cancellation policy.

As an example of what is available, beyond the above mentioned hotels, here’s a well rated hostel , and a fantastically located apartment . As you can see – loads of options!

If you prefer an apartment, then we recommend either  Plum Guide or Vrbo .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, and you can see our review of the Plum Guide here . See their listings for Rome here .

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the  best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

We also have a page full of travel resources, which includes our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation, which you can find  here .

When to Visit Rome

With a Mediterranean climate, Rome is a city that can be visited throughout the year. However, it gets very busy and very hot in the summer months, especially in August, so we’d advise avoiding August if you can. If you must visit in August, we highly recommend you pick up the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card so you don’t have to queue for attractions in the unshaded heat.

We’ve visited Rome at all times of year, and our favorite time to visit is April / May, which we think offers a good balance between nice weather and less crowded attractions.

Another thing to be aware of is that many museums and attractions are closed on Mondays. In addition, there is free entry to lots of the key attractions in Rome on the first Sunday of every month – we’d suggest avoiding this day if you possibly can as the crowds are unbelievable!

Practicalities for Visiting Rome for 3 Days

Safety in rome.

In our many visits to Rome we’ve never had any safety problems although pickpocketing is not uncommon in crowded tourist areas.

As always, practice basic safety precautions. Keep valuables concealed, don’t carry large quantities of cash, only use official taxis and so on.

Power in Rome

Electricity is of the 220v standard, with the 2 pin European style plug. Travellers from countries like the UK and the US will need a travel adapter like this , and US travelers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

Currency in Rome

Rome is a part of the Eurozone, meaning the currency is the Euro. You can get these from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted.

We suggest using a credit card where you can – just ensure it has no foreign currency transaction fee.

Internet Access in Rome

Internet access is widely available in the form of WiFi all around the city and in hotels and coffee shops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online.

You can also pick up local SIM cards if you have an unlocked phone. If you are travelling from the USA, consider a Google Fi package which lets you use your data overseas.

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options.

Drinking Water in Rome

The water in the taps is safe to drink, although many locals prefer the taste of bottled water. You can also drink the water that comes out of the taps in the fountains, so just carry a drinking water bottle with you and hydrate as you go.

Of course, if you don’t like the taste, bottled water is widely available.

Dress Code in Rome

Many of the attractions in Rome are holy places, and you need to be dressed appropriately.

There will be big signs explaining what you should wear, but generally, you need to have clothing that covers your knees and shoulders.

This can be an issue with warm weather clothing choices, particularly in summer, so we advise that if you choose to wear tank tops or shorts to keep items to cover your shoulders and knees with you like shawls, scarfs, long skirts, or pants that convert into shorts.

Luggage Storage in Rome

It may be that on your day of arrival or departure in Rome, you’ll find yourself needing to leave your luggage somewhere.

Usually your hotel or apartment will have left luggage facilities, however, if this isn’t the case (often the case with apartment rentals for example), you will definitely want somewhere to leave your luggage for the day while you sightsee.

Many of the attractions in Rome won’t let you take bags in with you, and even those that do will require you to do additional screening.

As such, we’d recommend you leave your luggage behind so you can explore without being weighed down. We’d suggest this luggage service , which has locations at Termini station as well as the Pantheon and other parts of the city.

We also suggest checking out Nannybag , a service which has storage points across Rome (and other cities around the world).

Tours We Recommend in Rome

We’ve taken a number of tours in Rome, and can definitely recommend these if you’re looking for a guided experience. For walking tours specifically, the companies we recommend are as follows:

• Take Walks – our favorite walking tour company, we’ve taken walks with them in cities around the world
• Context Travel – very small group highly focused tours (10% off tours with this link ),
• Devour Tours – focuses on delicious food tours. We’ve done a lot of their food tours including many in Rome and they have all been excellent

With Take Walks, the first tour we recommend is their introduction to Rome tour . This is a good tour to start with as it covers some of the highlights of the old city centre, helps orient you, and includes a gelato. It runs in the evenings, so is a good option if you are looking for something to do on your arrival day.

Another excellent Rome tour they offer is their Rome in a Day tour , which covers many of the highlights of the city in one day, which is a great way to see the sights in Rome and not worry too much about skip the line tickets and queues.

They also offer more specific tours of popular attractions. We can recommend the “ Pristine Sistine ” tour, which gets you early access to the Vatican Museums before they open to the public, which is even better than skip the line access.

We’ve also taken their “ Colosseum & Roman Forum ” tour, which covered the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Finally, we’ve taken a tour of the Borghese Gallery on the “ Borghese Gallery Tour with Tickets ”.

If you prefer your tours to include food and wine, then we can highly recommend Devour Tours , who are the sister tour company to Take Walks. We’ve taken their food tours in a number of cities.

In Rome, one of our favorite Devour tours is the Trastevere Gourmet Food and Wine tour , which we thought was excellent. As this tour runs in the evening, you can likely include it on most of the days on our itinerary.

You can see our complete guide to Rome food tours here for some more ideas and options for your visit.

We’ve also taken tours with Context Travel in Rome, who offer very small group tours for the intellectually curious. These are fairly specialized tours, one focusing on Rome, the Grand Tour and the Romantic Poets , and the other on the history of the Popes and Rome political power.

Context Travel also run a series of tours of Rome you can take before you leave for Rome, which can be a good way to familiarize yourself with the city or a particular landmark before you visit. You can see their online program here .

We’ve written fairly extensively about our tours with these two companies in Rome, and I link to these reviews in the further reading section below to help you decide if these are going to be good options for you.

There are of course other options for tours in Rome, including all the tours on this page , which offers a variety of things to do from different providers. So definitely check out the options to figure out what is best for you!

Next Steps for Visiting Rome

Having read all the above, I hope everything is clear. I admit, Rome is a wonderful city to visit, but planning in all the attractions and avoiding those dreaded queues might feel a little overwhelming. With that in mind, here’s a quick checklist to help make sure you get the most out of your stay.

• Plan when you are going and book your flights and accommodation
• Decide which attractions you really want to visit based on the above itinerary, and any other research you have done
• Check timeslot availability for the Colosseum on the official website if you want to visit
• Decide if something like the Rome Tourist Card or Omnia Vatican and Rome Card is going to be for you, and purchase it in advance. If you aren’t interested in the Vatican attractions, or are going to visit them on a walking tour, you should definitely consider the Roma Pass instead. This includes transport and a number of other attractions in Rome.
• Make any walking tour reservations with either Context Travel or Take Walks . This is also an option for visiting the Colosseum if timed slots are not available. You can also look at tour options on GetYourGuide as there are lots of options to choose from.
• If you’re not getting an attraction pass, make your reservations in advance for all the attractions you know you want to visit which aren’t part of any walking tours you book. In particular, you will want to book in advance for the Vatican Museum , the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery if you plan on visiting these attractions.
• When comparing tickets on different sites, be sure to check the cancellation / refund policies. In our experience, the official site for each attraction does not offer any refunds if you need to cancel. GetYourGuide sometimes offers a refund on their tickets if cancelled within 24 hours of your visit, which can offer peace of mind, although do check the policy on each ticket as it varies by attraction. See all their Rome tours and activities here .
• If you are getting an  Omnia Vatican and Rome Card or  Roma Pass , make sure to book your timeslot for the Colosseum as far in advance as possible
• Enjoy your trip to Rome knowing you’re not going to waste time in line for anything but gelato !

Where to Go After Rome?

I’m often asked in the comments on this post, and our other Rome content, where to go after Rome, and the best way to get there.

My advice if you want to explore Italy a little bit further is to visit cities like Florence and Venice .

The easiest way to get to these is to take the fast train service. These run frequently and are very quick. Tickets are cheapest when booked well in advance, plus booking in advance will usually guarantee a seat reservation.

You can book train travel in Italy (and Europe in general), on our recommend train ticketing site: Trainline.com .

Another option if you would rather base yourself in Rome and don’t want to worry about booking train tickets, is to take a day tour from Rome. Some options from Rome include:

• This day tour to Tivoli where you can visit Hadrian’s Villa and Villa D’Este
• This day tour of the Tuscan countryside
• This day tour to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
• A day tour to Venice
• This day tour of Tuscany
• This boat-hopping day tour of The Amalfi Coast from Rome

As you can see, you have plenty of options from Rome! See our detailed Italy itinerary for some ideas.

Further Reading for your 3 Days in Rome

Well, that was a lot of content to help you plan your trip to Rome! As well as the above, we have a number of other resources we’d like to recommend to help you out, both content we’ve written ourselves, and resources we’ve found online. Between this post and these resources, you should be able to put together the perfect trip to Rome!

• If you’re in Rome for a shorter amount of time, check out our guide to spending 2 days in Rome , or a day in Rome , which will give you some other options for your visit. We also have a guide to things to do in Rome for general sightseeing advice.
• We’ve taken a number of tours in Rome. You can read about our experience visiting the Vatican, Coliseum and Roman Forum with Take Walks in Rome here, our experience at the Borghese Gallery here and our VIP Key Master’s Tour of the Vatican here . With Context Travel, you can read about the Grand Tour and the Romantic Poets tour here , and Popes, Power and Parties here .
• If you’re planning on visiting Rome in summer, read our tips for visiting a European city in summer to stay sane
• We have a detailed guide to visiting the Colosseum to help you plan your visit to this ancient structure, which has everything from how to get here, to the best ways to buy tickets, to tour suggestions.
• We also have a guide to visiting the Vatican to help you plan your visit to all the attractions in the Vatican City
• Obviously you’ll want to eat Gelato in Rome! Check out our guide to the best gelato in Rome to be sure you get the best. For more food ideas, see our guide to the best food tours in Rome
• Looking to visit more of Italy? Check out our content on Venice , Milan and Florence for inspiration!
• We also have a detailed 10 day Italy itinerary to help you plan a trip in this wonderful country
• If you’re looking for a physical (or Kindle!) guidebook, we recommend the Rick Steves Rome guide , which has lots of practical information to help you make the most of your stay

And that sums up our idea of how to spend the perfect three days exploring Rome! We hope you found this itinerary useful, and now have plenty of ideas for things to do in Rome for three days.

Are you planning a trip to Rome? What do you want to see when you do? Let us know in the comments below!

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25th January 2023 at 1:35 am

Laurence and Jessica, We just recently came back from Rome. I can’t thank you enough for all of your information. Your recommendations has made our trip truly amazing. The Vatican Key Master Tour recommendation was great! It was the our most memorable tour. To have the Vatican experience with only 15 tourist in the complex was truly an amazing experience. Keep up the great work and recommations!

Laurence Norah says

28th January 2023 at 8:55 am

It’s my pleasure, we’re delighted you had a great time in Rome! We loved the Vatican Key Master tour as well and I’m so pleased you enjoyed it too 🙂

Safe travels!

8th November 2022 at 11:45 am

thank you for taking your time and provide us with this helpful post

we are traveling to Rome soon

8th November 2022 at 11:49 am

My pleasure Racio, have a great time in Rome!

Charles Slane says

27th August 2022 at 11:52 pm

Thanks for such an interesting and comprehensive itinerary.

I’ll be in Rome for 4 days, so I’m hoping to use your suggestions, however I’d also like to see a classical concert or two in the evenings. What time would you think would be reasonable to expect to complete the itinerary each day? Would it be in time to see a concert at 7 or 8pm?

28th August 2022 at 10:42 am

Hi Charles,

My pleasure. So yes, you should definitely finish each day in plenty of time to take in an evening concert. Obviously the exact finishing time will vary depending on how long you spend at each location, but I’d say you would have plenty of time to see a concert at 7 or 8 on all three days.

Have a great time in Rome!

5th August 2022 at 10:02 pm

Hi there, I’ve literally been eating up everything in your blog to plan our trip to Rome this September. I was trying to look for Take Walks ‘Tours from home’ tours but couldn’t find them on their website. It looks like they no longer offer those? Unless I’m looking in the wrong spot.

7th August 2022 at 8:17 am

Lovely to hear from you and I’m delighted you have found the blog useful! We’re actually in Italy right now and have been doing various tours with Take Walks as well. You are correct, I reached out to my Walks contact when I got your comment (hence the slightly slower response). They confirmed that they have recently removed the Tours from Home. It was something they started when travel wasn’t possible, but they are now refocusing on their in person tours. So I have updated the content. Context Travel are still running their online program though, so that is an option. You can see what they offer here .

Have a great time in Rome and let me know if you have any more questions, we’re happy to help!

Imelda Morgan says

18th April 2022 at 5:48 pm

Hi, we just found out we are going to be invited to a wedding in Rome Sept 6th!! We think we would like to explore Rome for 2/3 days before wedding! I have been going mad googling what to do etc and came across your site and it’s brilliant!! We, my husband and I, while we are definitely not in our dotage years!! , We do like things like booking tours etc to be straight forward and simple! I know you have loads of info and options of tours etc on your site , I was just wondering which ones you would recommend for us, we would love to visit Vatican, Trevi fountain and colleseum. We think we would be touring 3rd 4th and 5 th September , wedding is on the 6th,!! Thank you Imelda Morgan

18th April 2022 at 5:58 pm

Wow, that sounds like a fantastic place to go for a wedding!

To answer your question, my favourite tours are with Take Walks, who were formerly known as Walks of Italy. They have some really amazing experiences in Rome, especially some of their early and exclusive access tours where you can get access to locations with far fewer people, which is a truly memorable experience. For example:

VIP Key Master’s Tour: Open The Sistine Chapel VIP Pristine Sistine Vatican Tour with Museum Breakfast VIP Colosseum At Night Tour With Underground & Arena Floor

Of course they have lots more options, (you can see all their Rome Tours here ) and some of those are limited availability, but that would definitely be my first pick if looking for a tour in Rome.

I hope you have an awesome time, feel free to let me know if you have any more questions!

25th March 2022 at 9:00 am

HI, l really found it helpful. Thanks. Question. DO you need to wear masks in all places? Are they specific kinds of masks of just any? I know a weird question but better to be prepared. I just bought the OMNIA PASS and so excited but I am not sure how to separate slot for the vatican.

25th March 2022 at 9:42 am

Thanks! So the mask rules have been changing over time, so it’s best to check with an official source. You can see the current regulations here . Currently you need to wear masks indoors. For the type of mask, certain places require FFP2 masks (similar to the US N95 standard), such as public transport and other venues.

For the Omnia Card you should have recieved information on how to book the Vatican. If for some reason you didn’t get that information with your purchase, I’d suggest reaching out to them on their website here: https://www.omniavaticanrome.org/en/contacts/new

Have a great trip!

Sophie says

15th March 2022 at 8:15 pm

Hello! You have helped me with my itinerary for my visit in April and you have so much info on which passes to buy.

As we are hoping to do the majority of landmarks which pass would you recommend? We are there for 4 days and the majority of passes are only for 72 hours.

Thank you 😊

16th March 2022 at 1:10 pm

I’m glad you found our guide useful! So I would probably recommend the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card , because it has the most inclusions of all the passes. Just remember you still need to book a timeslot for the Colosseum with this pass.

I’d also add that there’s a bit of a workaround with this pass given you are coming for four days. The pass actually comes as two separate passes, the Omnia Card and the Roma Pass. You should be able to use these separately. So if you used the Omnia Card on your first day in Rome without using any elements of the Roma Pass, you could use your Roma pass for the next three days.

Altneratively, you could focus on using the passes for the first three days of your visit, and then either doing a day trip from the city or visiting the Appian Way on this day, as that area doesn’t have anything on the pass anyway.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions, and have an awesome time in Rome!

20th October 2021 at 2:58 pm

What a great blog! It’s making me very excited for my visit in April next year.

I am arriving mid morning on Friday 29th April and leaving on Tuesday 3rd May. With opening times etc which way round would you do your itinerary based on Saturday, Sunday and Monday being the main full days for exploring?

20th October 2021 at 6:49 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 So at the moment (although you’ll want to check when you go because next year it might change!), attractions are closed as follows:

Vatican – Sundays Castel Sant Angelo – Mondays St. John in the Lateran – Sundays Borghese Gallery – Mondays

The Appian Way is also nice on Sundays as it’s closed to traffic, and many attractions including the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, the Catacombs of St. Sebastian and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella should be open on Sundays. You can see opening hours of various attractions along the way on this site (you’ll need to translate it to English).

If you want to visit all the attractions I’ve mentioned, I’d probably suggest doing Day 1 almost as it is on the Saturday, but with the addition of the Borghese Gallery as it’s closed on Mondays. If you miss any of the other attractions as a result they are all open the other days.

You could then switch day 2 and 3 around, so you do the Appian Way on the Sunday, and everything from Day 2 on the Monday.

Hopefully that makes sense! Let me know if you have any more questions!

Quynh Cao says

9th September 2021 at 9:50 pm

Hi Guys, Thank you so much for sharing this guide with the internet. I am planning a solo trip for my 23rd birthday and am feeling quite overwhelmed as this with being my first solo trip and my first time being in the EU. This itinerary is very detailed and is a huge help in the planning of my trip! I look forward to reading more of your blogs!

10th September 2021 at 2:43 pm

Thanks very much for your kind comment Quynh! If you have any questions at all as you plan your trip, don’t hesitate to reach out and we’ll do our best to help 🙂

6th July 2021 at 9:19 pm

Hi.., i just want to ask im bit confused if i Buy the 72-hour Rome and Vatican City pass package whick cost 113€ i will get both Omnia card and Rome Pass or i will choose which one i want to activate?? Thank you

6th July 2021 at 9:34 pm

You get both cards! One primarily covers the Vatican attractions and the other is for other attractions 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions!

6th July 2021 at 9:40 pm

Thank you…, ❤️❤️❤️

13th July 2021 at 8:51 pm

Hi.., i was confused again for the omnia card the St. Peter’s Basilica is included.., is it also included the entrance to the dome??? Thanks

13th July 2021 at 9:44 pm

So yes, the Ommia Card includes St. Peter’s Basilica entry. It is worth noting that it is free to visit St. Peters Basilica, however the card gets you faster access without the usual line. I’m not sure at the moment how long the lines are though.

The card does not include dome access. Usually to get dome access, you would buy a ticket inside St. Peters itself. As you enter through the main doors, the ticket booth is to the right hand side before you enter the church itself. The price varies depending on if you want to take the stairs or the elevator. I can’t find any up to date information on whether it is currently open for visitors, but looking at recent instagram photos from the location it does appear to be 🙂

Branko says

24th July 2020 at 12:27 pm

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Just spent 3 days in Rome with e-bike. Schedule was perfect!

24th July 2020 at 1:29 pm

My pleasure Branko, delighted to have been able to help and I am so happy you had a great time in Rome!

Kimberly Tate says

12th June 2020 at 12:28 am

Hello! I’ve just found your blog and love the information. Do you know when they will allow visitors again? Thank you Kim Tate

12th June 2020 at 10:20 am

Thanks very much, delighted to be able to help. So this is a great question. Italy actually opened up on the 3rd June to EU visitors, however it has not been announced when there will be wider openings. It is thought further announcements will be made on the 15th June. The majority of the attractions are already open, including the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, Borghese Gallery, and the Castel Sant Angelo. So really it’s going to come down to where you are visiting from, and when they open more widely to the world!

8th February 2020 at 9:16 pm

I absolutely love your blog / website. I’m thrilled I stumbled onto it. My question is about the Omnia Rome & Vacation Card and the Vatican Museum – Sistine Chapel. I’m a bit confused. The Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel are included in the Passes with the advantage of Skip-the-Line. What I’m confused by is when I went to the official Vatican website to look for the various tour options, I was going to have to pay 112 euros. When looking to purchasing tickets, I did not see an option to show the savings from the Omnia Rome Pass. How is this Pass cost effective for use at the Vatican? What am I missing or not understanding?

9th February 2020 at 3:55 pm

Thanks very much! You are correct, entry to the Vatican Museum is included on the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card. You don’t need to book a separate tour or purchase separate tickets for the Vatican, it’s all included as part of the pass. When you buy your card, you will be given the opportunity to book your time for the Vatican.

The only attraction you need to pre-book entry at is the Colosseum, which you do at the official Colosseum site. Instructions for doing this with the pass are in this post.

Let me know if I can help any further,

4th February 2020 at 9:54 pm

Thank you for creating this wonderful guide, you’ve made planning this trip so much more exciting! We are heading to Rome in May and have just tried to make the online reservation time slot for the Colosseum but it shows no availability beyond March…have these slots all gone already? Or are they not released yet?

Thank you in advance 🙂

6th February 2020 at 9:27 am

You are correct, the dates are released in phases rather than for the whole year. So you will want to check back regularly to see when your dates become available 🙂

19th February 2020 at 7:54 pm

Just to let you know if you haven’t done yet, reservation for Colosseum with Roma Pass is now open up to June 2020. Here’s the link: https://ecm.coopculture.it/index.php?option=com_snapp&view=event&id=7D8772B8-1D4C-5766-0483-016CAFC55142&catalogid=BA91B33D-F6C8-9440-1EE6-016CE8AE143F&lang=en

Hope this helps. Looking forward to our trip in June.

12th January 2020 at 6:41 am

I already got my omnia card & roma pass 72 hrs. which I ordered using your site’s link. Looking at the pamphlet that came with it, it shows that the Omnia 72 includes the Vatican Museum,Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of St. John Lateran, St Paul Outside the Walls, Carcer Tulllianum & Open Bus 72h hop on hop off. Then the Roma Pass says free use of public transport for 72h, free entry to first 2 museums and concessionary tickets to all other museums. My question is can I start using each card independently from each other? Say I use the Roma Pass Fri, Sat, Sun and the Omnia Sun, Mon & Tues. or does the 72 hrs. for both cards start & end at the same time? I am trying to follow your itineraries although I have to make some adjustments as we cannot spend three successive days in Rome; there is a day where we will be doing a day trip from Rome and it has to be in between, but we still have 3 days to explore Rome. Our trip will still be in June, but I already booked the earliest time (9am) for the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel. I guess one advantage with having the Omnia card is that at this time (January) you can already book your time for the Vatican for June. I tried going to the Vatican site and they still have not open booking for June, for now they have bookings available only til March. Next thing I’ll do is reserve our entry time for the Colosseum. Looking forward to our trip and thanks again for all the useful information you shared.

12th January 2020 at 10:23 am

Thanks for stopping by and also ordering through our links, it all makes a difference. To answer your question, the answer is yes, you can use each card entirely independently and you don’t need to activate them together. They are technically separate products which you can buy individually, so there’s no need to use them together as they cover different things.

Sounds like you are well organised – booking entrance times is super important. I’ve heard from folks in Rome at the moment that it’s busy even now, so you definitely want to be all booked well in advance.

Let me know if you have any more questions, otherwise have a wonderful time in Rome!

Jay Joseph Avery says

13th January 2020 at 6:30 pm

Hi Laurence, Hope you don’t mind my asking more questions. When I booked for the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel using my Omnia card, I picked the 0900 slot. When I chose the time for St. Peter’s Basilica my option was 1300 or 1500. I had a conversation with my wife as I wasn’t sure if 1300 was a little early. We want to take our time, not be in a hurry and have lunch before we do St. Peter’s, so we decided and got the 1500 time. Our 2 children (22 & 12) will be coming with us. I already mapped out our itinerary (using your 2 & 3 days in Rome as a guide, and adding a few churches) for our almost 4 full days in Rome (4 days for 3 of us and 3 days for our son). Took into account our booking times; that we are in the Vatican almost the whole day. So for the day we do the Vatican, after our visit to St. Peter’s, we only have Castel Sant’ Angelo, Piazza Navona, Pantheon which is kind of on the way to our AirBNB which is only 180 m (2 min. walk) from the Fontana di Trevi.

1) Do you think the 0900 Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel & 1500 St. Peter’s Basilica would work out? Can we go in St. Peter’s earlier than our scheduled 1500 (w/ Audioguide) just in case we are already done at the Museum/Sistine Chapel/lunch/pictures outside?

2) I have read in some blogs that going to St. Peter’s first, then the Museum/Sistine Chapel is one way of avoiding the huge crowd/tourists on buses. Does this strategy really work?

Thanks for your help.

14th January 2020 at 10:26 am

It’s my pleasure. So I’ve actually spoken with the pass people directly about this question as it’s quite a common one. What they have told me is that the time on the St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t that important. The important thing is to turn up on the right day. This isn’t the case for the other attractions where the timeslot is important, but St. Peter’s seems to be different. So I think once you are done with the Vatican you can just head to St. Peters and not worry about being exactly on time.

In my experience the Vatican starts off quieter and then gets busier and busier. It might be less busy in the later afternoon, but I’m not sure it’s worth waiting until then based on your schedule. Basically, it’s always pretty busy. The only way to see it without crowds is to take one of the special early access or late evening tours, but those are separately bookable.

Happy to help with any more questions 🙂

Jill Marie Casey says

14th December 2019 at 7:29 pm

I am in the trenches of planning our trip to Italy for July. I have been feeling overwhelmed. Your blog has made me feel so much more comfortable! I am about to purchase my Omnia Vatican and Roma Card so I can book my Colosseum time slot. If I have questions, I hope you will not mind if I reach out in the future.

15th December 2019 at 12:23 pm

Thanks very much Jill, and of course, you are more than welcome to reach out with any questions 🙂

16th October 2019 at 10:31 pm

This is such a helpful post, thank you for taking time to write it! I have a couple of questions if you have time to answer: with the Omnia pass do we have to pick it up – if so I prefer online the tourist card might be better as it’s all online. The thought of trying to track down where to pick up a card seems like a lot of time to waste when you don’t have much time!!! Also, I wondered if you could suggest some eating places and eating ideas – for example I have heard its cheaper to eat your biggest meal during the day rather than in the evening. We are travelling with two kids. Thanks so much!

17th October 2019 at 1:11 pm

With the Omnia Pass yes, you do have to pick it up. I think there will be an option to mail it to you, but that can work out quite expensive and so negate the benefits of the pass. The online version might be an better option for you in this regard, as long as it covers everywhere.

For food, to be honest we don’t usually recommend a lot of restaurants. This is because the quality can change quickly! We generally suggest checking review websites like Google Maps and Tripadvisor and trying to find places with good recent reviews. We do however have some suggestions for gelato in Rome which we can highly recommend reading so you get the good stuff.

For meals in general, yes, in Europe generally lunch is a better time for a main meal as the prices for the lunch menus are usually much better value than the evening meals. So eating a main meal at lunch time can definitely save you some money.

Have an amazing time in Rome and do let me know if you have any more questions, I will do my best to help!

Nicola says

11th October 2019 at 4:02 pm

Such a helpful post which I used for my recent trip! Thank you 🙂

11th October 2019 at 4:26 pm

Thanks very much Nicola! If you have any photos or tips to share, we’d love to see them in our facebook group 😀

https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/

Laura P. says

5th October 2019 at 4:06 pm

Hello again — We will be in Rome from November 6-9 and have decided to do Walks of Italy for the Vatican and Collosseum/Forum. I noticed that several of their tours aren’t even available in November which makes me wonder how crowded the city and sights are at that time of year. Is the Pristine Sistine still recommended for November or do you think crowds during regular hours at that time of year are not an issue? Thank you

5th October 2019 at 6:26 pm

November is definitely a quieter time of year, so you shouldn’t have too many crowds to worry about. Really the busiest times are the summer months. We’d still recommend a tour if you want to learn more about what you are seeing, but certainly it shouldn’t be necessary. We would however always recommend buying skip the line tickets anyway – you can get them from Vatican website directly for the best price 🙂 You will also definitely need to book your tickets in advance for the Coliseum as well, as that runs a timed entry system.

Shirley says

21st January 2020 at 3:10 am

Hello I have been reading. Your blog and will be travelling in June 2020 . I love the 3day tour but will have to split the shortest day into 2 half day ( cruising in between) will be arriving to Rome early afternoon then on return my flight leaves late late that night any ideas ( I am staying near the Colessium so I was considering splitting that day up – would that work? Shirley

21st January 2020 at 9:23 am

Hi Shirley,

Yes that would work. Once you have seen the Colosseum and Roman Forum you can see the highlights of central Rome on your first day. Just be sure to book your Coliseum entry time well in advance for whichever day you choose to visit, as June can be a busy month and the Coliseum can book up.

Catherine says

29th September 2019 at 3:38 am

Hi Laurence

I am really appreciating all the information you are providing in your blog. I have decided not to get the Roma or Omnia Pass as I don’t think we will get the value from it. I am trying to book Colosseum ticket through one of the sites you recommended but am a bit confused with the tours and costings. We want to do a tour as we would like to see all the levels but can’t work out if I can do it or work out if we pay for that in addition to entry. We will be a group of 7 with three adults and 4 children 16 years and younger.

29th September 2019 at 9:47 am

Hi Catherine,

The tours I link to should all include your entry to the Colosseum 🙂 If you let me know which tour specifically you are looking at I can double check, but as far as I know entry is included with all the tours!

D Plummer says

25th September 2019 at 3:47 pm

Thank you for such an informative guide – making the museum and event reservations in advance were key to using our time wisely and having a perfect experience.

25th September 2019 at 9:20 pm

My pleasure, I’m delighted you had a great time and thanks so much for coming by to let us know, it’s always wonderful to hear nice comments 😀

13th September 2019 at 7:28 pm

Would you recommend hop-on hop-off bus in Rome? Or is the traffic far too bad for the bus transit?

13th September 2019 at 8:37 pm

We have taken the hop on hop off bus a number of times in Rome and it was ok actually, although this will vary depending on the time of day. It isn’t necessarily the fastest and most direct way to get around, but it is a good option for visiting some of the sights for sure 🙂

Paul Chasin says

5th September 2019 at 1:53 am

one more question from paul chasin if we use the omnia vatican card how do we get a reservation time for the vatican museums and sistine chapel without paying an additional 17.00E the web site for timed admissions on Nov 2, saturday has type of tickets all with prices but nothing that says if we have omnia card we can get a time without additional money thanks Paul C

5th September 2019 at 8:25 am

When you get the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card (assuming you buy it from the official site rather than Viator), you will be sent instructions on how to book the Vatican 🙂

Let me know if you have any problems!

3rd October 2019 at 11:22 pm

I’ve been wondering about this — can you reserve your entry times to Vatican and Colliseum without activating your card? I want to do it now, but won’t start using the card until November. Thanks!

4th October 2019 at 7:37 pm

You absolutely can and I encourage you to do so as soon as you can so as to get the slots you want 🙂 The card won’t activate until you use it at the first attraction.

paul Chasin says

5th September 2019 at 1:39 am

regarding Omnia vatican and Rome card 1. do you need a specific time slot reservation for anything other than the colosseum ? as to the the vatican do we need a timed reservation even with the Omnia card 2. currently on your link to the on line reservation web site for colosseum it does not give us option for reservation with the roma pass. Is there another way to make a timed reservation 3. do all sites on omnia vatican and Rome include audioguides or is that extra?

5th September 2019 at 8:24 am

1 – Yes, for the Vatican, but you should get a link to book this when you buy the card 2 – It seems the official Colosseum website has changed in the last week or so! The new link is here Altneratively, if you go to the Colosseum ticket office home page here then on the right hand side under “Roma Pass” there is a small link there. So you should be able to make your timed reservation from that page. Alternatively, there is a phone number you can ring. 3 – This is usually extra

I will update my Rome content regarding the new process for booking Colosseum slots now, thanks for bringing that to my attention!

paul chasin says

1st September 2019 at 12:16 am

is the Rome museum galleria borghese open sunday november 3? several web sites have it Xd out in red as they do on all mondays when museum is always closed but one site had non refundable tickets for Nov 3 which i am worried is a scam Thanks Paul Chasin

1st September 2019 at 11:44 am

As far as we can tell the Borghese is open on the 3rd November. You definitely want to book via a reputable site – we list some recommit in our dedicated Borghese Gallery guide which you can see here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/exploring-art-borghese-gallery-in-rome/#How-to-Make-Reservations-and-Book-Tickets

Jenny Swingle says

25th August 2019 at 5:40 am

I’m looking at the Omnia Pass and Roma Pass and feel like I’m missing something here. We are going to the following venues and it seems like buying tickets direct is cheaper than a pass? –Colosseum $13.50 USD, includes Roman Forum –Skip the Line Vatican and Sistine Chapel $31.50 –St Peters $16.86 –Castel Sant’Angelo $12

Your blog recommended to use the Omnia pass for free entry to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo and the Colosseum / Roman Forum (value $25.50). Pass is $127. Or the Roma Pass gives free admission to the Colosseum OR Castel Sant’Angelo (value around $12-13). Pass is $45. I understand the passes include transit and other discounts, but it again appears to be cheaper to just buy direct or get a travel pass. Am I missing something, or if we’re only going to these sites should we just buy tickets direct because the passes aren’t worth it unless you’re going more places? Thanks in advance! Your blog was REALLY helpful!!

25th August 2019 at 2:15 pm

Thanks very much!

So you are definitely correct, the Omnia Pass and the Roma Pass are definitely only worth it if you plan on using most of the features. If you only want to visit some specific attractions, then booking individual skip the line entry is definitely the way forward.

In terms of pricing, I would add that the price for the Vatican should be less than what you have quoted. If you buy it directly from the official Vatican website:

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/tariffe-e-biglietti.html

The price is €17 + a €4 booking fee. Some websites will try to make it seem more expensive by calling it a skip the line ticket, or that it includes the Sistine Chapel. But if you buy the Vatican Museum ticket from the official website, the €4 fee gives you skip the line access, and all Vatican Museum tickets include the Sistine Chapel

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/scegli-la-visita/musei-e-collezioni/musei-vaticani-e-cappella-sistina/visita-libera-musei-vaticani-e-cappella-sistina.html

If you really want to save money, St. Peters is actually free. However, skip the line access (which is what you pay for) can save you a lot of time if you are visiting at a busy time of year.

For what you are doing, I would definitely suggest that the pass would not be worth it, and you should just book direct with the official websites, which are http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/scegli-la-visita.html

https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm

I hope this helps and that you have a wonderful time in Rome. Do let me know if I can be of any more help too 😀

26th August 2019 at 4:18 am

Perfect, thank you so much!

21st August 2019 at 11:52 am

Hi, I will be in Rome in September for the third time, but it’ll be my son’s first time. 🙂 Thank you for all your wonderful tips. This is a truly fabulous article! Gabi

21st August 2019 at 12:07 pm

Our pleasure Gabi – have an amazing time!

Syaharom Abdullah says

17th August 2019 at 3:25 am

Hi, Laurence !

My wife and I plan to visit Rome and Venice in mid December. If I were to follow your three day Rome itinerary, where would be the best location for me to stay? I have a budget of about 100 Euro a day for accommodation.

17th August 2019 at 9:46 am

Hi Syaharom

In Rome in December the prices are pretty reasonable, so you should have no trouble finding a location. I’d recommend staying near Piazza Navona as that is close to most of the sights in the city. Some options to consider:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/argentina-view.en-gb.html?aid=385205;label=FTU3DayRome https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/navona-gallery-and-garden-suites.en-gb.html?aid=385205;label=FTU3DayRome https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/b-amp-b-palazzo-lupardi.en-gb.html?aid=385205;label=FTU3DayRome

My suggestion would be to load up the booking.com site, and filter by your date, and then by price and rating. For example, this search already filters by your requirements, you just need to change the dates to your specific dates. Then you can hit the “map view” to see where they are. Have a great trip!

17th August 2019 at 3:06 pm

Dear Laurence

Thanks. I appreciate it.

17th August 2019 at 12:37 am

Question i read that “main museums and public monuments ” are free to seniors over 65 Which museums are these? are any of them the main tourist attractions like vatican city St Peter’s Basilica, or museo e galleria Borghese? thanks paul chasin

17th August 2019 at 9:56 am

It really varies depending on the attraction, but it is not common for entry to be free to seniors. In addition, the free access might only be for EU citizens. From the list you have provided, the Vatican doesn’t as far as I am able to tell. St. Peter’s Basilica is free, you only pay if you want to skip the line. The Borghese also has no senior discount.

Have a great time in Rome 🙂

youssef sherif says

6th August 2019 at 4:23 am

Hi laurence, I wanted to ask you a question , I don’t understand the difference between pre booking a regular admission ticket and pre booking a skip the line ticket , I mean in both cases I don’t have to stand in the ticket line and I go straight to the security check right? or did you mean that the line of visitors with skip the line tickets is usually much shorter than that with regular admission tickets? I also wanted to ask you about one more thing , If I bought a skip the line ticket from any website like tripadvisor I dont have to reserve a time slot on the official website right ?

7th August 2019 at 2:36 pm

Hi Youssef,

This is correct for the most part, however it depends on the attraction. In general though:

– for the majority of attractions, there will always be some sort of security line – some attractions have a separate fast track line for specific tickets, and a normal line for standard ticket holders. Depending on the ticket, you will join one of these lines for ticket validation and security checks – there will also be a general line for those not in possession of a ticket. You want to try and avoid this line!

For the skip the line tickets on third party websites, if it includes a timed entrance then you should not have to book a time slot, however you definitely need to check the instructions of the ticket to be sure.

Kim Wood says

9th June 2019 at 5:54 am

Hi, I have Omina Vatican & Rome card and I make a big mistake to reservation the time slot on the wrong date on Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel – Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, how can I change it?

9th June 2019 at 8:59 pm

So for this you would need to contact the Omnia Vatican & Rome Card folds. I would suggest calling them – they have a UK call center and also a Skype contact number – you can see these here:

https://www.romeandvaticanpass.com/contact-rome-pass/

Best of luck,

4th June 2019 at 3:19 pm

Hi, back again, sorry.

Been trying since April to book that Colosseum entry time slot, with the Roma pass. Whenever I have tried to select my date to visit, in early July, there has not been a single date able to be selected after June.

Not full, just not yet able to be chosen. I wondered if I had to wait until June to be able to select dates in July, as there has simply been no possibility to choose dates within that month, until now.

Now that June has begun, I tried again, only to find that every single time slot on every single day until the end of August is fully booked.

I was unable to book before now because tickets were not available for purchase from July on, and now I cannot purchase because they are all seemingly sold out.

Can you tell me what this means for me, and possibly why this was the case? And am I unable to receive free entry on my Roma pass to the Colosseum because of this?

Thanks very much (once again) Alex.

4th June 2019 at 3:37 pm

Hi Alex – no problem at all!

So I have recently spoken to the Colosseum folks because I am getting a lot of questions about the Colosseum. So many in fact that I’ve written a whole guide to it, which is new since you last commented:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/colosseum-rome-guide/

In essence, the timeslot system has definitely resulted in a lot less availability for the Colosseum. When I spoke to the Colosseum ticket office, I was told that do release slots on a weekly basis, but I wasn’t given details as to when that happens exactly, how many they release at a time, and how far in advance they are for. You could try calling the ticket line, giving your specific dates, and asking if new timeslots are going to open up. The number is +39 06 399 67 700, and it’s option 2 for English. I recommend using something like Skype for cheaper calls.

Let’s get back to the other part of your question, in terms of what this actually means for you if the timeslots are not available.

First, yes, you won’t be able to use your Roma Pass for the Colosseum. This isn’t the end of the world, as you can use the free entry to another attraction.

I assume you do still want to visit the Colosseum, and the good news is that this will be possible, you will just have to go about it a different way. Generally, this will involve taking a slightly higher priced ticket, or booking a guided tour. I have outlined the main options in this section of my Colosseum guide:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/colosseum-rome-guide/#What-if-there-are-no-times-available-for-the-Colosseum

I hope this helps, the timed entry system is new for 2019 and I really don’t think anyone anticipated how much demand there was going to be, especially over the busier months!

Darlene says

27th May 2019 at 3:41 am

HI…thanks for a great site!! I am thinking of taking my 20 yr old daughter on a Med. cruise that leaves Oct 1st…we could have 3 or 4 days in Rome before the cruise…what are the crowds like during this time and is the weather still nice? Thank for your help. Cheers, Darlene

27th May 2019 at 11:06 am

Hi Darlene,

The crowds should be very manageable by October. i would still recommend booking your Colosseum ticket in advance just to avoid disappointment, but other than that I don’t think it will be too busy. Weather wise, it depends on how lucky you are! It could be mild and sunny, or it could be wet and cool. It’s unlikely to be extremely hot or extremely cold, so just some sensible clothing layers and some sort of waterproof or umbrella should suffice,

Have a great time!

David T says

23rd May 2019 at 11:12 am

Love your page! I bought the OMNIA Rome pass as you suggest. I want to do the VIP tour you suggested for the Colosseum, but am wondering whether I need to still purchase the Entrance pass (2 euros) with the Rome pass or does the VIP tour include the entrance as well?

23rd May 2019 at 11:15 am

Thanks David! The VIP Colosseum / Caesars Palace tour includes your entry ticket and time slot to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, so no need to worry about reserving those if you book on the tour 🙂

8th May 2019 at 12:59 pm

Hello, thank you for a great blog it really inn lauded all the information we needed and more. I just a question – I was going to buy tickets through the ticketbar website (you gave a link to it under basilica) but read a couple of entries at other sites saying not to use 3rd party vendors etc. is the website trustworthy for Vatican skip the line tickets. Omniscient would not work for us. Many thanks in advance Best Eva

8th May 2019 at 4:52 pm

For the Vatican we recommend (and directly link to in this post) that you book your skip the line tickets on the Vatican website directly. The only reason for this is cost, on the official website it’s €17 + €4 booking fee for a skip the line ticket, whilst most third party sellers are more expensive, and you generally end up getting the same thing, so there is no real value. The reason they are more expensive is just the way that the Vatican structures it’s prices to third parties. This is the same for the Coliseum – if you don’t use a pass, then it’s usually always cheaper to just book direct. The only thing to bear in mind is that some third parties do include addons like audioguides in the package price, which can make it more valuable.

We recommend ticketbar for many other products in cities around the world and have had no problems using them. For St. Peters Basilica for example they have a ticket, which as you mention we do suggest. This is because there is no actual entry fee to St. Peter’s Basilica, so you can’t buy a ticket from the official site. However, you can pay more to get a faster access and thus skip the long lines, which is what sites like ticketbar are able to provide.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help!

Vishal says

7th May 2019 at 4:07 am

Hi Laurence,

Thanks … this is very useful information and we will be relying on this to plan our trip.

Just wanted to check – if I buy the OMania card but need a guided tour of Vatican and Colosseum, is it possible to get a local guide to accompany us when we visit these 2 attractions? Where can I get a local guide . We are a group of 6.

Not planning a guided tour as I am already paying for the entry for both attractions when I purchase the card.

Regards, VK

7th May 2019 at 5:28 pm

So I am sure that this is possible, but I am not sure where you would find this type of guide, as all the tours I can find already include entry. However, you can get an audioguide, which might be just as good, and also a lot cheaper!

8th May 2019 at 4:54 am

Hi Laurance,

Thanks for your very prompt response. A couple of additional questions ( sorry about this but we are largely following your itinerary).

1. I have booked a guided tour for Vatican and Colosseum so will not opt for the Rome and Omania pass. Do you think it’s still worth to get a Roma pass (72 hr or 48 hr) for the rest of the attractions on your itinerary + the local transport flexibility it offers? We have 4 days and are a group of 6 (children, adults and seniors).

2. Borghese gallery is fully booked during the time I am in Rome and we will skip the Pyramid of Caius. What other attractions would you recommend we visit ?

8th May 2019 at 9:48 am

My pleasure, and no problem.

1 – it’s always hard to advise if something is worth it as folks have different ideas of value 🙂 I’d say for me it would be worth it and we usually advise it, but it will depend on the other attractions you visit and how much you plan to use the public transport to decide if it’s worth it for you. Without the Coliseum entry, it is less of a financially obvious case, but it depends what else you go and see.

2 – I’d suggest the Capucin Museum, which is quite interesting if a little creepy. You should also consider the Circo Maximums and the Capitoline Museums.

Christopher Darling says

27th April 2019 at 10:54 am

Good morning

Thank you very much for such a really great and detailed travel guide.

I ordered the Omnia card, I was wondering if it was possible to change the time of the Vatican museum booking. When I booked my museum timing I wasn’t aware Saint Peter’s Basilica next timing was 4 hrs later.

Thank you for all of your help and your great guide.

27th April 2019 at 6:55 pm

My pleasure. So for the Omnia Card, when I have queried about the timings in the past, I was told that the only important time is the Vatican time. Beyond that, as long as you show up on the right day for the St. Peter’s Basilica, you shouldn’t have any problem.

That said, I would also check with the Omnia card folks to confirm this, and also to see if you can change the time if you would still prefer to do that,

Alex Purvis says

12th April 2019 at 11:48 am

Hi Lawrence and Jessica,

Thank you very much for this wonderful blog. I have a question about the Omnia card, which I have just purchased, if you can help me.

I haven’t yet been quite able to figure out how the discounts to attractions work. I assume, at least for the two free attractions, you just pick which two appeal, then join the security line to enter and declare while brandishing your Omnia card that this is one of your two chosen free entries. Is that correct?

However, for the other discounted attractions, is it the case that you must still join the ticket purchasing line, and show your Omnia card when you buy in order to receive the discount? In which case, you would be unable to skip the ticket lines for any other than the two free attractions (plus the Vatican). Is that how the discounts work?

One other small issue – when I follow the link in the email confirmation Omnia sent me to reserve time slots at the Vatican, it appears that I have to reserve separate time slots for all three of: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Prison. Is that the case, and if I did not reserve times for all three, or was slightly late for a particular time slot, would I then be denied entry, or miss out on skip-the-queue?

I apologise for the length of this message, but I would be very grateful for any clarity you could provide!

Thanks Again!

12th April 2019 at 12:00 pm

Our pleasure, we’re delighted you found it useful 🙂

So, assuming you bought the Omnia Card that we recommend in this post, it is actually two cards.

The Omnia part of it is what gives you access to the Vatican attractions, which include the Vatican Museum, St. Peters Basilica and so on. Those are all included, you don’t have to choose.

The other part of it is the Roma Pass, which is the one where you get free access to the 2/6 attractions, and then discounted admission. You are correct – the skip the line access only works for the free admission.

The main queues in Rome however are for St. Peters Basilica, the Vatican Museum (both of these you get skip the line access with the Omnia part of the card) and the Coliseum. The Coliseum however now operates a timed entry system, as explained in this post. I definitely recommend using the Coliseum for one of your free entries, and reserving your timeslot online using the process I outline in this post.

I have been told in the past by the Omnia Pass folks that the only timeslot that really matters is the Vatican Museum. For St. Peters Basilica, the important thing is that you choose the correct day, the actual timeslot is not an issue. I had not previously heard of a separate timeslot for the Sistine Chapel. I don’t see that this could be a thing as it’s actually inside the Vatican Museum, so you just visit it as part of that visit, I don’t believe there’s a separate entry process as far as I know, unless this has changed recently.

For St. Peters Prison, I have a feeling this will be the same as St. Peters Basilica, as long as pick the right day, the timing shouldn’t be a big issue. It’s not a massive attraction so there shouldn’t be any problem. Personally I would reserve all the times, but only worry about being on time for the Vatican Museum, which is one where you are escorted in by the Omnia Pass people in a special line.

Let me know if this all makes sense!

Melissa says

4th April 2019 at 9:01 pm

My husband and I are planning a full 2 week trip to Italy in September 2019. Mainly because our son is stationed at the military base in Naples. We will be arriving early morning on a WED and will have most of the day WED and all day THU to spend in Rome, then we will take a train FRI morning to visit our son in Naples for a 4 day weekend. He will be showing us around Naples, Pompeii and Amalfi coast/Capri. We were then planning to either catch a train/plane from Naples to Florence then to Venice and then back to Rome early on a MON for another day before heading to airport for very early am flight on TUE. Or maybe taking a flight directly to Venice first then taking the train to florence and back towards Rome.

I’ve been researching a lot on how to go about doing this. It seems that the Omnicard would not be the most economical option since our “3-days in Rome” will not be consecutive. Any advise you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

5th April 2019 at 11:18 am

Hi Melissa,

You are correct, the 3 day pass wouldn’t work out so well for you. However, I have a solution. The 3 day Ommnia Rome and Vatican Card actually consists of two cards, an Omnia Card, and a Roma Pass. You can buy these separately, and thus activate them separately. The Omnia card will cover the Vatican attractions, and the Rome Pass will cover things like the Coliseum, Roman Forum and so on.

So my suggestion is to buy them individually, and to use the Roma Pass for the WED/THU, then the OMNIA pass for the Monday. I would suggest picking up the Omnia Pass when you arrive though, as you can then book your timeslots for the Vatican Museums.

You can buy the 24 hour Omnia Card here , and the 48 hour Roma Pass here .

Just be aware that for the Coliseum, even with a Roma Pass, you still need to reserve a timeslot. The process for doing so is explained in the post above (this is new as of March 2019, so many websites are still giving incorrect information that you don’t need to do this).

The only thing I would advise is just to make sure the various attractions you plan to visit are open on the days you are visiting. Based on the information you’ve given me it should be fine, but Rome has public holidays and so on, and I wouldn’t want you to buy a pass for a specific day that you then can’t use!

Let me know if I can be of any further help, and have a fantastic trip!

5th April 2019 at 11:19 am

Just to add to this – if you don’t want the hop on hop off bus, you can also buy skip the line tickets for both St. Peters and the Vatican from that website, which might be a little cheaper than the Omnia Card.

4th April 2019 at 1:15 am

Hello, Thank you so much for the extremely helpful information. I’m in Rome now mostly following your itinerary. My question is about food. I’m not sure If you already mentioned this anywhere n I missed it but what are the best places you would recommend to eat Italian food (restaurants or grap n go pies n stuff)? We are doing Vatican tomorrow (through Omnia with a guide). Any specific place to eat you recommend around there ? Thanks

4th April 2019 at 11:55 am

To be honest, we haven’t put together a restaurant guide for Rome as yet. We rarely do food guides to be honest, because we like to be thorough, and it takes a lot of time to visit sufficient restaurants to come up with a good enough guide – especially in a city like Rome! We also find that restaurants are not like attractions, they tend to open and close more often, and it can be hard to keep a guide up to date.

When we travel, we usually look at resources like Google Maps or Yelp, as well a general blog posts on where to eat in a city from more focused food blogs. We try to make sure the reviews are recent and seem to also be from locals. Usually this works pretty well. Rome is pretty good for restaurants though, we’ve never had a particularly bad meal! But a little research will keep you away from the more touristy traps.

Sorry not to be of more specific help!

29th March 2019 at 2:01 pm

We will be traveling to Rome in May, and will be spending three days. I tried locating your google map itinerary but am having issue finding it. When I click the link to the map, it only opens my Google Map App without opening your itinerary map. Is there a way you could provide me the name or another link to the map?

Thank you! This was by far the most helpful in regards to planning a short visit in Rome – so many other blogs did not give precise direction on how/when to organize the trip!

29th March 2019 at 2:09 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 So I have updated the link to the following:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1x5V1a95ajBmgBgXTOFCxNCgCEU4_84nF&ll=41.891275518815284%2C12.479531000000065&z=14

Can you let me know if that works for you? Google is a bit tricky when it comes to these things sometimes. If that doesn’t work, I would suggest trying on a desktop browser or in an incognito tab perhaps.

Let me know how it goes!

29th March 2019 at 2:29 pm

Thank you so much! That link worked for me! I appreciate it!

29th March 2019 at 2:46 pm

Awesome 😀 I will update some of our other posts as well to the new link structure 🙂

gabriela honegger says

21st March 2019 at 8:02 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica,

We will be arriving in Rome on June 20, 2019 and departing on June 24 out of Venice to France . Could you advise us on how to get around and see Rome, Florence, and Venice in 4 days? Is this even possible? love your website!!!!

21st March 2019 at 8:29 pm

Hi Gabriela,

So this is of course theoretically possible, but it will be quite rushed. I would probably try and focus on seeing two cities more fully, but I understand if you want to fit it all in.

I’m not sure what time you are arriving or leaving and if you have much time on the 24th or 20th. So this sort of assumes you don’t have much time on those days.

My advice be to spend a day in Rome, following our itinerary for a day in Rome . Then, take the train to Florence (book train tickets in advance on trenitalia to save money). Either go in the evening after exploring Rome, or early in the morning. Then explore Florence for a day, overnight in Florence, and then head to Venice on the train.

If you want to take a tour in any of these places, I can recommend this Rome in a Day tour and this Florence in a Day Tour 🙂

17th March 2019 at 7:24 pm

Thank you. This is immensely helpful. I can tell it took a lot of thought and time and I truly appreciate it!

18th March 2019 at 11:57 am

My pleasure Luis – have a great trip!

6th March 2019 at 3:13 pm

I love your website and how you are so helpful to those of us who have no idea what to expect when we arrive in Rome. Your 3 day itinerary is awesome. We plan to see at least the first two days of attractions. This is the best sight I’ve seen and the fact that you answer directly to us is amazing. Thank you in advance for your help.

I’m worried I may have done something wrong. We arrive in Rome on March 31st…we arrive early that morning so I thought we might want to see a few of the lesser sites or do the hop on hop off tour just to get familiar with the city that afternoon when we arrive. We plan to start our Vatican and Colosseum sightseeing early Monday morning April 1st.

I purchased the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card a couple of days ago. I picked the date of March 31, My thinking is that it will give us 3 days…March 31 – April 2. We leave early on April 3rd. Am I correct in my thinking that this pass will give us those 3 days of sightseeing and general transportation?

My second concern is I can’t find anywhere that allows me to pick time slots. We want to start at the Vatican as early as possible on Monday April 1. Can you help me figure out how to choose my time slots?

The Omnia Vatican and Rome Card is expensive and I can’t find a way to pick a time slot?

7th March 2019 at 11:35 am

Many thanks for your message. So the pass will activate on first use, the date you specified isn’t too important. If you start using it on the 31st it will work on the 31st,1st and 2nd.

For your second point I have been in contact with the folks who issue the pass about your issue. I have been told that you should have received an email with a link to book your times. However, you are the second person to contact me about this recently so I am wondering if something has changed. If you could forward me the email they sent you on purchase and any other confirmation to my email, [email protected] , I’ll investigate further!

7th March 2019 at 3:57 pm

Thank you Laurence,

I have forwarded the email to you. I really appreciate your help.

8th March 2019 at 1:32 pm

Great Alana – happy to be of help 🙂 Have a great trip!

1st March 2019 at 7:04 am

Thank you so much for this easy to follow and very detailed guide. I have one question though…. About the ticketbar purchase ~where can we redeem the cards and stuff for example from the airport in Rome?

1st March 2019 at 4:05 pm

For the Rome Pass, the pickup locations are as follows:

PIT Castel S. Angelo, Piazza Pia (next to the gardens of Castel Sant’Angelo), 8.30am – 18.00pm till 24/03, 9.30am – 7.00pm till 27/10. PIT Ciampino, Aeroporto G.B.Pastine – External area International Arrivals. 8.30am – 6.00pm. PIT Cinque Lune, Piazza delle Cinque Lune (Piazza Navona). 9.30am – 7.00pm. PIT Fiumicino, Aeroporto Leonardo Da Vinci – International Arrivals – Terminal T3. 8.00am – 8.45pm. PIT Fori Imperiali, Visitor Center Via dei Fori Imperiali. 01 January-30 June and 01 September-31 December: 9.30am – 7.00pm – 01 July-31 August: 9.30am – 8.00 pm. PIT Minghetti, Via Marco Minghetti (corner to Via del Corso). 9.30am – 7.00pm. PIT Sonnino, Piazza Sidney Sonnino (Trastevere). 10.30am – 8.00pm. PIT Termini, Stazione Termini – Via Giovanni Giolitti, 34, platform 24. 8.00am – 6.45pm.

So as you can see, lots of options 😀

4th March 2019 at 10:25 am

Thank you so much!

Sandy s says

28th February 2019 at 7:47 pm

Hi Laurence. Hope you can answer a couple of queries for me. 1. Our flight lands at about 9pm and we were planning on getting the train/bus from the airport to termini. Just a bit concerned of what is the best option to get from termini to our hotel. Can we get a taxi outside the station and roughly how much would it cost? Our hotel is close to the Coliseum. the hotel does a shuttle from the airport but it is very expensive. 2. we have booked the Vatican museum etc with our omnia card. Did I see somewhere that we now have to book the coliseum as well in advance?

Ps loving the blog – planning on using the itinerary when we visit in 3 weeks!

1st March 2019 at 4:18 pm

So, from Termini to the Coliseum is only about half a mile, which is even walkable! However, there are also public buses you could take. I couldn’t tell you how much a taxi would cost, but it would not be very much for such a short distance.

For the Coliseum, yes, they have now (as of 1st March 2019, or today!), made it so that everyone, even holders of the Roma Pass / Omnia Card, have to book their Coliseum time. This costs €2 and is best done online. To do so, you will go here:

https://ecm.coopculture.it/index.php?option=com_snapp&view=event&id=6C207193-B1F0-4F69-70C4-016523BDE15E&catalogid=1B972393-F85A-9A73-1906-0167A81DA806&lang=en

And pick a date and time slot at the bottom. It is easier if you do this with “solo disponsibli” checked, as it will show you only available times. Once you pick a time, you should be able to choose a ticket type, and one of them will be “COL-FOR-PAL PREN.INGRESSO CON ROMA PASS individuals entrance” at a price of €2. That is the one you want to buy.

I hope this helps! I’ll update our Rome content to reflect this as it’s all new for 2019.

Have a great trip

Sandy S says

1st March 2019 at 5:41 pm

Hi Laurence Thanks for the quick response. I was initially happy to walk from Termini but as it is going to be about 10pm I was just concerned about safety for two mature ladies visiting. I think a taxi might be best.

2nd March 2019 at 8:01 am

No worries. Rome is pretty safe, but it never hurts to take precautions, especially with all your baggage,

Have a wonderful time 🙂

25th February 2019 at 5:48 pm

Hello; I have found your site to be very helpful when planning my visit to Rome. I will be traveling with a small dog and traveling in November so I hope the crowds will be less. I realize that dogs will not be allowed in the interior of most places, but I assume I will be able to walk on the outside of many of the sites you mentioned. Also, do you find Rome to be dog friendly?

I would also like to take a cooking class while in Rome….do you recommend any?

27th February 2019 at 5:00 pm

So we haven’t travelled with a dog in Rome, so our advice is not from personal experience. However, you shouldn’t have any trouble on the outside of the attractions certainly. I’m not sure which attractions would allow dogs, if any, but I think overall Rome is dog friendly. However, again I must stress this is not based on first hand experience.

In terms of cooking classes, the only one we’ve done is this one . It was a great evening and lots of fun, but it was more of a pasta making evening and social event rather than a full-on cooking class, so it depends what you want 🙂

Have a wonderful trip!

Deepak says

21st February 2019 at 2:55 am

Thanks for the detailed itinerary. Really loved the way you have organised the content and shared your experience. We are planning for a 2.5 day trip to Rome in July. I had few questions

1. Since we land in Rome at 9am, we plan to start our sight seeing at 1PM after we check-in and take some rest. Given just half day, which of day of your 3 day itinerary do you suggest to do on our first day given we have only 0.5 day.

2. I plan to take guided tours to both Vatican Museums and Colloseum. Will you suggest I still take Roma Pass ?

3. Any suggestions on good authentic Italian food in Rome ?

4. We plan to take train to Naples on Day 4 for a trip to Pompeii. Any suggestions on Naples and Pompeii ?

21st February 2019 at 8:56 am

So if you lose half a day you will possibly have to skip something, depending on how you arrange your time. However, you mention that you want to take a tour of the Vatican and Coliseum. So my suggestions is as follows:

1 – take the Rome in a Day tour from Take Walks, which includes both the Vatican and Coliseum, as well as the majority of sights in the city centre. For your half day, you could see what’s left on Day 2, then on your other full day you could do day 3.

2 – no, I don’t think you will get too many benefits of the Roma Pass, unless you want the transport.

3 – to be honest, we rarely recommend restaurants as they change so often, and the quality can vary. We recommend using Google maps or something similar, and looking for recent good reviews.

4 – this isn’t an area we’ve explored recently, so we don’t have any tips currently – sorry!

Jeff Tokryman says

15th February 2019 at 2:58 pm

Hello Thank you for the detailed info We (2 of us) are looking for a guided group tour of Rome over a three day time frame to see the sites you mention. Vatican and related with skip the line access. We also want to go inside the Colosseum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain. Context Travel has these split up. I am looking for a complete combo tour. We plan to visit Rome The 1st or 2nd week of MAY.

17th February 2019 at 3:59 pm

Have you taken a look at the tours available on the Take Walks site? They have a number of options. Or did you want a private tour?

14th February 2019 at 8:05 pm

I love your post about 3 days in Rome. I just purchased the Omnia Rome travel pass. I ordered the passes to be sent to me because I thought it would be one less thing I had to deal with when I arrived. They sent an email saying I can’t prebook my entry times until I have my tickets. I know you stated in your post that once you order the pss you can book your reservations. Do you know if something changed or did I book it wrong? Thank you.

14th February 2019 at 9:02 pm

So my understanding was that as soon as you bought your pass you would be able to book your entry times at the following website: https://booking.omniakit.org/en/categories/choose

However, it sounds like this might have changed. I have sent an e-mail to my contacts at the Omnia Rome pass to see what the current process is in case it has changed. In addition, for the Coliseum you also now need to book an entry time if you are visiting after the start of March 2019. However the process for how you actually do this with the pass is a bit unclear, so I have asked for clarity about that as well,

I’ll be in touch when I hear back!

19th February 2019 at 2:01 am

Thank you so much! I appreciate your help with my questions!

19th February 2019 at 4:06 pm

My pleasure!

Suan Teo says

12th February 2019 at 1:16 am

We are a group of 6 seniors travelling to Rome arriving Oct 14 and our cruise sets sail on Oct 20. Your 3-day Rome itinerary and 2-day in Florence is very helpful. Need recommendation on accommodation for 6….will you suggest VRBO and/or AirBnB. Thank you.

12th February 2019 at 5:36 pm

I would certainly suggest for a larger party that an apartment is great option. We have a list of a range of apartment booking websites we suggest you look at, which you can see here .

Let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll try to help out!

27th January 2019 at 1:00 am

Hi Laurence & Jessica Norah, thank you for this wonderful insight of Rome. i am arriving in Rome Feb of this year Sunday noon and leaving Thursday morning to explore the City. i honestly love the itinerary that you wrote but my “bad left knee” can’t endure the walks as stated. my top priorities to visit are as follows. The Vatican, The Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica (and maybe hear Mass and see a glimpse of our beloved Pope). Piazza del Popolo, Spanish steps, Trevi fountain (wishing to visit again), Mouth of Truth (for the child/curiosity/fun @heart) and of course, The Colosseum & Roman Forum. please help me out on how to achieve this in 3 1/2 days. thank you in advance and more power to you two 🙂 Sirod

27th January 2019 at 10:06 am

So based on your priorities I think you will be able to achieve what you want. As you say you want to see a Papal mass, we can arrange your visit around that. I’m not sure which part of February you are visiting, but you can see the papal mass timetable here: http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/en/udienze_en.html

For the Wednesday mass, please be advised you have to get tickets in advance from the website I link to. Tickets are free, but are required for entry. You will also need to be there in person at least a couple of hours early in order to see mass. So this will take up most of the morning and some of the afternoon.

My advice for the rest of that day would be to visit the outside attractions, like Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain. From the vatican you can take a bus to the centre of the city. Alternatively, you could visit St. Peter’s on this afternoon as you are already there. I don’t think you’ll have time to see the Vatican as well.

So this would give you the Monday to see The Colosseum & Roman Forum. This would also be a good day to see the mouth of truth.

You could then dedicate the Tuesday to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.

Does that sound feasible?

27th January 2019 at 9:19 pm

Thank you very much for your reply. This will definitely be a short but wonderful stay in Rome. More power to your “blog”

27th January 2019 at 11:02 pm

My pleasure Sirod, do let me know if you have any more questions!

caroline says

26th January 2019 at 8:40 pm

love your blog. Excited to go to Rome in a few days, however, there is one thing that we dont understand with the Omnia Card. Are you supposed to prebooked online all the attractions with the Omnia card or just show up ? Thanks in advance, Caroline

26th January 2019 at 8:51 pm

Hi Caroline!

Thanks very much, and it’s my pleasure to be able to help 🙂

So when you have your card you can prebook your timeslots at the following website: https://booking.omniakit.org/en/categories/choose

If you are picking the card up in person, you’ll make the bookings at the time you pick it up I think.

The only things you need to book the timeslots for are the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. However, for St. Peter’s, it’s an open ticket for the whole day – as long as you have a booking confirmation for the right day, the time doesn’t matter.

I hope this helps – let me know if you have any further questions or anything doesn’t make sense 🙂

26th January 2019 at 9:34 pm

Thanks Laurence, for taking the time to answer my question. This is very heelpful.

24th January 2019 at 5:59 pm

I’m relieved to find the perfect Rome travel guide for me! It tends to be overwhelming during this planning phase as there’s a wide range of attractions to visit. But glad to havr come across your page.

My husband and I are booked for June 3-11, 2019. We have not booked any accommodation yet but we’re looking more into a bed & breakfast kind of place.

We’re inclined to tour around Italy for our 8 nights. We’re thinking of Rome, Milan, Venice and Florence. Do you think doing this would be too tight given our travel period? We’re slow paced travelers and would want to have ample time to appreciate the surroundings. We also love when we don’t need to rush from one point to the next.

Also, can you comment about taking taxis, uber, or private hired cars as mode of transportation? What’s our best option if we want to travel (day trip) to Milan or Venice or Florence or all?

Thank you in advance!

25th January 2019 at 3:06 pm

Thanks very much 😀 So I would say that 8 days is definitely enough to see three cities. Four would be possible, but if you don’t want to feel rushed then you might want to drop one. My suggestion would be to go Rome -> Florence – Venice, and to take the fast train between them which will be the most cost effective and fastest way to travel. Tickets can be booked online in advance from the TrenItalia website, which has an English language version.

For transportation in the cities, much of the three cities I mention are entirely walkable, but Uber is available and likely going to be your best option. I’d also recommend the bus or other public transport options. Venice doesn’t have any vehicles, only water taxis.

I would personally advise that if you really want to appreciate Venice and Florence that you stay overnight in them. So with your eight nights, I’d suggest 3 in Rome, 3 in Florence with one of those days as a trip to Tuscany, and 2 nights in Venice. For your time in Florence, I’d suggest reading our guide to 2 days in Florence, which has some suggested tours to Tuscany: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/highlights-of-florence-and-tuscany-two-days/

I don’t think you’ll need a hire car 🙂

Have a great trip – and do let me know if you have any more questions!

17th January 2019 at 8:37 pm

Laurence, what a great blog you guys have produced, well done! Great insight and hints!! My wife and I are going to Rome either over Easter (yea) or in July (UGGGH HOT) If we buy the individual tickets from the sites themselves do we get to skip the lines too? And if we buy them online before we fly over can we print the tickets at home and bring them with us or do they have to be mailed/shipped to us ? Thanks so much!!

17th January 2019 at 10:26 pm

Personally I’d go for Easter if I was you – July will not only be hot, but also very busy.

For the tickets, sorry to say this, but it very much depends on the site and the ticket. However, I will quickly run down for the main sites:

For the Vatican, yes, if you book it on the official Vatican Museum website this comes with skip the line access. Note whatever ticket you buy there is still a security line.

For St. Peter’s Basilica, there isn’t an entry ticket, so there is no official website to buy a ticket from. However, there is usually a long line for security here, and if you buy from one of the “skip the line” third party services, you get access to a shorter security line which can save you a lot of time on a busy day. Obviously the value of this is up to you! We recommend this one , but there are a few.

For the Coliseum, you can also buy skip the line tickets from the official website here . Personally I find this website a bit confusing 😉 There are a variety of ticket options, but as of 2018 they operate a timed entry system, so you have to pick a time slot. Until the end of 2018 they had something called an “open” ticket, which let you go in any time after 2pm, but that appears to have been discontinued, so you need to select a time.

For the tickets, I believe they are all of the print at home variety, however we nearly always use one of the various passes we mention as we just find them easier, so I do not have first hand knowledge to confirm that.

Finally, we can also recommend one of the walking tours as well if you want to avoid all the hassle as they sort all this stuff out for you. Obviously more expensive, but we find they can really help bring a location to life. We recommend Walks of Italy generally for Rome 🙂

Have a fantastic trip, and if you do decide to go for the online tickets, do let us know how it goes and if they can be printed at home so I know for future!

21st January 2019 at 2:14 pm

Hi Laurence! Thanks for the reply, and again great information!! Hope we can make it around Easter for sure. If we buy the tickets on line I’ll be sure to let you know if we’re able to print them at home. Thanks again. Ken

Lisa Herrmann says

28th December 2018 at 3:08 pm

LOVE this site and your plans. I will be there in March and can’t wait! I made my reservations for the Vatican Museums and the Basillica as suggested with my Omnia card. Do I need to print out the reservation or is it now linked to my Omnia card?

I am also planning on taking a train ride to Venice for a day. Any suggestions on a half day trip there?

THANKS SO MUCH!

28th December 2018 at 4:30 pm

Thanks very much Lisa! I’m not 100% certain if you need to print out the confirmation. It should be linked with your card, but you might want to print it out just in case (we usually print things out just in case!).

For Venice, we have a guide to things to do in Venice for a day – I’d say that half a day would be enough to see the main sights like the Rialto Bridge, St Marks Square and so on 🙂

Have an awesome trip, and do pop back to let us know how it all went!

27th October 2018 at 9:33 am

A very good guide and help.

27th October 2018 at 11:25 pm

26th October 2018 at 8:57 pm

I just bought my Omnia Vatican and Rome pass for my trip at the end of November. It is being mailed to me. Do you know if I need to wait until the pass arrives so book my Sistine Chapel tickets? Or is there a portal I can go through to book them before actually having the pass? I wasn’t prompted to book the tickets during my Pass Purchasing process.

26th October 2018 at 9:06 pm

So the last time I asked the Rome and Vatican Pass people about this, I was told that you should be sent a link by e-mail when you place your order. You might want to check your spam folder to be sure. If you haven’t received a link, please let me know, and I will check in with them in case the process has changed, and get back to you.

I do know that when you have the pass in hand you can book your timeslot using this website:

https://booking.omniakit.org/en/categories/choose

And the code that is printed on the card, however I appreciate you might want to get things arranged already, so just let me know if you’ve got any links sent by e-mail or not.

Also, just to be aware, for the Sistine Chapel it’s the Vatican Museum entry you need to book. You also need to book a timeslot for St. Peter’s, but it’s an open ticket for the whole day – as long as you have a booking confirmation for the right day, the time doesn’t matter.

I hope this helps!

15th October 2018 at 8:18 pm

Firstly, I would like to appreciate you for the way you have written this blog. It’s beautiful and very useful. I am planning my trip based on your itinerary and have a few questions: 1. I will be visiting Rome from October 25th to 28th, 2018 and plan to visit the Vatican City on Friday, October 26th. My question, would they still be huge queues to visit the Vatican Muesuem and the Sistine Chapel. Do you recommend to buy any of the above passes or just buy a ticket from the official website of the Vatican museum.

2. In general, will the lines be too huge during my time of visit at other attractions like the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill? Just buying the ticket on the same day be recommended or should we buy any of the above mentioned passes?

Thanks in advance S

17th October 2018 at 7:53 pm

Thank you very much 🙂

So, it’s hard to predict exactly what the queues will be like for any given day, but October should certainly be less busy than say August. So you should be ok for the Vatican and the other sites. However, if you are planning on attending a few of the sites you mention, then the Roma Pass will definitely be helpful, as it will let you skip the lines, save a bit of money and also get free transport in the city.

Aggie Serrame says

8th October 2018 at 12:27 pm

I came across this post while looking at itineraries for Rome. We will be in Rome for 4 days from February 18-22, 2019!

First question is, what would the weather be like/what clothes to wear/pack because it’s a struggle every time we pack too much winter or pack too little winter stuff haha.

Second, we are going to be getting the Omnia and Roma Pass to utilize the service of skipping lines, when we get the 72 hour pass, does that start from the moment we get it? Because we’re trying to use 1 of the 4 days to do a Pompeii/Amalfi Coast tour so I don’t want the other day of the 72 hour to go to waste. Any suggestions for me?

Third, I already mentioned we are doing a day tour to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, have you guys been there in the winter? Do you have any recommendations on what our 4 day intinerary can be with that day tour to Pompeii and Amalfi coast???

Last, we also want to take a cooking class specifically pasta making, do you have any recommendations on which company/class to take?? We will be staying at a hotel 5 mins walk from the Trevi Fountain so if there’s anything in that area that you recommend for us to go to eat and shop, I would love to know! Or any restaurants really!

10th October 2018 at 5:43 pm

First, sounds like we need to write a four day itinerary! For February, it will be a bit cooler so you should definitely plan on packing some layers. It won’t be freezing, but it won’t be much above 10 – 15C I would say, and if you get rain or wind it might feel cooler. For the passes, they activate from the first use, so you are fine on that front. We have not visited Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast in winter, we’d say Pompeii would probably be better.

In terms of a cooking class, we have done one through Take Walks which was a lot of fun. You can see that here: Pasta-Making Class: Cook, Dine & Drink Wine With A Local Chef

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions and we’ll try to help!

Roslyn says

5th October 2018 at 11:59 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica, We are visiting Rome in December and we’re keen to use your 3 day itininery. Just wondering if daylight hours will be less in December and if that will impact on our ability to see the sights. We were also wondering about a day trip outside of Rome as we have been told there are many sites outside of Rime much older than the ones in Rome. Thanks

10th October 2018 at 4:55 pm

Certainly there will be less daylight in December compared to the summer, but it shouldn’t impact your ability to do sight-seeing as most of the outdoor attractions are well lit at night. For visiting outside of Rome, I’d say with three days you are better staying in the city – there are lots of sights to see, and many of them are 2000+ years old, so there’s no shortage of old things to see!

Kushal says

5th October 2018 at 2:47 am

Thanks so much for the detailed itinerary. My wife and I are looking to be in Rome around Christmas. As it stands we Re planning to be in Rome on 23rd Dec and leave for Florence 27th Dec. We have 3 full days and I am sure your itinerary gives us the best chance to see Rome the best way but what implications will Christmas period have on the itinerary? Can you please suggest.

10th October 2018 at 4:54 pm

Certainly the Christmas period is likely to affect opening times, especially on Christmas Day (25th). My suggestion would be to check the official websites for each attraction you want to visit to see when they are open or not, and adjust the itinerary to suit 🙂 Have a great trip!

1st October 2018 at 2:12 pm

Hi, Have really enjoyed reading this blog and intend on using the itinerary for when my sister and I visit from 21st March 2019. How soon should we be buying the OMNIA pass and booking the Vatican/colosseum entries? Is it best to have them shipped

1st October 2018 at 2:43 pm

Thanks for stopping by! It is easier to get the pass shipped as otherwise you do have to pick it up in person. That said, I’ve arranged the itinerary so you are near the collection points on the first day, however if you get it shipped you will save a bit of time if there is a line 🙂 It’s not too expensive to have it shipped

I hope this helps! Have a great trip 🙂

30th September 2018 at 9:40 pm

I really like your itinerary and all the inside info. Thank you for that. I have a few questions.

1. can I just book the Omnia card in Rome, when we get there? I’ll have a couple of hours at the Airport waiting for my family to arrive, so I thought it might be a good time to pop to Tourist information and buy them for us.

2. I have seen another itinerary recommending Vatican gardens. Are they worth visiting?

Thank you Jana

1st October 2018 at 2:22 pm

Thanks for your comment 🙂 To answer your questions

1 – Yes you can, but only from specific points in the city, which are not at the airport unfortunately. There are three places you can buy them, which are listed as the collection points on this page: https://www.romeandvaticanpass.com/collection-points-rome-pass/index.html

2 – It’s hard to know – some people will love the Vatican gardens, others may not find them as interesting 😉 You can only visit them as a guided tour, which takes around 1.5 – 2 hours. The ticket for the tour includes the Vatican Museum entry as well. So it will take a bit of time, so if you decide to do this, then you might need to adjust your day accordingly 🙂 They aren’t included on any of the passes, so you would have to book this separately!

I hope this helps – have a great trip!

23rd September 2018 at 5:27 pm

Hey! My sisters and i are going on our first trip together to Rome, and basically planning everything off of your amazing itinerary!

I did have one question, the first day there are a TON of attractions to see. Do you think its possible to do all of it in one day? We were planning on starting the day at 7AM, but i was still worried about not being able to see everything. I noticed that the Pantheon closes by 730 pm, and is more towards the end of the day as well. is it possible to make it on time

another question i had is about Pyramid of Caius Cestius. is this only open on saturday and sunday?

thank so much!!

26th September 2018 at 4:38 am

It is definitely possible (and you can see other commenters agree :)) to do it in one day, but I agree, it is a full day. However, if you start at 7am, you should be fine! Many of the attractions have no closing time, and you can just move the Pantheon forward a little bit in the itinerary if you are worried about it, as it’s right next to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. For the Pyramid, we think it’s enough just to see it from the outside rather than go in, but it’s up to you 🙂 It does appear only to open on weekend mornings.

23rd September 2018 at 3:11 am

I am planning a 3 day trip to Rome in December, and really like the 3-day itinerary that you have outlined. How does the Hop on Hop Off Bus ticket fit into the itinerary?

26th September 2018 at 4:40 am

The HOHO bus will take you around the major sights if you want to use it, it might be a good option on the first day to get from the Vatican area close to the major sights in Rome, or on the second day from the Coliseum. Or you could just use it on the third day to tour Rome, and then do the Appian Way. It’s up to you!

Hope this helps!

Kathy McDermott says

22nd September 2018 at 10:02 pm

I am happy that I came across your site. I’m struggling to put our itinerary together and yours seems to be a good fit. (and I’ve researched a lot!) My husband and I will be in Rome Sunday,May 12, 2019 with our flight landing at 8:15 am and leaving Wednesday,May 15th in the morning. We want to do the Colosseum on Sunday with the underground tour (the latest is 2:00 pm) but also purchase the Roma Pass. What I’ve read online is that I have to call the Colosseum to add the underground tour to use the Roma Pass. I don’t think we can squeeze your Day 2 itinerary into our Day 1 (with flight time and Hotel check-in) and the Vatican is closed on Sundays. Any suggestions as to how to mix it up? Thank You!

26th September 2018 at 4:54 am

I have to admit I’m not sure about adding the underground tour to the Roma Pass, but if that’s what you’ve read then I’m sure that is likely correct.

Based on your timings, I would suggest something like:

Coliseum, Roman Forum, St. John in the Lateran, Mouth of Truth

As Day 1 in the itinerary

As Day 3, but with the addition of the Baths of Caracalla

Hopefully that works!

Have a great trip, and let me know if I can help any more!

Chrisite says

5th September 2018 at 9:56 pm

Thanks for this amazing itinerary, I can’t wait to visit in less than a week! Just a quick question what do the ladies normally wear out there? Im more of a short person however, a lot of websites so not to wear them. I know knees/shoulders have to be covered in holy places, but would it be acceptable to wear shorts when visiting the colloseum and will i be the woman wearing them if i do?

6th September 2018 at 10:49 am

Hey Chrisite

Our pleasure! So for the religious buildings like St. Peter’s, as you say you do need to cover from just below your knees up to your shoulders. So this is why most people don’t wear shorts, as you have to change to something longer. But it’s perfectly acceptable to wear shorts to other places like the Coliseum or the rest of the city, and I’m fairly sure you won’t be alone if you do so!

Have a great trip 🙂

2nd September 2018 at 5:50 am

This was a great read and I’m sure I will check out all of these places when we go to Rome in March. My sisters and I went to Paris this spring and we bought a pass as that was the least expensive way to do it. My question though, is we will be in Rome for 19 days and I don’t want to cram all of the sight seeing into just a few days. Would it still be cost effective to purchase a pass? Also, because we will be staying outside of the central city because we do have some meetings to attend, we will be renting a car. I think we will use it mostly use it outside of the city and then when we go sight seeing, we will park somewhere and use public transit. Would it still be worth us buying a pass for public transit? Thanks again for the wonderful tips.

2nd September 2018 at 10:27 am

Thanks. I think for 19 days a pass isn’t going to deliver much cost benefit, as most of the passes we are aware of are time limited, and if you don’t see a certain number of attractions, then the pass cost won’t be worth it. So if you want to spread your attraction viewing out, then it’s unlikely to be cost effective to buy a pass. Instead, you should just be sure to book your individual tickets in advance to skip the ticket lines. I’d also say that a transport pass will be unlikely to save you money. Individual tickets, good for 100 minutes of transport, are only €1.50, so unless you plan on taking a lot of transport, it will probably be cheaper to just pay as you go.

29th August 2018 at 5:31 pm

Hello Laurence!

This ‘3 day’ plan is AMAZING! My husband and I are going to Rome in February half term (Im a teacher so can only go then) so this has given us loads of great ideas.

Id like to ask a few questions though, if I may.

1. Should I get the ’skip in lines’ even for first thing in the morning in late Feb? 2. Do I need an audioguide/ a real guide tour of the Vatican museums (especially if we aren’t really interested in art info – just cool to look at?) 3. Does the entry to the Vatican museums (€17+€4 for skip the queues) include Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica?? It says Basilica is free to enter but some sites charging €14,50 as fast track into the Basilica….is this worth it? Does the ‘fast track’ into the Vatican museums also get you fast track into the Basilica/Sistine chapel? 4. Is the Sistine Chapel extra if you have paid the entrance fee to the Vatican museums? 5. Castel Saint Angelo – worth a visit? Some people say just lots of fancy rooms…maybe just a visit from the front?

Sorry, I know thats a lot of questions. When I have a holiday project I go a bit all out. Want to get in as much as possible (we normally do a lot of visits whenever we are on holiday – most people think what we do is excessive but we love the fast paced hols)

29th August 2018 at 6:00 pm

Pleased you like it! And you are welcome to ask questions of course. I’ll answer then in the order you asked, I appreciate a well ordered list 😀

1 – it’s less likely you’ll need skip the line tickets at this time of year, especially if you go early in the morning. February should be a fairly quiet month. That said, you might want to add up the individual prices for each attraction you want to visit and figure out if something like the Omnia Vatican and Rome card will either save you money, or even if it’s a little more expensive, it might save you a bit of time.

2 – It’s up to you of course! We’ve visited the Vatican both on our own and on a guided tour. We definitely learnt a lot more with the tour than we did on our own, obviously, plus they know the fastest ways to the main highlights.

3 – Skip the line entry to the Vatican does include the Sistine Chapel (the Vatican Museum is the only way to get to the Sistine Chapel), but not St. Peters Basilica. St. Peters Basilica is free to enter, but as the lines (especially in summer) can get very very long, you can pay a premium for fast track entry. You do have to book this in advance. Alternatively, you can book a tour like the Pristine Sistine tour I mention in the post. Group tours have a special route they are allowed to use, which takes them directly from The Vatican Museums into St Peters Basilica. So if you were planning to take a tour, definitely take one that includes both the Vatican and St. Peters as this will save you time. Alternatively, if you’re an early riser, St. Peters Basilica opens pretty early, so you could go there first and you would definitely not need a skip the line ticket 🙂

4 – Nope, it’s included

5 – It’s very hard to answer this as what one person finds interesting another person doesn’t 🙂 We enjoyed visiting, and it’s certainly an ancient building with a great view from the top, but it’s also pretty from the outside. So if you wanted to save money you could skip this.

Overall I’d definitely suggest making a list of all the attractions you want to visit, looking at the entry costs for them and then deciding if the pass if going to be worth it for you – not forgetting that they often include transport 🙂

I hope this helps – happy to answer any follow up questions too!

Natasha Poulton says

16th September 2018 at 3:03 pm

Thanks so much for this; you certainly know your stuff! Completely forgot to check this site for the answers so sorry its taken some time for me to reply.

Just wondering about a switch round then of the Vatican and St Peters. Was going to do it that way round but if St Peters is open at 7am then may do that first and then the Vatican. If we did it that way, would we need a skip the queue for the Vatican for 9am when it opens do you think?

Also, can you recommend a roman bath experience. In late Feb I think some heat and relaxation would be quite nice.

Thanks for all the help.

16th September 2018 at 3:18 pm

No worries! We love Rome, so do our best to have all the info to hand to help others 🙂

That would certainly make sense to switch them round. I don’t do it like that in the itinerary as most people aren’t going to get excited about a 7am entry time, but if you are fine with that, you can go for it! I would say that in February the queues for the Vatican aren’t likely to be that long, especially at 9am. Although just bear in mind that many of the tour groups do go 8.30am – 9am, so you might have to wait a bit. It shouldn’t be round the walls queues though, as it is in summer as the day progresses!

I have never taken a Roman bath experience in Rome, so unfortunately I don’t have any recommendations there.

Have a great trip, and let me know if you have any more questions!

Vickie says

27th August 2018 at 1:06 pm

Hi we would like ti spend 4 days un room whatbis the weather like on med October?

27th August 2018 at 1:09 pm

October is a good time to visit Rome, it’s not as busy as the summer, and the weather is usually mild, usually between 12C and 22C. However, the chance of rain is increased, so you’ll want to be prepared. It can also be a bit cooler, especially at night and in the morning, so bringing some warm layers is advised.

Nitin Mistry says

27th August 2018 at 11:39 am

Hi Laurence & Jessica Thank you so much for the itinerary, We managed to follow most of the things listed but because of the thunderstorms we experienced over the three days we were not able to do all of it and sadly missed a whole days worth of sightseeing. As a result we picked the most of the important aspect from your plans which were a big help. We decided not to use the discount cards due to the weather which worked out cheaper but if the weather was better then I feel that it would have been more worthwhile for us. We decided to spend a little more on the Colosseum and do a moonlight tour to avoid the crowds and this was the hightlight for our holiday.

Once again I just want to say a huge thank you for this detailed trip

27th August 2018 at 12:22 pm

Our pleasure Nitin! Sorry to hear about the weather, but it sounds like you made the best of it, and we’re so pleased you had a good time 🙂

Trinetra Bhushan says

27th August 2018 at 4:03 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica, What a good blog about Rome travel. I will be following your trip for my Mid September visit to Rome. I am reaching Rome from New York around 12:30 PM on 18th September and leaving early morning 21st Sept, do you thing I can do the 3 days itinerary in 2.5 days? Also do you suggest to buy Omnia and Vatican card or Roma card?

Thanks, Trinetra

27th August 2018 at 1:07 pm

Hi Trinetra!

I actually had a similar question by e-mail recently. I think this is possible, but you may have to juggle the itinerary a little bit. My suggestion would be to do the Vatican on the day you arrive. You might also be able to fit in St. Peters Basilica, but it’s unlikely, and you also probably won’t be able to into Castel Sant’Angelo on this day either. However, if you don’t mind getting up early, St Peter’s opens very early in the morning, so you could do that and Castel Sant’Angelo on the morning of either the second or third days.

You may also have to adjust when you visit the Pantheon as that has opening times. Everything else on the first day will be do-able as it’s attractions that are outdoors.

For the trip, we would recommend the Omnia and Vatican card if you plan on seeing everything on the itinerary, as it will let you pre-book your Vatican entry and get skip the line access to the Vatican and St. Peters.

I hope this helps – have a great trip, and do let us know how it goes!

27th August 2018 at 3:50 pm

Thnaks for the detailed explanation Laurence. I would like to do Vetican part of Rome without rush so planning to go there on Thursday. I was thinking to do Day 3 of your itinerary on the day I arrive in Rome as it have less places and not the ones which are must see in my list. Is that sounds good?

Thanks in advance. Trinetra

27th August 2018 at 4:17 pm

Absolutely Trinetra, that makes sense. You should just check the opening hours of any of the attractions you definitely want to visit along the Appian Way so as not to miss them 🙂 Then you will have two full days to do everything you want to do.

27th August 2018 at 4:23 pm

You are angel thanks!!

27th August 2018 at 11:33 pm

I bought card and proceeded to book Vatican Museum @10:00 AM and the found only available slot for St. Peter’s Basilica and the Tomb of the Popes was for 13:00 PM I have booked that as well but then I started thinking is 3 hours is enough for getting into Vatican and then to St. Peter’s? Are they very strict about timings? is there any way I can modify my reservation if the time is not enough? Thanks, Trinetra

28th August 2018 at 12:08 am

Hi Trinetra,

I have queried the Omnia Rome & Vatican Pass people about this, and they said:

“St Peters is an open ticket so as long as they have a booking confirmation they will not need to go at the time of the confirmation.”

I hope this helps – it should mean that as long as your ticket is for that day, you should be fine!

Loretta Blackborough says

22nd August 2018 at 7:54 am

Thank you so much for a very well planned and written itinerary! We are staying in Rome for 4 nights in September, so your 3 day itinerary is perfect. We will be arriving in Rome at around 11am on Thursday 27/9, after a 4 hour bus trip from Sorrento. We plan to follow your 3 day itinerary exactly from day 2 of our stay. This being the case, what would you recommend we do for the first half day on the day of our arrival? Kind regards, Loretta

22nd August 2018 at 9:13 am

Hey Loretta,

Our pleasure 🙂 Of your first day, personally I’d take the time to just walk around the center of the city and eat gelato and take in some sights, but if you want some additional attractions that aren’t on this list, you could visit the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, which is quite interesting. The Trastevere district is also nice to wander around, and isn’t in this itinerary, so that is a good option. You could also head up to the Buco della serratura di Roma, there a good view over the city from a garden up here, and a famous keyhole you can look through 🙂

22nd August 2018 at 9:58 am

Thanks Laurence, Wandering around the Trastevere district will be perfect!

One other question – does the hop-on bus go to most of the locations listed in the 1st two days of this itinerary?

Many thanks Loretta

22nd August 2018 at 10:07 am

It does! I found this map which I think is the up to date route, to give you an idea of where it goes 🙂

https://www.operaromanapellegrinaggi.org/customassets/repository/OMNIA%20kit-72-Mappa.pdf

Vangie says

18th August 2018 at 10:03 pm

We are also planning to visit Rome Italy only for 3 – 4 days it will be our first time and I like your suggestions of places to visit Can you reach these sites through their local transportation , Taxis or rental car? Do you have a recommendation of hotel accommodation as well

18th August 2018 at 10:07 pm

Hi Vangie! Sure, there’s a section in the post on where to stay in Rome here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/3-day-rome-itinerary/#Where-to-Stay-in-Rome-for-3-Days

And you can reach all the attractions by public transport, or you can take a taxi if you want. That’s covered in the post here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/3-day-rome-itinerary/#Getting-Around-Rome

iuliana constantinescu says

11th August 2018 at 11:02 am

Thank you for this wonderful guide! We’re planing to spend 3 days in Rome at the beginning of Nov. One of the days would be a Monday though, so how is this going to affect our itinerary? Also we have a 3 years old boy so I’m not sure how much walking we can do. Are these locations accessible with a stroller? Also do you have an idea on how is the weather in Nov? Your advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Iuliana

13th August 2018 at 9:07 pm

Hi Juliana,

Our pleasure! I would say that the majority of locations are accessible with a stroller, but it might be worth checking the official website for each as it’s not something we have personal experience with. For the itinerary, my suggestion is to check the opening times for the various attractions, seeing what is open, and then adjusting the itinerary to suit. It’s also hard to comment exactly on the stamina of your son as everyone varies, but this is a fairly packed itinerary, so you might want to scale it back a bit and focus on the highlights, or perhaps spread the first two days out over three days so you can see everything and not get stressed 🙂

Hope this helps a bit – have a great trip!

Graham says

2nd August 2018 at 7:02 pm

Hi My wife & I have just been on your 3 day tour of Rome and it was Fabulous. We are on our 25th Wedding Anniversary and couldn’t have wished for a better trip and this was all down to you. You gave us a purpose & we visited sites that was beyond our dreams. Thank you so much Angie & Graham PS Looking to undertake Berlin & Krakow next can you HELP please

2nd August 2018 at 7:05 pm

Hi Graham! First, congratulations on your anniversary. What a wonderful way to spend it 🙂 We are so pleased that you stopped by to let us know our guide worked for you, it’s the sort of feedback that really makes us smile! We’re thrilled you had a good time and that we were able to help.

For Berlin & Krakow – we have been to Berlin but haven’t as yet put together a detailed guide to visiting. Krakow is on the shortlist for next year – I know that doesn’t help right now, but stay tuned!

Graham Pickett says

2nd August 2018 at 10:35 pm

We our truly thankful for your brilliant advice, we have had such a Fab time. The feedback is throughly well deserved & hats off to you two.

Thank You Angie & Graham PS Knackered but exceptional journey & your correct Gardens was great at the end, sorry to say we shared the rowing boat time between us. Thank You both

Monica Doss says

29th July 2018 at 6:43 am

Hi Laurence, Great guide. I saved it and I keep checking it every now and then while planning my trip:) I bought the OMINA Card online and then went to book the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. Booked Vatican museum successfully at 10am but for the basilica, Wednesdays are always unavailable even 5 months from now and other days timings are only 9am and 4pm. Do you have any information about that? Ideally I should book around 1pm to give Vatican museum and Sistine chapel 3 hours.

Thanks a million:)

29th July 2018 at 12:34 pm

Thanks very much 🙂

So for the basilica, I’m not sure why you can’t book a Wednesday, that seems a bit weird. For the other timings, it actually doesn’t matter. Here’s what the folks at the Pass told me about the bookings:

“customers now do have to book their visits to St Peters Basilica in advance of their trip. St Peters is an open ticket so as long as they have a booking confirmation they will not need to go at the time of the confirmation. ”

So hopefully that helps!

Tisaygwapa says

8th July 2018 at 3:34 pm

Hi, this blog is very informative and great read. Me and my husband will be visiting Rome next year and it will be our first time there. May i know what is the nearest airport to the Day 1 Itinerary? what are the transportation to take from airport to the attraction? Cost? Are there a lot of English speaking people?

Hoping to hear from you. Thank you in advance.

9th July 2018 at 10:11 am

Hi Tisaygwapa!

Thanks very much. I’m sure you will love Rome (and Paris :D). Rome has two major airports, Ciampino and Fiumicino. The first is smaller, and primarily serves budget airlines, the latter is bigger and handles more of the international traffic.

Fiumicino is easier to get to and from, it has a train station and it takes about 30 minutes to get into the city center. There are also regular buses and taxis.

Ciampino has a nearby train station, and also regular buses. So also quite easy.

Hope this helps – have a great trip!

Shrikant says

4th July 2018 at 3:03 pm

Is it doable to go from Florence everyday(for three days) by fast train to Rome for sight seeing? Or is it going to be very hectic? Leave Florence around 8:00 am to go to Rome and leave Rome around 7-8:00 pm to go back to Florence. BTW you have compiled very useful info on “Rome in three Days”, This is what exactly I was looking for. Thanks!!

4th July 2018 at 3:24 pm

Hi Shrikant,

Well, it is possible, but I have to be honest, I’m not sure why you would not just stay in Rome – this would add expense and lost time into the equation. But, yes, it could be done. Have a great trip!

Denise Shaw says

14th June 2018 at 5:06 pm

Hi I am chaperoning a class trip to Italy on June 29th. I was looking for a suggestion for a day in Rome. We have one free day in Rome . The other day in Rome we are doing a walking tour through the Vatican Museums to reach the Sistine Chapel at the end of a visit to St. Peter’s Badillica. Free time is given for lunch and to explore Vatican City. During our free time I am going to take them to Castel San’Angelo. Afternoon: Transfer by bus from the Vatican to the Colosseum for a guided visit (45) followed by a guided walk through the Roman Forum. Ending by the Spanish Steps I was wondering if you can give me a suggestion for one day in Rome what to see and where to go on foot. We will be dropped off in the morning and picked up late afternoon. Thanks so much Dee

16th June 2018 at 10:21 pm

Hey Denise! Sounds like you have many of the major highlights covered on that one day. I think your tour is also likely to take in the Pantheon, but if not, do make sure to add that in. So my suggestion would be to head out to the Baths of Caracalla, visit those and St. John in the Lateran Church, and then perhaps to explore the Appian Way. This is a different side of Rome to what you will have already seen, a bit more green, so should be a nice contrast. Hope this helps – have a great trip!

6th June 2018 at 10:24 am

This itinerary looks awesome and I think it covers the main spots. However, i am going to travel with my parents (in their 70s) and although they are healthy, I am not sure if its too much walking in a day. What do you think is your average daily steps taken?

8th June 2018 at 10:34 am

Thanks very much – and this is a good question, which I have to admit, is a bit hard to answer. This is because it really depends on what you aim on seeing – the Vatican alone for example has 7 miles of corridors! I actually did a tour like this a while back with my grandmother, and she did pretty well. From the map I’ve provided you should be able get an idea of the walking distances involved. I would also add that Rome has a really good public transport network, so you can definitely cut back on walking by taking advantage of the bus / metro system between the main points (or using the hop on hop off bus).

I would also say that when we walk these routes out, they often come in at around 20,000 steps for us, but again, that’s just an approximation. Certainly 10,000 – 15,000 would be a good number to think of, and you can probably cut back on that like I said with public transport.

Have a great trip, and do let me know how it goes!

24th May 2018 at 6:16 pm

hi ! this is a great blog and i really appreciate the time and energy put into this.

could you please provide a link to the site where we can book the required tickets in advance?

24th May 2018 at 8:57 pm

Hi Oorja – thanks very much!

For the Rome and Vatican Pass, if you buy that then when you have bought it you will be sent a link to book your times in advance.

If you want to book individually, the links are in the post for the tickets to the Coliseum, the Vatican and the other major attractions that need advanced booking 🙂 Each entry should have a link, let me know if you can’t find something specific 🙂

Tinamarie Mathis-Standley says

18th July 2018 at 8:40 am

I bought the pass but it does not give you the option of scheduling the coliseum or forum. Also, St. Peter’s Prison is included but not on your itinerary, where would you squeeze it in?

18th July 2018 at 6:49 pm

Hi Tinamarie,

For the Coliseum and Forum with the pass you don’t need to schedule the entry, you just go straight to the security line. You don’t need to queue for tickets if this is the first or second use of the pass, which it would be if you follow the itinerary.

For the prison, I’d suggest squeezing it in to the same day as the Forum, perhaps just after you finish the Forum, as it’s right there. Just bear in mind that the itineraries are quite full so you will have to hustle a bit 🙂

Gurjeet Kaur says

28th April 2018 at 9:44 pm

Hi. I was wondering if I need to make reservations for 2 out of the 6 free attractions before hand or do I just show up to the places and show my card and get in?

29th April 2018 at 8:20 am

Hi Gurjeet,

No, for the 2 out of 6 attractions you do not need to make reservations 🙂

Jai Sanghvi says

23rd April 2018 at 10:51 pm

Great Blog and amazing suggestions. You took away hours of research time I would have spent trying to finalize my itinerary. Appreciate it.

We are vegetarians (eat dairy, but no eggs, no meat, no seafood, etc). Could you possibly suggest some restaurants in the Rome Center area where we can get Vegetarian, Indian, Mediterranean food? We don’t mind exploring other cusines as well, except, we have our 12 year old daughter and would like to keep your suggestions in our back pocket for “emergency” situations..! 🙂

Again appreciate your help in advance

24th April 2018 at 10:31 pm

Thanks for your comment! We don’t really have the necessary knowledge unfortunately to answer your restaurant request – usually we shy away from recommending restaurants as the quality can change quickly – we usually find it’s best to check recent reviews on focused restaurant review sites. My best advice would be to try something like Google Maps or Yelp to see what suggestions they have,

Josefa Mapa says

20th April 2018 at 4:38 pm

My teenage son and I just got back from our trip to Rome. We were able to maximized our trip to Rome thanks to your blog and itinerary. Had it not been for them, we would be clueless what to see and much less how to batch up the places.

We didn’t buy any of the passes. We did a LOT of walking. We got lost often but that lead us to see something else interesting that were not in the itinerary. Tickets to the important sites were bought online in advance from the websites of the places itself so they were a bit cheaper. Maybe because it was just after lent so the queues were not that long if any and it still being spring, the weather was wonderful.

Again, thank you. You also gave me confidence in going to my very first adventure in a new country.

Good luck, and God bless.

22nd April 2018 at 10:19 am

That is wonderful to hear, I am delighted you had a good trip! Certainly, at quieter times of year you can be lucky with the queues and the weather, and it sounds like you were 😀 – plus making those reservations in advance will have helped a lot too 🙂 Thanks for stopping back to let me know how it went!

Lisa Smith says

7th April 2018 at 7:39 pm

Thank you 🙂

7th April 2018 at 7:56 pm

Our pleasure 🙂

2nd April 2018 at 3:03 pm

Hi thanks for this great guide. Have a couple of questions about the Omnia pass. You say the 72 hours starts from first use. So does using the hop on hop off part then activate the public transport and museum count down as it also mentions somewhere they are separate tickets. We have an afternoon and three full days so were planning to start with the bus tour on first afternoon but now worried we’d effectively lose a whole day of tha pass. Thanks

2nd April 2018 at 3:10 pm

So, according to the official website:

“Don’t forget the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card works on a consecutive day basis, so if you first use your pass in an attraction or even on the public transport at 5pm on your first day, this will count as the first out of your three day pass duration.”

In practice, I think it is a little different. The Omnia Pass actually comes as two passes – an Omnia card, and Rome card. The Omnia card covers the hop on hop off bus and the vatican attractions, and the Rome card covers the public transport and the other Rome attractions like the Coliseum.

So, I *think*, the Hop on Hop off part of the card will only activate the Omnia Pass. So as long as you see the Vatican attractions on your first three days, you should be fine. Of course, I can’t guarantee this, but as I recall when I got on the hop on hop off bus, they only used the Omnia Pass rather than the Rome card, so it wouldn’t have activated.

cheryl says

28th March 2018 at 5:18 pm

Great advice, I am trying to decide on the Rome passes or just buy the hop on-off pass as it includes Vatican museum and coliseum. What do you think?

Also, Can I use the Rome pass to get from the airport to termini station? TIA

28th March 2018 at 5:41 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 So just for clarity, do you mean this pass? https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=813809&u=969916&m=63134&urllink=www%2Eisango%2Ecom%2Frome%2Frome%2Dopen%2Dtour%2Dand%2Dcolosseum%2Dtour%2Dand%2Dvatican%2Dmuseums%5F24323&afftrack=RomeItineraryFTU

I would say that it’s really up to you and what you want to see in Rome – the Rome Pass is slightly more expensive (although on sale right now) but also includes a few more attractions (plus skip the line access to St. Peter’s Basilica), as well as a three day travelcard and three days of Hop on Hop off transport. Personally I think the Omnia Rome and Vatican Pass is slightly better value considering what you get, but of course it does depend on what attractions you want to see.

In terms of the travelcard, whilst Fiumicino is connect to Termini by public tranport, the travelcard doesn’t include transport from the airport unfortunately, you can see that on the travelcard page here: https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101lbZD/pubref:3DayRomeComment/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.romeandvaticanpass.com%2Frome-transport%2F

It says “Please note: The Travelcard does not include travel to and from the city airports.”

I hope this helps – have a wonderful trip to Rome!

28th March 2018 at 6:20 pm

Thank you so much for your quick reply. One more question…. I clicked on your link to the coliseum….am I correct that I have to buy two separate tickets, One for the coliseum and another for the form and palatine Hill?

28th March 2018 at 6:28 pm

My pleasure 🙂 The Coliseum ticket includes the Forum / Palatine Hill, so you only need to buy one ticket to get access to those attractions. Tickets are also valid for two days, although can only be used once for each attraction.

21st March 2018 at 4:33 am

Looks like a great itinerary, looking forward to checking it out. How about Rome after dark???

21st March 2018 at 11:25 am

Thanks Jim! In our experience we fill our days so much that our evening plans usually just involve a nice evening meal and a fairly early night 🙂 But of course there is lots to do in Rome at night, depending on your interests. If you’re interested in something a bit different, if you’re visiting on the right day, you can actually take an after hours tour of the Vatican, which is a really unique experience. You can find out more about that here: https://www.takewalks.com/rome-tours/vatican-at-night-tour?tap_a=29777-fde554&tap_s=72514-790f10&tm_site=FTU3DayRome

Otherwise, just have fun, Rome is a great place to walk around at night 🙂

Will Smith says

17th March 2018 at 6:29 pm

Love your blog wii be following it to the T when we visit in June is our 30th wedding annervesary can you recommend any special resteraunts please

Many thanks

19th March 2018 at 1:56 pm

Thanks very much, and congratulations on your anniversary! Jess and I tend to just fall into the nearest restaurants we spot when traveling, or eat on the hoof! We also find recommending restaurants can be tricky as they can change so quickly. That said, this guide should help you pick somewhere wonderful for your trip:

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/the-10-most-romantic-restaurants-in-rome/

Chantelle Sims says

14th March 2018 at 10:57 pm

Hello and thank you for this! I am planning a trip from London with my daughter, and would appreciate your advise on arriving and departing. Is it necessary to spend 4 nights to accomplish your 3-day itinerary, or could we do it if we spent only 3 nights? If so, how would you recommend arranging the days around air travel to and from? (With luggage to consider…) Thank you for your opinion.

16th March 2018 at 8:49 am

Hi Chantelle,

You could do this with three nights assuming you arrive early – you should do Day 3 first in that case as it’s less time sensitive, and then the other two days. If you can stretch to four nights though you will be less rushed in terms of having to arrive really early into Rome and possibly feeling tired, but up to you!

Michael Tang says

3rd March 2018 at 8:35 pm

We really enjoyed your travel blog.We will be visiting Rome from 4/11-15/2018.Our hotel ( Hotel Contilia) is less than 8 minutes from Rome Central Station.What would you recommend us to do in 4 1/2 days in Rome.We have been to Rome numerous times.Haven seen most of the main attractions.This time we would like to explore the local areas where local people meet for meals,shopping.My friends suggested Campo de Fiori,Jewish Ghetto or Trastevere. How about a day trip to Tuscany? Can we take metro ,train of bus to visit these places. Please advise.Thank you

4th March 2018 at 7:03 pm

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your comment 🙂 Sounds like you’re old hands with Rome! It’s hard to give specific advice without knowing what you’ve seen already / are interested in. A day trip to Tuscany is certainly do-able from Rome, and you can take the train from Rome central station to Florence for example, that’s about a 1hr 30minute train ride. if you’ve not been to Florence before it’s stunning. You could also do day trips to other parts of Italy from Rome, including Pompeii or Cinque Terre. If you’d rather not do it yourself, you could take a tour, for example:

Cinque Terre: https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/cinque-terre-tours-from-rome?tap_a=16934-e57823&tap_s=72513-efc32e&tm_site=FTU&tm_post=3DayRome

Amalfi Coast: https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/amalfi-coast-tours-from-rome?tap_a=16937-4dc4e8&tap_s=72513-efc32e&tm_site=FTU&tm_post=3DayRome

Tuscany from Rome day tour: https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/amalfi-coast-tours-from-rome?tap_a=16937-4dc4e8&tap_s=72513-efc32e&tm_site=FTU&tm_post=3DayRome

24th February 2018 at 7:00 pm

Hi Thank you for all the information. I will be taking my son for his graduation gift this June. I plan to follow almost all of your suggestions in regards to places to see. Having said that, what area do you suggest we stay at? I prefer to stay at a hotel. Any additional info would be appreciated.

24th February 2018 at 7:14 pm

My pleasure – and what a great gift for your son! My advice would be to stay somewhere around the Piazza Navona area, it’s really central and really pretty in that area, and we’ve stayed around there a number of times. Basically anywhere between the Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo would be great – that central area is perfect. I’m not sure of your budget, but somewhere like the following options might be a good starting point for your search:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/navona-theatre.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DayRome http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/mimosa-pantheon.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DayRome http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/navona-roma.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DayRome http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/di-rienzo-pantheon-palace.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DayRome

You can see more options here, just narrow it down depending on your budget, location and other requirements 🙂

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?city=-126693&nflt=ht_id%253D204%253Breview_score%253D90%253Breview_score%253D80&aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&room1=A%2CA&label=FTU3DayRome

Have an amazing trip, and congratulations to your son!

allan Blanco says

10th February 2018 at 4:10 pm

Hi! Thanks for this blog & itinerary. It seems this will help us so much on what to do in Rome exactly for our 4-5 days side trip from France. We are fed so much with the info. & some ideas or places to go. Is there also a local travel tour & guide to book for this 3 days tour in Rome? or better on our own & follow your guide. our concern, is how to go there to the places you have listed, i mean a ride , total cost or amount to spend or our estd budget amount, do we need a tour guide & is it easy to get a guide & not expensive?…We are our concern if we get lost , and how to proceed every places than having a tour guide…… if so,,, is it not too expensive …. what can you recommend if we will get a total package for the 3 days tour…. what agency …. or what is best can you advise/recommend. thanks so much.

Allan Blanco Mindanao, Iligan City – Philippines

10th February 2018 at 8:59 pm

Thanks for your comment. I don’t know of any company that specifically offers this tour, but you could certainly put together a similar trip by putting various tours together. We like Walks of Italy ( https://www.walksofitaly.com?tap_a=364-72eab1&tap_s=72513-efc32e ) for their tours if you wanted a walking tour with a guide, but these aren’t private tours.

That said, the itinerary is designed to be self-guided and you shouldn’t need a tour guide for any of it unless you would like local insight and guidance. The itinerary is also designed to be easy to follow and not require much other than a good pair of feet for walking. In some cases you can take a local bus, these are easy to use. Rome is not a very large city, or at least, not the parts covered in this itinerary, so I don’t think you will get lost or have any problem. The best idea is to get a map when you get to the city, and to download an offline version of the city into your Google Maps (or whatever mapping tool you use on your phone). Then you’ll always be able to figure out where you are and where to go.

20th January 2018 at 6:20 pm

Just recently my brother and I visited Rome for three days and based our trip around the itinerary you guys did. I have to say this was the most convenient and awesome itinerary we found, in which showed all the attractions and sites clearly! All of the places you guys suggested in the blog we visited and also took the time to do some night roaming and visiting the attractions again to see it in a different light! Because of your blog, my brother and I were able to experience Rome as a whole and we give our massive thanks for it! SO once again, thank you soo much for this, you guys are amazing!

21st January 2018 at 11:05 am

We are so pleased that you found this itinerary useful, and even happier that you let us know! Getting comments like this really makes us happy – thank you so much! We’re delighted that you had a great trip, and that we were able to help with that! Happy travels!

Laurence & Jessica

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See Fabulous Tuscany in 3 Days

With this Tuscany in 3 days itinerary you can see Florence and some of the region’s highlights, and get a taste of this wonderful part of central Italy.

This itinerary takes you on a road trip around the central part of Tuscany , where the main sights are. Here we give a complete 3 day itinerary, and suggest a couple of alternative places to visit, depending which part of Tuscany takes your fancy.

Of course, having more time allows you to have a deeper and more relaxing experience. If you decide to extend your stay time, check out our Tuscany in 5 days itinerary .

If you only have 3 days and you don’t want to rent a car, the best option is to base yourself in Florence and take day trips . You can use public transport or join guided tours to make the most of your time. This way you can see the most famous destinations, including Siena, the Leaning Tower in Pisa and the Chianti vineyards.

Tuscany in 3 Days itinerary

Day 1 – florence.

Florence’s historic centre is compact enough that it can be explored in one day . This means you’ll see the famous Cathedral, Piazza Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio,Piazza Santa Croce and if you make an early start, you can fit in one museum visit in your day. In this case you need to book the entrance in advance, to avoid wasting time in queues. Same thing if you’d like to climb the Cathedral’s Dome, book in advance!

You could also join this popular Best of Florence Walking Tour to have a professional guide introducing you to the city’s highlights and learn some fascinating stories.

=> Follow our One Day in Florence complete Itinerary .

DAY 2 – SIENA & THE CHIANTI REGION

On the second day, you can drive from Florence to Siena , winding your way through the beautiful countryside of the Chianti region. Have a look at our road trip in the Chianti region to see the most scenic spots along the way . It’s a great idea to stop for lunch at a winery, and include some wine tasting. You are after all in one of Italy’s most acclaimed wine regions.

Arrive in the Medieval gem that is Siena and allow a couple of hours before dinner to explore the highlights. Make sure you see the Cathedral , and enjoy an aperitivo and/or dinner in the magnificent piazza del Campo to really get a feel for the city.

Driving distance : Allow a couple of hours (minimum) to drive from Florence to Siena, crossing the Chianti region (this timing doesn’t include any stops). Bear in mind that you’ll be driving along some narrow, winding roads, so the going can be a little slow in some stretches.

GOOD TO KNOW – Parking : parking in Siena’s historic centre can be a challenge. Check with your hotel if they have a private parking, or ask for the nearest parking. Same goes for Florence: free parking in/near the city centre is impossible. If you’re staying in the city centre, check with your hotel about the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone), they’ll organise a permit for you.

Insider’s Tip => Book a wine tasting experience in advance . Wine tasting always needs some planning. Don’t expect just to turn up at a wine estate, as most have set hours for tours and visits. Check out this family-run Winery near Greve in Chianti that organises visit s to the cellars and wine tasting.

If you rather be based in Florence and join a guided tour , avoiding the stress of driving (especially if you like the idea of trying some Chianti wine!), this is a great FULL- DAY TOUR from Florence : including the Chianti region, Siena, and the Medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano . The tour includes a traditional lunch with wine tasting .

DAY 3 – PISA & LUCCA

On your third day it’s time to see another of Tuscany’s famed wonders , the Leaning Tower of Pisa . It takes about 1 hour to get from Florence to Pisa (by car or train). The Square of Miracles , a Unesco site and one of Italy’s most impressive piazze , is an absolute must.

Keep in mind that it’s busy and crowded, especially if you’re visiting in the Summer. We suggest you pick a Guided Tour of the Piazza dei Miracoli Complex to better appreciate the historical relevance and artistic details-highlights of this place, and make the most of your time.

You can then spend the rest of the day in Pisa, or if you’re feeling energetic you could drive another 30 minutes and spend the rest of the day in Lucca . This delightful walled town welcomes its visitors with lovely squares and historic churches, lively bars and plenty of shopping opportunities.

ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS for a 3 DAY ITINERARY in Tuscany

Val d’orcia iconic views.

If you’d like to see those iconic Tuscan countryside views – isolated cypress trees lining a distant hill – you need to head to the dreamy Val d’Orcia . This area, located south of Siena, includes Montalcino and Pienza , some of Tuscany’s most picturesque small towns. This One Day Road trip around Val d’Orcia points out the most scenic spots of the area.

TOUR FROM FLORENCE VAL D’ORCIA STRESS FREE -> Explore a trio of the most charming towns in Tuscany’s UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia region . Taste prized red wines like Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino, stroll through picturesque Pienza on this all-inclusive tour.

A Day in Eastern Tuscany – Cortona & Arezzo

This other option takes in the Eastern part of tuscany , with the main town Arezzo , an historic town famous for its antiquity shops and artisans.

While the hilltop town of Cortona , made famous thanks to the bestselling novel “Under the Tuscan Sun” is well places on the tourist map – offering great views and a intriguing Medieval vibe – Arezzo is a more of a ‘knowledgeable traveller’ kind of destination. A handsome town with a splendid main square, great shops and because a little less touristy, an authentic feel.

For more ideas planning your visit to Tuscany , have a look at our Itineraries based on your interests and Tuscany for your personality type !

What is like to drive in Tuscany? => Planning a Road Trip to Tuscany, insider’s tips .

=> Top 20 Experiences in Tuscany

=> 8 Famous Statues you must see in Florence

=> Best 7 Photoshoot Locations in Tuscany !

One last thing => Some people ask if 3 days is enough to see Tuscany. To really appreciate the region’s artistic treasures and natural beauty you surely need more time, but in 3 days you can get a taste of this region, because some of the main sights are within easy reach from Florence, and travelling around is quite easy with a bit of planning in advance.

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Three Days in Rome, Italy: A Jam-Packed Rome Itinerary

Three days in Rome, Italy, is a good amount of time to see the highlights and fit in a trip to Vatican City.

I’ve been to Rome twice now and while it’s not my favorite Italian city, it’s an important piece of my travel history.  The historical significance of the city is a big deal. 

It’s also chaotic, always crowded , and wasn’t in the best condition on any of my visits.

It can feel better if you go into your visits with the expectation that there are some incredible things here, but that seeing them can be challenging. Pre-planning is key.

I still hit it Rome hard as possible to bring you all kinds of suggestions on where to go, what to eat, and alternatives to consider for some of the big-name items in Rome.

Let’s get into my jam-packed 3-day itinerary in Rome. 

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, including links through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I won’t recommend something I have not used/would not use myself, and any income earned supports the upkeep of this site.

How many days is best to spend in Rome? 

Three days is best to spend in Rome if you’re here for the first time. Three full days is enough time to hit the main sites if you keep things busy. You can certainly spend more time in the Italian city . There’s a lot to do!

We had a full week in Rome that included a few day trips on top of an aggressive approach to Rome itself.

I’ll get into all that we did but will focus on what you came here for, a three days in Rome itinerary. 

How do I plan a Rome itinerary?

You can plan a Rome itinerary like this:

• Guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum
• Lunch at Ai Tre Scalini
• Altar of the Fatherland
• Capitoline Hill
• Piazza Navona
• Gelateria Della Palma
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Dinner at Retrobottega
• Baths of Caracalla/Domus Aurea
• Giardino degli Arancini
• Testaccio Market
• Pyramid of Caius Cestius
• Borghese Gallery and Museum/Doria Pamphili Gallery
• Terrace Views/Apertivo
• Dinner/Rome Food Tour
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
• Lunch at Scialla The Original Street Food
• Piazza del Popolo/Vatican Museums
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Dinner in Trastevere

Three Days in Rome: Day 1

This Rome three-day itinerary kicks things off with some of the most important historical sites in the city. I do this on purpose.

You’ll need to book almost everything you read about here in advance, and I strongly encourage you to tick off the big items first as you book, including any unique tours in Rome that you have your eye on.

Get an early start each day, too. Tourists who sleep in are tourists who miss out in the case of Rome.

If your hotel doesn’t have breakfast — ours had a limited but sufficient selection — grab a pastry and coffee from any of the cafes you’ll pass on your way to the best Rome sites.

Interested in seeing your potential trip more visually? Check out my Google map below:

GIMME MY 3-DAY ROME ITINERARY MAP!

Stop 1: colosseum, palatine hill, and the roman forum.

You can DIY all of Rome’s biggest sites if you’d like, as long as you book ahead before things sell out. I’m all about that budget-friendly DIY life unless I feel like I’m missing out on something doing it that way.

This is one of those times. Let me get into why tours are the best way to see these three Rome attractions in particular.

Ours was a very involved tour of a little over three hours. There was SO much history, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I highly recommend a tour so that you can get onto the arena floor of the Colosseum and join the gladiators of yore.

Yep. It’s as awesome as it sounds.

Will it also be crowded as heck? Yep. Without a guided tour, though, I would have been overwhelmed and unwilling to dedicate as much time as we did navigating the crowds, likely missing out on some important context. 

Palatine Hill and the vast Roman Forum, the historic center of Rome, would have been particularly challenging to do on our own.

I sense there would have been a lot of wandering once we hit that Arch of Constantine.  A guide knows exactly where to take you for some of the best views in the city, too.

Just book a tour. If you’re traveling with others and wondering whether it’s worth convincing them to book the arena floor upgrade for the Colosseum portion, I’m telling you right now that it is.  

We did this tour and absolutely loved it.

Here are a few more if you’d like to comparison shop:

Stop 2: Lunch

If you picked a morning tour as we did, you’ll be right up against lunch once you’re done. The eateries should just be opening up, too, so it’s pretty perfect timing.

Our pick was Ai Tre Scalini .

They were a little late opening but I’m glad we waited. We shared some porchetta di Ariccia, spinach and cheese cannelloni, two glasses of house red, and some tiramisu. Prices were much friendlier here than at any of the eateries nearby.

If you’re already craving pizza, Naumachia Ristorante and La Prezzemolina were both on our list for pizza options in the area.

Stop 3: Altar of the Fatherland/Altare della Patria

You’ll pass Piazza Venezia on the way to this symbol of Rome, also known as the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. This stop boasts one of the best views of the city.

Unless you want to take the tourist elevator to the very top, it’s all free, too.

Note: The elevator felt like a trap, so we skipped it. You can walk almost all the way up for free, but let me know if I missed out on something!

Before you climb all of those steps, pay your respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Much like other war memorials around the world, soldiers guard an eternal flame here 24/7.

Enjoy the view at the top for a while before moving on, or pop by the Central Museum of the Risorgimento up there if you want.

The heritage museum is an Italy history museum that didn’t sound all that intriguing to us considering everything else that was on our agenda.

You do you, though.

Stop 4: Capitoline Hill

More excellent views await at Capitoline Hill, one of Rome’s seven hills. While you’re here, take in the Piazza del Campidoglio, or Capitoline Square, designed by Michelangelo.

In the middle sits the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. The name is fairly self-explanatory there.

This is also where you can see a small replica of the Capitoline Wolf, or Lupa Capitola, a sculpture depicting a she-wolf suckling the twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. 

It’s weird and quirky and typically how I like things.

If you have more time, you can linger at any of the Capitoline Museums or plan to make a return trip during your time in the Eternal City.

We didn’t go inside, but they’re highly regarded for Renaissance art that includes the original Capitoline Wolf.

Stop 5: Piazza Navona 

The Piazza Navona is known for the Fiumi Fountain, or Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.

This 17th-century fountain is an homage to four major rivers across four different continents: the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges, and the Rio de la Plata. 

This is also a popular stop for tourists who need a happy hour break. I’d suggest skipping it.

The prices were high even for the ubiquitous aperols and the food at the eateries doesn’t get great reviews. You have better options in Rome!

Optional Stop 6: Sant’Agnese in Agone

Before you leave Piazza Navona, visit my patron saint’s church. Yes, Rome has a lot of churches , but only one holds the skull of St. Agnes in a little side chapel. 

Dark tourism is one of my favorite things, especially when there’s another Agnes involved.

Stop 7: Pantheon

Pass by the busy Piazza Della Rotunda on the way to another big-ticket item, the Pantheon.

Visits here are no longer free, so book a timed ticket online so you don’t have to waste time upon arrival. If you fail to take that advice, you’ll likely have to wait in a super long line for tickets, even in the off-season. Just do it.

You’ll need to search for “Pantheon” and create an account at the link above.

You do NOT need a guided tour of this site. If you’re asked to pay anything over five euros, you’re on the wrong website.

Your time here likely won’t exceed 30 minutes. Enjoy the view of the domed ceiling above and marvel at the main altar. Visit the tombs of Raphael and Victor Emmanuel, the first king of Italy.

That’s it. That’s all she wrote on this one.

Stop 8: Gelateria Della Palma

Dinner is coming soon enough, but they eat later in Italy. Maybe you’re used to that, but I definitely am not, despite time spent living in Europe .

I like to supplement between meals with local specialties, and in Italy that often means gelato. Gelateria Della Palma was at the top of my list for Rome. 

They have delicious gelato, frozen yogurt, and mousse, but the friendly gents behind the counter will likely dissuade you from anything that isn’t gelato. 

I’m OK with it.

We got three small scoops each to try a few different flavors. 

If you’d like to do some taste-testing while you’re here, I highly recommend it. Günther is another delicious option. We tried their location on the Piazza Sant’Eustachio. 

They also serve up a good maritozzi.

These cream poofs are whipped cream-filled brioche sandwiches. Brian wasn’t all that impressed because the cream wasn’t sweet enough for him. As someone who doesn’t love things too sweet, I enjoyed it. 

Stop 9: Trevi Fountain

This stop is slammed with tourists most times of the day, so fit it in wherever you can. If you want glamour shots in the flowy dress you purchased for the occasion, visit at sunrise.

Honestly, you’ll still likely encounter others doing the same. 

As it wasn’t my thing, I didn’t try very hard to make this happen with fewer people around, but that’s the beauty of Rome vacations. You can customize based on what your priorities are.

If you want to drop some coin, the hotel bar The View Trevi — RoofTop L ounge is a popular option. You’ll need to pay 25 euros a person to make it happen, but a drink and app comes with that in case that makes things better.

Note: House wines at many eateries are around five euro. The above isn’t a deal, but you are paying for the added ambiance and view.

Stop 10: Spanish Steps

This stop will also be slammed this late in the day, but I can’t deny the Spanish Steps as one of the best evening activities in Rome as the sky starts to change colors.

Photos are a bit better from the very bottom behind the Fontana della Barcaccia. 

The fountain itself boats some historical heft. It was built by Pietro Bernini, the father of one of Italy’s most prolific artists, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Again, photos without tourists aren’t my priority. I like to tell it like it is. If you want fewer tourists in yours, plan to stop here after your sunrise shoot at the Trevi Fountain.

Stop 11: Dinner

We had a fairly traditional Roman lunch on this day, so wanted something a little more fun and modern for dinner. Retrobottega was a delicious option.

You have a choice between their multi-course sabotage menu where they pick things to feed you or you can choose your meal à la carte. We chose our own dishes and were mostly pleased. 

The only weird thing was that they seemed to do what they wanted with what was listed on the menu. 

For example, we ordered tempura Brussels sprouts as a side and got tempura broccoli and green beans, instead. I would have put up a fuss if they weren’t delicious, which they were.

My favorite part was these little sandwiches stuffed with crunchy cabbage. You’ll want to make a reservation if you don’t mind being flexible with your food.

For a more classic trattoria experience nearby, try Ristorante la Campana. 

Three Days in Rome: Day 2

I told you I was going to hit it hard on this Rome 3-day itinerary. I bet you got lots of steps yesterday. Today isn’t any different. You only have three days in Rome! 

Grab a quick snack at your hotel as we did or pop by a cafe on the way to your first round of historical spots.

Stop 1: Baths of Caracalla

The Baths of Caracalla, or Terme di Caracalla, are ancient Roman public baths built by Emperor Caracalla in the 3rd century AD.

At one point, they could accommodate up to 1,600 bathers inside for not only soaking, but reading in the libraries and puttering around the gardens.

We had already been to Naples at this point. It was interesting to see some of the structures here that were once filled with statues and mosaics currently housed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

That includes the Farnese Hercules, or “resting” Hercules. I’m not a huge fan of Naples, either, but that museum (and the pizza!) are worth the trip.

I have a Naples guide if you’re into it.

We didn’t grab audio guides at the baths but it is an option for an extra few euros. The signage was pretty good until the exterior ring, so if I could do it again I’d pick up a set. 

There’s no need to make reservations at this one. In fact, it was nice to enjoy a bit of solitude after the big attractions yesterday.

Alternative Stop 1: Domus Aurea

This archaeological site is closer to the historic center of Rome.

Visits here are by small guided tour only, so you do need to make a booking to get inside and ensure that you book with the right language for you. Tickets are available online .

Domus Aurea means “Golden House.” At one time, it was a vast and opulent palace built by Emperor Nero. It was a symbol of decadence, excess, and Nero’s fascination with Egypt. 

I found the tour very interesting. Our guide was super engaging as she told us about this love letter to the goddess Isis and a palace that we could tell was quite spectacular back in the day.

The best part was a virtual reality experience at the end where you get to see what the room you’re sitting in looked like in the time of Nero.

That very room was where the excavations on the site began when a group of artists happened upon the surrounding frescoes by accident. 

They thought they were in a grotto, but they were actually standing on top of filled-in dirt in the decades after Nero.

You’ll access Domus Aurea through the lovely Parco del Colle Oppio, which is a long way to describe this lovely green space in the city.

This is also a good one to fit in with the Colosseum if you want to move things around. The two are very close.

Alternative Stop 2: Basilica of San Clemente

This church near the Domus Aurea is another interesting archaeological adventure. 

Yes, it’s a church. It’s also a church built on top of another church that was built on top of a pagan temple.

I booked tickets ahead of time for this that were timed, but they seemed pretty breezy about walk-ins. We were let in well ahead of our ticket time.

The current church that sits here is free, but you’ll want to go down below.

Unfortunately, they don’t allow photos down there, so you’ll have to either Google around for those or go see it for yourself. I’m not that level of rule-breaker.

Stop 2: Giardino degli Arancini

The Orange Trees Garden is part of Parco Savello. It’s a lovely escape at the top of Aventine Hill to what I assume are orange trees when they’re in season.

We were there in the fall, but I’m told they’re a winter-ripening fruit in Italy.

It’s still worth a trip no matter when you’re here for one of the best views of the city. The garden itself is a design by Raffaele De Vico. 

It wasn’t a public park until 1932 thanks to some urban planning that brought it out from underneath the Dominican Order next door. That’s the Basilica of St. Sabina, or Basilica di Santa Sabina all’Aventino, you’re looking at, by the way.

Optional Stop 3: Mouth of Truth

Apparently, this Roman marble mask bites the hand of those who lie and are silly enough to wait an hour to see if that happens. 

Here’s the deal. You’re here for what to do in Rome for 3 days. That isn’t a ton of time to spend at sites that are much more significant than this.

That said, who am I to say what your priorities should be? I know I’m not waiting an hour to stick my hand in there. I don’t want the truth that badly.

You can also walk past the people and take a pic from the side like a boss and continue your life of lies.

Optional Stop 4: Knights of Malta Keyhole

This photo stop was an even worse line than the Mouth of Truth because once folks got up there, they had to figure out ideal photo conditions for that keyhole effect.

I didn’t wait. There was pasta to eat, and waiting in line to take a photo was not big on my priority list, especially in Rome.

Google the images and judge this one for yourself. Just note that each person in that line will be at the keyhole for several minutes trying to get that perfect shot.

It’s a longer wait than you think.

Stop 5: Testaccio Market

This community market is a popular shopping point for locals and a food stop for tourists. It’s also a good stop for an earlier lunch if nothing else is open. 

We arrived just after 11:30am and chowed down on some fresh ravioli and carbonara.

If you want to make yourself a picnic for later, you can pick up fresh produce, butcher items, and cheeses while you’re here. I love that for you. 

If you’re sad you haven’t had an Italian sandwich yet, our favorite in Rome was La Baguetteria Del Valle.

It’s a great spot for takeout sandwiches when it’s too early to eat but you’re not sure about your next meal. Get one with Parma ham for the full effect.

Stop 6: Pyramid of Caius Cestius

This is a quick photo stop to see an exercise in vanity. The ancient Roman pyramid is actually a tomb for Caius Cestius, a local rich guy who loved Egypt and himself. You can walk the grounds around the pyramid before you move on. 

Interior tours are limited to a few mornings per month and by appointment only.

Stop 7: Borghese Gallery and Museum

This is one of the most popular cultural sites in Rome. As such, you’ll need to book a visit to the gallery well in advance if you want your choice of tickets. 

It was sold out during our trip in the off-season about 10 days out. As the FOMO hit me for real , I made the mistake of purchasing overpriced “skip the line” tickets online to get in anyway.

There’s no guided tour with these tickets. They’re just tickets that were scooped up by online ticketing sites so that they’d show as “sold out” on the regular museum website .

Can you tell I’m bitter about this?

This is the last time I’m doing this sort of thing. If I could replay the whole scene again, I’d just skip it and call it a loss. It would have been a reason to come back to a city that has a lot to offer, despite what I’ve said about my preferences for other Italian cities.

We were also a few days early for a special Rubens exhibit, which meant that the main hall was inaccessible.

I’m talking about the main hall which is the highlight of many tourists’ visits to the gallery.

The majority of the art from Peter Paul Rubens was covered in paper in preparation for that event.

I’m talking about art that is part of the gallery’s permanent collection.

We actually walked through the gallery twice because we felt like we couldn’t have possibly paid so much for what was on display that day. I felt duped. 

I’m not telling you not to pay regular admission. Do that if you know there aren’t any exhibition closures and you’re able to book regularly-priced tickets. I would NOT pay any extra for this museum.  

It just perpetuates the scam and makes these places inaccessible for those who can’t afford the upcharge.

A highlight of the experience was hanging out in the lovely Villa Borghese gardens outside. We spent some time there waiting for our ticket time before we knew what nonsense was ahead of us.

Alternative Stop 7: Doria Pamphili Gallery

As so much of the Borghese Gallery and Museum was closed during our visit, we were more impressed by this art gallery.

Grab a headset at the entrance to hear about the opulent rooms you’ll be stepping into. You can spend quite a bit of time listening to the history of the art, but we focused on the highlighted in red bits for an overview. You can still spend over an hour in here.

We had no issue walking up for tickets in November, but it may be worth a look online if you’re here in the summer.

There is a one-euro surcharge on purchases made online, but I’d say that’s worth it if you’re here in the high season.

Stop 8: Terrace Views & Apertivo

Kill some time before dinner by relaxing a bit for a change. Here are a few popular spots for resting those legs or grabbing an apertivo:

• Janiculum Hill: Enjoy panoramic views on this hilltop terrace. While there, you’ll have easy access to Manfredi Lighthouse, or Faro di Roma.
• Oro Bistrot : This rooftop bar serves up some pricey grub, but you can also just come by for a cocktail.
• Terrazza del Pincio: This is a popular spot at sunrise and sunset, but more so at sunset for obvious reasons. (Sunrise is early.)

Stop 9: Dinner

Sometimes you feel like some hot and sour soup so you find the best-rated Chinese spot near your pad and make it happen. 

That was the Restaurant Chinese Huaweiju for us. The soup was the star at this busy place run by a pair of Chinese women. It was super budget-friendly with fast service until it was time for dessert. 

That’s only because we ordered some kind of caramel banana concoction that involved spun sugar and an artist’s touch.

If you’re all, “But I’m in Italy!” I totally get it.

Ristorante Feelsgood is a fun, cheap option for generous helpings of pasta and friendly service. If you’re near the train station, the Mercato Centrale is a busy hub of food from all over the alphabet.  

I’m being literal here. They have an A-Z theme going on. You’ll have plenty of options for Italian cuisine, but vegetarians will be pleased by the offerings, too.

This would also be a great evening to pop in on an evening food tour of some of Rome’s best eats. City food tours are generally one of my favorite ways to get to know a city.

Here are a few highly-rated options:

Three Days in Rome: Day 3

This day takes you to Vatican City. You’ll get to tick off another country and see some incredible art.

I’ve been twice now, and this place still holds some power over me, despite my status as a lapsed Catholic.

If you’re of a similar faith persuasion, I have two additional suggestions for you, Scala Santa and the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. I’d highly recommend both if you have more time in Rome, too, or if you’ve already been to Vatican City.

Scala Santa is a pilgrimage site for the faithful. The steps you’ll see inside are what Jesus Christ purportedly climbed on the way to his crucifixion.

To really experience this site, you’ll be invited to climb the steps on your hands and knees. 

Again, I was raised Catholic but have since become more agnostic. It was still a very moving experience. I set an intention with each one, moved slowly, and made it out feeling more than my sore knees.

The Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano is just across the street from Scala Santa. This is the pope’s official seat and the mother church of the diocese of Rome.

There was a mass going on when we arrived so didn’t spend too much time inside, but it was beautiful.

Fun fact: It’s open and impressive at night, too, in case you have a free evening on your 3 days in Rome itinerary.

Let’s get on with your tour of Vatican City, shall we?

Stop 1: Castel Sant’Angelo

This is a great way to start your last day in Rome because you get a bird’s eye view of the city from the top.

Before you get there, though, climb several levels to learn about the castle’s origins as a mausoleum, then as a castle, then as a prison. At the very top, the angel’s terrace, pause for those panoramic views I told you about. 

I booked tickets ahead of time but it may not have been necessary. It wasn’t busy at all during our morning booking. It seems like everyone was at the Vatican, instead.

Stop 2: Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II

This is the bridge that you’ll see from the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo. That view, featured in the image above, is better than anything you’ll get from below with all of the tourists. 

If the bridge itself isn’t as thick with people on your visit as it was for ours, a photo with the view of the Castel Sant’Angelo behind you could be pretty good.

The bridge itself was designed in 1886, but it wasn’t completed until 1911. I call that the Chicago way .

Stop 3: Lunch

Grab a quick meal at Scialla The Original Street Food before the pope stuff.

This was one of our favorite food stops on our Rome trip. We shared pizza, gnocchi, and their house rice balls with cheap house wine. Super friendly service rounded out the experience. 

This place is small, but it wasn’t busy at all during our visit. There are a few tables outside if you’re here on a nice day.

Stop 4: Piazza del Popolo

You’ll have to navigate a bunch of thirsty guides trying to get you to…actually, I don’t really know what they were trying to get people to do. They were rudely telling people which way to walk but like, I’m just walking here. 

It’s certainly not going to make me want to give you some of this cheddar for a tour.

Stop here for a photo of St. Peter’s Basilica from the outside and meet some pigeons, then stare at the line for the church for a while.

It’s likely not going to get better from this point until closer to closing time. 

If you have some time before your tickets as we did, get yourself a caffeine boost at Trecaffè. It’s a cute cafe with a few locations around the city for cappuccinos and sweet treats. 

Whatever you do, avoid the cafe across the street from the Vatican Museums. It has horrific reviews that people apparently don’t read because it’s also busy all the time. Don’t fall for the trap of overpriced coffee and bad service.

Stop 5: Vatican Museums

Get your tickets for the Vatican Museums ahead of time. Otherwise, you’re left to the mercy of the ticketless line or those aggressive pushers outside of St. Peter’s who want to take you to their version of “skip the line.”  

The middle of the day wasn’t the ideal time for us to make this happen, but those were the tickets available for our trip. That’s what we had to do, not necessarily what we should have done. 

That’s the risk of last-minute travel to Rome. You may not do things as you should.

If I could do it again, I’d start the morning here, but we didn’t have any problems physically getting into the museums at our designated time. 

As far as how you should approach the museums, you can join the slow march to the Sistine Chapel or enjoy yourself along the way. Some of the rooms at the very start that are off-shoots of the main drag were our favorites. 

See where your curiosity moves you. The chapel isn’t going anywhere.

Additional highlights include the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Pigna Courtyard.

Use your audio guide to get a rundown of the highlights and more. It was helpful to slow us down as we continued along our way.

The Sistine Chapel is probably why you’re here, though. You’ll see signs for it for what seems like miles. Keep on going. You may/may not be almost there.

It’s stunning, but you can’t take photos. That means it’s a mess of people staring up and around them with little devices in their ears as security barks at them to huddle inside the white lines and put phones away.

That’s what I mean about the other rooms. Take your time before you get to the chapel because once you’re done there, you’re just about done with the Vatican Museums.

Stop 6: St. Peter’s Basilica

It’s time to get into that long line at this point, except we only waited about half an hour. This was approaching 3:30pm or so on a Tuesday in November, so that’s the only time I can speak to.

Getting through security was easy, and even the guided groups had to wait in line. Everyone gets checked, so don’t get hoodwinked into some kind of promise of skipping the line with one of the guides outside.

We did the church itself and the grottoes below to pay my respects to my pope, Pope John Paul II.

I’m Polish. If you know, you know .

It seemed that we were too late to climb St. Peter’s Dome, which was definitely a bummer. There’s no way to book that in advance. If you want to climb the dome, get those tickets first before you head to the church so you don’t miss out.

Stop 7: Trastevere

That was a lot, right? From here, take a walk to Trastevere, my favorite neighborhood in Rome. 

It was just so cute and void of the harassing men outside beckoning you to come eat their carbonara that plagues some of the more touristy spots around Rome.

Start at the lovely Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Look up at another impressive ceiling and a statue of St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things.

It’s one of my favorite spots in any Roman church because people leave all kinds of cards and letters of loved ones and items lost. There’s something moving about it all.

If you’re ready to eat, head to Osteria Nannarella. This highly-rated spot with decent prices offers hearty helpings of pizza and whatever chocolate salami is. We got a little digestif at the end on the house and I didn’t hate that, either.

More food options in the neighborhood that were on our list were Trapizzino | Trastevere for pizza cones and Enoteca Trastevere for a wine bar situation .

We took the bus back to our accommodations from here. Those things seem to run on an honor system, as it was about 70/30 for the people who didn’t validate their tickets vs. those who did. 

I do NOT recommend skipping out on tickets, though. The fines are hefty if you do get caught. I’m just giving you some observations.

Taxis in this city are also a hot mess. Uber isn’t really a thing. There’s a section on the app where they call a cab for you from a local company, but you only get a payment range.

Otherwise, you’re at the mercy of their Uber Black service where you may pay $40 for a five-minute ride.

We used a cab stand one rainy night when we lacked other options. While we made it to our destination safely and in a relatively affordable way, we were literally elbowed out of the way by Italians who refused to queue up for a ride. It was awful.

If you can, use the city’s trains or buses or walk. It’ll be much less dramatic.

More Things to Do in Rome

You’ll inevitably run out of time in Rome when visiting Rome in three days. Despite my personal feelings about the city, I’d still come back. There’s just so much to see here when it comes to Roman art, history, and food.

Here are a few more Rome tourist attractions for you to peruse with more time in the city:

• Visit the city’s catacombs. The Catacombs of St. Callixtus are considered by most to be the most impressive.
• Go underneath the Trevi Fountain. Ditch the selfie sticks at Vicus Caprarius , an archaeological site beneath the famous fountain.
• Tour St. Ivo alla Sapienza, but only on Sundays. We were lucky enough to see this beautiful church. The courtyard was the best part.

• Cycle on the Appian Way. The weather was a bit blustery on our trip to Rome, but these bike tours look like a great way to experience ancient Rome.
• Learn something new at the National Roman Museum. The focus here is on the early history of Rome.
• Live history through virtual reality at the Circo Maximo Experience . This looks like a fun thing to do with families in Rome.
• See the gilded ceiling of the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore. This large, imposing church sits near the main train station.
• Walk the art deco Galleria Sciarra. I was excited to stroll this walkway but it was closed when we passed by. The point is, Google lies. Maybe you’ll be luckier.

• Take a day trip. We went to Naples twice, Pompeii , and Herculaneum during our week in Rome. Rome is an excellent base for day trips if you’re here for longer.

For those with even more time on their Italy vacations, trips to Bologna and connections to Florence and other Tuscan towns are all possible from Rome.

Italy is quite well-connected for longer vacations.

Where to Stay in Rome

Which area is best for the first time in Rome? The historic center or close to Piazza Navona is best for the first time in Rome.

Accommodations are more expensive closer to the main tourist attractions, but you’ll save time and energy traveling to and from what is likely on your Rome itinerary.

We spent a full week at the Sixtythree Guesthouse and I’m only including it here so you don’t make the same mistake. It was a fraction of the cost of anything else for our last-minute Rome trip, so I was swayed by that.

The beds were some of the most uncomfortable I’ve ever experienced, a big deal when you’ve been touristing all day and need a good night’s sleep.

There was no one there to greet us and let us in, despite confirming online that there would be.

They make you do this if you arrive after 6pm. We were there at 7pm, but again, confirmed ahead of time. 

It’s a good thing we had data and WhatsApp to contact someone. Otherwise, we would have been screwed.

The walls were thin, amplifying any hacking coming from the old man next door. The toilet made an animalistic sound whenever flushed. The heated towel rack would have been a nice feature if it worked. 

No one was ever around to replenish basic stuff like soap and shampoo. The spotty WiFi was exactly that. It wouldn’t even work to mirror on the available TV during the poor guy’s demo at check-in.

The only pro is that it’s close to the train station if you’re here for a quick trip on the way elsewhere. For longer stays, I’d rather be elsewhere and just walk further to the train.

The neighborhood around the train station isn’t the best. It’s become somewhat of a homeless encampment. That isn’t necessarily dangerous, but that does mean watching where you step to avoid human excrement. I’m being literal here.

The good news is, you have better options when it comes to lodging for your itinerary for Rome in 3 days. Use the map to find yourself a better fit:

3 Days in Rome, Italy: FAQs

Is 3 nights in rome enough.

Three nights in Rome is pushing it in terms of ticking off Rome’s iconic attractions. That means you’ll likely only have two full days to explore the city. Prioritize the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and Vatican City with reservations for each one if you’re visiting Rome in two days.

What shouldn’t you miss in Rome?

You shouldn’t miss the Colosseum, Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel, and the Pantheon when in Rome if you’re here for the main tourist attractions. Add a charming neighborhood like Trastevere to get out of the touristy center.

What is there to do with 3 days in Rome solo?

There is so much to do with 3 days in Rome solo. Anything done in a pair or group can be done solo. Group tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill may still be best on a solo trip to Rome to make the most efficient use of your time.

What is there to do with 3 days in Rome with family?

There is so much to do with 3 days in Rome with family. Spend a day learning about Roman gladiators at the Colosseum or enjoy virtual reality experiences at Domus Aurea or the Circo Maximus Experience. Visit the playgrounds at Villa Borghese or climb to the best views at the Castel Sant’Angelo.

Is three days in Rome enough?

Three days in Rome is enough to see the biggest attractions in Rome. More time will allow you to see the main sites but then dig into places around Rome with fewer tourists.

No matter when you visit, make sure you make reservations for any of the most popular spots like the Colosseum, Borghese Gallery, and the Vatican Museums.

These places do sell out, even in the off-season!

Ready to Visit Rome?

Your Flight:  I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but if you’re looking to book a vacation during a particular period of time, you should start your search on  Skyscanner .

Flight deals into Rome Fiumicino Airport are pretty common. If you want to test your luck with deals out of your home airport, subscribe to Going , formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. You’ll get regular deals straight to your inbox on a regular basis.

Your Accommodations:  Scroll up for tips on where to stay in Rome and where to avoid.  Booking.com  is usually my first stop, followed by some comparison shopping with  Hotels.com .  Vrbo  is my preferred Airbnb alternative.

Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try  Hostelworld . Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience for 3 days in Rome budget travel.

Etc.:  For general travel goodies, visit my  Favorite Things  page. For more information on planning your travel and travel tips, visit my  Travel Tools  page.

Love this guide to things to do in Rome in 3 days? Pin me!

Want more European adventures nearby?  Check out these guides:

• How to Plan Your Next Trip to Poland
• Booking the Best Hotels in Kraków
• Should You Book That Venice Gondola?
• Make a Holiday Trip to Frankfurt, Germany
• A Detailed Guide to the Best of Verona

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Agnes Groonwald

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Itineraries , Planning , Rome

3 days in rome: itinerary ideas for visiting the eternal city.

This article may contain compensated links. See our full disclosure here

The Eternal City is one of the most fascinating cities you’ll find anywhere on the planet, and having just 3 days in Rome means that time is pretty tight. The good news is that a 3 day itinerary for Rome is totally do-able, but you’ll need to plan your time carefully to make the most of every moment. 

This article aims to help you along the way, assisting you to manage your time effectively so you don’t miss out on any of Rome’s main sights. We’ve also included a few hidden gems, like local neighborhoods you should dine out in plus the top pizzerias and gelaterias in the Italian capital – some of which offer stunning views over famous local landmarks. 

From the tiny country that is the Vatican City to the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps and more, this is how to plan an enjoyable itinerary for 3 days in Rome .

Article contents

Top sights in Rome 

Where do we even begin? The city is packed with glorious art and architecture, but these are the key sights to include on your Rome 3-day itinerary – especially if you’re a first timer or returning after many years.

The Colosseum 

If there’s one iconic site that immediately springs to mind when thinking of Rome, the Colosseum must surely be it. While the Colosseum barely needs any introduction, it would be a crime not to see Rome’s most famous spot while staying in the city. 

The Pantheon

The fact that the Pantheon has stood for over 2,000 years is awe-inspiring in itself, before we even get to the fact that its giant dome is nothing short of an architectural miracle. Beneath, it’s bathed in light thanks to the presence of a large oculus (hole in the ceiling), making for a magical experience.  

Trevi Fountain

Living La Dolce Vita at the Trevi Fountain is also a must on any 3-day Rome itinerary, especially if you want to return to the Eternal City. It’s said that throwing a coin into the fountain guarantees you will indeed come back someday. 

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps date back to the 18th century, and climbing all 135 of them rewards you with the most breathtaking, sweeping views over Rome. The steps connect the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Trinità dei Monti, and there is a church of the same name at the latter. 

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is quintessential Rome. This large Baroque square is decorated with a trio of opulent fountains. The Fountain of the Four Rivers in the center is the highlight. Piazza Navona stands on an ancient site once occupied by a Roman stadium. 

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican City is actually just that – an entirely separate entity from Rome in political terms, although it’s located in the heart of the city. Its museums contain a jaw-dropping collection of artworks, including paintings and sculptures by the likes of Raphael, Da Vinci and of course Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the Sistine Chapel. 

St Peter’s Basilica

Whether you’re a committed Catholic or a staunch atheist, seeing the majesty of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican cannot fail to leave you speechless. There are works of art, Royal and papal tombs and an incredible dome to see inside too. Plan to climb the 551 to the top of the dome to see incredible panoramic views of Rome.

Day One – Discover Rome’s Old Town and lively Trastevere neighborhood

Spending time in the historic heart of the city makes the ideal introduction to Rome . It seems there are ornate monuments and fountains around every corner of the charming, cobbled streets, while the sociable piazzas make the ideal place to sit with a gelato or coffee while soaking up the atmosphere. 

Morning and Afternoon – Stroll around the Old Town

The first day of your three days in Rome itinerary can be spent exploring the ancient heart of the city, seeing some of the most iconic sights in the land along the way. We recommend taking a circuit starting out at the Pantheon, stopping at the Trevi Fountain and then the Spanish Steps before ending at Piazza Navona. Take your time, this is the beating heart of Rome in all its glory.

Lunch and Gelato Stop Suggestions  

• Prosciutteria Cantina dei Papi – This Roman institution, just a hop from the famous Trevi Fountain, is the place to sample succulent, salty cured meats and delectable cheeses.
• La Rinascente – This large department store boasts a 7th floor terrace offering panoramic views over the city. There is also an excellent food court located on the 6th floor.
• Gelato stop – Giolitti – Giolitti is an historic cafe that serves up some of the finest gelato in Rome. Don’t be deterred by the long lines of waiting customers – staff work fast and the flavors are also well worth the wait.  Make sure to place your order and get a ticket at the front of the store before moving to the gelato counter to choose your flavors

If you have time or are feeling energized by all those glorious sights, you could visit the Villa Borghese and Galleria Borghese after seeing the Spanish Steps.  Villa Borghese is home to one of Rome’s largest green spaces and it’s a beautiful spot to wander, rent bikes or admire the views from the Terrazza del Pincio. Lovers of art should make plans to visit the Galleria Borghese, one of the finest galleries in the city.

Evening – Dinner or a food tour in Trastevere

Eating dinner in Trastevere means sampling authentic local food while spending time in a historic neighborhood that is bursting with personality and a vibrant street life. Trattoria Da Enzo al 29 is a typical restaurant of the  Trastevere district that serves up superb main meals, pasta dishes and desserts. Must-trys include fried artichokes, the typical Roman pasta dish cacio e pepe and something from their changing dessert menu. They don’t take reservations so you can expect to wait a little while. 

A food tour

If you want to sample a variety of dishes and learn about the local cuisine, a food tour of Trastevere is one of our favorite ways to spend an evening in Rome. Booking a food tour is a great way to try local dishes, meet fellow travelers and discover one of the city’s historic districts and it’s one of our top tips for making the most of your time when doing Rome in 3 days.  

Evening Golf cart tour

If you’re arriving late into Rome, this evening golf cart tour with drinks is the perfect introduction to the city. Take a comfortable seat in a golf buggy while a local expert shows you the sights. You’ll also see a few secret spots and enjoy a sip of Prosecco and aperitivo.

Expert tips for your first day in Rome

• Take your time – Do take your time – and make sure you capture plenty of photos for posterity. It’s better to discover fewer sites properly, while enjoying the experience, than to rush around ticking off a list.
• Golf cart tour – if you or your travel companions have mobility issues or simply want to save your legs, join a golf cart tour that covers 20 landmarks and 6 neighborhoods of Rome in eco-friendly style > more info
• Prebook your tickets to Galleria Borghese – If you do plan to head to Galleria Borghese, we recommend pre-booking your tickets. This will save you time and guarantee entry on the day >> Our guide to booking tours and tickets for the Borghese Gallery

Day Two – Colosseum and Ancient Rome

Day two when in Rome for 3 days can be spent exploring the city’s incredible ancient sites – starting out early at the Colosseum if you can before taking in ruins, art and culture or panoramic views.   

Morning and Afternoon – Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum

Plan to arrive at the Colosseum at the 9am opening time before the crowds so you can enjoy this magnificent site before it gets busy and avoid the heat of the day in summer. Allow at least two to three hours to discover and photograph the underground area, Gladiators gate, the arena and Palatine Hill properly.  You can explore on your own however it is a large area with poor signage and explanations so a guided tour is recommended. At the very least it’s a good idea to pre-book your tickets .

Lunch and Gelato Stop Suggestions 

• Ai Tre Scalini – A welcoming restaurant situated inside what was a winery in ancient times. The menu includes delicious pastas, meat mains and of course a comprehensive wine list.
• Li Rioni A Santiquattro – Here you can sample authentic Roman-style, thin crust pizzas in a light, airy dining room with beamed ceilings and exposed brickwork.
• Fatamorgana Monti – When in Rome we always want to sample as much gelato as possible and this is another top spot. Expect friendly service and a tantalizing array of freshly made flavors. 

Can’t get enough of Roman history? This area is full of treasures to explore. The Capitoline Museums are a favorite with art, culture and history fans, as they’re packed with appealing Roman sculptures and antiquities. 

Alternatively, if sweeping views are more your thing, head to the Terrazza delle Quadrighe at Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia to enjoy a stupendous panorama over Rome. 

Evening – Dinner near Campo de’Fiori

Campo De’Fiori is a lively piazza that hosts a daily produce market. At night it comes alive with restaurants, bars and street performances. It’s a fun place to go for dinner and then to walk around or as the Italians say “passeggiata”. This is where you’ll find our favorite restaurant in Rome –   Roscioli Salumeria . Definitely a restaurant to  include on your 3 day Rome itinerary, it’s known for its amazing pasta dishes. As well as a restaurant, there is a bakery, wine store and deli on site. Bookings essential. 

Expert tips for day 2

• Take a tour of the Colosseum and Ancient  – t o make the most of your time in this area, it’s worth pre-booking a tour led by an experienced guide. Take Walks Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – 
• Pre-book tickets for the Colosseum – the incredibly popular Colosseum is one of those sites where you’ll be grateful if you pre-booked your tickets before arrival. And in fact timed entry is now compulsory. You can book your tickets via GetYourGuide or the official site – we give you two options as the official site often does not accept international credit cards
• Focus on footwear – do make sure you wear comfortable shoes for exploring the Colosseum and walking around the city. While Italians may be stylish, hobbling around due to blisters doesn’t look or feel good. 

Day Three – Explore the Vatican City

On the last of your 3 days in Rome it’s time to explore the Vatican City, a separate state that lies within Rome. This is home to the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church, as well as magnificent sights like St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Later in the day you can take one of our suggested detours before dining out in style during your final evening. 

Morning and Afternoon – Visit the Vatican Museums followed by St Peter’s Basilica

Like the Colosseum, the Vatican and its churches and museums occupy a vast site that you’ll need a minimum of two to three hours to explore. Highlights include the Hall of Maps and the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Dome and Michelangelo’s Pieta and crypt at St Peter’s and the splendid Vatican Gardens. We also love seeing the Swiss Guard in traditional dress at their posts.

Planning your day at the Vatican is crucial as you will cover a lot of ground on foot. Most people start early at the Vatican Museums and make their way to St Peter’s in the afternoon but the reverse is also possible. You will need to purchase timed entry tickets or a guided tour (recommended) for the Vatican Museums and while it is free to enter St Peter’s there are lines for security checks.

Lunch and Gelato Stop Suggestions

• Bonci Pizzarium – This Roman pizzeria is where celebrated chef Gabriele Bonci perfected the art of his ground-breaking dough. Pizzas are also topped with only the finest seasonal ingredients

Gelato stop – La Gelateria del Teatro – Classic and innovative flavors make use of the freshest ingredients. Italian ice cream isn’t the only sweet treat available at this small store – handmade chocolates are also for sale. 

If you have time and energy to spare in the afternoon, choose from the following activities to make the most of your time in Rome. Dramatic Castel Sant’Angelo was built over t he Mausoleum of Hadrian. Dating back to the 2nd century AD, it’s now a museum with beautiful views over the Tiber River. 

A walk along the Tiber over and along historic bridges gives you a unique perspective on the city. Also close by,  Via Coronari is one of Rome’s most picturesque streets lined with 15th and 16th century Renaissance buildings. 

Evening – Dine out with Iconic Views or Explore the City by Night

What better way to spend your final night in Rome than dining overlooking the city’s iconic attractions.  For views of the Colosseum, make reservations at Aroma .  This sophisticated eatery is situated on Palazzo Manfredi’s top floor. You can gaze out over the iconic landmark as you savor pasta, meat and fish dishes, all served fine dining style.  

Terrazza Borromini is located inside the magnificent Palazzo Pamphilj. Diners here enjoy some of the most stunning views in Rome over Piazza Navona. Food is elegant versions of local favorites, accompanied by an impressive wine and cocktail list. 

Night Experiences

There’s something very special about Rome bathed in moonlight. Simply retracing your steps through the centro storico (old town) will give you an entirely new perspective on the Eternal City. If you want to end your stay on a high this Colosseum at Night tour takes you underground to the Gladiators Gate and onto the arena for a truly memorable experience including multi-media show.

You can head even further underground on this Catacombs Night Tour. This very spooky Catacombs Night Tour experience takes you deep into the Capuchin Crypt and to the Catacombs of Saint Agnes and the basilica dedicated her that is decorated in 4th century glittering mosaics.

Expert tips for day 3

• Book a tour – A guided Vatican Museums tour is useful for making the most of every moment. This early morning tour is very popular or you can check out our round up of the best Vatican tours for other options
• Pre-book tickets for the Vatican Museums – Pre-booking again saves waiting in line and time entry is now a requirement to access the museums – Vatican Site – or easier booking with English language Vatican Museum tickets on Get Your Guide
• Expect security checks – Expect to wait in line for essential security checks at both St Peters and the Vatican Museums
• Dress appropriately – Respectful dress appropriate for this religious site is expected, and shoulders and knees should be covered.
• Well shod – Again, wearing comfortable shoes means putting your enjoyment of the day first. 

Arriving in Rome

Make sure your trip gets off to the best start possible by planning your arrival into Rome . The Leonardo Express takes you straight into Roma Termini station in the city center where you can grab a taxi to your accommodation or book a transfer with Welcome Pickups or S un Transfers (larger groups)

Where to stay in Rome

When you’ll only be in Rome for 3 days, we highly recommend staying near the Pantheon . This is the beating heart of the city, with all the city’s main attractions within easy reach on foot. To find a place to stay in this area, read our dedicated article about hotels near the Pantheon , which details some of the best options at different price points. If you can’t resist the lure of ancient Rome, our guide to  hotels near the Colosseum has suggestions including rooms with views over the famous monument.

READ: Our guide to the best places to stay in Rome .

Recommended Tour Companies in Rome

Exploring Rome on your own is a joy and should definitely form a large part of your itinerary. However, if you have a particular interest in learning about the culture, history and cuisine of one of the world’s greatest cities, joining a guided tour will make the sights of the city really come to life. These are the tour companies we recommend using in Rome.

• Take Walks (formerly Walks of Italy) have a longstanding reputation for well designed tours, excellent service, 24 hour cancelation, groups under 20 people and guaranteed departures. So if you are the only person booked on a tour it will still go ahead > browse tours
• Liv Tours are a family run company based in Rome who run very small group (6 people max) and private tours across Italy and Europe. They also offer 24 hour cancelation. Liv Tours offer our readers 5% off with code – UntoldItaly > browse tours
• Withlocals run private tours at reasonable prices including some great options for families. There are set itineraries you can choose or work with a guide to customize your own. We love their 10 tastes food tours > browse tours
• Food Tours – Eating Europe and Devour Tours are well known for their excellent itineraries exploring neighborhoods and focus on local cuisine.

Summary – 3 days in Rome is never enough!

Following a 3 day Rome itinerary is likely to leave you wishing to return to the Eternal City as soon as is humanly possible! We’ve barely scratched the surface of what you can do and see in Rome.

We do hope to have shown, however, that it is possible to see the key sights of Rome in 3 days – and you should also find time to devour some scrumptious pizza, pasta and gelato along the way.

If you do have more time to spare, check out this 5 day itinerary on our sister site, Untold Morsels that includes day trips and off the beaten path things to do and see in Rome and discover our guide to the best day trips outside the eternal city . 

The 8 Best Hotels Near Rome Airport 2024

How to buy tickets for the colosseum in rome, episode #217: 5 must have experiences in rome, best vatican tours: sistine chapel, vatican museums and st peter’s basilica, episode #214: rome’s best kept secrets – explore the eternal city with liv tours, how to buy tickets for the borghese gallery rome, episode #201: beyond the colosseum – hidden secrets of rome, how to buy tickets for the vatican museums, planning a trip to italy.

We love travel in Italy and sharing our knowledge. Read our Italy trip planning guide or join our FREE Italy travel planning community . Our 140,000+ members are happy to answer questions about your itinerary, how to get from place to place, the best places to stay and fun things to do.

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The Mindful Traveller

Eco Travel Blog & Photography

Tuscany Road Trip Guide: Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

19 April 2023 · In: Italy , Road Trip , Travel , Tuscany

Let’s venture on a road trip through Italy together! Here is a complete guide to Tuscany, including how to get around, when to visit and a perfect 3-day itinerary (ideal if you are short on time) that ensures you see the best attractions and sights this magical region offers.

Going on a road trip through Tuscany has been a dream of mine for a long time.

I dreamed of driving on these winding roads lined with cypresses, meadows and vineyards and crossing medieval towns arising like islands. And, of course, drinking wine and eating cheese.

And I was not disappointed 🙂 It was everything as I imagined, even better. Tuscany has an incredible atmosphere that will transport you back in time. It felt so good I did not want to go home.

From historic villages to Renaissance art and breathtaking natural landscapes, this travel guide is perfect for first-timers, allowing you to experience this region of Italy and its culture on a deeper level – at your own pace. Enjoy!

Disclosure : Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. For more information, read our full affiliate disclosure  here .

Day 3 – Siena to Pisa

Overview: 3 days in tuscany.

• Day 1: Pisa to Florence
• Day 2: Florence to Siena (with a wander through the countryside)
• Day 3: Siena to San Gimignano to Pisa

Notes – we started our road trip in Pisa as flights from Manchester were cheap (£30), same for the car rental (£25 for 3 days, without insurance, but we added it once there). If you prefer, you can start from Florence, but prices might be higher. 

Tuscany road trip – Map

Click on the top left of the map to display the list of stops and locations.

Detailed itinerary: Tuscany 3-day road trip

Please note that this self-drive road trip itinerary in Italy is only a guide with recommendations. You are more than welcome to spend more days in one area or add other stops on your journey. You can also continue your road trip to the South and Rome , or the North with Venice and the Dolomites.

Day 1 – Pisa to Florence

🚙 Pisa – Florence: 1h30 / 93km

We picked up our car at 9:00 and drove to our first destination,  Florence . I was delighted to discover this city after hearing so many good things about it from my friends.

We decided to head straight to the city through the motorway, but you can skip it and drive through the countryside if you prefer (that is what we did for the rest of the road trip). 

If you have time, you can also stop by the charming town of  Lucca , known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls surrounding its historic city centre and cobbled streets.

Notes – the motorway was free, but we could not work out how fast we could go and were a bit confused by the road signs. I stayed at 90km/h to be on the safe side.  

Once in Florence, we struggled to find free parking, which turned out to be an impossible task. After looking online, we found a cheap car park where we could reach the city centre by tram (Arcipressi stop), which took us about 30 minutes.

Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region and home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, had an incredible atmosphere. It was like visiting an open-air museum!

We did not plan much in advance and decided to just wander around. I wished I had booked the Duomo tour in advance, which was fully booked on the day – something I recommend you try 🙂

READ MORE: Florence Travel Guide: Epic 3-Day Itinerary

Things to do & see in Florence

Here are some of the best things to do and see in Florence:

• Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
• Climb the Campanile di Giotto
• Stroll through Piazza della Signoria
• Admire the Palazzo Vecchio
• Walk across Ponte Vecchio 
• Tour the Uffizi Gallery
• Wander through Piazza della Repubblica
• Get lost in the narrow streets
• Marvel at the Basilica of Santa Croce

Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations.

Top experiences from Florence

For the night, we planned to stay in Florence but changed our minds at the last minute as we wanted to enjoy the calm of the countryside. We stayed in this  lovely B&B outside of the city, which was very quiet at this time of year, but offered a pleasant room with a beautiful view of the vines and breakfast in the morning. 

If you prefer the buzz of the city, prioritise staying in the Florence centre, although prices can climb up quickly. 

Day 2 – Florence to Siena

🚙 Florence – Siena: 1h10 / 78km

We continued our road trip through Tuscany with  Siena . On our way there, we skipped the motorway and drove on narrow roads through small villages, which were lovely and offered much better scenery.

We arrived in Siena in the morning. Once again, parking was not easy. We found free parking lots around the town, but all were full. We gave up and decided to park in an indoor garage (Parcheggio Il Duomo), which was 10€ for the day. 

Notes – the centre of Siena is restricted, meaning you need authorisation to drive through it, or you will be fined.

We started exploring the medieval town, and I immediately fell in love with this place. The architecture was gorgeous, and wandering through its narrow streets was my favourite thing to do! We also enjoyed a slice of pizza for lunch on the Piazza del Campo under the Italian sun, which was so nice and recharging ☀️

Things to do & see in Siena

Here are some of the best things to do and see in Siena:

• Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
• Enjoy lunch at the Piazza del Campo
• Climb the Torre del Mangia
• Tour the Palazzo Pubblico
• Stop by Piazza Salimbeni
• Admire the Porta Camollia
• Marvel at the Basilica San Domenico

At the end of the day, we decided to head out into the countryside to enjoy some whiny roads lined with cypresses, meadows and vineyards / typical Tuscan landscapes – and we were not disappointed! 

Notes – driving in Italy is easy, so do not worry too much. You can encounter narrow roads, but most are wide enough and in good condition. On the other hand, Italians do drive fast. So if you feel pressured, just slow down and put your indicator, and they will take over. 

We drove in the southeast, passing through the town of Asciano, to reach the famous  Punto Panoramico Crete Senesi Agriturismo Baccoleno . On our way there, we stopped several times as the scenery was gorgeous. You will find plenty of places to stop along the road, so take advantage of them! But always respect the land and do not venture onto private paths. 

And please, note that the Agriturismo Baccoleno is also private property. Respect the place, and do not use drones. 

On our way back to Siena, we had the chance to enjoy the countryside with a lovely sunset. The soft colours and lights were absolutely gorgeous!

To help you navigate through the Tuscan countryside, here is a map with some lovely viewpoints not to miss. Of course, it is only a recommendation, there are so many other spots to discover, especially in the Val D’Orcia region. Let me know in the comment which is your favourite viewpoint.

That night, we stayed at this  pleasant hotel in the centre of Siena. We loved the location and had a beautiful view from our window, but it was a bit noisy at night. We still managed to sleep and had breakfast there in the morning. 

Notes – when coming back to Siena after our wander through the countryside, we managed to park in the free carpark next to the stadium, Il Campino, located a short walk from the centre. However, spaces are  scarce , so try it early in the morning or late at night.

🚙 Siena – San Gimignano: 45min / 43km 🚙 San Gimignano – Pisa: 1h15 / 77km

For our last day on the Tuscan roads, we headed back to Pisa stopping at  San Gimignano  on the way, an incredible hilltop town surrounded by 13th-century walls.

If you have time, before reaching San Gimignano, you can also visit  Monteriggioni , a walled town known for its medieval fortifications and watchtowers.

Parking around San Gimignano was easy, although you will not find many free spaces. We parked in the Parcheggio Giubileo P1, which was only a 10-minute walk to the centre.

San Gimignano is an outstanding town to discover and soak up the Tuscan atmosphere. In addition, you will find one of the best gelatos in the world, Gelateria Dondoli 🍦 They propose unique local flavours – and it was absolutely delicious! 

Things to do & see in San Gimignano

Here are some of the best things to do and see in San Gimignano:

• Climb the Torre Grossa
• Stroll the medieval streets
• Explore La Rocca di Montestaffoli
• Try a gelato at Gelateria Dondoli 
• Visit the Cathedral of San Gimignano
• Go wine tasting at an Agriturismo

After a lovely time in San Gimignano, we took the road to  Pisa , our last stop. We returned the car at the airport at the end of the day and walked to our   charming B&B , conveniently located only 10 minutes from the airport, as we had an early flight the next day. 

Once there, take the time to visit Pisa and its world-renowned Leaning Tower! 

We did not spend much time in this city as we had a short window and wanted to make the most of the countryside (plus, I had a terrible migraine on our last day), but it is still a nice place to explore.

Things to do & see in Pisa

Here are some of the best things to do and see in Pisa:

• Take a photo of the Leaning Tower
• Admire the Pisa Baptistery
• Wander through the Campo Santo
• Marvel at the Santa Maria della Spina
• Stop by the Palazzo dei Cavalieri
• Stroll along the River Arno

Top experiences in Pisa

That was where our memorable 3-day road trip through Tuscany ended. It was everything I had dreamed of, and I did not want to go home! 

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Things to do if you have more time

The region of Tuscany has so much to offer. As we were limited with time, we only had 3 days to enjoy the main highlights and attractions, but if you have the chance, here are some other things you can add to your road trip itinerary: 

• Wine tasting : impossible not to think about wine when driving through the lush green hills and their vineyards. The wine tasting was an activity I wanted to do, but as I was driving the car each day, it was a bit difficult. It is something I recommend you try. You will also be able to learn more about the local culture and sample traditional cuisine.
• Saturnia Hot Springs : I discovered the hot springs through a blog post whilst doing my research on Tuscany, and I was blown away by the photos of these magical pools. The Saturnia Hot Springs are a set of thermal springs located next to the town of Manciano. However, the area can get busy in summer, so plan accordingly. 
• Other villages : you will find on your road trip across Tuscany many hidden or perched villages, and all have something to offer. Here are a few to add to your list: Arezzo, Cortona, Orvieto, Assisi, Volterra, Montalcino and Montepulciano – let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions! 
• Val d’Orcia : a stunning valley in the south of Siena, offering gorgeous panoramas between medieval castles, isolated farmhouses and golden fields – a dream for photographers. We had the chance to explore a little part of it, but I would recommend spending a full day there.
• Elba : this island is the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago and a must-do if you have time. You will find many activities to do there, such as swimming, diving, sailing or biking and exploring the island. A perfect place to discover for families with children.

5-day itinerary idea

• Day 1: Florence to Siena
• Day 2: Siena to the Val D’Orcia
• Day 3: The Val D’Orcia to San Gimignano 
• Day 4: San Gimignano to Pisa
• Day 5: Pisa to Florence

How to get to Tuscany

The best way to get to Tuscany is by  plane , landing in Pisa or Florence. We chose Pisa as the direct flights from Manchester were cheap and frequent. But Florence is also a great city to start a road trip in Tuscany. 

If you live in Europe, the other option would be to reach the Italian region by  train  or  coach  (which will also be more eco-friendly). 

How to get around Tuscany

The best way to get around Tuscany is by  car . It will allow you to move freely and reach remote parts of the beautiful countryside. You can easily rent one at the aiport, and I recommend using  Rentalcars.com  to search and compare which car is best for you. From affordable to luxury, they make it easy to choose and have a great selection of rental agents.

Another option would be to use  public transport . It is an excellent way to travel around if you are on a budget, but on the other hand, getting to remote places might be challenging.

Finally, if you feel adventurous, you can discover Tuscany by  bike ! It is an ideal way to explore the Italian region from a different perspective and travel slowly – it is also good for the environment. 

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Create your dream adventure & live an unforgettable experience on the road.

Best time to visit Tuscany

The best time to visit Tuscany is in  spring and autumn  when the weather is sunny and warm, but the places are not crowded. 

We visited the region at the end of March, which was lovely! The weather was sunny each day, with temperatures around 20 degrees. The roads were mostly empty, and the tourist spots were not too busy. It was not easy to park, but that was because it is not possible to access most town centres as they all have restricted areas. 

I would try to avoid visiting Tuscany in the summer. I can not imagine how hot it gets on there. Plus, the streets are quite narrow, which will be harder to navigate if they become too busy and congested. 

Winter is another option if you would like to avoid the crowds but be prepared for the cold weather and some snow on the roads. Also, many places might be closed, and there will not be a lot of accommodations open, so check and book ahead of time. 

Notes – Even for us in March, many places were still closed.

How to reduce your eco-impact on the road

Sustainable travel  means exploring the world whilst being aware of your surroundings and having a positive social, environmental and economic impact on the places you visit. And this applies to road trips too!

Road trips are a fantastic way of travelling as they allow us to move easily and discover many incredible places at our own pace. However, they can also have negative impacts. That is why considering our carbon footprint and adopting  eco-responsible habits  is essential.

Here are some simple tips for creating an unforgettable adventure in Tuscany with less impact:

• Prepare your route in advance
• Plan your meals
• Make your trip plastic-free
• Bring a reusable filtered water bottle and lunch boxes
• Check your car and drive smoothly
• Avoid idling your engine
• Leave a place better than you found it
• Treat locals and their surroundings with respect
• Adopt a responsible attitude towards wildlife
• Stay on marked trails when hiking

More inspiration for your green vacation:

• Best Travel Apps for Exploring Sustainably
• 15 Travel Books to Inspire Your Next Eco-Adventure
• Best Ecotourism Activities Around the World

Eco-friendly gear you might love:

• 10 Best Sustainable Backpacks for Travel & Hiking
• 10 Best Reusable & Eco-Friendly Travel Mugs
• 8 Best Filtered Water Bottles for Travel & Hiking

Check out  this page  for more inspiration on eco-friendly products & gear.

Italy travel planning guide

Yes, buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Enjoy your trip to Italy stress-free with one of my favourite providers,  Nomad Insurance .

Yes, tap water is safe to drink all over Italy, a country which also provides a lot of free water fountains. However, I also recommend using the  UltraPress Purifier Bottle , a lightweight filtered water bottle perfect for reducing plastic and staying hydrated.

Yes, renting a car in Italy is easy and is a great way to explore the country freely. I recommend booking yours with  Rentalcars.com  – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.

The best way to book your accommodation in Italy is with  Booking.com  – my favourite platform to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable to luxury.

I recommend booking your plane with  Skyscanner . It has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights whilst lowering my carbon emissions.

Road trip through Tuscany – FAQ

I recommend spending at least 3 days on a road trip through Tuscany (5 days would be ideal), so you have plenty of time to experience all the highlights and top attractions the Italian region offers without rushing.

No, driving in Tuscany is not hard. You might encounter narrow and winding roads, but the overall conditions are good. Drive slowly and plan your route in advance; it will help you navigate around.

The best months to visit Tuscany are April-May and September-October when the weather is pleasant, without too many crowds.

Have you ever experienced a road trip in Tuscany or would you like to try one day?  Let me know in the comments below!

With love ♡ Lucie

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3 Days in Venice: Detailed Itinerary, Map & Insider Tips

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: March 21, 2024

Planning to spend 3 days in Venice and wondering what to see and do in the city and how to best plan your time? In this guide, we share a detailed Venice 3-day itinerary coupled with lots of practical information and local’s tips to help you make the most of your visit.

Built on more than a hundred small islands, Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful places to see in Italy . Nobody will argue that the historical city center and the islands dotting the beautiful Venetian Lagoon are absolutely unique. There’s just no other place like this in the world!

The canals of Venice and its ‘calli’, the narrow streets, divide the urban landscape that looks like an intricate labyrinth. With its old palaces, world-famous museums, and its iconic landmarks, Venice is a city to visit slowly, giving you time to enjoy all its beauty.

Most tourists only come to Venice for a day , so lucky you to be able to spend three days in the floating city! With 3 days in Venice, you should be able to cover all the ‘musts’, but also get a bit off the beaten path, enjoy getting lost in its maze of narrow streets and canals, and get to know a more local side of this fascinating place.

Good to know: While we have visited Venice several times and have shared multiple Venice travel guides on the blog before, for this 3-day Venice itinerary we asked for recommendations from a local . Originally from the Veneto region and with a Master’s Degree in tourism studies, Maddy from the  Venice Travel Tips blog  is passionate about sharing her knowledge of the city and the area.

This itinerary was created with her help and includes lots of local tips, restaurant suggestions, and other information that should help you plan a truly memorable trip. It should give you a good idea of how to spend up to 3 days in Venice without missing out on its best bits including a few off-the-beaten-path gems. Take a look!

How this guide is structured:

Below, you can find our recommended Venice itinerary for three days. Per day, we share detailed info about all the places that you can visit, coupled with practical info and tips. Further below, you’ll find a short overview of the 3-day Venice itinerary and a MAP indicating each place mentioned in our guide.

Please note that all the hours in the itinerary are only indicated for your reference . This will give you a better idea of how much time you need for each place/ attraction.

When suggesting the order in which to visit everything, we take into account the location and the opening hours of the attractions, or the starting hours of the tours . That way, you can better plan your time, see what’s possible, and then decide where to go or maybe skip one place and spend more time somewhere else.

Finally, at the bottom of this article, you’ll also find some general practical tips for visiting Venice. Take a look!

Here’s how you could spend three days in Venice:

Day 1: Venice Highlights

On your first day, you’ll probably want to visit some of the main sights and top attractions in Venice . Our itinerary below is packed with the ‘musts’. In addition, we show you how to best plan your day so that you can get a taste of authentic Venice too.

DAY 1 planning info/ tickets to book :

• St. Mark’s Campanile (Bell Tower) – timed-entry tickets .
• St. Mark’s Basilica – timed-entry all-in tickets .
• Doge’s Palace – timed-entry tickets .
• Gondola ride – see here (booking optional).
• TIP: This digital Venice Pass includes all of the above and makes it easy to book/plan everything in one go. For a unique experience, check out this exclusive after-hours tour of Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica .
• La Fenice Theater – tickets .
• Street food tour (optional) – book here .

This is what your first day in Venice would look like:

Rialto Bridge + Market + Grand Canal

8-8.30 am .

After your breakfast at the hotel, visit the Rialto Bridge and market area . The Rialto bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the city and one of the few ones crossing the Grand Canal . It’s also one of the most popular places that everyone comes to see in Venice. So visiting here in the morning will help you to appreciate it better. During the day, you can often hardly see the bridge through people…

Back in the Serenissima Republic days of Venice, this part of the city was a prolific space for trading spices and products coming from the Middle and the Far East. It’s also here that you will also find Mercato di Rialto , a bustling market area.

The fish and fruit/vegetables markets are usually open from around 7.30 am daily except on Sundays. It’s a nice place to soak up a local atmosphere and take some colorful pictures.

Be sure to also walk around the waterfront promenade on both sides of the Grand Canal. It offers countless amazing photo opportunities!

Gondola Ride

If you want to go for a gondola ride in Venice, the area around Rialto Bridge is an excellent place to do that. The Venetian gondola is one of the iconic symbols that Venice is famous for and the oldest means of transport in the city.

Nowadays, gondolas are mostly used by tourists, but it remains an authentic Venetian experience that we highly recommend. It’s also one of the best ways to appreciate how special and unique Venice is from a different point of view.

Good to know: You don’t absolutely have to book a gondola ride in advance, but if you want to do it at a specific time and place without wasting time, then it might be a good idea. In that case, take a look at the best options available here.

TIP: Early morning is a very good time for a gondola ride. There aren’t that many tourists around so the canals aren’t filled with gondolas, and it’s not too hot. Furthermore, gondoliers aren’t tired yet and are usually in a very good mood. For more info and tips, please see our guide via the link below.

READ ALSO: Tips for a Gondola Ride in Venice

Good to know: If you don’t mind visiting the bridge and the market when it’s busier, you can also start your day in St. Mark’s Square (see below) and visit the Rialto Bridge area after that. Gondola rides are available all over the city center throughout the day. This would save you quite a bit of walking; on the other hand, a lot depends on where your accommodation is located and where you want to start your day.

St. Mark’s Square + San Marco Campanile + St. Mark’s Basilica

9-10.30 am .

In about 15 minutes walk from Rialto Bridge you can reach Piazza San Marco. This is the only real square of Venice, as the other small piazzas of the city are called ‘ campi ’. Its story goes back to the early years of Venice, in the 12th century.

St. Mark’s Square is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world! It’s surrounded by the buildings of Procuratie Vecchie and Nove, where the St. Mark’s procurator was living and working. You can’t really miss the 15th-century  Clock Tower on the left side and the bell tower, St. Mark’s Campanile , on the right.

No matter how many days you have in Venice , these popular attractions are a must for any itinerary. And it’s best to visit them early to any disappointment.

We highly recommend going to the top of St. Mark’s Campanile . With 98 meters, this is the tallest building in Venice, and its original purpose was as a lighthouse for the sailors. Nowadays, it’s one of the best places to enjoy some of the best 360° aerial views of the city and the lagoon.

Practical information: St. Mark’s Campanile is normally open daily from 9.30 am. If you want to go up, be sure to  book timed entry tickets online in advance (if this option is available in the season when you visit) and be here before it opens. And don’t worry about having to climb – there’s an elevator that brings you to the top.

Next on this itinerary is St. Mark’s Basilica located on the same square. There are 137 churches in Venice (!), and this impressive basilica is the religious heart of the city. The golden mosaics you can see inside are stunning, just like Pala d’Oro, the impressive golden altarpiece (extra fee). In addition, you can also visit St. Mark’s Treasure and Terrace (extra fee).

Good to know:  St. Mark’s Basilica is open from 9.30 am, except Sundays and some religious holidays when it’s only open in the afternoon (see their website for more info). A visit to the church itself requires a ticket and the queues can be very long, especially if there are many cruise ships in town. So if you want to visit inside and make the most of your day, be sure to book timed-entry tickets in advance.

TIP: We recommend this all-in ticket that also includes Pala d’Oro and Terraces. These are the most impressive parts of the Basilica, not included with the standard ticket.

You can also just visit  St. Mark’s Treasure and the Terraces (there’s usually a much shorter queue here). From the museum, you can see a bit of the interior of the church as well (of course, it’s not the same as actually visiting inside). But you also get access to the balcony overlooking St. Mark’s Square, which is well worth it.

But quite honestly, with three days in Venice, you have plenty of time, so get the full ticket and see everything. It’s stunning!

TIP:   This highly-rated guided tour visits the terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace (more info below). If you want to see these places in the most efficient way, it might be worth considering. There is usually a tour at 10 am, so it could fit this itinerary quite well.

Alternatively, for a truly unique experience, check out this exclusive after-hours tour of Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica . In that case, you’ll have to rearrange this itinerary a bit since this tour runs in the evening.

Doge’s Palace + Bridge of Sighs

10.30 am-noon .

Just behind St. Mark’s Basilica is the Doge’s Palace , another of the must-sees in Venice.

This is the former residence of Venice’s doge, the chief magistrate of the Serenissima Republic. The building is one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic architecture. Even if you wouldn’t have the time to visit inside, it’s absolutely impressive just to see it.

But with three days in Venice, you really shouldn’t miss visiting Doge’s Palace inside!

The building is divided into 3 wings where you can walk around the doge’s apartments, see the stunning chambers, and also visit the prisons that couldn’t have more contrast with what you see in the palace. The absolute highlight here is the Chamber of the Great Council with artworks from eminent Venetian artists like Titian, Carpaccio, and Bellini.

In order to get to the prisons, you’ll have to cross the famous Bridge of Sighs . This covered bridge has been called like that to remind the ‘sighs’ of the prisoners taking the last glimpse of the Venetian lagoon before finding out what their sentence was. It’s a truly unique experience and something you can only do in combination with a visit to Doge’s Palace (which makes it even more worthwhile).

After your visit to the palace and the prisons, take some time to admire the beautiful architecture of this bridge from the outside as well!

Practical info: Doge’s Palace is open daily from 9 am. You should count at least 1.5 hours for a visit. Unless you visit here on one of the tours that come here , be sure to book your timed-entry tickets in advance . Otherwise, you’ll waste hours queuing.

LEARN MORE: Doge’s Palace: how to visit & what to expect

Fondaco dei Tedeschi Rooftop

12.15-1 pm .

Before heading back to Rialto Bridge where you can find a lot of interesting spots for lunch, consider visiting the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi rooftop just nearby. This terrace offers some lovely views of the Grand Canal and the skyline of Venice. It has quickly become a very popular tourist attraction in the city.

The word ‘ fondaco ‘ in the Venetian dialect can be translated to a warehouse or trading headquarters. Fondaco dei Tedeschi dates to the early 13th century and belonged to German merchants.

Today, the historical building has been restored and hosts a luxurious multi-level shopping center. Even if you don’t visit the terrace, it’s well worth taking a look inside – the interior is stunning and quite unique.

Good to know: The rooftop is open from 10.45 am until 7.15 pm (closing at 7:30 pm). It can be accessed for free but you’ll need to book your visit through their website beforehand.

Lunch: Al Mercá

For your first lunch in Venice, there is no better place than Al Mercá , a locals’ favorite spot for lunch or aperitivo . It’s perfect for lunch on the go as this traditional ‘bacaro’ (local bar) has no seating.

It serves ‘cicchetti’, small bread bites with delicious toppings made of fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and a small panini. Locals love accompanying these snacks with a glass of wine or Aperol Spritz.

Lunch opening times : Daily except for Sundays, between 10 am and 2.30 pm.

Of course, you will be able to find plenty of other great places for lunch. Just try to avoid the super touristy restaurants right on the Grand Canal.

Libreria Acqua Alta

2-2.45 pm .

Just a 10 minutes walk further, you can’t miss a little gem of Venice, Libreria Acqua Alta . This is a truly unique bookshop, self-proclaimed as one of the most beautiful in the world. In the past, this was a really hidden gem of Venice – not so much anymore. Sometimes, there’s a very long queue to get in, and while it’s nice to see, I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether it’s worth your time…

This bookstore has a big collection of new and second-hand books. Many of their books are stored inside Venetian gondolas, kayaks, and whatever else can float. This is in order to protect the books from getting wet during the famous floods (thus the name ‘ aqua alta ‘ which literally means the high water).

The store looks really chaotic, but it’s also why it’s so fascinating for visitors. The many cats laying around make it even more fun to visit. This is a good place to look for a nice souvenir, some unique postcards, or Venice prints.

TIP: Don’t miss the book ‘staircase’ outside, at the back of the store.

Opening times: Libreria Acqua Alta is open daily from 9 am to 7.30 pm. We indicated its location on our map at the end of this article.

La Fenice Theater

La Fenice Theater is located in St. Mark’s neighborhood and is not far from the top attractions you visited earlier today. So it’s a bit of backtracking, but it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to get there from the Libreria Acqua Alta.

This prestigious opera house built was built in the neoclassical style and opened to the public in 1792. Over the centuries, the building has been burnt down and restored numerous times.

La Fenice Theater is considered one of the most prominent in the world and can host up to 1500 people. It’s here that the premieres of many famous operas were held, including those of composers such as Giuseppe Verdi, Stravinsky, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gioachino Rossini.

TIP: You can visit this iconic opera house just to admire its stunning interior. For that, it’s best to book your skip-the-line tickets in advance . The visit itself is self-guided, but you will receive an audio guide. A guided tour is also available, but at the moment, it only runs at 1 pm. So if you are interested in this, you would have to adjust your itinerary and come here right after visiting Doge’s Palace (and have lunch somewhere nearby).

And finally, you can also attend an opera, a ballet performance, or a concert, etc. In that case, be sure to check their calendar and try to book your tickets in advance (but keep in mind that these are non-refundable). You can also buy tickets at their ticket office as well as at the Venezia Unica box offices around the city. However, keep in mind that last-minute tickets for the most popular events might not be available.

Opening times for theater visits : Normally, you can visit the theater daily from 9 am to 6 pm (last entry 1 hour before the closing time). However, this is subject to change and depends on their event calendar. You can check the most up-to-date schedule for the current month here . But even then, it can happen that things change last minute.

Evening option 1: food tour

Next, this itinerary takes you to Ponte dell’Accademia and the Dorsoduro area (which you can also visit on day 3 of this itinerary) – see below. But if you want to take it easier, not have to walk as much, and stay closer to the center, you could opt for this highly-rated street food tour instead.

This tour starts at 5 pm in Campo San Bartolomio (close to Rialto Bridge, just about 10 minutes walk from the theater), and takes about 2.5 hours. It could be a nice and more relaxing way to end your first day in Venice. We did food tours with this company in Rome and in Naples and they were always excellent. It’s a great way to discover some regional Italian food with a local guide.

If you opt for this, don’t worry about missing something. You can easily visit the places mentioned further below on day 3 of this itinerary (instead of one of the museums we recommend for that day). Also, since this specific tour starts close to Rialto Bridge, you could visit La Fenice theater after the St Mark’s area and then visit the Fondaco rooftop terrace and the bookstore after that and before the food tour. This would save you some walking. You could also watch the sunset from the Rialto Bridge area.

Evening option 2: Ponte dell’Accademia & Dorsoduro neighborhood

4-4.30 pm .

About 10 minutes walk from La Fenice Theater, you’ll find another iconic bridge in Venice – Ponte dell’Accademia . This is the second most important bridge in Venice and one of just four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. 

The Accademia Bridge is not as busy as the famous Rialto Bridge, and the views of the canal from here are stunning. It’s a great place to take some postcard-style pictures of the typical Venetian cityscape with the colorful palazzos next to the Grand Canal, and boats and gondolas all around.

Another reason to come here is that this bridge connects the old historic center to the Dorsoduro neighborhood . This is one of those more local areas where you can still find some tourist-free spots and enjoy a more authentic atmosphere.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

4.30-5 pm .

One of the most noteworthy attractions of the Dorsoduro neighborhood is the baroque-style Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute . This is the second most important church in Venice, after St. Mark’s Basilica. It was built to celebrate the end of the plague epidemic in 1631.

Interesting to know: To commemorate the day that the Virgin Mary protected the city from the plague, on the 21st of November, the ‘Festa della Salute’ is celebrated here.

Inside, you can admire the painting ‘The Descent of the Holy Spirit’ by Titian and in the sacristy ‘The Wedding at Cana’ by Tintoretto. The floor of the church is also very impressive, just as the cupola.

Practical information: The church itself can be visited for free, but some parts require a ticket. Just as most other churches in Italy, the Basilica usually closes for a few hours at noon. In the afternoon, it’s open from 3 to 5.30 pm. So if you follow this itinerary and can get here around 5 pm, you should be able to visit inside. Otherwise, come here in the morning of day 3 of this itinerary.

Fondamenta delle Zattere

5-6 pm (or later, depending on the sunset times) .

Fondamenta delle Zattere is a series of waterfront promenades on the southern shore of the Dorsoduro neighborhood . The name comes from rafts (in Italian “zattere”) which were used to transport tree trunks from the mountains to this part of Venice in the past.

There’s no better way to unwind whilst waiting for the night to fall over the city, than taking a seat on of the marble benches in the Fondamenta delle Zattere to admire the sunset on the lagoon.

Fondamenta delle Zattere might not be as popular as watching a sunset from the Rialto Bridge, but it’s a more exclusive experience since there are not many tourists around. From here, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Giudecca island and take a relaxing walk just before the aperitif time.

Good to know: Keep in mind that the actual sunset time will be very different in the summer (+-8-9 pm) than in the winter (+-4.30-6 pm). So you could come here earlier or later, depending on when the sun sets during your visit (you can easily check this on Google ). But even if you don’t stay here for sunset, it’s well worth visiting this part of Venice.

Aperitivo & Dinner

By now, you’ll probably be exhausted from all the sightseeing in Venice. Time for an aperitivo .

Just next to Zattere, you can find the Osteria al Squero (this and other restaurants mentioned here are indicated on our map which you can at the end of the article). This is a great place to enjoy a fantastic Venetian aperitivo . The small bar has a wide selection of ‘cicchetti’ made with local seafood, cured meats and cheeses. There are options for vegans and vegetarians too!

In the past, this was just a locals’ meet-up place, but it’s becoming quite popular among tourists. You can get your cicchetti and sit outside, from where you can observe one of the only ‘squeri’, gondolas’ shipyards left in the city.

Good to know : Osteria al Squero is open on weekdays from 10 am to 8.30 pm (Saturdays and Sundays closed). Alternatively, you’ll find other nice bars in the area.

To conclude your first day in Venice, the perfect location for your dinner is the over-water terrace of the Lineadombra restaurant . This is a high-end modern restaurant where you can expect to have a lovely meal serving typical Venetian cuisine, with local products from the sea and the land. The restaurant is open daily except on Wednesdays. For dinner, it opens at 7 pm, but if you want to be sure to find a table, it’s best to reserve in advance.

If you are looking for something a bit less expensive and low-key, check out Trattoria ai Cugnai dal 1911 . This traditional trattoria is an excellent non-touristy choice for dinner in Venice. Also here, it’s best to reserve in advance.

Day 2: Venetian Lagoon Islands & Venetian Arsenal

On your second day in Venice, you could spend half a day exploring some of the most famous islands of the Venetian lagoon. In the afternoon, take it easy strolling around the gardens and laid-back neighborhoods of the city. This will give you a bit of a break from all the sightseeing on days 1 and 3 of your trip.

DAY 2 planning info/ tickets to book :

• Murano, Burano, and Torcello islands – we recommend this tour .
• Dinner on a traditional boat (optional) – more info and reservations here .

Here is what your second day in Venice could look like:

Murano / Burano / Torcello Half Day Trip

9.30 am – 2-3 pm.

With three days in Venice, you’ll have plenty of time to see all the main landmarks in the city center. So we highly recommend that you also leave the city for a few hours and explore the beautiful islands just nearby.

Some of the most popular islands of the Venetian Lagoon are Murano, Burano, and Torcello . And you’ll find lots of local companies offering all kinds of tours to these islands .

One of the best options is this highly-rated half-day tour which allows you to quickly visit all three islands in a short time. You can choose to hop on the boat at Santa Lucia railway station or next to St. Mark’s Square and they have multiple departures during the day. We recommend starting early to avoid the biggest crowds. Alternatively, you could also turn this itinerary around and start in the afternoon.

This tour offers expert commentary and stops at all three islands giving you some free time on each of them. First, you’ll stop in Murano, the island which is famous for its handmade glass production. Here, you’ll visit a glass factory where you can see glassblowing masters creating some glass art pieces. Next – Burano. This island is famous for its rainbow-colored fishermen’s houses and lacemaking. The last stop is Torcello, the smallest island. This is where people first settled before moving to where Venice is now.

If you take a tour at 9.30 am, you can expect to be back in Venice around 2 pm. Hop off in St. Mark’s area. Alternatively – if you want to spend more time on the islands – you can also opt for a longer tour. More info – below.

Good to know: If you want to spend more time on the beautiful islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, you can also opt for a longer tour instead (recommended). You can still visit Venetian Arsenal (see below) when you get back or before you leave – it really doesn’t require much time.

This popular tour visits all three islands but takes 6-7.5 hours, giving you more time to explore. The cost of these tours is practically the same since you pay for the boat and it has to cover the exact same distances. However, this tour usually has just one or two departures (and starts later). In that case, you should adjust the itinerary for this day a bit and also plan to have lunch at one of the islands.

Yet another option, is to simply book a hop-on hop-off ticket for the Venetian Lagoon and visit the islands at your own pace.

If you take the shorter tour, you’ll be back in Venice at around 2 pm. Hopefully, you can get some small snacks or gelatos earlier, or you’ll be starving…

For late lunch, we recommend Osteria da Carla , one of the oldest historical ‘osterie’ of Venice. It’s a lovely small restaurant where modern-style dishes are made with seasonal products that come from the Venetian lagoon. The osteria is only a few minutes walk from St. Mark’s area and it’s open the whole day (daily except on Sundays).

Alternatively, in the same area, try Il Calice pizza restaurant. It’s open daily except on Mondays and is also open during the entire afternoon.

Riva degli Schiavoni Walk to the Castello Neighborhood

After your late lunch, enjoy a walk on Riva degli Schiavoni. This is a very busy waterfront area past St. Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace. But the further you walk, the quieter it gets.

From here, you can admire the Venetian lagoon and see the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. If you keep walking you’ll get to the Castello neighborhood , the furthest district of the city. This is also the most laid-back area of Venice and is usually not too crowded.

It’s a perfect place for a relaxed afternoon for those looking to get a bit off the beaten path in Venice.

Venetian Arsenal & Biennale Gardens (optional)

In the Castello district, you can visit the Venetian Arsenal ( Arsenale di Venezia ). The Arsenal is the former shipyard and construction site of the Serenissima fleets. It also represented the political, economical, and military power of Venice.

Its construction started in 1104 and it was the largest industrial complex in Europe before the Industrial Revolution. Today the Arsenale is an exhibition space for the Biennale of Venice, an international cultural exhibition. If you have time, you can also visit the nearby Naval Historical Museum .

In this same area, you’ll also find the Biennale Gardens ( Giardini della Biennale ). This is the biggest green space in the historic city center of Venice. Established at the behest of Napoleon, at the start of the 19th century, they are also called the Napoleonic Garden.

The gardens are free to visit, but the pavillions can only be visited during the Biennale art festival (usually +- from April to November) and require a ticket (more info here ). You can also cross the bridge and walk to the nearby park Parco delle Rimembranze as well.

After strolling around the gardens, make your way back towards the city center. You could opt for dinner at one of the local restaurants in this area or treat yourself to something special – see below.

For dinner, you have many options. Here are some recommendations.

Just a short walk from the gardens, you’ll find a waterfront restaurant Antica Osteria da Gino . A bit more towards the center – a really nice traditional restaurant Nevodi . Yet another great choice is Osteria A La Scuela , a bit past the Arsenal.

Osteria A La Scuela is one of our personal favorites. Their selection of cicchetti ranges from grilled cuttlefish to black ones, including the fried cod with courgette flowers and the classic ones served with small pieces of bread. They also serve hot dishes like lasagna, Buranella pappardelle with scallop sauce, Venetian liver, pasta and falzioi (pasta with beans), Sarde in saor and bigoli . All the best of the Venetian and Veneto region cuisine!

TIP: If you are ok with one daily meal at a traditional restaurant for lunch and rather do something different for dinner, check out this Venetian Lagoon tour and dinner on a traditional Galleon boat . Granted, this is a more touristy option, but it can be a really nice experience as it gives you a chance to see more of the beautiful surroundings from yet another vantage point. They have fish and meat menus to choose from and it’s a unique gourmet experience.

However, depending on the season, these tours don’t run every day (and the best places sell out quickly in the high season). So check if it’s available and – if interested – book in advance.

Day 3 in Venice

On your third day in Venice, you can spend some time visiting a few of the best museums and exploring less-touristic neighborhoods. Below, we share a suggested itinerary with some of the best options.

To help you plan an even more memorable trip, we also include some additional recommendations such as Venetian mask- or glass-making workshops. That way, you can create your own perfect itinerary following the recommendations that interest you the most.

Good to know: If you opted for a food tour on day 1, start the 3rd day in Venice by crossing the Accademia Bridge followed by a visit to Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. The church is normally open from 9 am, except on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Afterwards, visit Zattere and continue with some of the places mentioned further below in our itinerary.

DAY 3 planning info/ tickets to book :

• Peggy Guggenheim Collection – tickets .
• Venetian Carnival Mask workshop (optional) – more info and bookings .
• Glass-making workshop (optional) – more info and bookings .
• Jewish Ghetto – walking tours .
• Food tour (optional) – see here .

Here are some of the best places you could visit on day 3 in Venice:

Gallerie dell’Accademia and/or Peggy Guggenheim Foundation

8.30-11 am .

There are a few museums in the Dorsoduro that you may want to consider visiting on your third day in Venice. The best ones are Gallerie dell’Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Foundation .

The Accademia Galleries hold one of the biggest and most impressive collections of Venetian art, from the 14th to the 18th centuries. You can see masterpieces by Titian, Veronese, Canaletto, Giorgione, Tintoretto and Bellini. Here you can also admire the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci! If you visit just one art museum in Venice, make it this one.

Practical information: The museum is open daily from 8.15 am. Count at least 1.5 hours for a visit. Keep in mind that this is one of the most-visited museums in Venice. While it’s nowhere nearly as busy as e.g. Doge’s Palace , it can get quite busy at times. If you want to visit without wasting much time, it’s best to book your tickets online. See their website for more info.

Just nearby, located in a beautiful waterfront Palazzo Venier dei Leoni , you’ll find another amazing museum, the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation . This is a modern art museum and a real art institution in Venice. It features European and American art of the 20th century.

The museum is Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection of artworks. Today, the collection includes works of futurists and modernist artists with masterpieces of Surrealism, Cubism, and Expressionism. You can also expect to see some works by Dalì, Mirò, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Magritte, just to name a few.

Practical information: This museum is open daily except on Tuesdays, from 10 am. Also here, you’ll probably need at least 1 hour for a visit. The lines here can get quite long, so if you want to visit, it’s best to get your tickets in advance.

Campo Santa Margherita + Ca’ Macana

11 am-noon .

There’s no better way to visit Venice than getting lost in its narrow streets and small piazzas. One of the nicest town squares is Campo Santa Margherita .

This public square is certainly the best one in the Dorsoduro district where you can experience the more authentic Venetian lifestyle. During the day, you can find a fish market here. In the afternoons, local kids are playing football after school. This is also a popular meeting point for university students due to its wide selection of small bars and restaurants to have an aperitivo or an informal dinner.

This part of Venice is also great for some souvenir shopping from locally run businesses. 

Only a few minutes walk from here, you can find Ca’ Macana . This is one of the best Carnival mask workshops in Venice. Here, you can find both traditional and old masks and more contemporary creations.

TIP: Are you looking for something unique to do in Venice? Do you fancy learning how to create a real Venetian mask? Then you can book a Venetian carnival mask-making workshop and learn the art of mask-making from the experts! This workshop is in this neighborhood, runs a few times a day, and only takes about 1 hour. So it could be a nice addition to your day.

For lunch, you could try Osteria alla Bifora on Campo Santa Margherita. This is a traditional restaurant with a quirky interior and wonderful cicchetti (Venetian finger foods). It’s open daily from noon to late at night.

Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari + Campo San Polo 

Less than 10 minutes walk from here, in located in the San Polo neighborhood, you’ll find Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari . This is one of the biggest churches in Venice and one of the most significant Franciscan places in Italy. The interior is stunning and you can see many paintings and sculptures of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Anthony of Padua. 

The three masterpieces not to be missed are the Altarpiece of the Assumption, the Virgin Mary from Ca’ Pesaro by Titian, and the tryptic of Giovanni Bellini, in the sacristy of the church.

After leaving the church, you can visit the nearby Campo San Polo. This is the largest ‘campo’ of Venice and in the past, was a marketplace as well as a playing arena. It’s a nice place to relax, sit down on a bench, and do some people-watching for a few minutes.

Calle Varisco and/or glass-making workshop (optional)

“Calli” are Venetian pedestrian streets, and it’s said that there are more than 3,000 calli in Venice. So by now, you will have probably seen hundreds of them. Some are quite large, others pretty narrow, but you still haven’t seen the narrowest of all!

So if you want to see the narrowest street in Venice , head to Calle Varisco . In some places, this street is only 53 cm (1.7 ft) wide, which means that you’ll have to walk sideways to pass through it.

Good to know: Calle Varisco is a bit out of the way from all the rest, about 20 minutes walk from Campo San Polo. You’ll have to cross the Rialto Bridge in order to get here. This is a more off-the-beaten-path place in Venice, but might be worth visiting if you have some free time and want to see something a bit different. Of course, you’ll also pass many other nice local streets on your way there.

TIP: If you are already planning on going out of your way to this area, just near Calle Varsico, you can attend a really nice workshop with a local glass master and create your own glass artwork.

In that case, see if this workshop is available for the day of your visit and choose the time slot that fits your itinerary best. If you do this, count at least 1.5 hours for this area.

Alternatively, this is something that you could also do in Murano on day 2 of this itinerary. See several glass workshop options here .

Jewish Ghetto + Cannaregio neighborhood

About 20 minutes walk from Calletta Varisco, you can reach the Jewish Ghetto located in the Cannaregio neighborhood .

This was the area of the city where Jews were segregated around the 16th century at the behest of the Doge Leonardo Loredan. It’s also thought to be the oldest ghetto in the world. Nowadays, there’s a community of about 450 Jews living here.

The main square is the place where local people like to gather for a chat. The surrounding streets are dotted with small art galleries and bakeries owned by Jew families. 

Try some delicious pastries from the bakery of Giovanni Volpe . This is also the perfect place to find good restaurants to indulge in some kosher food.

Around the ghetto, you can explore more of the district of Cannaregio. Some of the main highlights are the Ponte delle Guglie, Ponte dei Tre Archi, Casa del Tintoretto, and the churches of San Marcuola and Madonna dell’Orto.

TIP: There are many interesting walking tours that visit the Cannaregio neighborhood and the Old Ghetto . If you would like to explore this area deeper, it might be a good idea to go with a local guide.

Optional addition: If interested, you can also take some time to visit the Jewish Museum . It’s a beautiful museum to explore with a collection of books and manuscripts as well as religious Jewish objects used during the traditional ceremonies. Furthermore, your ticket also includes a visit to Levantine and Spanish synagogues (two of the oldest Venetian synagogues – absolutely impressive!), accompanied by an expert guide.

Check their website for more information and synagogue tours. In that case, you’ll likely need at least another hour in this area.

Aperitivo and dinner at sunset

Depending on the time of the year (and when the sun sets), you might be able to enjoy another beautiful sunset in this part of Venice. Head to either Fondamenta dei Ormesini / Fondamenta de Misericordia or Fondamenta Cannaregio – nice streets next to a canal with many bars and cafes.

Osteria Al Timon on Fondamenta dei Ormesini is a great place for either aperitivo or dinner. From 5 pm, you can sit down for a drink or get some traditional ‘cicchetti’ made with local ingredients directly from the counter, in a very informal but lively atmosphere. They also serve excellent seafood, traditional steaks, etc.

Trattoria dalla Marisa on Fondamenta Cannaregio is another great place for dinner in this area. This is a very low-key trattoria where you can sample some traditional Venetian dishes cooked by the skillful hands of Italian nonna (grandmas). The small restaurant is known by locals (students and workers) but you won’t find that many tourists here (yet). The menu can change every day based on the fresh and seasonal products arriving. It’s open for dinner from 7.30 pm, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Saturdays.

TIP: A nice way to end your last day in Venice is by joining a food tour with a local . In the Cannaregio district, you can opt for this highly-rated private evening food tour . Alternatively, get back to the city center where you’ll find many other restaurants and also interesting food (and wine) tours .

Venice 3-day itinerary overview

Here’s a short overview of the itinerary described above. Further below, you can find a map indicating all these places.

8-9.30 am: Rialto Bridge + market + gondola ride . 9.30-10.30 am: St. Mark’s Square + San Marco Campanile ( tickets ) + St. Mark’s Basilica ( tickets ). 10.30 am-12: Doge’s Palace ( tickets ) + Bridge of Sighs. 12-1 pm: Fondaco dei Tedeschi rooftop. Lunch: Al Mercá. 2-2.45 pm: Libreria Acqua Alta. 3-4 pm: La Fenice Theater . Alternative suggestion instead of the below: 5-7.30 pm street food tour . 4-4.30 pm: Ponte dell’Accademia. 4.30-5 pm: Santa Maria della Salute Basilica. 5-6 pm: Zattere for sunset on Giudecca island. Aperitivo and dinner at Osteria al Squero, Lineadombra, or Trattoria ai Cugnai dal 1911.

9.30 am: Murano / Burano / Torcello half day tour (or longer tour and adjust the itinerary below based on that). 2 pm: Lunch at Osteria da Carla or Il Calice. 3.30-4 pm: Riva degli Schiavoni walk. 4-6 pm: Arsenale and Biennale Gardens + free time. Dinner: Osteria A La Scuela, Nevodi, Antica Osteria da Gino, or Venetian Lagoon boat tour with dinner .

8.30-11 am: Galleria dell’Accademia and/or Peggy Guggenheim Foundation. 11 am – noon: Campo Santa Margherita + Ca’ Macana. Possibly a Venetian mask-making workshop . Lunch at Osteria alla Bifora. 1-2 pm Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari + Campo San Polo. 2.30-3 pm Calle Varisco. Possibly a glass-making workshop . 3.30-6 pm Jewish Ghetto + Cannaregio neighborhood. Aperitivo and dinner al Timon and/or Trattoria dalla Marisa, or a food tour .

To help you plan your Venice itinerary, we created a map indicating all the places, sights, and attractions mentioned in our guide. We also indicated all the restaurants described above.

Each day has another color – that way, you can easier see which places belong together.

Of course, you can adjust this itinerary to your interests and the time that you have. But it gives you a good idea of the best places to see, things to do, and how it can all fit together in just 3 days. Further below, you can also find some practical tips for your visit to Venice.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Some practical tips

Here are some useful tips for your visit to Venice:

• The best months to visit Venice are from March to early June and from September to mid-October. This way you’ll avoid the overcrowded summer months and the heat. If you can, try to avoid the peak cruise-ship season. In winter, you have more risk of ‘acqua alta’ aka the high tides, rain, and colder temperatures. But if you want to experience Venice without the crowds, it can be a nice time to visit too.
• Visiting during large-scale events such as the Carnival, the Biennale of Venice, or the Redentore festival is a fantastic way to experience Venice as well. Just bear in mind that accommodation prices will be higher and the streets in the center will be even more packed.
• If you want to visit any of the top attractions inside (Doge’s Palace, San Marco Basilica, theater, museums, etc.), be sure to book in advance !!! Also for accommodation, it’s best to book well in advance or you risk having to pay 500-700 euros per night for an average hotel.
• Avoid restaurants located on the main streets or the ones facing the main canals. Most of them are tourist-oriented but lack authenticity. The food is often not of the best quality and is overpriced too. If you want to dine at a specific restaurant, it’s best to reserve a table a day or two in advance as well.
• Prepare to walk a lot and wear comfortable shoes . Pack a refillable water bottle and – in summer – sun protection .
• While it’s sometimes fun to just wander around and get lost in that labyrinth of narrow streets and canals, if you want to get from one place to the other without wasting precious time, use a navigation app on your phone. We always use Google Maps in Venice and it works really well.
• The closest airports to Venice are Venice Marco Polo and Venice Treviso. If you arrive at the Venice Marco Polo airport you can get to Venice city center by water bus, shuttle bus or private transfer by car or boat. From Venice Treviso, you can take a shuttle bus. You can find some of the best airport transfer options here . Here you can find information and tips for visiting Venice by car .
• The best neighborhoods to stay in Venice are San Marco and San Polo in the heart of the city or Dorsoduro, just a bit away from the biggest crowds. In these areas, you’ll find the best hotels, guest houses, apartments, and B&Bs, all close to the top attractions.

TIP: Using the map below, you can search for the best accommodation options for your stay in Venice. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see some of the best deals right on the map. Check it out!

So, this is our detailed guide and suggested Venice itinerary for 3 days, coupled with local’s tips and recommendations.

Of course, you can adjust it to your needs and preferences. But we hope that this guide gives you a good idea of the main places to see, as well as some ideas and inspiration for getting a bit off the beaten path.

Often, these additional experiences and local discoveries make for some of the most memorable moments and best memories from your trip. Have a great time in Venice!

More information and inspiration for visiting Venice:

• Best things to do in Venice
• Doge’s Palace, Venice
• Gondola Ride in Venice (what to expect & tips)
• Venice 1-day itinerary
• Visiting Venice with a baby or a toddler
• Driving and parking in Venice

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ: How to Plan a Trip to Europe (Tips & Tricks)

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More guides and inspiration for visiting some of the most popular Italian cities:

• Tips for Visiting Rome
• Best Things to Do in Rome
• Hidden Gems of Rome
• Best Views & Viewpoints in Rome
• Ancient Rome Sites & Landmarks
• Rome Underground: Best Places to See
• Where to Stay in Rome
• 1 Day in Rome  
• 2 Days in Rome  
• 4 Days Rome Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in Florence  
• 1 Day in Florence  
• Florence Rooftops with Best Views
• Best Things to Do in Siena
• Best Things to Do in Montepulciano
• Tuscany Itinerary
• Best Towns to See in Tuscany
• Best Things to Do in Verona
• Best Things to Do in Milan
• Milan in One Day
• Best Things to Do in Lake Como
• Best Towns to See in Lake Como
• Best Villas of Lake Como
• Where to Stay in Lake Como
• Lake Como Travel Tips
• Best Things to Do in Bologna
• Florence to Bologna Travel Info & Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in Naples
• 1 Day in Naples  
• Best Day Trips from Naples
• Where to Stay in Naples
• How to get from Naples to Amalfi Coast
• Amalfi Coast Itinerary
• Naples + Amalfi Coast Itinerary
• Where to Stay on Amalfi Coast
• Tips for Visiting Amalfi Coast
• Best Things to Do in Ravenna
• For many more destinations, see our Italy travel guide .

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Thursday 7th of September 2023

I am blown away by your website. Came across it by accident - so glad I stopped for a look! Planning a 4-week "turning 60" trip with my best friend, neither of us is a seasoned traveller and feeling trepidation. Not any more! All your practical advice and tips on top of clear itineraries are such a pleasure, I'm taking notes like crazy...I know you are going to be with us every step of the way. Thanks for all your hard work.

Monday 11th of September 2023

Thank you so much for your kind feedback, Susan. Enjoy Italy!

Wednesday 26th of July 2023

My wife and I will be in Venice for 3 days prior to a Mediterranean cruise next Spring. We plan on using your blog as our guide. Our cruise ends in Barcelona, wondering if you've covered that city in any of your other work. I couldn't find anything on-line, thought I'd drop this note. Thank you for such a great itinerary for Venice, we're super excited to go. Safe travels, Mike

Tuesday 1st of August 2023

Hi Mike, you can search our website using the magnifying glass icon at the top for any city and you'll find articles if we have covered it. We have quite a few of articles about Barcelona - please see here. Have a great trip!

jay sughroue

Wednesday 29th of March 2023

Do you have pdf file that can be downloaded with all the information?

Thursday 30th of March 2023

Hi Jay, you can do Ctrl+p and then choose to save to a pdf rather than send it to your printer.

Allen Muench

Thursday 9th of March 2023

Awesome pictures and descriptions! BTW, would you happen know the name of the restaurant in the picture at the top of your artical (Under the Jan 27th date?) I just oil painted the identical picture that my wife took back in 2005.If I go back to Venice I would like to visit the restaurant. Or even the address if you have it. Regards, Allen

Friday 10th of March 2023

Hi Allen, if you mean the featured image with the gondola, no, I really have no idea what's behind it. So I'm afraid I can't help you.

jonathan taylor

Tuesday 8th of November 2022

many thanks for your blog, we used it for our trip to Venice and found it invaluable, we didn't manage to fit everything in but hey there is always another time! we just picked bits out of it and made up our own itinerary we had a great time, so keep up the good work

Thursday 10th of November 2022

Glad to hear that and thanks for the kind feedback, Jonathan. Indeed, it's always difficult to see 'everything' and that shouldn't be the point either. The most important is that you have a great experience and enjoy the place at your own pace. I often tell our readers that less is more and some of the best memories from our travels come from those relaxed moments in between rather than from rushing from one 'must-see' attraction to the other. Happy travels!

Perfect 3 days in Rome itinerary (free map + tips)

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Looking for an easy to follow 3 days in Rome itinerary? We’ve got the perfect plan for your trip to Italy. You’ll see all of the best sights, eat delicious food, and have an unforgettable experience in the capital city of Rome. 

We created this travel guide – so that you don’t have to do all the research and leave all the guesswork. Using our 3 day Rome itinerary, you will get a taste of everything there is about Rome and leave feeling like you experienced something truly special. 

It doesn’t matter if you have come to Rome once or twice – just know that every time will be better than the last!

Perfect 3 days in Rome itinerary: Travel tips and day by day sightseeing

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Snapshot of 3 days in Rome itinerary 

• Day 1 of Rome Itinerary: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Walking tour of Monti
• Day 2 of Rome Itinerary: Vatican City (St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums), Castel Sant’Angelo, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps
• Day 3 of Rome Itinerary: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, the neighborhood of Trastevere

Rome is the capital of Italy and one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It has been called “the Eternal City,” “Caput Mundi,” or “Capital of the World.” It is also home to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel with the works of Michelangelo’s famous painting, the world’s largest amphitheater ever built (the Colosseum), and more.

The city offers an incredible variety of museums, monuments, churches, and palaces that are sure to impress visitors from all over the world. Whether you want to see ancient ruins or modern masterpieces, this city has it all!

Here are some quick Rome tips to kick start your itinerary.

Getting to Rome Italy: 

Rome is located in the central part of Italy, in the Lazio region. It is a great spot to start your Italian vacation. Rome is home to the largest and busiest airport and train station in the whole of the peninsula. 

When flying from the United States/Canada and Europe you can arrive in one of Rome’s airports – Roma Fiumicino Airport, or Ciampino Airport. 

Roma Fiumicino Airport (also called the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) is the busiest airport in Italy. This is where we landed from Canada. 

There are shuttle buses, express trains, and local trains to the heart of the city. Here are the transportation options from both airports.

• From Roma Fiumicino Airport , get to the city centre via direct train service –  Leonardo Express (30 minutes), or shuttle buses (40+ minutes)
• If arriving at the Ciampino Airport, then you can book this shuttle bus ride

Where to stay in Rome? Best hotels in Rome for sightseeing for 3 days

For a short 3 day Rome trip, we recommend staying in a central area. Within the city centre zone, and in and around it, you will find a variety of accommodation options from affordable rooms to fancy expensive suites. 

For effortless sightseeing, and a lively neighborhood opt for a hotel near the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, or Termini station. Trastevere and Prati (north of the Vatican) neighborhoods are also great options for all budget levels. 

We stayed at the Prassede Palace Hotel in Rome . It was conveniently located near sightseeing sites like the Colosseum, and the Termini Station. There were trattorias near the property as well.  In fact, the hotel has a cool restaurant on-site, and the rooms were super clean and beautiful. 

Prassede Palace Hotel in Rome is a 4-star hotel, with one of the friendliest staff. Click to book your stay here

Need more options? Here are some of the other hotel recommendations

• Leonardo Boutique Hotel Rome Termini: Located near the Termini Station, this is a 4-star luxury property with good access to sightseeing places like Trevi fountain and the Colosseum. The rooms are clean, and the property has a hot tub on-site. You can check out photos here
• Atlante Star Hotel: Another 4 star hotel, Atlante offers an amazing scenic restaurant and is located close to the Vatican city (in the Borgo neighbhorhood). It also offers free breakfast for the price of the room. The hotel rooms are stylish, and there are eateries nearby. Book your stay here
• Condotti Boutique Hotel: Condotti Boutique hotel is located near the Spanish Steps, so it is perfect for walking and sightseeing with access to many attractions, bars, and shopping centres. It is also good value for money as it runs deals often. Book your stay here

Note that Rome city charges a tourist tax, which is levied per person, per day. It is to be paid in cash when you check out. 

Read: 4 days in Rome itinerary

Rome & Vatican Pass or Omnia Card: Transportation tips for Rome and the Vatican City

We have included sightseeing at the Vatican City as part of this 3 day Rome itinerary. For this reason, we recommend getting a combined Vatican and Rome pass which gives you free admission to certain sites, free unlimited public transportation along a hop-on and hop-off tour. This pass is valid for 3 days. 

The Rome Pass is worth it if you will use trains to get to various attractions, and planning to book separate entry tickets. We utilized the hop-on and hop-off tour included in this Pass and enjoyed free train rides. Hop on sightseeing buses also have a free audio guide on tour. 

Because we wanted to do in-depth sightseeing at the Colosseum, we booked a separate 3 hour Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour with a guide. But this is optional. 

With the Rome Pass , you do get a fast-track entry ticket to the Colosseum. Get your Rome Pass here

Now, let’s go over the day by day Rome itinerary,

Day 1 of 3 days in Rome Itinerary: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Walking tour of Monti

On your very first day in Rome, explore the iconic landmark – Colosseum (along with the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill), and then finish the day with a self guided walking tour of the neighborhood of Monti.

In order to explore these sites, you do not need transportation if staying at a centrally located hotel. As we stayed at the Prassede Palace Hotel in Rome we walked to the Colosseum and arrived there in 15 minutes. 

Reaching the Colosseum early allowed us to take pictures without any crowds, and to also enjoy a lovely stroll at the complex. There is an entry fee to visit the interiors of the Colosseum, and depending on your ticket access level you can visit various floors, the arena, and the underground. 

A ticket to the Colosseum also includes entrance fees for the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, with or without a guide. We have written a detailed guide to visiting the Colosseum, you can read it here.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It’s a symbol of ancient Roman architecture and engineering, as well as an iconic site for tourists visiting Italy. 

This amphitheater was built by Emperor Vespasian around 70 AD, and its construction took less than a decade. It was opened in the year 80 AD by his successor and son Titus.

The Colosseum in Rome, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre could accommodate about 50,000 spectators. It had four stories with multiple entrances on each level for guests to enter this massive structure! 

We recommend booking a tour like this one with a knowledgeable guide to visit these historic ruins and learn more about what life was like back then or just enjoy seeing something so old and beautiful up close.

BOOK: A guided tour with a guide OR a fast track entry ticket here

As we mentioned with this pass you can also visit the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. 

The Roman Forum is the most popular Rome Instagram spots . This site was a public square during the ancient Roman Empire, and with its fall the Forum was left to decay. 

In the subsequent decades, many also looted the stones and marbles to build other structures. Today what remains is a beautiful ruin site, with many important monuments from antiquity including temples, basilicas, triumphal arches, and more!

Of all the structures here, the columns of the Temple of Julis and the Arch of Constantine will impress you! These are my favorites too!

The Palatine Hill is the most popular of the Seven Hills of Rome. This is where Roman emperors and the nobility resided. As part of the guided tour, you can explore what is left of the district including the Temple of Venus. 

After exploring the Colosseum – UNESCO World Heritage Site, head to a restaurant or trattoria nearby for lunch. You will be able to find places to eat right across from the exit gates of the Colosseum. 

Monti Walking tour

Monti is a wonderful neighborhood in Rome. We recommend spending 3-4 hours in the afternoon wandering through the district, eating, shopping, and checking out a lot of attractions along the way. 

Monti also has a ton of local boutiques, selling fashionable clothing, bags, and other accessories. The beauty of Monti is cute places to eat and shop all tucked away in narrow lanes, and behind piazzas.

This neighborhood is located at the centre – close to the Colosseum, Via dei Fori Imperiali, and other popular landmarks of Rome. So you can start at the Colosseum, and then make your way to Monti. It will take about 10 minutes to get there via the Serpenti St.

Another option is to head to a restaurant – Bar Monti, type it on Google Maps, and follow signs to get there. You can also stop here for lunch or drinks if you prefer!

Piazza dell Madonna dei Monti 

This is the popular piazza in the district of Monti. Piazza dell Madonna dei Monti takes its name from the church, located nearby Santa Maria dei Monti. Buy a nice gelato and then sit on the fountain’s steps to relax.  

This piazza is great for people watching as well. It is common to see people hanging out by the piazza at all times of the day, but it is still not super crowded! 

This is a hip area of Monti. Via Urbana is home to cobblestone lanes and chic art and vintage shops and restaurants. 

There are also steep roads and narrow alleys all leading to, and moving away from Monti, like Salita dei Borgia / Via Leonina /Via degli Zingar. And it is really pretty to go on a stroll here. 

Trajan’s Column and Church of Santa Maria di Loreto

Trajan’s Market is a remarkable ruins complex, located on the opposite end of the Colosseum. You can also visit the Church of Santa Maria di Loreto here. 

If you walk further down you will at the Piazza Venezia. 

Quirinal Palace 

The Quirinal Palace is a must spot on your Monti walking tour. It is one of the three current official residences of the Italian President. If interested you can opt for a visit inside. 

The palace is located on the Quirinal Hill, which is the highest of the seven hills of Rome, and this is why it makes for a nice sunset view from the piazza. 

Santa Prassede and Santa Maria Maggiore

Because we stayed at the Prassede Palace Hotel we also visited Santa Prassede and Santa Maria Maggiore on our way back. 

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the most important churches in Rome. The church dates back to the 4th century AD and it is home to stunning mosaics, beautiful frescoes, and chapels inside. 

Santa Prassede, on the other hand, is an ancient church with beautiful ancient frescoes and Byzantine-style mosaics. 

The Monti district is a pretty large area, and it actually spreads over several of the 7 hills of Rome, and hence the name ‘Monti’, meaning ‘mountains’. 

All along this walking tour, you will find numerous trattorias, hip wine bars, and chic cafes where you can dine. So set aside time, and stop when you find anything interesting or fancy – that is the beauty of wandering through Rome’s neighborhoods!

OPTIONAL: Afternoon and evening activity

We will share an alternate sightseeing itinerary below, these activities will replace the Monti neighborhood exploration.

Right after the Colosseum tour and lunch, you can head to the Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church. It will take 15 minutes to walk from the Palatine Hill.

Here you can check out the Mouth of Truth aka Bocca della Verità . This sculpture is dedicated to the God of the Sea and it is believed that it can catch a person if they are laying – almost like an ancient lie detector.  

You can also see the flower-adorned skull of St Valentine, housed inside the side altar on the left of the Basilica.

In the evening, opt for a food tour (2-4 hours). Here are some options,

• Rome 4 hour night food tour: Check it here
• Pasta making workshop: Check it here
• Rome street food tour with a local guide: Check it here

Day 2 of 3 days in Rome Itinerary: Vatican City (St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums), Castel Sant’Angelo, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps

Spend day 2 of 3 days in Rome itinerary exploring the Vatican City highlights like the Saint Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. 

Thereafter, visit the Castel Sant’Angelo in the afternoon, followed by the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps in the evening. 

Vatican City – St. Peter’s Basilica 

The Vatican is the world’s smallest country, also known as a European microstate. This microstate dates back to the year 1929 when it was created via the Lateran Treaty between Italy and Holy See, proclaiming independence and sovereignty from each other

When you are in Rome, you can easily visit the Vatican City; as it is a walled enclave within the metropolis. The Vatican serves as the headquarters of the Catholic Church and seat of its central administration.

We arrived at the Ponte Umberto bridge first and then walked to Saint Peter’s Square. Ponte Umberto is the name of the bridge that connects Piazza di Ponte Umberto I to Piazza dei Tribunali, and is built over the River Tiber.

Once you are at St. Peter’s Square , take a good walk at the largest squares in Christendom. And then enter the Saint Peter’s Basilica; and the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel.

Saint Peter’s Basilica is the prime structure here, and it is completely free to enter and explore. This Basilica is the most famous, largest, and important church in the world. 

Often considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture St Peter’s Basilica was designed by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. 

For centuries, it has been regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines as it is home to the resting place of Saint Peter. The Basilica is also home to some of Catholicism’s most spectacular artworks including Michelangelo’s Pietà and his glorious frescoes on the ceiling as well as Raphael’s tapestries. 

One of the many things that make St. Peter’s Basilica so special is that it can accommodate up to 60,000 attendees! 

Vatican Museums and the famous Sistine Chapel

Up next are the Vatican Museums . This is a huge complex and is made up of 26 different museums.

It is one of the largest public museums in the world, and it displays a lot of artwork from ancient Roman and Egyptian artifacts, to religious objects, in beautifully painted rooms with modern art. 

The Vatican Museums are housed in a complex of multiple Apostolic palaces, but the Sistine Chapel makes it the most popular. 

The Sistine Chapel is famous for its architecture and frescoes painted by renowned Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Domenico Ghirlandaio to name a few.

We recommend booking a guided tour of the Vatican museums with the Sistine Chapel. Both these sites are extremely popular, and tickets can be sold out. By reserving tickets or tours prior to your visit, you can save time and the hassle of waiting in long queues. 

For a guided tour of the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican museums, book this 2 hour tour . 

After exploring the Vatican, break for lunch. Just before you exit Saint Peter’s Square you will find restaurants and cafes to sit down and grab a nice meal. From here head over to the Castel Sant’Angelo.

Castel Sant’Angelo 

The Castel Sant’Angelo is a monument in Rome, which was originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian and his family. It is often called the Mausoleum of Hadrian or the Hadrianeum. 

The castle later was used as a fortress by the Popes. You can book an hour of sightseeing inside the castle. There are 7 floors in total, full of exhibits including some incredible artworks including sculptures from Bernini, paintings from Raphael, and frescoes from Michelangelo himself!

After exploring the artifacts, do climb up the spiral staircase to reach the Chamber of Ashes. This is where you will be greeted with a panoramic view of Rome city and the River Tiber from the castle terrace. 

Don’t forget, you can reserve and book ti ckets here

It is important to note that this castle is located on the Ponte Sant’Angelo, which is one of the bridges leading to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. So it is just a short walk from Saint Peter’s Square. 

Ponte Sant’Angelo (also known as the Aelian Bridge or Pons Aelius) is a great spot to capture the bridge, the river, and the Basilica!

After sightseeing, walk the Ponte Sant’Angelo bridge, aka the Bridge of Angels to continue sightseeing in Rome!

The next 2 spots on the 3 day Rome itinerary will be quick ones, as it will be explored from the outside (without getting inside). However, they are Rome’s primary attractions – Trevi Fountain, and Piazza di Spagna with the Spanish Steps.  

Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna are located about 15 to 20 minute walk from each other and are best explored on foot. Note that these spots also get extremely busy during the day, but if you stick around until the evening you will be able to see them aglow under the moonlights (and decorative lights around the site).

Photo tip: For an effortless photoshoot, you must head there in the morning (to beat the crowds). You can push this for day 3 of this Rome itinerary if you like and cover both spots in an hour, before moving on. 

Trevi Fountain:  

The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. It was built by Nicola Salvi between 1732 and 1762 and today it has become an iconic symbol for the city of Rome. 

The fountain is located at the junction of three roads (tre vie) via delle Muratte, via dei Crociferi, and via delle Tre Fontane, and this is the origin of its name – Trevi Fountain or three street fountain. 

You can visit the fountains at any time of day – where mornings are great for photos, it is equally stunning at sunset when the lights are up!

At the Trevi Fountain, you can throw a coin or two, and make a wish. Yes, you are allowed to do so. All the coins are given away for a noble cause. Note that it is a crime to steal coins here, and also it is forbidden to sit on the fountain guard rails (near the fountains below) – you will find policemen patrolling the area. 

The square in and around the fountain is called the Piazza di Trevi and there are lots of souvenir shops and cafes where you can grab a bite to eat. 

Up next is the Spanish Steps. Trevi Fountain to Spanish Steps is 8 minute walk away. 

Spanish Steps:  

The Spanish Steps is a popular Instagrammable spot in Rome. It is considered the widest and longest staircase in Europe. In Italian, it’s called “Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti”, and the entire staircase is composed of 12 ramps and 135 travertine steps. 

This staircase is located in the Piazza di Spagna (called the Square of Spain), and it leads to the Trinita dei Monti Church. Once you arrive at the square, snap a photo at the steps and then make your way to the church. 

Remember it is forbidden to sit on the steps, but you can surely climb up and down to reach the Trinita dei Monti Church, and back.

After visiting the church, take a stroll at the Piazza di Spagna where you will find amazing restaurants and bars to enjoy a drink and a meal. There are also popular designer brands like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton which are located at the square. 

Day 3 of Rome 3 day Itinerary: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia & Altare della Patria, the neighborhood of Trastevere

Final day in Rome, and we give you two itinerary options here. We will start with the popular attractions like the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the neighborhood of Trastevere. 

The alternate sightseeing has another piazza (People’s Square), Villa Borghese, and a stunning viewpoint!

If the Pantheon is on your Rome bucket list, then day 3 will be exciting for you. We recommend starting early to be able to snap a photo, have breakfast at a trattoria nearby and then get in line to enter this Roman temple (now a church).

Pantheon:  

The Pantheon is one of the most well-preserved ancient Rome buildings. It was built by Marcus Agrippa as a temple for all the Roman gods but later converted into a church when Christianity became popular. Hadrian rebuilt it in 126 AD. 

With its beautiful architecture and incredible history, this is a must-see attraction when visiting Rome. The stunning dome of the Pantheon symbolizes how the Roman empire was to be seen – its perfection and continuity showing a connection between the heavens, Roman gods, and the ruler. Hadrian had his court under this dome. 

To visit the Pantheon is completely free. We recommend making your trip early in the morning hours, between 9:00 am – 11:00 am to enter the Pantheon. For best photos, get there before the gates open.

Note that weekends are busier as compared to weekdays for visiting the Pantheon. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour for exploring the interiors.  

Piazza Navona : 

Head to Piazza Navona next. Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful places in all of Rome. It’s a large square with fountains, statues, and an obelisk. 

The buildings surrounding the piazza are also very impressive. They were built during the Renaissance period and have been well preserved over time. 

It was built in the first century AD and has been used as a market, a stage for entertainment, a stadium, and even as a bullfighting arena!

Today, you will find fountains, statues, and buildings with wonderful architecture. It is particularly known for its Baroque architecture including the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers).

When you walk into this piazza, it will feel like stepping back in time. You will be surrounded by beauty everywhere you look – from the architecture to the artwork to the people walking around enjoying their day just like you are!

You can spend hours admiring the architecture here or just relax on one of the many benches while enjoying some gelato from nearby cafes. This is perfect to break for lunch, and then go on sightseeing. 

Piazza Venezia, Palazzo Venezia and Altare della Patria

Piazza Venezia, also known as the Venice Square is a central hub in Rome. Piazza Venezia is found where four major roads in Rome meet, namely the Via del Corso, Via del Plebiscito, Via di Teatre Marcello and Via dei Fori Imperiali. 

This square is named after the Palazzo Venezia, a palace that was built by the Venetian Cardinal, Pietro Barbo alongside the church of Saint Mark (who was the patron saint of Venice). Pietro Barbo later on, became Pope Paul II. 

Palazzo Venezia has been a remarkable building over the years. It has served as the Embassy of the Republic of Venice and was used by the Austrian ambassador. 

In the 20th century, the Palazza was taken over by the Italian government, and this is where Benito Mussolini made important decisions and even delivered speeches to citizens. 

You can visit the Palazzo Venezia today, and explore Museo di Palazzo, a museum of Medieval and Renaissance art.

Located at the Piazza Venezia is also the gorgeous Victor Emmanuel II Monument. Known as the Altar of the Fatherlan (Altare della Patria) is one of the coolest and grandest monuments in Rome. It was built to honor Victor Emmanuel II, who was the first king of a unified Italy. 

You can visit the monument from the inside. The full ticket for the terrace view is 12 euros and also includes entry to the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Museum of Palazzo Venezia.

Explore Trastevere, one of Rome’s neighborhoods 

In the late afternoon, wander to one of Rome’s popular neighborhoods of Trastevere. 

Trastevere has lured tourists to its colorful cobblestone lanes, medieval-era buildings, ancient piazzas, and cute-sy trattorias for years. This neighborhood is separated from the historic center by River Tiber. 

You can get there by train, and then explore on foot. Trastevere is reasonably quiet during the day, and even at night although there are activities (and lights), it is not super crowded. 

With its charming cobblestone streets and picturesque views, you won’t be able to resist photographing the neighborhood. When in Trastevere try out the real Roman (thin crust) pizza, and sit by a piazza for a relaxed evening.

To sign off your 3 day itinerary for Rome, you can also book a food tour. Here is a Trastevere food tour (evening) , which is perfect. It starts in the evening and lasts for 3-4 hours in the neighborhood. 

You can hop numerous trattorias and ristorante on a guided walking tour and try out different kinds of pasta, wines, drinks, and more. Book it here

Other options: Street food tour | Trastevere food and drinks tour

Instead of the Piazza Venezia and Trastevere in the second half of 3 day of this Rome itinerary, you can visit the Borghese gardens and the gallery, followed by Piazza del Popolo & Pincio Terrace.

Villa Borghese (Galleria Borghese)

Villa Borghese is a beautiful garden in Rome. It is completely free to visit the garden.

Home to a number of historical buildings, museums, and structures, it makes the Villa Borghese the third largest garden in the city. So if you are looking to relax, head there for a picnic in the afternoon. 

These gardens were developed for the Villa Borghese Pinciana, which houses the Borghese Gallery.

For visiting the Borghese Gallery or Galleria Borghese you must pre-book your tickets. This is a museum where you can check out sculptures and paintings made by Bernini, Canova, Caravaggio, Titian, and other artists.

As well as exploring the museum, you can stroll around the villa’s gardens, enjoy the views over the Piazza del Popolo and other landmarks of Rome. 

Piazza del Popolo & Pincio Terrace  

Pincio Terrace is a stunning viewpoint in Rome, which is connected to the Villa Borghese gardens. It sits at the top of the Pincian Hil. 

From the terrace, you can come down to the Piazza del Popolo aka People’s Square. This is the largest square in Rome and is home to three churches and two fountains, namely the Fountain of Neptune, and Goddess Roma. 

You can also exit the Villa Borghese and then walk to Piazza del Popolo. 

At the square, admire the Flaminio obelisk located at the center. The 36 metre high Egyptian Flaminio Obelisk has been standing tall since the 16th century. It was brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus in 10 BC., to honor the conquest of Egypt.

In the past, Piazza del Popolo was an important site for public executions. This square is amazing at any time of day, but particularly in the evening as it comes alive with locals and visitors, hanging out, and enjoying Rome. 

For dinner, head to a trattoria near the square. 

Exploring Rome in 3 days: Free sightseeing map

Additional tips for 3 day Rome itinerary

Here are additional Rome travel tips, 

Travel Visa and documents for Rome 

Rome is the capital city of Italy, a European country. Being a European Union member, Italy belongs to the Schengen zone of countries and follows the Schengen Agreement. So, 

• If you are a citizen of a not visa-exempt country, then you will require a Schengen visa to enter and visit Italy and the Vatican City,
• If you are a United States and Canadian national, no tourist visa is required for visiting and staying in Italy for up to 90 days

When is the best time to visit Rome?

Rome is amazing at all times of the year, but to save money (and a little time from queuing up) plan a trip to Rome in the off-season. 

The spring and fall months are pleasant in terms of weather as well. Temperatures are perfect for outdoor sightseeing, or wandering at a piazza. 

Off seasons also means cheaper flights and accommodation in Rome. Monthwise, April to June and late September to October for travel to Rome. 

To save on flights, book a trip in the months of January or February to score a good flight deal. We have checked flights from Toronto, San Franciso, and New York City; and they are a tad cheaper in these months as compared to August or summer-early fall. 

What to pack for Rome? 

When packing for Rome, consider the warm day time temperatures and the type of places you will be visiting. Rome has a strict dress code for churches and places of worship. Many of the ruin sites are uneven, and outside, and so that requires comfortable walking shoes and a hat during warmer months. 

Here are some quick tips for packing to Rome, 

• Wear comfortable shoes : Walking shoes are a must for Rome – it is known as the city of seven hills for a reason. You will end up walking quite a bit in the historical center and hence wearing comfortable walking shoes is important!
• Clothes: Opt for cotton, breathable clothes for your trip to Rome. Pack 1-2 tops or dresses with long sleeves, mid length to visit religious sites. 
• Waterproof jacket : Highly recommend carrying a lightweight waterproof jacket when visiting Rome in November as it is the wettest month of the year. 
• Accessories: Add a sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen 
• Universal adaptor: Rome (and Italy) uses the round power pins, unlike the flat ones here in North America. So you will need a universal adapter. Here is what we recommend
• Anti theft backpack: We recommend carrying an anti theft backpack when you are out and about exploring touristy sites, or traveling on trains. 
• Travel documents : As always don’t forget your travel documents, credit cards, currency and travel insurance.

Rome in 3 days will allow you to explore the prime city highlights like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and also give you relaxation time at historic neighborhoods and colorful quarters.  With 3 days, you can also venture on a day trip outside of Rome like the Hadrian’s Villa, or the UNESCO Site of Pompeii.

The best way to make the most of your 3 days in Rome is to cluster similar attractions together (neighborhood wise) and then explore on foot – stop by a trattoria, browse a local store or sit down at a piazza devouring a gelato.  Stay at a centrally located hotel, and buy the Roma Pass to save on attractions tickets, and public transportation to get to different areas such as the Vatican City, or Trastevere.

We recommend setting aside $150 USD per day per person (shared accommodation in a 3-star property in the city center area).  In the off-season, like November through February, you can find a nice hotel for less and can budget for $120 per day per person. In terms of budget, Rome is similar to Paris. You can explore some of the attractions for free, and for some, you will need to budget for $30-$55 USD for entrance fees. Hotels will be around $100 USD (mid-budget property), it will be cheaper for a hostel.  Food isn’t expensive in Rome. You can sit down by a piazza after grabbing a meal to go. Choose trattorias (especially by the metro) and you have a decent meal for 6 euros or less (per person). Of course, fancy dining places will obviously cost more.  Buy the Rome and Vatican Pass to save money on transportation and entrance fees.

You will need 3 full days to enjoy Rome intimately. If you have an extra day, it will be better for shopping, a day trip, flying in/out, or connecting to another city in Italy.

With 4 days in Rome, you can surely explore some of the offbeat attractions like the Appian Way gems, and also cover museums such as the Borghese Gallery, or check off offbeat spots like the Pyramid of Cestius, the Giardino degli Aranci, and the Keyhole of the Knights of Malta. Or just extend it for a day tour to Pompeii ruins.

Rome is a city like no other, and it’s one of those places that you absolutely need to visit in your lifetime. There are so many things to do there – from the Trevi Fountain to the Colosseum (and everything else) – but we don’t want this post to become too long!

If you’re looking for more info on our favorite Italian destination, head over here or check out some of our Italy travel guides below,

• Italy: Most beautiful cities in Italy , 10 days in Italy itinerary
• Milan: Milan one day itinerary , Milan Cathedral tips
• Venice : One day in Venice itinerary

Explore Rome in 3 days

Mayuri is the founder & editor of ToSomePlaceNew. An Indian-Canadian globetrotter, she has traveled to over 100 cities and 40+ countries.

She has lived in Portugal, Canada and India.

Mayuri has a graduate degree in History and is an MBA. She loves traveling the world particularly Europe, capturing historical nuances, and discussing that over a cup of coffee with her husband, Salil. 

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History Travel + Local Experiences

January 6, 2023 By Lyndsay

3 Days in Milan: A Complete Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

• 1.1 Day 1 in Milan
• 1.2 Day 2 in Milan
• 1.3 Day 3 in Milan
• 2 How to Get to Milan
• 3 How to Get Around Milan
• 4 What to Pack for a Trip to Milan
• 5 Tips for Visiting Milan, Italy
• 6.1 What is the best time to visit Milan?
• 6.2 Are 3 days enough for Milan?
• 6.3 What should I not miss in Milan?
• 6.4 Is Milan cheaper than Rome?
• 7 Where to Go After Milan
• 8 How to Spend 3 Days in Milan: Wrap-Up

This post may contain affiliate links! I will receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase something recommended here.

Want to know the best way to spend three days in Milan, Italy? This guide is for you!

Milan, Italy, is a city that begs to be explored. Full of incredible food, stunning city views, and high-end fashion houses; Milan has so much to offer its visitors.

However, with so much to see and do, it can be tough to know where to visit, especially if you are only there for a short amount of time.

This is one of those great Italian cities perfect for a quick getaway all year round.

Thankfully, to help plan out this Italian itinerary, I asked Lowri from Many Other Roads for her ideas, too!

From sightseeing and cultural attractions to shopping and food, you’ll find plenty of activities to fill your 3 days in Milan.

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The Ultimate 3 Days in Milan Itinerary

A long weekend is the perfect amount of time for visitors wanting to see the very best of Milan.

To help you make the most of your trip to the fashion capital of the world, this 3 days in Milan Itinerary makes sure you see the very best places around the city.

Day 1 in Milan

Head up to the top of il duomo di milano.

Few places in the world can rival the sheer beauty of Piazza del Duomo in Milan.

This stunning square is home to some of the most iconic architecture in Italy, including the magnificent cathedral.

Start your 3 days in Milan by visiting one of Italy’s most iconic religious sites, the awe-inspiring Duomo di Milano.

The Gothic cathedral is considered one of the largest churches in Italy.

Marvel at its intricate detailing, spires, and stained-glass windows before strolling around Piazza del Duomo and soaking up the vibrant city atmosphere.

Fun Fact : It took almost 600 years to complete the church! Construction began in 1386 and only finished in 1965. Also, the beautiful cathedral has more than 3,400 statues all around its outside.

This is one of the most popular places to explore when visiting Milan. Planning a morning tour is a good idea to avoid crowds, especially in the summer.

As this is a religious building, ensure you wear appropriate clothing (your shoulders and knees are covered), or they will not let you in, even if you’ve booked in advance.

If you’re interested in learning more about the church’s storied history, you can also visit the nearby Museum of the Duomo.

It houses an impressive collection of artifacts and artwork related to the cathedral’s history.

Even if you’re not a history buff, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the sheer scale and beauty of this building.

Do some luxury window shopping at the Galleria

After exploring Il Duomo, you must head to the Galleria next door.

Designed by Giuseppe Mengoni, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was built between 1865 and 1877 to celebrate the Unification of Italy.

When it opened, its 48-meter-high glass dome was the largest shopping arcade in Europe.

Today, the glass and iron structure symbolizes Italy’s modern architecture.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has become such an integral part of local life that it’s been nicknamed “il salotto” (the salon).

It is easy to see why – with its exquisite design, luxurious shops, and inviting cafés, it is truly an experience like no other.

Insider Tip : In the center of the Galleria are four mosaic emblems on the floor, representing Milan, Florence, Rome, and Turin. For good luck, you’ll need to spin with heels together over a very particular spot on the symbol of Turin–you’ll know when you see it. Although you’ll see people trying various ways to complete this, the correct way, as it was explained to me by a native Milanese, is you need to complete one full rotation without pushing yourself with the other leg.

Stop for lunch at Panzerotti Luini

Once you’ve finished exploring these famous landmarks in the middle of Milan, grab a quick lunch at Panzerotti Luini before jumping on the metro.

This bakery is famous for its sweet and savory panzerotti turnovers.

Opened in 1888, the shop is still family-run, and the secrets to its panzerotti are closely guarded.

Choose from the classic fried panzerotti, baked or sweet, all with a variety of fillings, or choose from their selection of other delicious baked goods.

Once you’ve enjoyed this Milanese meal, head to a museum of choice!

Take your pick of Milano museums

What better way to spend an afternoon than visiting some of Milan’s iconic galleries and museums?

From the Pinacoteca di Brera, home to an impressive collection of Italian art, to the Museo del Novecento, which houses works from the 20th century, you can find centuries’ worth of art and artifacts here from around the world.

Depending on your interests, these are some of the top museums in the city you should consider adding to your itinerary:

• Pinacoteca di Brera
• Museo del Novecento
• Leonardo3 Museum
• Galleria d’Arte Moderna
• Fondazione Prada / Prada Museum
• Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano

Stop for a coffee break at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery

I know what you’re thinking–did Lyndsay actually just suggest I visit a Starbucks in Italy?!

Yes. Hear me out!

I’ve now visited the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in New York City and Milan, and it’s a very cool experience–especially if you love all things coffee.

This is different from your typical American Starbucks.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan is the first of its kind in Italy, and it’s a unique way for Starbucks to bring its coffee to a country with a strong coffee culture.

Opened in 2018 in the city’s former post office and stock exchange, the Roastery is a multi-sensory experience that celebrates coffee with artisanal craftsmanship, immersive experiences, and exclusive small-batch Reserve coffees.

You can taste different brewing methods, watch baristas handcraft drinks, and even purchase exclusive merchandise.

It won’t in any way replace the country’s incredible coffee culture; instead, it feels more like the Roastery is an albeit trendy homage to Italian coffee.

Visit the Navigli canals

To end the first of your 3 days in Milan, visit the Navigli.

You will find only a few landlocked major European historic cities, like Milan. In the late 12th century, the town started digging its own river.

These man-made canals reached Lake Maggiore, which connected with the backbone of Europe’s commerce at the time, the Rhine River.

This network of waterways introduced Milan to the rest of Europe and allowed it to thrive as a major city.

However, the canals were filled in and paved over to accommodate the city’s growth over the years. All that’s left of this massive network are the Navigli.

Today, it’s a popular spot for locals and tourists, especially at night.

As you stroll along the canal, you’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a leisurely meal or glass of wine.

Day 2 in Milan

See leonardo da vinci’s the last supper painting.

To start your second day off, visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to witness The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most iconic paintings in history and one of the best things to do in Milan.

This 15th-century mural depicts Jesus among his twelve disciples, depicting the Biblical scene from Matthew 26:17-30.

Make sure to book tickets in advance as it is a popular tourist attraction and can be sold out months in advance. Plan on spending at least an hour here, seeing one of the famous Renaissance painter’s most well-known works.

Walk through La Vigna di Leonardo

Just around the corner from the Last Supper, you can find Leonardo da Vinci’s vineyard, La Vigna di Leonardo, at Casa degli Atellani.

While he was painting the famous Milanese artwork, the Duke of Milan gave him the vineyard as a gift.

Observe Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio

If you can’t get tickets to see The Last Supper , you can visit the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio instead.

As one of the city’s oldest churches and founded by Milan’s patron saint, it was initially known as the Basilica Martryum. It was built at a location where numerous martyrs were buried.

When you visit today, you’ll see a stunning Romanesque-style church from the 12th century, admire the pulpit with a late Romanesque carving, and the 4th-century sarcophagus below.

Explore Milan’s history at Castello Sforzesco

Initially built in 1368 and then rebuilt in 1450, Castello Sforzesco was home to the ruling family of Milan. The Visconti family was in power and residence from 1277 to 1447, while the Sforza family took over later, from 1450 to 1535.

As you enter, you’ll pass under the 70-meter Torre de Filarete, a reproduction from the early 20th century of the original gate tower.

Today, the castle-fortress houses the Musei del Castello Sforzesco, a series of museums that feature sculptures like Michelangelo’s last masterpiece, the Pietà Rondanini, artworks by masters like Bellini, Tintoretto, and Lotto, prehistoric and Egyptian antiquities, musical history, and medieval armor.

You can purchase entry to the castle with an audio guide and explore the grounds at your own pace. Or, if you don’t have time for a full tour, you can still see inside the castle’s courtyard for free.

This courtyard is a passage between Piazza Cairoli and Parco Sempione, Milan’s largest park.

Take a break from the city in Parco Sempione

Behind Castello Sforzesco is Parco Sempione. Designed in the English style in 1888, walk or bike around the park’s 95 acres to escape the city for a moment of nature.

The park is full of winding pathways perfect for walking, jogging, or simply taking in the scenery.

Parco Sempione’s entrance, on the opposite side of the park from the castle, stands the Arco della Pace (Peace Arch), devised by architect Gio Ponte in 1933.

This impressive structure towers high above the park. It provides spectacular views of Milan and even the Alps on a clear day.

Observe tombs and sculptures at Cimitero Monumentale

If you explore the rest of The Purposely Lost, you will rarely find me encouraging you to visit a cemetery. However, the Cimitero Monumentale is genuinely incredible.

This peaceful resting place is also an open-air museum with extravagantly decorated tombs and mausoleums that date back to the 19th century.

Many of the tomb sculptures were designed by famous artists; you can easily spend hours here observing the art.

Walk around the modern BAM – Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano

The Bosco Verticale, located in the new Porta Nuova District of Milan, is a sight to behold.

This pair of residential towers are adorned with over 900 trees, making it one of the most iconic sights in the city.

The Biblioteca degli Alberi, or “Library of Trees” public park at the foot of the Bosco Verticale, features over 135,000 plants.

Explore this new development area on foot, popping into the shops you see and stopping to admire the fountain display.

Catch a performance at Teatro alla Scala

No 3-day visit to Milan is complete without visiting Italy’s most famous opera house – Teatro alla Scala.

If you happen to be visiting during one of the theatre’s world-renowned productions, you’ll be in for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

From Rossini to Verdi, this 18th-century theatre premiered operas from some of the most famous composers of the time.

Today, it offers a range of performances, from operas and ballets to concerts, as it has for centuries.

You can find their performance schedule and purchase tickets on their website.

However, a visit to Teatro alla Scala is a must, even if you’re not an opera fan. The theatre’s incredible architecture and rich history are sure to impress.

You can book a tour of the theatre to see inside the impressive landmark any time.

Day 3 in Milan

Take a guided walking tour in the morning.

As a tour guide, I always recommend you take a walking tour of any new city to learn more about its history and get a local’s perspective.

This free guided walking tour of Milan will introduce you to the city’s most historical landmarks, from Piazza del Duomo, Piazza degli Affari, Basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo, and Piazza Mercanti.

Remember, since this is a free walking tour, you must tip your tour guide for a well-done job!

Window shop in the Quadrilatero d’Oro

Shopping in Milan is an experience like none other. As the fashion capital of Europe, it’s no surprise that the city offers a wide variety of stores and boutiques to explore.

If you want to indulge in some serious shopping, head to the Quadrilatero della Moda.

This high-end shopping and fashion district boasts some of the most famous Italian and international designers, with their luxe shops lining the four main streets–Via Montenapoleone, Corso Venezia, Via Manzoni, and Via della Spiga.

Here, you’ll find all the top Italian designer brands like Gucci, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and many more.

Exploring the world-renowned Quadrilatero d’Oro is a must for anyone visiting Milan.

Remember, casual browsing inside the shops is not welcome when visiting this designer shopping street–unless you’re also dressed to impress and prepared to drop a pretty penny.

Otherwise, you can admire the eye-catching window displays as dramatic as the fashions themselves.

Fun Fact : Every autumn, Milan designers showcase their latest collections at Milano Moda Donna–Milan Women’s Fashion Week–just like NYC’s Fashion Week, one of its best fall festivals.

​​Visit the Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa

Yes, it’s time to head to another church!

Tucked away on a quiet street directly next to the much larger Basilica di Santo Stefano Maggiore, inside Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa, you’ll find one of the eeriest sites in Milan–the Ossuary Chapel.

The inside is decorated with thousands of human skulls and bones dating from as far back as the 12th century.

Although a hospital and cemetery were initially built next to the Basilica, they were soon overflowing, and an ossuary was established to continue collecting the remains of the deceased.

Human bones are artfully arranged to cover the walls entirely.

Skulls are placed to form crosses with other bones providing additional details and decorations, all leading up to the “Triumph of Souls and Flying Angels” fresco by Sebastiano Ricci from 1695 that decorates the ceiling.

It’s a genuinely chilling example of art and history.

End your last night in Milan with dinner at Diana Garden – Bar & Restaurant

For your last dinner in Milan, head over to visit Diana Garden – Bar & Restaurant.

This hidden gem in the middle of Milan is the ultimate spot to relax over a cocktail in the city.

This secret garden bar boasts an impressive selection of Italian cuisine and cocktails and is the perfect spot for your last evening in this historic city.

Be sure to take some time afterward to wander through the lush gardens before heading back to your hotel for the night.

How to Get to Milan

Milan has two international airports, Milan Linate Airport and Milan Malpensa Airport.

Linate is easy to access from the city center by taking the newly opened M4 metro line directly to the airport, or you can take a taxi.

Malpensa is Milan’s largest airport and is further out of the city center; you’ll need to take a train to the airport or book a private transfer.

You can find direct trains to and from Malpensa to the Milano Centrale train station. 

If you’re flying with a budget airline, you’ll probably be using Bergamo’s Orio al Serio International Airport. 

Your best bet is to take one of two bus options to Milan.

The Autostradale Terravision Bus or the Orio Shuttle will make the one-hour drive directly from Bergamo airport to the center of Milan. 

Otherwise, you can take the train. You’ll first need to take a public bus or taxi from the airport to the Bergamo train station and then the train from Bergamo to Milano Centrale.

If you’re traveling to Milan from somewhere in Italy, you can take the train.

Trenitalia/Trenord and Italo trains both service the major Milan central train stations.

Milano Centrale is a huge train station, most famous for its stunning architecture, or you can use Milano Porta Garibaldi.

How to Get Around Milan

Getting around the bustling city of Milan is easy and convenient, even without a car , thanks to its extensive public transportation network.

The city is entirely walkable, and the public transit system makes it easy to get around.

The Milan Metropolitana covers the city’s most important points, with five lines (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) that can take you to many of the major destinations in the city center and to the suburbs outside the city.

However, the trams and buses will give you access to many more neighborhoods in Milan’s city center than can be reached by metro. 

To use the metro system, you can purchase tickets at ticket machines in the metro stations or use the ATM Milano app. 

My favorite app to navigate Milan’s entire public transport network is called Citymapper. 

What to Pack for a Trip to Milan

Knowing what to pack for your stay is essential when planning a three-day trip to Milan.

The city can be pretty cold during the winter months from December to February– you might even encounter snow .

A warm jacket, comfortable boots, and a nice coat for evenings out will ensure that you stay warm and cozy throughout your stay.

If you plan on spending time outdoors during these months, also bring a hat and gloves for extra protection against the cold.

The weather is much more pleasant during the spring, summer, and fall.

A light jacket or sweater will keep you comfortable during the day, while a pair of sandals or flats are perfect for exploring the city.

No matter what time of year you visit Milan, make sure to bring an umbrella in case of rain.

Tips for Visiting Milan, Italy

Check to see if a restaurant closes after lunch – In Italy, many restaurants (and even some tiny stores) close in the afternoon due to riposo, Italy’s siesta .

Restaurants often shut around 2:30 or 3 p.m. and reopen for dinner at 7 p.m.

This also means that there are no early meals in Milan.

Although a few eateries are open for business in this window, you’ll have to wander for a bit to find them. They’re usually only available to cater to tourists.

However, since Milan is the most cosmopolitan of the country’s cities, you’ll find more restaurant options between lunch and dinner in the afternoon.

To be on the safe side, check the hours of any restaurants you definitely want to eat at, and even make a reservation if you can.

Purchase a Milan sightseeing pass to save money – Especially if you love visiting museums and landmarks while you’re on a trip, I recommend you purchase the Milan Pass .

This pass includes discounts to dozens of the city’s biggest museums, restaurants, and other attractions around the city and free entrance into several landmarks I’ll mention in this Milan itinerary.

You can read more about the Milan Pass here .

Keep these apps on your phone to help you get around – Citymapper is my go-to software for learning how to navigate a new city’s transit system.

The free app will show you the stations and lines and when, where, and how to go from one location to another.

It also works in several of my other favorite places worldwide, including New York City , Venice , and Rome .

Google Maps is also essential to have on your phone.

When you’re connected to wifi, you can download your map of Milan offline to keep it with you even when you don’t have service, and it’s great for saving recommendations–like everything in this guide!

3 Days in Milan: FAQs

What is the best time to visit milan.

The best times to visit Milan are in the shoulder seasons of summer–spring, and autumn.

These months offer mild temperatures and fewer crowds, making them ideal times to explore the city without having to battle through hordes of tourists.

You’ll also find that prices are more reasonable during these periods, giving you more bang for your buck when it comes to accommodation and attractions.

Another great time to visit Milan is in the winter. The days are short, and you’ll need to be bundled up due to the chilly temperatures.

However, if you’re looking for the best travel deals on hotels and airfare to Milan and can handle the cold, this is the best time to visit Milan for you. 

Although it’s a beautiful time to be in the city, the summer months of July and August are the busiest time for tourism in Milan, with long lines for attractions and high prices for accommodation.

This can be a real hassle if you’re not prepared for it, so it’s best to avoid these months if possible.

Are 3 days enough for Milan?

Absolutely! Milan is a city that can easily be explored in three days. This is a perfect amount of time to explore the city as you don’t have to rush to see all the attractions.

You’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the sights and sounds of this vibrant city.

If you want to explore beyond the city limits, 3 days allows enough time for a day trip.

Popular destinations from Milan include the picturesque Lake Como, the stunning Dolomite Mountains, and Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet.

If you’d rather stay in Milan, 3 days is also enough to make the most of its food and bar scenes.

Spend your time exploring different neighborhoods, tasting delicious Italian dishes in trattorias and gelato shops, and having aperitivo in the evening.

Once you’ve had enough of walking around the city, take a boat cruise on the Navigli canals to see Milan from another perspective.

But no matter how long you decide to visit Milan , you are guaranteed the best city break in Italy!

What should I not miss in Milan?

Like many Cities across Italy and Europe, there is plenty of city highlights you can’t miss on your trip.

To make your 3-day visit to Milan unforgettable, here are the top activities you should consider doing:

👉 Visit the Duomo di Milano – this impressive cathedral is the symbol of Milan and one of the largest churches in the world! Climb the top for a stunning view of the city, or take a tour inside to discover its incredible art and architecture.

👉 Wander through Piazza del Duomo – this stunning square sits in the historic center of Milan. It features several impressive attractions, including the Duomo Cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping gallery, and fascinating statues. It’s also a great place to people-watch!

👉 Take a tour of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper – this world-famous painting can be seen with a guided tour. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance!

👉 Shop ’till you drop at the Quadrilatero d’Oro – Known as Milan’s Golden Triangle, this area is home to some of the most luxurious shops in the world. Whether you’re looking for designer goods or just window shopping, this is a great place to explore!

👉 Enjoy an opera at Teatro alla Scala – Milan’s iconic La Scala opera house hosts both traditional and contemporary performances throughout the year.

Even if you don’t have tickets for a show, you can visit the museum, take a guided tour of the building, and Piazza della Scala.

👉 Spend an afternoon in Parco Sempione – Milan’s beautiful park near the Sforzesco Castle offers a peaceful reprieve from the city.

Is Milan cheaper than Rome?

Generally speaking, Rome is a more expensive destination than Milan, mainly due to its high popularity among tourists – flight and hotel prices tend to be higher here than elsewhere.

Throughout the year, European budget airlines like Ryanair offer incredibly low fares to Milan compared to Rome, which often makes it a more budget-friendly option to book.

Visiting Milan is a great alternative for those looking for something more budget-friendly!

While it may not offer the same number of attractions as Rome, Milan still has plenty to see and do – from art galleries and cultural sights to shopping and delicious Italian cuisine.

Plus, you’ll be able to find more affordable accommodation options here than in Rome.

All in all, Milan can provide a cheaper getaway and a fantastic alternative to Rome.

Where to Go After Milan

After you finish your Milan 3-day itinerary, you can explore many other incredible Italian destinations!

After you finish visiting Milan, consider taking a trip to Venice .

This romantic city is known for its canals, gondolas, and stunning architecture.

Take a boat tour along the Grand Canal and admire the beautiful palaces that line its banks.

Visit St. Mark’s Square, explore the Doge’s Palace, or ride a gondola through the canals.

I have a complete guide on taking a day trip from Milan to Venice , as well as several other articles all about exploring the best things to do in Venice , if you want to learn more!

Of all of Italy’s beautiful lakes, Lake Como is just a short train ride away from Milan.

This stunning lake is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and lush greenery, making it the perfect place to relax and take in the beauty of nature.

The lake is dotted with picturesque villages where you can explore local culture, sample delicious Italian cuisine, and enjoy some of the best views in Italy–and Switzerland!

Verona is another must-visit destination after Milan.

Once you pass Lake Garda on the train coming from Milan, you’ll find yourself in the romantic city.

It’s home to stunning landmarks like Arena di Verona and Juliet’s Balcony from Shakespeare’s  Romeo & Juliet . 

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a stunning stretch of coastline on the northern Italian Riviera that’s home to five colorful villages.

This area is known for its breathtaking views and hiking between the towns.

Spend time wandering the charming streets, taking a boat ride along the coast, and sampling some delicious seafood.

Turin offers a unique blend of culture and history.

This city is home to the Mole Antonelliana, an iconic structure that houses the National Cinema Museum and one of the largest collections of Ancient Egyptian artifacts outside Egypt.

Turin also has many art galleries, churches, and other museums to explore. 

How to Spend 3 Days in Milan: Wrap-Up

Milan is a modern, metropolitan Italian gem that offers its visitors so much value for money.

No matter what time of year you visit or what type of trip you want, Milan has something for everyone!

With this guide, you’ll have no problem filling your three days in Milan with exploration and adventure.

From the Duomo to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, there’s much to see and do in this incredible city.

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3 Days in Venice (Perfect Itinerary + Map)

• December 26, 2023

A complete itinerary for 3 days in Venice (+ map, how to skip the lines at Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’ Basilica, and how to get to Murano and Burano islands).

Venice (Venezia) is among the most picturesque cities in Europe. It’s one of the places you must include to your itinerary when visiting Italy.

Venice is the capital of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. Built on more than 100 islands, linked by small pretty bridges, the city is surrounded by water. There are no cars, no bicycles. The only transport is water busses and of course your own feet.

With its tiny picturesque alleyways, meandering canals and charming piazzas, Venice looks like a place taken from your dreams. It’s almost inevitable not to fall in love. I visited the city, having very low expectations because of its touristic fame. And I’m not gonna lie, but Venice took my heart away.

3 Days in Venice itinerary

Looking for 3 perfect days in Venice? Well, this walking itinerary is all you need to plan your time and spend a lovely extended weekend.

Being so popular, you can imagine that Venice is super touristy (even off-season). But have no worries! I created this 3-day Venice walking itinerary in such a way to minimize the waiting time in lines.

Find a map of this 3-day itinerary for Venice (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites) at the end of the blog post.

Already have a hotel booked? Then check your hotel’s location and make sure it’s in a good area (see my guide to the best area to stay in Venice ).

3 days in Venice, Italy (the perfect itinerary)

• Day 1: Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Acqua Alta bookshop, Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo
• Day 2:  Basilica of Saint Mark, St. Mark’s Campanile and Clocktower, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Accademia Bridge, Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute
• Day 3:  Day trips from Venice – Murano and Burano

3 Days in Venice – Day 1

Have breakfast at farini.

08:00 AM – 08:30 AM Start the first day with delicious croissants and coffee at Farini . Try the croissants with pistachio filling and the ones with ham.

Enjoy the view from Rialto Bridge

08:30 AM – 08:50 AM Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is one of the most popular spots in Venice. It gets super busy with tourists during the day, so try to get there as early as you can.

It is the oldest bridge that crosses the Grand Canal and connects San Marco and San Polo districts. Stop at the middle of the Rialto bridge to enjoy the marvellous view of the Grand Canal. It’s like being in a painting by Canaletto.

You’ll find numerous shops on the bridge where you can browse for souvenirs like Murano glass products or jewellery. They will be closed so early in the morning, but don’t worry, you’ll get here back later in the day.

Plus, you’ll probably cross the bridge at least several times during your stay in Venice even if you don’t want to. It’s one of the main bridges over the Grand Canal.

Discover the Doge’s Palace

09:00 AM – 11:30 AM Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was the seat of the Venitian Government for centuries. It also served as a residence of the Doge, the person with the highest political position in the Venetian Republic. The last doge was Ludovico Manin, who abdicated in 1797 when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice.

The ticket to the Doge’s Palace is also valid for Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. Once you enter the palace you can take an audio guide for €5.

As you walk through this impressive palace, you’ll find yourself surrounded by Renaissance masterpieces and beautiful golden ceilings. You can tour most of the building on your own.

Some parts of the palace are accessible only with a guide (you have to book in advance the so-called Secret Itineraries Tour ).

See the famous Bridge of Sighs

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) is a 17th century covered bridge. It connects the courtrooms in the Doge’s Palace with the adjacent prison. The bridge got its name from the prisoners who sighed at the last glimpse of daylight they saw before being moved to the prison.

Bridge of Sighs is, in fact, a part of Doge’s Palace. You’ll walk across it during the tour of the palace. However, it’s not possible to marvel at the beautiful bridge from inside the building. The Bridge of Sighs is best seen from Ponte della Paglia.

Taste the delicious pasta at Baci & Pasta

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM Start the lunch with some tasty tiramisu at I Tre Mercanti . They offer different variations of the famous Italian dessert, as well as the classic one. Don’t miss the pistachio tiramisu, it’s heavenly!

For the main meal, go to Baci & Pasta . They serve delicious homemade pasta and ravioli, that you can combine with different sauces. A great spot for a quick bite!

Visit the unique Acqua Alta bookshop

02:00 PM – 02:30 PM Acqua Alta bookshop (Libreria Acqua Alta) is one of the most unique book stores in Europe. It’s a must for every book and cat lover.

Tens of books and magazines are stacked in a gondola in the middle of the store. This is not only for attraction, but also to keep the books safe during the regular flooding. And it’s almost impossible to miss the cute cats lying lazily around.

At the back of the store, you’ll find a small charming staircase made of old books.

See the doges’ tombs at Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo

02:30 PM – 03:00 PM Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo is the largest church in Venice. From the 15th century onward the funeral services of the Venitian doges are held here. The church houses the tombs of 27 doges. The vaults that stand out the most are the ones of Alvise Mocenigo and Pietro Mocenigo.

As most of the churches in Venice, there is an entrance fee (€4 per person).

On the charming square, where the basilica is located, you’ll also find the impressive Scuola Grande di San Marco. Once being among the greatest schools in Venice, today the building houses a small medical museum.

You can skip the museum unless you don’t have a deep interest in medicine. Yet, don’t miss to take a look at its beautiful white marble facade.

Take a gondola ride along the Grand Canal

03:20 PM – 04:30 PM Taking a gondola ride along the Grand Canal is a must-do while in Venice. Nothing can be compared with cruising on the canals and enjoying gorgeous Venice from a different perspective.

You can find gondola piers almost everywhere. However, I’d recommend taking your gondola around the Rialto Bridge (it’s the most popular spot). The gondola ride is usually about 30min and you can share the boat with up to 6 people.

Check the route with your gondolier in advance, because not all gondolas cruise along the Grand Canal. And you don’t want to miss the beautiful Venetian palaces along the canal.

Another option is taking a boat tour with a local guide . You’ll explore the winding canals of the city in a private motorboat passing along St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge and many more. The tour ends at the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where you can climb the Bell Tower for stunning views.

Another alternative is to take the water bus (called Vaporetto). It’s a much cheaper alternative to the gondola (not so romantic though). Yet, you’ll be able to see the fabulous Venetian palaces along the canal. Take water bus line 1 or 2, both run frequently between St. Mark’s Square and the train station.

Have dinner at Cantina Arnaldi

For dinner, I’d recommend you heading to San Polo district. It’s less touristy than San Marco, but still close to the main sites. In the area, you’ll find many nice restaurants and aperitivo bars.

Cantina Arnaldi is a great place for a meat and cheese platter accompanied by quality wine. They also offer delicious pasta and lasagna (if you are hungrier).

A day in Venice is not complete without some gelato. For the best gelato in the city, head to Gelato di Natura . It’s a fine artisan Italian gelato prepared with quality ingredients.

More ideas for your 3 days in Venice – Day 1

Create your own carnival mask.

Join this Carnival mask-making workshop and create your own mask under the guidance of an experienced craftsman. You’ll also learn about ancient techniques of creating masks from papier-mâché.

Church of Santa Maria Assunta – I Gesuiti

This little Baroque church from the 17th century is a hidden gem. With its interior covered in green, gold and white marble, the church is utterly breathtaking. The entry fee is only €1 per person.

Enjoy the view from T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace

T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace (T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi) offers an amazing view of the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. And it’s completely free to visit the terrace.

The only disadvantage is that you have to book in advance a certain time slot for your visit. Only 70 people are allowed at one time and visits are limited to 15min.

3 Days in Venice – Day 2

Have a coffee at marchini time.

08:30 AM – 09:00 AM Start your day in the Italian way – with a cup of coffee and a delicious pastry at Marchini Time .

Marvel at the Basilica of Saint Mark

09:15 AM – 10:30 AM Basilica of Saint Mark (Basilica di San Marco) is one of the city’s most popular attractions. And there is a reason why!

This 9th-century basilica is one of the most stunning churches in all of Italy. Covered with impressive mosaics, white marble, gold and precious stones, it will leave you speechless. Once a private chapel of the Doge, the basilica is the city’s cathedral since 1807.

Among its treasures are Horses of Saint Mark and Pala d’Oro (a golden altar encrusted with 2000 precious stones). And while it’s free to visit the church, you have to pay to see the mentioned treasures.

The lines are always long, so go early (before the opening times here) or reserve a time slot for your visit to skip the lines. Note that in this case, you have to pay €6 for the reservation (the entry to the basilica is free). You can’t bring a backpack or luggage and of course, your knees and shoulders must be covered.

To see the interior of the basilica illuminated, visit it from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM on weekdays or during liturgical celebrations on Sundays.

Climb St. Mark’s Campanile

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM St. Mark’s Campanile (Campanile di San Marco) is the bell tower of the Basilica of Saint Mark. Built somewhere in the 12th century, it functioned both as a lighthouse and a bell tower at the same time. Today’s building dates from 1912 after the collapse of the old one in 1902.

It’s possible to climb the tower for spectacular views of Venice (there is a lift to take you up to the top). 

Admire St. Mark’s Clocktower

11:30 AM – 11:50 AM Located on St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Clocktower (Torre dell’Orologio) is another site that you don’t want to miss. Built in 1496, the clock shows the time, the phase of the moon, and the dominant sign of the Zodiac.

Taste the panini at La Bottiglia

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM For lunch stop at La Bottiglia . You can choose between delicious panini or ham and cheese platter. Whatever you choose, don’t miss to combine it with some Italian wine.

Marvel at Scuola Grande di San Rocco

02:00 PM – 03:00 PM Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of Venice’s hidden gems. This 15th-century historic building houses over 60 paintings of Tintoretto. It’s a must for every art lover.

The entrance fee is €10, but do pay a little more for the audio guide to fully appreciate the artworks.

Enjoy the view from Accademia Bridge

03:20 PM – 03:40 PM Accademia Bridge (Ponte dell’Accademia) is one of the four bridges over the Grand Canal. And it’s also one of the few wooden bridges in the city. From here you can enjoy an excellent view of the Grand Canal and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

The biggest plus is that Accademia Bridge is less crowded than Rialto Bridge. So, if you look for a good photo opportunity, this is the place.

Visit the plague Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute

03:50 PM – 04:20 PM Located on the mouth of the Grand Canal, this is one of the city’s most beautiful churches. Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute is built as a votive offering after a bad outbreak of the plague in 1630.

There is no entrance fee, so take your time and visit the beautiful basilica. Most of the art and objects inside are devoted to the Black Death.

Also, don’t miss the views from this island towards St. Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace. Especially if you’re in the area at sunset.

Taste the cicchetti at Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

Finish the day in typical Venetian style – with cicchetti and wine. Cicchetti is the local finger food (a must-eat while in Venice). Try the ones at Cantine del Vino già Schiavi – a small local wine bar (called bacari).

To discover the best bacari wine bars, take this Cicchetti and wine guided tour . You’ll experience the city through its most famous food and wine (and dine like a local).

More ideas for your 3 days in Venice – Day 2

Visit the venetian palace of ca’ rezzonico.

Ca’ Rezzonico is a fabulous palace, one of the few that still can be visited today. This 18-the century palace once belonged to one of the city’s old noble families. Today, it’s a public museum that houses the Museum of eighteenth-century Venice.

If you want to experience the Doge’s Palace on a smaller scale, Ca’ Rezzonico is the place.

Modern art at Peggy Guggenheim Collection

If you’re interested in modern art, don’t miss the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The museum is housed in the former home of the American heiress Peggy Guggenheim. On display is her personal collection that includes masterpieces from Cubism and Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism.

You can book your skip the line ticket here .

Enjoy a concert at Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice is one of the most beautiful opera houses in all of Europe. La Fenice in Italian means phoenix. The theatre is named in this way because as the mystical creature it has also risen from its ashes twice.

To see La Fenice you can either attend a concert or visit it with a guide (or audio guide). To explore the beautiful opera house at your own pace with an audioguide, book your skip-the-line ticket here . To learn more about its fascinating history, take this guided tour of La Fenice .

Climb the tower of San Giorgio Maggiore Church

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is located on the waterfront of Piazza San Marco. This is the place where you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the famous square. All you need to do is to climb the church’s bell tower.

There is a small fee (about €5) to get to the top of the tower. In order to get to the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, you have to take a water bus to the S. Giorgio terminal.

3 Days in Venice – Day 3

The third day in Venice is all about island hopping. The two most popular islands are Murano and Burano, known for their crafts.

To get there you have to take a water bus. I’d recommend you buying an Actv day ticket that is valid for all water buses in Venezia, Lido, Murano and Burano. You’ll save a lot (the price is almost equal to 2 regular tickets and you’ll need at least 3 for the day).

Taste the pastries at Panificio Crosera

08:00 AM – 08:30 AM Before heading to your island adventure, stop for a quick bite at Panificio Crosera . It’s a great local bakery offering delicious pastries.

See the glass factories at Murano

09:00 AM – 12:00 PM The small island of Murano is about 10min away from Venice by water bus. Murano is best known for its traditional glass blowing. There are tens of glass factories and shops on the island.

Murano is the place to buy glass souvenirs if this is your thing. Plus, most of the shops offer international shipping, so you won’t worry about transportation.

It’s possible to attend a glass-blowing demonstration and see the craftsmen in action. You can book tickets to the glass factory here .

Beside the glass factories, dedicate some time to explore the island, too. Among its highlights are Torre dell’Orologio and Church of Santa Maria e San Donato.

Church of Santa Maria e San Donato is one of the oldest in the Venetian lagoon (dating from the 7th century). One of its treasures is a 12th-century Byzantine mosaic pavement.

Next to Torre dell’Orologio you can find a large glass sculpture. Sadly, it’s not possible to access the top of the clock tower.

How to get to Murano The quickest way to get to Murano is by taking a water bus (Vaporetto) from the ACTV docks at Fondamente Nove. It’s about a 10min journey.

Have lunch at Versus Meridianem

12:00 PM – 02:00 PM Before departing for the next island, stop for lunch at Versus Meridianem . This lovely restaurant, located right on the waterside, features great views of the lagoon.

Explore the colourful houses at Burano

02:40 PM – 04:30 PM Burano is one of the most colourful towns in Europe. Take a stroll along the colourful fishermen’s houses and enjoy the beauty of the island.

Burano is also famous for its lace-making. There is a Lace Museum, which you can visit if you’re interested in lace craftsmanship. Or just explore the numerous lace shops on the island. It’s a great place to buy some authentic souvenirs (not only lace), produced by local craftsmen.

How to get to Burano Vaporetto line 12 will take you from Murano to Burano (a 40min journey). It’s a little long journey from Murano (or Venice), but it’s totally worth the trip.

Taste the cicchetti at Birreria Zanon

Finish the last of your 3 full days in Venice with a dinner at Birreria Zanon . It’s a small local bar, located away from the crowds in Cannaregio district. Birreria Zanon serves the best cicchetti in the city.

More ideas for your 3 days in Venice – Day 3

Visit the beach resort of venice.

You may be surprised, but there is a beach in Venice. You just need to take the water bus to Lido Island (about 20min journey from Piazza San Marco).

If sunbathing is your thing, don’t miss the beach resort at Lido. You can also rent a bicycle and explore the island. Unlike Venice, where there are no cars or bicycles, Lido is friendlier to public transport.

Doge’s Palace – it’s the most popular attraction, so book tickets for the palace even if you’re visiting off-season. The ticket includes the Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum and Biblioteca Marciana.

Saint Mark’s Basilica – the entry to the basilica is free. Nevertheless, I recommend you to book a time slot entrance that will allow you to skip the lines (which are hours longs). This costs €6, but it will save you a lot of time. You can book your reserved access to St. Mark’s Basilica here .

St. Mark’s Bell Tower – another popular attraction with long queues at St Mark’s Square. To see Venice from above, reserve your entrance to the Bell Tower in advance.

Getting around in Venice

To help you navigate, I created a map of this itinerary .

Getting around in Venice can be tricky. It’s not a big city, but it lies on 118 small islands connected to each other with bridges. This causes the main difficulty when getting around. You have to always look for a bridge to get from one place to another.

Another problem is the tiny streets, the whole city is like a big maze. It’s hard to find a particular restaurant or site. And don’t worry if you get lost, it’s inevitable. If you have the opportunity to use GPS walking navigation on your phone, don’t hesitate. This helped me a lot.

There are no cars and no bicycles in Venice. Luckily, there is a public transport that consists of water buses (called Vaporetto). Depending on where your hotel is, you’ll probably need to use the Vaporetto to get to your accommodation.

If you plan to use the water buses more than twice a day, buy an Actv day ticket . It is valid for all water buses in Venezia, Lido, Murano and Burano.

Note that your ticket must be validated each time before boarding the water bus. See the water buses timetables here .

Also, the Vaporetto is the only way to get to Burano and Murano islands. Yet, you’ll be able to get to most of the attractions on foot. Thus, prepare yourself for a lot of walking.

How to get to Venice

The central train station is Venezia Santa Lucia. Located at the northern edge of the city, it’s about a 30min walk to Piazza San Marco.

If you’re planning to travel by train through Italy, book tickets in advance (they are cheaper if you buy earlier). Check timetables and book train tickets online at Trenitalia official website .

If your hotel is somewhere near Piazza San Marco, I’d recommend taking the water bus. It will be very difficult to navigate through the tiny streets with luggage. Moreover, during the high season, it’s even impossible to walk through the people.

No cars are allowed in Venice. If you’re arriving by car, you can leave it at the parking lots at Piazzale Roma ( see more info here ). This is the closest point you can get to with a car.

There are two airports – Marco Polo Airport and Treviso Airport .

From Marco Polo Airport You have 3 options:

• The easiest option is to get a water taxi, that will take you directly to your hotel. You can book your water taxi here and arrive without hassle to the city. I’d recommend this option, especially if you have big luggage.
• You can also take the Alilaguna water bus to Venice. Alilaguna stops at San Marco, Rialto, Fondamenta Nuove, and Guglie. It’s less convenient than the first option as then you have to walk to your hotel.
• The 3rd option is to take the ATVO express bus or bus ACTV line 5 to Piazzale Roma. From there you have to walk (if your hotel is in the area) or take a water bus to the closest location to your hotel.

From Treviso Airport You have to take the ATVO express bus to Piazzale Roma and from there – the water bus.

Day trips from Venice

Take a prosecco wine-tasting tour.

Prosecco is one of the most famous Italian wines. So, why don’t you spend a day exploring the wine-growing area of the Veneto region.

This Prosecco wine tasting tour includes a visit to a traditional winery, where you’ll learn all the secrets of prosecco production. Plus, there is a guided wine tasting at the end.

Verona is a gorgeous medieval city. It’s famous for its connection to Shakespeare’s tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. For more details take a look at my complete Verona day trip itinerary .

Located about 1 hour away from Venice by train, Verona is the perfect day trip. If you take an early train, one day in Verona will be enough to see the highlights. Don’t miss to buy the Verona Card (it will save you money and time)!

How to get to Verona Take a train from Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova (1h15min journey). From there it’s about 1.5km to the historic city centre.

Florence is one of the must-see cities in Italy. It’s known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. I’d strongly recommend spending at least 2-3 full days in Florence. There is a lot to see (take a look at my detailed itinerary for Florence )!

If you visit Florence on a day trip, the most you’ll be able to do is a walking tour of the historic centre.

How to get to Florence Take a train from Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia to Firenze S. M. Novella (2h15min journey). From there is about a 10min walk to the historic city centre.

How many days in Venice

Are 3 days in venice too much.

3 full days in Venice is the perfect amount of time to explore the city. You’ll need 2 days to see the major attractions including Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica and Bridge of Sighs. Also, you’ll have to dedicate one full day to Murano and Burano – the most interesting islands in the Venetian lagoon.

There are 3 major attractions with huge waiting lines (unless you take a guided tour) – St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Campanile. The main problem is that the basilica, which can be visited quicker than the palace, opens an hour later than the palace. So if you decided to visit the palace first, after your tour, the lines for the basilica will be hours long. And vice versa.

The best way to avoid this is to visit these 3 attractions early in the morning on two different days. In the afternoons, you can tour the less popular sights (museums and churches). The third day of this Venice itinerary is all about island hopping. I’ll show you what are the best islands near the city and how to get there.

What if I don’t have 3 full days in Venice?

If you have 2 days and a half, use the half-day to explore the city on foot and take a gondola ride. Also, I’d recommend you to visit St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace in one day. However, in this case, it’s better to take a guided tour for one of the sights (not to lose hours in waiting).

The second full day, spend in island hopping and tour Murano and Burano. It’s a unique experience, so don’t miss it even if you don’t have 3 full days in Venice.

2 or 3 days in Venice?

Although it’s possible to visit Venice in 2 days, I’d recommend 3 days (or at least 2 days and a half).

If you have only 2 days you have to prioritize which attractions are most important for you. Do you want to visit the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica or just a walking tour is enough? If you’re not into museums you can explore Venice in one day.

Another option is to skip Murano and Burano and dedicate all your time to Venice. In this case, you’ll have enough time to visit the most popular attractions.

Best time to visit Venice

Venice is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Having this in mind, you can imagine that the crowds are huge any time of the year. Yet, the least ideal time to visit is the months of August and February. And the problem is not only the high prices of accommodation during these 2 months.

During August not only the crowds are the biggest, but also the weather is hot with high humidity and lots of bugs.

The famous Venice Carnival (Carnevale) takes place every year at the end of February and the beginning of March. If you’re not visiting the city because of this event, avoid February and March.

The winter (November, December and January) is the low season. However, the chances of flooding are higher. Also, it’s cold and wet and you’ll probably spend a lot of time outside. Taking a gondola ride won’t be pleasant, too.

What is the best time of year to visit Venice, Italy? The best time to visit Venice is spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October). During these periods the temperatures are pleasant and tourists are fewer.

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About the author

Thank you so much for this wealth of information! I really appreciate your hard work to put together these guides, its been so helpful as I plan my vacation to Italy 🙂 Wishing you health and safe travels!

Thanks, Sarah 🙂 Happy and safe travels!

Thank you so much Milena. Hope I’ll be tested negative 24h before the flight so I’ll follow your steps in Venice!.

I hope, too, Virine! Have a great time in Venice! 🙂

Omg I’ve been reading itineraries for Venice for days and honestly this is the most amazing one! I just love the restaurants recommendations and how everything is structured! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂

Thank you….this will definitely help with trip planning.

Thank you for your comment, Elaine. 🙂

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Delightfully Italy

The insider's Italy travel guide for independent travelers

Italy in 3 weeks – amazing 21 days itinerary including Sicily

Top things to do and see in Italy in 3 weeks. Italy Must See: Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre and Amalfi coast and off the beaten path destinations

A 3 weeks Italian itinerary will give you the possibility to visit most Italian must sees at a relaxed pace, with some spare time to also discover “off the beaten path” treasures. 3 full weeks in Italy will also give you enough flexibility to spend more time in the places you like the most.

As the one and two weeks Italy itineraries, also this one is based on my personal experience, on the hypothesis you are purchasing and “open jaws” ticket (meaning: landing and departing in two different airports),  to save valuable time . Transfers are by train / public transportation as far as possible.

So get a good guide book and invent your own holiday!

Destination 1:   Venice  – (2-3 days) , Ferry Boat in Venice + a lot of walking (and maybe a romantic gondola ride  ). Of course Rialto, San Marco and Palazzo dei Dogi, but also fancy Museums like Punta della Dogana . If you are travelling with kids, have  a look at a  child oriented itinerary . On the third day visit Murano, Burano and Torcello (1 day, by ferry).

Venice main highlights, and especially San Marco church, suffer from very long queues. To skip the line and to know more about its masterpieces, a guided tour could be a clever option. Click here for a good San Marco guided tour .

Where to stay in Venice:

• The Foscari Palace : enjoy a room on the Canal Grande, just in front of Rialto market
• The Hotel Pausania : a charming hotel in the off the beaten path Dorsoduro Neighborhood.

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Venice

Destination 2: Venice >> Milan (stop over in Padova/Vicenza/Verona, if you have enough time). Sleep in Milan or, if you arrive in Milan by lunch time, go directly to Bellagio (here is how to get there). If you spend the night in Milan, have  a fancy Aperitivo (Milanese buffet happy hour).

Click here to find the best places to stay in Milan

Destination 3: Milan >>Bellagio , train + boat (2-3 hours), visit Bellagio and a couple of the famous villas on the west branch of Como Lake (1 day)

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Bellagio

Destination 4: Bellagio >> Milan >> ” Cinque Terre”. From Milan you have many direct  trains (2,5 hours). It’s worth spending 1-2 days at Cinque Terre, but should also visit Portofino and San Fruttuoso.  Sestri Levante, right in the middle, could be a good base, otherwise head to Monterosso, your hub for the Cinque Terre. Don’t use a car, parking is a nightmare. (2-3 days).

Click here to find the best places to stay in Monterosso

Destination 5: Cinque Terre – Florence  (with a stop over in Pisa / Lucca) – just transfer and light sight seeing. It take a little less than 3 hours to go by train from Sestri to Florence, via Pisa. Lucca is half an hour from Pisa by train (1 day). If you decide to visit also Lucca, you could consider spending the night in one of the two towns (I personally prefer Lucca).

Destination 6: Florence (1-2 days), depending if you are keen on museums or not. Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David (in Galleria dell’Accademia, the one in front of Palazzo Vecchio is a copy) , Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, San Miniato, piazzale Michelangiolo, Via Tornabuoni, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli, Fiesole (20-30’ out of town). Have a look here for a one day walking itinerary.   Just click here in case you prefer a g uided tour, or to skip the line in the main museums.

Where to stay in Florence:

The Grand Hotel Cavour : lots of atmosphere and history for this fascinating hotel located between Santa Maria del Fiore and Palazzo Vecchio. The roof bar will seduce you with its fantastic views over the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral.

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Florence

Destination 7: Tuscany country side >>> Rome.  Chianti, Monteriggioni, Siena, Montalcino, Val d’Orcia, Pienza, Montepulciano >>> Rome. (1-2 days, even more if you like the countryside and the good food).

This itinerary assumes you rent a car, by far my suggested option. In case you didn’t feel comfortable driving on Tuscany country roads, then you can use Florence as a hub and join Tuscany country side guided tours. Here are my recommended ones .

Where to stay in Tuscany: Monteriggioni (Siena)

• The Hotel Monteriggioni : a charming and romantic hotel, located in a fortified medieval village
• The Castel Pietraio , a true medieval castle, now four star hotel, to treat yourself like a king

Destination 8: Rome (3-4 days or more). You don’t want to have a car in Rome; walk + hop on – hop off buses ( follow this link to reserve on line, no need to print the receipt ). Bicycles or scooters, if you dare, are fantastic solutions!

Discover the Spanish steps , Piazza Navona, Panteon, Fontana di Trevi, Campo dei Fiori, Old Ghetto,  Trastevere . St Peter (consider  climbing on the Cupola ) + Vatican Museum ( RESERVE! queues are terrible – click here if you wish to reserve your visit with Ticketbar ).

Mercati di Traiano, Fori Imperiali (including Orti Farnesiani), Colosseum, Palatino are unmissable destinations, and for this reason may be crowded. Purchasing the ticket in advance is a clever way to skip the line and to save time .

Don’t miss Trastevere + Isola Tiberina (very lively area in summer time, funny & crowded). Appia antica + Catacombs (best by bike, you can rent one in via Appia),  medieval Rome and its underground treasures .   If you are a running fanatic, don’t miss Villa Borghese and the awesome  Borghese Gallery .  

Villa Adriana and Villa D’Este , both in Tivoli (30 km from Rome) make a pleasant day trip out of town .

Since you have several nights, you may consider awesome activities such as night visit to the Colosseum or a romantic dinner cruise. Follow this link for more suggestions .

Where to stay in Rome:

The  Hotel la Lumiere , a delightful hotel hidden a few blocks away from the Spanish steps, in posh via Condotti. Great roof top, have your breakfast while admiring Rome century old roofs!

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Rome

Destination 9: Rome >>Naples/Sorrento (2/3 days) Train. You can sleep in Naples or, better, in Sorrento. Visit Pompei, Sorrento, Positano , Ravello, Capri. Naples is also worth a visit. You can use public transports: boat service between Sorrento and Positano is very convenient, while buses, especially to Ravello, could be extremely crowded (consider sharing a taxi with fellow travelers). Renting a car could be an option in high season, but car parks are very expensive (and driving on the costiera is an experience on its own!).

Looking for a hotel? Click here to find the best places to stay in Sorrento

For more info about Amalfi coast visit my posts: Capri: breathtaking Faraglioni and Natural Arch walking tour and Best of Amalfi coast.

Alternative itinerary (especially in wintertime): get a low cost flight in Rome or Milan, and visit Sicily. Palermo, San Vito lo Capo, Segesta, Agrigento and the Temples Valley, Siracusa , Catania, Taormina.

In love with Italy but short on time? Learn more about rush one week itinerary and two weeks itinerary !

Would you like an independent advice on your next trip to Italy? Visit my Italy Travel consultant page.

Enjoy your Italy in 3 weeks itinerary and share any comment, picture or suggestion!

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If you wish to  visit Italy  for the first time, or if you already discovered Venice, Rome, Florence, the Amalfi coast, but still want more, delightfullyitaly.com is here to disclose to you  Italian Must See  as well as  Italian hidden treasures .

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2 Replies to “Italy in 3 weeks – amazing 21 days itinerary including Sicily”

i’ve read a ton of these itinerary suggestions & i just had to take the time to say that this has been the most spot on one i’ve read so far. i copied down every single bit! thank you!

Hi sally, I’m glad you found my article useful!

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Money blog: 600 new skyscrapers 'on way' for London, report finds

A reader seeks help as her employer of 24 years is bringing in a new clock-in system to pay her by the minute. Read this and all the latest personal finance and consumer news in the Money blog - and share your own problem or dispute below.

Monday 13 May 2024 16:15, UK

• Gen Z would rather deliver parcels than work in restaurants, Michel Roux Jr claims
• 600 new skyscrapers on way for London, report finds
• Money Problem: My workplace is bringing in new clock-in system to pay us by the minute - is this allowed?
• Free childcare applications open for new age band

Essential reads

• How to make sure your car passes its MOT
• 'Loud budgeting': The money-saving trend that has nothing to do with giving up your daily coffee
• How to avoid a holiday data roaming charge (while still using the internet)
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Gordon Ramsay's restaurants tripled losses to £3.4m last year, as the chef warned businesses in the industry were facing a "challenging" climate. 

The chef's group spent millions opening five new restaurants in 2023, including a Lucky Cat in Manchester, a Bread Street Kitchen in Battersea Power Station and a Street Pizza in Edinburgh. 

Sales at his wide-ranging establishments rose, however, by 21% to £95.6m in the year to August, according to The Telegraph. 

"It's been a really hard-fought year, but at the same time an exciting year, and in tough times it amazes me how strong and vibrant our industry is," Ramsay told the news outlet. 

"It's challenging out there and businesses are battling to stay afloat, rising costs, rent and food costs, multiple strikes. It's a battle" 

He was optimistic, however, saying there hasn't been "so much passion and vibrancy" in the industry since he opened his first restaurant in 1998.

"We've still got something wonderful to celebrate, and I truly believe the industry has never been so exciting."

Once the UK's favourite alcoholic beverage, beer's popularity seems to be fading among the younger drinking generation... 

In fact, only 30% of people aged 18 to 24 ever drink it, according to a study commissioned by the Society of Independent Brewers. 

Instead, younger drinkers say they prefer drinking spirits, wine and cider. 

Pub visits appear to be suffering as well, with almost a quarter of the 2,000 people surveyed saying they have never visited their local. 

SIBA's 2024 Craft Beer Report paints a more positive picture for small and independent brewers, however, with more than 55% of beer consumers saying they now drink "local craft beer". 

It also found average beer production volumes among independent breweries has risen by 14% since last year - a return to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 4 years. 

"Demand for local, independently brewed beer in the UK is strong, with independent brewers reporting production volumes up by 14%, meaning they have returned to 2019 volumes again," Andy Slee, SIBA's chief executive, said. 

But, he said, it's time for "cautious optimism" only, with the industry still plagued with a number of issues. 

"The short-term issue for small independent breweries isn't demand; it's profitability, rising costs and financial pressures such as lingering COVID debt," he said. 

"Far too many breweries are simply trying to survive rather than thrive, so while there are many positives signs highlighted in the report, for now it's cautious optimism."

Earlier this year, our Money reporter Emily Mee explored whether the UK's big night out culture was dying out. 

Nightlife experts warned we're losing one club every two days at the moment - and if we stay on this trajectory, we will have none left by 2030.

You can read more about her findings here...

A total of 583 skyscrapers are "queuing up in the pipeline" to be built across central London, a development thinktank has said. 

That is more than double the 270 built in the past decade. 

In the eastern borough of Tower Hamlets alone, 71 tall buildings were completed in that time that time, the report by New London Architecture found. 

A further 24 were in the City of London and 27 in Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs. 

The report said the rapid change has been fuelled by a "burgeoning demand" for office and residential space, overseas investment and a supporting planning environment. 

"Tall buildings have changed the face of London substantially over the last 20 years and will continue to do so - the pipeline that NLA has tracked means there is at least 10 years' supply that has already been defined," Peter Murray, the organisation's co-founder, said. 

"London's population continues to grow, passing the 10 million mark at the end of this decade.

"We'll still need tall buildings; and NLA will continue to keep a close watch on what's going on." 

Restaurants might only be able to open three or four days a week due to staffing problems, Michel Roux Jr has warned. 

Speaking to The Telegraph as he gears up to open his new restaurant Chez Rouz, the Michelin starred chef admitted the industry needs to change to accommodate flexible working hours. 

"Just because I worked 80 hours a week or more doesn't mean the next generation should," he said. 

"Quite the contrary. That is something that we have to address in our industry."

But, he warned that the move will come at a cost... 

"It will mean ultimately that going out is going to be more expensive, and that maybe your favourite restaurant is no longer open seven days a week - it's only open three or four days a week," he said. 

The industry is known for its long, unsociable working hours, and Roux Jr explained that the real issue hit after the pandemic, with people no longer wanting to work weekends. 

"People don't want to work unsociable hours and would rather work delivering parcels as and when they want to. It's as simple as that," he added. 

Earlier this year, Roux Jr said goodbye to his famous restaurant Le Gavroche in London. 

It had been opened by his father Albert Roux and uncle Michel Roux in 1967. 

Now, he said it's "brave" to open a new restaurant, with the market "very, very tough". 

"I really feel for anyone that is brave enough to open up a restaurant now. It's incredibly difficult," he added. 

Chez Rouz at The Langham in Marylebone, central London, is due to open on 22 May. 

By James Sillars , business news reporter

A pause for breath on the FTSE 100 after a 3% gain over the course of past week that took the index to a fresh record closing high.

The rally of recent weeks - significant for London's standing and pension pots alike - has been broad based and reflects several factors.

A major driver has been sterling's weakness versus the US dollar.

The US currency has been strong as the Federal Reserve, its central bank, has hinted it will be some time yet before it begins to cut interest rates.

Language out of the Bank of England last week sparked a flurry of bets that UK rates could be cut as early as next month.

A weaker pound boosts dollar-earning constituents on the FTSE 100 because they get more for their money when dollars are converted to pounds.

Also at play is the view that UK stocks represent good value, as they are cheaper compared to many of their international peers.

A few moments ago, the FTSE 100 was trading 6 points lower at 8,423.

A major talking point is the possibility of the Chinese fast fashion firm Shein listing in London.

According to Reuters, the company has shifted its focus to the UK after receiving a lukewarm reception in the United States.

The news agency, citing two sources, reported that Shein was stepping up its preparations for an initial public offering in London that would be expected to be one of the biggest carried out globally this year.

By Emily Mee , Money team

No one likes the date in their calendar when their MOT rolls around. 

But to make things a little less stressful, consumer expert Scott Dixon - known as The Complaints Resolver - has given us some tips on what to look out for to help your vehicle pass with flying colours. 

Some of the most common failures are faulty steering, brakes, suspension, worn or damaged tyres, cracked windscreens and faulty lights. 

Mr Dixon recommends you get your car serviced a couple of weeks before your MOT, in case there are any complex or costly issues. 

This will give you time to get them fixed and get your car through first time without any advisories. 

Aside from taking your car for a service, there are also some easy checks you can run yourself... 

Listen for unusual clunks while you're driving - this could be a sign of a damaged suspension. 

You could also check by pushing the car down on each corner. It should return to normal without bouncing a few times. 

Another option is to look with a torch under the wheel arch, as this should reveal any obvious defects. 

Blown bulbs are a common MOT failure, but they're cheap to fix. 

Walk around your car and check all the bulbs are working - this includes the headlights, sidelights, brake lights, indicators and the number plate bulb.

Mr Dixon says it's "not an easy job" to change the lightbulbs yourself on most modern cars, as the MOT will also check the positioning of the light. Therefore he recommends getting this done professionally. 

Squealing or grinding noises may be a sign your brake pads need replacing. 

You should also check whether your car stops in a straight line, or whether it pulls in different directions. 

Don't forget about the handbrake, too. Test it out on a slope and see if it securely holds the car. If it doesn't, you should get it adjusted. 

It's easy to check if your wipers work okay, but you should also make sure to inspect the blades for tears and rips. 

They should be able to clean the windows with no smears. 

Mr Dixon says you don't need to pay Halfords to change your wiper blade as you can "do it yourself in seconds". All you need to do is look for a YouTube tutorial. 

He also recommends buying the Bosch wiper blades, as he says these are good quality and will also be a sign you've looked after your car well when you come to sell it. 

One thing to look out for is tread depth. You can do this by looking for the "wear bar" that sits between the tread. 

If it's close to 1.6mm and is low, you should get the tyre replaced so it's not flagged as an advisory. 

Also check for perished tyre walls, which can happen when a vehicle is standing for any length of time. 

Uneven tyre wear is another potential issue, and if there are signs of this you should get the tyre replaced and tracking and suspension checked. 

These must be in good condition and working order, with no tears or knots. 

Registration plates

Your number plates should be clean and visible with a working light bulb at the rear. You may need to give them a wipe and replace the bulb if necessary. 

This should be in good condition, without damage such as loose bumpers or sharp edges. 

Mr Dixon advises against using automatic car washes during your car's lifetime, saying they "wreck your car". 

"It's not just your paintwork but they can also damage the wiper blades and the bodywork," he says. 

Check for warning lights

You'll need to take your vehicle to a trusted garage or mechanic for this. 

Exhaust emissions

Some diesel vehicles can fail their MOTs based on emissions. To avoid this, you can buy a fuel treatment pack and take your car for a good run to clear the fuel lines and tank.

Driving for at least 30 to 50 minutes at a sustained speed on a motorway or A-road should help to clear the filter. 

You should make sure the driver's view of the road isn't obstructed, so check for stone chips at eye level and remove any obstructions such as air fresheners and mobile phone cradles. 

What else should you think about? 

Make sure your car is clean beforehand, as a tester can refuse to do your MOT if the vehicle is filthy and full of rubbish. 

Giving your car a clean can also give you a chance to inspect it, Mr Dixon says. 

Another thing to do is to check last year's MOT for any advisories that might crop up this time. 

These potential issues will still be there - so it's best not to ignore them. 

You can check your vehicle's MOT history using  https://car-check.co.uk . 

Every Monday we get an expert to answer your money problems or consumer disputes. Find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post. Today's question is...

I have worked at a bank for 24 years - the facilities are outsourced. This new company is bringing in a system where the staff have to click in and out and are then paid by the minute? Is this allowed? Amber

Ian Jones, director and principal solicitor at Spencer Shaw Solicitors, has picked this one up...

Your rights depend on your contract and what it says about payment. Does it specify an annual salary, or payment by time? Does it allow for changes to how payment is calculated?

If the contract does not allow for this type of payment, your employer may be trying to vary the contract of employment unlawfully.

If you're directly employed by the bank, and your pay arrangements are changing because of a new monitoring system, this would be an internal contract variation. If you work in the facilities department and the new contractor is taking over as your employer, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) 2006 may apply. 

In this case, your current terms, conditions and previous service will transfer to the new employer.

TUPE may make the issue sound more complicated but, in practice, either way the changes will be valid only if the employee agrees to them.

If you have not agreed to the change, then this could be a breach of contract. This could give rise to a successful claim in the civil courts or the employment tribunal. 

If the breach is serious (for example, you're paid less than agreed in the original contract) and you resign in response, this could amount to constructive dismissal for which a claim can be made in the employment tribunal. 

It would be sensible to get the contract reviewed by a solicitor for advice. But act swiftly - if you continue working for the employer, you are effectively waiving the breach and accepting the change to your contract.

To make it possible to pay by the minute, employees may be monitored while at work. When collecting and processing data and using it to make a decision, the employer must comply with data protection laws. If not, the employee could be entitled to compensation, depending on the breach, or the employer could be at risk of a sanction by the regulator the Information Commissioner's Office.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about.  Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:

• The form above - make sure you leave a phone number or email address
• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here .

Please make sure you leave your contact details as we cannot follow up consumer disputes without them.

We're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Today : Every week we ask industry experts to answer your Money Problems . Today, a reader's employer is bringing in a new clock-in system to pay workers by the minute - but is this allowed?

Tuesday : This week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about the PIP. 

Wednesday : We speak to one of London's top chefs for his Cheap Eats at home and in the capital.

Thursday : Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back with her weekly insight into the savings market.

Friday : We'll have everything you need to know about the mortgage market this week with the guys from Moneyfacts.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King on weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

By Jess Sharp , Money team 

Money saving trends are constantly popping up on social media - but one in particular has been gaining huge amounts of attention.

Created accidentally by a comedian, loud budgeting is breaking down the taboo of speaking about money.

The idea is based on being firmer/more vocal about your financial boundaries in social situations and setting out what you are happy to spend your money on, instead of "Keeping up with the Joneses". 

On TikTok alone, videos published under the hashtag #loudbudgeting have garnered more than 30 million views - and that figure is continuing to climb. 

We spoke to Lukas Battle - the 26-year-old who unintentionally created the trend as part of a comedy sketch. 

Based in New York, he came up with the term in a skit about the "quiet luxury" hype, which had spread online in 2023 inspired by shows like Succession. 

The term was used for humble bragging about your wealth with expensive items that were subtle in their design - for example, Gwyneth Paltrow's  £3,900 moss green wool coat from The Row, which she wore during her ski resort trial...

"I was never a big fan of the quiet luxury trend, so I just kind of switched the words and wrote 'loud budgeting is in'. I'm tired of spending money and I don't want to pretend to be rich," Lukas said. 

"That's how it started and then the TikTok comments were just obsessed with that original idea." 

This was the first time he mentioned it...

Lukas explained that it wasn't about "being poor" but about not being afraid of sharing your financial limits and "what's profitable for you personally". 

"It's not 'skip a coffee a day and you'll become a millionaire'."

While talking money has been seen as rude or taboo, he said it's something his generation is more comfortable doing. 

"I've seen more debate around the topic and I think people are really intrigued and attracted by the idea," he said. 

"It's just focusing your spending and time on things you enjoy and cutting out the things you might feel pressured to spend your money on."  

He has incorporated loud budgeting into his own life, telling his friends "it's free to go outside" and opting for cheaper dinner alternatives.

"Having the terminology and knowing it's a trend helps people understand it and there's no awkward conversation around it," he said. 

The trend has been a big hit with so-called American "finfluencers", or "financial influencers", but people in the UK have started practising it as well. 

Mia Westrap has taken up loud budgeting by embarking on a no-buy year and sharing her finances with her 11.3k TikTok followers. 

Earning roughly £2,100 a month, she spends around £1,200 on essentials, like rent, petrol and car insurance, but limits what else she can purchase. 

Clothes, fizzy drinks, beauty treatments, makeup, dinners out and train tickets are just some things on her "red list". 

The 26-year-old PHD student first came across the idea back in 2017, but decided to take up the challenge this year after realising she was living "pay check to pay check". 

She said her "biggest fear" in the beginning was that her friends wouldn't understand what she was doing, but she found loud budgeting helped. 

"I'm still trying my best to just go along with what everyone wants to do but I just won't spend money while we do it and my friends don't mind that, we don't make a big deal out of it," she said. 

So far, she has been able to save £1,700, and she said talking openly about her money has been "really helpful". 

"There's no way I could have got this far if I wasn't baring my soul to the internet about the money I have spent. It has been a really motivating factor."

Financial expert John Webb said loud budgeting has the ability to help many "feel empowered" and create a "more realistic" relationship with money.

"This is helping to normalise having open and honest conversations about finances," the consumer affair manager at Experien said. 

"It can also reduce the anxiety some might have by keeping their financial worries to themselves." 

However, he warned it's important to be cautious and to take the reality of life into consideration. 

"It could cause troubles within friendship groups if they're not on the same page as you or have different financial goals," he said.

"This challenge isn't meant to stop you from having fun, but it is designed to help people become more conscious and intentional when it comes to money, and reduce the stigma around talking about it." 

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The latest on the massive solar storm

By Angela Fritz, Elise Hammond and Chris Lau, CNN

Incredible lighthouse picture from Maine

From CNN's Chris Lau

Among a flurry of surreal images capturing the dazzling auroras is one taken by Benjamin Williamson of a lighthouse in Portland, Maine.

"It's one of the most incredible things I've ever seen, the awe and wonder," Williamson told CNN.

He said he used a long-exposure technique to snap the shot, but did not edit it.

Watch the full interview with Williamson here .

Things could be about to ramp up

If you still haven't seen the aurora, hold on for another 30 minutes to an hour, according to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.

The next wave of coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, which cause the aurora, is about to arrive, he said.

"Just wait a minute because things are going to start to ramp up here," he said, adding that the increase could arrive "anytime now." "When it comes, get outside, get ready, put your coat on."

For those who are too busy to witness the phenomenon tonight, Myers said the aurora is expected to last three nights.

Why does the aurora last for a weekend?

By CNN's Chris Lau

Generally, it takes just eight minutes for light to travel 93 million miles to the Earth from the sun, but astrophysicist Janna Levin said the energized particles causing the current wave of aurora travel a lot slower, causing the phenomenon to last for the weekend.

"Some of these mass ejections are trillions of kilograms," she said. "They're slower. So they're taking longer, but still hours, maybe tens of hours."

Here's how the solar storm looks in the South and on the East Coast

The aurora was visible across the East Coast and in the South Friday.

Here's how it looked in Chester, South Carolina.

Down in Florida, waves of color swam through the sky.

Up north in New Jersey, a purple-ish haze could be seen in the sky.

Will solar storms get more intense and risky in the future?

The answer is probably not in the short term, according to astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi.

He said scientists study what is constantly happening on the surface of the sun and have found a pattern.

“Geological data shows us that in the past the sun was way more active than it is today. It has cycles where it goes very quiet ... and you have events that show that the solar activity was much, much greater,” he told CNN. “So there's no evidence that we're going to see those big maxima this cycle." 

But the astrophysicist also spoke of a caveat - the limitations of modern science.

“Even though it's predictable in the short term, we still don't quite understand what creates the magnetic fields in the sun,” he said, adding: “That's why NASA has so many satellites looking at the sun.”

In Pictures: Auroras light the sky during rare solar storm

From CNN Digital's Photo Team

A series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun are creating dazzling auroras across the globe .

The rare solar storm may also disrupt communications. The last time a solar storm of this magnitude reached Earth was in October 2003, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

See more photos of the aurora from tonight.

Behind dazzling aurora could lie “real danger,” Bill Nye the Science Guy says

The massive solar storm could present “a real danger,” especially with the modern world relying so much on electricity, according to Bill Nye the Science Guy , a science educator and engineer.

Scientists are warning an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun have the potential to disrupt communication on Earth into the weekend. Solar flares can affect communications and GPS almost immediately because they disrupt Earth’s ionosphere, or part of the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles released by the sun can also disrupt electronics on spacecraft and affect astronauts without proper protection within 20 minutes to several hours.

In comparison to tonight's event, Nye drew comparisons with another incident in 1859, known as the Carrington Event, when telegraph communications were severely affected.

“The other thing, everybody, that is a real danger to our technological society, different from 1859, is how much we depend on electricity and our electronics and so on,” Nye said. "None of us really in the developed world could go very long without electricity."

He noted that there are systems in place to minimize the impact, but “stuff might go wrong,” stressing that not all transformers are equipped to withstand such a solar event.

“It depends on the strength of the event and it depends on how much of our infrastructures are prepared for this the sort of thing,” he said.

Bill Nye breaks down significance of the solar storm | CNN

This post has been updated with more details on solar flares' impact on electronics.

Here's where clouds will block the view of the northern lights in the US

From CNN's Angela Fritz

After an incredibly stormy week, most of the Lower 48 has clear skies to see the northern lights. But there are some areas where clouds and rainy weather are spoiling the view.

A deck of clouds is blocking the sky in the Northeast, from parts of Virginia into Maine, as an area of low pressure spins off the East Coast.

In the Midwest, the aurora will be hard to see through thick clouds in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan — including the Upper Peninsula — and Illinois.

A stripe of clouds is tracking across Texas, including Dallas-Forth Worth, and into Louisiana.

And in the Southwest, patchy clouds across the the Four Corners region could make the northern lights difficult to spot.

Aurora seen at least as far south as Georgia

Barely visible to the naked eye, the aurora can be seen in Atlanta in the 10 p.m. ET hour. 

It is easier to see through photographs using a long exposure. The photos below, taken by CNN's Eric Zerkel and Emily Smith, used 3- and 10-second exposures.

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