5 days in Rome

Day by day

1. Day 1: Colosseum and Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

   Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, then Trevi Fountain in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Colosseum

      Book the first slot of the morning or a late-afternoon slot, and visit the Forum and Palatine at a different time of day on the same ticket to spread the walking. (1.5 hours (half a day with the Forum), mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

      Climb to the Farnese Gardens on the Palatine for the best overview of the Forum, and carry water — shade is scarce. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spaghetti alla carbonara

      Trattorias across the city, particularly in Testaccio, Monti and around Campo de' Fiori.

   4. Afternoon

      Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

      Book the first entry slot of the day and move briskly to the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel before tour groups catch up. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Trevi Fountain

      Come early in the morning or late at night to see it without a wall of people, and keep a hand on your bag in the crowd.

2. Day 2: St Peter's Basilica and Pantheon

   St Peter's Basilica, Pantheon and Spanish Steps, then Piazza Navona in the evening.

   1. Morning

      St Peter's Basilica

      Arrive early to beat the security queue, and cover shoulders and knees or you will be turned away. (1.5–2 hours with the dome, free).

   2. Late morning

      Pantheon

      Visit during a shower to watch rain fall through the oculus onto the marble floor, which has drainage holes beneath. (30–45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cacio e pepe

      Traditional Roman trattorias; it is on almost every menu in Trastevere and Testaccio.

   4. Afternoon

      Spanish Steps

      Walk up the steps and continue along to the Pincio terrace above Piazza del Popolo for a sunset view over the domes. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Piazza Navona

      Skip the terrace prices for coffee and come back after dark, when the fountains are lit and the crowds thin.

3. Day 3: Borghese Gallery and Villa Borghese park

   Borghese Gallery, Villa Borghese park and Trastevere and Santa Maria in Trastevere, then Campo de' Fiori in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Borghese Gallery

      Start upstairs in the picture gallery while most visitors crowd round the Berninis on the ground floor, then come back down. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Villa Borghese park

      Hire a four-person pedal cart near the Pincio for a family loop of the park, then watch the sunset from the terrace. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bucatini all'amatriciana

      Trattorias citywide, often listed alongside carbonara and gricia as the Roman pasta quartet.

   4. Afternoon

      Trastevere and Santa Maria in Trastevere

      Wander in the late afternoon, climb the Janiculum for sunset, then come back down for dinner. (Half a day, free).

   5. Evening

      Campo de' Fiori

      Buy a piece of pizza bianca from a bakery just off the square and eat it in Piazza Farnese next door.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Ostia Antica

   About 40 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Roma–Lido train from Piramide to Ostia Antica.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Ostia Antica

      About 40 minutes by train (Roma–Lido train from Piramide to Ostia Antica); about 25 km.

   2. Day

      Ostia Antica

      Ancient Rome's port is a sprawling, pine-shaded archaeological site where you can walk into apartment blocks, bakeries, a theatre and public latrines, with mosaics of shipping guilds in the Square of the Corporations. Best for culture, families and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Rome

      Dinner: try Supplì.

5. Day 5: Capitoline Museums and Castel Sant'Angelo

   Capitoline Museums, Castel Sant'Angelo and Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), then Trastevere in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Capitoline Museums

      Do not miss the Tabularium windows over the Forum, and stop at the museum's terrace café for the view. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Castel Sant'Angelo

      Time the terrace for late afternoon, then cross the Ponte Sant'Angelo towards Piazza Navona at dusk. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Supplì

      Pizza-by-the-slice shops and fry shops, and as a starter in pizzerias.

   4. Afternoon

      Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)

      Take a bus to the Appia Antica park information point, rent a bike and ride out past the Tomb of Caecilia Metella. (Half a day, free).

   5. Evening

      Trastevere

      Wine bars, craft-beer pubs and crowds spilling into Piazza di Santa Maria and Piazza Trilussa until late.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, Pantheon and Borghese Gallery before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Centro Storico keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Tridente and the Spanish Steps ($$$$) suits luxury, shopping, couples and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–31 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.1 hours in December to 15.2 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Rome
• 2 days in Rome
• 3 days in Rome
• 4 days in Rome
• 7 days in Rome

Questions travellers ask