The Eternal City has been on our bucket list for so long! That’s how, for a romantic weekend, we took the opportunity to visit Rome in 3 days . To live the Dolce Vita, follow our itinerary which will allow you to discover the must-see places in Rome. And also find our good addresses to taste typical Italian dishes and all our advice to optimize your visits!
Our plan to visit Rome in 3 days
DAY 1: Vatican City
We arrived on a Saturday early afternoon and decided to start our tour of Rome with the Vatican City. The smallest state in the world, the Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the official residence of the Pope.
CASTEL SANT’ANGELO
To walk to the Vatican from the city center, we take the Ponte San’t Angelo. Opposite this bridge, located on the right bank of the Tiber, is the Castel Sant’Angelo. Originally commissioned by the Emperor Hadrian to serve as a mausoleum, then became a fortress and prison, the Castel Sant’Angelo is today a museum.
For more travel tips, check out our post on the Visit Venice in 3 days
ST. PETER’S BASILICA
As we head towards the Vatican City, we can only be amazed by the gigantism of St. Peter’s Basilica which is erected in the distance. But that is nothing compared to what its interior has in store for us! Whether you are a believer or not, it is difficult to describe in words what you feel when you enter the largest church in the world! Covered in marble , its interior is incredibly rich. Its dome which reaches a height of 136 meters is simply incredible. It is also possible to climb the dome for a breathtaking view of St. Peter’s Square and the city of Rome. (free entry)
OUR ADVICE: to avoid the crowds, we advise you to visit the Basilica at the end of the day or around 1 p.m. The line for the security gates may seem long but it is quite quick! And above all, to avoid an unnecessary wait and being refused entry to the basilica, think about your outfit! No tank tops (or remember to have a sweater or shawl on you) and no shorts/skirts/short dresses!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON ST. PETER’S BASILICA:
- Entrance is free but there is a charge if you go up to the Dome ( €6 for a walk up or €8 for the part with elevator + walk up), no reservation possible.
- Opening hours: open every day from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., until 7 p.m. from April to October ( dome opens one hour later and closes one hour earlier).
- Proper dress required: shoulders and knees covered.
VATICAN MUSEUM & SISTINE CHAPEL
♥ The Vatican Museum
After discovering St. Peter’s Basilica, we went to visit the Vatican Museum. In fact, it is not just one museum but no less than 11 museums spread across 5 galleries . Once again, the place is quite grandiose and faced with so many works and treasures, we don’t know where to start. Needless to say, you won’t be able to see everything in a few hours! We did the tour in 2 hours and that was enough for us to get a first glimpse!
♥ The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is the last room of the 11 museums. The famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo is quite impressive. However, I expected something more exceptional. In this mythical place, silence is required, photos are forbidden, your knees and shoulders must be covered!
♦ How to access the Vatican Museum?
The entrance to the Vatican Museum is not always easy to find. It is not located very close to the Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. To get there, you will have to go behind the Apostolic Palace (where the security gates are located to the right of the Basilica) and go to this address: Viale Vatticano 100.
DAY 2: Trastevere, Aventine & Ancient Rome
TRASTEVERE
For this second day in Rome, we went for a stroll in the Trastevere district. Its name comes from its location “beyond the Tiber” in the southwest of the city. In this old working-class district , the charm works immediately! We simply advise you to get lost in its typically Italian alleys ! Its cobblestones, its colorful facades, its laundry hanging from the windows make Trastevere a picturesque district. Take your time strolling through the shops and stop in one of the many restaurants to taste Italian gastronomy.
ORANGE GARDEN (Savello Park)
After lunch in the picturesque Trastevere district, we went to discover the Orange Garden, located on the Aventine Hill . This small, very little frequented park has a superb view of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica . It is very pleasant to sit on a bench in the shade of the umbrella pines and enjoy the calm of this place far from the crowds!
OUR ADVICE: go there in the evening to admire the view at sunset!
THE KEYHOLE OF THE ORDER OF MALTA
Another nice surprise awaits us in this residential area of the Aventine. Very close to the Orange Garden, in the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, is one of the most famous keyholes. You can’t miss the large green door of the Priory of Malta where curious onlookers wait their turn to observe what is hidden there. Believe me, you won’t be queuing for nothing (barely 10 minutes for us)! The view of the dome of St. Peter at the end of a green alley that you can observe is definitely worth the detour!
DAY 3: The Historic Center
Already our last day in the Italian capital, and after walking 40 km in 2 days in the scorching heat, we decide to take our time strolling through the historic district of Rome.
SPAIN SQUARE
We start with the Spanish Steps , one of the main squares in Rome and one of the most touristic. It owes its name to the Spanish Embassy that has been located on this square since the 17th century. At the foot of the Barcaccia fountain, there are the famous marble stairs that lead to the Church of the Trinità dei Monti.
TREVI FOUNTAIN
This is the place in Rome that I was most looking forward to seeing: the famous Trevi Fountain . Obviously, we are not the only ones. Despite the crowd, it is a real eye-opener when you discover it for the first time. This baroque-style fountain is the most beautiful, largest and most spectacular in Rome. It is traditional to make a wish by throwing a coin into the fountain. You have to turn your back to the fountain and throw your coin with your right hand over your left shoulder. In addition, you should also discover it at night to see it illuminated. In a word, magical!
What budget to visit Rome in 3 days?
As I like to repeat in each of my articles, the budget is specific to each person. Indeed, we do not all travel in the same way and the budget will vary depending on the airline, the category of hotels, the type of restaurant you choose.
However, we like to share our budget because it gives you an idea. So here is what we spent for our 3 days in Rome (2022 travel budget) :
- Plane tickets: €208 return (with Transavia from Paris Orly)
- Transport: €65 (Return train shuttle airport/city center)
- Hotel: €316 for 2 nights with breakfast (i.e. €158 per night)
- Food: 114€
- Visits: €85 (Colosseum & Vatican)