How many days do you need in Rome?
Three days. That is the length of the itinerary we built for Rome.
Here is what each day holds. Every stop below carries its time, and every gap says how to get to the next stop, with the walk or drive time wherever both stops are mapped.
Rome · 3 days Italy
Best time: April, May, October.
Ancient RomeDay 1
🏰8:30 AMColosseum
First entry slot with the underground add-on if you can get it.
🚶 ~10 min · 🚗 ~1 min · 0.4 mi
🌳11:00 AMForum and Palatine Hill
Same ticket; the Palatine viewpoint over the Forum is the photo.
🚶 ~23 min · 🚗 ~3 min · 0.8 mi
🍽️7:30 PMTrastevere dinner
Cacio e pepe and a walk across Ponte Sisto after.
Vatican dayDay 2
⛪8:00 AMVatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Timed ticket, straight to the chapel first, then loop back.
🚶 ~8 min · 🚗 ~1 min · 0.3 mi
⛪12:30 PMSt. Peter’s Basilica
Climb the dome for the view over the square colonnades.
🚶 ~17 min · 🚗 ~2 min · 0.6 mi
🌇6:00 PMCastel Sant’Angelo sunset
The bridge with angels is best in golden hour.
Centro storicoDay 3
📍9:00 AMPantheon
Ticketed now (a few euros. Book the slot online); the dome oculus needs morning light.
🚶 ~5 min · 🚗 ~1 min · 0.2 mi
📍11:00 AMPiazza Navona to Campo de’ Fiori
Coffee standing at the bar like a local, market browsing after.
🚶 ~15 min · 🚗 ~2 min · 0.5 mi
📍5:00 PMTrevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
Toss the coin, then gelato at Giolitti on the way back.
This is how Petrel lays out a trip. Upload your own confirmations and it builds this for your dates: flights and hotels included, with live flight status and the travel time between stops.
This is one of 126 free itineraries. Open it, change anything you want, and it becomes your trip.