Ciao!
Let your self be inspired by this 5 days itinerary in Rome to enjoy the Eternal City.
Taste Carbonara. Cook a typical Italian dinner. Just walk and wander.
Day 1 – Arrival in Rome
You have just arrived in Italy. You will probably be tired or jet-lagged. It’s ok to stay in the room to rest, or start exploring the city without a specific destination. Just follow the flow to get your bearings and admire this beautiful city.
Day 2 – Ancient Rome
Morning
Start the day with the symbol of Ancient Rome: the Colosseum.
To buy tickets visit Parco Archeologico Colosseo.
Leave the subway station and you’re first expression will be WOW!
This is what happens to me: the immensity, the magnificence of this monument surprises me all the time.
Few meter from Colosseum, you will admire the Arch of Constantine, it was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312.
Now, enjoy a nice stroll along the Imperial Forum: Caesar, Augustus, The Temple of Peace, Forum of Nerva, Trajan’s Forum.
Lunch Time!
Enjoy an delicious lunch in the Monti district.
Afternoon
Continue the visit of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.
Nightlife in Rome
Discover the beauty of Rome through Trastevere and its alleys, explore its precious corners, taste the typical Roman cuisine tasting its characteristic dishes.
My suggest: Carbonara!
Check it out my Instagram Reel of Carbonara Recipe
Rome on a rainy day
You can visit Capitolini Museum.
Rome Day 2 Map
Day 3 – Rome: The Vatican
Morning
Today you’ll visit Vatican City. Take the subway LINE A. Get off at the Ottaviano stop.
Visit St. Peter’s Square and the Basilica: the spiritual centre of the Catholic Church and residence of the Pope. Inside St. Peter’s Basilica is Michelangelo‘s masterpiece “La Pietà“, along with statuary and altars by Bernini and others.
The visit during few hours, so I suggest you go to the Mercato dell’Unità, in the Prati district.
It is one of the most historic food markets in the city, where you will find lots of fresh food for a snack or a quick lunch. It is a meeting point between Romans and tourists. Stroll among the stalls, savor the ordors, the colors, the liveliness of the place.
This place is very dear to me. When I was studying at the university, I lived in this neighbourhood, so Mercato dell’Unità was my reference point to the grocery shopping. Next stop at Panificio Lintozzi (in front of market exit – via dei Gracchi) where to eat a slice of pizza or a delicious and crunchy supplì.
I love supplì! My Favorite roman street food.
Afternoon
In the afternoon enjoy a walk in the historic center. From the Rione Prati, you head to Castel Sant’Angelo, The Mausoleum of Hadrian.
Next Stop to my favorite place in Rome: Church of Saint Louis of French. This is a magnificent Baroque Church, inside which there are three Caravaggio paintings! Caravaggio is my favorite italian artist. He was a master of lights and his works always leave me breathless. The paintings are in the Contarelli Chapel.
Continue the promenade to the Pantheon, one of the few Roman constructions still perfectly intact, masterpiece of construction engineering.
Do you need a break? Go to Caffè Sant’Eustachio, near Palazzo Madama. Here you can taste one of the best coffee of Rome.
Continue to Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful and famous squares of Rome.
Nightlife in Rome
Relax and enjoy an alternative evening. You can cook a typical italian dinner: handmade pasta and tiramisu that you can enjoy as soon as it is done. For more info.
Discover how to eat like a local in Rome
Rome Day 3 Map
Rome on a rainy day
You can visit Vatican Museums.
Day 4 – Baroque Rome
Morning
Enjoy a beautiful time to relax at the Park of Villa Borghese!
It was a private residence of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. Today it is a large park in the heart of Rome.
Here you can take a promenade and admire buildings, sculptures, monuments and fountains, the work of illustrious Baroque, neoclassical and eclectic artists, surrounded by centuries-old trees, ponds, Italian gardens and large open spaces.
If you like Baroque Art I suggest you to visit Galleria Borghese. Here you’ll find the extraordinary statues of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the works of great artists such as Raffaello, Tiziano and Caravaggio.
Lunch time!
Sunny day? You can have a picnic in the park.
What to eat? Pizza, supplì, sandwhich.
Afternoon
Take a nice promenade. Start from Piazza del Popolo and climb up to the Terrace of the Pincio, enjoy a beautiful view of Rome.
Go to the Spanish Steps, passing through the typical Via Margutta. This street was made famous by the movies Roman Holiday and Dolce Vita.
Now enjoy the promenade along Via Condotti and Via del Corso: famous streets for shopping. Go to Piazza Colonna to admire the Column of Marcus Aurelius.
End the promenade at the Trevi Fountain.
Nightlife in Rome
Explore Rione Sant’Angelo, site of the Ancient Jewish Ghetto and one of the most popular areas for food and restaurants.
Here you will find a lot of Trattoria. So enjoy the neighbourhood and a juicy traditional Roman cuisine.
My suggest: If you are lucky, you can book in advance and eat at Trattoria Sora Lella, on the Tiber Island.
Sora Lella was an Italian actress, cook and TV presenter. But first of all she was the owner of this trattoria, now run by her grandchildren.
Rome Day 4 Map
Day 5 – Free day in Rome
Today I propose you several options for this last Roman day.
Walk and Wander
Spend this day to see something you have skipped in the previous days or just stroll around the city.
Sit on a bench and watch passersby as you enjoy a nice ice cream (Eat Pray Love does this mean something to you?)
Visit a Museum
If you pay attention, I leave the visit to the museums for cold or rainy days. I like museums, but I think that slow traveling means being among the people and trying to live like the locals. However if you are a lover of art and you can’t do without museums, italian museum are very special.
So, you can visit Vatican Museum. Time visit during 3 hours.
Otherwise I suggest you:
- Capitolini Museum – archaeological
- GNAM National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
Open Air Museum at Park of The Appian Way
Take a journey through time, walk along Regina Viarum between aqueducts, imperial villas and historic agricultural estates. The Park includes: the Appian Way, the Caffarella Valley, the Park of the Aqueducts and other areas.
You can only walk or rent a bike. For more info
I hope you enjoyed this 5 days itinerary in rome. Now it’s up to you.
Have you ever been in Rome? What do you prefer to do when visiting a city? Please leave a comment below.
Buon Viaggio!
