3 days in Rome - what would you do?

[Freyja]

We will be spending 3 full days in Rome during our summer vacation and I´m trying to figure out the best itinerary for us. We´d definitely like to visit the Colosseum and the Vatican and leave some time (half a day or so) to just wander around the city.
Any recommendations from those who have been to Rome?

 

[Aristocath]

We will be spending 3 full days in Rome during our summer vacation and I´m trying to figure out the best itinerary for us. We´d definitely like to visit the Colosseum and the Vatican and leave some time (half a day or so) to just wander around the city.
Any recommendations from those who have been to Rome?

You can visit the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. For me, some of the coolest things vere at the Vatican, like the Sistine Chapel and visiting the roof where the statues of the Saints are. And the catacombs. And there are many bautiful churches to visit that have historical meaning. Of course, it is too early on a Sunday morning for me to think of their names!

I loved Rome, actually all of Italy! I think Florence was my favorite but Rome is so interesting becasue there are ruins in the middle of the city. Have a great summer vacation!

 

[Freyja]

You can visit the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. For me, some of the coolest things vere at the Vatican, like the Sistine Chapel and visiting the roof where the statues of the Saints are. And the catacombs. And there are many bautiful churches to visit that have historical meaning. Of course, it is too early on a Sunday morning for me to think of their names!

I loved Rome, actually all of Italy! I think Florence was my favorite but Rome is so interesting becasue there are ruins in the middle of the city. Have a great summer vacation!

Thank you. We definitely want to see the Spanish Steps too! I think we´ll probably spend a long time at the Vatican since there are so many interesting things there.
We will have a half day more in Rome on our last day there before we drive down to Napoli. All in all we´ll spend almost 4 weeks traveling in Italy and Croatia (taking the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik).

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Interesting question, as I am planning to spend 3 days (well, 2 and 2 half days) in Rome this coming fall. I've been to Rome before, but my Classic Civilzations major husband has not. This is my proposed itinerary:

Arrive (first half day): check in, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, Borghese gardens, and the Monumental Cemetery of the Capuchin Brothers (look it up, it's cool)

First Full Day (ancient Rome): the Fora (plural), Colleseum, Circus Maximus, Capitoline Museum, Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla/Diocletian (one or the other, I don't think we can do both)

Second Full Day (religious Rome): Vatican Museums (including Sistine Chapel), St. Peters and Vatican Gardens (the Vatican now has an online reservation system where you can buy tours tickets), CastelSant'Angelo, the church of St. Peter in Chains

Second Half Day: the Estruscan Necropolis at Tarquina, Hadrian's Villa, and Villa d'Este (not sure we'll be able to see all of these outside the city sites)

Other things I'd love to see if there's time (yeah right): Basilica de San Clemente, Santa Maria in Cosmedian, Villa Borghese, National Etrustcan Museum, Catacombs, the Appian Way

Now, all this being said, I would have a totally different itinerary if our time in Rome were not being sandwiched between visits to other Italian cities. If you are only going to Rome, and only for those three days, I would say it is a 100% necessity for you to take day trip to Pompeii. Is it worth losing a whole day you could be spending in Rome? Yes. A half day trip to Florence might also be in order, but given the choice between Pompeii and Florence...save Florence for some time when you can spend several days there.

 

[Freyja]

Interesting question, as I am planning to spend 3 days (well, 2 and 2 half days) in Rome this coming fall. I've been to Rome before, but my Classic Civilzations major husband has not. This is my proposed itinerary:

Arrive (first half day): check in, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, Borghese gardens, and the Monumental Cemetery of the Capuchin Brothers (look it up, it's cool)

First Full Day (ancient Rome): the Fora (plural), Colleseum, Circus Maximus, Capitoline Museum, Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla/Diocletian (one or the other, I don't think we can do both)

Second Full Day (religious Rome): Vatican Museums (including Sistine Chapel), St. Peters and Vatican Gardens (the Vatican now has an online reservation system where you can buy tours tickets), CastelSant'Angelo, the church of St. Peter in Chains

Second Half Day: the Estruscan Necropolis at Tarquina, Hadrian's Villa, and Villa d'Este (not sure we'll be able to see all of these outside the city sites)

Other things I'd love to see if there's time (yeah right): Basilica de San Clemente, Santa Maria in Cosmedian, Villa Borghese, National Etrustcan Museum, Catacombs, the Appian Way

Now, all this being said, I would have a totally different itinerary if our time in Rome were not being sandwiched between visits to other Italian cities. If you are only going to Rome, and only for those three days, I would say it is a 100% necessity for you to take day trip to Pompeii. Is it worth losing a whole day you could be spending in Rome? Yes. A half day trip to Florence might also be in order, but given the choice between Pompeii and Florence...save Florence for some time when you can spend several days there.

Wow. Thanks for a great and detailed reply.
We´re definitely going to Pompei, and will be staying somewhere around Napoli. We´ll then drive over to Bari and take the ferry to Croatia. We´ll spend 6 days in Dubrovnik and then 5 days in Split, before driving back north and into Italy again to stay a week close to Padova. From there we´ll do day trips to Venice, Verona... and then fly home from Milan.

 

[Pakey]

We were lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Italy. My favorite things in Rome were the Vatican, the Pantheon and the small church St Peter in Chains where there's a beautiful statue by Michelangelo.

And I'm the opposite of PP; I enjoyed Florence a thousand times more than Pompeii. I don't know why I didn't care for Pompeii since I loved all of the ruins in Egypt, but I did not think it was worth the trip.

 

[Hannathy]

This is so fortuitous! My DH is going to Italy for work very soon and will have 2 free days in Rome and 1-2 free days in Florence and I'm supposed to find out about things for him (since I'm on the internet anyway so much, wonder why)

So keep going guys! and if anyone wants to throw in Florence please do so.

Any ideas of hotels would help also since he is on his own those days -staying for work in another town.

I love the DIS I can do my "research" and not have to quit reading the DIS!

 

[Pakey]

For Florence my favorite things were the Uffizi gallery; it's not as impressive as the Louvre but there are many beautiful paintings to see. I also enjoyed the St Croce church where Michelangelo is buried. And seriously, I would travel to Italy just to see the statue of David.

 

[can84]

I'm actually going to Italy for the first time next month--2 days Rome, 3 days Florence, and 2 days Venice

Hope you don't mind if I subscribe for more ideas

 

[bookgirl]

Eat Pasta

Go to the Collisium

Eat some more Pasta

Go and throw some coins in a fountain

Eat Pasta

Tour the underground

Drink a whole lot of wine to deal with the fact that I'm claustophobic

Eat Pasta, to soak up the wine

Maybe have a cannolli


But definetly eat some more Pasta

 

[LA PIG]

I spent a semester abroad in Rome 12 years ago and loved every minute of it. The Fontana di Trevi is nice to visit at night. Tourists and locals are around. You can get gelato from the gelateria that's right there in the square and eat it as you take in the beauty of the fountain. You can do the Coliseum and the Roman Forum (right next door) in two hours tops. Piazza Venezia is nice to see as well. It's very close to the Coliseum and the Forum. It houses the tomb of the unknown soldier. It is also the bus hub. Piazza Navona is nice to see as well. It has restaurants around the square. The Pantheon is a definite. It is an amazing feat of architecture and it houses the tombs of many famous people. My only issue with the Pantheon is the McDonald's located across the square from it. It sort of detracts from the square. The Vatican is a must as is the Sistene Chapel. Make sure you dress appropriately. They will not let you in with shorts, tank tops, or no sleeves. There's much more. I'm on my way out, but I'll think about it and get back to you if you want.

Enjoy your trip. I'm jealous.

 

[Freyja]

Eat Pasta

Go to the Collisium

Eat some more Pasta

Go and throw some coins in a fountain

Eat Pasta

Tour the underground

Drink a whole lot of wine to deal with the fact that I'm claustophobic

Eat Pasta, to soak up the wine

Maybe have a cannolli


But definetly eat some more Pasta

Like your style
Although I might swap pasta with gelato

I spent a semester abroad in Rome 12 years ago and loved every minute of it. The Fontana di Trevi is nice to visit at night. Tourists and locals are around. You can get gelato from the gelateria that's right there in the square and eat it as you take in the beauty of the fountain. You can do the Coliseum and the Roman Forum (right next door) in two hours tops. Piazza Venezia is nice to see as well. It's very close to the Coliseum and the Forum. It houses the tomb of the unknown soldier. It is also the bus hub. Piazza Navona is nice to see as well. It has restaurants around the square. The Pantheon is a definite. It is an amazing feat of architecture and it houses the tombs of many famous people. My only issue with the Pantheon is the McDonald's located across the square from it. It sort of detracts from the square. The Vatican is a must as is the Sistene Chapel. Make sure you dress appropriately. They will not let you in with shorts, tank tops, or no sleeves. There's much more. I'm on my way out, but I'll think about it and get back to you if you want.

Enjoy your trip. I'm jealous.

Thanks for the tips! Just curious, are men not allowed to wear shorts either?

 

[Jeafl]

Like your style
Although I might swap pasta with gelato




Thanks for the tips! Just curious, are men not allowed to wear shorts either?

I second being careful about what you wear! My 21 yr. old daughter was at the Vatican last summer and she was wearing a sun dress with spaghetti straps. The dress was not overly short (about 2 in. above the knee) and they asked her wrap a shawl around her waist to cover her legs. They also asked that she wear a sweater over her dress.

Not sure about the men wearing shorts question. I can ask her and find out.

 

[ckret01]

Just want to wish everyone a wonderful time. I was fortunate to go to Milan, Rome and Venice on my honeymoon and it was a great trip.

When we went to the Vatican in May 07, it was very crowded and it took almost the whole day to visit. I know when we were done we were tired and didn't really do much other site seeing that day.

For those that are going to Venice, I loved it there. Actually out of the three places we visited in Italy, Venice was my favorite. ENJOY everyone who is going!

 

[MinnieMouse73]

We were in Rome this time last year! DH, DD and me - none of us had been before. We went for 4 days (2 full days with a half day either end), but ended up staying for 9 days courtesy of the volcanic ash cloud!

We did ...

Day 1 (was just an evening really by the time we got there): general walk round the area with no real plans - ended up eating dinner by the Trevi Fountain and going to the Disney Store!

Day 2: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Pantheon .. pizza for lunch and for dinner ...and the best ice cream ever down one of the little side streets near the Pantheon

Day 3: Vatican Museums/Sistene chapel, St Peter's, pizza/pasta at a fabulous little restaurant off one of the piazzas we passed on the way back, Spanish Steps.

Day 4: Capitoline museum, Trastavere, ... this was where we should have left for the airport but instead did lots of panicking about whether we would be able to reschedule our flights home and whether we had a hotel to stay in for the night!

Day 5: a fabulous relaxing day in the big park (can't remember what it's called!) where we rented a surrey bike, DD rented a segway, went rowing on the lake and had a lovely picnic.

Day 6: another day in the park (to be honest, we we had had our fill of museums and ruins by now - if we'd known we were going to have so long there, we wouldn't have crammed it all into the first few days!!). Spanish Steps & Trevi fountain again on the way home.

Day 7: the beach! a bit of a trek out and not something you would do in a normal visit, but it was lovely (even though the locals thought we were crazy sitting on the beach in April!).

Day 8: Military museum I can't remember the name of for the life of me!, Mouth of Truth, Trastavere and a couple of small museums there, Villa Torlonia park (house where Mussolini lived - this was only of interest to my DH!!).

Day 9: Numerous hours sitting in the airport, it was the first day flights were going into the UK so was exceptionally busy but we did get a flight home late afternoon.

 

[MinnieMouse73]

Piazza Navona, that's the one with the lovely restaurants around (very expensive though, we walked about 5 minutes away and found a much cheaper place which was still fantastic.

I'm not sure what

 

[Andtototoo]

We spent a lovely afternoon walking down the Spanish Steps around to Trevi Fountain and to the Pantheon (totally awesome gelato place to the right of the Pantheon -- ask for double creme) and then to Piazza Navonna.

 

[topolino]

The others have given you some great advice, so I won't make a list of sites to see, as you already have that for the most part.

I just want to remind you, that while going from site to site, don't forget to take some time to just wander. Walk along Via del Corso and pop into shops, bars and gelaterie. Stroll Via dei Condotti and browse shops that carry items that may or may not be well over your budget. Make sure to take a walk along Via Veneto for more high end businesses, or Via Cavour which is in historical Rome.

Take time to do as the Romans do. Try to eat at ristoranti, or trattorie where there are more locals than tourists. These are the things that make a visit truly memorable.

 

[Freyja]

Thanks everyone for your awesome replies. You have gotten me so excited now that I can hardly wait. Even my youngest son who´s almost 3 says daily that he´s going to Italy in the summer and is going to eat pink icecream.

 

[onelilspark]

OOo! We're going to Rome in November, our cruise leaves from the port there and then we'll spend 3 days (yes, the same amount of time as you!) after the cruise in Rome. I'm taking notes too!!