It’s impossible to see all of Rome in a mere three days, but armed with the right itinerary you can take in the hot-tempered city’s A-list sites alongside a few quieter, but no less bewitching stops. Therefore, it is advisable to plan your visit meticulously. Here is our guide to a perfect weekend in Rome. Moreover, advance ticket purchases, particularly for the Musei Vaticani, are highly recommended to enhance your experience.
Friday morning
Centro Storico & Borgo
Start your weekend in Rome like a Roman with a dark jolt of espresso or a more mild-mannered cappuccino at Barnum Cafe. Breakfast pastry in hand, you can check last-minute details of your morning with the space’s free wi-fi. From here, stroll towards Ponte Sant’Angelo. This dreamy bridge – flanked by ten marble angels designed by Baroque master Gianlorenzo Bernini – ushers pedestrians across the Tiber River to Castel Sant’Angelo. The stout yet mighty castle boasts quite the resume: it was originally constructed as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and later served as the fortress for future popes; today, it’s a museum rich in paintings and sculpture. Climb to the top where the city unfolds before you, showcasing domes, rooftops, and more.
Friday afternoon
Vatican City
Make your way up Via della Conciliazione to St Peter’s Basilica. Consecrated in 1626, this spectacular basilica flaunts priceless masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà. While most tourists go directly into the Vatican Museums, consider treating yourself to a hearty lunch first; you will be properly fueled and can shrug off the crowd, as the museums are at their most subdued around 3pm. Velavevodetto ai Quiriti shines in the art of hearty cucina romana, and the nearby Gelateria dei Gracchi offers some of the best gelato in the city.
Post-lunch, tackle the museums, whose priceless artifacts include Egyptian mummies, Etruscan bronzes, and works by notable masters. All tours of the Musei Vaticani conclude at the heart-stirring Sistine Chapel, keeper of Michelangelo’s magnificent ceiling frescoes and The Last Judgement.
Friday evening
Monti
Once the sun begins to dip, make for the Monti neighborhood. Awash with wine bars and restaurants, this lively district (within eyeshot of the Colosseum) thrives on the weekend; mix with the locals at Ai Tre Scalini for dinner and drinks, or snag a table at an outside bar in the warmer months off the neighborhood’s epicenter, Piazza della Madonna dei Monti.
Saturday morning
Ancient Rome & Testaccio
Continue your weekend in Rome by setting out early for the Colosseum. This iconic amphitheatre is, unsurprisingly, on every visitor’s to-do list; purchase tickets ahead of time to skip the long queue. The Palatino and Roman Forum neighbor the Colosseum and can be visited with the same ticket. Afterwards, traipse past Circo Massimo towards the Testaccio neighborhood.
Saturday afternoon
Testaccio
Testaccio invites exploration: it’s hemmed in by both the striking Egyptian pyramid Piramide di Caio Cestio and the Cimitero Acattolico per gli Stranieri (the non-Catholic cemetery), the latter being the final resting place of Romantic poet John Keats. It also houses the moving Angel of Grief tomb and blooms with verdant landscapes, providing a surprising oasis in the city.
The farmers market Nuovo Mercato di Testaccio buzzes with a mix of old-school vendors and fresh-faced entrepreneurs. Browse the vegetable and cheese stalls and pick up a panino (filled bread roll) at Mordi e Vai from its skilled panino master, Sergio Esposito. Le Mani in Pasta prepares fresh ravioli-to-go, and Casa Manco offers fragrant slabs of pizza-by-the-slice.
On your way out of the market, admire Monte Testaccio, a man-made hill constructed entirely from the fragments of smashed terracotta amphorae (testae in Latin, hence the area’s name, Testaccio). Think of it as one of the world’s most ancient trash dumps.
Saturday evening
Centro Storico & Trastevere
In the evening, uncork a bottle of red at wine-bar/restaurant Rimessa Roscioli – you can eat and drink a la carte or join a wine tasting. Continue your night at jazz bar Big Mama in adjacent Trastevere if you’re in the mood for live music, or explore the various bars that dot this area.
Sunday morning
Tridente & Trevi
Devote your final day in the Citta Eternà to the historic centre. Many of Rome’s greatest hits are in close proximity to each other: begin at Piazza di Spagna, where the Trinita di Monti staircase rising from the square is a lovely spot to people-watch. From here, roam towards the iconic Trevi Fountain, eternally immortalized in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. Be sure to chuck a coin into the fontana’s waters, ensuring, or so legend says, that you will return for another weekend in Rome.
Sunday afternoon
Centro Storico
For lunch, indulge in a dish of carbonara – or if you’re feeling adventurous, tripe – at reliable trattoria Grappolo d’Oro. Following this, Piazza Navona, adorned with baroque palazzos and Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, alongside the Pantheon, an arresting 2000-year-old temple turned Catholic Church, can be easily visited.
Sunday evening
Trastevere
When your appetite beckons, hop into a cab and head for Seu Pizza Illuminati. Thick-rimmed pizzas, baked in brick ovens, are topped with an array of seasonal ingredients. For a nightcap, raise your glasses at newcomer Jacopa’s cocktail bar. This is the perfect way to cap off a perfect weekend in Rome.
