People sometimes ask us to name our favorite place we have ever been. It is an impossible decision because no two places are alike and every one of them has something to offer. However, if someone was only going to ever visit one city abroad in their entire life, we would recommend Rome. It is beautiful, charming, romantic, lively, and full of culture and history. This is our idea of a perfect week in Rome for the first-time visitor, if you don’t mind doing some walking.
Day 1 – Arrival – Fly in to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport “Leonardo da Vinci”, also known as Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO). If you arrive in the morning or late at night, check out a Day Use hotel – more on this in this post. After getting some rest, use public transportation, Uber or private driver to take you to your hotel or vacation rental.
Day 2 – Main City Sights– Take the Metro to the Flaminio stop on the A Line and check out Piazza del Popolo, or The People’s Square; the perfect welcome to Rome.
Walk about ten minutes to Borghese Gardens.
Walk around the grounds and visit the Borghese Gallery. Next, head back the way you came and visit the Spanish Steps.
This is a great place to people-watch, and the view from the top is worth the trek. Sitting is not allowed, but as long as you are standing or walking, you can stay as long as you like. Next, head to the Trevi fountain.
It is almost always crowded here, not quite as packed in the very early morning and late at night. But, even if there are crowds, if you are patient, you will be able to make your way to the front to throw a coin in over your shoulder. This is meant to ensure you come back to Rome. If you forgot to bring coins, grab a gelato from one of the many nearby gelato stands and they will happily give you change in euro coins.
Next, continue on foot to the Pantheon. The Pantheon used to be a former Roman temple Roman temple and, since 609 AD, a Catholic church (Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres or Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs). The amazing coffers dome has an oculus in the center, open to the heavens above. It is extremely well preserved and a true architectural wonder.
There may be a long line to enter the Pantheon, but it is worth the wait.
This is a great time to find a nearby restaurant and enjoy a leisurely dinner. Rome’s pasta specialty is cacao e pepe (cheese and pepper) and it is delicious!
Day 3 – Day trip to Florence. Take the train an hour and a half to visit picturesque Florence. Details about this day trip can be found here.
Day 4 – The Roman Forum and the Colosseum. We recommend dedicating an entire day to these sites if you can. You will need to purchase your tickets in advance here. Be sure to check the hours of operation as they depend on the time of year you are visiting. There are a few ticket options. A regular ticket costs 16 Euro plus a 2 Euro booking fee. This ticket will grant you entrance to the Colosseum at your selected time and untimed entry to the Roman Forum and the Palatine. You can also purchase a ticket that is good for two days or a Full Experience ticket that includes access to the Arena and Underground sections, as well as group tours in a variety of languages. Once you decide on your ticket type, you will select the date and time (availability varies depending on the time of year, so book as far in advance as possible). If your preferred day and time are not available, you might want to try a different ticket type. Sometimes the regular ticket admissions are sold out, but group tour tickets for the same day will be available and are not that much more expensive.
Our advice is to select a late afternoon entrance to the Colosseum and start with the Forum and Palatine. Take the Metro to the Line B Colosseo stop. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are next to each other and you can walk between them, though they do have separate entrances as well.
The Roman Forum was the center of political and social life and includes some of the oldest structures in the city.
The Palatine is the most prestigious of Rome’s seven hills, and worth the hike. In Ancient Rome it was the home of aristocrats and emperors. It also provides a wonderful view of the city overlooking the Forum.
In time for your late afternoon admission, head to the Colosseum entrance. We prefer seeing the Colosseum late in the day because the crowds are usually lighter, the weather cooler, and the fading light makes the whole place look incredible.
The Colosseum truly is a spectacle, so giver yourself time to soak it all in. When you are ready to leave, check out a restaurant in the nearby neighborhood of Celio.
Day 5 – Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel- If you have the time, you will want to allow a full day for the Vatican museum. You will need to purchase your tickets in advance as well, and you can do that here. Just like with the Colloseum, there are many different ticket options and you will select a time to begin your visit. For first timers, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tickets are recommended. If you are returning, you may want to check out the Vatican gardens, Archaeological Sites, or the residences, which are all separate tickets. Vatican Museum tickets sell out well in advance, so plan accordingly. There is a lot to see, and it is usually very crowded, so spend some time in different areas of the museum instead of charging straight to the Sistine Chapel. And on your way out, be sure to see the amazing staircase…
…and Saint Peter’s Square outside.
Day 6 – Traveler’s Choice – Now that you have seen the main sights, there are lots of ways to fill your final day. You can take a day trip by train to Tivoli or Orvieto. You can stay in Rome and check out a few other impressive attractions like Piazza Navona, Castel Sant’Angelo, The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, (Vittoriano or Altare della Patria), The Capitoline Museums, or try a private group tour. One of our favorites was an e-bike tour of the Via Appia. We used Star Bike and had an amazing time. The tour starts and ends in the city, near the Colosseum, so you do have to ride for a while in the city, which can be unnerving, but mellows out quickly as you get away from the main roads.
Finish off your Roman experience with a final meal out and don’t forget the Gelato!
Day 7 – Return Home – Enjoy your memories and photographs until you can come back to the Eternal City!
Looking for more travel ideas? Check out our Travel Tips and Destinations collections.
Have a great adventure!
The Passporter