Are you tired of the usual, standard tours of Rome that look all the same? I hear you!
Don’t get me wrong.
There are some places that if you don’t visit them, you can’t really say you have seen Rome. And some tours are excellent, especially those led by locals.
But there are also occasions you might not want to visit the most famous landmarks. For example, if you don’t feel like wasting hours queueing, if it’s not your first time in Rome, or if you have a specific theme in mind and want to go off the beaten path!
So I came up with three themed Rome itinerary ideas to give you a bit of variety and a hint of how many different ways you can enjoy the eternal city.
The first idea is for a classic Rome highlights itinerary, perfect for first-timers, while the other two travel routes focused on more narrow themes such as street art and foodies.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Ideas for cool Rome itineraries
These itineraries are easily customizable and adapt to all travel needs and preferences.
You are not interested in a specific landmark or theme? Skip a site or a day altogether. You are a foodie but it’s your first trip to Rome? Mix and match days and itineraries as it suits you best. Most important of all, enjoy your holiday and make your time count.
If you feel overwhelmed and need more help in creating a perfect itinerary, consider investing in one of my custom itineraries and I will build your dream Roman holiday!
Click here to see my custom itineraries
Rome Highlights Itinerary – 4 Days
The first of our Rome itineraries is a classic one and is what you should follow if it’s your first time in the city and want to explore as much as you can but you don’t know where to start. We got you covered and went ahead to make plans for you.
Day 1 – Ancient Rome
The vestiges from Ancient Rome are always one of the biggest tourist attractions, so it’s only normal that if you have never seen them, they are among the first landmarks you are going to hit.
With the Colosseum being the star of the show, if you buy your ticket for the famous amphitheater, I suggest buying the one that also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as they were the heart of the ancient city.
Once you are done with these large archaeological sites, you can make your way towards Piazza Venezia and walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali from where you can have a great view of the imperial fora.
Around Piazza Venezia, you can have lunch and if you are still up for more ancient sites, you are close to the Trajan’s Markets, where is also hosted the Museum of the Imperial Fora, and the fantastic Capitoline Museums for a complete exhibition about Roman history and culture.
For the whole day, you are in the heart of the city so if you wish to have some downtime, you can stop anywhere for a coffee, cappuccino, or lunch.
💡TIP: Joining one of the Colosseum tours will make your visit faster because your guide will take you directly to the must-see spots.
And if you don’t have the time or the energy to queue for an hour at the Colosseum, head to the amazing Caracalla Baths, one of Rome’s best-kept secrets.
You don’t believe me? Watch our video to see what I mean!
Day 2 – Centro Storico
Of course, if it’s your first trip to Rome, you can’t really miss the art and history of the Centro Storico. I get it, and I agree.
Rome’s Centro Storico is jam-packed with people from all over the world. In the high season, which is from April through October, around some of the most famous landmarks, it will be difficult to walk without elbowing each other.
I don’t know about you, but I find this so frustrating and exhausting that in all these months, I avoid the city center. Or at least the usual, Instagram-favorite sights.
So, what do I do instead?
I try to visit as early as I can in the morning AND I hit hidden gems. That’s right, also in the oh-so-crowded city center, you can find secret wonders.
If you are cringing at the idea of getting up early while on holiday, well, that’s the compromise you need to do if you want to avoid the high-season crowds. (Even I can do it although living half an hour from the city center, you will get to the spot even quicker!).
But first thing first: the world-famous landmarks you don’t want to miss, God forbid!
- Spanish Steps. The monumental staircase to climb for a fantastic city view.
- Piazza Navona. One of Rome’s most beautiful piazzas built on an oval-shaped ancient stadium and boasting masterpieces from Bernini and Borromini.
- Pantheon. The stunning temple from Augustus’ time devoted to all gods. The largest unreinforced dome is a marvel to be seen.
- Trevi Fountain. Gorgeous Baroque fountain steeped in history.
💡TIP: If you would rather get everything organized and chauffeured from one place to another, check out this private 1-day tour by LivTours that also includes the Vatican’s main sights.
Day 3 – Vatican City
Your first-timer highlights itinerary will likely include the Vatican, and in one day I would visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Both these landmarks are super packed with history, art, and anecdotes so I recommend doing some research before visiting them otherwise you are going to miss the very reason why you are there!
Since you are visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, please take some time to appreciate the beauty and architecture of Piazza San Pietro.
From here, all the way at the end of Via della Conciliazione is Castel Sant’Angelo (the Hadrian Mausoleum).
While now it’s not inside the Vatican City anymore, it’s been an important papal stronghold for centuries so strictly connected to the papal kingdom and an important site in Roman history. If you have some time left, I recommend visiting it.
💡TIP: Check out my guide to visiting the Vatican for tips on what to see and do.
Rome Highlights – Day 4
Kick off your fourth day devoted to central Rome in the quaint Trastevere neighborhood. Most travel blogs will tell you that Trastevere is great for a stroll around the narrow cobbled alleys.
Why is that?
Because most travel blogs in English are written by non-Italian bloggers who only briefly visit Rome but obviously don’t know much beyond the main landmarks and narrative. If you want to truly discover Roman history, culture, and traditions, I suggest relying on locals.
Trastevere has plenty of historical landmarks, some of which are open for visitors to enter, and some that require prior booking like the lovely Antica Spezieria Santa Maria della Scala.
In this charming neighborhood, you can enjoy different experiences, from a stroll in the park to stunning views over Rome’s rooftops to delicious street food and sightseeing at fantastic museums and historical churches.
We made a video itinerary in Trastevere and I think you’ll like it!
Spend at least half a day here, have lunch (avoiding the tourist traps, please!), and then head to the Jewish Quarter, another Roman neighborhood steeped in history.
From here, enjoy a walk towards Campo de’ Fiori and the lovely Via Giulia. If it’s still open, the archaeological site of Largo di Torre Argentina, the sacred area next to where they killed Julius Caesar, is worth visiting.
Needless to say, this walk is crammed with historical palaces and points of interest so make sure you do your research and make the most out of it.
Watch our video to discover more about Largo di Torre Argentina
READ MORE: What to do in Rome in 3 days
Rome for Foodies Itinerary – 3 Days
This 3 days in Rome itinerary will take you to some of the best restaurants in the city’s central districts to taste traditional flavors and more contemporary takes.
For more Rome itineraries for foodies, check out our eBook “Tasting Rome by Neighbourhood“. We included five daily itineraries in five different neighborhoods where you will find the best restaurants in each district and paths on what to see and do.
Rome for Foodies – Day 1 – Central Rome and Trastevere
⇒ Breakfast at Roscioli Café. Roscioli Café (Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 16) is always a safe bet. Start this scrumptious Rome itinerary with a delicious breakfast near Largo Argentina. You can choose either a sweet or a savory breakfast but don’t forget that Rome has a lot to see and that only a few hours later is lunchtime!
⇒ Lunch at Nonna Betta. Serving typical Roman dishes prepared kosher-style, Nonna Betta is always very high on all lists of the city’s best restaurants. A perfect lunch in the Jewish Ghetto before resuming your sightseeing.
⇒ Dinner at Armando Al Pantheon. An evening around the Pantheon is the perfect way to round off a long day, and since you are here you can well stop at Armando restaurant for a typical Roman dish. The place is so famous and so good that it is always booked, so I strongly recommend you book at least a week in advance in the low season and from two to three weeks ahead in the high season.
READ MORE: Read our review of the Twilight Trastevere Food Tour of Eating Europe
Rome for Foodies – Day 2 – Testaccio and Ostiense
⇒ Breakfast at Nero Vaniglia. This is a fine bakery/patisserie frequented mainly by locals, demanding ones on the lookout for a great Roman breakfast. Nero Vaniglia (Circonvallazione Ostiense 20, open 6 am-8 pm, Sunday from 7 am, closed on Monday) serves great pastries from the Roman and the Italian tradition and their croissants, stuffed with chocolate and pistachio cream or jam and honey, are topped with a syrup infused with grated orange and lemon, vanilla and cinnamon.
⇒ Lunch at Felice a Testaccio. Traditional and delicious, Felice a Testaccio (Via Mastro Giorgio 29) is in the working-class Testaccio neighborhood and serves dishes of Roman gastronomy. Don’t miss their cacio e pepe, spaghetti alla carbonara or coda alla vaccinara beef oxtail.
⇒ Aperitivo at Porto Fluviale. With a huge offer of dishes and styles (it’s a pizzeria, trattoria, coffee shop, cocktail bar), Porto Fluviale (Via del Porto Fluviale 22) proposes a rich buffet for 10 euro drink included. When you are finished with the aperitif, you can top it with delicious ice cream from nearby Gelateria La Romana.
⇒ Dinner at Trattoria Pennestri. Simple and tasty dishes of the Roman tradition proposed with some personal contamination and served in a rustic decor, Trattoria Pennestri (Via Giovanni da Empoli 5) is a new opening in Rome’s Ostiense neighborhood that is already drawing a lot of attention from locals. Closed on Monday.
💡TIP: Book a great food tour around Testaccio to explore this working-class neighborhood and enjoy local delicacies.
Rome for Foodies – Day 3 – Vatican and Trionfale
⇒ Breakfast at Le Carrè Français. Close to Piazza Cavour, Le Carrè Français (Via Vittoria Colonna 30) will make you feel in Paris. Start the third day of this city itinerary in Rome with some sweetness made of croissants, pain au chocolat and many other French pastries stuffed with almond cream, apple or raisins.
⇒ Lunch at Pinsa m’po. This is a place serving pizza by slice street-food-style so that you can have a quick bite on the go, perfect for lunch if you are exploring the Vatican and you’ll be pretty busy.
⇒ Dinner at L’Arcangelo. The restaurant of chef Arcangelo Dandini serves the dishes of the Roman tradition in an elegant style. His original creations and personal touch make it worth a visit and a great place to discover the local cuisine with a contemporary twist.
💡TIP: Book a food tour around the Vatican to discover great restaurants in the area. Check out also the tours by Take Walks that include a pizza-making class and several tastings or a pasta-making session with a local chef.
Rome Street Art Itinerary – 3 Days
Who said that Rome stopped being a trendsetting city in the BC times? Suburbs and working-class districts have been spruced up by Italian and international artists supported by the local council and now are attracting many curious visitors. One of our Rome itineraries will take you to discover the contemporary art of the city.
Day 1: Ostiense
One of the pioneers of street art in Rome has been the neighborhood of Ostiense, the former industrial area where you can still see the old Gasometer.
Start your tour in Via Ostiense. Here, at the number 333 is the mural from American street artist Gaia “Il piccone demolitore e risanatore“, with a background of important contemporary buildings. Carry on along Via Ostiense and at the number 195, close to San Paolo Fuori le Mura Basilica you will find Sam3’s Silhouette, a dreamlike painting depicting a black silhouette dressed with stars staring at a sphere of light inside which is a group of unidentified men. Still on Via Ostiense, at the number 122, are the yellow cars of another Blu’s mural.
Keep walking towards Via del Porto Fluviale and here you will see the huge mural of the screaming rainbow faces Blu painted on the facade of the former Air Force building, the large swimmer of “Fish’N Kids” painted by Agostino Iacurci on the wall of Pescheria Ostiense, the local fish market, and the mural “Nessuno” (No one) by Spanish artist Axel Void that shows a woman from behind with a ring on her neck with another scene. This mural is painted on the walls of the old hardware warehouse from 1914 and used to store all the materials used to build the Ostiense neighborhood.
If you happen here around lunchtime, you have plenty of tasty options because the area is not touristy so they mainly cater to Italians.
When you are ready to resume your colorful sightseeing, head towards the old gasometer and in the nearby Via dei Magazzini Generali, where Rome’s old warehouse is, you can admire the long mural Wall of Fame by JB Rock who painted the portraits of famous personalities from different backgrounds, from Quentin Tarantino to Barack Obama, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, among others. Right in front, on the same street, you will find the murals “Black&White Power” by Sten & Lex, a series of portraits but this time of ordinary people.
Street Art in Rome Itinerary – Day 2: Quadraro
As soon as you get out of Quadraro metro station (line A), turn right and your street art tour will start. On the other side of the road, Via dei Lentuli, is your first mural, “Art Pollinates Quadraro” by local artist Diavù, also the founder of the project.
The whole Via dei Lentuli displays a good wealth of street art so after you’ve seen these, including “Buckingham Warrior” by Gary Baseman in Largo dei Quintili, start venturing on the back alleys. Here you will see some fantastic works such as the huge bees by Lucamaleonte, the long snake in Piazza dei Tribuni, the portrait of old Italian comedian Totò in Via dei Quintili by Diavù, and other famous artists such as Beau Stanton, Alessandro Sardella, Dilkabear, Zelda Bomba.
The whole neighborhood is filled with murals, you can totally spend the whole day here and have lunch at one of the local restaurants.
Day 3: Tor Marancia and Popstairs
An otherwise uneventful district, now Tor Marancia is one of the most colorful neighborhoods and a must in one of our favorite Rome itineraries. In 2015, with the support of Rome’s Council, the association 999Contemporary gathered 20 international street artists and in a little more than two months the project of Big City Life was on display.
The grey walls of 11 buildings of Via di Tor Marancia 63 are now covered with the stunning murals of artists such as Diamond, Jaz, Domenico Romeo, Clemens Behr, Seth and others.
If this is not enough for today, you can explore one of the latest street art projects in Rome, Popstairs, where Roman street artist Diavù painted the portraits of three famous actresses on the stairs of three streets: Ingrid Bergman in Via Fiamignano, Elena Sofia Ricci in Via Ugo Bassi, Anna Magnani in Via Andrea Doria, Michèle Mercier in Via Ronciglione.
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