10-Day Rome Itinerary

Check In & Settle In

Arrive and check into your hotel near Monti or Termini, drop your bags and freshen up before hitting the cobblestones.

Wander Monti's Backstreets

Stroll the ivy-draped lanes of Rione Monti, Rome's oldest rione, past vintage boutiques and quiet piazzas.

Piazza Navona & the Pantheon

Wander the baroque Piazza Navona and its Bernini fountains, then peek inside the Pantheon's ancient oculus.

Aperitivo in Trastevere

Cross the Tiber for a spritz and plates of Roman antipasti among Trastevere's tangled medieval lanes.

Skip-the-Line Colosseum Tour

Descend into the arena floor and underground hypogeum where gladiators once waited to fight.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Wander the ruined temples and basilicas of the Forum, then climb Palatine Hill for views over the Circus Maximus.

Lunch in Testaccio

Refuel in Testaccio with a plate of tonnarelli cacio e pepe near the old slaughterhouse district.

Circus Maximus at Sunset

Walk the long grassy oval of the Circus Maximus as the sun sets behind the Palatine ruins.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Trace the Raphael Rooms and Gallery of Maps to Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

St Peter's Basilica & Dome Climb

Climb the 551 steps to the top of Michelangelo's dome for a sweeping view over St Peter's Square.

Espresso in Borgo Pio

Sip an espresso standing at the bar on Borgo Pio, the quiet medieval lane just outside the Vatican walls.

Roman Pinsa Dinner

Try pinsa romana, Rome's airy oval flatbread cousin of pizza, at a family-run spot near Prati.

Trevi Fountain at Opening Hour

Beat the crowds at the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder for a promised return to Rome.

Spanish Steps & Via dei Condotti

Climb the Spanish Steps then browse the designer boutiques lining Via dei Condotti below.

Pantheon's Ancient Dome

Step inside the 2,000-year-old Pantheon and look up through the open oculus at its coffered concrete dome.

Gelato at Piazza Navona

Finish with artisanal gelato while street artists work around Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.

San Cosimato Morning Market

Browse the fruit, cheese and flower stalls at Piazza San Cosimato, Trastevere's neighborhood market.

Hands-On Pasta Class

Learn to hand-roll tonnarelli and whisk a proper cacio e pepe in a small Trastevere cooking studio.

Santa Maria & the Vicoli

Duck into the gold-mosaic Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, then get lost in the ivy-covered backstreets.

Suppli & Wine on Via della Scala

Sample crispy suppli, fried Roman rice balls, and a glass of Frascati at a wine bar on Via della Scala.

Train to Tivoli

Catch the regional train from Rome for the hour-long ride into the hills east of the city.

Villa d'Este's Fountain Gardens

Wander the Renaissance terraces of Villa d'Este, a UNESCO site famed for its hundred cascading fountains.

Hadrian's Villa Ruins

Explore the sprawling ruins of Villa Adriana, Emperor Hadrian's private retreat spread across 250 acres.

Return to Rome for Dinner

Head back into the city and unwind over a late dinner near your hotel.

Galleria Borghese

Marvel at Bernini's Apollo and Daphne and Caravaggio masterpieces inside Cardinal Borghese's private collection.

Villa Borghese Gardens

Rent a bike or a rowboat on the lake in the leafy grounds of Villa Borghese park.

Pincio Terrace Views

Take in postcard views over Piazza del Popolo and Rome's rooftops from the Pincio terrace.

Dinner in the Jewish Ghetto

Try carciofi alla giudia, Roman-Jewish fried artichokes, in the atmospheric old Ghetto near Portico d'Ottavia.

Testaccio Market Tasting Tour

Sample fresh mortadella, pecorino and suppli at the stalls of Mercato di Testaccio, Rome's best food market.

Coffee Ritual at a Historic Bar

Learn the Roman coffee order at a century-old cafe, from caffe shakerato to a proper macchiato.

Quinto Quarto Lunch

Try Rome's traditional cucina povera, like coda alla vaccinara, at a no-frills Testaccio trattoria.

Wine Bar Crawl at Campo de' Fiori

Hop between small enoteche around Campo de' Fiori for regional Lazio wines and cheese boards.

Bike the Via Appia Antica

Pedal along the original Roman road's ancient basalt paving, past pine-shaded tombs and aqueduct fragments.

Catacombs of San Callisto

Descend into the candle-lit underground tunnels where early Christians buried their dead.

Via del Corso Browsing

Spend a relaxed afternoon window-shopping Via del Corso and the boutiques near Piazza di Spagna.

Sunset Drinks on a Rooftop

Watch the sun dip behind St Peter's dome from a rooftop bar near Piazza Venezia.

Final Cappuccino at a Local Bar

Order one last cappuccino standing at the counter, Roman-style, before the caffeine cutoff hour.

Last-Minute Gifts on Via Nazionale

Pick up olive oil, limoncello and ceramics to bring home from shops near Via Nazionale.

Farewell Walk Past the Pantheon

Take a final unhurried loop past the Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda before packing up.

Transfer to Fiumicino Airport

Head to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport for your departing flight home.