Rome 3 days self-guided itineraries. Guide: Rome in three days. What to see: attractions, routes, hotels, transport, food, shopping, reviews, photos. How to get to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums without queuing. So, we already have a plan for walking around Rome
Travel to Rome on your own
The capital of Italy has stood on its famous seven hills for about three thousand years. The city, nicknamed eternal even before our era, has seen a lot and can surprise many. You will not find such a mixture of different eras and styles anywhere else - in Rome, monuments of antiquity, early Christianity, the Middle Ages, Baroque and Renaissance have been preserved not only as individual objects, but also as entire ensembles. Therefore, a trip to Rome is a real journey into the past.
In this article we will tell you in detail how to plan a trip to Rome on your own.
We are travel experts and know how much time and effort goes into planning each trip. That's why we created mobile app "Travel Planner and Travel Guide" for iPhone and Android. All attractions, guides and ready-made routes are part of our free mobile application. Offline maps and GPS are a bonus. So, let's go!
Here every street, every building breathes history. Unlike many European cities, Rome was virtually undamaged during the world wars of the 20th century and has retained its authentic architecture. Masterpieces of Italian painting and sculpture are also perfectly preserved: they are exhibited in many museums, churches and palaces.
In terms of the number of unique objects, no other capital in the world can compete with Rome. But this does not mean that the city is covered with the dust of centuries and lives only in the past. It has everything to enjoy life here and now: quiet picturesque parks and noisy modern streets, fashionable shops and magical antique shops, delicious food and excellent coffee, and most importantly - the special atmosphere of the city to which all roads lead.
How to get to Rome?
The easiest way to get to the capital of Italy from Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries is by plane. Many airlines offer flights with different prices and conditions. From Moscow and St. Petersburg, the most convenient way to buy air tickets is on a direct flight with Transaero, Aeroflot or Alitalia. In this case, the flight time will be no more than 5 hours. Direct flights from Kyiv are provided only by the company " International airlines Ukraine", with it you will arrive in Rome after 3 hours of flight.
Connecting flights can be found with many other airlines, for example Lufthansa, SwissAir, AirBerlin, Turkish Airlines, WizzAir, SAS, KLM, Brussels Airlines. If longer travel time is not critical for you, you can save a lot on a connecting flight.
To easily understand the intricacies of air ticket prices and choose the most convenient flight for yourself, Ever.Travel recommends using the Aviasales service. With its help you can quickly find the cheapest air tickets. Navigation of this site is extremely simple and clear: you can select departure dates and times, airlines, and transfer options. Aviasales contains offers from hundreds of airlines and air ticket sales agencies, so you can easily choose the right flight option. In the tips section from Ever.Travel we talk in detail about how to buy cheap tickets by plane using the Aviasales service.
Where to stay in Rome?
Rome is enough Big city, so the choice of location should be approached carefully. A hotel, apartment or hostel in the right area is a guarantee that you will have enough time for all the planned attractions, and the trip to them will not take several hours. Each district of the Eternal City is attractive in its own way. Therefore, it is worth spending a little time carefully choosing a place to stay, but then your vacation in Rome will be useful and enjoyable.
Map of Rome districts
Historical Center
Undoubtedly, this is where the largest number of interesting places, which every traveler wants to see, especially if he is in Rome for the first time. This is where Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps are located - the names alone excite the imagination!
All these objects are within walking distance of each other, so you don’t even have to worry about transport. In addition, at your service shopping districts with the most luxurious boutiques, as well as numerous cafes, bars and restaurants. There are always a lot of tourists here, and almost always quite noisy.
Prices for accommodation in the most modest hotel start from 120-130 euros per night. This is clearly not the most budget option, but living in the very center of the Eternal City is worth it!
Hotels in Trastavere are already cheaper, but finding a free room here is not so easy. The silence and comfort of this area is also appreciated because there are numerous authentic cafes, pizzerias and trattorias where the Romans themselves simply love to spend their evenings.
Visa to Italy
To get to Italy, residents of Russia and the CIS countries must apply for a Schengen visa. Usually it is issued for six months, during which you can stay in the territory of another state for up to 90 days. There is a possibility that the validity of the visa will be increased by up to a year upon re-applying, and even by 2-3 years if you already had a one-year visa before.
The standard period for obtaining a visa to Italy is 5 days, but tourist season this time can increase to one and a half weeks, so we recommend that you take care of completing all the necessary documents in advance.
Since information regarding prices, deadlines, documentary evidence and other conditions for issuing Schengen visas changes periodically, we advise you to check the current data on the official website of the Italy Visa Application Center in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Citizens of Ukraine can contact the Italian Visa Center corresponding to their region to clarify the nuances.
How to get from Rome airport to the city
international Airport Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino Airport) located approximately 30 km from Rome. There are several ways to get from here to the city center:
- Leonardo Express Train departs every half hour and goes non-stop to Termini Station, located in the center of Rome. Travel time is 30 minutes, ticket price is 14 euros.
- Electric train- This is a cheaper but slower route since the trains make many stops. Ticket price is 5.5 euros, travel time is 45 minutes.
- They run around the clock, but at long intervals (1-2 hours) municipal buses. A ticket can be bought from the driver, the cost is 4-5 euros one way, 7-8 euros two ways. Travel time is about an hour. In addition, there are a number of private companies that own Airbuses. For example, SITB BusShuttle, which you can use for 5-6 euros for one way travel.
- Taxi waiting for passengers in a parking lot near the airport. City authorities strongly recommend using only licensed official taxis: they are white, with a “TAXI” sign on the roof. A trip to Rome will cost about 60-70 euros.
Discount airlines fly to Ciampino Airport. It is even closer to the capital and is connected to it by train, bus, and metro lines. A taxi ride from here will cost 40-50 euros.
Car rental in Rome
Throw away all stereotypes and forget about group excursions - you can travel all over Italy, not only Rome, on your own, just rent a car. Renting a car in Rome using the RentalCars service is a proven and reliable way to experience the most complete impressions of all Italian beauties. How many amazing places can be found in provincial towns and in other cities - Florence, Milan, Venice... Do not forget that there are other countries within a few hours' drive: France, Switzerland, Austria, where you can make a motor rally without depending on any schedules and conventions. Treat yourself to freedom of movement! Read more about the capabilities of RentalCars in our review.
Public transport in Rome
For all types public transport- metro, bus, tram and one trolleybus route - a universal travel ticket is valid. You can buy it at the ticket offices at the entrance to the metro, at stops, at newspaper and tobacco kiosks. After 21:00, drivers also start selling tickets, but they are one and a half times more expensive.
Don't forget to validate your tickets in yellow composters! Please note that tickets in Rome are not valid for 24 hours from the moment of validation, but on calendar days until 23:59.
The most in a convenient way transportation around the city is considered to be a bus - with an extensive network of routes, including night routes, and short intervals. To get on the bus, you need to honk at the driver while standing at the bus stop, and to get off, press one of the buttons inside the bus. At the ATAS information point located in front of Termini Station you can purchase full map bus routes.
Tourist card ROMA PASS
Costs 34 euros and is valid for three days. Sold on the official website, at metro ticket offices (not at all stations), at tourist information points (Punti Informativi Turistici / PIT), in museums and archaeological sites. Allows:
- free use of city public transport (except for routes to airports);
- free and skip the line to visit two historical places or museum of your choice and receive discounts on tickets to the third and all subsequent ones;
- Additionally, visit a number of less popular museums for free;
- and also receive a number of other advantages - for example, a separate turnstile at the entrance to the Colosseum. Included with the ROMA PASS is issued detailed map cities, list of museums and places worth visiting.
Self-guided tours of Rome
The most budget-friendly way to get to know the city is to make your own walking plans. This is why we have developed a mobile application "Travel planner and guide" for iPhone And Android - ready-made routes and walks, hundreds of attractions, an offline map and GPS - everything you need to get to know a new city.
Ready routes and walks around Rome
In addition, you can travel to the main attractions of the city by excursion buses. Usually their tickets are valid for any number of trips within 24 or 48 hours. The cost of such a 48-hour pass is from 15 to 30 euros. There are also sightseeing trams and boats in Rome.
mobile connection and Internet in Italy
The most popular operators are Vodafone, TIM and Wind. The cost of a SIM card is about 15-25 euros, most of which is deposited into the account. Tariffs are approximately the same, there are Special offers for tourists. Inexpensive calls are offered by the PosteMobile network, which you can connect to at the post office. By law, you must present your passport when purchasing. It happens that SIM cards are not activated in Russian phones, in which case you can ask the seller for help.
Pay attention to the municipal project Digit Roma, which provides free Internet access for 4 hours a day through a network of hotspots. An Italian SIM card is required for registration.
Shopping in Rome
Shops in Rome are usually open from 9:00 to 19:00 or 19:30, with a break of 2-3 hours in the middle of the day (from about 13:00 to 16:00), Sunday is a day off.
Sales are held twice a year with discounts of up to 70%: winter in January-February and summer in July-August. It is believed that prices in Italy are among the lowest in Europe. Particularly profitable purchases can be made in outlets in Rome.
The most expensive stores are concentrated around Piazza di Spagna, more democratic - in the Via del Corso area. Another popular shopping street stretches from Termini Station - Via Nazionale. The Esquilino food market is famous for its delicious goods from all over the world. On weekends, flea markets open in different parts of the city.
Roman cuisine
The basis of Roman cuisine is simple and satisfying food for workers. The most famous example is pasta carbonara, always with a raw egg. Classic dishes: “Salti in bocca alla romana”- pieces of veal wrapped in Parma ham and stewed with sage in white wine and “Tripla alla romana”- stewed beef stomach with spices.
Only in Rome you can try it “Coda alla Vaccinara”(oxtail stew) and “Rigatoni alla Pajata”(paste with calf intestines). Those who are not ready to experiment can enjoy the exquisite taste of stewed artichokes (carciofi), as well as a variety of sweets, such as donuts with whipped cream (Maritozzo con la panna).
In restaurants, the bill often includes a service charge (servizio) - up to 15%. However, if you leave a few more euros on top, no one will be offended.
By the way, there are many drinking water fountains scattered throughout Rome. Feel free to drink it and take it with you in plastic bottles.
History of Rome
Rome was founded in 753 BC, and by the beginning of our era it became the capital of the Roman Empire, which captured almost all of Europe and the Mediterranean. In the 4th century AD. the city turned into the center of the Christian world, and its ruler, the Pope, became the most powerful man in Europe. In the 5th century, due to the invasion of barbarians, Rome fell into decline, but by the 9th century it had restored its reputation, becoming the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.
The deeply religious Middle Ages left the city with a legacy great amount amazing churches and cathedrals. By the 15th century, Rome was embraced by the ideas of the Renaissance: the best artists of the time came here in search of inspiration and recognition. In 1870, it became the capital of the newly unified Italy and began active development and construction of new territories.
It is important to know:
- Official language: Italian
- City area: 1500 sq. km. Rome is located in the Lazio region, on the Tiber River. The main attractions are concentrated on the left bank. On the right, within the city, is the Vatican State.
- Population: 2.8 million people, mostly Italians, Catholics.
- Currency: Euro
- Visa: Schengen, standard requirements. The cost of a tourist visa is 35 euros.
- Time difference with Moscow:-2 hours in summer, -3 hours in winter
- Climate: The best time Spring and autumn are considered the best time to visit Rome; at this time the weather is comfortable and warm. In summer it can be very hot here, up to +40°C. In July-August, local residents try to go on vacation; there are fewer people in the city and more closed cafes and shops. In winter, the temperature remains confidently above zero (+5-10°C), but rain can ruin your holiday.
Holidays and non-working days:
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What to see in Rome in three days, what a tourist needs to know, safety tips, where is the best place to stay, how to get to the Vatican and Rome museums without waiting in line. In this guide we will share with you our “trodden” and proven walking routes around Rome. The capital of Italy for us is one of the most romantic cities Europe. This is a real museum open air- "the eternal City". The ancients said: “all roads lead to Rome.” The capital of Italy is a “must have” for every traveler.
Rome is a city on seven hills: Capitol, Palatine, Aventine, Esquiline, Caelius, Quirinal, Viminal. The city is divided into two parts by the Tiber River. Left bank part - place ancient city, the right bank is called Trastevere, visiting guests settled here in ancient times. On the right bank of the Tiber there is also the Vatican - the most small state in the world, the capital of the Catholic world.
Rome won our hearts with an amazing combination of antiquity, Renaissance art, the sophistication of different styles of architecture, classical music, sounding in the subway, from the windows of cars and buses (we didn’t hear chanson or pop music)), romance, delicious Italian national cuisine, emotional and pleasant people. Rome has its own special atmosphere and unique energy. It has many faces and every traveler will perceive the capital of Italy in his own way.
How to get to Rome
The most convenient and quick way- airplane. We flew a direct flight Kiev-Rome. 2.5 hours and you are in the capital of Italy! The view from above is amazing. Italian mountains!
Sea and coast of Italy! 
An excellent service that we, our relatives and friends use is Skyskanner.com.ua - search for cheap air tickets. It quickly compares offers from hundreds of airlines and selects the best options. In this case, you book air tickets directly on the airline’s website, receiving all the required bonuses. It’s easy to find a flight ticket to Rome on the website. Enter your data into the search and choose the best flight for you.
You can also get to Rome by bus from other European cities. Tickets can be purchased on the following services:
Pros: The price of a taxi is fixed when ordering, they greet you with a name plate, adjust to your flight, and help with your luggage. Calculate the cost of a taxi, fill out the form below:
Car rent.
Do I need to rent a car? Just to visit Rome you don't need to rent a car. It is more economical and convenient in the city to combine public transport with walking. Renting a car is suitable if you are planning trips outside of Rome. You can rent a car profitably and inexpensively on the website Rentalcars. This service compares car rental prices from well-known companies and helps you choose the best option.
Public transport in Rome.
In the capital of Italy it is convenient to travel by public transport: buses, metro, trams, commuter trains. At the tram or bus stop there is a board with transport numbers and route points. It's hard to get lost))) From Fiumicino Airport to the center of Rome you can easily get by train or bus. Travel time is about 35-40 minutes.
The metro in Rome has 3 lines: A, B and B1, C. Outside of Rome, for example, there is a surface metro line to the beaches of Lido di Ostia. We cannot say that the metro in Rome is beautiful. It is decorated simply, without design frills, and is perceived as an ordinary means of transportation.
Metrebus (or BIT) tickets for public transport in Rome are valid for all modes of transport. Metro, bus, tram, as well as suburban trains Roma-Lido, Termini-Giardinetti and Roma-Civitacastellana-Viterbo, form a single system of the transport company ATAC. Company website http://www.atac.roma.it - here current prices and transport routes. A ticket for 100 minutes costs 1.5 euros, you can use it once in the metro, including transitions from line to line, and change to different bus and tram routes many times during this limited time.
Ticket price with unlimited number of trips: for 1 day – 7 euros, for 48 hours – 12.5 euros, for 72 hours – 18 euros and for a week – 24 euros. The ticket must be validated, and from that moment the countdown of its validity begins.
Helpful advice: It is profitable to purchase tickets for an unlimited number of trips for any type of public transport in Rome. We bought tickets for 72 hours at the metro ticket office and traveled for 3 days around Rome by metro, buses and commuter train to the town of Lido di Ostia to swim in the sea. In our case, when the hotel was on the outskirts of the city, this was an economical option.
But, if your hotel is located close to the center, then there is no need to buy a pass with an unlimited number of trips. After all, Rome is a compact city, convenient for tourists. You arrive at one “point”, look around everything on foot and drive back. An example is our routes around Rome below in the article. The calculation is very simple: a ticket for 1 day costs 7 euros, to pay for it you need to make at least 5 trips per day. But in compact Rome it will be difficult to do this in one day))).
They also ply around Rome tourist buses Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (tickets from 24 euros for 24 hours). There is another proposal - Bus tour Hop-On Hop-Off “Museum Express”– a blue bus that goes to the most popular museums in Rome. The price depends on the route and duration (24, 48 or 72 hours). As for me, it makes sense to take such a bus if you plan to visit Rome for only a few hours or one day and want to quickly see the main attractions of the city. Getting around on foot and by public transport is also a great opportunity to see Rome. After all, it is always interesting to find out how real Rome lives, and not the ostentatious tourist one.
Where to stay. Hotels and apartments in Rome.
You can book accommodation in the center of Rome using these links:
Advantageous promotions of hotels in Rome and special offers with discounts can be found here:
Maps of Rome, guides, phrase books.
Maps of Rome, as well as a schedule of upcoming events in the city, can be obtained free of charge at any tourist office.
Helpful advice: We have noticed that in any country they are very welcoming to tourists who speak or at least try to say a few words in the local language.
Before our trip to Rome, we stocked up on an Italian phrasebook. He helped us on this trip, although in the city center you can easily ask for directions in English)))
We also purchased a guide to Rome with a map. He helped us in planning routes around Rome. In it we added the necessary places or coordinates with a pen.
Food and water in Rome.
Bravo! Benissimo! Fantastico!Va bene! – and I would like to say many more such words in honor of Italian cuisine. This is my favorite cuisine: pizza, lasagna, ravioli, pasta, risotto, minestrone and for dessert tiramisu, panna cotta, gelato, Italian coffee, fine wines and liqueurs, different types of cheeses.
Where to eat in Rome. There are no problems with this in the capital of Italy. There are many restaurants, cafes, osterias, trattorias, pizzerias, and gelaterias. It’s better to go not to a tourist place, but to the establishment where the most local residents. Usually they are a little further from the center. The prices are cheaper and the food is delicious and authentic. Restaurants in Italy are expensive and prestigious places, cafes are usually self-service, trattorias, pizzerias and osterias are establishments with affordable prices and Italian cuisine. (although you need to be careful, sometimes expensive restaurants may be called Trattoria or Osteria). Usually, at the entrance to a cafe or trattoria, a menu with prices is posted.
Helpful advice: In Italy there is an unspoken rule: If you drink coffee at the bar, then the price is the same. But as soon as you sit down at the table and the waiter serves you, the bill for the order increases almost 3 times. After all, this bill includes fees for serving and serving. For example, a cup of coffee-latte (emphasis on A)) in the Castel Sant'Angelo at the bar cost 1.5 euros, and at a table in a romantic setting with views of Rome - 3.5 euros.
Rome. At the Castel Sant'Angelo
A separate story about ice cream. We once met some friends who also went to Rome. Let's exchange impressions. And then the phrase sounds: “We ate such delicious ice cream in Rome... Ice cream!!! called. We bought it near the Colosseum.” We ask: “Have you tried gelato?” - "And what is it?" Curtain... In Italy you must try gelato!
Gelato is an amazing Italian ice cream. It is sold in gelaterias. There are many of them in Rome. We found one of these at the San Paolo metro station. While we were waiting for the bus, we bought ourselves gelato each time. We tried different flavors, the choice is very large. The system is like this - you choose a waffle cone for 1.5, 2, 3 or more euros. (the more, the more expensive). And the seller fills this cone with the gelato flavors that you like. It turns out to be such an impressive pyramid of ice cream scoops different types. The deliciousness is incredible!
Helpful advice: In Rome you can drink water from fountains. It is absolutely safe and very convenient. The only thing is that the water is very cold. You can always freshen up, fill a bottle with water and wander further, getting to know this unique city.
Interestingly, a real aqueduct was built in Ancient Rome. Fountain means “source”. Once upon a time, fountains served only to supply the Romans with water and did not shoot upward. Water was carried from the hillsides through long aqueducts to Rome. At the same time, it underwent triple filtration: it was purified with coal, sand, and then herbs. Therefore, the Romans did not suffer from stomach diseases due to poor quality water. In the 4th century, there were more than 800 fountains in the city, and a hundred baths were also in operation.
Shopping in Rome.
Italy is one of the trendsetter countries. Rome is a city where exploring unique historical, cultural and architectural attractions is perfectly combined with shopping. Boutiques of famous designers can be visited while walking along the streets of Rome. In addition, the capital of Italy has large shopping centers and outlets outside the city.
Store opening hours in Rome are from 9-00 to 19-00 or 20-00. In many, except outlets and shopping centers, there is a break from 13-00 to 15-00 (siesta)) and a day off (or a short day) on Sunday.
Inscription "Skonti" means “discounts” in Italian. The season of big discounts for the most economical purchases occurs in winter in January-February, and in summer in July-August. During sales periods, prices drop by 50-70%. In stores with the inscription Tax Free foreign buyers have the right to receive a VAT refund on purchases of 155 euros and above. A special coupon is issued for this. At customs, in a special window for Tax Free payments, it is provided along with a receipt and unpacked purchases. (it’s better to arrive at the airport earlier, because there may be a long line of people waiting). Sometimes the owner or seller immediately gives a discount right in the stores, that’s what happened to us)))
Expensive and respectable boutiques located next to Piazza di Spagna (Spagna metro station) on Condotti, Gregoriana, Babuino, Borgognona, Frattina streets. Brands such as Gucci, Valentino, Armani, Tods, Trussardi, Dolce&Gabbana and many other famous fashion houses are represented here.
Stores in the middle price range with more affordable prices you can find Via Nazionale (on this street there are many shops with good choice leather goods and fur coats), Via del Corso, Via Barberinini, Via Vittoria, close to the Vatican and the Ottaviano metro station - Via Cola di Rienzo.
Also popular for shopping in Rome large shopping centers Oviesse, Coin, Euroma, Upim, La Rinascente, Galleria Alberto Sordi. They work on Sundays, and there is no siesta break on these days. shopping centers No. Same as in outlets.
Outlets in Rome These are entire towns outside the city. You can come here for almost half a day)))
Outlet "Castel Romano" located 25 km from Rome. It presents last year's collections of luxury and mass-market brands with discounts: Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci, Fendi, Armani and other famous brands. There is a regular bus service from Termini train station and Piazza Risorgimento to Castel Romano.
Outlet "Valmontone" popular among the local population, located 40 km from Rome. It has products in the mid-price range, but at the same time of excellent Italian quality. The following brands of clothing and shoes are represented: Baldinini, Twin Set, From By Vestebene, Kocca, Feyem, Manila Grace. The bus to the Valmontone outlet also leaves from Termini railway station.
Techer Outlet Convenient location in the center of Rome. It is close to Plaza España and Via del Corso. This outlet actually carries the same brands as Castel Romano. At Techer you will find discounts on clothes, shoes and accessories from famous brands such as Armani, D&G, RoccoBarocc, Gigli, Fendi, Versace.
Safety in Rome
On hot days, walking around the Italian capital simply requires water, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Heels and the stone-paved streets of Rome are simply incompatible))) But that's not all...
Before the trip, our relatives warned us about theft in Italy right on the street. Unfortunately, they had a bitter experience. Although they knew about this problem, they seemed to be holding their bags at the ready, but they stared at the Roman beauty and took the bag off their shoulders. And the thief on a motorcycle (he did not admire the beauty of Rome, but only tourists) grabbed his purse and drove off.
Helpful advice: Do not carry all your money, cards and documents with you. Leave it in the hotel safe. Always make photocopies of your passports and visas at home. Travel with photocopies of documents in your backpack. Wear the bag not just on your shoulder, but “at the ready” - over your neck and shoulder, so that it is impossible for passing or running “sneaks” to take your bag off on the go.
How tourists are scammed out of money is a separate topic. For example, gladiators near the Colosseum. Before our trip to Rome, we read about this on many websites and decided not to deal with such “photo gladiators” at all. Before you have time to look back, you already owe a good amount of money for photos with arrogant “legionary faces”. How does this happen? You agree on the price of one photo. During the filming process, the “gladiator”, while you are in “tourist nirvana”, quickly changes poses, hands you a sword, shield and... bills you for several photos, instead of one. The second type of “gladiator” scam is when several more “legionnaires” run up to you during the photo session. Now everyone will have to pay extra for the photo separately.
And they themselves observed such a “swindle” of money near the Colosseum. We went to the fountain at the Roman Forum to drink water. Here we see a man filling half-liter bottles with water. There were about 10-15 containers. We think he’s probably trying for his entire tourist group. Well done))) BUT... when we approached the Colosseum, we saw how this “caring” man was busy selling water from the freezer in the same bottles. The heat is unbearable, tourists happily buy bottles of ice. This is business!!!
We read a lot about how Roman taxi drivers cheat and demand much more money for travel than they initially agreed on. We have not encountered such a phenomenon. On the contrary, taxi drivers not only didn’t take tips, they even gave us a discount, and along the way they also told us about the city)))
And one more thing - do not buy tickets to the Colosseum (with the promise of skipping the queue) from the hands of illegal guides on the Colosseum Square. I wrote about this below in the route of the first day.
What to see in Rome in three days. Walking routes. Sights of Rome.
The capital of Italy pleasantly surprised with its compactness. Attractions are located at every step and close to each other. This is very convenient for a traveler, because to see the most interesting things you don’t need to travel from one end of the city to the other. We happily wandered on foot through the colorful Roman streets and beautiful squares with fountains, enjoying the atmosphere of the “eternal city”.
I love such colorful streets. By the way, “area pedonale” is a pedestrian zone. Just for curious hikers))
And when the brain has already refused to perceive the architectural masterpieces and ancient sights of Rome, it’s time to treat yourself to delicious Italian dishes, pizza, lasagna, pasta, wines or gelato ice cream.
We built our acquaintance with the capital of Italy according to the following principle: we arrive by metro to one point in Rome and examine everything that is nearby. For three days these were the routes.
Walking route around Rome. The first day.
Colosseum Square - Palatine Hill - Roman Forums - Amphitheater Colosseum - Imepartor Forums - Square Venice - hill Capitol
The route takes a whole day. Starts from Colosseo metro station and Colosseo square and ends at Capitol Hill. It is dedicated to Ancient Rome.
The famous Colosseum amphitheater impresses with its scale, grandeur and... a huge winding line of tourists to the ticket office. Immediately, in addition to the “gladiators,” illegal guides may approach you with an offer to visit the Colosseum without queuing for a small fee (in addition to the ticket price). Another deception of gullible tourists.
Helpful advice:How to skip the line to the Colosseum
The secret is simple. Single tickets are sold for the Palatine Hill, the Roman Forums and the Colosseum. Cost 12 euros. The ticket is valid for 2 days, but it can only be used to visit these attractions once. The line at the Colosseum ticket office is the longest. A single ticket can also be purchased at the Palatine ticket office, the Roman Forum ticket office, and can also be booked online on the Colosseum website. (but on the website the extra charge for booking is 2 euros).
We bought single tickets at the Palatine ticket office and began our walk through the antiquities of Rome from this hill. The Palatine ticket office is easy to find: go behind the Arch of Constantine in Colosseum Square and follow the signs for Monte Palatino along Via di San Gregorio. Before us at the Pilatino box office there were only 5!!! Human. (at a time when the line to the Colosseum numbered about a hundred tourists). The ticket office of the Roman Forums is located on the street. Via Sacra and on st. Largo Romolo e Remo.
Read more in this article:
The route is very interesting. A lot of impressions for lovers of antiquities and history. It has one drawback - it is “overload” at the end of the day)))) I will write more about the Colosseum-Capitol route in a separate article. In the meantime, some photos of the first day in Rome))
Coliseum. Photo at the exit from the Colosseum metro station
Arch of Constantine
Hill Palatine. It’s nice to wander around the ancient ruins while listening to the loud singing of cicadas. Italian pine trees create a special color.
Roman forums. View from Palatine Hill. The Forum was the center of cultural and political life in Ancient Rome.
Coliseum. It is very interesting to see this building from the inside.
Geographic maps with the history of the Roman Empire . Placed on the wall of the Basilica of Maxentius. It with reverse side forums. You can find them by moving along Via dei Fori Imperiali from Piazza Colosseum to Piazza Venezia.
Imperial forums. Trajan's Market and the Tower of the Militia.
Trajan's Column and the Church of Santa Maria di Loreto. Do you know what connects this ancient column of Emperor Trajan and the city? Kamenets-Podolsky? The answer is in our article:
Venice Square and Altar of the Fatherland. Italians often call this monumental building a “typewriter” or a “wedding cake.”
Capitol Square. Palazzo Senatori. Here is the City Hall of Rome.
Capitol Museum.
Walking route around Rome. Second day.
Vatican (St. Peter's Basilica and museums) – Castel Sant'Angelo – Ponte Sant'Angelo – Piazza Navona - Pantheon
An experience-filled walk around Rome for the whole day.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to climb the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica or visit the Vatican Museums or the Sistine Chapel. The reason for this was the huge queues and the desire to see other famous attractions in Rome. But now tourists have the opportunity to avoid queues at the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and even St. Peter's Basilica. How to do it?
Helpful advice: How to skip the line at the Vatican Museums.
The answer is simple! This will help online booking tickets on the official website of the Vatican Museums, on this page. Buy your ticket in advance. This can be done 60 days before visiting the museums. Enter all the people who plan to go to museums with you, select the date and time of the visit. Price 16 euros + 4 euros for booking, i.e. only 20 euros. You pay using a credit card and immediately after that you receive a voucher with a QR code by email. Entrance to museums using vouchers received by email. In an hour!! Before the scheduled time, go to the right of the main queue and the main entrance, present a printed voucher (you can also show your QR code on a tablet or phone, the main thing is that the code is clearly readable) and an ID card. After scanning the code, you will be given a standard ticket to the Vatican Museums. Come in without queuing.
How to skip the line at St. Peter's Basilica.
Entry to St. Peter's Basilica is free. (Paid - museum inside the Cathedral and climbing to the dome). But at the same time, to get into St. Peter's Basilica, you need to stand in a long line at any time of the year. It “winds” around St. Peter's Square. It moves quickly, but with such a large number of people, you will have to stand for at least two hours. But even here there is an opportunity to skip the line. Eat payable service- “Skip-the-line visit to St. Peter’s Basilica.” The cost of saving your time is from 15 euros. The price includes an audio guide. You can purchase this service online on that website.
Read how to buy tickets to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel here:
I will make a detailed description of this Vatican-Pantheon route in a separate article. But I’ll be happy to post some photos from this bright walk on the second day here))
Vatican – the smallest state in the world. Saint Paul's Cathedral.
St. Peter's Square.
In St. Peter's Basilica. Greatness, beauty, spirituality.
Vatican Post. Be sure to send a postcard home from the unique Vatican Post Office.
Castle of Sant'Angelo. named after the Archangel Michael, who, with his miraculous appearance at the top of the castle, notified the Romans of the end of the plague.
Statue of Archangel Michael on top of Castel Sant'Angelo.
Castel Sant'Angelo offers stunning views of Rome.
And in the distance is the Altar of the Fatherland in Piazza Venezia (wedding cake, as the Italians say) 
Bridge of the Holy Angel. There are 10 statues of angels on it.
Piazza Navona. There is an amazing atmosphere here. Even though there are a lot of people around, you just want to sit on a bench by the fountain or at a cafe table and enjoy the surrounding beauty, without rushing anywhere. Three beautiful fountains decorate Piazza Navona: the Fountain of the Rivers, the Fountain of the Moor and the Fountain of Neptune.
Fountain of the Rivers in Piazza Navona.
Fountain of the Moor in Piazza Navona.
Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva and the Elephant statue.
In this unique for Rome gothic church The trial of the heretic Galileo took place. Here the scientist said his famous phrase: “And yet it spins!” Bernini's elephant holds on its back an obelisk column, which was erected in the 6th century BC. Julius Caesar brought it as a trophy from Egypt. 
Pantheon- ancient Roman temple of all gods. Now it is a national mausoleum in which worthy citizens of the Fatherland are buried.
The dome of the Pantheon is colossal. Its diameter is greater than the diameter of the dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral (43.5 meters. “Eye of the Pantheon” - the hole in the dome has a diameter of 9 meters, through which sunlight penetrates into the temple.
Walking route around Rome. Day three.
Trip to the sea in Lido di Ostia – Pyramid – shopping on Via Nazionale – Piazza di Spagna – Trevi Fountain
This full-day itinerary is very diverse: the sea, shops, architecture, the romance of evening Rome and the unique flavor of the city.
We traveled to the Tyrrhenian Sea to the town of Lido di Ostia by metro train from the Basilica San Paolo station. The drive is about 35-40 minutes. The ticket price is the same as for any public transport in Rome. We were traveling on a ticket for unlimited travel, which we bought for 72 hours. Lido di Ostia - typical Italian resort town. By the way, it is very similar to the resort town of Rimini, on the east coast of Italy. Read about this town here:
Just as small family hotels, beaches across the road, boutique shops and a lot of vacationers. The sea is wonderful. At the bottom there is big stones, it’s convenient to swim away from the shore and relax while standing on them. The sand on the beach is dark and hot. After a busy two days in Rome, a holiday at sea is an excellent solution. We spent half the day just swimming and sunbathing.
In Lido di Ostia there are free beaches and paid ones - for 3 euros per person. They differ in that the free ones do not have sun loungers and umbrellas and there are significantly more people. Showers, toilets, bars with water, beer, and sandwiches are available on all beaches.
The first time I came across such a “walking clothing store” was on the beaches of Rimini. In Lido di Ostia, as on all beaches in Italy, there are sellers of various clothes, bags, and scarves. “Walkers” do not sell corn, seeds or other food here. Only the Chinese sell chopped coconuts.
Pyramid in Rome - an unusual structure for Italy. Located next to the Pyramid metro station. Built by praetor Gaius Cestius in the 12th century BC. made of marble. He thus sought to surpass the greatness of the Egyptian pharaohs. The height of the pyramid is 35 m, but part of it has already sunk into the ground.
Plaza de España and famous Spanish steps . There are a lot of people here, but it is very comfortable and romantic. It's nice that we met here with friends and colleagues.
There are a lot of people in the Plaza de España – that’s about it)))
Trevi Fountain - one of the most romantic places Rome. Especially in the evening! To return to Rome, you need to throw a coin into the fountain. While standing with your back, throw with your right hand over your left shoulder. But there are so many people that it’s hard to get to the fountain)))
Excursions around Rome.
We talked about the routes independent walks in the capital of Italy. You can also order individual tour around Rome and its surroundings with a local guide.
In the following articles I will describe each of our routes in more detail. Read also how we traveled from Rome to Naples and Pompeii.
Therefore, stay with us - join our groups on social media. networks (column on the right of the site) or subscribe to our blog updates at the bottom of this article and you will definitely not miss new stories and useful tips about traveling to Rome.)))
Rome is an amazing city. He makes you fall in love instantly and for a long time))) Of course, you can’t see everything in three days. There is so much we haven’t seen yet: Villa Borghese Park, the Appian Way and the Roman Catacombs, Baths of Caracalla, Mouth of Truth, the Fountain of the Turtles, Piazza del Popolo with the twin churches – you can’t list it all)))
I think that you can’t get acquainted with Rome in a hurry, running around all the sights according to a drawn-up plan and checking the “visited” box in the guidebook. Rome should be enjoyed slowly, absorbing the unique and incredibly romantic atmosphere of the “eternal city”.
By the way, New!
Now “Green Card” insurance - Green card You can also apply online on the website Hotline.finance. And get it delivered to your home. When traveling by car, a “Green Card” is required
First of all, we hope that when you come to the cradle of Western civilization for three days, you have no illusions of seeing all its attractions in one go. Nevertheless, it is possible to master the basic minimum with proper agility. Our advice to you: identify several places that you definitely want to visit, familiarize yourself with their location on the city map and, based on this, build your routes. The concentration of beautiful, interesting, historically significant places in the city is so dense that on the way from one destination to another, you can get no less impressions than, in fact, where your path lay.
If your first trip to Rome will last only a few days, it is important to understand (and accept, and forgive, and come to terms with) that even if you have very original interests and in general you are not like “all these tourists”, your route will be the same otherwise it will largely overlap with the most popular places in the city. Hence the conclusion: it is better to plan a short-term trip to Rome during the non-tourist season, that is, from mid-autumn to mid-spring. This way you can avoid huge queues to the cultural and historical heritage of the Eternal City, crowds on the streets and sweltering heat.
When planning a trip, the most convenient option is to choose a hotel. In this case, you will hardly ever need to use anything other than your legs in order to get somewhere. Maybe just to get from the airport to the hotel and back. If you are determined to save as much as possible and rent a hotel close to the city borders, with local public transport, you will have to get to know each other better. One ticket costs 1.50 euros and allows you to use the metro, trams and buses for 100 minutes. There are also tickets for an unlimited number of trips lasting from 1 to 7 days, the cost of such a pass for 3 days is 18 euros, respectively, in order to recoup this pass, you need to make at least 4 trips every day.
By the way, if you are not very good at walking or 3 days in Rome suddenly turned into 3 hours, you can join a bus excursion, of which there are plenty of them at every traffic light in the capital of Italy. Tickets cost on average 1500-2000 rubles. You need to reserve a seat on such a bus in advance; fortunately, there are many offers - just go online. To have something to compare with, here are two good options: and.
Now let's proceed directly to the title topic of the article - what places are worth visiting if you are in Rome for only 3 days.
First, we list the sights that you absolutely must see (according to the subjective opinion of the site’s editors):
Vatican
There is nothing to discuss here. Even if the only one you believe in is a flying spaghetti monster, the residence of the Pope is worth a visit. Where else will you find a state in which ancient history and architectural beauty are concentrated in every square centimeter of every building?
Roman forum
This is the most visible monument ancient history Rome, and very extensive. In its heyday it was the central city market; now this square is an open-air museum of ancient ruins.
Coliseum
Have you seen Gladiator? This place preserves the memory of the fates of hundreds of thousands of gladiators, most of whom are no less tragic.
Pantheon
Built in 126 as a pagan “temple of all gods,” the Pantheon now functions as a Catholic church, and you can even get married here. Or just gawk at unique monument ancient architecture. In which, for example, there is not a single window. The only hole is located at the very top of the dome, thanks to it a very unusual atmosphere is created in the hall. For example, when it snows, snowflakes form fairy-tale swirls. Also buried here are several world-famous personalities: the artist Rafael Santi, kings Umberto I and Victor Emmanuel II.
Trevi Fountain
The largest and most luxurious fountain in Rome. This is where travelers throw coins so that luck will bring them to this city again. This tradition brings the greatest success to the Italian state, because the amount of money that utility services “catch” annually per year reaches 1.4 million euros.
Villa Borghese/Villa Doria Pamphili/Villa Ada
Italians know a lot about gardens. There are a lot of them in Rome. The most visited is Villa Borghese. Because it is located in the very heart of the city among its main attractions, the Spanish Steps itself leads to the entrance to this park, so of course the feet of tourists, willy-nilly, go there. Not inferior in beauty are Villa Borghese and Villa Doria Pamphilj in the north of the city and Villa Ada in the south. Both of these parks, by the way, are larger.
After a long and painful analysis, debate and consultations with the local population, we have compiled 4 different routes around Rome for three days (yes, you will have to make the choice for us). These routes do not pretend to be very original and follow them steadily, but they will still help you at least get your bearings.
Route 1.
The most unremarkable route in terms of length of all those presented. But believe me, you will spend, if not the whole day, then most of it, because in the Vatican, no matter where you spit (don’t) you will end up in a queue at one of the museums. You can avoid queues by booking tickets in advance on the official website of the Vatican Museums or by purchasing a ticket for group excursion– this saves both time and nerves.
Route length – 2.5 km
Route 2.
But these are the paths in Rome used by those who came there for the real spirit of antiquity. This is the most historically oriented route, including such places as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Ponte Sisto bridge and several ancient basilicas.
Route length – 6 km
Route 3.
An excellent option for a leisurely walk for the whole day, including both architectural and Roman park beauty.
Route length – 7 km
Route 4.
This route is designed for those who are willing to sacrifice one day of enjoying Roman architecture in favor of a hedonistic beach holiday. As an option, we offer the pretty resort town of Lido di Ostia, which many compare with the more famous Rimini. You can get there in 35-40 minutes using the Rome metro. You can, of course, start from any stop, but we chose the Piramide station. There you can admire it before leaving, don’t be surprised ancient pyramid. Her in the 12th century. BC e. erected from marble by the praetor Gaius Cestius. True, the height of the pyramid is only 36 meters, and it will be even less, as they say that it is gradually going underground.
Route length – 25 km
By and large, it doesn’t matter which route you choose or, perhaps, create yourself. The main thing is not to forget to enjoy every second spent in the city, without which our world would be completely different now!
A post about the most popular and most interesting sights of Rome, unusual excursions from local guides, as well as two whole walking routes around Rome, compiled by me personally. Everything for yours independent trip your trip to Rome turned out to be memorable and...you would want to come back here again.
In Rome, as in many other Italian cities, you can create a million different tourist routes for all interests and tastes.
After all, Rome is a real museum city, where different historical eras coexist peacefully, where various beauties and all sorts of cultural and historical values simply press on from all sides. Just have time to turn your head and click the camera.
Here, probably, even a month is not enough to walk the length and breadth of the city, but the usual tourist trip to Rome is usually only a few days, in which you need to pack in all the best that Rome has to offer, without missing out on the most interesting things and not forgetting to leave time for shopping and gastronomic adventures in local cafes and restaurants. Well, at least treat yourself to real Italian coffee and gelato.
To the best of my ability, I will make separate posts for each attraction in Rome that I have visited. I’ll tell you about Rome’s clothing and shoe stores and outlets, and of course about food prices in supermarkets and local restaurants. Some rare and unusual museums I’ll also leave the space for a separate post for “advanced tourists in Rome.”
Here, I will draw up a general travel plan for Rome, for those who are traveling here, most likely, for the first or second time, so that you can independently plan your stay in this city, based on your personal preferences and the time you have allotted.
The main attractions of Rome on the map
The most popular attractions on the map of Rome I noted, in general, these are the main tourist destinations, as they say in such cases - must see.
If you click on the shortcut, it will open Contact Information Google for each tourist spot and you can see how you can get here, on foot or by transport.
I recommend adding this map to your favorites in your Google account before going on vacation to Rome (to do this, just click the “star” and the map will be saved in your featured cards(Google maps even work offline).
At the end of this article you will find two route options for independent walks around Rome in order to see all these attractions in two days.
Plan and route of excursions for 1 day in Rome
If you have only one day in Rome (this means that you are most likely in Rome passing through or on business, because few people will come to this city of their own free will for just one day), then it is wiser not to spend it on any museums, but just walk around the city.
If this is your first time here, in order for the walk to be as information-rich as possible and not waste time on unnecessary searches for the main attractions, I recommend hiring someone who will introduce you to the city in a couple of hours and show you its most significant places.
In order not to waste time looking for a guide on the spot, it is better to book all interesting excursions in advance, online. There are many route options for such an excursion; check on the excursion booking website. Its cost starts from 15 euros per person and depends on the number of participants and the intensity of the program.
Or you can take a ride around Rome on a double-decker sightseeing bus:
However, Rome is a city with concentrated attractions that you can get around on foot. And if you want, you can have a whole tourist Rome put it in one day. Now there will be a section from the category: “Are you weak?”
For example, this is what happened to me in Rome several years ago. When I went on a guided tour to the Vatican in 1 day, and spent the remaining half of the same day exploring Rome on my own with almost all the main points on the route that I had marked on the map, and even managed to “drop in” to the Colosseum just before it closed.
On the same day, I managed to pop into the shops on Via del Corso just before closing, to the Piazza España at night, and even have a late dinner in one of the restaurants in Rome. For ordinary people, all this would take at least 5 days!
Win-win! 8) And now I’m unlikely to dare to do this myself. So ! 8)
Plan and route of excursions for 3 days in Rome:
Three days is something between one day in Rome and a week, so I will give my main advice in these sections of the post, and you yourself will figure out where you will go, it will depend on what intensity and saturation cultural program you are ready to see everything interesting in these three days, but not get overtired. In Italy it is very easy, even the name for this is “Florentine syndrome” or “Stendhal syndrome”.
In general terms, I will say this, if you have at least 2-3 days in Rome, except for the same sightseeing tour on the first day, on the second day you can plan to visit a museum, for example, the Vatican or the Roman Forum. Choose one thing, because... There is not enough time or energy for everything. Such museums require a very thorough visit.
And the last day is best spent on a leisurely walk around the city, perhaps along a pre-planned route, but you should definitely leave yourself time to sit quietly by the fountain and soak in the atmosphere of this magnificent city in all respects, as if you were living in Rome at least the last six months.)))
Plan and route of excursions for 7 days in Rome (we are planning an independent route):
A whole week in Rome or more is already an excellent opportunity to have a good time and create a real excursion program for yourself. I definitely recommend planning it in advance, while still at home, so that you can use your time in the city as efficiently as possible and not waste it standing in kilometer-long queues for tickets or overpaying for excursions.
In a week in Rome, you can not only visit all its main attractions, but even go to the sea or other wonderful cities -, or. About features railways and you can read it in my separate article.
I highly recommend it in advance download audio guides around Rome to your phone. All major museums (Roman Forum, Vatican, etc.) have their own guide apps for phones, and the appstore and Android app store are full of various general useful audio guides to Rome (both paid and free) that can compensate for your independent visits to attractions without the services of a tour guide. Please note that this audio guide works offline, as... Internet in Europe is a question for a separate post.
Someday I will review those applications that I liked and found useful.
Ideally, you should set aside a whole day for each museum, so you won’t turn into a cornered horse and will have time to see all the most interesting things in detail.
All attractions can be divided into two categories - free attractions in Rome, which you can come and inspect at any time and paid - i.e. museums, where you will need to buy tickets for entry and plan a whole day on them alone or so.
Except that in the Colosseum you can see everything you can see in 2-3 hours. But mainly time is wasted everywhere because of the great excitement and queues, everywhere, for tickets, at the entrance, to some of the main values of the museum in order to photograph them...
Yes, there are too many tourists in Rome now, I’m a little sorry that I didn’t have the opportunity to travel around Europe during my student days, it seems to me that 10 years ago there was such a strong crush in tourist places nowhere.
AND Chinese tourists Only recently have people rushed so en masse to see everything that can be seen in the world and buy everything that can be bought. I didn’t see them in such numbers in Rome on my last visit, and it was only now that they “exploded” on Lake Baikal a couple of years ago.
The best museums in Rome (paid): ticket prices, opening hours, where to buy tickets:
Which museums in Rome are worth visiting for money.
If you have at least three days planned in Rome and want to visit museums, you can purchase
Its essence is simple Roma Pass - cultural and tourist card of Rome, giving discounts on paid museums and various tourist services in the city. Options for these cards are for 48 and 72 hours, which is included and the cost can be viewed on the website, at this moment the information is like this:
In general terms, this card entitles you to free entry to the first two museums of Rome and/or archaeological sites of your choice, one after the other for a limited time (according to card rates), as well as a discount to all subsequent museums and ( or) archaeological sites from the proposed list.
Museums of Rome: Museum of the Roman Republic and Garibaldi Memory, Bilotti Museum in the Villa Borghese Park, Canonica House Museum, Museum of the Walls, Napoleonic Museum and Villa Massenzio (which can be visited within the Roma Pass, in addition to 2 free entries (usually these are the Colosseum and the Roman Forum).
This also includes free travel on public transport within a certain time interval.
You can buy a Roma Pass at the airport, at railway stations, at public transport stops, or online http://www.romapass.it
If you need a Roma Pass and entrance to additional museums just because, and if you know for sure that you don’t want to go to museums with a guide and a tour, then just buy the general ones tickets to the museums of Rome directly on their official websites.
Now they apply to several attractions at once, and, firstly, you don’t have to waste time queuing at the box office of EACH of these museums, and secondly, separately it turns out to be somewhat more profitable.
I will give all the basic information and official websites of the museums of Rome here in a list:
Official information on the museums of Rome
VATICAN
Vatican website - www.vatican.va
To avoid a giant queue at the entrance, it is better to buy tickets to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel on the website - biglietteriamusei.vatican.va (information in English; to select standard tickets without excursions, go to the tab - admission tickets).
Ticket prices: A full ticket to the Vatican costs €16
, additional payment for online booking is €4 for each ticket,
audio guide (optional) €7 for children €5 (you can use the official museum application on your phone)
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00, last visitor enters the museum at 16:00; last Sunday of the month 9:00-16:00, last visitor at 12:30. Closed: Jan 1 and 6, Feb 11, March 19, April 20, 21, 27, May 1, June 29, Aug 14 and 15, Nov 1, Dec 25 and 26; Viale Vaticano address.
The last Sunday of the month, admission to the Vatican Museums is free!
Or you can use the services of the Sputnik travel service and book an excursion to the Vatican with a Russian-speaking guide:
COLISEUM and ROMAN FORUM
official website of the Colosseum and Roman Forum— www.coopculture.it
This site is used as the official site by the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, Baths of Caracalla and some other ancient monuments and museums of Rome.
By purchasing tickets here you can avoid the queue at the entrance to the Colosseum or Forum. Although in my reviews of these attractions I will tell you where and how you can buy tickets to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum without a queue or almost without a queue, depending on your luck. But you can stand for five minutes to save 2 euros per person, which they charge for online purchases.
Ticket price: Adult ticket costs €12
, additional fee for online booking €2, audio guide optional - €5.50;
The ticket covers the Forum and the Palatine Hill and is valid for 2 days.
Colosseum opening hours: Mon-Sun from 8:30 to 16:30-19:15 (depending on the season), the last visitor starts 1 hour before closing.
CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS OF ROME
www.museicapitolini.org
Ticket price: adult/reduced €12/€10, audio guide €5;
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 9:00-20:00, 24 and 31 Dec 9:00-14:00, last visitor 1 hour before closing. Closed Mon, Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25
The address is Piazza del Campidoglio 1.
BORGHESE GALLERIES
www.tosc.it/tickets
This is the official website for purchasing tickets to the Borghese Art Gallery, one of the most inaccessible museums in Rome, a visit to which must be planned in advance
Ticket price: adult/reduced €11/€2 (children under 18 years old), audio guide €5;
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8:30-19:30, last visit 19:00, closed Mon, 25 Dec, 1 Jan; Tickets can only be purchased by reservation.
Address Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5.
EXCURSIONS ANCIENT ROME IN 3D
www.viaggioneifori.it
Ticket price: adult €15, combined for both shows €25, online booking fee €1/€2 respectively.
Address: Via Alessandrina (Forum of Augustus in 3D) and Foro di Traiano entrance near Trajan's Column (Forum of Caesar in 3D), daily from April 25 to November 01:
Opening hours: Forum of Augustus at 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00, Forum of Caesar from 19:00-20:30 to 23:40-23:50 (depending on season), duration of each show is 40 minutes.
CASTLE OF THE HOLY ANGEL
www.castelsantangelo.com
Ticket price: 10.5 euros, reduced price - 7.5 euros. For groups starting from 20 people, the online booking fee is €1.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 19:30; The ticket office closes at 18:30
The first Sunday of every month, visiting the museum at Castel Sant'Angelo is free.
Address Lungotevere Castello, 50
All these museums are the calling cards of Rome and at least something from this list should definitely be present in your excursion program. If you are not an art critic or a connoisseur of painting and architecture, for your first acquaintance it is wiser to hire a professional guide who will not only show, but also tell.
I have had experience visiting the museums of Rome both with a guide and on my own, and I can definitely say that taking guided tours to the Vatican Museums or the Roman Forum is definitely worth it - not a single guidebook, or audio guide, can completely replace a good live guide.
Visiting these museums on your own allows you to get lost a little and look into “secret rooms” and corners where excursions usually don’t take you, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing interesting there?
You can take a ready-made excursion to the museums of Rome with a Russian-speaking guide, and then “get lost” yourself and see what you find especially interesting. Firstly, you won’t have to buy tickets separately, spend money on an audio guide, stand in lines for extra time and wander around the halls in search of the most interesting things.
This may turn out to be much more interesting and less labor-intensive than self-guided tour in places like this. The difference in price between tickets and tickets with a guided tour is not catastrophic. The main thing is to check the size of the group; after all, the more compact the communication with the guide, the better. Well, even if you are good at English language, an entire excursion with a Russian guide would, in my opinion, be more appropriate.
Free attractions in Rome:
Well, first of all, the free attractions in Rome are everything, including all the museums in Rome that you won’t go inside. 8) The Trevi Fountain or Piazza Navona is at your disposal at any time of the day or night and completely free of charge. Well, you must admit that it’s already interesting to look at the Colosseum or the Castel Sant’Angelo from the outside.
Since July 2014 throughout Italy, on the first Sunday of the month, all state museums admit visitors free of charge. This rule also applies to such significant objects as the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Roman Colosseum, Pompeii, etc. But I’m even afraid to imagine WHAT the queues are like there on this day.
But there are also attractions in Rome with really free entry, for example, here:
PANTHEON
free entry, audio guide €5,
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8:30-19:30, Sun 9:00-18:00.
Address Piazza della Rotonda
Official site: www.turismoroma.it/pantheon/
VILLA BORGHESE
I gave information about the Borghese Art Gallery above, but here I will say that visiting the gardens of this villa is completely free.
NAPOLEON MUSEUM (Museo Napoleonico)
Anyone who is interested in the personality of the legendary French commander and emperor has the opportunity to visit the Napoleon Museum, located in the Primoli Palace, built in the 16th century. Its exhibits, located in 13 halls, will help you learn more unknown and juicy details about the life of the Bonaparte family.
Address: Piazza di Ponte Umberto I. Palazzo Primoli. From Piazza Navona to the museum it is only a 5-minute walk, and from the Castle of St. Angel's walk will take no more than 10 minutes.
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00.
Official website: museonapolonico.it
MUSEUM OF SOULS IN PURGATORIO (Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio)
This mystical museum is located in the sacristy of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Christ (Sacro Cuore di Gesu’ in Prati). Here you can see the imprints of soles on the floorboards, fingers and hands left by the souls of the deceased on household items, paper and fabrics. All this is interpreted as a kind of way to declare oneself from the “other world” and ask the living for prayer and help.
Address: Via Ulpiano, 29. Sacro Cuore di Gesu’ in Prati. (NearCastle Sant'Angelo)
Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 17.00 to 19.00.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SAINT LUCA (Accademia Nazionale di San Luca)
National Academy of St. Luke, located on the square of the same name in the Palazzo Carpegna building (XVI century). Today it is located here Art Gallery, where you can see sculptures and paintings by Italian, French and Flemish masters, most of which date back to the 17th-18th centuries.
Address: Piazza dell'Academia di San Luca, 77
Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 10.00 to 12.30
Official website: accademiasanluca.it
There are still a few free museums, but not too famous. I don’t know if information about them is needed here, since the post is about the main attractions of Rome? I think in such cases it’s easier to ask a professional guide who can tell you about some secret corners of Rome and the Less Traveled hiking trails“, although, knowing this city, I doubt that there are any such people left here.
But still, I found several interesting excursions and rare routes.
Rare routes and excursions in Rome:
Everyone knows these attractions, which is why not every tourist comes. You can get no less impressions from them than from traditional Roman ruins. And on occasion, there is always something to show off in front of friends who have not seen anything else in Rome except the Colosseum and outlet stores 8)
CATACOMBS ON THE APIAN ROAD
KOPEDE QUARTER
ROMAN CASTLES
Despite the fact that all the sights of Rome are located quite compactly, I still recommend dividing a walk around Rome into at least two parts, which means two or three days, because you can fit all this walking route in one day, of course, it is possible, but the question is, how much is this necessary?
In this case, I arranged all the attractions logically, “in the direction of travel,” so that you could calmly follow this route from one attraction to another and not waste time on extra steps in the opposite direction.
From which point to start the route and which points to skip, and where to stay longer - it’s up to you to decide. This is the beauty of independent travel.
Route 1 for a self-guided walking tour of Rome
Route No. 1 I suggest starting with St. Peter's Square, the largest Christian cathedral of St. Peter's not only to the Vatican e, but all over the world, from here to go to the pompous and majestic Castel Sant'Angelo and be sure to walk along its beautiful bridge with gilded angels; if you wish, you can also look into Napoleon Museum, it’s very close here, and besides, as I wrote above, entry there is free.
Well, from here you can go straight to Piazza Navona - the first Roman stadium for athletic competitions, built by Gaius Julius Caesar himself, look at Fountains, which no longer have anything to do with Caesar, but nevertheless 8), there are three of them on Piazza Navona (Neptune's Fountain, the Moor's Fountain and the Fountain of the Four Rivers), all the fountains here are one more beautiful than the other.
In addition, as I wrote above, fountains in Rome are completely free. But not always and not for everyone. According to historical data, during the time of Pope Innocent X, who introduced special taxes for the construction and reconstruction of the fountains of Rome, he received a protest meeting from city residents under the slogan: “Pane, pane, non fontane!” (“Bread, bread, not fountains!” )
People, such people! Everyone is always unhappy. What a beauty! And now there are even heaps of bread, including thanks to the same fountains in Rome 8) By the way, if you didn’t know, in Rome you can drink water from ANY fountain. Very convenient and really safe. I have personally verified this fact more than once. All is good! 8)
If you are in Rome on Christmas Eve, then it is here, in Piazza Navona, that they organize the traditional Christmas market - “Befana di piazza Navona”.
From Piazza Navona you can run to Campo de' Fiori, where Giordano Bruno was burned for denying the scientific dogmas of his time, and now a monument to him is erected on this site. Close to the monument until lunchtime swap meet in Rome, where, if it's not too late, you can buy good deals on souvenirs, food and sundries.
And behind Bruno there is still a street with shops and a pharmacy where they sell “Monastery Cosmetics”, you can only buy it in this place.
Then from here you can go to Piazza della Rotonda to to the Pantheon, “temple of all gods,” a majestic structure with a hole in the ceiling. They say that the dome of the Pantheon is designed in such a way that rain does not enter the room through it. Others say it's a PR stunt. I haven’t had the opportunity to check this yet; I’ve never been to the Pantheon during the rain.
The Latin inscription on the pediment of the Pantheon reads: “M. AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIUM FECIT", which translates as: "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, elected consul for the third time, erected this." It represents a great engineering achievement of antiquity. Some are buried in the Pantheon famous people Italy, in particular, Raphael and kings Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I.
From the Pantheon you can go straight to Trevi Fountain, adjacent to the façade of Palazzo Poli. There is a belief that the person who throws a coin at him will come to Rome again. Two coins - a love meeting. Three - wedding (marriage). Four coins - wealth. Five coins - separation. Money amount The amount that utility services “catch” from the Trevi Fountain reaches 700 thousand euros per year. On the right side of the fountain there are “lovers’ tubes.” According to legend, young couples who drink water from them will love each other and live in harmony until old age.
And from the Trevi Fountain, having filled it with plenty of coins, you can go to Plaza de España, throw coins here, in fountain-boat Barcaccia, the work of Bernini himself. Well, if you find a place, sit on that very famous Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti), the longest and widest staircase in Europe.
In the spring, it is decorated with blooming azaleas, in the summer, a fashion festival takes place here, and models parade along the steps, demonstrating the work of famous couturiers; in winter, the attention of tourists is attracted presepio- Christmas scenes. At any time of the year, a magnificent view opens from the steps, especially at sunset. Therefore, there is nowhere for the apple to fall at almost any time.
Piazza di Spagna is also the center of Rome's fashion district; the most famous Italian fashion brands are represented on Via Condotti, which begins at this square.
And from Piazza di Spagna you can already head to Villa Borghese, this is the third largest public park in Rome (80 hectares) after the park of Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada, and if you buy a ticket in advance, you can also see the famous Galleria Borghese, along the way you can also look at Villa Medici, a family that had no equal in the physical elimination of its political opponents. The Medici had no shortage of imagination and invention in this matter.
This entire route takes only about an hour and a half, but if you stop somewhere to take photos, and go to 1-2 small museums along the way to explore them, a whole day for this entire route may not be enough for you. So keep that in mind. And don't forget to save this map to your Google account:
Route No. 2 for an independent walking tour of Rome:
The second route can be called " Ancient Rome» because This walk mostly included all the ancient antiquities and ruins of Rome.
It starts from Piazza Venezia, where one of the most beautiful buildings in Rome, in my opinion, is located - Vittoriano monument(Il Vittoriano) or the Altar of the Fatherland (Altare della Patria), also nicknamed the “Typewriter”, I don’t know why the Romans didn’t like it so much, I always admire this monument and was even sure that it was some kind of government agency in Rome.
Not far from it, you can go and look at the multi-story “Khrushchev” buildings of the ancient Romans, in which not Roman emperors or nobles lived, but ordinary people, in houses called insulins.
And from Trajan's market to Roman Forum close at hand, I recommend approaching it from the side Capitoline Museum, where it is located Capitoline wolf
the same she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, who founded Rome.
Right there with observation deck You can look at the Forum itself from above and admire its scale without even going inside. If you want to go there, it’s better to set aside a visit Roman Forum the whole day (or even two) and it’s better to take a tour with a guide who will tell you everything.
On the other side of the Roman Forum is Via Appia Antica, a highway made of ancient paving stones, which probably still remembers ancient Roman chariots and the steps of real Roman legionnaires.
Well, my Rome-weary legs should have remembered this road too 8)
It’s right there,
behind which there is a majestic building “hiding”, which I think there is no need to even talk about, this is the most recognizable symbol of Rome.
Having walked around the Colosseum in a circle, you can come to the very one where you became the unwitting participants of a real gay pride parade. This street is notable not only for this, but also for the ancient ruins located right here. Gladiator Schools (Ludus Magnus), and walking up this street you can reach Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on the Lateran Hill or Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
Where to go from now Baths of Karakala, officially called the Antoninian Baths , see how the ancient Romans set up SPA salons, and complete this entire one and a half hour hike "By the lips of truth", yes, the same ones that we could see in the film “Roman Holiday”. Of course, there were other sights of Rome in the film. But for some reason, it was the episode where the main character, for humorous reasons, cannot pull his hand out of this stone mouth, that I especially remember.
Well, from here you can go out to the Tiber embankment and, if you have any strength left, go, just wherever your eyes look, I really love such non-obligatory walks in unfamiliar cities. If you no longer have the strength, then you can find some restaurant along the road and sit there over a plate of pasta with a glass of Italian wine.
Google again calculated this route for an hour and a half, but in fact you will get much more. Save this map to your Google account so as not to lose it.
And another option for a route around Rome:
If on the third day, or simply, tired of museums and all sorts of Roman antiquities, you again want to go for a walk around Rome, then I suggest you take a walk along the long embankment of the Tiber River, with its the most beautiful bridges, centuries-old plane trees and buildings along the way from the ordinary, non-tourist life of Rome.
And in general, go somewhere out there, into the unknown, where there will be no crowds of tourists and real Romans live. Not ancient, but modern. Believe me, even here Rome will be able to surprise you. Someday I’ll arrange posts on my blog with such photo walks.
Well, yes, let me remind you again, don’t forget to at least sometimes look into cafes and restaurants in Rome. I can hardly tell you everything, but I will definitely tell you where I went, what dishes I tried, or the most remarkable historical restaurants in Rome.
The best shops in Rome, the La Rinascento shopping center, as well as boutiques of all famous brands in Rome are located via Condotti and on via del Corso and the adjacent streets. They are located just between the first and second routes from Piazza di Spagna to Piazza Venezia, so while walking from one attraction to another, you can inadvertently buy yourself new shoes or a dress. But we will also talk about this topic in more detail separately.
OFFICIAL TOURIST SITE OF ROME
turismoroma.it is the official tourist website of Rome with information about events and various promotions, which is noteworthy, with a version in Russian.
Order a taxi (transfer) in Rome:
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Rome itineraries for 1, 2 and 3 days
Especially for those who are going to Rome for a relatively short period of time and want to get to know it as closely as possible beautiful city, we have prepared several routes for walking along it. So, what can you see in Rome in one, two or three days?
Day 1 - Rome in one day
We think that no one would think of purposefully visiting Rome for just one day. As a rule, such situations arise only when Rome is used as a transit point and a long transfer is made. In this case, the question arises: how to spend this day with interest and benefit? Let's look at all the possible options.
If you are little interested in the main attractions of the city (Colosseum, Vatican, etc.) or, say, this is not your first time visiting Rome, then the most suitable solution would be not to go to the city at all, but from Fiumicino airport go straight to... .sea! The cities closest to Rome, located on the coast, are, of course, far from the most luxurious Italian resorts, but they are also quite pleasant places to relax. Read more about how and where to relax by the sea near Rome in our special article.
For those who can’t wait to see the Colosseum and other ancient sights of the “eternal city” with their own eyes, welcome to Rome! Let's see what you can see here in just one day.
Rome route on the map
Colosseum and Roman Forum
You need to start your journey around the city depending on where you are staying in Rome. If it is somewhere near the center, for example, near Termini Station, then you can safely go on foot. If you live far away, then go to the nearest metro station and go to Colosseo station. This is where our route will begin.
The first objects on our way: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and nearby - Triumphal Arch Constantine
If you only have one insignificant day in Rome, then there is absolutely no point in entering their territory - a waste of time. All the beauties can be perfectly viewed from observation platforms located along the Forum territory.
Read on our blog:
Vittoriano Monument and Piazza Venezia
After taking plenty of photographs and admiring ancient ruins Forum and the mighty Colosseum, we go to the Vittoriano monument, to Piazza Venezia.
Trevi Fountain
After seeing all the sights here, we go along Via Cesare Battisti (if you stand with your back to Vittoriano and look at the square, then to the right), and then turn into Piazza santi Apostoli - we move towards famous fountain Trevi. On our way we will meet several more interesting objects. We need to walk about 600 meters and we will get to the Trevi Fountain - one of the most beautiful fountains in the world.
Don't forget to throw a coin into it - this is a mandatory item on every traveler's list of top things to do in Rome.
From Trevi we go out to Piazza Colonna and move towards the Pantheon, about 600 meters.
I think it's time to rest and refresh yourself, isn't it? Not far from the Pantheon there is a coffee shop La Casa del Caffè Tazza D"oro (marked on the map) - here, according to most, is the best coffee in the city.
Pantheon and Piazza Navona
Having rested here, we move to the Pantheon. Be sure to go inside (entrance is free).
From the Pantheon it is just a few steps to Piazza Navona - one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Rome.
After Navona, if you still have some strength left, we go to the coast of the Tiber. From here you have an excellent view of another significant landmark of Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo (Mausoleum of Hadrian). But for now, we are walking past it - we’ll leave it for the second day (for those who only have one day in Rome, you can cross the bridge and walk to the castle if you have any strength left). We move in a straight line to Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps. You need to walk a little less than a kilometer.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España - final destination walking around Rome on the first day. The total length of the route is 4.5 km. If you walk slowly and pay due attention to all the sights, then you will find yourself at Piazza di Spagna by evening. Here is the Spagna metro station, which will take us home.
On the first day you can also use interesting excursions around Rome with Russian-speaking guides. They will not only guide you along a similar route, but will also tell you a lot of interesting information about the culture and history of this great city. Not only group groups to choose from walking tours, but also individually, on your guide’s personal transport! More information about excursions is at the end of the article.
Video Top 10 attractions in Rome
Rome 2 day
If anyone thinks that all the most interesting things in Rome were seen on the first day, then they are greatly mistaken. Ahead of us is a tour of one of the most popular attractions in Italy, as well as a walk through the most colorful area of its capital.
Probably everyone knows that the Vatican is a separate independent state, which is the smallest in the world. It can be called small not only in relation to the concept of “state”, but also in relation to the size of the city itself. In addition, half of its entire territory is inaccessible to ordinary tourists. But even that insignificant part that remains is incredibly interesting and popular - it’s not for nothing that the Vatican attracts millions of tourists.
Route Rome - Trastevere on the map
Before crossing the Vatican border, it is worth taking a look at the territory of another very interesting object, located nearby - the Mausoleum of Hadrian, or the Castle of the Holy Angel. It can be seen from almost any point on the Tiber embankment, but you can’t even imagine what a wonderful view opens from here to Rome itself.
Next we go directly to the Vatican. A few minutes later we emerge into St. Peter's Square, and right in front of us rises the colossal, magnificent St. Peter's Basilica. Actually, what you see in front of you is the Vatican, or rather that part of it that is accessible to us mere mortals :)
What else do we see here, besides the cathedral, the obelisk and two semicircular colonnades? Right! A long line trying to get inside. And we need to defend it. Necessarily! Having accomplished this feat, we buy a ticket (5 euros) and climb to the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica, from where an unforgettable view of Rome opens. Do you remember the list of things that you definitely need to do in Rome? :) Read more about visiting the Vatican and climbing the dome -.
From the dome we descend directly into the cathedral - its decoration will also amaze you with its beauty. Next, we recommend that you visit the Vatican Museum. Even if you are not an art lover, believe me, this place is worth a visit. At least for the sake of the Sistine Chapel. Tickets can be pre-purchased online (16 euros), thus avoiding the long queue.
Regardless of whether you decide to visit the Vatican Museum or not, our journey is not over yet. We leave the Vatican and go to the territory of the Trastevere district - a popular historical district of Rome, which still preserves the real Italian atmosphere, culture and traditions. This is where the best pizzerias in the city are located (we have marked them on the map).
There are no popular attractions here, but we didn’t come to Rome only for them, did we? Actually, your route along Trastevere can be adjusted as you wish. We'll give you just a couple of tips: be sure to go through its center - Piazza Santa Maria in Transvere, and also take a walk along the Tiber. Having reached the island of Tiberina, you can cross the bridge and find yourself in fact in the center of Rome, where metro stations are located very close.
We recommend that you go through all of Trastevere and turn to Ponte bridge Testaccio. Then walk a little more and come to another landmark of Rome - the Pyramid of Cestius. And right here is the Piramide metro station, which will be the end point of our walk around Rome.
Rome for 3 days
What to do in Rome on day 3? Pick up detailed route getting around the city is quite difficult, since the remaining attractions are located in spots throughout the city, away from the historical center, that is, you need to take a special trip. For example, Villa Borghese is urban landscape park, where you can retire and be in silence, and also take a break from the scorching heat (if you are visiting Rome in the summer). Another popular attraction is the Baths of Caracalla - huge ruins of ancient baths, the construction of which began in the 2nd century BC.
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Some rules for finding cheap air tickets can be found in this article.
Cheap housing
Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find good hotel(or apartments) in terms of price/quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the best accommodation booking systems.
You don't need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!
Insurance
To obtain a Schengen visa, as is known, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.
When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, taking out an insurance policy for the safety of you and your family members will also not be amiss, especially if you are traveling with children.
Excursions
The best way to get to know a new city is through guided tours from local residents. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.
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