How to Spend 3 Days in Rome

My husband and I spent 3 days in Rome. We were able to see the main attractions on our list, but could have easily spent a couple more days here. Below is a list of my favorite things we did in Rome.

Free 15 Day Italy Itinerary at the bottom of this post!

Things to Do

1. Tour the Colosseum

We did this Rome in a Day Tour through Walks of Italy. It was a 7.5 hour tour that included the Colosseum and the Vatican.

I highly recommend this tour! We got to tour inside the Colosseum and learned so much about the history.

Our tour was in English and our guide was a local which was nice to be able to ask for restaurant suggestions!

2. Visit Vatican City

As mentioned above, we did this Rome in a Day Tour through Walks of Italy. It was a 7.5 hour tour that included the Colosseum and the Vatican.

I think a tour is the best route! You can pack a lot in and learn a lot of history from a local tour guide.

This tour also included the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon.

3. Trevi Fountain

Be prepared for lots of people/crowds here. We walked by the Trevi Fountain at night and it was even more stunning than the daytime (maybe it was due to less crowds or how brightly it was lit up)!

4. Visit the Pantheon

This former Roman temple was so cool to see up close!

5. Walking Food Tour

Ok, I’m not a big history person (unless we are talking food history). So this Walking Food Tour in the Testaccio neighborhood was my favorite thing we did in Rome!

On this tour, we visited the local market and met some of the vendors.

We sampled so many delicious foods including Arancini (rice balls), pasta, and of course.. gelato!

Our tour guide taught us how to spot the real vs. ‘fake’ gelaterias. I wish we would have done this tour on our first day here so we would have known!

Testaccio is a cute little neighborhood and I am glad we got to explore it.

It was nice to get away from the crowds and touristy areas and see how the locals live!

6. Walk the Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps were under construction when we visited, so we didn’t get to walk them. But we got a good look at least!

7. Eat Gelato

There are so many Gelaterias. And they are hard to pass up. I had gelato at least once per day on our 15 day trip in Italy! When in Rome!

Be sure to do some research on real vs. fake gelato! Or sign up for the food tour mentioned above and they will teach you!

What & Where to Eat

There are a lot of tourist trap restaurants in Rome. If you want authentic Roman food and don’t want to be ripped off, I would avoid places that have the menu posted outside or have people trying to welcome you in.

Each region in Italy has their own signature dishes.

A couple pasta dishes Rome is most commonly known for include:

• Cacio e Pepe – This means ‘cheese and pepper’. A very simple pasta dish that uses the pasta water and cheese (most commonly Pecorino Romano – it is made from sheep’s milk) to make a sauce. This was my favorite dish in Rome! PS – Alfredo is not an authentic Italian dish. If you are looking for something similar to Alfredo, Cacio e Pepe is the closest dish you will find. And if you see Alfredo on a menu, run away (if you want authentic Italian food)!
• Carbonara – Pasta dish made with eggs, hard cheese (usually Pecorino Romano or Parmesan), and cured pork. It is delightful.
• Amatriciana – Pasta dish made with guanciale (cured pork meat), tomatoes, and Pecorino Romano. This was my husband’s favorite dish in Rome.

Some restaurants our tour guide recommended (a local), but we did not get a chance to visit:

• Trattoria Monti – Make reservations (this is why we weren’t able to visit)! Serves hearty, home-style fare, not too far from Colosseum
• Il Sorpasso – Close to Vatican City, casual, all day dining, pasta and long wine list
• Li Rioni – Close to Colosseum, Roman style thin crust Pizza

And some delicious gelaterias:

• Verde Pistacchio – I really enjoyed the gelato from this place!
• Giolitti – We had this gelato on our food tour in the Testaccio neighborhood. Delicious!

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Alpi Hotel in Rome. It was okay (we didn’t spend much time here as we were out and about). Honestly, I would stay somewhere else next time.

I suggest not staying anywhere north of the train station (Roma Termini). Our tour guide said she felt safe walking anywhere in Rome at night, but not as comfortable north of the train station (the Alpi Hotel was north of the train station).

If you are looking to spend more time exploring Italy, check out my 15 Day Itinerary below!

Free 15 Day Italy Itinerary:

Other Posts You Might Like:

• How to Spend 2 Days in Genoa, Italy
• How to Spend 24 Hours in Rapallo, Italy
• How to Spend 2 Days in Cinque Terre, Italy
• How to Spend 3 Days in Florence, Italy
• The Ultimate 15 Day Italy Itinerary

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