01

Day 01

Day 1 — Ancient Rome & the Center

Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and the baroque piazzas.

1. Morning

   Colosseum

   Begin with a timed Colosseum ticket at opening. Take in the arena and underground before the crowds arrive.

2. Late morning

   Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

   Explore the Forum and Palatine on the same ticket, walking the spine of the ancient city. Allow a couple of hours.

3. Lunch

   Monti

   Relaxed trattoria lunch in Monti, close to the Forum but pleasantly local.

4. Afternoon

   The Pantheon

   Visit the Pantheon and the lanes around it, with a standing espresso nearby. Soak up the timeless center.

5. Late afternoon

   Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps

   Toss a coin at the Trevi and stroll the Tridente to the Spanish Steps at golden hour.

6. Evening

   Piazza Navona & dinner

   Admire Piazza Navona's fountains at dusk, then dine near Campo de' Fiori before an evening stroll.

02

Day 02

Day 2 — The Vatican & Trastevere

The Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo, and an evening across the river.

1. Morning

   Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

   Arrive at opening for the galleries and the Sistine ceiling with thinner crowds. Pace through the Raphael Rooms toward the chapel.

2. Midday

   St. Peter's Basilica

   See the basilica's masterpieces and, if you're game, climb the dome for the view. Dress modestly for entry.

3. Lunch

   Prati

   Lunch in Prati, pizza al taglio or a trattoria, a calmer counterpoint to the Vatican.

4. Afternoon

   Castel Sant'Angelo

   Spiral up the riverside fortress to the terrace, then cross the angel bridge back toward the center.

5. Late afternoon

   Gianicolo terrace

   Climb the Janiculum for the sunset panorama over the domes.

6. Evening

   Trastevere dinner

   Dinner and a wander in Trastevere's atmospheric lanes.

03

Day 03

Day 3 — Borghese, Baroque & the Aventine

Bernini sculpture, a green park, hidden viewpoints, and a Testaccio food night.

1. Morning

   Galleria Borghese & Villa Borghese

   Enjoy your booked two-hour Borghese slot for Bernini's astonishing sculptures and Caravaggio's canvases, then stroll or rent a rowboat in the surrounding gardens. Reserve well ahead, entry is timed and strict.

2. Midday

   Piazza del Popolo & the Tridente

   Descend to Piazza del Popolo (with two free Caravaggios in Santa Maria del Popolo), then walk the elegant shopping streets of the Tridente. Pause on the Pincio terrace for the view.

3. Lunch

   Near the Spanish Steps

   Lunch around the Spanish Steps or Piazza di Spagna. Keep it light before an afternoon of walking.

4. Afternoon

   Capitoline Museums & Campidoglio

   Take in Michelangelo's Campidoglio square and the Capitoline Museums, home to the she-wolf and the Dying Gaul, with a framed Forum view from the Tabularium.

5. Late afternoon

   Aventine (Orange Garden & Keyhole)

   Head to the tranquil Aventine for the Orange Garden's Tiber view and the famous Knights of Malta keyhole framing St. Peter's dome. A peaceful, romantic finale to the sightseeing.

6. Evening

   Testaccio food crawl

   End in Testaccio, Rome's food heartland, for a trattoria dinner or a graze through its classic eats. The perfect last-night taste of authentic Roman cooking.