Photo: Nicholas Hartmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
7 Days · in Rome
Seven Days in Rome: The Complete City & Beyond
A week in Rome lets you see the city in full, and step beyond it. This plan covers the icons, the neighborhoods, the ancient road and catacombs, an ancient-port day trip, a museums-and-Caravaggio deep dive, and a final day among the fountains and villas of Tivoli.
Day 01
Day 1 — Ancient Rome & the Center
Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and the baroque piazzas.
Morning
Colosseum
Timed entry at opening for the arena and underground.
Late morning
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The Forum and Palatine on the same ticket.
Lunch
Monti
Trattoria lunch in Monti.
Afternoon
The Pantheon
The Pantheon and center, coffee at the bar.
Late afternoon
Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps
Trevi coin toss and the Tridente to the Spanish Steps.
Evening
Piazza Navona & dinner
Fountains at dusk and dinner near Campo de' Fiori.
Day 02
Day 2 — The Vatican & Trastevere
The Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo, and a Trastevere evening.
Morning
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Early entry for the galleries and the Sistine ceiling.
Midday
St. Peter's Basilica
The basilica and an optional dome climb.
Lunch
Prati
Lunch in Prati near the Vatican.
Afternoon
Castel Sant'Angelo
The fortress terrace and angel bridge.
Late afternoon
Gianicolo terrace
Sunset over the domes.
Evening
Trastevere dinner
Dinner in Trastevere's lanes.
Day 03
Day 3 — Borghese, Baroque & the Aventine
Bernini, gardens, viewpoints, and a Testaccio night.
Morning
Galleria Borghese & Villa Borghese
Your booked Borghese slot, then the park.
Midday
Piazza del Popolo & the Tridente
Popolo, its Caravaggios, and the shopping streets.
Lunch
Near the Spanish Steps
A light lunch near Piazza di Spagna.
Afternoon
Capitoline Museums & Campidoglio
Michelangelo's square and the Capitoline collection.
Late afternoon
Aventine (Orange Garden & Keyhole)
The Orange Garden and the keyhole view.
Evening
Testaccio food crawl
A Roman dinner in the food heartland.
Day 04
Day 4 — The Appian Way, Caracalla & San Giovanni
Ancient road, catacombs, colossal baths, and Rome's cathedral.
Morning
Baths of Caracalla
The towering ruins of the imperial baths.
Late morning
Via Appia Antica (Appian Way)
Cycle the ancient road past tombs and ruins.
Lunch
Appia Antica park
A countryside lunch along the Appian Way.
Afternoon
The Catacombs
A guided descent into the early-Christian catacombs.
Late afternoon
San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome's cathedral and the Holy Stairs.
Evening
San Giovanni / Monti dinner
Dinner in San Giovanni or Monti.
Day 05
Day 5 — Ostia Antica & the Jewish Ghetto
An ancient port day trip and the old Ghetto's flavors.
Morning
Ostia Antica
The intact ancient port, a 30-minute train away.
Lunch
Ostia Antica
Lunch near the ruins before returning.
Afternoon
The Jewish Ghetto
The Portico d'Ottavia, synagogue, and lanes.
Late afternoon
Tiber Island & Trastevere
The island and a riverside golden hour.
Evening
Roman-Jewish dinner
Fried artichokes and Ghetto specialties.
Day 06
Day 6 — Museums, Churches & Caravaggio
Ancient art, a Caravaggio trail, and underground Rome, at a slower pace.
Morning
Palazzo Massimo (National Roman Museum)
Take in breathtaking ancient frescoes, including the garden room of Livia's villa, and superb sculpture, a quieter, world-class museum near Termini. A restful, cultured start.
Midday
Caravaggio church trail
Duck into San Luigi dei Francesi, Sant'Agostino, and (near Popolo) Santa Maria del Popolo to see major Caravaggios for free. A self-guided masterpiece hunt through the center.
Lunch
Centro Storico
A leisurely lunch in the center between churches, perhaps a modern spot like Retrobottega or a classic trattoria. No rush today.
Afternoon
San Clemente & Santa Maria Maggiore
Descend the layers of San Clemente, from medieval church to ancient temple, then admire the golden mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore. Two of Rome's richest, quieter churches.
Late afternoon
Villa Borghese or shopping
Unwind in the Villa Borghese gardens or shop the Tridente at your own pace, a gentler afternoon after a busy week. Rent a rowboat or simply stroll.
Evening
Rooftop aperitivo & dinner
Toast the trip from a rooftop bar with a domes-and-rooftops view, then a relaxed dinner. Savor the city lights on a warm evening.
Day 07
Day 7 — Tivoli Day Trip
Hadrian's Villa and the fountain gardens of Villa d'Este, then a farewell dinner.
Morning
Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana)
Take the short trip to Tivoli to explore Emperor Hadrian's sprawling villa complex, a vast, romantic archaeological park of pools, pavilions, and ruins. Allow a couple of hours to wander.
Lunch
Tivoli town
Lunch in the hill town of Tivoli, a pleasant break with countryside views. Try the local trattorias before the afternoon gardens.
Afternoon
Villa d'Este
Tour the Renaissance Villa d'Este, famed for its terraced gardens and hundreds of fountains, an enchanting UNESCO site. The Fountain of the Organ and the Hundred Fountains are highlights.
Late afternoon
Return to Rome
Head back to the city by train or bus, arriving in time to freshen up. A scenic end to your excursions.
Evening
Farewell dinner in Trastevere
Celebrate your week with a final dinner in atmospheric Trastevere, followed by a last gelato and a slow walk through the floodlit lanes. Arrivederci, Roma.