How Many Days in Rome do you Really Need?

Planning a trip to Rome, but not sure how many days you need in Rome? You’ve come to the right place!

In this article you will find the most thorough answer to the question; “How many days in Rome do you really need?”

The Eternal City is one of the most visited cities in Europe, if not the whole world, and it’s easy to see why. With its ancient Roman history, unique architecture and delicious food, there’s plenty in Rome just waiting to be discovered.

I’m originally from Milan, but spent a few months living in Rome, and as such can give you my top insights, both as a local and as a tourist.

I will give you a heads up now though; the answer to “how many days should I spend in Rome?” isn’t straight forward, and there isn’t a single perfect amount of time to spend in Rome.

How many days you should spend in Rome ultimately depends on your personal interests and travel style. 

The Italian capital has much to offer, and it definitely demands time, but you can make it work depending on your itinerary.

In this article you will find a detailed breakdown of how much you can realistically see in Rome every day from one to five days, as well as what you need to take into account when planning your trip.

I also include advice on the best things to do in Rome, the best time to visit, the best way to travel around the Eternal City and make the most of it, regardless of how long you spend here.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in and discover how many days you should spend in Rome!

How many days do you need in Rome at a glance?

How many days in Rome is enough? Well, just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, you cannot possibly see all of Rome in one day, but it’s definitely a starter to get a feel for the vibe and see a few of the big-hitter sights.

If you’ve got more time, you can see more. It’s as simple as that – and here’s how your itinerary could look.

I have outlined below some basic Rome itineraries, to give you an idea of how much you can realistically see in each amount of time.

 

1 day in Rome

Having one day in Rome is better than having no days in Rome. With one day in the Eternal City, you can fit in the entrance to just one main attraction; I would recommend either the Vatican or the Colosseum. 

Sometimes I see itineraries online suggesting you do both in one day, and while it could technically be possible (especially if you join one of those Rome by night tours of the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica), it would be very rushed.

I highly recommend you pick one between Renaissance and Ancient Romans, and spend the rest of your day enjoying the picturesque streets of the heart of Rome.

Then you’ll have time to walk around Rome, get a feel for the city, and see other sights from the outside, places like the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna.

2 days in Rome 

With two days in Rome, you’ll have enough time to go inside two of the city’s main attractions. I’d say that the Vatican and the Colosseum are unmissable if you have two days.

You’ll also have time to wander around the historical center of Rome, see the same sights listed in the above itinerary from the outside, and maybe even fit in a food tour in the evening. Sounds yum!

3 days in Rome

Three days in Rome gives you the opportunity to do everything at a more leisurely pace. It’s good if you’ve got a long weekend to spare.

You can see everything mentioned above, but basically going a bit slower, and maybe visiting the interior of a few more attractions.

For example, you could step inside the Pantheon, spend a bit of time exploring the Roman Forum, maybe go inside Castel Sant’Angelo or the Altare della Patria and see the beautiful views over Rome, and generally just experience more that Rome has to offer. 

4 days in Rome

The same goes for four days in Rome.

You’ll have more time to soak up the feeling of the city; get stuck into local life with a few foodie experiences at some of Rome’s best restaurants, explore at a more relaxed pace, enjoying chill walks along the Tiber or the ancient Appian Way.

5 days in Rome

If you’ve got five days to spend in Rome – lucky you!

You’ll be able to hit up the main sights of the city, wander around museums at a less frantic pace, and visit a few more far-flung destinations like the Coppede neighbourhood, the EUR district or the Baths of Caracalla.

Things to take into account when choosing how many days in Rome

When you’re planning a trip to Rome, how many days you choose to spend there is obviously one of the major points of the whole process.

First and foremost, it essentially depends on how much time you have spare and your Italy trip budget. It’s basically a balance between these two factors, but also…

Your arrival & departure times into Rome

3 days in Rome when arriving at night and leaving early in the morning is definitely not the same as 3 days in Rome arriving early in the morning and leaving late at night instead.

The itineraries suggested above are for full days, so plan your arrival times wisely. If you’re visiting Rome as part of a wider Italy itinerary, make sure to plan your transfers between cities accordingly.

Where in Rome you’re staying

How many days to visit Rome depends on location, location, location.

If you pick a hotel close to the Colosseum you’ll be close to everything (but it’s expensive). Meaning you can get away with fewer days as you won’t have to travel much around Rome.

Stay further out and it’s cheaper, but you will spend more time travelling in and out of Rome, meaning it’s more suited for longer stays.

How do you get around

Plan on walking everywhere?

That’s great if you’ve got five days in Rome and want to snap some beautiful Rome photos at every picturesque street, but not so much if you’ve got only two or three days.

Catching public transportation or booking yourself on a guided tour is a good way to fit more in if you’re short on time.

Time of year

If you’re visiting Rome in the summer months you can spend longer there to factor a day trip and some beach time, but you can obviously count this out if you’re visiting Rome in winter.

If you’re spending Christmas in Italy, Rome is a magical place to visit! The Christmas lights, trees and decorations are simply magical.

Your interests

My daily overview above is for people who want to see a bit of everything.

But if you have a specific interest for ancient history, and you want to visit every single ruin that dates back to Ancient Rome, in the city, then you may not be able to fit everything you want to see into 3 days in Rome.

How many days for Rome for first timers

Working out how many days to spend in Rome for your first visit can be a bit daunting. There’s a lot to see in the Italian capital, and figuring out how to fit it in is confusing.

I would say that if it’s your first time in Rome, you probably want to see a bit of everything.

At least two days spent exploring the city will be good, but if you have time, three days is even better. You will have more time to go inside most of the main attractions and enjoy your Rome experience more fully. 

How many days to see Rome for a history & art lover 

History lovers will need a lot more time in Rome, especially if you plan on going inside all the main attractions and museums.

The bare minimum for those who want to learn all about the history of Rome is four days, but I would say that you could easily spend more.

Aside from the classic sights, there’s a treasure trove of lesser known spots such as the catacombs, Nero’s Domus Aurea and centuries-old churches to visit like San Pietro in Vincoli. The list is pretty much endless!

How many days to spend in Rome for young party travellers

If you’re in Rome not only to see the main attractions, but also want to party the night away, then you need at least three days. That gives you enough time to soak up the ambience of the Roman evenings and local lifestyle.

Make sure to take into consideration that your trip will be more about long nights out on the town, with hangovers making days much slower.

Early morning tours and lots of sightseeing will not be at the top of your agenda – it’s more about how many nights to spend in Rome instead!

How many days do you need in Rome for families 

For those of you taking a trip to Rome with kids, three or more days is a good idea.

Taking into account that there might be a lot of waiting around in queues, and kids are likely to get bored, you might want to break up the historic sights with trips to the park and stops for gelato. 

Three days should give you enough time to do all the things to do in Rome with kids, and tick off some iconic landmarks from your Italy bucket list, or even your Europe bucket list!

Best tours in Rome

Regardless of how many days you spend in Rome, there are some popular tours you should definitely add to your itinerary, as they will make your time in Rome easier and more fun.

I refer to these as tours, as you can buy them on GetYourGuide (my favourite online tour booking platform, since it offers free cancellation up until 24 hours before and you can see reviews by other travellers), but technically they’re not all tours.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Ticket-Line Entry – This is your priority entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, so that you can skip the long lines outside.

Skip the line, and purchase your Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel entrance here!

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel: Tour – I suggest going beyond the skip-the-line entrance, and booking yourself a guided tour, so that you can see all of the highlights of Vatican Museum with a knowledgeable guide.

Click here to book your Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel tour!

Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill Priority Tickets – You don’t want to spend hours queueing under the sun, so make sure to purchase a priority Colosseum ticket, and save yourself some time, regardless of how many days you spend in Rome!

Click here to book your Colosseum tickets and skip the line!

Where to stay in Rome

If you’re looking for the best areas to stay in Rome look no further! Personally I would opt for a lovely Rome airbnb, or hotel near the Pantheon, so that you’re super central and close to all the main attractions.

I listed below some cool places to stay for every budget.

Budget: YellowSquare Rome – This hostel is in a great position, with clean and modern dorms and a lovely social atmosphere. The perfect place to stay without breaking the bank!

Click here to see the latest prices and availability at YellowSquare Rome!

Mid-range: Albergo Abruzzi – This lovely boutique hotel in Rome is perfect if you want something nice, without spending too much. Located right next to the Pantheon, it’s in a winning position.

Click here to see the latest prices and availability at Albergo Abruzzi!

Luxury: Giallo Colosseo – If you’re looking to treat yourself, this is the place to do so. From this apartment you get amazing Colosseum views directly from your bed, what more can you ask for?!

Don’t miss out, book your stay at Giallo Colosseo here!

Final thoughts on how many days to visit Rome

There you have it, the ultimate guide explaining how many days you need in Rome! Have you been to Rome before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a straight forward answer, but as you can see, it’s not as simple as a set number of days for everyone. How many days you should spend in Rome depends on your interest and travel style.

In this article I tried being as thorough as possible, taking into account everything that can influence how many days you need in Rome, giving you also realistic examples of how much you can see every day.

Rome is the Eternal City after all, and it’s only normal that you want to make the most of your time there. If you can extend your Italy itinerary, make sure to visit other beautiful destinations like Milan, Venice, Florence, Matera and Cinque Terre.

Rome is a stunning city, with a unique history, beautiful architecture dotted all around it, tasty food and friendly locals. But you can find that also in other cities in Italy, so make sure to visit more of my beautiful country!

I hope you found this article useful, and that it helped you answer the question; “How many days do I need in Rome”?

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