How to make the most of three days in the Eternal City

Welcome to Rome

Italy’s capital is one of our all-time favourite city destinations. Before you’ve even landed, Rome begins to make its mark; punctuated by the River Tiber, its iconic landmarks leap out of the urban sprawl as you descend. 

From there, Rome just keeps getting more and more special. Standing where titans of the ancient world – Cicero, Julius Caesar, Augustus – made history, surrounded by the crumbling vestiges of their Empire - still imperiously dignified in their dilapidation – is a moving, humbling and awe-inspiring experience. 

Perfect for a long weekend break, getting to Rome is quick and easy. When we visited in 2025, we had two and a half days here, which felt a bit rushed; we’d recommend 3 or 4 days if you really want to make the most of the city without feeling rushed. 

With better-than-fiction history, beautiful architecture, tranquil green spaces, magnificent food and – naturally – great museums, Rome is the quintessential European city break. 

In fact, the sheer number of incredible sights, sites and tastes is what can make Rome feel overwhelming! If this is you – you’re in the right place. This article will break down the best places to stay, see and eat in the Eternal City. 

Getting around

Getting to Rome 

Rome’s principal airport is Fiumicinio, which is less than a 2.5-hour flight from London (Stanstead) and less than 3-hours from Edinburgh. 

Getting to the city centre from the airport 

The Leonardo Express – Rome’s dedicated airport train – leaves every 15 minutes from the airport and takes 30 minutes to reach Termini Station in the city centre. Tickets cost €14 – you can save a fiver and catch a bus, but it’ll take you twice as long to arrive. 

Getting around Rome 

Rome’s a very well-connected city, so you’ve got plenty of options here. You can get around using: 

• Rome’s Metro: fast, reliable and runs from 05:30 until 23:30 every day. 
• Bus: Rome has over 350 different bus lines, so you can get anywhere and everywhere by bus. 
• Hop-on hop-off buses: As you might expect, there are hop-on hop-off buses here too! We love these – they’re a great way to get your bearings and have a bit of a taster of the city before diving deeper into specific areas, all while enjoying some patchy historical commentary! 
• Moped: When in Rome, as they say! You can hire electric mopeds from Bici Baci and zip around the Roman way. 
• Walk! Rome’s such a walkable city. Plus walking gives plenty of opportunity to meander down pretty cobblestone streets, dipping into a café for a cappuccino and a pastry as you make your way to the next historic activity! 

Where to stay

1. Dharma Boutique Hotel: tucked away down a cobbled street in the heart of trendy Monti, this boutique hotel is modern, comfortable and perfectly located for exploring. The service is also exceptional – which we can vouch for, having stayed here ourselves! 
2. Hotel Isa: situated in the quiet and elegant Prati neighbourhood, this is great for families or those of you seeking a more tranquil base to return to after a day amongst the crowds! Plus, you’re walking distance from the Vatican. 
3. First Musica: Another Prati favourite, the First Musica is a modern boutique hotel with a super cool vibe. In its rooftop restaurant (customary for any cool Roman hotel), the food is delicious and creative. Stay after dinner for a cocktail overlooking the city as the sun goes down. 
4. Hotel De Ricci: A stone’s throw from the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona, staying here has you right in the middle of the action whilst feeling like you’re in your own private home once you’re inside. 
5. Hotel Locarno: Our top pick for families, Hotel Locarno is tucked away on a charming street just off the famed Piazza del Popolo; it’s also super close to Villa Borghese. The interior design is stunning, with Art Deco furnishing giving the rooms a wonderful old-world-yet-artsy vibe. 
6. The St Regis: our top luxury pick – the St Regis is Rome’s iconic luxe hotel. The grand, marble foyer hints at the level of service you can expect here. For a luxury hotels, the rooms are surprisingly bright and airy. This is luxury without the stuffiness! The St Regis is also a stone’s throw from Rome Central Station – ideal for stepping into after a late arrival. 

What to do in Rome

As in many cities around Europe, Rome offers its own ‘tourism pass’: the Roma Pass. Like those offered elsewhere, the Roma Pass gives you free public transport across metro, bus and rail, as well as free entry to 2 museums and further discounts to other events and attractions. 

You can purchase either a 48 or 72 hour Roma Pass, which is well worth it doing! 

The usual suspects

1. The Colosseum: probably top of almost everyone’s Rome to-do list. To go inside, you’ll need to book onto a guided tour. These sell out far in advance, especially in the summer – so booking well ahead of time is strongly advised! 
2. Roman Forum: Given that the Forum is right next door to the Colosseum, these two sites are an obvious pair. In fact, you can purchase tickets that give you combined entry to both! Take plenty of time here to really soak it all in. 
3. The Vatican City: again, one that everyone wants to do. Queues to get into the Vatican beggar belief – 4 hour wait times are not unusual. Another one where booking ahead of time is well advised! You can book either a guided tour or simple fast-track entry, where you’ll enter as part of a group before dispersing once you’re through the door. 
4. Trevi Fountain: One to get to early – it’s thronged with crowds throughout the day that make walking through difficult and photo-taking nigh on impossible! We arrived at 7am and it was nice and peaceful – by 07:30 the crowds were already forming! 
5. Spanish Steps: A short walk from the Trevi Fountain, pop into a café on the Via dei due Macelli for a caffeine hit along the way between the two. You’ll also be grateful for getting here early, if you manage it! 

Other top picks

1. Relax in Villa Borghese: When you’re a bit fed up of crowds, old stuff and being on your feet, take some time to chill out in Villa Borghese – the largest park in Rome and a haven of green amidst the stone city streets. You’ll also get stunning panoramic views over the city. Head here from the Spanish Steps, the closest landmark to Villa Borghese. 
2. Stop by the Jewish Quarter: Rich with history, interesting architecture and buzzing with vibrant shops, the Jewish Quarter is well worth a stroll around. Here you’ll find the very best of a quintessential local dish – deep-fried artichokes. Don’t leave without trying them! 
3. Head underground: Explore Rome’s famous catacombs – the final resting place for many Romans of old - to see a different side to the city. To take the spooky vibe up a notch, do an after hours tour! 
4. Immerse yourself in food and wine: Take a foodie tour and experience the best authentic, local spots for treating your taste buds! 
5. Take an Italian cooking class: learn how to make delicious, authentic pasta at Kitchen of Mamma or decadent pizza at Amore. 

Where to eat in Rome

It wouldn't be a guide to Rome without talking about food! As with every region across Italy, Rome has its own gastronomic signature.

Rooted firmly in la cucina povera - literally meaning "poor kitchen", cucina povera focuses on simple, hearty meals with humble, local ingredients - Roman cooking centres around simple, unpretentious dishes. Most humble of all is the classic cacio e pepe: a simple pasta made only with Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper.

While Roman cooking is simple to its core, it's anything but basic. For some of the best eats in the city, head to:

Restaurants

1. Cuoco & Camicia: located in Monti not far from the Coloseum, Cuoco & Camicia is a chic trattoria that serves modern, seasonal cuisine. The quality of the food here is absolutely excellent – using fresh, quality ingredients harmoniously without being over the top. Given that the food wouldn’t be out of place on the table of a Michelin-starred restaurant, the prices here are incredible, too. 
2. Il Matriciano: This Prati-based, women-owned restaurant has a proper old-world vibe, with 5 wood-panelled dining rooms and a streetside terrace. Having been in business for over 100 years, they know a thing or two about good food, done well. Expect simple, delicious and well-priced Roman cooking without pretense. 
3. Mercato Centrale: located right next to Termini station, Mercato Centrale is a fun, trendy street food market serving both local Roman specialities (the ‘Trappizino’ is a must-have) and international favourites. This is more of a lunch spot than dinner, and is definitely worth a visit!
4. Carter Oblio: Another Prati restaurant, Carter Oblio is in many ways the opposite of Il Matriciano. This is fine-dining, with a cuisine centred around innovative reinterpretation of classic Italian dishes. Gorgeously presented and delicious, this is the place to come for something that bit special. 
5. Spizzica Roma: hidden away down a narrow cobbled street between the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, Spizzica was – for both of us – the pizza highlight of our own trip to Rome. It’s served ‘al taglio’ (by the slice), so you can try a few different varieties in one go. And trust us, you’ll want to. 
6. La Taverna dei Monti: an understated, family-run trattoria in trendy Monti, you’d be forgiven for walking right past it. Behind the down-to-earth exterior, though, is some excellent Cucina Romano (Roman cooking). It would be criminal not to order the cacio e pepe. 
7. Gli Esploratori: A restaurant, wine shop and bookshop all rolled into one, this restaurant in Ottaviano manages to thread the needle of being hyper-cool while retaining a really welcoming, friendly vibe. A favourite with locals (always a good sign!), the food is creative and inventive and, of course, delicious! 

For gelato

1. Venchi Gelato: Located right by the Pantheon, Venchi makes a great dessert stop after pizza at Spizzica. Being so close to the Pantheon, we were worried it would be a bit of a tourist trap. But this ended up being our favourite gelato we had on the entire trip (and we had a LOT). 
2. Giolitti: We couldn’t have a gelato list without mentioning Giolitti. Held by many to be the best gelato in Rome, Giolitti is without doubt a must-visit. Don’t be put off by the gigantic queues – they work with military precision, so you won’t be waiting long for your gelato fix. 
3. Neve Di Latte: A veritable gelato laboratory, this artisan gelateria is up there with the very best. They only use top-quality ingredients and make everything on-site, too. 
4. Grom: If you’re looking for a treat that’s guilt-free, Grom is your place! Grom uses only locally grown, organic ingredients – with most coming from their farm just outside the city. 

General Tips

• Speaking of general ‘tips’ - do you need to tip in Rome? It’s not customary or expected; locals when tipping will typically leave €1-2 or 10%. For exceptional service, round the bill up to the nearest €5-10. 
• If servizio appears on your bill, this is a service charge. You won’t need to tip at all in this case. 
• Bring comfortable shoes! Prepare to do a lot of walking as you traverse between landmarks. Rome does have a good Metro service, but even using this you’re still likely to log a lot of steps! 
• Book ahead: sadly for the spontaneous types, the time of rocking up to major sites and attractions on the day is long gone. You’ll need to book well in advance, particularly if you’re trying to play calendar Tetris and squeeze in as much as possible!   
• Don’t rush! Limit yourself to a couple of the major sites per day. You’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet as it is – the last thing you want to be doing is marching from place to place as well. Give yourself time to amble! If you’re not sure how to structure your Rome itinerary, read our guide to a long weekend in Rome. 
• Rise early. The early bird catches the worm in Rome. Even if you’re not a morning person, we promise that a quiet and crowd-less Pantheon, Trevi Fountain or Spanish Steps will be well worth the alarm. 

Final thoughts

Rome is our favourite city break destination - the incredible history, food, architecture, people and the ease of getting around make it perfect for a long weekend.

It can be intense, though. Knowing how to pace and sequence the trip is crucial for getting the most out of the city, without needing another holiday to recover from your holiday!