On our recent trip to Rome, we managed to pack in a ton of sites with only 4 days in Rome. The so-called eternal city is one of my all-time favorites, and after several visits I finally compiled my ultimate list of what to do in Rome in 4 days.
If you are trying to see Rome in 4 days, I would recommend grouping your site-seeing like this:
Day 1:
Pantheon
Piazza Navona
Biblioteca Angelica
Venchi
Day 2:
Colosseum
Palatine Hill
Jewish Quarter
Aventine Hill
Day 3:
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Piazza de Venezia
Day 4:
The Vatican
Rome Packing List
Before you ever get on the plane (or train!) to Rome, you’ll have to sit down and decide what to pack. That my friends, is a mission in itself. After several trips to Rome during different seasons, I finally compiled my ultimate Italy packing list including what to wear in Rome for every season. For more on packing for Italy, check out the linked article – otherwise, let’s dive right into the top things to do in Rome.
Rome Transportation
Before I get into the specifics of what to do in Rome in 4 days, let’s talk about logistics – namely how to get to all of these sites. Rome is luckily one of the European capitals that is very easy to navigate by walking, bus, or metro, and you do not need to rent a car. Even if you are staying for a longer period of time and want to do day trips outside of Rome, I would suggest waiting to rent a car until you actually want to leave the city, since you really don’t need it within city limits.
Where to Stay in Rome
Unlike many European capitals, there is not one must-stay area in Rome (in my opinion). Because many of the top places to visit in Rome around scattered throughout the city, you could choose many different areas – such as near the Colosseum, close to Vatican City, or overlooking the Spanish Steps.
Of all the places I have stayed in Rome, I thought that Rome hotels near the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain were the most convenient. Both of those sites are major tourist attractions, and staying close to the allows you to see them earlier or later in the day when crowds are less dense.
The area directly below the Spanish Steps is also full of local, affordable Rome restaurants that we ate at almost every night before heading back to the hotel. Below, I’ve included a map widget through my favorite booking website – booking.com showing hotels surrounding the Spanish Steps.
Booking.com4 Days in Rome: Day 1
Once you have an idea of what to do for transportation and hotels in Rome, it’s time to start making an itinerary for 4 days in Rome. When choosing what to do in Rome, I tried to group together Rome attractions that were located in the same area and walk from one attraction to the next. We like to walk because you see the city much more thoroughly than you would if you take the metro or bus, although all of those are good options.
On the first of our 4 days in Rome, we headed to the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Biblioteca Angelica and of course – gelato at Venchi.
All of these locations are quite close to each other, so you can do them in whatever order you choose.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the most easily recognizable and stunning pieces of architecture in the city, and it’s definitely one of the top Rome attractions. The Pantheon is considered one of the best preserved and most influential buildings from ancient Rome. So what it is it exactly? Glad you asked – it’s a Roman temple for all the gods of Rome, and it was built around 118 to 125 AD. Basically, if nothing else you should go see it because you’re looking at an almost 2,000 year old building. If you like knowing more about the historical significance of sites you visit, you can read more about the Pantheon here.
As you’ll find with most of the top places to visit in Rome, the Pantheon is often very crowded. Unlike many Rome attractions, entrance to the Pantheon is free, but prepare to be surrounded by tourists.
Piazza Navona
About a 5 minute walk from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona is a gorgeous square in the middle of the city that’s home to numerous bars, cafes, and fountains. While we were there we also saw movie being filmed in the location, as well as hoards of people who would sit around the fountains and enjoy the scenery. This is a great place to grab a coffee and take in the sites – but be prepared to pay much more than normal if you want to eat within the square itself.
Biblioteca Angelica
After strolling through Piazza Navona, make sure to check out this fabulous library – it’s worth seeing if just for the stunning photos you’ll take. For all my fellow book lovers, this ancient collection looks like something out of Beauty and the Beast, and is definitely worth a quick visit.
Venchi
While you’re in this area, make sure to grab a gelato at Venchi – trust me, you’ll thank me for this recommendation later. Venchi is one of the many gelato places in Rome, but it was by far our favorite, and they also have melted chocolate that they pour into the cones, as well as a chocolate fountain wall in the store. Need I say more? To read more about Venchi and other must-see food places in Rome, check out this handy guide I wrote about where to eat in Rome.
4 Days in Rome: Day 2
Colosseum
If you’re anything like me, seeing the Colosseum is at the top of your list of things to do in Rome. Perhaps the most recognizable monument in Rome, this ancient structure is definitely worth a visit. That being said, there is most definitely a right way and a wrong way to visit, and by wrong way I mean standing in line for hours rather than enjoying one of the most famous Rome attractions.
But first things first – what is the Colosseum? The Colosseum was built around 70-80 AD and hosted the gladiator games and wild animal fights. Its history is bloody – literally – and it was actively used for about four centuries. By the time the 20th century rolled around, nearly two-thirds of the original structure had been destroyed, although restoration efforts have been taking place since the 1990s.
I’m an unapologetic Roman history nerd, and visiting the Colosseum is like watching the movie Gladiator come to life (if you haven’t seen it, stop what you’re doing right now and go watch it). It is hands-down in my top 3 Rome attractions and places to visit in Rome. The downside? Most tourists feel the same way about the Colosseum, so it is almost always packed with people.
Tickets to the Colosseum
To avoid standing in line at the Colosseum for hours, make sure to order your ticket at least 24 hours ahead of time online. If you want a guided tour that’s certainly an option, or just stroll through the structure and admire the fact that it’s still standing after all these years.
Another note about Colosseum tickets: when buying online, you can buy a joint ticket that includes entrance to Palatine Hill, which is next to the Colosseum. Palatine Hill is a less crowded and less well-known Rome attraction, but it is definitely worth visiting. Keep reading below for more on Palatine Hill.
Palatine Hill
Directly adjacent to the Colosseum, is another one of the top places to visit in Rome: Palatine Hill. As I mentioned previously, a ticket for one of these attractions will get you in to both, and both are worth visiting.
Palatine Hill is peppered with ancient Roman monuments in varying states of ruin, and it’s both picture perfect and full of fascinating history. During the years of Roman rule, Palatine Hill was home to many temples and residences of the city’s important citizens. Palatine Hill does not feature one major monument (like the Colosseum), but instead has numerous ruins that are spread throughout its area.
In terms of time needed at the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, I recommend planning to spend half a day at the Colosseum and Palatine Hill for a major dose of Roman history and culture. It may sound like a long time, but there is a significant area to walk around at both sites, and we found that 3-4 hours was perfect.
Jewish Quarter
If you choose to see the Colosseum and Palatine Hill in the morning (which we did), walk about 10 minutes to the Jewish Quarter afterwards for a bite to eat for lunch. The historic area of the city features a Jewish museum and a Great Synagogue, but it is also a hip, modern area that’s famous for its tasty food and friendly vibe. This is a great place to pull up a chair, grab a bite to eat, and rest after your hours at the Colosseum and Palatine Hill.
We were also very surprised to find that the Jewish Quarter had a lot of activities going on, and we were even able to witness part of a wedding taking place at the Great Synagogue. The Jewish Quarter is an excellent place to get a taste of Rome’s modern culture, but Rome’s Jewish Museum also gives perspective to the long and sometimes brutal treatment of the Jews throughout Rome’s history.
Aventine Hill (sunset picnic)
For the modern adventurer, there’s no better Rome attraction than Aventine Hill, which is a significant walk or a short cab ride away from the Jewish Quarter.
If you walk, you can take in fabulous sites like the river running through the city and the Bota de Veritas (the famous mouth carving that can be seen in classic movies like Roman Holiday), as well as the old Roman chariot circuit, which today is a park.
However, even if you choose to take a cab, Aventine Hill is worth seeing both for its incredible views of Rome (the best in the city), and its gorgeous gardens. I would recommend this area for a sunset picnic; just make sure to bring your camera to capture these panoramic views.
4 Days in Rome: Day 3
On the third of your 4 days in Rome, we recommend heading to some of the most famous Rome attractions: the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and Piazza de Venezia. This day is less structured than some of the others, giving you an opportunity to explore the area between these three attractions, which includes a lot of great shopping.
Trevi Fountain
One of the most famous sites in Rome, the Trevi Fountain is both gorgeous – and a tourist trap. While it’s definitely worth a visit, I would recommend going early in the morning if you want a clear view of the fountain, otherwise be prepared to enjoy its beauty with thousands of other revelers.
There is no entrance fee or even defined entrance to the Trevi Fountain; it is a massive fountain surrounded by sculptures that is located in the middle of Rome. The Trevi Fountain has been featured in countless movies, and it is a famous spot where visitors throw coins into the fountain.
Why, might you ask? Good question – legend has it that if you throw a coin in the Trevi fountain with your back to the fountain, and with your right hand over your left shoulder, then you are guaranteed that you will return to Rome. It’s an awesome city, so hey, why not?
When to Visit the Trevi Fountain
Since the Trevi Fountain is one of the top places to visit in Rome, it is almost always full of tourists. Seriously, even after dark. That being said, we stayed in a hotel near the Spanish Steps and headed to the Trevi Fountain very early to take pictures – think 6:30am early. If you don’t mind seeing Rome attractions with lots of tourists, there is really no reason to visit it so early. However, if you want photos without other people in them, it’s best to head to the Trevi Fountain very early in the day, before the rest of the world wakes up.
Spanish steps
Another famous Rome attraction, the Spanish steps are about a 10 minute walk from the Trevi Fountain and are perfect for people watching, a quick rest on the steps, or high-profile shopping in the numerous designer stores surrounding the area. The streets at the bottom of the steps are also a great place to look for a quaint place to grab food or drinks. For more on great restaurants in the Spanish Step area, check out my post on where to eat in Rome.
Piazza de Venezia
This “square” is actually a huge, modern, marble monument that doubles as a museum for the Italian military, and it is both formidable and incredibly impressive. While it might not be the first thing you think of when you’re considering what to do in Rome, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Even if you’re not interested in knowing more about the history of the modern Italian military, this museum is free and worth a quick walk-through, just to admire the incredible architecture and numerous statues that can be seen throughout.
4 Day in Rome: Day 4
The Vatican
Undoubtedly the busiest and most crowded tour site in Rome, the Vatican is its own city-state, and an amazing place to visit for a mix of history, art, and culture. The Vatican has been the seat of the Catholic Church for hundreds of years, and elements of the modern-day Vatican such as St.Peter’s Basilica have existed since around 324 AD.
The Vatican today that you can visit is made up of the Vatican museums and St Peters Basilica. The museums include countless Roman, Greek, and Egyptian works of art, so prepare yourself to see everything from statues of Roman senators to Egyptians mummies. Tours are available if you would like, or you can just wander through the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral, all of which are breathtaking and architectural wonders.
Tickets to the Vatican
If you take only one thing away from this article, please let it be that you should buy tickets to the Vatican online at least 24 hours in advance. You can find tickets here, and by purchasing them in advance you will save yourself a massive headache and hours of waiting in line.
It totally depends on your personal preference, but I have been to the Vatican several times and both times chose to do a self-guided tour rather than taking part in an organized tour. I was happy with this decision because I wasn’t forced to wait in a crowded room with a tour group, and instead could see the sites at my own pace. I cannot stress enough that the Vatican is very crowded, so be prepared to deal with a lot of people while you’re there.
With the remaining time in this day after you finish seeing the Vatican, feel free to stroll back to the city rather than taking public transportation for a chance to see beautiful architecture such as the Supreme Court and the numerous ornate bridges spanning the river and connecting the city.
That wraps it up for our 4 days in Rome itinerary! I hope this was helpful in planning your upcoming trip to Rome – if you have any questions or suggestions of things that I should add to this list, please leave me a comment!
If you’re planning a longer trip to Italy and see the Italian coast, you might consider adding a few days in the Amalfi Coast or Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre and explore a gorgeous village near the sea. If you’re traveling with children, you might also want to consider a Lake Como family vacation – packed with beautiful views and a relaxing atmosphere. You can never get enough of Italy!
Have you been to Rome and visited one of these locations? What did you think? Comment and let me know!
