Epic 4 Day Rome Itinerary For First Time Visitors

This 4-day Rome itinerary will allow you to see all the highlights of Rome while allowing you extra time on your vacation to explore more of the country.

Italy is one of my favorite countries in the world, and Rome on of my favorite cities. Rome was one of the first international cities I visited at the age of 12.

Since then, I’ve been back three times and plan to visit many more.

Each day on this itinerary has a theme: ancient Rome, modern Rome, the Vatican, and culture. This itinerary is very manageable, with activities each day and time to relax and enjoy your time as well. Below, I also share where to stay in Rome, foods you must try, and general travel tips.

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4 Day Rome Itinerary

Day 1: Sightseeing Rome

Day 2: Ancient Rome Tour

Day 3: The Vatican

Day 4: Trastevere & Food Tour

Where to Stay in Rome

What to Eat in Italy

Frequently Asked Questions about Rome

Getting to Rome

Easy Day Trips from Rome

Summary of this 4 Day Rome Itinerary

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4 Day Rome Itinerary

Day 1: Sightseeing Rome

The first day in Rome is focused on seeing some of the most popular tourist sites in the city center. Fortunately, all of these sites are within walking distance and will allow you to get acquainted with the city.

Since these are very popular sites, expect them to be busy. While some people talk down on touristy places, I believe they are that way for a reason and are worth visiting.

Trevi Fountain – This famous fountain is a beautiful sight to see. Be patient to move your way to the edge of the fountain and throw your coin in.

Pantheon – The Pantheon is an ancient temple with a large, domed ceiling. It is free to enter and worth taking a quick look around. Be sure to look up when you enter to marvel at the domed roof line and large opening in the middle.

Piazza Navona – There are many large piazzas in Rome, with Piazza Navona being one of the most popular. The square is lined with restaurants, street performers, and artists.

Stop by one of the restaurants for an Aperol spritz and to take in the scenery. The restaurants are overpriced and not the best quality, but worth it for the location.

Spanish Steps – The Spanish steps are a large, grand staircase that lead into a street lined with luxury shops. Swing by some of these high-end stores such as Gucci or Ferragamo or simply window shop.

Day 2: Ancient Rome Tour

Day two of this 4-day Rome itinerary hits the trifecta of ancient Rome: The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

This combo pass provides skip the line access to all three. I highly recommend booking your tickets ahead of time to avoid hour+ lines.

All three of these sites are within a couple blocks of each other, making them easy to visit in one day.

Colosseum – Probably one of the most popular sites in Rome, visit the Colosseum to see this well-preserved arena and learn about the history of this giant amphitheater.

Roman Forum – the Roman Forum was the center of ancient Rome. You’ll see ruins of government buildings, temples, and residences.

Palatine Hill – More ruins of Ancient Rome where you can learn about the history, see monuments, and visit a museum.

Day 3: The Vatican

While technically its own country, the Vatican is the focus of day three in Rome. This ticket includes a skip-the-line pass to both the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.

Again, I highly recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time to save yourself hours waiting in line.

The first place to visit is the Vatican Museum which includes art galleries, beautiful architecture, and unique exhibits.

Next, more into the Sistine Chapel, which is the highlight of the Vatican, in my opinion. The Sistine Chapel includes incredible, famous work by Michelangelo.

While you are in the area, check out St. Peter’s Basilica which is free to visit.

Depending on how much you enjoy museums, this may not take your full day. A visit to the Vatican is a half-day activity for me. With the extra time, enjoy a nice dinner, relaxing stroll of the city, or some shopping.

Day 4: Trastevere & Food Tour

For your final day in Rome, I recommend taking it slow to soak in the culture and cuisine. Spend some time in the Trastevere, which is a slightly less touristy neighborhood.

Trastevere is known for its large market which has stands with limoncello, produce, souvenirs, and foods.

In addition to wandering Trastevere, I suggest taking this street food tour or cooking class to get a more in-depth food experience.

This food tour includes a walking tour of Trastevere or the Jewish Quarter with stops at 5 local shops to taste the local food and wine.

Food tours are a great way to combine tasty eats with a local take on the area and culture.

For a different, but equally fun food experience, take this pizza and gelato cooking class. Learn how to make traditional Roman pizza with your choice of toppings and a classic gelato.

After creating the meal, enjoy it with a selection of local wines and aperitivo. If you pay attention, you can replicate this meal for loved ones when you return home.

Where to Stay in Rome

There are so many hotels to choose from in Rome. I’ve broken down my top three picks for a splurge, luxury, and more affordable option. All of these hotels have beautiful design and great locations.

Ultra-Luxury | The St Regis Rome

The St Regis Rome is above and beyond beautiful. Located in the coveted Piazza Navona, you cannot go wrong with this hotel.

The rooms are large, elegant, and luxurious. This hotel showcases world-class service that St Regis is known for. In other words, you will have all of your needs taken care of.

Luxury | Anantara Palazzo Naiadi

This hotel looks like a palace inside and out. It has great amenities such as a rooftop terrace, beautiful pool, and a full-service spa.

It’s also located within a quick walk of popular sites such as the Trevi fountain and Spanish Steps.

Affordable Luxury | Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria

For a great luxury option that is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the above hotels, I love the Waldorf Astoria. It’s located on a huge property near the Vatican.

The resort has a 9-hole golf course, 3 pools, 4 cafes, and a great spa. This resort is much larger than the other options I listed above. The only drawback is that it is a bit further from the city center, though accessible via public transportation.

What to Eat in Italy

If I had to choose one cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, I’d choose Italian. When traveling to the world of Pizza, Pasta, and Gelato, you need to try it all! Below are a few of my favorite foods in Rome, but you honestly cannot go wrong.

Gelato – My favorite is from Giolitti, where they have dozens of flavors to choose from

Margarita Pizza – People say that you should judge pizza place based on how they make a margarita pizza. It showcases the quality of the dough, sauce, and mozerella without any additional frills. Plus, it’s a delicious classic.

Cacio e Pepe – this pasta is cheesy, creamy, peppery, and always tasty

Aperol Spritz – this is the best drink to have in Italy. It goes perfect with aperitivo, is super refreshing, and is cute in photos.

It was so hard to narrow down my favorite foods in Rome. Comment below what yours are.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rome

When is the best time to visit Rome?

The best time to visit Rome is in the spring or fall. The summer is the most popular time to visit, but it will be very crowded a bit too warm.

How long should I stay in Rome?

Rome is one of those cities I keep going back to time and again. While I could spend countless days in Rome over my lifetime, I recommend spending 3-4 days each visit. This will give you the right amount of time to visit the highlights, then spend a few days in a different destination in Italy.

What is the currency in Rome?

The currency in Rome is the Euro

Is Rome safe?

Overall, I consider Rome safe. Similar to all major cities, be careful at night, travel in groups, and be aware of your surroundings. In addition, pickpocketing is common in Rome, so keep your valuables in a safe location.

Getting to Rome

By Air – There are two airports in Rome – Fiumicino (FCO) which is the larger of the two and Ciampino (CIA). There are many flights globally and from within Europe every day. From the airport, utilize the train to get into the city.

By Train – As with most of Europe, Rome is very accessible by train. If you are visiting Rome from another city in Italy, taking the train is likely the most efficient way.

Easy Day Trips from Rome

If you have longer than four days in Rome, these are some great day trips that you can take with Rome as your home-base.

Tuscany – Visit the wine region of Italy to taste some delicious wines, see the beautiful countryside and enjoy a local lunch.

Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, and Positano – This packed day trip will give you a taste of a bunch of Italy highlights. Visit Pompeii to see the ruins of the famous Mt Vesuvius eruption. Then continue to see the stunning coastal cliffs of the Amalfi coast and Positano.

Venice – I recommend visiting Venice for a couple days, but if time doesn’t allow for that, this day trip is a great way to see this unique and beautiful city.

Summary of this 4 Day Rome Itinerary

This 4-day Rome itinerary is all you need to plan the perfect long weekend trip. It allows you to see all of the highlight without feeling overwhelmed or rushed. Be sure to take your time to have long, slow, meals, enjoy wandering the streets, and soak in all the beauty of the city.

For more European vacation tips, check out my guide to three weeks in Europe.

Epic 4 Day Rome Itinerary For First Time Visitors