Rome - Italy
Overview: Highlights of Rome and Vatican City
Duration: 4 Days
Locations visited: Colosseum, The Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, the Vatican, the Pantheon, Villa Borghese, Castel Sant'Angelo, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Parco degli Acquedotti
How to get there: Fly into Rome (Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport - FCO)
How to get around: Walking, Uber/Taxi
When to go: Year-round. Summers are bustling with tourists, and many historical buildings lack air conditioning. Visiting in late December was pleasant, with tolerable weather and smaller crowds.
Pace: Moderate
Future trips: Southern portion of Italy
The Colosseum and Arch of Constantine
Day 1: Arrival, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Walking Tour
We arrived in Rome in the late afternoon and decided to take it slow by visiting a few nearby landmarks. The Trevi Fountain was our first stop, and while stunning, it was crowded as always, making it hard to get photos without other tourists.
Next, we wandered the cobblestone streets and passed by the Spanish Steps, which were decorated for the holidays. Rome's piazzas are charming and perfect for soaking up the atmosphere. After a delicious Italian dinner and some gelato, we called it a night.
Day 2: Colosseum, The Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Villa Medici, and Villa Borghese
We started the day by hiking up to the Villa Medici. The tours of the art museum inside the villa were sold out for the next few hours, but we were able to explore the gardens and grounds. As the villa is on a hill, there are fantastic views of Rome and many of its famous landmarks.
We continued onward to the nearby Villa Borghese, which resembles a large park. Inside the park, you’ll find statues, temple ruins, a museum, a zoo, and food and coffee shops. It’s uncrowded, peaceful, and picturesque.
Afterwards, we grabbed a taxi to the Arch of Constantine, which is a common meeting place for tours of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Both of these locations require tickets to enter, and I would highly recommend taking a guided tour to learn more about the history and architecture (and to get skip-the-line tickets).
On the tour of the Colosseum, one of Rome’s most famous and historical attractions, you’ll see the outer walls and subsequent restoration projects. Next, you’ll enter the Colosseum and see the arena floor, along with the structure underneath that was used to transport gladiators and animals such as lions. Finally, you can explore some of the seating areas around the arena. Fun fact: the Colosseum used to be covered in white marble, but this was stolen or removed over the centuries.
Finally, we followed the tour to the Roman Forum and saw the Arch of Titus, a 1st-century arch built by the Romans. It surprises me that the Roman Forum isn’t as popular or well-known as many of the sites in Rome. It’s the largest excavated site of Ancient Rome and contains temples, churches, houses, and markets. Many parts of the site were recently excavated, and significant progress was made when the area was closed during COVID-19. You can literally see the different layers of Rome built on top of each other over the centuries. After the official tour ended, we continued to explore the area and climbed the steps to Palatine Hill. The Roman Forum was definitely the highlight of the day, if not the entire trip.
This wrapped up the day, and we grabbed dinner, drinks, and gelato before heading back to where we were staying.
Day 3: Castel Sant'Angelo, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel
We started the day off with a self-guided tour of Castel Sant'Angelo. A ticket is required for entry, and I’d suggest purchasing this at least a day or two in advance, or even further if you’re going during peak season. Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as a mausoleum for Roman Emperor Hadrian and his family back in AD 139. It was later converted into a fortress, and during the Renaissance, a castle was built on the site to house members of the church. The self-guided tour takes you through all of these pieces of history and includes a rooftop deck with views of Rome and Vatican City.
Afterwards, we walked over to the entrance of the Vatican Museum for a guided tour, which included the Sistine Chapel. As someone who normally enjoys museums, this was not a pleasant experience. The museum is huge but horribly organized and feels like a hoarder’s house. The tour goes on for multiple hours, and while walking at a moderate pace with limited stops, you still miss multiple parts of the museum. The tour includes portions of the Borgia Apartments before finishing at the Sistine Chapel. You are not currently allowed to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel, as the group restoring and preserving it wants to maintain control of all images of the chapel. Now, one might expect that this is the end of the tour and that you can leave the museum at this point, but it’s another 45-minute walk to the exit, which includes passing through several more exhibits.
Really, feel free to skip the Vatican Museum tour. It felt like Night at the Museum, where you are trapped inside and can’t escape.
Day 4: St. Peter's Basilica, The Pantheon, and Parco degli Acquedotti
We had been planning to visit St. Peter’s Basilica on the same day as the Vatican Museum, but the trapped-in-the-museum experience went on for so long that it was nighttime before we left.
Normally, there are guided tours around St. Peter’s Square and the Basilica, and I would generally recommend them. However, we visited a few days after the death of a pope, so much of the Basilica was roped off in preparation for the funeral, and tours were forbidden. Normally, the square and Basilica are fully open to the public. One of the main sights of the Basilica, Michelangelo's Pietà, was also not visible.
Later, we walked to the Pantheon—a short but impressive stop. Its grand dome is an architectural marvel, and while the visit is brief (10–20 minutes), it’s worth seeing.
Finally, we went off the beaten path to Parco degli Acquedotti, which contains the ruins of multiple aqueducts. This requires a taxi or Uber to get there. It’s a large, calm park with pathways carving through the aqueducts and is definitely a cool way to wrap up the trip.
Rome is a city that perfectly blends history, art, and vibrant culture. From ancient ruins to modern-day piazzas, there’s something here for everyone. Despite some tourist-heavy spots, we enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to return to explore more of Italy!
