How to spend 5 Days in Rome: The Best Itinerary + Where to Stay
You’re planning to spend 5 days in Rome and you’re looking for the best things to do?
You’re at the right place!
In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared for you this 5-day itinerary in Rome.
I will start with my best tips to save time and avoid waiting in line in front of Rome’s must-see attractions. Then, I will give you the day by day program, perfectly optimized to make the most of your stay.
In addition to the best places to visit and activities for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.
So, what are the best places to visit in Rome in 5 days? Where to stay?
Let’s find out!
Sommaire
- How to spend 5 Days in Rome: The Best Itinerary + Where to Stay
- How to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time!) at Rome’s tourist attractions
- One Last Tip for a Perfect 5-Day Stay in Rome
- 5 Days in Rome: The Best Itinerary
- Where to stay in Rome
- Where to stay in Rome?
- 5 days in Rome with your family
- More things to do during your 5 days in Rome
- Map of your 5-day itinerary in Rome
- 5 days in Rome: Flight prices
- You’re traveling in Italy? These articles will help you!
How to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time!) at Rome’s tourist attractions
As you probably know, Rome is one of the most touristic cities in the world.
No matter why you’re planning to visit Italy‘s capital, you will sometimes need to wait in line for a few hours in front of the most emblematic monuments such as the Colosseum or Saint Peter’s Basilica.
But….that was before reading my travel guide!
Hopefully, I have a few tips that will help you make the most of your stay, so I will tell you right away the 3 best ways to save time during your 5-day trip to Rome!
1. Rome Tourist Card
The first solution to save time during your 5-day itinerary is to purchase the “Rome Tourist Card”, also called “Rome City Pass”.
100% digital, the city pass is sent to you by email: there is no need to go get any physical ticket in Rome.
You will directly have access to all your skip the line tickets for Rome’s most famous tourist attractions!
Here is what’s included in the Rome Tourist Card:
- Colosseum ticket with audio guide + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill (visit of the first day of this itinerary)
- Ticket for St. Peter’s Basilica with audio guide (you will visit the basilica during the second day)
- Visit to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (this visit is offered as an option when you book the pass. You should take it as it’s part of the second day of this itinerary)
- 10% discount on museums (Castel Sant’Angelo, Borghese Gallery), guided tours (Guided tour to the catacombs, Rome by bike) and excursions in Rome’s surroundings, in case you plan to continue your 5-day trip to Rome and visit another major Italian city (Florence, Pisa, Venice…).
To purchase your Rome Tourist Card, simply click on the button below:
2. The Omnia Card
The 2nd solution to save time when visiting Rome’s most popular attractions is to buy the Omnia Card, also called “Rome and Vatican Pass”.
Just like the Rome Tourist Card mentioned above, the Omnia Card is a great way to avoid queuing at the Colosseum or St peter’s Basilica. However, it’s only valid for 3 consecutive days from its first activation. So you won’t be able to use it after the end of the 3rd day of your trip.
But don’t worry, when planning this itinerary, I made sure that the paid visits included in the Omnia Card are all done during the first 3 days.
So this is not a problem, the Omnia Card is still perfect for a 5-day trip to Rome!
On day 4 and 5, you will mostly do free visits and /or tours or excursions around Rome that are anyway not included in the City Passes.
Here are the main things you will get with the Omnia Card:
- Priority entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (2nd day of this itinerary)
- Ticket to visit St. Peter’s Basilica + audio guide (2nd day also)
- Visit to St. Peter’s Prison with audio guide
- Entrance to the Basilica of St. John Lateran and the cloister + audio guide
- 2 free tickets, you will need to choose among the following tourist sites:
- The Colosseum (Day 1 )
- Palatine Hill and Roman Forum (also on day 1)
- Castel Sant’Angelo (2nd day)
- Borghese Gallery
- Capitoline Museums
- Free access to all public transportation in Rome for 3 days
- Discounts for other activities and museums
- 1 ticket for Rome’s Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus
- A city map
You’re hesitating between the Omnia Card and the Rome Tourist Card?
It’s very simple, you will just have to decide if you want to take public transportation and what you want to visit:
- You don’t want to use public transportation or visit the entire Vatican? Then the Rome City Pass is cheaper for your 5 days in Rome.
- You plan to take the bus and want to visit as much of the Vatican as possible? The Omnia Card is the best choice.
To visit Rome in a few days, the Omnia Card is the most complete City pass!
To get your Omnia Card, simply click on the green button below:
3. Skip the line tickets for Rome’s best tourist attractions
For your 5-day itinerary in Rome, if you don’t want to purchase a City Pass, you can instead purchase skip the line tickets for each attractions you will want to visit.
For more information and to book your skip the line tickets, simply click on the orange links below:
5 Days in Rome: Must-See Attractions:
- The Colosseum
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- The Capitoline Museums
- The Pantheon
- St. John Lateran Basilica
- Villa Borghese
- Hop-on Hop-Off tourist bus
- Rome’s catacombs
Be careful of where you buy your tickets from!
To book tickets, guided tours and activities in Rome, you should always book on one of these 2 websites (the ones I always use):
They are reliable and safe, selling only official tickets. You should bookmark them!
One Last Tip for a Perfect 5-Day Stay in Rome
If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!), you should really book your accommodation.
As Rome is one of the most touristic cities in the world, the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.
As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.
You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in Rome by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅
So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at traveler’s favorite hotels in Rome.
And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!
It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.
To check the best hotels deals in Rome, simply click on the green button below:
After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!
5 Days in Rome: The Best Itinerary
Let’s now start your 5-day itinerary in Rome!
For each day, I will give you all the details you need to plan your visits + a map that will allow you to visualize the itinerary a bit better.
I’m assuming you will be staying in Rome for 5 full days and that you will be using the Rome Tourist Card / Omnia Card or have purchased skip-the-line tickets. It’s the best way to save time and money during your 5-day stay!
If you still have questions after reading this guide (or need help organizing your holiday), don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section located at the very end of this article.
I will be glad to help you plan your trip to Rome 😄.
Day 1 – The Ancient Rome
The visits of day 1:
A. The Colosseum
B. The Roman Forum
C. Palatine Hill
D. Piazza del Campidoglio / The Capitoline Museums
E. Piazza Venezia / The monument to Victor Emmanuel II
A. The Colosseum
The Colosseum, the most famous monument of the city, is the ideal place to start your 5-day trip to Rome.
With a capacity of over 50 000 spectators, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in ancient Rome. Quite much blood was shed in this arena, where the famous gladiatorial combats, animals fights and Roman games were held, often followed by horrific deaths.
However, it’s less known, but the Colosseum also hosted theatrical performances or reconstructions of famous battles.
In spite of a few missing parts, the Colosseum is still standing and is very impressive! You can visit the first and second floors, the arena and the underground.
As you can imagine, the Colosseum of Rome attracts thousands of tourists every day, and they wait in line for hours before entering the monument. But that’s because they didn’t read Voyage Tips before planning their visit!
As I have mentioned above, you should really purchase your Colosseum Tickets in advance.
Please note 2 important things:
- The tickets for the Colosseum also give you access to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.
- If you purchase the Rome Tourist Card or the Omnia Card, the entrance ticket to the Colosseum is included.
In order to help you find your way around all the different tickets, I have prepared a list of all tickets for the Colosseum (click here).
As all tickets for the Colosseum are not always available (for a given date, there is a limited number of tickets of each type, and they are sold out very quickly!), the orange links take you directly to the page with all Colosseum tickets.
Simply choose the one that suits you best on that page.
Of course, if you already know your travel dates, book quickly to ensure you can visit the monument.
To summarize, the best ticket in my opinion is the “Colosseum + Arena + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill”:
If you want to learn everything about the fascinating history of the Colosseum, you should opt for the following guided visit:
Guided tour: Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill
And if you have no budget restrictions, I highly recommend you to take the VIP guided tour: VIP Guided Tour: Colosseum (+ Underground + Arena) + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill.
It will allow you to access exclusive places like the arena or the underground of the Colosseum!
You won’t visit Rome every day, and that’s the best guided tour to the Colosseum and my personal choice:
B. Palatine Hill
As I have mentioned above, your ticket to the Colosseum will grant you access to the two other sites located nearby: the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.
So, let’s continue your day by visiting the Palatine Hill!
According to the Roman mythology, this is the place where the city was founded by Romulus and Remus.
At the top of Palatine Hill, you will have access to the cave where the twins were raised by a she-wolf as well as to the house of Augustus, the first Roman emperor.
You will be able to walk freely among the ruins and discover a superb view from the top of the hill.
C. The Roman Forum
After Palatine Hill, continue your immersion in ancient Rome by visiting the Roman Forum located a few meters away.
This is the third site you shouldn’t miss during your 5 days in Rome!
The Roman forum was the heart of the ancient Rome. There, you will be able to admire ruins of administrative buildings, the ancient market and several temples.
In my opinion, you should really opt for the guided tour I talked about a bit earlier, because unfortunately, there are no explanatory panels on site. To book your guided tour, simply click here!
D. Piazza del Campidoglio / Capitoline Museums
Let’s continue your 5-day tour in Rome and go to the Piazza del Campidoglio, 15 minutes walk from the Roman Forum.
This part of Rome was the political and religious heart of the ancient Rome.
This beautiful square was designed by Michelangelo himself and features several impressive buildings: the Palazzo dei Senatori, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo
These 3 palaces are known as the “Capitoline Museums“ and they house several very famous works of art, including paintings by Tintoretto and Caravaggio, as well as the famous statue of the She-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus.
E. Piazza Venezia / The monument to Victor Emmanuel II
After visiting the Capitoline Museums, walk to Piazza Venezia located only 5 minutes away.
This is the main crossroads of the city center, you can recognize it at first glance thanks to the Victor Emmanuel II monument located on one side of the square.
It’s also there that you can admire the Trajan column and its engravings representing the military exploits of the emperor.
The streets starting from Piazza Venezia will lead you to the places you will visit during your 5-day stay in Rome.
Spend your first night in Rome
Where to stay in Rome
In order to help you out, here are my 5 favorite hotels of the city, each in a different price category.
And as always, if you already know your travel dates, book your hotel right now! In Rome, the best hotels are fully booked very quickly.
- Biancaluna: B&B located near Termini Station, 1.5 km from the Colosseum. Modern, comfortable and very clean room from 70€. Strong points: the warm welcome and the advice to visit Rome, the location. An excellent choice for a cheap stay in Rome!
- Hotel Balilla: Located 1.6 km from the Colosseum and close to a metro station. Well-equipped and quiet double room, impeccably clean, from 99€, breakfast at 5€. Strong points: the friendly staff, the comfort of the beds, the location at 10 min walk from the Colosseum. This is our favorite for its excellent value for money!
- Alice Vatican House: Located 450 meters from St. Peter’s Square. Contemporary room with neat decoration from 95 € per night, breakfast included. Strong points: ideal location, terrace overlooking the Vatican, warm welcome. This is the best choice for your stay in Rome under 120 euros!
- MZ Hotel: Located near the Campo di Fiori and not far from the Pantheon. Modern double room from 150€, breakfast at 12€. Strong points: the location near the historical center, the warm welcome, good bedding, new hotel.
- Roma Luxus Hôtel: High end hotel located at only 400 meters from Piazza Venezia. Beautiful double room starting at 200€ per night, breakfast at 20€. Strong points: The room design, the 5 stars service, the superb breakfast, the spa, the amazing staff. It’s the best hotel for a high end stay in Rome!
- NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali: This 5* hotel located right next to the Roman Forum offers sublime rooms from 580€, breakfast included. Strong points: the exceptional location, the attentive staff, the view, the comfort. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Rome!
if you want to save a bit of money, you can find an accommodation around Rome. I recommend you he bungalows of Camping Village Rome, located at only 15 minutes by car from the Vatican city.
The price starts at only 30€ per night! It’s the best “budget” solution if you don’t mind not being in the city center. It’s also a great choice for families, with the swimming pool!
Second day – Visit to the Vatican
Day 2 visits:
A. The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
B. St. Peter’s Basilica
C. Castel Sant’Angelo
A. Visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
Today, you will visit the Vatican.
This tiny country (the smallest in the world!) enclosed in the Italian capital is a must-see during your five-day itinerary in Rome.
You should start your day with a visit to the Vatican museums. As this museum complex is huge (13 museums!), you should follow one of the predefined itineraries for your visit.
They last from 1h30 to 5 hours and allow you to discover several museums depending on your interests.
All the itineraries will end at the same place: the famous Sistine Chapel!
Take some time to soak up the atmosphere of the place and admire the magnificent paintings, including the famous Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
To visit the Vatican museums, you should really book your tickets in advance to avoid wasting hours queuing!
To get your Vatican Museums tickets, you need to click on the button below, or you can enter directly if you have the Omnia Card or the Rome Tourist Card.
B. St. Peter’s Basilica
After a good lunch in one of the restaurants surrounding the Vatican, let’s continue your 5-day itinerary in Rome by visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world.
Located in St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most visited monuments in the world.
When you enter the basilica, you will be surprised by the size of the place. There, you can admire the baroque decorations, the statue of St. Peter, the huge dome designed by Michelangelo and the vaults of the popes.
The entrance is free, however the queues to get in are always endless!
So you should really book a skip the line ticket, else you will waste half of your afternoon waiting in line. They can be bought below:
St. Peter’s Basilica skip the line ticket + Audio Guide
Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica (skip the line) + dome + crypt (the most complete!)
To enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the surroundings, you can climb to the top of the dome (included in the ticket mentioned above!).
C. Castel Sant’Angelo
It’s now time to leave St. Peter’s Square and walk down Via della Conciliazione.
After about 10 minutes, you will arrive in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, built under the orders of Emperor Hadrian. This castle was later used as a refuge for the popes during enemy attacks.
You can visit the interior of Castel Sant’Angelo and discover the former apartments of the popes, ancient tombs, as well as some of the ancient weaponry used to defend the castle.
Don’t forget to do the short walk around the castle’s wall, it offers beautiful views!
The visit takes 1 to 2h.
When you leave the castle, don’t miss the Saint Angelo bridge, located just in front of it. It goes over the Tiber river and allows you to enjoy a nice view of the river and the city.
It’s the perfect place to end the second day of your 5-day trip to Rome.
You need to book your ticket to visit the castle by clicking on the button below:
Day 3 – Stroll through the historic center
Day 3 visits:
A. Piazza Navona
B. The Pantheon
C. The Trevi Fountain
D. Via del Corso / Via Condotti
E. The Piazza di Spagna
F. Villa Borghese
For the 3rd day of your 5-day itinerary in Rome, you will visit the historic center of the city.
I suggest you to start from Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in the Italian capital. It’s the ideal place to have a good breakfast in one of the picturesque cafés located on the square.
Then, take some time to walk around the square, watch the street performances and admire the 3 beautiful fountains and their statues.
B. The Pantheon
Next you should visit the Pantheon, another monument you shouldn’t miss during your stay in Rome.
Located a few meters from Piazza Navona, it dates back to ancient Rome and houses the tombs of Emperor Victor Emmanuel II, the painter Rafael and many other historical figures that I’ll let you discover.
While there, don’t forget to look up to contemplate the dome and the Occulus letting the day light through.
Since July 2023, access to the Pantheon has been subject to a charge and requires an admission ticket (cost: €5). To visit, you should book your ticket on the official website.
And if you want to get more historical information, it’s better to get the fast track ticket + audioguide by clicking here:
And for more detailed explanations, you can also choose a guided tour of the Pantheon by clicking here!
C. The Trevi Fountain
The most famous fountain in Europe that attracts millions of tourists every year, the Trevi Fountain, is just a 10-minute walk from the Pantheon.
Most tourists visiting Rome go there to take pictures of this beautiful work of art and throw coins to see their wishes come true!
The statue of the God Neptune overlooking the basin is very well highlighted by the baroque monument located just behind the fountain.
D. Via Condotti
During your 5-day stay in Rome, you will also probably want to do a bit of shopping!
To do so, leave the Trevi fountain and take Via del Corso, one of the main shopping street in Rome. It’s the place to go if you’re looking for the big brands like H&M.
If you’re rather looking for luxury brands like Prada or Gucci, you should continue a bit further on Via Condotti.
Even if you don’t like shopping, you should still head toward Via Condotti, as it’s on the way to the next place you will visit.
E. The Piazza di Spagna
At the end of Via Condotti, you will arrive at the Piazza di Spagna (litterally “Spain Square”, sometimes named “The Spanish Steps” in English). It should not be confused with the “Plaza de España” located in Seville.
This pretty and picturesque cobbled square is located at the foot of the grand staircase that leads to Trinità dei Monti church.
In my opinion, the Pizza di Spagna represents the Italian “dolce vita” very well. Stop for a picture, relax or enjoy a good snack before heading to your next visit.
F. Villa Borghese
From the Spanish Steps, walk for a few minutes to arrive at Villa Borghese and its garden.
Villa Borghese gardens are probably the most beautiful public park in the city.
There, you can walk through the alleys and discover the fountains, statues, a lake, a botanical garden, and a few museums to visit:
- The Borghese Gallery, famous for its collection of paintings and sculptures. Buy your skip the line tickets here!
- The National Etruscan Museum, housing pre-Roman objects and jewelry
- The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, featuring paintings by Van Gogh and Cézanne.
Day 4 – Discover Rome districts
Day 4 visits:
A. Campo di Fiori market
B. Trastevere district
C. The Aventine hill
D. The catacombs of Rome
A. Campo di Fiori market
For your 4th day in Rome, I’d like to take you off the beaten path and away from the super touristy attractions.
Yes, when spending 5 days in Rome, the great thing is that you will have some free time to explore some of the lesser known areas of the city!
Start by visiting Campo di Fiori market located in the historic center. This very authentic market is open every morning except Sunday and is one of the cheapest in Rome.
It’s a good opportunity to do some shopping and bring Italian products back home.
If you want to discover the best of Italian food, you should opt for a food guided tour!
During this street food tour, your guide for the day will make you try amazing local products while telling you more about Italian gastronomy.
This tour is so good that you will get a full refund if you are not satisfied!
To book the best food tour in Rome, simply click on the button below:
B. The Trastevere neighborhood
The Trastevere neighborhood is located on the right bank of the Tiber, not far from the Vatican.
In Trastevere, there are no historical monuments to visit, but cobblestone streets, flower gardens, small typical squares, cafes and artisan stores.
You will for sure love to stroll around this authentic district, not very frequented by tourists (even if it’s becoming more and more popular, I won’t hide it from you).
And if you want to enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Rome, don’t forget to climb to the top of Janiculum hill, in the north of the neighborhood.
C. The Aventine Hill
Continue this fourth day in Rome with the Aventine Hill, located about 20-minute walk from Trastevere district (or 10 minutes by bus).
This peaceful hill with many gardens and pretty alleys also offers a great view over Rome.
There, you can:
- Visit the Basilica of Santa Sabina
- Unravel the mystery of the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Why is everyone waiting their turn to look through the keyhole of this door? I’m not going to spoil it for you! It’s up to you to try and find out the answer 😇.
D. The catacombs of Rome
To end this day on an unusual note, you can visit the catacombs of Rome.
Saint Calixtus catacombs are the largest (15 hectares!) and were once used as a cemetery for Jews and Christians.
In the catacombs, you can see several tombs and scenes of life engraved on the walls. The guided tour is mandatory and lasts about 30-40 minutes. Click here to book it!
You can also visit the catacombs of Saint Sebastian, Domitilla, Priscilla and the crypt of the Capuchins.
The crypt of the Capuchins is located next to the Trevi Fountain and is the easiest to reach. If you want to visit the Capuchins, you need to buy your tickets directly here.
Day 5 – Day trip around Rome
Spending 5 days in Rome gives you time to get out of the city and explore the surroundings for a full day.
So for your last day in Rome, you should go for a day trip!
Here are my 3 favorite day trips from Rome:
A. Pompeii
B. Pompeii and Vesuvius
C. Tivoli
A. Pompeii
Pompeii, near Naples, is probably the most famous ancient Roman city.
It’s also one of the best place to visit around Rome!
Pompeii was engulfed by lava in 79 AD during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and still bears witness to the ancient Roman civilization.
During your visit, you will take a real trip back in time: Streets, buildings and even bodies were extremely well preserved by the volcanic ash.
For the last day of your stay in Rome, you can discover this mythical city buried and rediscovered in the 17th century by booking a round trip shuttle bus or a guided day trip.
In both cases, the bus leaves Rome in the morning around 7h30 and comes back to Rome around 19h, giving you a few hours to visit Pompeii
In Pompeii, you will be able to see:
- The amphitheater that could accommodate 20,000 spectators
- The intact paved streets
- The forum
- The thermal baths,
- Several villas
- The temples
To book your shuttle bus to Pompeii + skip the line ticket for the archaeological site, you simply need to click on the button below:
And if you prefer to opt for an all included day trip to Pompeii (shuttle bus + lunch + guided visit to Pompeii), it’s there:
B. Pompeii and Vesuvius
This day trip includes a round trip shuttle bus to Pompeii, the entrance fees to the archaeological site as well as a visit to Mount Vesuvius!
After exploring Pompeii, you will be able to climb up to the crater of the volcano (bring good shoes) and enjoy a great view of the area while imagining the tragic eruption.
You need to book your guided tour of Pompeii and Vesuvius here:
C. Visit to Tivoli
Located only 30 kilometers from Rome, Tivoli can also be a great destination for the last day of your trip.
The town is home to 2 of the most beautiful villas of Italy:
- The Villa d’Este
- Emperor Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana): the largest architectural complex of the imperial Rome.
The great thing is that you have the opportunity to visit these 2 palaces and their gardens with an organized day trip that includes round-trip transportation, lunch, and a guide!
This day-trip must be booked in advance here:
Now that you know what to do in Rome in 5 days, I will now give you a few more tips to finalize the organization of your trip.
Where to stay in Rome?
To explore the best places to visit in 5 days in Rome, you will need to book a hotel.
In order to help you out, I have prepared a selection of my 5 favorite hotels depending on your budget.
You should really book your hotel as soon as possible, the best deals usually don’t last long!
One last advice: Book now if you can, there is a lot of demand in Rome, so the best hotel rooms are sold out very quickly!
- Biancaluna: B&B located near Termini Station, 1.5 km from the Colosseum. Modern, comfortable and very clean room from 70€. Strong points: the warm welcome and the advice to visit Rome, the location. An excellent choice for a cheap stay in Rome!
- Hotel Balilla: Located 1.6 km from the Colosseum and close to a metro station. Well-equipped and quiet double room, impeccably clean, from 99€, breakfast at 5€. Strong points: the friendly staff, the comfort of the beds, the location at 10 min walk from the Colosseum. This is our favorite for its excellent value for money!
- Alice Vatican House: Located 450 meters from St. Peter’s Square. Contemporary room with neat decoration from 95 € per night, breakfast included. Strong points: ideal location, terrace overlooking the Vatican, warm welcome. This is the best choice for your stay in Rome under 120 euros!
- MZ Hotel: Located near the Campo di Fiori and not far from the Pantheon. Modern double room from 150€, breakfast at 12€. Strong points: the location near the historical center, the warm welcome, good bedding, new hotel.
- Roma Luxus Hôtel: High end hotel located at only 400 meters from Piazza Venezia. Beautiful double room starting at 200€ per night, breakfast at 20€. Strong points: The room design, the 5 stars service, the superb breakfast, the spa, the amazing staff. It’s the best hotel for a high end stay in Rome!
- NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali: This 5* hotel located right next to the Roman Forum offers sublime rooms from 580€, breakfast included. Strong points: the exceptional location, the attentive staff, the view, the comfort. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Rome!
if you want to save a bit of money, you can find an accommodation around Rome. I recommend you he bungalows of Camping Village Rome, located at only 15 minutes by car from the Vatican city.
The price starts at only 30€ per night! It’s the best “budget” solution if you don’t mind not being in the city center. It’s also a great choice for families, with the swimming pool!
5 days in Rome with your family
If you’re going to visit Rome in 5 days with your family, here are a few ideas of activities your kids will for sure enjoy:
- The Colosseum: it’s so impressive that adult and children alike will for sure enjoy the visit. Tell them a bit about the gladiators for instant fascination!
- Villa Borghese gardens are perfect for a family outing. You can have a picnic, the kids can enjoy the playground, go biking, have a little boat trip on the lake or even visit Rome zoo (click here to purchase the entrance tickets)
- The gladiator school will offer your kids the opportunity to dress up in traditional gladiatorial clothing and get a sword fighting training! A truly original activity for your 5-day family trip to Rome. Click here to book this activity!
- Explora Museum, a museum made especially for kids, with numerous activities they can try. The visit takes about 2 hours.
If you’re looking for an original and fun activity to do with your family, I also recommend you this Italian cooking class organized near the Trevi Fountain.
Under the guidance of a real Italian chef, you will learn how to prepare an authentic Italian pizza. Of course, you will be able to taste your work at the end of the course!
This pizza making course + dinner must be booked by clicking here.
More things to do during your 5 days in Rome
This suggested itinerary allows you to see the best attractions Rome has to offer in 5 days.
And as it’s perfectly optimized, you won’t waste time going back and forth in the city.
However, if you want to change or add activities, you should read my other article about the 25 best places to visit in Rome. It will for sure help you to finalize your itinerary!
You can read it here: The 25 best things to do in Rome.
Map of your 5-day itinerary in Rome
To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 5 days in Rome, I have created this map with all the places to visit day by day. You can view the map’s legend by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow.
You can thus see the suggested itineraries for each day.
5 days in Rome: Flight prices
As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.
To check the rates and schedules for flights to Dubai, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:
Now, you know how to visit Rome in 5 days!
You need help to plan your 5 days itinerary in Rome? Don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section below!
🚗 Rent a car
🗽 Book entrance tickets and guided visits
🏄 Book your sports activities
🚤 Book your rental boat
🌍 Take a travel insurance
🙎 Book a tour
🚅 Book your train tickets
✈️ Book your flight
Italy travel Guides
- Buy the Lonely Planet Italy guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
- Buy the Rick Steves Italy guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
You’re traveling in Italy? These articles will help you!
Discover all my articles about Italy: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Italy are listed there.
Where to stay in Rome? – The definitive guide of the best areas!
- Milan: The Top 15 things to do in the city and around
- Rome: The 25 Best Places to visit
- Turin: The 20 must-see attractions
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Discussion8 Comments
Hello Vincent this article was absolutely amazing, thank you for the in depth guide, my family and I are going in November of 2022 and I was wondering if you could recommend a personal guide that could take us to all these places, we went to Egypt last year and were picked up by a travel guide who provided absolutely everything for us, he picked us up at the airport and he was the last person we saw when we left Egypt, we even ate at his moms house, I or we definitely appreciate the guide or article you wrote but it would be nice if someone could do this for us without breaking the piggy bank, we contacted a joe limo service I believe but wholly Molly I think he thought we were rich? Thank you for the help
Hello Cirilo,
Thank you! I’m glad that my 5-day itinerary in Rome is helping you to plan your stay.
Unfortunately I don’t have a guide to recommend to visit Rome.
However, for sure in Italy this kind of service with transport and all included will cost you much more in Rome than in Egypt.
And honestly it’s not at all convenient to get around Rome by car. Everything is normally done on foot and a bit by public transport if you don’t feel like walking.
Enjoy your stay in Rome with your family!
Hi Vincent, thank you for this amazing article which is my starting point for our trip to Rome this May. I have one question regarding the Omnia card that you linked and this one – https://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33/best-of-rome-all-access-pass-t126521/
What would you say are the main differences, and would you also recommend this one?
Thanks in advance! 🙂
Hello Ela,
Thank you! I’m glad that my 5-day itinerary in Rome is helping you to plan your visits.
With the Omnia Card you can visit more places and there is also a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour.
Have a nice trip to Rome!
Hi Vincent,
Thanks for putting all this information together. If we purchase a Rome Pass, could you please clarify whether we would need to pay more money when booking tickets to the Coloseum, etc. if we wanted a guided tour (not just an audio tour).
If so then do you advise we don’t buy a Rome Pass and book skip the queue tickets with a guide instead?
Thanks in advance:-)
Hello,
Thank you for your time! I’m glad that my 5-day Rome itinerary helps you organise your visits.
If you want to take a guided tour of the Colosseum, there’s no point purchasing the Rome Pass. It’s better to book your guided visit directly.
I recommend one of these 2 (with an English speaking guide):
– Guided tour of the Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill
– Guided tour of the Colosseum with access to the underground and the arena (VIP tour).
Enjoy your 5-day stay in Rome!
Thank you. Can you also recommend a good guided tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Bascilica? Much appreciated.
You’re welcome.
There are different types of guided tour for the Vatican (they all include the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica):
– The most classic guided tour which lasts 3 hours. It is done in large groups.
– The small group tour (click here) also lasts 3 hours.
– The small group tour (click here for details) starts early in the morning (from 8am) to avoid the crowds and the heat. The tour lasts 3h30.
Enjoy your trip to Rome!