3 day Rome Itinerary

We just returned from Rome and used RS guides/audio tours along with group tours. Rome was very crowded and I built in some non-touring activities to give our group a break from the long tours of the Colosseum and Vatican Tours.

• On May 28, with nothing planned, you might consider a food tour. We have taken the Twilight Trastevere tour (evening tour) and the Taste of Testaccio (day time tour). Both of these tours provide a great introduction to the Rome food scene. We always take food tours early in our trip to get some ideas for places to eat. Also, your first day might be a good time to take the RS Heart of Rome Walk and stop off at the Pantheon for your visit.
• The Colosseum Tour is great, but exhausting, especially when you end the day in the Forum which can be really hot (little shade). Remember to bring your water bottle and you can refill it at the Palestine Hill and Forum. After the tour, we were really exhausted and hot, so we had lunch in Monte and then headed back for a rest. We then did the Dolce Vita Stroll in early evening. You end up at the Spanish Steps. We ate dinner at an Enoteca in the area.
• The early morning Sistine Chapel Tour is really nice. We had the most amazing guide from Walks of Italy. This is a long day as well. They leave you in St. Peter’s and you can do a number of things from there. We visited the grave of St. Peter. You can also visit the dome as well. After leaving the tour, we stopped for lunch at a great trapazino /beer hall.

I would suggest if you have the time to visit the Borghese. It was our group’s favorite museum. It takes about 2 hours and you will need to get tickets in advance. if you visit the Borghese, then it is an easy walk to the Spanish Steps. The benefit is you also get to explore the gardens and the park. The Borghese has a great cafe or if you go through the park, there is a little cafe near the outdoor movie theatre and children’s playground that is great for a light bite.

May 28 Nothing Planned - want to see Catacombs. I guess only option is
guided Catacombs tour unlike in Paris which has Audio Guide.

Right: Roman catacombs can't be visited without an escorted tour. But they are also nothing like those you would have seen in Paris as they are much, much older (largely 2-5th century) and are ORIGINAL burial locations versus remains relocated from other cemeteries. Some were also not exclusively Christian. You will not see human remains along the tour routes as any open tombs have had those removed out of respect for the deceased.

Tours can be purchased at their individual locations on days they are open. You could also book a tour which includes transport and includes a stop at the Capuchin Crypts, which is a mostly 17th-century "bone church" of relocated remains. An example:

https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/rome-catacombs-tour/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrNDMtP2N_wIVMg99Ch1G_gE5EAAYBCAAEgJWzPD_BwE

But what I might do is get out for a walk on the Appia Antica (closed to traffic on Sunday) and visit either or both of the larger catacombs located along the way: San Sebastiano and St. Callixtus:

http://www.catacombe.org/uk_index.html
https://www.catacombesancallisto.it/en/index.php

Along with the catacombs are a lot of other interesting things to see, including the crumbling remains of ancient burial monuments from a time when it was illegal to inter remains inside of the city's walls.

https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/smart-info-ita-eng/
https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/mappa-completa-del-Parco-dellappia-Antica-ENG.pdf
https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/via-Appia-Antica_ENG.pdf

Your two tours really cover the heavy hitter sites, which is great. Those are pretty hardcore at 3 and 4 hours apiece, so I would keep those days loose otherwise. I feel like you’re going to need a significant break after both of them. Rome is a wonderful city to explore, and I think “splitting” the Heart of Rome walk into your leisure hours is a nice way to enjoy it. Be sure to stop in the smaller churches along the way. They’re all pretty incredible, whether there’s a Caravaggio in there or not.

I’m a big fan of the Eating Italy food tours as well. I’ve done both the Trastavere and Testaccio and would recommend either (though lean Trastavere.) This is a great option for the first day or evening.

The Capitoline Museum would probably be my number one add for you. It’s can’t miss, but manageable. No matter how you’re getting there, you’re going to pass by plenty of other sights too.

5/29- After the Colosseum I would get lunch and I also recommend the Twilight Trastevere food tour, you kill two birds with one stone, you eat dinner and you get a walking tour of a great neighborhood.
5/30- We did the same tour, afterwards we grabbed lunch then headed over to the Patheon, then to Trevi Fountain and walked over to the Spanish steps then stop and have a beer/Sprits at an outdoor cafe and just enjoy the people watching and get off your feet. Wonder around a bit then go have dinner. It makes for a full day.

Don't worry about packing too much in, with only 3 days you kinda have to pack it all in...OHH and stop for gelato and just sit and enjoy.

Never underestimate the joy of just wondering around and seeing what you can get into.