Rome attractions: 17 most beautiful must sees for 3 days in Rome

Rome – Caput Mundi, city of the seven hills, the eternal city … There are plenty of synonyms for the lively capital of Italy. That alone shows that Rome is something special. And anyone who has ever traveled to the Italian metropolis knows why – no one can escape its charm.

Of course, even on a short trip to Rome in Italy, you want to see everything there is to see: No problem with our ultimate tips on the 17 most important Rome attractions for 3 days.

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1. Colosseum – main attraction in Rome

As a central landmark, it definitely belongs on the to-do list of every visitor to Rome: the Colosseum. Images from the movie Gladiator immediately flash through my mind. The impressive amphitheater was built in the first century of our era.

Back then, it served as a venue for brutal games in which humans competed against wild animals or other humans for the amusement of the city’s rulers and citizens. However, the Colosseum was also the scene of theatrical performances and even naval battles.

Storage rooms and animal cages were located under the floor of the arena; an advanced system of elevators and winches was used to lift the necessary props and decorations to the surface. A tour of the Colosseum takes one to two hours and is definitely worthwhile – the two-thousand-year-old architecture is stunning, and audio guides available for hire provide lots of interesting background information.

2. Trevi-Fountain – Rome holiday

One of the top attractions in Rome is the most famous fountain in Rome, if not the world. The Trevi Fountain is the result of an architectural competition organized by Pope Clement XII. The architect Nicola Salvi, who did not live to see the completion of his work in 1762, opted for the depiction of a sea palace with a triumphal arch and numerous sea figures, including the god Oceanus.

In 1960, the Trevi Fountain was immortalized on film: The nocturnal scene from Federico Fellini’s „La Dolce Vita”, in which Marcello Mastroianni follows Anita Ekberg into the fountain for a moonlit bath, is legendary. However, reenacting it today is not recommended: round-the-clock policemen make sure that no visitors enter the fountain; even a breather on the edge of the fountain is prevented with shrill whistles.

This strict surveillance could also be due to the many coins at the bottom of the fountain: according to popular belief, anyone who throws a coin over their shoulder into the fountain will return to Rome. In this way, around 3,000 euros end up in the water every day, which are collected and removed every morning by city employees.

3. Spanish Steps – Popular Rome Attractions

The Spanish Steps have little to do with Spain, and they are only called that because they lead from the Piazza di Spagna up to the church of Santa Trinità dei Monti, after which they are originally named (“Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti”).

Like so many attractions in Rome, its construction was initiated by a pope, in this case Innocent VIII, who prevailed over the Sun King Louis XIV, who had financed the church on the mountain and wanted to build a French-style staircase befitting his status.

However, the Vatican prevailed, and so the staircase corresponds to Italian architecture. In keeping with its name (Santa Trinità is the Holy Trinity), the staircase is divided into three sections, each with wide terraces. There is a lot going on here at any time of day and often at night too; the boat-shaped fountain at the foot of the stairs promises to cool you down on hot days.

4. Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is one of the proverbial seven hills on which Rome is built and is directly adjacent to the Colosseum. As the site of numerous imperial palaces and temples, the Palatine is today one of the most important and largest excavation sites of ancient Rome; the hut of the city’s founders Romulus and Remus is also said to have stood here.

The first emperor to have his residence built on the hill towards the end of the 1st century AD was Augustus, who was also born on the Palatine Hill. His palace, the Domus Augustana, together with the Domus Flavia, is one of the few buildings whose remains can still be seen on the Palatine Hill today. A staircase leads from the Palatine to the Roman Forum below.

5. Forum Romanum – Rome Attractions

It was a marketplace and the center of political power, which is why the Roman Forum is considered the heart of ancient Rome. Today, at first glance, it looks like a disorderly collection of ruins. But if you look at historical drawings of the numerous buildings, temples, basilisks and triumphal arches that once stood on this site, you can get a good idea of city life at that time.

In addition to the religious temples (e.g. the temples of Saturn, Janus or Castor and Pollux), politically important buildings such as the Curia Iulia senate or the Carcer Tullianus state prison were also located here. Two of the three triumphal arches built by various emperors to celebrate their victories are still preserved today: The Arch of Titus (erected by Emperor Titus after the conquest of Jerusalem) and the Arch of Septimius Severus, which commemorates his victory against the Parthians.

6. Pantheon in Rome

The impressive round building with the columned façade was originally built as a temple for the gods and was converted into a church in 609 AD. The dome of the Pantheon is particularly impressive: it symbolizes the sky, the opening in the middle stands for the sun and contact with the stars.

With a diameter of 43 meters, this was the largest dome in the world for 1700 years. Visitors to the Pantheon enjoy the meditative atmosphere inside and the delightful play of sunlight that falls through the dome opening and “wanders” along the floor. The Pantheon became the architectural model for domed buildings around the world, such as the Capitol in Washington DC, the Berlin Cathedral and the Invalides in Paris.

7. Villa Borghese – Holiday in Rome

If you don’t know Rome, you might initially think that Villa Borghese is a particularly interesting building – a villa, in fact, but it is actually a green area in the city center. The city’s “green lung” was created at the end of the 16th century from the vineyard of the noble Roman Borghese family.

In 1901, the state bought the estate and opened it to the public. Today, the grounds are home to numerous museums, including the world-famous Galleria Borghese and the Museum of Etruscan Art. In addition, the Bioparco, the Roman zoo, is located on the north side, where 200 different animal species are kept.

Villa Borghese is also a popular place for joggers and walkers; you can hire rowing boats and watch ducks on a small lake. For tourists, the park is a popular place to relax after sightseeing – not a secret, but one of the very relaxing Rome travel tips.

8. Castel Sant’Angelo – Rome Attractions

The mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian was completed in 139. Not only Hadrian, but also several later emperors, including Marcus Aurelius and Septimius Severus, found their final resting place here. From the 10th century, Castel Sant’Angelo served as a refuge for popes in case of imminent danger, and later also as a prison.

After the building came into the hands of the Italian army in 1870 and was no longer under the control of the Vatican, it was converted into a museum at the beginning of the 20th century. To this day, various exhibits bear witness to the history of Rome.

Castel Sant’Angelo received its name at the end of the 6th century: Pope Gregory I had asked God to free the city from the plague. Shortly afterwards, the archangel Michael appeared to him above the castle and promised that his wish would be fulfilled. To this day, a bronze statue of the archangel stands on the roof of Castel Sant’Angelo.

9. Bocca della Verità – Mouth of Truth

The Bocca della Verità (“Mouth of Truth”) is a marble disk in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin near the banks of the Tiber. The face that adorns the disk has a hand-width indentation where the mouth should be.

The legend that the stone mouth closes as soon as you put your hand in it and tell a lie – a kind of ancient lie detector – dates back to the Middle Ages. Hundreds of visitors have been trying it out every day for a long time, but so far the stone man has shown mercy and not moved his strangely expressionless face.

Incidentally, it is not clear who is looking at you, and there are also various theories about the original use of the large disk (diameter 175 cm). The most common theory is that it served as a kind of manhole cover for the Cloaca Maxima sewage system.

10. Trastevere district – Rome Sightseeing

Trastevere, i.e. across the Tiber, is the place to go if you are in the mood for culture and nightlife. Trastevere is considered an artists’ quarter; locals and tourists alike enjoy the quaint alleyways, the romantic Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere and the seemingly endless number of bars, restaurants and pubs.

Much of the nightlife takes place outside the bars and restaurants. If you arrive early enough, you can enjoy an “aperitivo” in some bars: After ordering a drink, you can help yourself to the buffet to your heart’s content.

Originally, Trastevere was a neighborhood of workers, immigrants and outsiders. The district has retained its international character to this day, but property prices have risen over time. Nevertheless, there are still numerous small independent stores here, so that not only night owls but also shopping fans get their money’s worth in Trastevere.

11. Piazza Navona – Rome Attractions

A closer look at this huge square in the heart of the city reveals a lot about its origins: the elongated, almost oval surface resembles a running track in a stadium. And there used to be one here; the Emperor Domitian built a sports facility that could seat over 30,000 people.

After the spectator stands were gradually converted into houses in the Middle Ages, the stadium first became a park and then a square when it was paved over in 1495. The most important sights in Piazza Navona are the Church of Sant Agnese, which was built in honor of the martyr Agnes, and the Fountain of the Four Rivers from the 17th century: On it, four sculptures of men symbolize the four continents known at the time in the form of the rivers Danube, Nile, Ganges and Río de la Plata.

12. Campo de’ Fiori – Rome must sees

The Campo de’ Fiori is a completely different kind of square: in contrast to the stately Piazza Navona, the Campo de’ Fiori exudes a Mediterranean naturalness. Every morning (except Sunday), market people gather here and open colorful stalls with vegetables, fruit, cheese, pasta, clothing, household goods and lots of Rome souvenirs.

As evening approaches, the market stalls have long since closed and the strollers take over the piazza. The many restaurants and bars that line the edges of the square invite you to linger and people-watch.

Culture lovers are drawn to the Cinema Farnese, located on the south-east side of the square, and the statue of the philosopher Giordano Bruno in the middle of the square commemorates his execution, which took place there in 1600. Incidentally, the Campo de’ Fiori owes its name (which translates as “field of flowers”) to the fact that until the Middle Ages there was a meadow with colorful wildflowers.

13. Circus Maximus – Rome Attractions

With a length of 600 meters, the Circus Maximus was the largest chariot race track in ancient Rome. Built as early as the 6th century BC and provided with stone grandstands in 103 AD, the Circus Maximus offered Roman citizens “bread and games” for many centuries.

Up to 200 chariot races, gladiator fights and other events took place here every year; the grandstands could seat up to 250,000 people. Today, you can see the layout of the original Circus Maximus on a grassy area and the remains of the spectator stands.

14. The Vatican City – Rome must sees

Anyone who enters the Vatican City officially leaves Italy. As an enclave in the middle of Rome, the Vatican is the smallest state in the world. The Vatican has been independent since 1929; it is the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence and official residence of the Pope.

If you want to see it, you should go to the general audience on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square (in the Audience Hall of Paolo VI in bad weather). Officially, a free ticket from the Pilgrims’ Center is required for this, but you can get in without one, especially during good weather audiences in St. Peter’s Square.

If the Pope is not in Rome, the audiences are canceled, but even then you should not miss the UNESCO World Heritage Vatican City, because there are the following other Rome highlights to see:

15. St. Peter’s Basilica – Rome Highlights

St. Peter’s Basilica – the largest Christian basilica in the world – is located on the west side of St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. It is definitely worth a visit; if you want to avoid long queues, you should come early in the morning.

The 1.5 hectare interior is home to 45 altars, 800 columns, the presumed tomb of St. Peter and countless famous works of art. In addition to eight smaller domes, the main dome is a sensation in itself: it can be climbed by elevator or on foot (although the latter is not without effort), and at the end there is a truly rewarding view over the city.

As with most churches, you shouldn’t visit in a crop top and hot pants: moderate, shoulder-covering clothing is mandatory.

16. Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Two more “must-sees” in the Vatican, which are an important part of all Rome travel tips: The Vatican Museums contain the papal art collections – they are among the largest and most important collections of art and cultural treasures in the entire world.

They are divided into different chronological and geographical areas such as oriental antiquities, classical antiquity, art from the Renaissance to the 19th century and contemporary art. The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums.

This is connected to St. Peter’s Basilica and contains Michelangelo’s world-famous frescoes, such as the much-quoted “Creation of Adam”, along with numerous other works of art. As with St. Peter’s Basilica, it makes sense to arrive early. But even if the wait is a little longer, the breathtaking view immediately makes up for every minute spent in the queue!

17. Piazza del Popolo – Rome Attractions

On the historic Piazza del Popolo (“People’s Square”) stands the largest obelisk in Rome, at the foot of which water-spouting lions provide refreshment. The square used to be the first sight that visitors arriving from the north could catch of the city.

For centuries, merchants, statesmen and other travelers entered the city through the Porta del Popolo, including Martin Luther, who stayed in the Augustinian monastery in Piazza del Popolo. To the east of Piazza del Popolo is the Pincio Hill with Villa Borghese. Those who climb it have a wonderful view of Roman life in the piazza.

More information about Rome

Rome Hotels & Accommodation

Beautiful and centrally located hotels and accommodation

Airbnb in Rome

Another option is, of course, all the Airbnbs in the city. You can get in touch with locals and probably discover completely different corners of Rome.

Rome Restaurants

Anyone visiting Rome wants to eat Roman food – that’s a given. If you are looking for authentic cuisine, you should avoid the restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the big tourist magnets. Small trattorias in the side streets are recommended; apart from the better quality, the prices are usually more moderate here.

As a rule of thumb: Do as the Romans do – look out for restaurants that are obviously frequented by locals, then you can’t really go wrong.

Best time to visit Rome

Rome is beautiful at any time of year, but it can get uncomfortably hot in the height of summer. In addition, most Romans go on vacation from mid-August – many restaurants and stores remain closed during this time. Rome is one of the cities you can visit in spring such as Lisbon or Barcelona.

It is generally warmer in the Eternal City than in our latitudes, so you can soak up a little sun here even during the cooler spring days here. The golden fall is also recommended.

Even if the probability of rain increases a little at this time, the climate is generally mild and, above all, the queues in front of the particularly famous Rome sights are a little shorter.

Public transport in Rome

Getting around Rome poses no major problems. As the most important Rome Attractions are concentrated in a small area, walking is an inexpensive and healthy means of transportation.

For destinations outside the city center or for tired legs, the clearly laid out metro network is a good option. It consists of just two lines (red and blue), which intersect at Termini Central Station. Trains run regularly every 5 to 10 minutes until 11.30 pm, on Saturdays until 0.30 am.

It is a little more difficult to keep track of the buses: There are hundreds of bus routes that take you to practically every corner of the city. Tickets for the metro and bus are available in tobacconists, bars and newsagents; there are also ticket machines in every metro station and at all major bus stops – although you should have counted change ready for the older models.

Particularly attractive for tourists are the sightseeing buses, which are operated by various companies and criss-cross the city on different tours (usually lasting 2-4 hours). Most of these are “sightseeing tours on a hop-on hop-off bus“; you can get off at any of the major sights in Rome and take as much time as you like.

Events & festivals in Rome

One of the most important events that take place in Rome every year is, of course, the Pope’s Easter blessing: countless pilgrims flock to St. Peter’s Square for Urbi et Orbi. On April 21, Rome celebrates its birthday with lots of parties, concerts and fireworks.

The “Roman Summer” (Estate Romana) offers numerous music events, fashion shows and open-air movies between June and September. Every 2nd or 3rd Saturday in September, culture vultures get their money’s worth at the Notte Bianca, the Museum Night.

In addition to the open museums, there are dance, theater and concert events. Cineastes should not miss the Rome Film Festival, which takes place in November: In the Auditorium Parco della Musica there are plenty of commercial and independent films of good quality to watch.

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Rome Sightseeing Passes & City Cards:

The most popular Rome City Passes:

Rome City Pass – for 1 to 7 days + transfer and local transport

The Rome City Pass from Turbopass gives you access to Rome’s top attractions. You can also book local transport directly and the airport transfer is included. The pass is available in different categories. Perfect if you don’t fancy stress and individual tickets.

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2 Kommentare

Ignazio Santini

19. January 2025

Hallo, das ist wirklich ein informativer und kompakter Guide über Rom! Die Tipps sind super hilfreich, besonders wenn man in kurzer Zeit das Beste aus der Stadt herausholen möchte.Danke für den tollen Beitrag!

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Rome in 3 days: City Guide with 17 great attractions everyone should visit