Rome in 3 days: skip-the-line itinerary

Rome overwhelms: 27 centuries of history stacked on every corner. Three well-organised days cover the essentials without going mad. This itinerary prioritises and, above all, tells you where to book to avoid losing hours in queues.

Day 1: ancient Rome

Morning: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine with a combined timed ticket (buy online; the box-office queue is one of the worst in the city). Afternoon: Piazza Venezia, the Imperial Forums on foot and a walk to the Trevi Fountain at dusk.

Day 2: the Vatican

Give the whole morning to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Skip-the-line isn't a luxury here, it's survival: waits can top two hours. A guided Vatican tour with skip-the-line access saves the time and gives context to a collection that's overwhelming alone. Finish at St Peter's Basilica (free entry, but a security queue).

Day 3: the centre on foot

Pantheon (timed but quick), Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori and, across the Tiber, Trastevere to eat and stroll. The most relaxed day and, for many, the prettiest.

Practical tips

• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered at the Vatican and basilicas.
• Comfy shoes: the centre is walked and the cobbles punish.
• Book ahead the Colosseum and Vatican; the rest allows improvising.
• Avoid restaurants with photo menus next to the big monuments.

For more activity options, see what to see in Rome.