Italy
Plan your Rome trip here
Two-thousand-year-old ruins stand in the middle of a working city. The main sights sit within walking distance of each other, which makes it an easy first stop in Italy.
Updated August 2, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
- Gateway airport
- Fiumicino (FCO) & Ciampino (CIA)
- Best season
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
- Sights covered
- 40 places
Sights worth seeing
See all 40 →
Temples & religious sites
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, or simply St. Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy. It was initially planned in the 15th century by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the ageing Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the fourth century by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626.
Temples & religious sites
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481. Since that time, it has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today, it is the site of the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. The chapel's fame lies mainly in the frescoes that decorate its interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment, both by Michelangelo.
Museums & galleries
Pantheon
The Pantheon is an ancient 2nd century Roman temple and, since AD 609, a Catholic church called the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs in Rome, Italy. It is perhaps the most famous, and architecturally most influential, rotunda.
Parks & gardens
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum, is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the centre of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.
Parks & gardens
Saint Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome, directly west of the neighborhood (rione) of Borgo. Both the square and the basilica are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider the first Pope.
Museums & galleries
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are the public museums of the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of the best-known Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. The museums contain roughly 70,000 works, of which 20,000 are on display, and currently employ 640 people who work in 40 different administrative, scholarly, and restoration departments.
Museums & galleries
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill, which is the centremost of the seven hills of Rome, is one of the most ancient parts of the city; it has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire". The site is now mainly a large open-air museum and the Palatine Museum houses many finds from the excavations here and from other ancient Italian sites.
Temples & religious sites
Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, commonly known as the Lateran Basilica or Saint John Lateran, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, Italy. It serves as the seat of the bishop of Rome and head of the worldwide Catholic Church: the pope. The only "archbasilica" in the world, it lies outside of Vatican City proper, which is located approximately four kilometres northwest. Nevertheless, as properties of the Holy See, the archbasilica and its adjoining edifices enjoy an extraterritorial status from Italy, pursuant to the terms of the Lateran Treaty of 1929. D...
How many days do you need?
Routes grouped by travel distance so each day stays comfortable.
2 nights, 3 days
Rome 3-Day Itinerary (2 Nights)
A 3-day route through Rome covering St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, Roman Forum and other highlights, grouped so each day stays within a short travel distance.
3 nights, 4 days
Rome 4-Day Itinerary (3 Nights)
A 4-day route through Rome covering St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, Roman Forum and other highlights, grouped so each day stays within a short travel distance.
Getting there
Check flights to Rome first
Pick a departure airport and date to jump straight to results for Fiumicino (FCO) & Ciampino (CIA).
Check fares and seat availability on the flight search site.
Getting around the city
What you will actually use to get around Rome, and whether you need a car.
- Metro & rail
- Three lines (A, B and C). Ruins make tunnelling hard, so the network is small. It reaches the Colosseum and the Vatican; for the rest you walk or take a bus.
- Buses & trams
- Trams and buses fill the gaps, though delays are common — leave margin. Pickpocketing is a known problem on the main tourist routes.
- Transit cards & payment
- Metrebus tickets. You must validate on entry — inspections carry heavy fines.
- Airport to city
- The Leonardo Express runs non-stop from Fiumicino to Termini. From Ciampino, buses are standard.
- Car rental
- Central Rome has ZTL restricted zones — entering unaware means a fine. Leave the car for trips out to Tuscany and elsewhere.
Book transport
Fares and timetables change often, so we don't list them here. Check the operator or the booking site for current prices and schedules.
Getting to other cities
Useful when you're combining several cities. Times are approximate; fares and timetables change often, so we don't list them.
High-speed train is by far the default choice between Rome and Naples — frequent direct services connect the two city centers in about an hour, which is faster and more convenient than flying once airport transfers are factored in. Driving or taking a long-distance bus are the main alternatives for travelers on a budget or carrying a lot of luggage.
- train · about 1 to 1.5 hours High-speed Frecciarossa/Italo services run directly between Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale, city center to city center.
- car · about 2 to 2.5 hours Via the A1 motorway connecting Rome and Naples, with travel time varying by traffic and city entry/exit points.
- bus · about 3 hours Long-distance coach operators connect the two cities, typically slower than the train but cheaper.
- flight · about 1 hour in the air, but 3+ hours door-to-door Rarely used for this route given the short distance and added time for airport transfers and check-in; only relevant if connecting onward from FCO or NAP.
High-speed train is the default way to travel between Rome and Florence, with frequent Frecciarossa and Italo services connecting the city-center stations directly. Driving is a reasonable alternative for those with a car or wanting flexibility, while long-distance buses are the slower budget option. Flying is impractical for this distance and not commonly used.
- train · about 1.5 hours High-speed Frecciarossa or Italo trains run between Roma Termini and Firenze Santa Maria Novella, both central stations, making this the fastest and most convenient option.
- car · about 3 hours Via the A1 motorway; gives flexibility for stops en route but involves tolls and city-center parking/traffic restrictions in both Rome and Florence.
- bus · 3 to 4 hours Long-distance coach operators such as FlixBus connect the two cities, usually cheaper than the train but slower and with fewer departures.
The high-speed train between Roma Termini and Venezia Santa Lucia is the default choice for most travellers, running frequently with no need to deal with airport transfers. Flying is only marginally faster door-to-door once airport time is factored in, so it mainly appeals to those connecting through FCO anyway. Driving or taking a long-distance bus are options but take considerably longer given the road distance is well over the straight-line figure.
- train · about 3.5 to 4 hours High-speed Frecciarossa or Italo services run direct from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, city center to city center.
- flight · about 2.5 to 3 hours door-to-door Flights from FCO (or occasionally Ciampino) to Venice Marco Polo take around 1 hour 15 minutes in the air, but airport check-in, security, and the transfer into Venice from the airport add significant
- car · about 4.5 to 5 hours Mostly via the A1 and A13 motorways; Venice's historic center is car-free, so drivers park at Tronchetto or Piazzale Roma and continue by foot, vaporetto, or water taxi.
- bus · about 7 to 8 hours Long-distance coach operators (e.g. FlixBus) connect the two cities but are slower than the train and mainly used as a budget option.
The high-speed train is the default choice for most travellers, running frequently between Roma Termini and Milano Centrale in about 3 hours city-center to city-center. Flying is only marginally faster once airport transfers and check-in time are factored in, so it mainly appeals to those connecting from other flights. Driving or taking a long-distance bus are slower, budget-oriented alternatives.
- train · about 3 hours High-speed Frecciarossa or Italo services connect Roma Termini directly to Milano Centrale, both central stations.
- flight · about 1 hour 10 minutes in the air, but 3 to 4 hours door-to Flights run between Fiumicino (FCO) or Ciampino (CIA) in Rome and Malpensa (MXP) or Linate (LIN) in Milan; Linate is closer to central Milan than Malpensa.
- bus · about 10 to 12 hours Long-distance coaches connect the two cities as a cheaper but much slower alternative to the train, usually departing from peripheral bus terminals.
- car · about 5 to 6 hours The route follows the A1 Autostrada del Sole motorway, with travel time depending on traffic and stops.
Most travellers fly from Rome (FCO or CIA) to Venice (VCE) and then rent a car or take a bus for the final stretch into the Dolomites, since there's no airport directly in the mountains. A high-speed train to Verona or Bolzano/Trento followed by a regional bus or transfer is a common train-based alternative, while self-driving the whole way is popular for travellers who want flexibility once in the mountains.
- flight + car/bus · about 1 to 1.5 hours flying, plus 2 to 3 hours onward travel Fly Rome FCO to Venice VCE, then rent a car or take a bus/shuttle north into the Dolomites (e.g. Cortina d'Ampezzo or Bolzano area).
- train + bus · about 5 to 7 hours total High-speed train from Roma Termini to Verona or Bolzano/Trento, then a regional bus or local train into the Dolomite valleys.
- car · about 6 to 7 hours Self-drive via the A1 and A22 motorways gives full flexibility for reaching specific Dolomite towns and resorts.
- long-distance bus · about 8 to 10 hours Intercity coach services connect Rome to northern hubs like Verona or Bolzano, though this is a less common option due to the long ride.
Where to stay
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Central & near stations
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