Rome is the sort of city where you can turn a simple afternoon walk into a two-hour history lesson without really meaning to.
One minute you're walking down an ordinary-looking street, the next you're standing in front of a 2,000-year-old monument. Add world-class food, beautiful piazzas, fountains, churches and more history than you could possibly absorb in one trip, and it's easy to see why Rome remains one of Europe's great city breaks.
Three days is enough for a first visit.
You won't see everything, and you shouldn't try. The best way to experience Rome is to concentrate on a different part of the city each day, book the major attractions in advance and leave plenty of time for wandering.
This is how we'd spend three days in Rome.
Rome in three days at a glance
Day 1: The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Monti
Day 2: Vatican City, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon
Day 3: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Trastevere and the Tiber
You will walk a lot. Rome is one of those cities where comfortable shoes are not optional.
Day 1: Ancient Rome
Your first day is all about the Rome that made the city famous.
Start early at the Colosseum, explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, then spend the afternoon around Monti.
8:30am: The Colosseum
Start early at the Colosseum.
It is one of those sights that genuinely lives up to the hype. Even after seeing it countless times in photographs, standing underneath the enormous arches is quite something.
Allow around an hour for the Colosseum itself, then continue into the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Book your tickets before travelling. The Colosseum is one of Rome's busiest attractions and turning up without a plan can eat into a surprisingly large part of your day.
10:30am: Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Give yourself at least two hours here.
The Forum can initially feel a little overwhelming because there is so much to see, but don't worry about identifying every ruin.
Walk along the Via Sacra, take in the temples and imagine what the area must have looked like when it was the centre of Roman life.
Palatine Hill also gives you some excellent views across the Forum.
1:00pm: Lunch in Monti
Walk towards Monti for lunch.
This is one of Rome's most enjoyable neighbourhoods and a much better place to stop than eating directly beside the Colosseum.
Look for a small trattoria, order some pasta and take your time.
Try cacio e pepe, carbonara or amatriciana if you want something properly Roman.
2:30pm: Wander around Monti
Don't immediately move on after lunch.
Monti is full of small boutiques, wine bars, cafés and quiet streets. It's the perfect place to slow down after a busy morning.
This is also where we'd start ignoring the itinerary.
If you see an interesting street, walk down it.
4:30pm: Piazza Venezia and the Altare della Patria
Make your way towards Piazza Venezia.
The enormous Altare della Patria dominates the square and is hard to miss.
From here, continue towards the historic centre.
You are now entering the Rome of fountains, churches and grand piazzas rather than ancient ruins.
6:00pm: Aperitivo
Stop for an aperitivo.
Find a small bar, order a drink and watch the city go by.
This is one of the easiest ways to settle into Rome's rhythm.
8:00pm: Dinner
Stay in the historic centre or head back towards Monti for dinner.
Don't worry about finding somewhere famous.
A good local restaurant with a busy dining room is usually a better bet than somewhere with a huge menu in six languages.
Day 2: The Vatican and the historic centre
Day two moves into Vatican City before heading back towards some of Rome's most famous squares and landmarks.
8:00am: Vatican Museums
Start early at the Vatican Museums.
The collection is enormous, but the Sistine Chapel is the obvious highlight for most visitors.
Book in advance and give yourself several hours.
It can be busy, but seeing the Vatican early gives you a better chance of enjoying the rest of the day without feeling rushed.
11:30am: St Peter's Basilica
Make your way towards St Peter's Basilica.
The scale of the interior is extraordinary, and the dome dominates the skyline from much of the surrounding area.
If you're feeling energetic, climb the dome for one of the best views in Rome.
1:30pm: Lunch
Cross back towards the historic centre for lunch.
Look for somewhere around Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona or the surrounding streets.
This is a good opportunity to try something different from the previous day's pasta.
Pizza al taglio, supplì and porchetta all make excellent quick lunches.
3:00pm: Piazza Navona
Spend some time around Piazza Navona.
The square is built on the site of an ancient Roman stadium and is home to Bernini's famous Fountain of the Four Rivers.
It's also one of the best places in Rome for simply sitting down with a coffee or gelato.
4:00pm: Pantheon
Walk towards the Pantheon.
The building is almost impossibly well preserved considering its age.
Go inside, look up at the famous oculus and then take your time exploring the surrounding streets.
5:00pm: Gelato stop
This is not optional.
Find a good gelateria and order something.
Pistachio is always a safe choice.
6:00pm: Campo de' Fiori
Continue towards Campo de' Fiori.
The market operates during the day, while the square takes on a different atmosphere in the evening.
It's a good place to start the evening before dinner.
8:00pm: Dinner in the historic centre
For your second evening, stay central.
You can walk between restaurants, bars and piazzas without worrying about public transport.
Day 3: Fountains, views and Trastevere
Your final day is deliberately a little slower.
You've seen the major ancient and religious sights. Today is about enjoying Rome itself.
8:30am: Trevi Fountain
Get to the Trevi Fountain early.
This is one of the busiest places in Rome, and the difference between seeing it at 8:30am and 11:30am can be enormous.
Take your obligatory coin toss, take some photographs and move on before the crowds become overwhelming.
9:30am: Spanish Steps
Walk towards the Spanish Steps.
The steps themselves don't take long to see, but the surrounding streets are some of Rome's best for shopping.
Via dei Condotti is particularly impressive if you're interested in fashion and designer brands.
11:00am: Villa Borghese
Head into Villa Borghese.
The park provides a welcome break from the busy streets and gives you somewhere to wander without a particular destination.
If you are particularly interested in art, the Galleria Borghese is worth considering. Otherwise, enjoy the park.
1:00pm: Lunch
Have lunch around Piazza del Popolo or on the way towards the river.
Keep it relatively light.
You have another long afternoon ahead.
2:30pm: The Tiber
Walk alongside the Tiber.
It's easy to forget that Rome is a river city because so much of the sightseeing happens away from the water.
Cross over towards Trastevere.
3:30pm: Trastevere
This is one of our favourite places to spend a final afternoon.
Trastevere has narrow cobbled streets, ivy-covered buildings, small shops, bars and plenty of places to eat.
There isn't really a checklist here.
Just walk.
5:30pm: Aperitivo in Trastevere
Find a bar and settle in for a drink.
By now, you will have walked a ridiculous number of kilometres, so you have earned it.
8:00pm: Final Roman dinner
Stay in Trastevere for your final dinner.
Order something you haven't tried yet, have a glass of wine and enjoy your final evening.
Rome is one of those cities where dinner is as much about the experience as the food.
What should you book before visiting Rome?
There are three things we'd organise before travelling.
Colosseum
Book your Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill tickets in advance.
Vatican Museums
Don't leave the Vatican until the last minute.
Accommodation
Staying somewhere central makes a huge difference on a three-day trip.
You can compare Rome hotels on Timms Travel before choosing where to stay.
Flights
You can also compare flights to Rome before booking.
Where should you stay in Rome?
Centro Storico
Best for first-time visitors who want to be close to the major sights.
Monti
A great choice for restaurants, bars and a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.
Trastevere
Ideal if food and nightlife are high on your list.
Prati
A quieter option close to the Vatican.
Is three days enough for Rome?
Yes.
You could spend a month in Rome and still have churches, museums and ancient ruins left to discover.
But three days gives you enough time to see the Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and some of the city's best neighbourhoods without spending the entire trip running from one attraction to another.
The secret is to leave some gaps.
Rome is best discovered between the sights.