Rome rewards unhurried travelers. Its layers—Etruscan relics, imperial grandeur, Baroque theatrics, and contemporary street life—sit side by side, inviting you to drift between millennia in a single afternoon. The Vatican, a city-state within Rome, holds masterpieces that shaped Western art and faith, from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel to the soaring dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Across these seven days, you’ll stand on the Colosseum’s arena floor, admire Raphael’s Rooms, and sip espresso at counters where Roman life hums. Evenings bring trattorie tables clinking with cacio e pepe, Amatriciana, and Roman-Jewish specialties, with detours for gelato and rooftop views over terracotta roofs.

Practical notes: book major sights with timed entry and dress modestly for churches (shoulders/knees covered). Keep valuables secure on public transit and in busy squares. Getting around is easy: metro, buses, and your own feet. This itinerary builds in breaks, great meals, and a one-day escape to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

Rome

Rome is a living museum where daily life unfolds amid fountains and ruins. Iconic landmarks—Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain—are a short stroll or metro ride apart. Neighborhoods like Trastevere, Monti, and Testaccio show off Rome’s creative, culinary side.

• Top sights: Colosseum & Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Capitoline Museums, Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Appian Way.
• Food & drink: Try carbonara at Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina, pizza al taglio at Pizzarium Bonci, maritozzi cream buns at Pasticceria Regoli, and natural wines at Ai Tre Scalini.
• Fun fact: The Pantheon’s concrete dome—still the world’s largest unreinforced—has crowned Rome’s skyline since 125 CE.

Where to stay (Rome): Search stays on VRBO Rome or Hotels.com Rome. Curated picks: Hotel de Russie (elegant gardens near Piazza del Popolo), Hotel Mascagni (solid value near Repubblica), Hotel Santa Maria (romantic Trastevere cloister), and The Beehive (friendly budget base with café).

How to get to Rome: For flights within Europe, compare on Omio Flights (Europe). From outside Europe, use Trip.com Flights. Trains from major Italian cities take 1–3.5 hours; check Omio Trains (Europe). From Fiumicino Airport, the Leonardo Express to Termini takes ~32 minutes (~€14); fixed-fare taxis run ~€50–55.

Vatican City

The world’s smallest state holds outsized treasures: Raphael’s frescoes, the Sistine Chapel, Bernini’s colonnades, and St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s a place where art, faith, and diplomacy intersect, best seen with timed entry or a guided tour.

• Highlights: Vatican Museums (Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms), Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and Dome, St. Peter’s Square.
• Good to know: Modest dress required (shoulders/knees covered). Early or late slots are calmest. Security screening is airport-style.
• Getting there: From central Rome, take Metro A to Ottaviano (12–18 minutes; €1.50). Bus 64 also runs Termini–Vatican.

Where to stay nearby: Base yourself in Prati or Trastevere for easy access. Browse Hotels near Vatican City or apartment stays on VRBO.

Day 1: Arrival, Pantheon Twilight, and a Roman Welcome

Afternoon: Arrive and settle into your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a slow wander: Piazza Navona’s Bernini fountains, then the Pantheon—step inside to see the oculus light the marble floor.

Evening: Aperitivo near Campo de’ Fiori at Il Goccetto (wine by the glass and small plates). Dinner options: Armando al Pantheon (booked for soulful Roman pasta), Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere (supplì and cacio e pepe), or Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (carbonara and a serious wine list). Gelato at Giolitti—try pistachio and crema.

Day 2: Ancient Rome and the Colosseum

Morning: Walk in gladiators’ footsteps on a guided visit to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Skip lines, hear the stories, and get your bearings in ancient Rome.

Book: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

Afternoon: Climb Capitoline Hill for Michelangelo’s piazza and sweeping Forum views; duck into the Capitoline Museums for the She-Wolf and equestrian Marcus Aurelius. Espresso at Tazza d’Oro by the Pantheon.

Evening: Explore Monti’s boutiques and bars. Sip at Ai Tre Scalini (natural wines) and dine at La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (seasonal Roman classics) or Trattoria al 19 (handmade tonnarelli). Finish with tiramisù at Pompi.

Day 3: Vatican Masterpieces and St. Peter’s

Morning: Metro A to Ottaviano (12–18 minutes). Join an expert-led Vatican Museums tour to see the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel with context—and without the worst of the lines.

Book: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

Afternoon: Step into St. Peter’s Basilica to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà; if you’re up for it, climb the Dome for Rome’s grandest panorama. Lunch on Via Cola di Rienzo at Pastasciutta (casual, great fresh pasta) or Ginger (light, modern plates).

Evening: Aperitivo at Il Sorpasso (Prati favorite) or Cantina Sociale. Dinner in Borgo Pio at Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale (homey pasta) or return across the river for Trastevere’s Tavernaccia da Bruno (wood-oven meats, lasagna).

Day 4: Baroque Rome, Shopping, and Trastevere Nights

Morning: Coffee at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè (legendary crema). Visit Trevi Fountain early, then the Spanish Steps. Peek into Keats-Shelley House for a literary interlude, or shop along Via Condotti and Via del Babuino.

Afternoon: Tour Galleria Doria Pamphilj—private splendor with Caravaggio and Velázquez—then stroll Via dei Coronari’s antiques. Lunch at Osteria delle Coppelle (cozy courtyard) or Pane e Salame (panini and charcuterie).

Evening: Cross Ponte Sisto into Trastevere. Start with craft beer at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà or a spritz in Piazza di Santa Maria. Dinner: Glass Hostaria (creative Michelin-starred), Impiccetta (classic trattoria), or Seu Pizza Illuminati (modern pies) a short hop away in Trastevere/Portuense. Gelato at Otaleg.

Day 5: Full-Day Excursion—Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast

Set out early for a small-group day trip that pairs the ruins of Pompeii with cliff-hugging views of Positano and the Amalfi Coast. An archaeologist-led tour brings Pompeii’s villas and streets to life, and coastal stops add lemon groves, sea breezes, and photo ops. Expect ~13 hours total with round-trip transport from Rome.

Book: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trip from Rome

Lunch suggestions from your guide often include seaside trattorie for seafood scialatielli or a quick bite by Pompeii’s gates. Back in Rome, keep dinner light: pinsa at Pinsa ‘mpò or a late bowl of gricia at Trattoria Da Teo.

Day 6: Hidden Rome by Golf Cart, Testaccio Flavors, and Rooftop Views

Morning: Cover more ground—with less walking—on a private golf cart tour. Customize stops to include Aventine Keyhole, Orange Garden, Piazza del Popolo, and lesser-known churches laden with baroque art.

Book: Rome by Golf Cart Private Tour: Beyond the Landmarks

Afternoon: Head to Testaccio Market for a grazing lunch: trapizzini (stew-filled pockets), fresh mozzarella, and seasonal produce. Continue to Centrale Montemartini, where classical statues meet vintage turbines, or explore Ostiense street art.

Evening: Sunset aperitivo at Terrazza Borromini overlooking Piazza Navona (reserve). Dinner at Felice a Testaccio (famous cacio e pepe tossed at the table) or Flavio al Velavevodetto (Amatriciana and tiramisù). Nightcap at The Court (cocktails facing the Colosseum) or the speakeasy Jerry Thomas (reservations required).

Day 7: Appian Way Morning and Farewell

Morning: Early coffee and maritozzo at Pasticceria Regoli. If time allows, rent bikes and glide along the Appian Way’s basalt stones past aqueducts and catacombs; alternatively, browse Campo de’ Fiori’s market for olive oil, truffles, and ceramics.

Afternoon: Last bites in the Jewish Ghetto—artichokes alla giudia at Nonna Betta or seafood at Ba’Ghetto—and pick up cookies at Forno Boccione. Transfer to the airport or station (Leonardo Express ~32 minutes; taxis ~€50–55). Arrivederci, Roma.

Getting Around & Practicalities

• Transit: Single metro/bus ticket (BIT) is €1.50 and valid 100 minutes; day passes available. For regional trains and buses, compare on Omio Trains and Omio Buses.
• Between Rome and Vatican City: Metro A (Barberini/Spagna → Ottaviano) ~15 minutes; bus 64 from Termini ~20–25 minutes.
• Timing: Book timed-entry for the Colosseum and Vatican well ahead. Many restaurants take bookings via phone or in person; popular spots fill up days in advance.
• Dress code: Churches require covered shoulders/knees; carry a light scarf. Comfortable shoes are essential on cobblestones.

Optional Add-Ons

• Another Colosseum angle: Arena-floor or underground access deepens the experience. Consider Rome: Colosseum with Arena, Roman Forum and Palatine Guided Tour if slots are available.

In one week, you’ve traced Rome’s rise from empire to modern capital, contemplated the Vatican’s masterpieces, and tasted your way through trattorie and markets. Keep this guide handy for your next visit—Rome always has another layer waiting to be discovered.