5 Days in Rome

Check into Hotel Nerva (4★, €180/night) in the Monti neighborhood, steps from the Colosseum.

Lunch at Trattoria Luzzi (€12/person) — a no-frills local favorite near the Colosseum with authentic pasta amatriciana.

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (€18 combo ticket, pre-booked). Start with the Colosseum, then walk through the Forum.

Aperitivo at La Terrazza del Cesari (€12/drink) with rooftop views over the Pantheon and city rooftops.

Dinner at Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (€35/person) — family-run since 1920 in the heart of Monti.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (€22/person, pre-booked early entry). Beat the crowds and see Michelangelo's ceiling in peace.

St. Peter's Basilica (free entry). Climb the dome (€8 stairs, €10 elevator) for the best view of Rome.

Lunch at Pizzarium Bonci (€8/slice) — widely considered Rome's best pizza al taglio near the Vatican.

Cross the Tiber to Trastevere. Wander the ivy-covered lanes, visit Santa Maria in Trastevere (oldest church in Rome), and sit at Piazza di Santa Maria.

Dinner at Da Enzo al 29 (€30/person) — legendary trattoria. Line up by 7 PM or be prepared to wait.

Pantheon (€5/person) — the best-preserved ancient Roman building. Raphael's tomb is inside. Then walk to Piazza Navona with Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain.

Coffee at Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè (€3) — Rome's most famous espresso, roasted over wood since the 1930s.

Lunch at Armando al Pantheon (€35/person) — classic Roman cuisine since 1961. Rigatoni alla gricia is legendary.

Trevi Fountain — toss a coin over your left shoulder (ensures return to Rome). Then Spanish Steps and luxury shopping on Via Condotti.

Gelato at Giolitti (€3/scoop) — Rome's oldest gelateria, founded 1900.

Dinner at Roscioli (€50/person) — part restaurant, part deli, all amazing. Carbonara is world-famous.

Train from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli (50 min, €3). Visit Villa d'Este (€13/person) — a Renaissance masterpiece with 500 fountains and cascading water gardens.

Lunch at Sibilla (€40/person) — a restaurant built into a Roman temple overlooking the valley.

Hadrian's Villa (€12/person) — the emperor's 2nd-century retreat, a UNESCO site with massive ruins spread over 200 acres. A short bus ride from Tivoli center.

Return train to Rome. Rest at hotel.

Dinner at Trattoria Pennestri (€35/person) in Ostiense — modern Roman cuisine with a neighborhood vibe.

Galleria Borghese (€16/person, 2-hour timed entry). Bernini's Apollo and Daphne is the most stunning sculpture in Rome.

Stroll through Villa Borghese gardens. Rent a rowboat on the lake (€4) or visit the Pincio Terrace for panoramic city views.

Final lunch at Mercato Centrale Roma (€15/person) inside Termini Station — food hall with Rome's best artisanal vendors under one roof.

Depart for Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Leonardo Express train from Termini (€14, 32 min) or taxi (€48 flat rate). Arrive 2.5 hours before flight.