The quick answer
Three days are enough to see most of these 25 places without rushing; with only one day, follow the one-day itinerary. For a longer stay, we detail each day in Rome in 3 days and Rome in 4 days. The Colosseum, the Vatican and the Borghese Gallery are the three visits to book ahead; the rest needs no reservation and is often free.
The 25 highlights in one table
| Place | Time | Price (Oct 2026) | Booking tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colosseum | 1h30 | €18 (€24 Full Experience) | Named ticket, on sale online 30 days ahead, take a morning slot |
| Roman Forum | 1h30 | Included in the 24h Colosseum ticket | Same ticket as the Colosseum, valid 24 hours |
| Palatine Hill | 1h | Included in the 24h Colosseum ticket | Climb first, then walk down into the Forum |
| Vatican Museums | 3h | €20 at the desk, €25 online skip-the-line | Book online; closed on Sundays except the last one of the month |
| St Peter's Basilica | 1h to 2h | Free | Security check, shoulders and knees covered |
| St Peter's Dome | 1h | €17 by stairs, €22 by lift | Online ticket, winter hours from 25 October |
| Pantheon | 30 min | €7 | No skip-the-line, ticket on the official portal or on site |
| Trevi Fountain | 20 to 30 min | Free from a distance, €2 for the basin edge | Come early in the morning or in the evening |
| Piazza Navona | 30 min | Free | No booking; terraces are pricey |
| Spanish Steps | 20 min | Free | Early morning for clear steps |
| Borghese Gallery | 2h | €16 + €2 booking fee | Timed slot required, book ahead |
| Capitoline Museums | 1h30 to 2h | €15 (€16.50 until 1 November) | Free on the first Sunday of the month |
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 1h30 | €18 | Closed on Mondays; terrace with a view of St Peter's |
| Baths of Caracalla | 1h to 1h30 | €10 until 10 January 2027 | Closed on Mondays; closes at 16:30 from 25 October |
| Catacombs | 45 min to 1h | €10 | One closing day per site (St Callixtus: Wednesday) |
| Domus Aurea | 1h30 | €26 | Friday to Sunday only, booking required |
| Basilica of San Clemente | 1h | €10 for the excavations | Upper church free, excavations below |
| Trastevere | Evening | Free | For dinner and strolling, see our district guide |
| Santa Maria in Trastevere | 20 min | Free | Visits paused during Mass |
| Mouth of Truth | 15 min | Free, €2 offering for the photo | Arrive at opening, the queue builds fast |
| Capitoline Hill square | 30 min | Free | Side terraces with a view of the Forum |
| Villa Borghese | 1h to 2h | Free | Park open around the clock, bike hire on site |
| Pincio Terrace | 20 min | Free | Sunset over Piazza del Popolo |
| Janiculum | 30 min | Free | Cannon shot every day at 12:00 |
| Orange Garden | 20 min | Free | Open until 18:00 from October to February; keyhole reachable at any hour |
Times are indicative and exclude queues. Free sites still have opening hours and checks: read the page before you go.
What to book ahead
- Colosseum, Forum and Palatine: a single ticket, on sale 30 days before the date. Compare the options in our Colosseum tickets comparison.
- Vatican Museums: the online skip-the-line ticket costs €5 more than the desk but saves the queue; our early access options compare the offers.
- Borghese Gallery, Domus Aurea: places are limited per slot, so book as soon as you know your dates.
- With a guide: the most-booked guided tour of the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine on GetYourGuide lasts 2h30 in a small group and shows 4.8 out of 5 from over 93,000 reviews (from about $55, checked on 25 October 2026). It suits those who prefer to understand rather than read signs.
Our guide which tickets to book in Rome compares every paid site.
What changes in winter
From 25 October 2026, the Colosseum closes at 16:30 (last entry 15:30), as do the Baths of Caracalla: plan open-air sites for the morning. St Peter's Dome moves to winter hours. Days are short, so keep free covered places such as St Peter's Basilica or Santa Maria in Trastevere for the afternoon.
Going further
To choose when to come, read the best time to visit Rome. If you visit many paid sites, work out whether the Roma Pass or the Omnia Card pays off.
