Rome and Vatican City, 4 Days Itinerary

Rome, the eternal city that everyone needs to see at least once in their lives.

Regarding Public Transport in Rome: Tickets are 1,50€. You can buy them at any station and are valid on busses, metro, and tram lines all over the city for a total duration of 90 min, which gives you plenty of time to complete your trip.

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Day 1 - Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Palazzo Montecitorio, Palazzo del Quirinale and Campo Dei Fiori

Choose an early morning flight to get the most of your 4 days. My flat in Rome was located close to Campo dei Fiori, a huge market square during the day and a nightlife spot during the night. Hence, the first stop was Piazza Navona, one of the most well know squares of the city, where you can admire three majestic fountains surrounded by various buildings in Baroque Roman architecture. Some of the buildings around the piazza are open for visits so make sure you go inside. From Piazza Navona, you can continue towards the Pantheon. Located just 5 minutes away from Piazza Navona, the Pantheon is amongst one of the most well-preserved Roman buildings of the city and was a former Temple (more precisely the temple of all the gods), I'll let you find out more about its history once there. Entrance to the Pantheon is free, however, make sure you double-check the opening times online as they might vary depending on the day you want to visit, and bring something to cover up your shoulders if travelling during hot weather or you will not be allowed in. For Lunch, grab one of the most well-known Focaccias in Rome by 'All'antico Vinaio', just a few minutes walk from the Pantheon. I went for the one with stracciatella, mortadella, and pistachio and it was amazing!During the afternoon, continue towards Palazzo Montecitorio (Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic), the Trevi Fountain (P.S. = it's very close to the places stated above so have a look while passing by but make sure you go again early in the morning as the fountain is located in a very small square which is usually packed with tourists most of the time). Then head towards Palazzo del Quirinale (current residence of the Italian President). I didn't book any visits for any of the two as they were not on my top list of things to visit for the 4 days time I had. However, if you are staying longer, pick one of the two as they are definitely worth a visit.

ATTENTION: Gelato time before continuing! Especially if visiting during summer time as I did.As this is your first day in the city, relax for the rest of the evening wandering around the streets of Rome, familiarise yourself with the area, and end your evening with a nice dinner at Campo Dei Fiori.

View from the Colosseum and Palatine Hill from the Altar of the Nation

Day 2 - Trevi Fountain, Altare della Patria, Colosseum, Palantine Hill and the Roman Forum with sunset at Colle del Gianicolo

First stop of the day: the Trevi Fountain. Have a nice breakfast in one of the bars in the little square and then continue towards the 'Altare della Patria' or Altar of the Nation. An extraordinary monument inaugurated in 1911 in honour of King Vittorio Emanuele II, now a symbol of the Italian Republic. There are 'a few' steps to get to the top, but the views on the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum will not disappoint you. Getting up the stairs to the main terrace viewpoint of the Altar is free. However, if you have time, there is also a museum that can be visited for a small entry fee as well as a lift that takes you all the way up to the roof (about 10€) where you can get even more spectacular views of the city. Time for the highlights of the whole trip, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. For those who do not know, the Colosseum was once a gladiator arena, used to entertain Ancient Romans with spectacles, animal and gladiator battles, and much more. It saw the Roman Empire rise and later fall, becoming the main symbol of Roman history. Its construction was completed in 80AD and it is also the most ancient amphitheatre still standing today. Make sure to check the Colosseum's website for opening times as they may vary depending on the season you intend to visit. Also, book well in advance, especially if you are planning to visit the undergrounds, which by the way is only possible with a guided tour. Unfortunately, I was only lucky enough to get the general entry ticket which is about 20€ and includes entry to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, located right next to the Colosseum itself. For the evening, find a nice local restaurant for dinner and end your day watching the sunset in one of the best spots of the city, the 'Colle del Gianicolo'.

Day 3 - Vatican City Day, Castel and Ponte Sant'Angelo

For those of you who are not aware, Vatican City is a country on its own and the residency of the Pope, head of the Catholic Church. Start your day with a visit to the Vatican Museums (I paid around 35€ for entry, including the 'skip the line' option). If you have ever heard about Michelangelo's world-famous Sistine Chapel, this is where you will find it as it is right inside the Vatican Museums. The full visit will take you around 4 hours. Make sure you get there nice and early as it does get very busy, especially during the high season. If you want to avoid queuing, I suggest getting the 'skip the line' ticket as I did, just to make sure you won't have to spend hours queuing outside. Once done with the Museums, and after a recharging lunch, head over to St Peter's Basilica, one of the most impressive and fascinating churches you will ever see! When arriving at the main square, right in front of St Peter's Basilica, join the queue on your right-hand side to pass security checks before entering the Basilica. Once inside, do not miss a visit to the Dome. Views from up there are amazing and you will be able to see both the interior part of the Dome as well as the external terrace area with 360-degree views of the city. Tickets are 10€ for the lift and a few euros less for the stairs. However, I suggest using the lift as you will still have over 300 steps to climb up towards the external rooftop terrace of the Dome. The steps are very narrow, and the walls follow the rounded shape of the Dome so you'll end up walking like the leaning tower of Pisa at some point and it's very hot inside during summertime. Therefore, this is not something I would recommend for those suffering from anxiety, claustrophobia, or fear of highs for when you get to the top. When ready to get back down, the guided path will lead you directly into the Basilica itself, and WOW the beauty of that place! You just have to see it for yourself... For the rest of the evening try and hang out around the area, see the Vatican by night and enjoy a nice walk along the River Tevere for some nice pictures around Castel and Ponte Sant'Angelo.