Rome in a Week: The Perfect 7-day Rome Itinerary

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If you are planning to explore Rome in a week, I have the itinerary for you! Rome is one of my favourite cities in the world, and I personally believe that a weekend is not enough. A 7-day Rome itinerary is the sweet-spot, in my opinion – so if you are planning a trip of that length, you’ve come to the right place.

Of course, if you have less than a week in Rome, don’t fret. The city has so much to explore, and I trust you’ll be able to pick your favourites from this itinerary.

As the birthplace of the Roman Empire, Rome is a centre of power, culture, art, and religion. This bustling metropolis has been rightfully nicknamed the Eternal City, and the city continues to exert a powerful influence in many ways on the rest of the world.

You can expect to find churches that are more than a thousand years old, magnificent monuments, beautiful fountains and several palaces (you know I love my castles, right?).

The historic city center of Rome itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is pretty impressive. With so much history, great food and culture packed into one city, it doesn’t take much research to realise that you need a full week to explore.

So, if you are planning to spend a week in Rome, I hope this itinerary will help you plan your trip!

The Perfect 7-Day Rome Itinerary

An entire week of sightseeing will not only let you cover the top sights in Rome, but will also give you a true feel of the city.

On my last trip to Rome, I made sure to spend a full week there, in order to enjoy more than enough time to just sit with a nice glass of wine and people-watch.

Without further ado, this 7-day Rome itinerary will take you through the famous landmarks and popular attractions of the city, whether you are visiting Europe in April or November.

One thing that isn’t included on this list, but that I do recommend, is renting a car and heading out of the city on a scenic drive. There is plenty to explore around Rome, and it’s definitely worth it. So, if you have the time, why not head up to Tuscany to explore some of the villages there, or even out to the Amalfi coast?

Do note that the days outlined in this itinerary are quite busy, so it is up to you if you want to opt to do everything I suggest, or just select a few things that sound the most appealing to you.

In short, you can make this itinerary as busy or as leisurely as you want!

Day 1 in Rome

Start the day with a visit to the Vatican Gardens, located in the Vatican City. Explore the Vatican Gardens followed by a Vatican Museums Tour and spend a couple of hours there. This is a great way to experience Lazio’s unique culture.

Afterwards, don’t miss a visit to the Sistine Chapel, which is a part of the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica, which is arguably the most famous church in Christianity.

Next, it is time to move on to St. Peter’s Square, which is located in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. There are lots of places in the vicinity of the square where you can grab lunch, and in the evening I recommend heading on a food tour for dinner.

Read next: the 5 Best Food Tours in Rome

In one day, you get to visit the most important religious and cultural spots of Rome, and sample some of the best dishes the city has to offer!

Day 2 in Rome

Start your day with a visit to the Pantheon. Built between 118AD and 125AD, it now stands tall as one of the most impressive buildings in the city.

Plan a walking tour through the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain for a wonderful experience. Piazza della Rotonda is another important historic site.

Piazza Venezia is the most central of Rome’s squares and located at the foot of Capitoline Hill. You have the whole day before you, and now it is time to head towards the Roman Forum between the Palatine Hill, Esquiline Hill, and Capitoline Hill.

Do not forget The Colosseum, which is an iconic monument of Rome – and probably one of the most famous buildings in the city. End your day with a visit to the Basilica of San Clemente, a beautiful 4th century church.

Day 3 in Rome

Visit the Galleria Borghese museum and explore the Borghese Gallery and Gardens to get a fascinating insight into 17th-century Roman culture.

The gardens are the largest public landscape park in Rome, and afterwards I recommend considering a Rome Segway Tour for a fun way to explore the city.

The National Gallery of Ancient Art is an outstanding museum, designed by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (said to be the greatest sculptor of the 17th century). Another popular museum is Via delle Quattro Fontane.

The Piazza di Spagna is another popular landmark, and this 18th century Spanish Square is a must-visit when in Rome. Other attractions you can cover on the third day are Piazza Navona and church of San Luigi dei Francesi.

Day 4 in Rome

Art lovers will enjoy a tour of the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, and one of the most extensive private art collections in Rome.

Afterwards, make a trip to Capitoline Hill, one of the famed seven hills Rome was built on, or consider a visit to Villa Medici (one of my favourite spots in Rome, pictured below).

Circus Maximus (or Circo Massimo) is where citizens in ancient Rome gathered to watch chariot races processions and gladiator fights, so if you didn’t see it after your visit to the Colosseum earlier in the week, add it to your list today.

Day 5 in Rome

Consider today your “archeology day”. Fans of the Dig will love it.

Begin the fifth day with a trip to Palatine Hill near the city center, for beautiful views of the Forum and ruins of ancient Rome.

Later head up the Capitaline Hill, towards The Museo Capitolini (the Capitol Museums) that consists of the palaces Palazzo Senatorio, Palazzo dei Conservatori, and Palazzo Nuovo.

Day 6 in Rome

It is a must to visit the Catacombs of St. Domitilla, which are the oldest and best preserved catacombs in Rome.

Discover a secret world in those subterranean catacombs that were a communal burial ground back in the day.

Later in the day, it is finally time to visit the famous Trevi Fountain. The Fontana di Trevi is the largest fountain in baroque style in the world. It is the fountain to toss a coin in, and legend has it that if you do you’ll return to Rome some day.

End the day with a trip to Palazzo Barberini, a beautiful baroque-style palace.

Day 7 in Rome

Sadly, this is the final day in Rome. Perhaps your flight back home is today, or you have until tomorrow. Regardless, it’s time to say goodbye to the Eternal City soon.

Start your day at the National Gallery of Modern Art to browse both contemporary and ancient art. Afterwards, visit the national Etruscan Museum, to learn all about the Etruscan civilisation.

After lunch, I recommend a private, guided visit to Palazzo Spada, a centrally located palace with a garden looking over the Tiber River. This is a truly stunning Roman Baroque style residence – perfect for those that love stately homes (like myself).

As you can tell, there are plenty ways to do Rome in a week, and I highly advise anyone visiting the Italian capital to stay for longer than a weekend!

If you are planning a trip to Rome anytime soon, or know someone who is, I’d love it if you would share this 7-day Rome itinerary with them!

Top Things to do in Rome

Below are some of the most popular tours and activities in Rome. Bear in mind that many can sell out, especially in the high season (June-August), so book early if you can.

Tip: look for excursions with “free cancellation”, so you can guarantee your ticket and still have the option to make changes later.