Three days in Rome work best by area: ancient Rome on day one, the Vatican on day two and the Borghese Gallery with the historic centre on day three. At official adult prices, the five main tickets on this route cost €83, plus a €2 Borghese reservation. A 72-hour Roma Pass brings the ticket total to €111.90, so it only pays off through its public transport. The Vatican Museums are closed on most Sundays and the Borghese on Mondays, so plan the days around that.
Prices were checked on 18–19 October 2026. Each stop shows the official price first, then the cheapest reseller option we could verify.
Day 1: Ancient Rome
Book this day first. Colosseum tickets go on sale 30 days ahead, and the good morning slots go quickly.
Morning
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Take the first slot of the day. The €18 ticket gives one timed entry to the Colosseum and one entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine within 24 hours. Tickets are nominative, so bring an original ID. From 25 October 2026 the Colosseum closes at 16:30, with last entry at 15:30. Our Colosseum ticket guide explains the €24 Full Experience options with the arena and the underground.
Late morning
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Walk straight on from the Colosseum. Your ticket includes one entry here, and the Forum and Palatine open from 09:00. There is little shade, so carry water.
Afternoon
Capitoline Hill
From the Forum, climb up to the Capitoline Hill, which rises right above the ruins. It makes an easy afternoon stop before you head for dinner.
Evening
Monti
End the day in Monti, the old neighbourhood just north of the Forum. It is a short walk from the Colosseum and a good place to slow down after a day on your feet.
Day 2: The Vatican
Plan this day for Monday to Saturday. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free and very crowded.
Morning
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Book the 08:00 slot on tickets.museivaticani.va. The €25 online ticket includes a €5 booking supplement that lets you skip the ticket office queue. The museums don’t allow sleeveless tops, shorts above the knee, miniskirts or hats. Our Vatican Museums ticket guide covers reduced tickets and free days.
Midday
St Peter's Basilica dome climb
St Peter’s Basilica is free, but shoulders and knees must be covered. The dome climb costs €17 with 551 steps, or €22 with the lift and 320 steps on foot. Both include reserved Basilica entry within an hour of your dome slot. The climb takes about an hour. Large bags are not allowed.
Afternoon and evening
Castel Sant'Angelo and Trastevere
Walk from St Peter’s towards the river and see Castel Sant’Angelo from the outside. This itinerary doesn’t include a visit inside, and we haven’t checked its ticket price. Then cross the Tiber to Trastevere for the evening, a natural end to a long Vatican day.
Day 3: The Borghese Gallery and the centre
Plan this day for Tuesday to Sunday. The Borghese Gallery is closed on Mondays.
Morning
Borghese Gallery
The full ticket costs €16 plus a €2 reservation, which is compulsory for everyone, including free tickets. Visits run in two-hour slots with a maximum of 180 people. The gallery opens Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–19:00, with last entry at 17:45. You can also book by phone on +39 06 32810, Monday to Friday, 09:30–18:00.
Late morning
Pincio and the Spanish Steps
Walk from the gallery through the Villa Borghese park to the Pincio terrace, then down to the Spanish Steps.
Lunchtime
Trevi Fountain
The view from the piazza is free. Since 2 February 2026, non-residents pay €2 to go down to the basin. Basin access runs 11:30–22:00 on Mondays and Fridays and 09:00–22:00 on other days.
Afternoon
Pantheon
The Pantheon costs €7 since 1 July 2026. It opens daily 09:00–19:00, with last entry at 18:30. According to secondary sources, it can close for Mass on Saturdays at 17:00 and Sundays at 10:30, so on a weekend go earlier in the afternoon.
Evening
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is a few minutes’ walk from the Pantheon. It is a good place to finish your three days.
With a fourth day: Pompeii
Full day
Pompeii day trip from Rome
A day trip from Rome takes about 11–13 hours, so don’t squeeze it into three days. The official Pompeii Express ticket costs €20 for the ancient city, and Pompeii+ costs €25 with the suburban villas and a shuttle. Tickets are nominative. From 15 October to 15 March the site opens 09:00–17:00, with last entry at 15:30. The cheapest day trip with transport we could verify was €93.80 on Tiqets.
What this itinerary costs
What this trip costs
| Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill24h Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine | €18.00 · Roma Pass (48h / 72h) |
| Vatican Museums and Sistine ChapelFull (Intero) with online 'Skip the Line' booking | €25.00 |
| St Peter's Basilica dome climbDome with stairs (includes Basilica) | €17.00 |
| Borghese GalleryFull (Intero) | €16.00 · Roma Pass (48h / 72h) |
| PantheonFull (Intero) | €7.00 |
| Total at official prices | €83.00 |
|---|---|
| With Roma Pass (48h / 72h) | €111.90 |
Entry tickets at official adult prices, checked 18 October 2026. Transport, food and tours are extra.
The table uses the first official adult ticket for each sight: €18 + €25 + €17 + €16 + €7 = €83. Add the compulsory €2 Borghese reservation, which applies with or without a pass, for €85.
How the Roma Pass works here. The 72-hour pass costs €62.90 and gives two free entries to museums, sites or experiences of your choice, plus unlimited city public transport for 72 hours. It doesn’t include the Vatican Museums or St Peter’s. On this route, the two most expensive sights it can cover are the Colosseum (€18) and the Borghese Gallery (€16), so we count those two as free. That brings the total to €111.90, €28.90 more than single tickets. The pass only makes sense if you would spend more than that on public transport in 72 hours. We didn’t check Rome’s transport fares for this guide. The Colosseum and the Borghese still need a timed booking with the pass.
The total covers entry tickets only. Transport, food, the Trevi basin and any tours are extra.
Tips for the 3 days
- Book ahead: the Colosseum 30 days before, the Vatican Museums as soon as your dates are fixed, and the Borghese slot. The St Peter’s dome sells on site only while slots remain.
- Closing days: no Vatican Museums on most Sundays, no Borghese on Mondays.
- Free first Sundays: the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Borghese Gallery are free on the first Sunday of the month. The Borghese still needs the €2 reservation, and expect crowds everywhere.
- Dress: shoulders and knees covered for the Vatican and St Peter’s.
- Shoes: you will walk a lot on all three days.
Planning more of Europe? See all Rome guides or our Lisbon in 3 days itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Rome?
Three days covers the main sights if you group them by area. Spend one day in ancient Rome, one at the Vatican and one at the Borghese Gallery and in the historic centre. A day trip to Pompeii takes 11–13 hours, so it needs a fourth day.
How much do the main sights in Rome cost?
At official adult prices checked in October 2026, the Colosseum costs €18, the Vatican Museums €25 online, the St Peter's dome climb €17 by stairs, the Borghese Gallery €16 plus a €2 reservation and the Pantheon €7. Together that is €83, or €85 with the Borghese reservation.
Is the Roma Pass worth it for 3 days?
Not for entry tickets alone. The 72-hour Roma Pass costs €62.90 and includes two free entries. On this route the two best picks, the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery, cost €34 together. The pass also includes 72 hours of city public transport, which is where any saving would have to come from.
Which days are the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery closed?
The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month. The Borghese Gallery is closed on Mondays. Don't put the Vatican day on a Sunday or the Borghese day on a Monday.
Do I need to book the Colosseum in advance?
Yes. Official tickets with a Colosseum time slot go on sale 30 days before the visit date. They are nominative, so bring an original ID with the same name.
Sources
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