Optional add-on: Visit Basilica di San Clemente, which offers a vertical journey through time, with layers of medieval, early Christian, and Roman structures beneath one another. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Start your day like a local with a quick espresso standing at the bar of a café. Then head to the Colosseum, the massive amphitheater where gladiatorial games and public spectacles once symbolized imperial power.

Pass by the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch commemorating military victory and symbolizing Rome’s transition into the Christian era.

Continue to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the political, religious, and commercial heart of ancient Rome, where temple ruins, basilicas, imperial palaces, and government buildings, tell the story of Rome’s rise.

Have lunch at a neighborhood trattoria, sampling classic Roman pastas: cacio e pepe (pecorino and black pepper), gricia (guanciale, pecorino, black pepper), amatriciana (guanciale, tomato, pecorino), or carbonara (guanciale, pecorino, egg, black pepper).

Make your way to Piazza Navona, a grand Baroque square built atop an ancient stadium, now known for its elegant fountains and vibrant street life. Take a cafe break and do some people-watching.

Continue on to the Pantheon, famed for its perfectly proportioned dome and open oculus. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Grab a quick snack of supplì (fried rice ball with melted mozzarella at its center) and head to the Trevi Fountain, where legend directs you to toss a coin over your shoulder to ensure a return to Rome. Have dinner in the surrounding streets, where you can try Roman-style pizza, known for its thin, crisp crust.

End the evening at Piazza di Spagna, climbing the Spanish Steps to reach Trinità dei Monti. From the top, take in sweeping views of the city with a gelato to close out the day.

Pick up a cornetto (Italian croissant) and a cappuccino before heading to Vatican City, starting at St. Peter’s Square, an immense colonnaded plaza designed to embrace visitors arriving at the heart of the Catholic world.

Then visit the Vatican Museums for its extensive art collections, including Renaissance masterpieces and the Sistine Chapel. Note that much of the Vatican Museum is not air conditioned, so plan your visit accordingly. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Continue into St. Peter’s Basilica, renowned for its scale, Michelangelo’s dome, and masterpieces like the Pietà.

Stop for a snack of trapizzino (pizza pocket filled with classic Roman stews like chicken cacciatore or meatballs).

Optional add-on: Explore Prati, a neighborhood known for its upscale boutiques for a local feel away from major tourist crowds.

Explore Castel Sant’Angelo, a fortress originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, later used by popes as a refuge, offering panoramic views from its terrace. Head to Ponte Sant’Angelo, for a photo op at this bridge lined with angel statues leading back toward the historic center.

Take a sunset cruise along the Tiber River, a relaxed way to see Rome’s landmarks from a different perspective. In Trastevere, narrow streets and ivy-covered facades create a neighborhood that feels both historic and lived-in. For dinner, consider Roman favorites of pasta carbonara (eggs, guanciale, and pecorino) for primi and saltimbocca alla Romana (veal with prosciutto and sage) for secondi.

Begin at Piazza Venezia, a central hub anchored by monumental architecture and modern traffic.

Climb to Piazza del Campidoglio on Capitoline Hill, redesigned by Michelangelo to reflect Renaissance ideals of order and proportion. Visit the collection of Capitoline Museums, which includes the bronze She-Wolf, for insight into how Rome preserves and interprets its past.

Stroll along Via del Corso, a historic thoroughfare blending everyday commerce with architectural continuity, taking a break for a gelato or espresso.

Then browse the Borghese Gallery, where Bernini’s sculptures and Caravaggio’s paintings demonstrate the emotional intensity of Baroque art. The surrounding Villa Borghese gardens provide a green retreat and panoramic viewpoints.

Stroll through Piazza del Popolo, a grand entrance to the city framed by churches and an ancient obelisk. Consider sampling some classic Roman dishes for dinner, such as saltimbocca alla romana (veal topped with prosciutto and sage) or dishes featuring guanciale, a richly flavored cured pork central to Roman cuisine.

Optional add-on: Attend a concert at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the Auditorium Parco della Musica, a modern venue known for its acoustics and contemporary design.

End the evening with rooftop drinks overlooking the city.

Begin with a maritozzo, a soft sweet bun filled with whipped cream, or a cornetto, an Italian croissant, and a macchiato at a café near Campo de’Fiori, a historic square that functions as a lively daytime market filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and gourmet items. Participate in an Italian cooking class, where it is common to visit the market to learn about fresh ingredients and to focus on classic Roman pasta dishes such as:

• cacio e pepe (Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper)
• gricia (guanciale, Pecorino, black pepper)
• amatriciana (guanciale, tomato, Pecorino)
• c

arbonara (guanciale, Pecorino, egg, black pepper)

Explore Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s major basilicas, known for its stunning mosaics that preserve early Christian artistic traditions. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Optional add-on: Visit the Jewish Museum of Rome, to examine artifacts, textiles, and archives documenting thousands of year of Jewish life in Rome, and the attached Great Synagogue of Rome with its distinctive architecture.

Explore Ghetto Ebraico di Roma, or the Jewish Quarter, an area shaped by centuries of resilience and cultural continuity. Find a place for dinner and sample one of the neighborhood specialties, carciofi alla giudia (fried artichokes).

Optional add-on: Walk across Tiber Island via Ponte Fabricio, Rome’s oldest surviving bridge.

End the evening at Gianicolo Hill, which offers one of the city’s most peaceful panoramic views.