Long weekend in Rome: 15 things to include in your tour

Enclosing in a list, no matter how well-filled, an itinerary for a long weekend in Rome is no easy task.

We at Visit Italy, who have always been in love with promoting this extraordinary city, would write never-ending lists of things to do and visit!

That is why, in the next paragraphs, you will find some attractions that you surely know and others, on the other hand, that are real gems of the city.

Find out with us what you can't miss during your long weekend in Rome.

Not only is the Colosseum the symbol of the city. It is also the largest Roman amphitheater in existence.

Its size, in fact, makes it more imposing than the one in Capua and the one in Milan.

Yet, we are well aware that millions of visitors are fascinated by this extraordinary monument not only because of its size. There is much more enclosed within those centuries-old walls: art, architecture and, above all, an extraordinary history.

How many postcards of Rome have the Roman Forum as their subject? Its ruins, imposing and marvelous, will move you to the core.

Like an ecosystem, this ancient square is surrounded by monuments, temples, churches and palaces. This was indeed the center of Rome's political, commercial and economic life.

Thanks to the new night lighting, you can walk the striking Via dei Fori even at night and be dazzled by the wonder of history.

The Palatine Hill itself was the silent witness to the origin of the city. A small village of a few huts that, over the centuries, became so important that it was called "caput mundi."

You will be able to walk down this hill and stroll through the ruins of the imperial city. In front of you, you can see the ancient residences of emperors, even that of Augustus, but also the remains of ancient houses and temples.

After all, this was one of the most sacred places in the city.

Before carrying on the overview of the main attractions and the most enchanting places to visit during your stay in Rome, we propose a fantastic option for history and archaeology enthusiasts.

You will take advantage of priority access to some most emblematic monuments of the capital, such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill, avoiding long hours of waiting. Click on the button to find out more.

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5 days are perfect for exploring Rome.

In fact, you will have time to devote to visiting one of the most visited museums in the world, the Vatican Museums.

Inside, you will be able to observe Egyptian, Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman works of art, as well as masterpieces of more recent art history. Not to mention that, at the end of your visit, you will observe the greatest fresco of all time, housed inside the famous Sistine Chapel.

Take the opportunity to admire the magnificent pictorial and sculptural masterpieces preserved in this treasure trove of beauty by taking advantage of the Skip the Queue option. Click on the button to find out more.

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In the heart of one of Rome's most extensive parks is the splendid Borghese Gallery.

It is housed within a villa that was built specifically to house the great collection that now occupies it.

You will find immense masterpieces from the past, bearing the signatures of Titian, and Canova, but also Bernini, and Caravaggio.

This is undoubtedly an essential stop for your five-day visit to Rome.

Would you like to explore the splendid art collection of the Borghese Gallery by joining a guided tour, which will lead you on an exciting journey through the masterpieces? Click on the button to find out more.

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Anyone who has visited Rome has longed to walk the monumental Spanish Steps of Trinità dei Monti.

Made famous by Hollywood films such as Roman Holiday, it is one of the most beloved places in Rome.

During the summer, the steps are a great place to enjoy the warm atmosphere of Rome, sit on the steps, and watch passersby, while during the winter months, it is still a lovely place to stroll and admire the city from above.

If you are dreaming of spending a fabulous stay near this iconic place in the capital, you will find high-quality accommodation facilities within easy reach. Click on the button to find out more.

At the highest part of the Aventine Hill, between the Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) and the entrance to the Villa of the Priory of Malta, there is the famous keyhole, from which St. Peter's can be seen. The view can even cross 3 states: Italy, then the Order of Malta, and, finally, the Vatican State.

The particular view from the keyhole is not accidental, in fact, it is a fake (there is no key to open it but it is just an idea to admire the dome).

However, it is one of the most curious things you will have the opportunity to visit in Rome in 5 days: you will find it in Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta.

Would you like to admire the wonders of Rome from a fascinating perspective? We suggest you spend a magical stay on the Aventine. Click on the button to find out more.

The Janiculum (Gianicolo in Italian) is a Roman hill located near Trastevere. In 1849 the battle between Garibaldi and the French army for the defense of the Roman Republic took place here.

Today it is a public park and memorial of the Risorgimento; from its spectacular Belvedere, the Pantheon, the Synagogue, the Altar of the Fatherland, the domes of numerous churches and Villa Borghese are clearly distinguishable.

The most interesting sites on the Janiculum Hill are the Acqua Paola Fountain, the Church of San Pietro in Montorio (with Bramante's small temple in its courtyard), and the Garibaldi monument.

The Tiber Island is also called the Island of the Two Bridges, since it is connected to the mainland precisely by two bridges. It is most famous for the presence of the Fatebenefratelli Hospital, but also for some legends about its origin.

According to one of these, the island was born in 509 when the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, was ousted and the people threw their grain store into the Tiber. It was so huge that it even formed an island!

Mincio Square is surrounded by the Art Nouveau architecture of the Coppedè District.

The latter is named after its architect who designed it between 1915 and 1927 in Art Nouveau style, with Gothic, Baroque, and medieval infiltrations.

At the entrance to the neighborhood, consisting of 26 apartment buildings and 17 cottages is an archway with a large wrought-iron chandelier.

Mincio Square defines the space with the Fountain of Frogs: then there are the Palazzina del Ragno and the Villino delle Fate.

A visit you absolutely cannot miss if you have  5 days to spend in Rome!

Savello Park, better known as the Orange Garden, is located Ripa neighborhood. The trees that give it its name were planted in memory of St. Dominic, who precisely founded his own convent here.

The park was designed in 1932 by architect Raffaele De Vico, who enhanced the space enclosed within the ancient walls. In the enclosure wall, on the side opposite the side wall and apse of Santa Sabina, traces of the towers and drawbridge of the castle are clearly recognizable. The view from the belvedere stretches from the Tiber to St. Peter's Basilica.

Located via della Lungara, Villa della Farnesina or Chigi, is a symbol of the Renaissance and Raphael’s art.

It was the private residence of banker Agostino Chigi between 1505 and 1520, called Palazzo del Giardino, where he created a paradise with officinal and exotic plants and classical statues.

The villa is known for the frescos inside painted by Raffael and others: there is the Galatea’s Loggia (or Winter’s Loggia) with the frescos of Galatea and Polyphemus and the Chigi’s Horoscope; the Amore e Psyche's Loggia (painted by Raffael and his colleagues) tells the episodes of Apuleio’s fable.
Do you want to treat yourself to a fairy-tale weekend visiting enchanting Rome and the surroundings of this masterpiece of art history? Top-class accommodation facilities rise nearby.

If you have 5 days for a long weekend in Rome in Rome, come and visit the Vicus Sceleratus.

It is also called the Scalinata or Salita dei Borgia and is located in a quiet spot on the Esquiline Hill. In fact, they look down the steps at what are considered to be the ancient residences of the Borgias.

Going up the alley and past the archway of the staircase, one comes to the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, where Michelangelo's majestic Moses is kept.

Via Niccolò Piccolomini (Aurelio district) is the site of magic: the closer you get to the dome of St. Peter's, the more, to your eyes, it seems distant and small and vice versa.

This mystery can be experienced either on foot or by transportation.

Without a doubt, it is one of the streets to visit in Rome during a long weekend in Rome!

In the EUR district, the Palace of Italian Civilization, better known as the Square Coliseum, is the symbol of twentieth-century architecture in the capital. It reproduces the sequence of arches as many as two hundred and sixteen times in its four elevations.

The palace was designed and built for the 1942 International Exhibition in Rome, but work was halted, as was the event itself, due to the outbreak of war. However, the Palace was completed after the war.

Under the arches are twenty-eight marble statues depicting arts and human activities celebrating Italic genius. Above stands the inscription:

"People of poets, artists, heroes, saints, thinkers, scientists, navigators and migrators"

Today it houses the headquarters of Maison Fendi.

What other attractions to visit in Rome in 5 days?