How the itineraries work
Every itinerary starts from Via Arriano 11 in Pigneto and uses Metro C: in about 15 minutes you’re at the Colosseum, at the new Colosseo/Fori Imperiali station. For the Vatican, the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese you change to Metro A at San Giovanni.
The 4-day plan is the 3-day plan plus one day, and the 5-day plan is the 4-day plan plus one day: if you extend your stay, you don’t repeat anything. You can swap the days around to work with opening days.
- Easy: about 5–7 km on foot a day, 2–3 main stops, starting around 9:30. For families, relaxed travellers and first-time visitors.
- Moderate: about 9–12 km, 4–5 stops, starting around 8:00. Museums and more depth on top of the classics.
- Challenging: 14–18 km, 6 stops or more, early start. The Colosseum underground, climbing St Peter’s Dome, Trevi Fountain at dawn and little-known places.
Before you go
- Colosseum: named tickets on ticketing.colosseo.it, on sale 30 days ahead. They sell out.
- Vatican Museums: on museivaticani.va, on sale 60 days ahead. Closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month.
- Borghese Gallery: booking required, entry every 2 hours. Closed on Mondays.
- Pantheon (€7) and Trevi Fountain (€2 from 9 am to 10 pm): best bought online.
- Monday: the Borghese Gallery, Castel Sant’Angelo and the Baths of Caracalla are closed. Wednesday: papal audience in the morning, Catacombs of St Callixtus closed. Sunday: the Appian Way is closed to cars, the best day to go.
- Winter hours: from 25 October to the end of February the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine close at 4:30 pm (last entry 3:30 pm).
- Dress code: shoulders and knees covered in churches, the Pantheon and the Vatican. Comfortable shoes and a water bottle: the public fountains (“nasoni”) have drinking water.
- Transport: a BIT ticket is valid for 100 minutes on buses and trams plus one metro ride. You can also pay at the gates with a contactless card or your phone.
Times are approximate: they include the walk between stops and an average visit length. Monument prices and opening hours are as of October 2026: always check the official website before you go.