Italy · 5 days · 5 days · 20 stops
5 days in Rome with Ostia Antica and Tivoli
Rome in five days means that each city day has its own focus, and two trips show what lies around the capital. Ostia Antica is the ancient port where you walk down whole streets; Tivoli has fountains and imperial villas. The day trips sit in the middle and at the end, so the old-town days never pile up.
In short
- Length
- 5 days, 20 stops
- Highlights
- Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Ostia Antica excavations, Trevi Fountain, Villa d'Este
- Day trips
- Day trip to Ostia Antica; Day trip to Tivoli
- Where to stay
- Centro Storico, Monti
- Getting around
- The historic centre is easy to cover on foot.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October are the most pleasant.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
Ancient Rome and Monti
Colosseum
Start with the earliest slot. If you want to see the underground passages, book a tour that includes them.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Colosseumabout 10 min on foot
Palatine Hill and Roman Forum
Take your time here: on the first day there is enough slack to see the gardens on the Palatine too.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Palatine Hill and Roman Forumabout 10 min on foot
Monti
The district behind the imperial forums has small shops, wine bars and simple trattorias. Eat around Piazza della Madonna dei Monti.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Montiabout 5 min on foot
Trajan's Market
An ancient shopping street on several levels, now the Museum of the Imperial Forums. From the top you look down on Trajan's Column.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Trajan's Market
Day 2
Vatican and Trastevere
Vatican Museums
With a booked time slot. The Raphael Rooms come just before the Sistine Chapel – linger there a little longer.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Vatican Museumsabout 5 min on foot
St Peter's Basilica
If you are fit, climb the dome; the stairway gets narrow and slanted near the top. The basilica itself is free to enter.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Peter's Basilicaabout 25 min on foot
Villa Farnesina
A Renaissance villa by the Tiber with frescoes by Raphael. Small and usually quiet. Check opening hours before you go.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Villa Farnesinaabout 10 min on foot
Trastevere
A few minutes on, the neighbourhood of ivy-covered facades and cobbles begins. Have dinner at a trattoria away from the main piazza.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Trastevere
Day 3
Day trip to Ostia Antica
Roma–Lido line train from Porta San Paolo (next to Piramide on Metro B) to Ostia Antica, about 30 min. From the station about 10 min on foot to the entrance. Check opening hours before you go.
Ostia Antica excavations
Ancient Rome's port town: theatre, houses, baths and floor mosaics. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Ostia Antica excavationsabout 15 min on foot
Borgo of Ostia Antica
The village with the castle of Julius II sits right next to the excavations, with a few places to stop for lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Borgo of Ostia AnticaTrain back to Porta San Paolo, about 30 min, then walk past the Pyramid of Cestius into Testaccio.
Testaccio
The old slaughterhouse district is Rome's home of classic cooking: cacio e pepe, carbonara, offal. Have dinner here.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Testaccio
Day 4
Old town, Ghetto and Aventine
Trevi Fountain
In the morning the crowds are still manageable. From here it is only a few minutes to the Pantheon.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Trevi Fountainabout 10 min on foot
Pantheon
Entry has been charged since 2023. The dome was long the largest in the world and is still made of unreinforced concrete.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Pantheonabout 5 min on foot
Piazza Navona
Three fountains on a square shaped like a stadium. Mornings are pleasant, before the street painters set up.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Piazza Navonaabout 5 min on foot
Campo de' Fiori
The market on the square runs in the morning. For lunch, head into the lanes towards Via dei Giubbonari.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Campo de' Fioriabout 10 min on foot
Porticus of Octavia
Ancient columns in the middle of the Jewish quarter, with the Theatre of Marcellus right next door. Good for a quiet afternoon stroll.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Porticus of Octaviaabout 15 min on foot
Orange Garden on the Aventine
A small park with a view over the Tiber. A few steps on, the keyhole at the Knights of Malta lines up exactly with St Peter's dome.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Orange Garden on the Aventine
Day 5
Day trip to Tivoli
Regional train from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli, about 1 hour. From the station about 15 min on foot to the old town. Check opening hours for both villas before you go.
Villa d'Este
A hillside garden of hundreds of fountains and water features. Down by the fish ponds it is quietest.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Villa d'Esteabout 10 min on foot
Temple of Vesta, Tivoli
A round temple high above the Aniene gorge. The lanes around it have places for lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Temple of Vesta, TivoliLocal bus or taxi down to Villa Adriana, about 20 min.
Hadrian's Villa
Emperor Hadrian's country residence is huge – allow two hours. Back to Rome, the Cotral bus is easiest; check the stop beforehand.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hadrian's Villa
Good to know
Book tickets together
The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and Villa d'Este are all worth booking ahead. Check opening hours on the official websites.
Keep trip days flexible
Many archaeological sites and museums close one day a week. Swap the day trips if one falls on your travel dates.
Stay near Termini
With two day trips planned, staying near Termini is handy: Metro B takes you to both starting points.
For the best time to go, public transport and where to stay, see the 3-day plan for Rome.
Your plan
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5 days in Rome: frequently asked questions
Which day trips suit 5 days in Rome?
Ostia Antica is quick to reach and shows a whole ancient town. Tivoli pairs Renaissance gardens with Hadrian's imperial villa. Neither needs a car.
Is Ostia Antica like Pompeii?
Similar, just smaller and much closer to Rome. You walk through streets, shops and houses – usually with fewer crowds than Pompeii.
Do I need a car in Rome?
No. In the city you walk or take the metro and buses, and both day trips are easy by train.
More plans for Rome
- One dayOne day in Rome – walk from Colosseum to PincioAncient Rome in the morning, a market for lunch, square after square in the afternoon and rooftops at dusk.
- WeekendA weekend in Rome: Vatican, ruins, TrastevereFountains and squares on Friday night, the Vatican and Trastevere on Saturday, ancient Rome on Sunday before you head home.
- 3 days3 days in Rome – a ready-made itineraryAncient Rome, the Vatican and Trastevere, plus fountains, steps and the Galleria Borghese.
- With kidsRome with kids: 2 days with zoo and ColosseumA green day with animals and a hands-on museum, an ancient day with gladiators, a stone mouth and fountains.
- On a budgetRome on a budget: 2 days of free highlightsSt Peter's, Baroque churches, fountains, viewpoints and markets – two full days with hardly a ticket.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: FeaturedPics, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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