3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - The Ultimate Guide To Rome’s Top Cultural Attractions

Follow our 3-day Rome itinerary for museums and discover the city’s most fascinating art, archaeology, and culture. Visit the Vatican Museums, Capitoline Museums, and hidden gems off the beaten path.

3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - She-_Wolf In Capitoline Museums

Who Needs A Rome Itinerary For Museums?

If you are coming to Rome and you either have seen all the popular tourist attractions, or if you simply LOVE museums and don’t really care about the other sites, then this guide is for you. Rome is full of museums that cover a wide range of time periods and styles, which can get overwhelming for people planning a visit.

One thing, given the focus of this guide, that you will want to be aware of is something called: Stendhal Syndrome. This is believed to be a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat, confusion, hallucinations, and even fainting. These symptoms can allegedly occur when individuals become exposed to objects, artworks, or phenomena of great beauty.

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The sheer volume of the art available in Rome’s museums, as well as the unmatched quality, can be too much for some visitors. You should be aware of the symptoms and take a break if it begins to be too much.

The Focus Of This Rome Itinerary Are Museums

This list of museums are based on our tastes. To help you a little more with how we chose this itinerary, take a look at a supporting article on the Top 10 Museums In Rome. You will see that our preferences lean towards classic art, as opposed to more modern styles. Some of the museums are historical, some are religious and some can be enjoyed by children and parents alike.

3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - Caravaggio in Borghese Gallery

How Many Days In Rome Is Enough?

With an itinerary whose scope is so focused, I would suggest that these three days would be enough for a single trip to Rome. If you get through this trip and want more, returning to Rome is definitely an option. Don’t try to fit everything into a single trip because after a while, it will become a blur.

Keep in mind that these three days are full. In other words, the time needed to travel should come before and after this itinerary. If it can’t, the schedule is laid out so that you can just remove planned events from the end and adjust the schedules accordingly.

3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - Vatican Museums

Rome Museum Travel Planning Prior To Day-1

There will be some work you will need to do prior to arriving in Rome. Certainly all your air travel and lodging plans need to be completed, but also the reservations and tickets for meals and museums should be handled before you arrive. You might also consider downloading some apps, like: MooneyGo, ATAC, TrenItalia and even Rick Steves Audio Europe.

Here are some reservations you’ll want to make:

Take the time to purchase tickets to all 10 museums that we have recommended:
Make reservations at all the restaurants that are recommended below:
- Day 1 Lunch: Cresci
- Day 1 Dinner: Trattoria Morgana
- Day 2 Lunch: Trattoria Cacio e Pepe
- Day 3 Lunch: Osteria da Fortunata
- Day 3 Dinner: Felice a Testaccio

3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - Borghese Gallery

Rome Museum Itinerary Day-1

BREAKFAST: For each of these days, our recommendation is to find a nearby coffee bar for a Cappuccino and a Pastry for breakfast.
Head on over to the Vatican Museums to start the adventure. If you feel like you have the time, St. Peter’s Basilica is free and has some amazing art as well.
LUNCH: Nearby Cresci is a great restaurant that is close to Vatican City, but a little less touristy.
Take the bus or subway back to Piazza Venezia and take a tour of the Capitoline Museums. You have some options as to the length of your tour, so choose what will fit into your schedule. Before you leave, don’t miss the Colossus statue that is a little hidden in the back.
DINNER: You can walk though Colle Oppio park and come to Trattoria Morgana for a delicious meal. This restaurant is a favorite of ours!

3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - Sculptures and Engines

Rome Museum Itinerary Day-2

BREAKFAST: For each of these days, our recommendation is to find a nearby coffee bar for a Cappuccino and a Pastry for breakfast.
Enjoy the amazing collection of Caravaggio and Bernini works at the Borghese Gallery. An amazing place to take pictures!
For a change of pace, the nearby Museum of Zoology definitely changes your focus from sculptures and painting to animals and academia.
LUNCH: A little bit of a walk over the Tiber and into Prati will bring you to Trattoria Cacio e Pepe. Relax and refuel for a busy afternoon.
Now take a subway or bus to the Bone Church. It is also known as the Capuchin Crypt and Museum and has some unique, if not ghoulish displays.
Now travel by subway to the Termini Station and take a short walk to our next museum: the Video Game Museum of Rome. Obviously, this would be great for kids but also for some adults like me!
DINNER: Heading back towards Termini Station, the Mercato Centrale has a wide selection of foods and drinks that are a popular way to end your day.

3-Day Rome Itinerary For Museums - Marforio in Capitoline Museums

Rome Museum Itinerary Day-3

You’ve reached the final day. If there is anything you missed, now is the time to substitute one of today’s museums with something you might enjoy more.
BREAKFAST: For each of these days, our recommendation is to find a nearby coffee bar for a Cappuccino and a Pastry for breakfast.
Heading south, outside the Aurelian Walls, the Centrale Montemartini Museum is an interesting change of style with the mix of classic sculptures and industrial machinery.
It’s a bit of a hike from here, so take a bus ride to the Piazza Navona area and check out: Palazzo Altemps Museum.
LUNCH: Near Piazza Navona is a popular restaurant that DEFINITELY requires reservations – Osteria da Fortunata. Enjoy the traditional Roman faire and steady yourself for the final push of the trip!
Take a bus from PIazza Navona to the Museum of Liberation for a historical museum that speaks to the history of modern Rome.
Depending on the energy you have left, travel by foot or by bus towards the Colosseum. Slightly hidden from view you will find Museo della Forma Urbis for a relaxing afternoon.
DINNER: We haven’t spent much time in Testaccio for this itinerary, so now is the time. Felice a Testaccio is a popular restaurant in Testaccio and I recommend the Cacio e Pepe!

Now that you are tired and stuffed, grab a cab and head back to the airport (or hotel) depending on your schedule. Take the time to prepare for your return trip and think about when you want to return to Rome for a more comprehensive visit. There is so much more to see, but I’m guessing you got your fill of museums, at least for now!