I looked through the threads that are already posted and didn't see any that specifically noted this: My husband and I are going to be in Rome for three days after Christmas...what are the must sees? What did you see that you are SO glad you saw and what would you leave out? Resteraunts, shops, museums...? I will take any suggestions, we will cut out what doesn't fit our style, but we want to know what others really enjoyed. We are not drinkers, so bar suggestions won't help..unless they serve coffee!

A good place to start is to click on the Destinations link above, then the Europe tab, then the link for Rome. They list the sights and attractions. The most popular ones have a star by them. There is really so much to see there and 3 days isn't a lot of time but you should be able to visit St. Peters, Vatican Museum, Coleseum, Forum, Pantheon and much more. You might also want to consider a guided tour for some parts of this. I've taken a couple in Rome and it really helped me to understand what I was seeing more than if I went on my own. Have fun!

Ok, here goes:

Piazzas: Piazza Farnese, Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Santa Maria di Trastevere

Churches: Santa Maria della Vittoria, San Andrea al Quirinale, Santa Susanna (the official American church in Rome), San Luigi dei Francesi (the official French church in Rome which has three beautiful Caravaggios), Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, and of course San Pietro (St. Peter's)

Museums: Galleria Borghese (there are so many museums in Rome, but I think you get the best look at Rome's art just by wandering through the many piazzas and streets)

Cafes: Tazza d'Oro in Piazza della Rotonda

Restaurant: Vinando, Piazza Margana, 23, Da Toscana (can't remember the address)

Pizzerias: La Boccaccia in Trastevere (right off the Via della Lungara)

Gelato: Millennium: right outside of the Cipro Metro Station and a few blocks from the Museo Vaticano

Also not to miss: Campo dei Fiori when the market is going on in the mornings; the Forum at night when it is lit up; the view from the Janiculum Hill; a visit to Campodolgio; a walk from the Ponte Sisto, up along the Tiber, towards the Jewish Ghetto

Enjoy Rome!

There was a "100 Best Things to Do in Rome" thread. Good suggestions, if I recall correctly. Do a search for it.

Here's the Rome 100 thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443219

And another that I found helpful in planning our upcoming trip:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443219

Our family loved Rome in June 2004! We still talk about it. Travelled with hubby and young adult daughers/son.

Our #1 favorite place was St. Peter's Basilica in Rome...so huge and magnificent, it's just draw-dropping awesome.

Sistine chapel in the Vatican Museums is also wonderful but only if you arrive when you don't have to wait in line, wich we did!

Also loved the Pantheon and Trevi fountain, which are walking distance from each other.

Loved staying walking distance to the Pantheon.

Enjoy!

1. I would definitely suggest getting a guide for ancient Rome. It makes all the difference. Many have been recommended here.

2. I also suggest getting the live audio guide for the Vatican Museum. It costs maybe 5 Eur more than regular admission, and you enter through a special entrance so you don't have to wait in any lines.

3. Make sure you spend a lot of time walking. Rick Steves' book has some great Rome walks to follow for first time visitors.

Here is an Italy thread that leads to lots of information on Rome

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

Have you checked some of the other travel websites that feature trip reports?

you didn't see any posts about the major things to see in Rome? I would suggest picking up a guidebook. Also any internet search on Rome would bring up the top tourist destinations. You can also try renting travel videos which will give you a great visual of things to do and see and will help you start to make your list.

Since your question asked for something less than the top 100 things to do in Rome, my short list is identical to that of Melissa5. There are incredibly ornate churches in Rome, but nothing, anywhere, in or outside of Rome, compares with St. Peter's. The amount of art and riches in the Vatican museum is beyond description, and could easily take days to absorb. The Pantheon was a huge surprise - in perfect condition! And if you can see only one fountain in Rome, it would have to be the Trevi fountain. We saw and did lots more, but, years later, these are still the standouts.

With only three days, plan your route to see on thing after another without back-tracking. By plotting your route, you will find that things line up pretty weel for sights.

Make reservations every where that will take them. Take taxis to the start of your days trip.

If you arrive in the AM, do not waste the afternoon, do an easy walking tour. This will get the blood flowing from a long flight.

Whatever you do, relax and enjoy yourself.

I would highly suggest getting reservations for the Scavi tour under St. Peters. The tour is fascinating and wonderful. Click on http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/in...040112_en.html for more info.

Tracy

Here's what I would do:

Day 1: Walking tour of Rome ...
Start in Campo di Fiori and make your way through Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi to the Spanish steps. Get a good map and mark churches of interest along the way, for example, there are 2 churches in Piazza Navona and 1 behind the Pantheon. This walk should take you the most of the day. The Spanish steps area leads to the big shopping district - so thats a good time to get in any shopping

Day 2: morning: the forum and the colloseum (San Pietro in Vincoli if you have time)
afternoon: The Borghese gallery (you need reservations), the villa and surroundings.

Day 3: The Vatican

The above, may not look like it, but is actually a very hectic schedule. After you've done the above you would have barely scratched the surface.

I totally agree with ssachida's post.

If you are enthusiastic sightseers and if you like some information on history and such,you might want to consider a guided walking tour or two to make good use of your time. Context Rome, Enjoy Rome, Though Eternity, Icon Tours, etc are all good organizations for that.

My husband and I were in Rome for a few days in September as we were finishing up our first trip to Italy. We did the major highlights - Vatican Museums, St. Peter's, Colosseum, Forum, etc. While all of that was incredible, our favorite memories are of getting up early in the morning, grabbing our cameras and taking in the city.

We saw beautiful views of Vatican city over the Tiber when the sun came up. We were able to see the fountains and piazzas without the vendors everywere and we wandered the streets rarely seeing another person. It was such a different side of Rome than any other time of day - I highly recommend it!

For me, the Pantheon is the most impressive ancient structure in Rome. I thought it would be the Coliseum, but the Pantheon is so serene and majestic.

I loved seeing the San Clemente church, with three levels of history and at the very bottom a Roman altar to pre Christian gods.

Seeing the Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican was also a true highlight.

Tell us more about your plans - would love to hear....

We are back! And we saw SO much, and had a wonderful time! Thank you so much for all of the insight into the trip, it helped us plan stuff out much better. We saw all the highlights, and would love to go back for a week, see them again and more!

Thanks for telling us it worked out well. We'd love to hear the details.

Yes, please share!

dina