Rome Suggested Itineraries from Viator.com

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Nearly every turn in Rome brings you back in time, surrounded by ancient architecture, massive monuments and an aura of the mythological.

The capital of Italy was founded in 753 BC by the twin sons of Mars, Romulus and Remus. After having been cast off down the Tiber River and cared for by a she-wolf and a woodpecker, Romulus and Remus set out to build a city along the Tiber. During an argument over the city's location, Remus was killed, and Romulus named the city after himself.

This may read like the plot to a thriller or some long-forgotten fairytale. Yet in Rome this history is alive and all around you; bits of statues here, ancient ruins there, a palpable sense of history everywhere.

Day 1: Get Oriented and Start to Take in Rome's History

There are several options for getting around Rome. A good idea for getting oriented is to hop on (and off) the open-top double-decker bus, which takes in the heart of Rome in six languages. You can even get around on a Segway tour of Rome.

Get a flavor of Rome's past on a history-focused walking tour; one of our favorites is the Classics of Rome, which takes you from the Trevi Fountain to Bernini's Palazzo de Montecitorio to the Pantheon, built in 25 BC. Or, explore its medieval and renaissance years.

The Glory that was Rome is nowhere better displayed than at the Colosseum. It won't be hard to imagine a lion breathing down your neck as the crowd cheers - especially if you've dressed up like a gladiator. Next, the Forum, the center of ancient Rome and home to monumental arches and temples.

Day 2: The Vatican and the Catacombs

As the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope, the Vatican is another must. Its highlights are the Vatican Museums and the incomparable Sistine Chapel, with its magnificent fresco of the Last Judgment by Michelangelo. Be advised that summertime crowds are large and tickets do sell out - yet another reason to pre-book your tour of the Vatican.  You also don't want to miss St Peter's Basilica and St Peter's Square, site of papal gatherings and a magnificent example of renaissance architecture.

Exploring Rome beyond the Aurelian Walls, built between 270 and 273 AD to protect the Roman Empire from barbarian attacks, leads you to the famous Via Appia and its ancient underground catacombs, as well as the arched aqueducts built throughout Rome between 312 BC and 226 AD. There are very few places in modern Rome that give you a sense of the ancient city and its hostory; the catacombs is one of them. This is a true highlight of a trip to Rome.

Day 3: Explore on Foot

Rome is a great city for walking, and there's no better way to appreciate its architectural and historical charms than to take a walking tour.

The Ancient Rome Walking Tour  visits all the best known sites of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Capitoline Hill, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. While the city is breathtaking on its own, professional guides bring an added dimension to the city, delving deep to breathe life into a city with a history like no other.

Explore the back streets of the historic center that most tourists don't know exists. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere area , starting from Largo Argentina and the Senate House where Julius Caesar was murdered, finishing at Campo de' Fiori, once the site of executions during the Inquisition, and today one of Rome's liveliest piazzas.

Day 4: Naples and Pompeii

Journey beyond Rome over the 'Highway of the Sun' through fertile Roman countryside toward Naples and the ruins of Pompeii, with spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples and the volcano Vesuvio, or Mt Vesuvius, whose eruption in 79 AD devastated the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.