How to See Rome in One Day 2024

Hey guys, Avnish Singh here from Day Itinerary Planner, and today I’ll show you how to see Rome in one day. This suggested one day itinerary Rome starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Vatican and ends by 5:00 p.m. at the Colosseum. There’s a lot to see in the Eternal City, so we’ve created the perfect route to get you from point A to Z. Check out our blog since we have a ton of different itineraries for people with different amounts of time in Rome.

Rome is located in the region of Lazio, south of Tuscany (where you can find Florence) and north of Campania (where you can find Naples and the Amalfi Coast). There are two major airports in Rome, each of which is well connected to the city.

Time	Place
7:30 AM	Vatican
10:00 AM	Spanish Steps
10:30 AM	Trevi Fountain
11:30 AM	Pantheon
12:30 PM	Largo Argentina (optional)
1:00 PM	Piazza Venezia
2:00 PM	Colosseum
4:00 PM	Palatine Hill (optional, if time)
5:00 PM	Evening (end of the itinerary)

The best place to kick off your day is the Vatican. If you’re staying near a metro station, definitely take it to get to the Vatican. From Termini train station, you can get the A or red line and take it six stops to metro stop Ottaviano. So, it’s 8 a.m. right now, and we’re going to the Sistine Chapel. We did a privilege entrance Express tour; it’s like two and a half hours, so we should be done by about 10:00 a.m. After the tour, we’re gonna go up to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica on our own.

Okay, and then we’re gonna head into the historical center. If you want to do Rome in a day, you’ve got to get up early and get going. There’s a lot to see, and you want to get it done before the crowds arrive. If you want to do things right, purchase a tour of the Vatican Museums. This way, you will see all the most important masterpieces here, amazing stories about the artists, and not get lost in this massive complex. While in Vatican City, be sure to see the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and St. Peter’s Basilica. I recommend climbing up to the top of the dome for an amazing view.

So, at the end of the dome climb, yeah, at the top, all I got was climbing a rope. This incredible photo will be a great topic of conversation with your travel companions over a great local dinner. Time to hop on the Metro Line A, the red line, towards the Spanish Steps, which is just three stops away, a whole five-minute ride. Craving the 18th century, the Spanish Steps are located in one of Rome’s most desirable neighborhoods. They are directly in front of the Via Condotti, which is a world-renowned street for the highest of high-end brands. If you hate your money, shop on Via Condotti.

Alright, Lauren, so a fun fact I heard from one of our tour guides is that Lavandaccio here is named after this boat, the little boat. Apparently, this was built by Bernini father and son, so John Lorenzo Bernini, the famous one, and his father. Because we see trees in this area, like this was all wooded and full of trees, things like that. Apparently, when Rome would flood, people with their windows over there, things would float out into the piazzas. People would take a boat out and try to gather the things that were floating out of their house or out of their area. Apparently, a boat got stuck in the trees, and when the waters receded, it sat here for a long time until finally, it fell. And gentlemen Bernini and his father built Lavandaccio here.

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You have a quick lunch. We suggest you get pizza at I.O. So, I’m here in a pizzeria grabbing a quick snack. You know, I just want to get something in my stomach, get some energy. But do me a favor while I eat this. If you could just like the video, if you liked the video, and if you loved the video and want to watch other videos we have, subscribe to our channel. This way, you get all of our freshest content as soon as it comes out. Otherwise, enjoy!

Disclaimer: If you want to enjoy a longer lunch, we suggest a sit-down stop at Ginger. It’s great, but if you plan on finishing your day by 5 p.m., you’ll sadly need to cut out the Pantheon and Piazza Navona from this itinerary. More information can be found on our blog for the sit-down lunch itinerary.

A short walk from the Spanish Steps, you’ll find Rome’s famous fountain. Now, it might be a hot day, and you could be tempted to recreate that “La Dolce Vita” scene with Anita Ekberg wading through the fountain, but we advise against it. Trevi Fountain is a pop culture icon as well as arguably the world’s most beautiful and recognizable fountain. It was built in the 18th century, and if it wasn’t so crowded night and day, it’d be Rome‘s most romantic sight. The story goes that you need to throw one, two, or three coins in the fountain. Shoulder… Listen, I’m going for distance on this one, okay? It’s not just about throwing. Now, let’s see how far I can get it. Okay, one… At least like 20 feet, probably 100 feet, there’s the other side.

After another short walk, you’ll find yourself faced with the oldest and most impressive building in Rome, the Pantheon. The Pantheon is one of Rome‘s greatest structures. This structure dates back to the second century AD. It was commissioned by the great Emperor Hadrian, and the architect is unknown. Regardless, the building is an incredible shape. It is often argued among scholars that the dome is probably the best-preserved structure from antiquity. It is still the largest solid poured concrete dome on earth. This structure features the tombs of Italian icons like King Victor Emmanuel and Raphael. The focus is on the oculus or the hole in the dome. Even rain can get in. It’s pretty awesome. Do not come to Rome and miss the Pantheon. That’s a bad idea.

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So, how many minutes’ walk do you think it’s been between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona? Eight? Actually, six, even better. Largo Argentina is most commonly referred to as a place where Julius Caesar was murdered, although this is a myth. It was not far from the truth; he was murdered just a few blocks away, steps from the Theatre Pompeii. Today, you can see ruins of four of Rome‘s oldest temples, which date back as far as the fourth and fifth century BC. You also see a ton of cats as it is a modern-day cat sanctuary.

After Largo Argentina, on your way to the Colosseum, you’ll be in Piazza Venezia, where you can find the Victoriano and Trajan’s Column. Trajan’s Column is an incredible structure depicting Trajan‘s conquest and victory over Dacia. It is by far the most impressive feat of architecture, featuring an internal staircase that allowed people to go to the top in the time of the Romans. The Victor Emmanuel monument is one of the most visible buildings in the city of Rome, and it’s the city’s centerpiece. It was inaugurated in 1911 to commemorate Victor Emmanuel II, the first king who unified Italy. Since 1921, the monument holds a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and has the eternal flame of Rome, which is guarded by two soldiers. This eternal flame goes back to ancient Roman legend.

If you have more time, we recommend climbing the Capitoline Hill, visiting the Capitoline Museum, and heading over the top of the Victor Emmanuel building. It’s a beautiful view, but if you’re limited to a day, you may have to skip it. You’ll be able to see our next and last destination from Piazza Venezia. You guessed it, the Colosseum. A great place to end your walking route through Rome is the Colosseum. The history of this structure goes back 2,000 years. It has inspired so many different cultures and eras of mankind. It provided bread, wine, and blood to ancient Romans, shelter to the people of the Middle Ages, inspiration and materials to artists of the Renaissance, and one of the world’s most beloved tourist attractions.

Starting with the Grand Tour of Europe to present-day air and rail travel, the key to planning a visit to the Colosseum is skipping the line. You can do that in two ways: one, buy your ticket online or in advance, or two, buy a tour. If you do a tour, try to schedule between 8 a.m. and 9:30 or after 2 p.m. This way, you can do the Vatican in the morning and the Colosseum in the afternoon. Colosseum tours vary each day, so you have to check our website for that.

For those planning a solo visit, we’ll meet you inside. The tour guide told me that gladiators looked more like Danny DeVito than Arnold Schwarzenegger because, you know, in movies, you’d think they have muscular six-pack abs, all buff. But in reality, they were kind of chubby men, okay, a little bit of fat because they said that the fat was like insulation from the sword, you know, to protect them. It makes sense, although the films don’t portray it that way.

If you’re making good time, I recommend going over to the Palatine. Your ticket for the Colosseum includes entrance there, and it’s an awesome sight, so check it out.

Oh, Lauren, funny seeing you here. Interesting, it’s almost like we planned it.

So now you should be a pro, and you know everything you need to know to see Rome in one day. If you loved this article, then subscribe, you’ll get all of our latest articles as soon as they come out. Otherwise, if you have questions, comment below, and we’ll answer them as soon as we can. Ciao for now!

Did you like that angle? I feel like you just can’t go to Rome without visiting the Trevi Fountain. It’s just… I like this gelato. I wish it had a like button.