How To See Rome In A Day
I know what you’re thinking- there’s no way you can see the city of Rome in one day. You’re absolutely right! To be honest, you can never fully see the city of Rome. Those who were born in the city itself even say that they have never seen Rome in its entirety, but when you think about it, it makes sense! Rome is an incredibly old city, rich with centuries of history. How can anyone truly see everything that this incredible city offers? It’s just not likely. However, if you have one full day to see Rome, you can still soak in some amazing sights! Here are some tips to make a day trip memorable and full of rich culture, history, and, of course, food.
What Are Your “Must-Sees”?
Being in the city for one day means you need to prioritize what sights you want to see. The best strategy for this is to pick your #1 must-see, and then explore some of your other favorite picks within that same area. Once you are in the historic center of the city, most of the popular sights are pretty close to each other, so if you’re up for some walking, you should be able to come across a bunch of these places on your list.
If the Colosseum is a must-see for you, be sure to get your tickets in advance. Your ticket will allow you into the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, which are both worth exploring.
Come prepared
The best way to see Rome is by foot. However, it can be a lot of walking if you’re not used to it. Make sure you bring a good pair of athletic shoes and a water bottle with you. Rome has drinking fountains all over the city, so I would really use the opportunities you have for fresh water. I would also recommend that if you have to carry a bag with you, make sure you pack light.
If you have a big bag from traveling that you don’t want to lug around with you, Roma Termini has baggage storage that you can pay for a few hours. I would get there as early as you can in the morning because lines can be incredibly long, but this gives a sense of relief knowing you can keep bags there while you have a few hours to explore the city.
Depending on the time of year you go, you’ll really want to dress comfortably, and for warm weather. I recently made a trip to Rome in June, and boy, was it hot! At the end of day, I didn’t even care about what I looked like. I just needed to cool off. So monitor the weather and dress accordingly.
Use The Metro To Get Where You Need To Go
Rome has a very simple metro system. They have two lines A line (orange) and the B line (blue). Your main hub will be Roma Termini, where you most likely come into the city by train. Roma Termini is also the central spot to hop on both lines.
The A-line will take you to places like the Trevi Fountain (Barberini), Spanish Steps (Spagna) and the Vatican (Ottaviano). Also along this line, you can hop off on Barberini, down to the Trevi fountain, and then find signs for the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
The B line will take you to Via Cavour (Cavour), which has a charming neighborhood called Monti worth exploring, The Colosseum and Roman Forums (Colosseo), and Circus Massimo (Circus Massimo). When hopping off at the Colosseum metro stop, hang a right and you can walk the main street of Rome where you will see many forums surrounding you and the Altar Of The Fatherland.
Rome metro passes are incredibly affordable and there are all kinds of passes for what you need. You can do one-way tickets, a few hours, 24 hrs, and even a 72 hr pass, which is excellent when spending time there for a few days. Another great thing about these tickets is that you can also use them with the city buses. So, if you find yourself in an area far away from the metro, just look up buses you can take to get you where you need to go.
Google Maps Is Your Best Friend
Walking through Rome is a beautiful experience, but can get a bit confusing. Especially if you have limited time like a one-day trip. You need to plan out where you’re going, and Google Maps is amazing for this! Make sure to download the app and give it a try! I used this app on my last trip to Rome every day and was such a huge help.
How To Eat & Drink
Who doesn’t love Italian food? Especially when you’re in a place like Rome. Experiencing an incredibly good pizza or gelato is a must. Food is not hard to find in this city. Good food, however, can present a challenge if you’re exploring some of the prime tourist spots. This is another reason Google Maps can be such a help! If you find yourself getting hungry, pull up the app and see what’s around. You can check reviews of places and see which one seems to have good ratings for what you’re looking for.
How I Would Do Rome In A Day
When visiting Rome for the first time, and only having one day to see it, here’s the itinerary I chose! (Please keep in mind this itinerary requires a lot of walking. So please adjust accordingly. )
#1- Start at roma termini
Starting here, you have two options: walk to the Colosseum or take the metro. Via metro, you will hop on the B line, and get off at the stop, Colosseo. This will put you right in front of the Colosseum and Forums. However, if you’re up for an enjoyable walk, set off down Via Cavour, where you will find some beautiful side streets in the neighborhood of Monti. Along your way, you may also find Piazza dell’Esquilino and the beautiful Basilica di Santa Maggiore, the largest Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome.
#2- Explore the colosseum & forums
Once you arrive at the Colosseum, take your time to walk around this amazing piece of history! When you’re finished, your ticket allows you entry into the Roman Forums right across the street. You’ll be able to walk through the Arch of Titus and see a bunch of ancient ruins. The forums are HUGE, so due to time I would keep walking straight, making your way up alongside Via dei Fori Imperiali street.
#3- Altar Of the Fatherland
Via dei Fori Imperiali is an incredibly unique street that will show you a piece of ancient Rome in its full glory and bring you to Piazza Venezia, the monument of Victor Emmanuel II, and the heart of ancient Rome.
#4- Trevi fountain
This incredible fountain is worth seeing, but keep in mind it tends to get crowded. Make sure you get close enough to the fountain so you can toss a coin in. Make a wish!
#5- Pantheon
My favorite time to see Pantheon is at night, but if you want to be able to go inside, then it’s best to do so before closing time around 6:00 PM. FUN TIP: Admission is always free, and this stands true for all the basilicas in Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City!
#6- Piazza Navona
This piazza is filled with incredible fountains and architecture you can enjoy but also has some good food options. By this part of the trip, you’ll most likely need time to rest, so this is the perfect spot to soak in the incredible views and grab a bite to eat.
#7- CASTEL SANT’ANGELO & The Angel Bridge
This area has a really great view of Saint Peter’s Square and the Tiber River. There are multiple opportunities for photos here, so bring out your camera.
#8- Saint Peter’s Square
Because you’re limited to one day in the city, you won’t have time to see the Vatican in its entirety. However, you can still see the vastness of the Vatican by stopping by Saint Peter’s Square. You can also enter the basilica here for FREE, but lines can be quite long, so keep that in mind.
Once you have seen what you need to see in this square, you can make your way to the metro at Ottaviano and take the A line back to Roma Termini. From here, you can end your journey and make your way home.
“Rome is not like any other city. It’s a big museum, a living room that shall be crossed on one’s toes.”
Learn more about exploring Rome in a related article: Photos From My Roman Adventure
Explore A Darker Side Of Rome
Rome is not only full of rich history and stunning/iconic views, but it also has a wicked and dark side that adds to the lore of this incredible city. Read more about the weird/wicked travel of Rome in my article: Weird Traveler- Rome.
