As one of Italy’s most popular and famous cities, Rome has a lot to offer. It’s also one of the top places that international travelers fly in and out of. If you find yourself with only one day in Rome, we’ve put together an itinerary to make the most of your time.
The most important thing I will mention is finding a place to stay that is central. During our first trip to Rome, we stayed outside of the city and it was such a trek coming in and out. It quite frankly dampened our impression of Rome. The second time we stayed right in the center of the city and it made such a difference.
Italy is a pretty big city, much bigger than I was expecting which makes getting around a little difficult. As much as I love to walk everywhere when I travel, it’s not possible in Rome if you are looking to see as much as you can in a short amount of time. Try taking public transit or a cab if you need to get around. I definitely wouldn’t recommend renting your own car, driving in the heart of the city just looks like a complete nightmare!
Top sights to see
When building your itinerary for one day in Rome it’s important that you focus on the things you want to see and how much time you want to spend in each place. There are some attractions that you could easily spend half a day walking around, so just keep that in mind.
The Vatican
As one of the most popular places to visit, the Vatican should definitely be near the top of your list if you are only spending one day in Rome. You should definitely start your day here, and first thing in the morning. If we can make any recommendation, it’s to book your tickets in advance because it can get absolutely crazy busy.
The Vatican is one of the most interesting places I have toured through in all of my travels. As someone who grew up Roman Catholic, I heard all about the different artworks in this monumental building. It was enough just standing in the square looking at the building itself. If you are short on time just visit Vatican City to get a sense of how large and beautiful the buildings are.
Time: 30 minutes for exterior | 3 hours for full tour
The Colosseum
Of course, the second most popular place to visit in Rome (or perhaps the most popular for those who care little for religion) is the Colosseum. You can buy your tickets in advance or purchase them upon arrival. Both times we’ve purchased upon arrival and have had no problems.
There are quite a lot of stairs so just keep that in mind as you wander in and out of the different passageways. While I’ve never actually done a tour of the Colosseum, part of me wishes I had because I’m sure you can learn quite a lot about the history of the place.
Time: 1 hour
Roman Forum
One of the nicer places to visit in Rome and one of the more peaceful spots, is the Forum. Located right across from the Colosseum, the Forum is home to several of the ancient government buildings of Rome. If you purchase a ticket for the Colosseum, you can get access to the Forum so just walk across and stand in line – don’t be discouraged though the line shouldn’t take too long.
Time: 2 hours
Piazza Navona
This is one of my favourite places to stop in at in Rome because of its beauty. The streets in and around Piazza Navona are absolutely stunning. Once you are inside the square there are tons of spots that are great for grabbing a bite to eat or even just sitting on the patio and enjoying a cold beverage.
Time: 1.5 hours
Trevi Fountain
A lot of people who visit Rome have an incredible need to do the classic throwing of a coin into the Trevi Fountain. One thing is for sure, I definitely wouldn’t make this a stop on your trip around sunset – it was crazy busy when we were there although it made for some pretty gorgeous photos.
Time: 30 minutes
It is possible to spend one day in Rome and see most of the major sights it just takes a bit of planning first. I wouldn’t worry about where you are going to eat either, it’s Italy afterall so you can hardly go wrong with a meal. The one thing I would say is to stay away from the touristy areas because they are obviously overpriced but other than that, fill your boots.
You’ll want to leave a bit of time in your itinerary to enjoy some of the finest wines in the world at any restaurant. Find a spot with a good patio with lots of potential for people watching and just relaxing after a long hard day of touring around!
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