Rome is a place that you’ve likely heard about and seen photos of countless times. There is so much history in this city and so many things to see. It’s one of the most visited cities in Europe with millions of tourists coming each year. With that comes large tour groups, crowded sites and long lines. We dedicated a full day to hitting all the highlights before going to other parts of Italy. Here is our guide for how to see Rome in a day!
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Why Only a Day?
You might be wondering “why did you only give yourselves one day in Rome as there is so much to see?” And yes, there is so much to see. But we much prefer the quieter, smaller areas in Italy. We feel like those are the real gems of this amazing country! There are so many beautiful coastal areas along both the east and west coast that we could have easily spent years exploring. So it really comes down to personal preference but we’re here to say that you can absolutely see a ton of Rome in 1 day if you have a short timeline!
Long Lines in Rome
If you are looking to do anything such as tour the Sistine Chapel or the Colosseum you should book your tickets ahead of time. Activities like that in Rome aren’t to be left to the last minute (especially during the peak summer months) because you never know if they’ll still have open spots. You also could face long lines and no one wants to spend their day waiting in line in the summer heat.
Ticket costs for the popular sites in Rome can also quickly add up. If you’re traveling on a budget you really have to pick and choose whats most important to you. Or marvel at everything from the outside like we did!
Start Your Day in the Vatican City
In order to be able to fit in as much as possible, it’s important to start your one day in Rome early. Then you can move as quickly or slowly as you want without having to be rushed at the end.
We started the day by taking the train from where we were staying to the Vatican City. Depending on where you’re staying you might be able to walk, take the train or the Metro. Because we have the Eurail Pass it was free for us to take the train so thats what we did! We chose to start the day in the Vatican City because we know it can get super crowded. Looking at a map of Rome we knew we could then walk to our next destinations.
The Vatican City is unique in itself. This city-state sits in Rome but is considered the smallest country in the world. Here you’ll find places you’ve likely heard of such as St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Even if you don’t like crowds or it’s not usually your thing, St. Peter’s Square is huge and the architecture is incredible! The statues and carvings along the perimeter of the square are so detailed. The facade of St. Peter’s Basilica is beautiful and really makes you wonder how on earth it was built so long ago with none of the machines we have now.
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Walk Around Inside St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is free to enter so if you’re on a budget this is a great way to see more without spending money! When we first got there the line looked huge but we waited in line for no more than 30 minutes because it really moved fast. So if you are interested in going in don’t let the line deter you! You do have to go through medal detectors to get in but it was quick and painless.
Looking up information about St. Peter’s Basilica you will often see that it has a dress code of long pants. We both wore shorts, because we weren’t sure we were going to go inside, and had no problem getting in. There were so many other guys wearing shorts so don’t necessarily ride it off if you don’t have long pants.
- I was asked to cover my legs which was no problem because I brought a scarf and simply tied it around my waist like lots of other woman. It’s one of the reasons I always travel with this scarf!
- We also had no problem getting in with our Sony camera and our camera tripod (again because we weren’t sure we were going in) although there are signs outside saying neither are allowed in.
It’s large inside so even in the middle of the day it wasn’t too crowded. We spent about 40 minutes walking around inside. If the line isn’t too bad and you have time, it’s worth seeing!
Sit in St. Peter’s Square
After walking around the inside of St. Peter’s Basilica we found a spot on the stairs facing the square to sit and just watch everyone go by! It’s a great spot to have a quick snack or rest up before continuing on. You will see lots of other people doing the same thing and theres even drinking fountains in the middle of the square if you need some water.
Walk Across the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele III
Walk out of St. Peter’s Square and cross the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele III where if you look back you can get views of the Castle Sant’Angelo. Via dei Coronari is a beautiful cobblestone street to walk down. You’ll see colorful Italian buildings and will pass quite a few cafe and restaurant options if you’re looking for something to eat. The walk from St. Peter’s Basilica along Via dei Coronari is a really nice walk and eventually will lead you to Piazza Navona in about 15-20 minutes.
Wander Through Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is a large square with 3 large fountains. The 3 fountains are intricate and make for a great photo of the whole square. You will also see the impressive Sant’Agnese in Agone, a church that serves as one barrier of the square. In the middle of the day you will definitely be amongst other visitors but it’s a nice area to wander through before continuing on.
There are a few restaurants that line the opposite side of the square though beware restaurants in popular squares like that are most often more expensive because of their location and not always the best option.
Poke Your Head into the Pantheon
Walking from Piazza Navona to the Pantheon takes no more than 5 minutes. When we visited there was no line to enter and admission is free so we quickly poked our heads in. While we really appreciate places (especially in Rome) with no line and no ticket price, there were a lot of people inside. It’s not overly huge so a lot of people made it hard to stay for too long. We looked around for a few minutes before leaving in search of more personal space.
Travel Truth: If you have a minute or two to pop in then do it otherwise we wouldn’t say to go out of your way to visit the Pantheon.
Brave the Crowds at the Trevi Fountain
From the Pantheon walk along Via del Seeinari and you will pass Piazza di Sant’Ignazio, another beautiful and large piazza. Take a minute to walk through Piazza di Pietra along your way also and see the enormous columned buildings. As you get closer and closer to the Trevi Fountain you’ll start to notice more and more people in the area as well as more and more commercial shops. The walk should take less than 10 minutes from the Pantheon.
The crowds at the Trevi Fountain when we visited were very intense. Just groups and groups of people standing at all different levels around the fountain. To get close you kind of have to just push your way through. We walked down to the fountain, made our ceremonial Trevi Fountain wish and then quickly left. It was honestly just way too crowded for us to enjoy!
Travel Truth: Our recommendation would be to go very early in the morning if you’re interested in taking photos at the Trevi Fountain. The later it gets the bigger the crowd!
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Climb the Steps to the Altare della Patria
After leaving the Trevi Fountain walk along Via della Pilotta, around the Piazza Venezia to the steps leading up to the Altar della Patria or Altar of the Fatherland. The walk should take about 10 minutes and you will see the prominent building as soon as you round the corner. There is a large roundabout in front so make sure to walk to either side where there is a crosswalk!
There is a gate to enter and climb up the steps. A guard standing at the gate will very nicely tell you there is no sitting on the steps. It is free to enter and there was no line and really not too many people there! If you continue climbing up you can get views looking out onto the whole roundabout as well as the nearby buildings! It is beautiful and gives you a different perspective of the city.
Enjoy A Great Colosseum Viewpoint
Walking from Altare della Patria to the Colosseum is pretty much a straight shot down Via dei Fori Imperiali past quite a few Roman ruins that you can choose to explore if you have extra time.
To get to this viewpoint the colosseum will be on your right and the Colosseo Metro station on your left. Walk past the station and on your left you will see a staircase leading up. Walk up the staircase to Via Nicola Salvi where you can take amazing pictures with the Colosseum in the background! It should take about 10-15 minutes to walk to this viewpoint depending on how many times you stop to take pictures.
- You do have to be a little careful as there are a lot of people trying to sell things like selfie sticks, phone chargers, etc. so just keep saying no and definitely keep an eye on your stuff. There were plenty of other people around so we never felt unsafe!
- GPS coordinates to find the exact spot are 41°53’29.3″N 12°29’32.0″E
Marvel at The Colosseum and the Arco di Constantino
After enjoying the views from the Via Nicola Salvi viewpoint walk back down the staircase and around to the other side of the Colosseum. If you walk along Piazza del Colosseo you can see how the structure changes at different points.
We’re not sure if this is completely allowed but we saw so many other people doing it and there are plenty of police around that didn’t seem to mind at all. Along Via Celio Vibenna on the opposite side of the Colosseum there is a small hill. There is a wooden fence but you can see from the ground that many people simply step over it to get pictures from the hill. From this hill spot you can get photos of both the Colosseum as well as the Arco di Constantino which stands to the left.
- There were a lot of police at the Colosseum that saw people climbing to the hill and none seemed at all phased about it so do it at your own risk. But it seems like something everyone does. We got some really good pictures here!
- GPS coordinates to the hill point are 41°53’22.2″N 12°29’28.4″E
End The Day with Some Delicious Italian Food!
You can’t visit Rome (or anywhere in Italy) without having some delicious Italian food. Pasta, pizza, prosciutto and so much more, it’s all so good! Make sure to find a place not too close to any of the big tourist attractions as often times those places don’t have the best reviews or the cheapest prices. You can find a real variety in Rome in terms of nicer places as well as cheaper options depending on your budget!
