Only have time for a day in Rome? Don’t worry, although the city may not have been built in a day it is possible to see the main sights of Rome in one day.
Many people would probably say there is no point trying to cram a city like Rome into few hours.
There is too much to see, too much history to explore, too much art to admire. And they would be right, up to a point. However, let me tell you it possible to see the highlights of Rome in a day.
Let’s get this out there early on. It will be fast paced and action packed – don’t expect a leisurely day in Rome – but you can see many of the city’s main attractions with ease.
Don’t forget your comfy shoes though. The best way to see Rome in a day is on foot.
Many of the city’s must-see sights are within fairly close walking distance of each other. You’ll probably smash your daily steps record but it will be worth it!
The top things to see in Rome in one day
Wondering what to do in Rome? If you only have one day it pays to do a bit of research in advance and pick a couple of unmissable sights.
You don’t want to waste precious time on the day figuring out where to go.
I arrived there at the end of a two week trip around Europe and hadn’t done much planning. My only goal was to see as many of the sights as possible.
With hindsight I wish I had done a bit more planning. It would have saved a bit of time and made me a bit more organised. All of which would have enabled me to see a bit more of the city.
So with the experience and mistakes I made when trying to see Rome in a day my recommendations for the must-see places would be…
- The Colosseum
- The Pantheon
- The Roman Forum
- Spanish Steps
- Trevi Fountain
Although the Vatican is a must-see in Rome, I’ve left it off this list as I would say you need at least half a day there. In fact, if I return to Rome I think I would probably make sure I have a full day to spend in Vatican City.
You really need a good amount of time to take in the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica.
Plus, like all of Rome’s sights, it can be very very crowded so you may have to spend a lot of time queuing. Not ideal if you are only in Rome for the day.
So one to save for a longer visit I think.
READ MORE: Heading to the Vatican? Find out how to see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds and discover what is like to climb to the top of St Peter’s Basilica.
How to spend one day in Rome
If you are wondering how many places you can see in Rome in a day you might be surprised to hear it’s quite a few.
Obviously you won’t have time to fully explore many places in depth. However, if you are happy with just a glimpse then you can see many of the big attractions in just one day.
If you’d prefer a more complete or slower paced experience I’d pick two maybe three places and stick with those as you can then spend a good amount of time in each.
The order I’ve listed the sites in below follows the self guided walking tour my friends and I did. The route was designed to maximise our limited time and we covered the main places of interest in a couple of hours.
However, if you extend it out for the full day you can build in time to spend at attractions of particular interest.
Maybe popping inside The Colosseum or wandering around the ruins of The Forum. With all the places within walking distance of each other you can mix and match the route depending on your interests and order of priority.
Don’t forget to save time for lunch, refreshment stops and of course an afternoon gelato!
I was staying up near Villa Borghese so headed into the centre of Rome and started our walking tour at the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument.
What to see in Rome
Victor Emmanuel II National Monument
Located between the foot of Capitoline Hill (one of the seven hills of Rome) and the Piazza Venezia, the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument is hard to miss.
The imposing monument, made of white marble, was built in honour of the first king of Italy – Victor Emmanuel II. Hence the name…
The monument overlooks the busiest intersection I’ve ever seen. It’s worth spending a minute or two watching the chaos unfold around you. Not one for the faint hearted!
TIP: Take the lift to the top for some spectacular views of Rome.
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
The Roman Forum was once the centre of political and social life in ancient Rome. Now a sprawling maze of ruins, and one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, you’ll need a bit of imagination to picture what it was like.
The rectangle site was surrounded by government buildings, temples and shrines. Wandering around now gives a glimpse into life in the Roman Empire.
Next to The Forum is Palatine Hill. The most central of the seven hills of Rome and where the first settlement of Rome was made.
Should you decide to spend some time here it’s worth knowing that although The Forum and Palatine Hill are two sites you can move seamlessly between the two. Your entrance ticket provides access to both. To fully explore you should allow yourself at least half a day here.
I’d also recommend booking a tour or guide to show you around The Forum. I returned a few days later and wandered around for a few hours on my own however it was pretty confusing. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I had a better understanding about what I was looking at.
The Colosseum
You can get a glimpse of the Colosseum from The Forum but it is well worth taking the time to get closer. I admit looking from a distance, I was a little underwhelmed at first. It looked pretty tiny, but once up close wow, you can see why it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
The oval amphitheater was constructed between 72-80 AD. Used as a venue for gladiatorial contests and public performances, it could hold up to 80,000 spectators back in the day.
There is an exhibition inside about the history of the amphitheater and the events held there. As well as detailing how the arena was built, the exhibition describes the events held and the spectator experience. From how people entered the arena to the different levels of seating and style of seats.
As an avid concert goer these days it struck me that not much has changed at venues all these years later!
Depending on how you plan your day and the sights that are important to you to see I’d recommend going inside the The Colosseum. You will need to spare a few hours there but it was by far the best thing I did in Rome.
I visited in the afternoon and while it was still fairly crowded at first by the time the last hour came it was almost empty. It was a really special experience walking around without the crowds.
TIP 1: There are a number of different tickets options depending on the levels of the Colosseum you wish to explore, the time you wish to enter and if you want to skip the line. Some advanced research will help you choose the right ticket for you.
TIP 2: If you are buying in person on the day you visit, avoid the queues by buying tickets for The Colosseum at the entrance to The Forum.
If you prefer to take a tour, you can compare options at Tickets’n Tours.
Spanish Steps
Probably one of the most famous staircases in the world, the Spanish Steps were built to link the Trinità dei Monti church with the Spanish embassy below.
The 135 steps climb a steep slope (trust me on this, I had to climb them almost every day of my visit) and are a great place to people watch.
However, don’t sit down.
Since August 2019 you are no longer allowed to sit on the steps and you’ll have to pay a hefty fine if caught.
If you have time, take a wander along the street at the bottom of the stairs. Filled with luxury boutiques and brand names, Via Condotti is one of most famous shopping streets in the world
TIP: To get a photo of the Spanish Steps without the crowds you need to get there super early or late at night.
Trevi Fountain
From one of the most famous steps in the world to one of the most famous fountains. It’s just a short walk from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain.
At 26.3 meters high and 49.14 meters wide it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and from what I saw probably the attraction in Rome that has the largest crowd around it.
Legend has it that if you stand with your back to the fountain and toss a coin over your left shoulder you will guarantee a return trip to Rome.
In truth if you come in peak season you’ll be lucky to even get near the fountain to wish for a return trip! See the photo above to see what I mean…
TIP: Head to the fountain early in the morning before the city rises. You should then be able to get some photos without the crowds.
Find out some fun facts about the Trevi Fountain.
The Pantheon
On leaving the Trevi Fountain lose yourself in the narrow winding streets towards The Pantheon.
The former Roman temple, now a Catholic church, is one of the best preserved buildings of ancient Rome. When you see it you can see why, they don’t make buildings like that these days.
Free to enter, it well worth stopping off here and going inside. Don’t forget to look up . As if the spectacular dome, which is the largest unreinforced dome in the world, was not enough, there is a huge hole in the centre.
The Oculus (eye in Latin) is the only source of natural light inside the Pantheon and is thought to have been used as a sundial.
Don’t worry if it rains though, the floor is gently sloped with well hidden holes to allow the rainwater to drain away.
Piazza Navona
This grand square with its three fountains is one of the most stunning piazzas in Rome.
Built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian (the remains are 4.50 meters below street level) the piazza follows the footprint of the stadium.
It is still an entertainment centre of sorts with restaurants surrounding the square while artists and musicians provide the atmosphere.
A great spot to take a break, have a drink and people watch.
Castel Sant’Angelo
Originally built as a mausoleum to house the remains of Hadrian, the Roman emperor, Castle Sant’Angelo has been used for many different things over the years. A tomb, a fortress, a prison, barracks and now a national museum.
I knew pretty much nothing about this place before my visit but having spent a few hours wandering around it was one of the best things I did. The museum has a great app that reveals the history of the castle as it guides you around.
If you are only in Rome for the day you probably won’t have time to pop in but it’s definitely one to add to a return trip.
If you manage to squeeze all those sights into a day in Rome then you can safely say you have made the most of your time in the city.
Rome travel tips
When you have limited time in a city it’s important to be organised. Here are some tips to make your day in Rome go as smoothly as possible.
Start as early as you can
If, like me, you are not a morning person then you probably won’t want to hear this but the earlier you can get up and out the more time you will have to explore Rome.
Plus if you are in the city at the height of summer, getting out as early as possible will take some of the heat out of the day. You definitely do not want to be running around in the midday sun, trust me on that.
Another advantage of getting out early is the earlier you get to many of Rome’s attractions, the less people will be around.
In the middle of the day in summer you probably won’t even be able to get near the Trevi Fountain. Head there at 6am and although there will be people there, (mostly likely doing instagram shoots!), you will be able to get up close.
Book your attraction tickets in advance
Where you can book tickets for Rome’s most famous attractions in advance. This will save time queuing up to buy tickets at the door and allow you to maximise the time you have in the city.
You don’t want to miss out on the things you want to see because you’ve spend half the day in a queue.
Take advantage of the skip the line tickets
If there is a sight or attraction you really want to see then take advantage of the skip the line tickets.
You pay a little more to queue jump but the payoff is the time it saves you. I did this as part of an early access tour to see the Sistine Chapel and it was well worth the extra cost.
Another advantage of buying in advance is that it will save you hanging around outside too long. Trust me you do not want to be queing for long to get into the Colosseum or the Vatican in the hot summer sun.
Dress appropriately
While you obviously want to be as comfortable as possible on your day in Rome – especially if you are there in the summer – there are a few things to keep in mind.
If you will be visiting a church or religious site there may be a dress code. Usually shoulders and knees will need to be covered. So it’s worth packing a few longer skirts/trousers just in case. Or throw a scarf, sarong or leggings in your day bag.
You will likely be on your feet all day so wear the right shoes. Comfort is a must! Your feet will thank you for it the next day.
Carry a water bottle with you
Make sure you carry a water bottle with you, particular in summer. There are water fountains all over Rome so you can refill your bottle quickly and easily.
The last word
I’ve got mixed views about Rome. I loved seeing all the sights and the history is just incredible. Wandering around The Colosseum and climbing the dome of St Peter’s Basilica are travel memories that will stay with me forever.
However, I found Rome a big confusing city. As someone that is from London and used to large unfriendly cities that is saying something!
Being there at the height of summer (and in the middle of a heatwave) was pretty awful. It was ridiculously hot (the pavements were melting) and very overcrowded. Even knowing it was peak tourist time didn’t prepare me for how stifling that would be.
That said, with the main attractions within fairly close walking distance it was quite easy to get around and explore Rome.
So if you were wondering how to see Rome in a day, this itinerary will show you most of the main places of interest and give a great, if brief, insight into the city.
Looking for more on Italy? If you enjoyed this, you might also like
- Heading to Tuscany? Find out how to spend a day in Florence.
- Looking to get off the beaten path? Why not visit Lucca, the historic walled city?