Although 24 hours in Rome probably seems like nothing, you can soak in plenty of the history in just one day. There is no doubt that Rome has enough history and sites to fill several days, but sometimes you only have one day in Rome before you set off to any of the other amazing destinations Italy as to offer. To help you out, I am going to give you my one day “must-see” list for the Eternal City.
Important Note!
My one day itinerary is based on starting near the Vatican as I stayed near there. However, most accommodations are near one of these sites, so you can easily start at your nearest site, and follow the itinerary from there until you’ve made a full circle!
To do this, I recommend getting a 24 hour Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass as it will drop you off near all the sites listed below. You can walk in between ones that are close (Spanish Steps, Trevi) and then hop on the bus at the nearest stop when you need a break.
1. The Vatican:
I would start at the Vatican in the morning as it can get very crowded. Buy your tickets ahead of time if you want to actually enter the museum & chapel. If you only have one day, I recommend getting a skip the line ticket that includes the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, & St. Peter’s Basilica.
Tip: Modest dress is required in churches in Italy, so shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless shirts are not allowed.
2. Spanish Steps:
After you’ve finished at the Vatican, make your way towards the River Tiber and cross either the Ponte Sant’Angel or Ponte Vittorio Emanuele to get to the bus stop. Here you can buy your 24 hour bus pass. Take a quick ride to your first stop, the Spanish Steps! I like to start at the top at the Piazza Trinita dei Monti, and then walk the 135 steps down to the Piazza di Spagna where you have a beautiful view of the fountain in the square & Trinita Dei Monti Church at the top of the steps.
3. Trevi Fountain:
Your next stop is the famous Trevi Fountain! It’s about a 10 minute walk from the Spanish Steps (directions). Make sure to bring a coin so you can make a wish! This is another site that gets super busy, so if it is the highlight of Rome, maybe start at Trevi early in the morning to get a picture with less crowds.
Lunch Time
After photo ops at Trevi, it’s probably time to break for lunch and of course to grab a gelato. The Italians prefer pasta for lunch, so I recommend getting a plate of fresh carbonara with a glass of chianti!
If you didn’t stray too far from the Trevi Fountain, you can easily get to your next destination, the Pantheon.
4. Pantheon:
About a 10 minutes walk from the Trevi Fountain you can find the Pantheon. It is very easy to see from the outside without a ticket, however if you want to go inside, I would again suggest a skip the line ticket. If you want to learn more about the history of structure, you can also get a skip the line pass with a guided tour included.
Tip: This is a church, so shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless shirts are not allowed.
After the Pantheon you will get back on the bus to head to the Colosseum. The closest stop to the Pantheon is at Piazza Venezia (near the Roman Forum if you want to check that out as well).
5. Colosseum:
Another huge must see in Rome! Which also means you really need a skip the line ticket. If you shell out for a skip the line on any attraction, it should be the Colosseum. Experience stepping onto the arena floor like gladiators 2,000 years before you and stand where spectators watched among a crowd of 50,000 in ancient Rome.
If you run out of time, or maybe just are not interested in going inside, I still think viewing the Colosseum from the outside is worth 15-20 minutes. You can walk around the entire building from ground level, or climb the stairs to street level to view the outer wall from a variety of viewpoints.
Time for Dinner
It is probably early evening at this point. Although most people will eat dinner around 8pm, I like to do the opposite of what the Romans do and eat around 6:30pm. I’ll tell you why:
If everyone else is eating later in the day, you can take advantage of this and go back to your favorite site while there are little to no crowds!
As I stayed near the Vatican, I had a quick dinner (and amazing dessert!) at Pausa Ristorazione, known for their pasta dishes, but you can literally get anything and it’ll be good. But most importantly, this is the best tiramisu I have ever had in my life. The woman who owns and cooks everything is so sweet and will check on you many times to make sure you are enjoying your meal. It was one of my favorite dining experiences in Italy.
Bonus!
After a full dinner, a cappuccino, an espresso, and mind blowing tiramisu, I headed back to St. Peter’s Square for sunset. It was empty. There were maybe 20 people in the whole square. Unlike the morning, I was able to enjoy the beautiful architecture in peace and listen to the calming trickle of water from the fountains as they lit up for the evening. Honestly, it was the highlight to my day in Rome.
Final Notes: This is a lot to pack into one day. It is probably not possible to tour inside 3 major attractions in one day, so I would pick your favorite, buy a skip the line pass, and set aside an extra hour for that site. If you really want to do 2 tours, start your day early. Like at 8 am early.
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