1 day Rome itinerary – The PERFECT way to spend a day in Rome

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Mail

Are you planning a trip to Italy and want the perfect 1 day Rome itinerary?

Rome had been on our travel bucket-list for many years but we only got to visit it recently for the first time and it did not disappoint.

There are certain places you go to where you can immediately feel the culture and history that surrounds it and Rome was definitely one of those for us.

If you only have one day in Rome then time is not on your side but it is still possible to have an incredible day with some good planning.

In this 1 day Rome itinerary, we will walk you through the best way to spend a day in Rome, how to save time on queuing and getting around to maximise your day in the city.

We will also provide you with the best hotels in Rome for every budget, as well as food & drink recommendations throughout each day.

How to get around Rome

For a major city, we found Rome to be slightly more difficult to get around than others but still very manageable overall, with buses providing the main form of public transport for navigating the city.

While there are metro stations and trains, they do not serve all areas around the city and in our experience, we spend most of our trips on buses or walking. The city is quite walkable and many of the famous landmarks are within a 15-20 minute walk of one another.

Public Transport:

We found buses to be the post pragmatic approach to getting around the city while we were there. The buses run frequently and service all of the surrounding neighbourhoods. If you are in the city centre and are not sure where to catch the bus, head to Vittoriano, which is one of the main stops in the city.

You can also get a 24 hour pass for the buses here for €7 per 24 hours. You can also do this at any station or by downloading the TicketAppy App on your phone.  Alternatively, you can purchase a 48hr/72 hr Rome Tourist Card that gives you access to the public transport network, as well as discounted tickets for numerous attractions around the city.

How many days do you need in Rome?

Ideally, you should spend at least 3 days in Rome to allow sufficient time to explore the sites and potentially take a day trip. With so much to see in Rome, so many places to eat and so much ground to cover it is important to allow yourself sufficient time to enjoy the sites.

We see itineraries all the time jam packed with activities from morning until night with no time to do what a trip away is actually designed for, relax. Katie and I sometimes fall into this trap ourselves but from our experience, you always need more time than you think to visit a tourist attraction, particularly when you factor in queues etc.

If you do only have 1 day in Rome, the key is to recognise that you won’t see everything so it is better to prioritise certain places and activities rather than trying to cram everything into a single day.

If you have 3-4 days in Rome and would like to take a day trip, we would highly recommend taking the train to spend a day in Florence, which is only an hour and a half away.

Alternatively, you could easily combine a trip to Rome with some time along the Amalfi Coast. This way, you get to experience city life and La Dolce Vita in the sun to give you a well rounded view of Italian culture.

Map of Rome with key locations

Best Areas to stay in Rome

For first time visitors, it is always best to choose a hotel in Rome that has easy access to the main sites, particularly if you are only in Rome for a day/night.

With that, the main area we would suggest in Centro Storico for a hotel within walking distance to the major attractions. Our pick for a hotel in this area would be Master Trevi for a luxury stay or The Major Hotel for a great option on a budget.

Alternatively, in an equally central location, you could choose the area around the Spanish Steps where you will find many of the luxury hotels in Rome, as well as the main shopping area. Our top pick in this area would be the luxurious Palazzo Ripetta.

However, our favourite area to stay in Rome is Trastevere. While it is slightly further out from the city centre, it has a completely authentic feel to it and some of the best restaurants in Rome. The best hotel in Trastevere for us is Trastevere Paper Suites.

Day 1

Morning – Trevi Fountain,Pantheon, Magic Mirror and Galeria Sciarra

For your morning in Rome, we have chosen a few activities for you to enjoy, but crucially, they are all right beside each other to cut down time needed for the logistics.

The Trevi Fountain

Unfortunately, how early you get up in the morning, someone will beat you to the Trevi Fountain. Naturally, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world and because of its location in the centre of narrow adjoining streets, it feels even busier.

From our experience, we have three suggestions for the Trevi Fountain:

1. Don’t stand in the centre to get a photo, create an angle from the corners along the side and you will deal with less crowds
2. Go early, grab a pistacchio croissant at L’Antico Forno, get a seat outside and admire the view
3. If you enjoy a cocktail there is a hole in the wall bar ‘La Taberna‘ right beside the fountain serving €5 cocktails (always drink responsibly)

Galleria Sciarra & The Magic Mirror

Galleria Sciarra won’t necessarily appeal to everyone but it is just a two minute walk from the fountain and it is a beautiful building.

Just a further couple of minutes walk away you will find Sant Ignazio di Loyola Church, made famous for its ‘Magic Mirror‘ – that reflects the artwork covering the ceiling above. Depending on when you visit there can be a long queue for this but we were quite lucky when we visited.

It costs €1 to activate the mirror and to be able to see the stunning reflections of the art work above – definitely worth it if you do have the time.

The Pantheon

Just around the corner from there you will find the Pantheon. I personally prefer to go to the Pantheon in the evening rather than during the day as there are lots of nice bars and restaurants with outdoor seating looking out at it but it is still a beautiful place to visit during the day.

Tickets to go inside the Pantheon are quite cheap at around €5 or you can also get a guided tour for about €20 if you prefer.

Afternoon – Roman Forum

Before your next tourist attraction, grab a quick lunch. With only one day in Rome available, a sit down lunch is not your best option. Instead we would recommend getting a sandwich at either Cantino dei Papi or Antico Vinao.

Both of these sandwich shops use a great selection of cured meats, they’re relatively cheap without compromising on quality or flavour so they are perfect for a quick stop.

Next up you can choose between the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. In the interest of time we would suggest the Roman Forum only but we would also recommend this guided tour, which takes in the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in under 3 hours.

This tour includes pre booked entrance tickets which will save you a lot of time you would have otherwise lost. If you would prefer to have more flexibility we would suggest going to one of two places for the afternoon to get stunning views of the city.

1. Walk to Capitoline Hill and take the side street to the right of the building as you are facing it. From there you will have perfect views of the Roman Forum without having to pay any entry fee
2. Go to Vittoriano and take the stairs/elevator to the rooftop where you will find a a rooftop terrace bar with a perfect view of the Colosseum

Both of those options are perfect for anyone who wants more of a sit down style of afternoon where you get to enjoy a drink with a view, without the hustle and bustle often associated with busy tourist attractions.

Evening – Dinner & Drinks with Colosseum Views

You couldn’t possibly spend a day in Rome without it revolving around the Colosseum in some way. We have visited the Colosseum throughout the day and without doubt, it looks best at sunset.

If you do have time, we would naturally recommend getting tickets to go inside the Colosseum and learn about its history but in the interest of time we think this is the best way to include it in a 1 day Rome itinerary.

Before making your way for dinner and drinks take a walk along Via del Colosseo just as the sun starts to fade and you will get a stunning perspective of the Colosseum. The fading light against that stone facade is honestly one of the most beautiful views we have seen anywhere in the world.

The Court

The first thing you will need to do is to make reservations. Check what time sunset is due to take place when you are there and book a table at The Court for a sunset cocktail to start your evening. The key thing to note down is that the Court only takes reservations 6 days in advance so make sure to set a reminder.

The drinks there are expensive but it is definitely worth it for a one off experience to have front row seats to one of the world’s most historic locations. Upstairs you will find the rooftop restaurant Aroma, which has the same incredible view of the Colosseum.

Again, this restaurant is not cheap but if you are visiting Rome for a special occasion, you have to visit one of these two places to add that wow factor to your day in Rome.

If you can’t get a table here, you could also try Royal Art Cafe, which is situated closer to the Colosseum. We prefer the view from The Court/Aroma but this is still a great alternative for your evening.