How to Best Spend One Day in Rome for First-Time Visitors
So, you can only spend one day in Rome and wondering how to make the most of your visit? I got you.
By the end of this blog post, you’ll have three curated itineraries perfect for first-time visitors: the best of Rome, a day for art and culture lovers, and a classic Rome on foot route (the one we took). Plus bonus tips from someone who’s actually visited, plus a map if you plan to do a self-guided walking tour of Rome as we did!
I had the privilege of visiting Rome while working with an online travel agency based in Amsterdam. Since I was already there, I thought it would be a good idea to spend a couple of weeks visiting places in Europe that I had only dreamed of seeing. Aside from my two weeks in Amsterdam, I spent a day in Brussels, and a few days seeing the best tourist spots in Rome, as well as Prague.
Although I stayed in the Eternal City of Italy for four days, one of my friends had only 24 hours before flying to Malta, so we squeezed all of Rome’s must-see spots into one ambitious day, allowing us to visit all the places together.
So, if you’re like us who only have one day in Rome, this one’s for you.
📌 Plan your Rome trip with my favorite resources
🛌 Hotels & Accommodation: Booking.com & Agoda
– Budget: The RomeHello
– Mid-range: citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina
– Luxury: Horti 14 Borgo Trastevere
🏞️ Tours & Activities: GetYourGuide & Viator
👣 Recommended Experiences:
– Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Guided Tour
– Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
– Castel Sant’Angelo Guided Tour
– Pantheon Guided Tour
– Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Navona, and Pantheon Sunset Tour
❗️At the very least, I recommend getting yourself a Roma Pass (to skip the very long lines getting into the Colosseum and Castel Sant’Angelo) and free entrance to many tourist attractions in Rome!
🗓️ Sample Itineraries for your One Day in Rome (Perfect for First-Timers)
There are so many ways to spend your one day in Rome, depending on the type of activities that speak to you.
I’ll share with you three sample itineraries: one perfect for those who want to experience the best of Rome in one day (including a visit to the Vatican), one for art and culture lovers, and another for those who want to explore the classical sights in Rome on foot.
👣 Itinerary 1: Best of Rome in One Day
This one day itinerary is what we would have followed if we had been able to obtain tickets for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of time.
If you only have a day in Rome and would like to visit all its iconic landmarks, this itinerary is perfect for you!
✅ MORNING: Start your day early and head to the Vatican City. Here, you’ll find the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square.
💡 PRO TIP: Pre-book your tickets for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel to avoid any hassle. You only have one day in Rome, so we need to ensure that you make the most of it!
From the Vatican, travel to Piazza Navona to start your walking tour of Rome’s Baroque icons.
Admire Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers at Piazza Navona. Marvel at the oculus found inside the Pantheon. Toss a coin for a return to Rome at the Trevi Fountain. And climb the Spanish Steps for views at Piazza di Spagna.
✅ LUNCH: Head to the charming neighborhood of Trastevere, where you’ll find trattorias serving authentic Italian dishes. I also recommend getting a gelato for dessert!
✅ AFTERNOON: Travel to the Colosseum. After exploring this iconic landmark, walk along the ruins of what was once the center of Ancient Rome, the Roman Forum.
💡 PRO TIP: Go out just in time for the golden hour. Watch the sun cast a warm glow on the stone walls of the Colosseum, a magnificent sight to capture.
✅ DINNER: Head to Monti and find a trattoria where you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, as well as wine bars perfect for unwinding before the end of your day.
💡 PRO TIP: If you have the time and energy, drop by the Trevi Fountain. Yes, it’s probably filled with tourists. But I think it’s truly majestic and worth the stop.
👣 Itinerary 2: Rome in a Day for Art & Culture Lovers
I curated this itinerary for art and culture enthusiasts, those interested in ancient architecture, and those who love vibrant neighborhoods.
✅ 7:30 AM: Start your day at the Vatican Museums, which houses one of the world’s greatest art collections. Marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
💡 PRO TIP: Pre-book your skip-the-line ticket guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica in advance. The lines are extremely long, and you may find it challenging to obtain a ticket if you wait until the last minute.
✅ 9:30 AM: From the Sistine Chapel, you’ll get directions to access the shortcut to the St. Peter’s Basilica. Even for non-Catholics, it’s a must-see destination where you can find Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini’s Baldacchino, among other notable works.
After exploring St. Peter’s Basilica, you can either have breakfast at a nearby restaurant or cafe, or head to Piazza Navona.
✅ 11:15 AM: Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. It’s like walking in an open-air museum. Here, you can find Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) by Giacomo della Porta, Antonio Della Bitta, and Gregorio Zappalà.
✅ 11:45 AM: Walk to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, where you can see Caravaggio paintings.
✅ 12:15 PM: Walk towards the Pantheon and marvel at its perfect dome and oculus. It’s also where you can find the tomb of Raphael, one of the Renaissance’s greatest minds.
✅ 12:45 PM: Dine at one of the restaurants and cafes near the Pantheon, where you can enjoy an Italian meal while inside the city’s living history.
✅ 2:30 PM: Travel to Galleria Borghese, where you can see Bernini’s sculptures and masterpieces by Caravaggio, Canova, and Raphael, all in one refined setting. Visitor numbers are capped, allowing you to savor the experience.
💡 PRO TIP: Don’t forget to pre-book your ticket to Galleria Borghese. Only those with pre-paid admission tickets are allowed entry.
✅ 4:30 PM: Travel to the Colosseum to catch the exterior sunset view against the most iconic landmark of Rome.
💡 PRO TIP: While you’re here, I recommend going inside the Colosseum to explore this ancient Roman architecture. Within the vicinity of the Colosseum, you can also access the Roman Forum, the center of Ancient Rome.
✅ 7:00 PM: Head to Monti, a charming bohemian neighborhood where creatives and young locals hang out. Full of trattorias and wine bars, enjoy Italian cuisine and reflect on the day’s inspiration. At the same time, you’re surrounded by artists, writers, and thinkers – a perfect end for a culture-heavy day.
👣 Itinerary 3: Classic Rome on Foot (The Route We Took)
Now, here’s the Rome itinerary that we actually followed!
My friends and I had a very tight schedule because we crammed what was supposed to be a couple of days of exploring into just one day in Rome. It was our first time in this gorgeous city, so we wanted to visit as many of the classics as possible.
✅ 9:00 AM: Start your day early to beat the crowds. Make sure to eat your breakfast at one of the local restaurants or cafes near your accommodation of choice, ‘cos you’ve got a full day!
✅ 9:30 AM: Head to the Piazza di Spagna and climb to the top of this iconic Rome landmark for a peaceful view of the city in the soft morning light. For an energy boost, grab a quick espresso from one of the many cafes in the vicinity.
✅ 10:00 AM: Walk towards another iconic Rome landmark, the Trevi Fountain. While it’s magical in the evening, it’s far less crowded when you visit it this early, giving you more time and space to appreciate its beauty.
💡 PRO TIP: Don’t forget to toss a coin over your left shoulder and onto the fountain! According to tradition, doing so will ensure that you return to Rome in this lifetime.
✅ 10:30 AM: For about 10 minutes, walk towards the Pantheon to appreciate its famous massive dome and see magical light beams through its iconic oculus. It’s one of the many impressive things to see in Rome, so take your time appreciating what’s considered an engineering marvel of ancient Rome.
✅ 11:15 AM: Go on a 5-minute walk to Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most beautiful squares. See Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) and Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor), as well as Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) by Giacomo della Porta, Antonio Della Bitta, and Gregorio Zappalà.
💡 PRO TIP: Piazza Navona is also a nice spot to grab an espresso and people-watch. If you want to take a break from all the walking, you can choose from one of the cafes within the vicinity as you take in the goings on in this beautiful square.
✅ 12:00 NN: It’s time for lunch! While there are numerous fabulous cafes and restaurants in Rome where you can savor authentic Italian dishes, lunchtime can become quite busy due to the large number of tourists seeking the same experience.
💡 PRO TIP: If you’re willing to wait in line, consider checking out the highly-rated restaurants and cafes near Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, and the Pantheon. Alternatively, you can find a gelato spot and enjoy this popular Italian dessert as you continue to explore Rome, waiting for the lunch crowd to finish, just as we did!
✅ 2:30 PM: Walk towards Castel Sant’Angelo. I recommend crossing the Ponte Sant’Angelo for iconic views. Take the time to explore the castle, and make sure to check out its rooftop terrace, where you can have a panoramic view of Rome (my favorite!).
✅ 4:00 PM: From Castel Sant’Angelo, walk towards the Colosseum, one of the most iconic landmarks of Rome. Take the time to explore where the gladiators fought, and the emperors watched in the early days.
💡 PRO TIP: The lines to get inside are usually long, so I recommend getting a Roma Pass to skip the very long lines at the Colosseum and save time.
✅ 5:00 PM: Just within the compounds of the Colosseum, you’ll find the entrance to the Roman Forum. Walk along the ruins of what was once the center of Ancient Rome, where political, religious, and social events and activities were held in ancient times. Make sure to catch the golden hour views from Palatine Hill.
✅ 7:00 PM: Head back toward Monti or Trastevere for dinner and drinks. If you still have the energy, walk past the Altare della Patria or back to the Trevi Fountain so you can see it lit at night for that magical moment.
🗺️ Map for your One Day in Rome
To help you with planning your trip, here are the relevant links to Google Maps for all the itineraries I mentioned in this post. I hope this helps!
- One Day in Rome Itinerary 1: Best of Rome in One Day
- One Day in Rome Itinerary 2: Rome in a Day for Art & Culture Lovers
- One Day in Rome Itinerary 3: Classic Rome on Foot (The Route We Took)
🛌 Where to Stay in Rome
If you’re staying overnight in Rome, here are some of the highly-rated accommodation options for your vacation:
👉🏼 BUDGET OPTION: The RomeHello – Highly rated accommodation. Guests love staying here due to its attentive staff, clean rooms, comfortable beds, and proximity to transportation options, including Termini Station, Repubblica Metro Station, and bus stops.
👉🏼 MID-RANGE OPTION: citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina – Perfect for travelers who want to explore the city’s main attractions on foot, guests love staying here for its friendly and helpful staff, delicious breakfast, and clean and modern facilities, including a rooftop bar with a view of the Tiber River.
👉🏼 LUXURY OPTION: Horti 14 Borgo Trastevere – Located in the charming neighborhood of Trastevere, guests love staying in this luxury urban resort and would love to return for its comfortable and clean beds, superb ambiance, gorgeous garden to relax, attentive staff, and proximity to major tourist destinations. Guests appreciate that it’s just a short walk to local cafes and restaurants.
💭 FAQs: Rome in a Day
Here are some frequently asked questions about spending one day in Rome.
Can you do Rome in one day?
Yes, you can see some of Rome’s iconic landmarks in one day. However, I recommend choosing your must-visit attractions early on and carefully planning your day, including your timings, to make your one day in Rome a fun and memorable experience.
Is Rome worth visiting for a day?
Yes, I say that Rome is worth visiting for a day. You can see some of its iconic landmarks, including the Colosseum, The Forum, the Palatine Hills, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. Additionally, a visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica is possible if you plan your day strategically. You can book tours or go DIY!
What can you not miss in Rome?
If it’s your first time in Rome and you want to see its iconic landmarks, make sure to include the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hills, and the Pantheon in your itinerary. It’s not a popular answer, but I also think you should visit the Trevi Fountain, which, while touristy (and I mean a lot of tourists), I think is really pretty.
How do you spend a perfect day in Rome?
It ultimately depends on your preference. If you are a first-time visitor, I recommend spending your day seeing iconic landmarks (download my sample itineraries to help get you started!), and in between, walk the streets of Trastevere while enjoying a gelato, have an authentic Italian meal at one of their trattorias, and enjoy a drink or two at one of their lively bars.
How to spend a chill day in Rome?
Start your day with a coffee from one of its local cafes. Enjoy the beautiful Borghese Gardens, and if you’re into art, be sure to visit the galleries to appreciate their fabulous art collection. Savor the local flavors of an authentic Italian dish for lunch at a trattoria in Trastevere. Continue exploring the charming neighborhood and visit Trevi Fountain. Find a local bar or cafe within Piazza di Spagna and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of Aperol while people-watching or reading a book. Catch the sunset at the Tiber River and stroll towards Campo de’ Fiori to enjoy an evening with street performers. Alternatively, for a more relaxing experience, consider booking a wine-tasting session, visiting a spa, or attending a concert.
How much can you do in a day in Rome?
I think it depends on the type of traveler that you are and your preferences. For example, we spent one day exploring Rome’s iconic landmarks, including the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Castel Sant’Angelo, the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Palatine Hill. In between, we walked on the cobblestoned streets of Trastevere while having a gelato, had lunch and coffee at one of Rome’s charming restaurants, enjoyed a couple of drinks in the evening, and enjoyed a passeggiata before we called it a night.
💌 The Wrap-up: One Day in Rome
That’s it! Thank you for reading my post on how to make the most of your one day in Rome.
Even with just 24 hours, you can enjoy Rome and make memories that last a lifetime.
I hope that my suggested itineraries have helped you in planning your trip. However, please don’t hesitate to send me a message if you have any questions or would like my help in creating a customized itinerary for your one-day visit to Rome. I’d love to help!
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