Discovering Rome in a day is great. There is a lot to see and to do. With this guide, you'll get the most out of one day in the capital of Italy! This is one of the best cities in Italy.
I help you to get the best experience in Rome. Ancient history, food, art, and much more! For this guide, I suppose you get there in the early morning and leave the next day.
Because you are doing everything in one day, it is a bit more difficult to emerge yourself in everything. Thus, if you want to have the best experience, I would recommend spending three days in Rome.
Table of Contents
Arriving in Rome
There are various ways to get into the city. For example, you can go by train, bus, or airplane. From there it is very easy to reach the city center.
Bus
There are several bus companies that have routes to Rome. For example, Flixbus can bring you to the city.
Train
Italy has an amazing rail network, so you can get to Rome by train. For example, if you were in Florence or Venice, the capital of the country is only a few hours away.
The long-distance trains that go to Rome bring you to Termini station. From Termini station, you can get to the city center.
Airplane
Rome is a city with a great connection to other parts of the world. If you're coming from a different country, you are most likely to get here by airplane.
You often land at Fiumicino Airport. This is an airport very close to the city, with many facilities.
From the airport, you can go to the city center by train, bus, rental car, or by taxi.
The train is very close to the entrance of the airport. You can walk there. The train runs often and you can immediately go to the main train station of the city with this train.
Furthermore, there are several buses connecting the airport to the city center. These are cheaper than the train but take longer to go to the center.
Also, there are many rental car companies at the airport. For example, you'll find here Hertz and Europcar. You can either reserve a car before you arrive in Rome, or you can rent one on the spot.
If you prefer to take a taxi, then you can also do this at the airport. There are many taxis waiting outside to pick you up and bring you anywhere in the city.
Ciampino Airport is another airport in Rome. This one is much smaller than Fiumicino Airport. Many budget airlines go here. From here you can get to the city center by bus, rental car, or taxi.
Getting around in Rome
Whatever way you get to the city, you can be anywhere within a short time. You most likely end up at Termini station if you came by public transport.
From there you can walk to various parts of the city, depending on where you want to go. Rome is not that large, so this is convenient.
Another way to move around is by public transport. If you're going to see Rome in a day, public transport is a great way to get around. That's because it's faster than on foot.
Rome has an extensive bus network and the metro line is great as well. Using that you can get almost anywhere. Especially, if you want to go to the famous parts of the city.
Besides public transport, you can rent a scooter. Traveling by scooter is very typical for Italy. Furthermore, you can also rent a car. Also, you can go by taxi, but that is expensive.
Breakfast
So you arrived in the city center, what now? The locals often eat a pastry and have a quick coffee. Often, they are standing at a bar while doing this. So if you want to get a great Italian experience, you should do this as well! Also, if you get hungry, you can buy another pastry.
What's also great about this experience, is that it is very quick, so you have more time to explore the city!
When you stroll through the city you stumble upon a bar very fast. So, finding a place for breakfast is not difficult.
Morning: explore the inner city
After breakfast, it is time to explore the inner city. There is a lot to do and see here and everything is within walking distance.
Trevi fountain
A great place to start your day is at the Trevi Fountain.
The Trevi Fountain is a beautiful fountain in the middle of the city. When you are walking in the streets near it, you won't expect there is such a large fountain around the corner.
The fountain is a must-see when you are going to the city. It is one of the best things to do in Rome. A tradition is to throw a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand. People say this will ensure you get back to Rome again.
So, throw a coin in the fountain and go to the next sight of the day: the Pantheon.
Pantheon
Very close to the Trevi Fountain is the Pantheon. This is a former Roman temple that is also very famous.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the building is the roof. In the middle of the roof is a hole that never closes (so the rain falls through it).
Also, this is a burial place for many famous people in history. For example, you'll find here the tomb of the famous painter Raphael.
What's great is that there is no entrance fee and often no queue.
This is a great thing to do when you're one day in Rome!
Piazza Navona
Also, near the Pantheon is Piazza Navona. This is a beautiful square where lots of restaurants are. Furthermore, you'll experience daily life in Rome here.
Moreover, there are many fountains and monuments. These are lovely to see.
Spanish steps
Then, you can go to the Spanish Steps. This is another place with a great atmosphere and there are many shops and restaurants here.
Walk on the steps and get a beautiful overview of the area. Or relax at the steps and enjoy that you are in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You should definitely do this when you want to visit Rome in a day!
Lunch
When you are at the Spanish Steps and want to try some delicious pasta. Then go to Pastificio Guerra! This is a small pasta restaurant that serves pasta for takeaway.
Every day there are two different pasta dishes on the menu and it only costs you €5 per person.
The pasta is delicious. This is why there is often a long queue with locals.
With your pasta box, you can go to the Spanish Steps, sit down and eat it there!
Afternoon
Now that you saw the inner city of Rome, it is time to see the most famous in Rome, the Colosseum. You definitely should not miss the Colosseum if you're one day in Rome!
From the inner city, you can walk towards the Colosseum. Along the way, you see some amazing things. So I'd definitely recommend seeing these too. But if you prefer to go by public transport, there are many options as well. There is a metro line connecting the Spanish Steps with the Colosseum.
Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II
From the inner city, you first walk to the monument of Vittorio Emanuele II. This is a monument for the first king of unified Italy and it is beautiful to see.
Roman Forum
After that, you walk to the Roman Forum. From the road, you have an overview of the area. If you have more time in Rome, you should definitely go to the Roman Forum. But for one day in Rome, I recommend seeing it from afar.
The Roman Forum is a place with many remains from the old Roman Empire. For example, there are temples, houses, libraries, and much more. Also, next to this is the place where the emperors lived.
Besides the interesting history, this is also a very photogenic place in Rome.
Colosseum
Finally, you see the Colosseum. This is a must-see for your trip to Rome. Furthermore, it is one of the most famous buildings in the world.
The Colosseum is an old amphitheater. It's an ancient building, so that's very impressive. Many events were there in the past, such as gladiatorial contests. This makes it a very interesting sight to see if you like history.
For one day in Rome, I recommend seeing only the outside of the Colosseum. The inside of the Colosseum is impressive as well, but the outside is far more worth your time.
Vatican City
Another country in one day? You can do so in Rome. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and you find it very close to the city center of Rome. This is also where the Pope lives.
I recommend going here after you saw the Colosseum. It is another must-see. From the Colosseum, you need to use public transport, a taxi, or a scooter to get there. The bus brings you to the Vatican within 20 minutes.
This is also the perfect time to get Italian ice cream. There are many ice cream parlors next to the Vatican.
When you arrive at Vatican City you first see St. Peter's Square. This is an immense square with lots of statues. This square is where people gather when the Pope speaks through one of the windows.
You definitely should enter the St. Peter's Basilica from the square. You can do so for free. However, make sure to wear decent clothing, otherwise, you cannot enter.
The St. Peter's Basilica is the largest basilica in the world and it is very impressive. You can walk through it and see the beautiful interior.
If you have time, you should definitely go to the Vatican Museums. These are some of the best museums in Rome, and worth your time for sure.
Dinner
After that, it's time for dinner. The Italian cuisine is amazing. For example, the pizzas and pasta dishes are great. But, you can also have something different, such as lasagna. There are many great restaurants in Rome!
Nightlife
There are also many fun things to do in Rome at night. If you want to experience Rome in a day, you should not miss the nightlife! For example, you can go to an opera or do a cruise on the Tiber river. You can also enjoy the nightlife in Trastevere.
Save this post to Pinterest if you like it!
Blog comments (0)