Ok, let’s be honest from the very beginning and answer the Number one question: Is one day enough to explore Rome?
And the answer is…drum, drum…
Well, let’s find out:-)
Rome, with its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture, is a city like no other, and even one day would make many unforgettable memories for you.
A lot of people find themselves in Rome for just one day. They might have only one opportunity to visit Italy and want to make the most of it. Others could be here for a business trip and have a small window of time to explore this captivating and unique city. The good news is even with limited time, Rome has a lot to offer.
One of the best things about Rome is that you can easily walk to most of the main attractions. One thing I would still recommend, though: Don’t rush!
I get it. You want to see everything you hear about or see on Instagram. However, if you rush too much, you won’t be able to absorb everything and even remember what you saw. Pick a few things, stop, look around, go inside, absorb, close your eyes, and imagine how life was when some of the highlights were built and used by ancient Romans.
So what would be the must-sees or must-dos if I had just one day in Rome? Let’s dive in.
1) Colosseum and Roman Forum
Yes, the obvious one. But I am picking the Colosseum because right next to the majestic Colosseum are other attractions like the Roman Forum and the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (walk up for breathtaking views over the Roman Forum).
There is probably no need to make any special introduction about the Colosseum. The largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, was completed 80 years before our time (AD 80). It was listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and rightly so.
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Definitely go inside the Colosseum. Don’t just walk around. Buy at least the simple entry ticket (EUR 16), and you will be absolutely amazed by a totally different perspective. Once inside, go into the stands, close your eyes and imagine how it must have looked in Ancient times when the arena was full of around 60,000 spectators.
I also recommend buying an entry ticket not only for the Colosseum but also for the Roman Forum. That’s another must-experience attraction, even if you just walk through the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the centre of Rome. It is probably hard to imagine all those majestic temples, monuments, statues or basilicas from ancient times. It was a place of government buildings, shops and other public affairs gatherings. So, again. Walk through this majestic place, stop, close your eyes and let your imagination go.
Once you pass through the Roman Forum, you will reach another attraction—the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. Now, this attraction doesn’t go back in history that much as it was only built between 1885 and 1935 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. Its design is a neoclassical interpretation of the Roman Forum, and it creates some kind of gate to the Roman Forum. I am sure it will catch your attention, and I recommend climbing up 196 stairs to the top terrace for breathtaking 360-degree views of Rome. You won’t regret it.
2) Pantheon and Piazza Navona
Still mesmerised by your experience at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the views, you can continue walking towards your next stop, which will be another unique, never-before-seen attraction. So catch your breath and get ready to see almost 2000 years of history right in front of your eyes.
Pantheon. This former Roman temple and currently (since AD 609) a Catholic church was opened back in 126 AD, and it is the best-preserved ancient Roman building in the world.
The Pantheon's most iconic feature is its massive dome, the largest in the world until the Renaissance and remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever constructed. Its design, with a perfectly spherical interior and the oculus, a circular opening in the centre of the dome, allows sunlight to stream into the temple, creating a mesmerising effect that makes this an absolutely unique experience.
Since 2023, you need to purchase an entry ticket, which costs only 5 euros for an adult, 3 euros for young adults between 18 and 25 years old, and free for children. And it’s worth spending that little to see this architectural marvel. Once you are inside, I highly recommend stopping for a while, looking around yourself, and feeling the magical energy from this place. Just imagine that this was built almost 2,000 years ago…
Ok, this is getting a bit overwhelming. We have already seen so many unbelievable things and places, right?
But the truth is there is still more!:-)
I suggest taking a little break now. Maybe have lunch at one of the restaurants in Piazza Navona. This Baroque-style square has a very unique shape, especially with the U shape at one of the ends of its rectangular shape. Such a shape is because the square was built on the site of the AD Stadium of Domitian, built by Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus in 80 AD. Some remains are preserved 5-6 meters underground, and you can see some of it during a guided tour - I probably wouldn’t recommend this if you have only one day in Rome.
3) Vatican City
After your break at Piazza Navona, you will head to another highlight of your one-day visit to Rome: Vatican City.
Officially, Vatican City State is the world’s smallest city-state. Famous for being the home of the Pope, however, I strongly recommend visiting Vatican City even if you are non-religious. The historical and cultural experience is like no other, and there are two highlights that you should visit.
What you see and do here depends on when you are in Rome and how big the crowds are. In peak season, it can be a bit of a problem with your limited time to visit both St. Peter's Basilica as well as the famous Sistine Chapel.
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If I had to pick one, I would probably choose the Sistine Chapel. The main reason is that St’Peter’s Basilica is magnificent even from the outside. Plus, you can expect a very long queue to enter the Basilica, as the entrance is free. But it depends on how much time you have and also your budget.
If you want to get to the Sistine Chapel, you actually need to go through the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel is pretty much at the end of the tour. Yes, it can be a slow walk with the crowds, but you will see magnificent artworks by Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Bernini along the way. And even if you are not into art, this is just an incredible piece of cultural history.
Once you reach the famous Sistine Chapel, renowned for Michelangelo's breathtaking ceiling frescoes, I again recommend slowing down, sitting down, and just looking around yourself. The atmosphere is mesmerising. Look at all those frescoes, all the details put into making this church one of the most famous in the world.
Entrance fee and tickets:
Because you have only one day, I recommend getting the “Skip the line…” ticket to avoid the queue and experience this at your own pace. It costs €25 if purchased online through the official Vatican Museums website.
I know this can be hard if you have only one day in Rome, but you will be purchasing the ticket for a particular time of entry, and I recommend booking well ahead (at least one month) to secure your ticket. If you follow the one-day itinerary we describe above, you will probably be able to get here by around 2 pm at the earliest.
Visiting St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, showcasing remarkable Renaissance and Baroque architecture, is an unforgettable experience. If you have more time to spend in Rome, you should also visit it. Entrance into St. Peter is free, but often, the Basilica is extremely crowded. Especially between March and October and during the Christmas holidays, entering the Basilica can take hours of waiting standing in the crowded square.
Plus 1 - Fontana di Trevi
Ok ok, this one was hard, and I can imagine some people would argue with me or ask, why is Fontana di Trevo only the plus one and not one of those top three?
Yes, with almost half a million Google reviews, it is one of Rome's top things to see. And I agree it is a truly unique experience. The problem is our time, and if you visit all of the above, you might not have enough time also to visit Fontana di Trevi or other famous attractions, like, for example, the Spanish Steps.
Anyway, here are a few options of how you can squeeze visiting Fontana di Trevi in your one-day itinerary.
- You can walk to the Fontana di Trevi from the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II after visiting the Colosseum and Roman Forum and then go from here to the Pantheon. But make it probably just a quick stopover.
- Or if you still have some spare time after visiting all of the top threes, I recommend visiting the Fontana di Trevi on your way back from Vatican City if you are heading either to the train station or if your accommodation is that way.
It takes approximately 35 minutes to walk here from St. Peter’s Square. If you do walk to Fontana di Trevi from the Vatican City, cross the River Tiber using the St. Angelo Bridge with amazing views of Castel Sant'Angelo - a circular castle built in the 2nd century that houses furniture & paintings collections in Renaissance apartments. The St. Angelo Bridge was built in 134 A.D, and it is famous for the statues that line the bridge.
And that’s it.
I don’t think you can do more in one day in Rome. Even seeing these key attractions would be a bit of a race against time, but from my experience, it is doable. I am sure you will have an absolutely amazing and unforgettable experience. Just remember to stop, sit down, relax, and absorb the atmosphere of this unique historical city like nowhere else in the world.