Rome in a Day

What to see and do if you have only one day to spend in Rome, Italy

Tourist info:
www.turismoroma.it
City museums:
www.museiincomuneroma.it
Ancient sites:
archeoroma.beniculturali.it

» ROME BOOKSHELF

TOURS FROM TRUSTED PARTNERS

Rome wasn't built in a day, so don't expect to see it all in one. Still, you can give it your best shot.

Note: This is the itinerary to follow if you actually have one full day in Rome. I say that because many of you will be arriving in Rome from North America to start your Italian vacation, in which case—sad to say—you don't actually have a full day to spend here, since much of the morning will be spent arriving, clearing customs, and getting into town.

Below is the itinerary if Rome is just another stop on your itinerary and you genuinely have a full day to spend. (This separate page has a one-day itinerary for those arriving in Italy this day and headed out of Rome tomorrow morning.)

Day 1 in Rome

The Sistine Chapel cieling.Take a tour
If you prefer an expert guide for your sightseeing, here are some walking tours from our partners at Viator.com that cover many of the sights featured on this itinerary:

Morning at the Vatican/St. Peters:
• Skip the Line: Vatican in One Day
• Private Tour: Vatican Museums and St Peter's Art History Walking Tour
• Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, & St Peter's Half-Day Tour
• Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
• Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Tickets
• Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
• Private Tour: Vatican Museums Tour
• Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour

Afternoon in the Tiber Bend:
• Best of Rome Afternoon Walking Tour
• Rome Photography Walking Tour: Learn How to Take Professional Photos
• Baroque Rome Small Group Day Tour
Be up bright and early so that you beat the legions of tour buses to the grandiose church of St. Peter's Basilica, which opens at 7am. See Michelangelo's Pietà and the other amazing sights inside, and tour the tombs of popes under the basilica before climbing its dome (opens at 8am) for a panoramic sweep of the city across the river.

By 8:45am, have exited the church, turned left under the start of the colonnade surrounding St. Peter's Square out front, and be walking around the Vatican walls to get to the entrance to the world-famous Vatican Museums, which open at 9am.

You'll have time only for the highlights of its artistic wonders : the Pinacoteca painting gallery with Raphael's Transfiguration and Caravaggio's Deposition, the Raphael Rooms, and Michelangelo's incomparable Sistine Chapel ceiling.

The Roman Forum.By 11am, head out of the galleries and grab lunch on the run as you cross the Tiber River into the center of Rome to see the Roman Forum.

After taking a gander at the Colosseum, check out the Pantheon and Piazza Navona and then wander the churches and piazze of the Tiber Bend area. Make sure you stop by the elegant Spanish Steps for a peek. Also make sure you stop for some gelato (Italy's divine ice cream). In fact, if you have to choose between gelato and the Spanish Steps, well...

Mingle for a while at the Spanish Steps, then window shop down fashionable Via dei Condotti and the surrounding streets. By the time you get to the Corso, one of Rome's main drags, the evening passeggiata stroll will be in full swing and you can strut your stuff with the Romans until it's time for a hearty and well-deserved dinner in the old city.

Before you turn in for the night, be sure you stroll to the famous Trevi Fountain, into which it is tradition to toss a few coins in order to ensure that, one day, you'll return to the Eternal City.

Tips

This is merely a blueprint. You really should spend your time on whatever catches your own interest. Some people would rather get a root canal than spend a day strolling the boutique-lined streets radiating from the Spanish Steps, but for others a day of window-shopping would rank as the highlight of their trip. Same goes for cramming a dozen churches and museums into a single day: heaven for some, hell on earth for others. For some less-famous sights to visit, check out Reid's List: Rome.
Adjusting the schedule: Keep in mind that you may have to adjust these itineraries in case one of the days you're in town happens to fall on a Monday (when most museums are closed) or a Sunday (when many things are closed, and those that remain open tend to operate on shorter hours).
Consider daily tours: Prefer to leave some of the planning and information-providing to a professional? Consider signing up for a guided tour—doesn't have to be a standard bus tour; our partners at Viator.com offer loads of neighborhood and thematic walking tours, private guides, and other fun ways to explore the capital as well.
An alternative day in Rome: All these itineraries are designed for the first-time visitor who wants to be sure he or she gets to all the highlights—all the must-sees. But what if you want to avoid the crowds that pack those highlights, or you've already done the Vatican, St. Peter's, the Forum, and the Colosseum and are looking for less famous—but still rewarding—sights? As luck would have it, I have whipped up Reid's List of Rome sights and experiences devoted entirely to this purpose. These are sights from the B-list (sometimes the C-list) that I happen to love and that are definitely worthy of your time—in some cases, perhaps more worthy than some of the more famous sights.
Seeing Rome for cruise passengers: If you're arriving in Rome by ship (or, more accurately, arriving into Civitavecchia, which is the cruise ship port for Rome but is actually located an hour north of the city), you are not prisoner to the cruise ship's overpriced shore excursions. You can arrange your own tour (or your own transport into Rome), either with our partners at Viator.com, or completely D.I.Y.

Full-day itineraries for one, two, or three days in Rome
"Arriving" itineraries for one, two, or three days in Rome
Rome city layout
Top sights in Rome
How to get around Rome
Rome FAQ
Itineraries for Venice
Itineraries for Florence
Itineraries for Italy (one week, two weeks)

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This material was last updated December 2010. All information was accurate at the time.

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Rome in a Day

What to see and do if you have only one day to spend in Rome, Italy

Day 1 in Rome

Tips

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