If you are planning to spend one day in Rome, there are several ways you can do it.
Do you want to spend the day visiting the highlights of Rome, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican, and historic heart of Rome? With proper planning, you can do this ambitious itinerary, but it will be an extremely busy day.
If you are traveling on a budget, we have an itinerary where you visit quite a few highlights of Rome without spending a lot money.
And finally, if your one day in Rome falls on a Wednesday, when the pope holds an audience in St. Peterโs Square, we have an itinerary that still allows you to visit St. Peterโs Basilica.
In this article about how to spend one day in Rome, we cover all three options. Which one will you want to do?
Best Things to Do with One Day in Rome
Below is a list of the top places to visit if you have one day in Rome.
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Vatican Museums
- St. Peterโs Basilica
- Historic heart of Rome
- Pantheon
- Trevi Fountain
Optional places to visit include the Altar of the Fatherland, rooftop bars, and Trastevere.

The Colosseum
One Day in Rome Itinerary Options
Below we list three different ways to spend one day in Rome. The first two are very similar, with the biggest difference being the start time and the price. The third itinerary lays out how to plan your time if you are in town on a Wednesday when the pope holds an audience in St. Peterโs Square.
Itinerary #1 is the most expensive but it is the most complete. You start with an early morning tour of the Vatican and St. Peterโs Basilica. In the afternoon, you can tour the Colosseum on your own or take another tour. Having visited these sites on our own and with a guide, I can say we got a lot more out of our visits with the guide. This itinerary is the best option for those who want to thoroughly visit Vatican City and the Colosseum.
Itinerary #2 is very similar, but you visit Vatican City and the Colosseum on your own (not on a tour), which saves money and allows you to move a little bit faster. You will spend less time in the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, since you have a later start. This itinerary is a great option for budget travelers. Itโs a busy day but not quite as long and busy as itinerary #1.
Itinerary #3 is for a visit to Rome on a Wednesday. On some Wednesdays, the pope holds an audience in St. Peterโs Square at 9:00 am. On these days, St. Peterโs Basilica does not open until the early afternoon. This itinerary is a modification of #1 and #2 to allow you to still visit the highlights of Rome.
One Day in Rome: Itinerary #1
Gotta See It All
This is the busiest itinerary on this list.
This itinerary is for those who want to visit Romeโs major attractions. It has the potential to be the most expensive, since you will visit more places and take a tour of the Vatican Museums.
If you are flying to Italy from outside of Europe (for example, the United States, Canada, Australia, or Japan), it can be very hard to wake up early on your first day in Europe, which you will have to do to make this itinerary work. If you live on the east coast of the USA, getting up at 6 am will feel like you are setting your alarm clock for midnight. Weโve done it and it is rough. If you want to visit Romeโs top sights without a very early wake up time, check out itinerary #2 or #3.
This itinerary includes one to two tours, one of the Vatican Museums and one of the Colosseum (this one is optional). These are popular experiences so plan on booking your tours at least 4 weeks in advance.
Overview of this itinerary:
7:30 am: Early morning tour of Vatican City
10:30 am: St. Peterโs Basilica
11:30 pm: Lunch
12:15 pm: Travel to the Colosseum
12:45 pm: The Colosseum
2:15 pm: Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
4:00 pm: Historic Heart of Rome
7:00 pm: Dinner

Staircase in the Vatican Museums
7:30 am: Early Morning Tour of Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. In Vatican City, there are three big sites to visit: the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peterโs Basilica.
The best way to visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peterโs Basilica is to take an early morning small group tour that includes the tunnel between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peterโs Basilica. Only select tours can do this. By taking the tunnel, you will save A LOT of time. These tours are pricier, but if you only have one day in Rome, itโs worth spending the money to save the time.
How this works is that you will tour the Vatican Museums and then the Sistine Chapel. From the Sistine Chapel, you will walk through the tunnel to enter St. Peterโs Basilica. This bypasses the 20-minute outdoor walk from the Vatican Museums to St. Peterโs Square plus the potentially enormous wait in the security line to enter the basilica, which can be an hour or longer mid-morning.
On an early morning tour, you will enter the Vatican Museums before opening time, so you have the opportunity to tour some rooms before they get crowded. And by starting early, you will also have plenty of time left later in the day to visit more of Romeโs top attractions.
How to Visit the Vatican Museums & St. Peter’s Basilica
Take a look at our Guide to Vatican City, which explains what you can do at the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peterโs Basilica, with photos and information about the Vaticanโs โsecret rooms.โWe recommend this small group early morning tour of Vatican City by LivItaly Tours. Itโs the same tour company that we used for our early morning tour and we had a fantastic experience.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: When choosing a tour, look for one that includes the tunnel between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peterโs Basilica, to save yourself an hour or longer waiting in line.

The School of Athens fresco in the Vatican Museums
10:30 am: St. Peterโs Basilica
Iโm putting in an additional hour for St. Peterโs Basilica because many of the three hour early morning tours drop you off inside of the basilica. This extra hour allows you to visit the basilica and the dome of St. Peterโs Basilica.
Inside of St. Peterโs Basilica, make sure you see Michelangeloโs La Pietร , the Baldacchino, St. Peterโs Chair, and climb the dome. If you are doing very well on time, you can also visit the Vatican Grottoes. For an explanation of what all of these are, read our Guide to Vatican City.
From the dome of St. Peterโs Basilica, you get one of the best views of Rome. There are two ways to get to the top of the dome:
- Climb 551 steps to the top of the dome: โฌ8
- Take the elevator to the terrace, climb 320 steps to the top: โฌ10
You can purchase your tickets inside of St. Peterโs Basilica at the ticket kiosk. There can be a line for this as well.

St Peter’s Basilica
11:30 am: Lunch
Itโs a bit early for lunch but youโve been on your feet and busy for the last four hours. If youโre like us, you are probably ready for a bite to eat and a quick break.
For good, fast, cheap food, it is a 5-minute walk from St. Peterโs Square to Alice Pizza. This restaurant serves pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) and it is delicious. Another option is Scialla the Original Streetfood, but this could take a little longer.
12:15 pm: Travel to the Colosseum
After lunch, travel to the Colosseum. You can either take a taxi or use the metro.
There are several taxi stands near St. Peterโs Square. If you ate lunch at Alice Pizza, Stazione Taxi Piazza Risorgimento is the closest (a 4-minute walk), but other taxi stands include Stazione Taxi San Pietro (at the intersection of Via della Conciliazone and Via San Pio X) and Stazione Taxi Fornaci (south of St. Peterโs Square).
You can also take the metro. The closest metro station is Ottaviano. Ride the orange line (the A line) to Termini. Transfer to the blue line (B1) and take this 2 stops to Colosseo. Travel time is roughly 20 minutes.
12:45 pm: The Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. And just like Vatican City, lines to enter can be enormous.
You can tour the Colosseum on your own or with a guide. Purchasing tickets in advance and touring it on your own is the cheapest option, and something to consider since you just took a pricey early morning tour of the Vatican.
However, if you want to get the most out of your visit, consider joining a tour. We have visited the Colosseum twice, on our own and with a guide, and got a lot more out of our visit with a guide.
Many afternoon tours of the Colosseum start between 12:45 and 1:15 pm and last 3 hours on average (this also typically includes the Roman Forum). On a visit to the Colosseum, you have the option to add on the Arena Floor or the Underground.

The Colosseum
How to Visit the Colosseum
On your visit to the Colosseum, you can either wander through it on your own, take the audio guide tour, or join a guided tour. Most visits last 1 to 3 hours.
You must purchase your entrance ticket in advance (you cannot just show up and get in line for a ticket). It costs an extra โฌ2 per ticket for the online reservation fee.
If online tickets are sold out for your dates of travel, I recommend joining a guided tour of the Colosseum. You will spend a little more money than purchasing your tickets directly from the Colosseum website, but at least you will get to visit the Colosseum.
Hours: Hours vary by season. Click here to get hours for your dates of visit.
Cost: โฌ16 (+ โฌ2 online reservation fee) for the standard ticket that gets you in to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum; there is also a Full Experience ticket that also includes a visit to the Colosseum arena and underground area for โฌ24
Website: Get updated hours and pricing and purchase your ticket here.
Roma Pass: If you have the Roma Pass, you must make your reservation to visit the Colosseum in advance. There is a โฌ2 reservation fee.
Getting Here: The closest metro stop is Colosseo. When you exit the metro station, the Colosseum will be right in front of you.
2:15 pm: Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are a short walk from the Colosseum. They are both included on your entrance ticket into the Colosseum.
From the Colosseum, walk up Via Sacra towards the Arch of Titus to enter the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Note: Some guided tours of the Colosseum will include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is ancient Rome, a complex of government buildings, temples, and marketplaces from 2000 years ago. Notable things to see in the Roman Forum include the Via Sacra, the Temple of Venus, the Temple of Romulus (the bronze doors date back to 309 AD), the Temple of Antonius and Faustina and its โhanging door,โ the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Septimius Severus, and the Temple of Julius Caesar.
A visit to the Roman Forum lasts 20 minutes to an hour.
Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill sits next to the Roman Forum. It is a complex of archaeological excavations, the remains of temples and palaces, and a museum. During the time of the Roman Republic, many imperial palaces were built here, including palaces for Augustus, Tiberius, and Domitian.
While on Palatine Hill, make sure you visit Terrazza Belvedere del Palatino for a birdโs eye view of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Itโs one of the best views in Rome. Here is the view:

The view from Terrazza Belvedere del Palatino
4:00 pm: Historic Heart of Rome
One of the best things to do in Rome is to walk through the historic heart of the city. This walk takes you from the Spanish Steps, past important landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, and ends in Piazza Navona.
This walk is 3.2 km/2 miles long. With stops along the way, it will take about 2 to 3 hours.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
To get to the Spanish Steps from the Colosseum, take the metro from Colosseo (line B, direction Conca dโOrco or Rebibbia). Transfer at Termini to line A, direction Batitstini, and take the metro 3 stops to Spagna. The Spagna metro station is located at the top of the Spanish Steps.
Follow the walking route on our map above. Starting at the Spanish Steps, you will then walk to the Trevi Fountain. This is a busy spot all day, even past midnight (weโve been here at 1 am and there were still quite a few people here).

Trevi Fountain
If you need a break, go to Garden Roof Trevi, a tiny rooftop bar that has a view over the Trevi Fountain. You can have a drink with a view and rest your feet for a few minutes.
Continuing on the walk, visit the Pantheon, one of the oldest buildings in Rome.
The walk ends in Piazza Navona. Find a table at a cafรฉ (we recommend Bernini), have a drink, and do a little people watching.

Piazza Navona
7:00 pm: Dinner
There is a long list of great restaurants to try in Rome. Near Piazza Navona, we recommend Ponte e Parione, which is one block away from Piazza Navona and they serve homemade pasta.
For dinner with a view, we recommend Oro Bistrot (spectacular sunset views of the Altar of the Fatherlandโฆtake a taxi to get here) or Divinity Rooftop (very good food with views of the dome of the Pantheon and the top of the Church of St. Ives at the Sapienzaโฆa 4-minute walk from Piazza Navona). Both will need a reservation in advance.
Alternatively, you could also spend the evening in Trastevere, which is a neighborhood known for its fabulous restaurants and wonderful evening setting. To get here, take a taxi or itโs a 20-minute walk from Piazza Navona.

Divinity Rooftop
Itinerary #2: Highlights of Rome
This one day in Rome itinerary is similar to the first itinerary, but it does not start as early in the day and spends less time in Vatican City and the Colosseum. Since it starts later in the morning, itโs a good option if this is your first day in Europe (if you are coming from outside of Europe).
On this itinerary, you will start at Vatican City (but not as early as itinerary #1), then visit the Colosseum and other famous places in the heart of Rome.
This itinerary includes many of our favorite places in Rome. St. Peterโs Basilica is one of the most awe-inspiring churches we have visited and is also a must see. The Colosseum is an essential place in Rome to visit. In Rome, we love walking through the historic heart of Rome, eating pizza by the slice, eating gelato, taking in the view from the Altar of the Fatherland, and going to a rooftop bar at sunset. This itinerary includes all of those.
This itinerary is also great for budget travelers. If you want to spend one day in Rome as cheaply as possible, make just a few changes to this itinerary. Skip the Vatican Museums and the rooftop dinner experience. You will have three tickets (the dome climb for โฌ8, the Colosseum for โฌ18, and if you choose to ride the elevator to the top of the Altar of the Fatherland, that is about โฌ12), all for a total of โฌ38.
Overview of this itinerary:
8:00 am: St. Peterโs Basilica
10:00 am: Vatican Museums
12:00 pm: Lunch
12:45 pm: Scenic Walk to Piazza Navona
1:00 pm: Historic Heart of Rome
3:00 pm: The Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
5:30 pm: Altar of the Fatherland
6:30 pm: Sunset Views, Drinks & Dinner
8:00 am: St. Peterโs Basilica
St. Peterโs Basilica is the largest church in the world. Michelangelo, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Donato Bramante all played a part in designing and decorating the basilica.
The dome of the cathedral was designed by Michelangelo and modeled after the dome of the Pantheon and the Florence Cathedral. Climbing the dome for the view is one of the best things to do in Rome.
You can also see Michelangeloโs La Pietร , the Baldacchino which was designed by Bernini, tour the Vatican Grottoes, and climb the dome. Go to the dome first, before there is a line.
St. Peterโs Basilica is open at 7 am and it is free to enter. You will have to go through security, and this is what causes the line to form later in the day. If you get here by 8:00 am, you should have little to no wait to enter the cathedral. To be on the safe side, you could arrive at 7:30 am, especially during the busier summer months. You can get here later than 8:00 am, but you will really have to keep an eye on the time, to make the 10 am entrance into the Vatican Museums.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: On Wednesdays when the Pope is in town, St. Peterโs Basilica will not open until 12:30 pm.

St. Peter’s Square
10:00 am: Vatican Museums
Spend the next two hours inside the Vatican Museums. To do this, purchase your ticket online in advance. You will skip the ticket line which could save you hours of time.
For a list of things to see and do inside of the Vatican Museums, take a look at our Guide to Vatican City.
12:00 pm: Lunch
Have lunch near St. Peterโs Square. Alice Pizza is the best cheap, fast eat near Vatican City. Scialla the Original Streetfood is a restaurant that gets rave reviews and serves pizza and classic pasta dishes. If you want to have a more leisurely lunch, go to Borghiciana Pastificio Artiginale (you will have to adjust the timing of this itinerary if you sit down to lunch).
12:45 pm: Scenic Walk to Piazza Navona
From St. Peterโs Square, walk towards Castel SantโAngelo. You wonโt have time to visit it on this itinerary, but you will get very nice views of it on this walk.
Cross the Tiber River on Ponte SantโAngelo (the bridge that crosses the Tiber River in front of Castel SantโAngelo). This bridge is lined with angels and a great photo spot.

Ponte Sant’Angelo
On the opposite side of the river, walk along Via dei Coronari to Piazza Navona. This walk (from St. Peterโs Square to Piazza Navona) is 1.2 km (1 mile) and it takes 15 to 20 minutes.
1:00 pm: Historic Heart of Rome
Spend some time in Piazza Navona and then continue the walk to the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. As mentioned in the first itinerary, at the Trevi Fountain you have the option to visit Garden Roof Trevi, a small rooftop bar with a nice view overlooking the Trevi Fountain.
Continue the walk to the Spanish Steps.

Spanish Steps
3:00 pm: The Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
To get from the Spanish Steps to the Colosseum on the metro, take the A line (orange line) to Termini. Transfer to the B1 line (blue line) and take this 2 stops to Colosseo. Travel time is about 11 minutes.
The Colosseum closes anywhere between 4:30 pm and 7 pm, depending on the time of the year. Last entry is 1 hour before closing. If you are in Rome from October 30 to February 28, when closing time is 4:30 pm, make sure you get here no later than 3:30 pm. Get updated hours for your visit on the official website.
For information on how to visit the Colosseum, read our article How to Visit the Colosseum or read our section about the Colosseum in itinerary #1. If you are here during the winter season, you will have to move fast to also get to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
5:30 pm: Altar of the Fatherland
For another spectacular view of Rome, visit the Altar of the Fatherland, also called the Victor Emmanuel II Monument, or simply the โwedding cake.โ It is a short walk from the Roman Forum.
For free, you can climb the steps to the upper terrace and cafรฉ. For a few more euros (โฌ12 in 2022) ride the elevator to the very top for 360 degree views of Rome.

The view from the Altar of the Fatherland
6:30 pm: Sunset Views, Drinks & Dinner
This was one of our favorite experiences on our most recent visit to Rome.
From Altar of the Fatherland, it is a very short walk to Oro Bistrot. This rooftop terrace has a lounge bar and restaurant. From here, you have an amazing view of the Altar of the Fatherland.
Having an aperitif (an aperitivo) is a pre-dinner drink that is served with a few small snacks. It is popular thing to do in Italy and a great way to unwind after a busy day sightseeing.
You can start with an aperitif at the lounge bar of Oro Bistrot and then move to the restaurant for dinner. Make your reservation in advance. For more information about rooftop bars and restaurants in Rome, check out our Rooftop Bars in Rome guide.

The view from Oro Bistrot
Itinerary #3: Rome on a Wednesday
If your one day in Rome falls on a Wednesday, there is the chance that the Pope will be holding an audience in St. Peterโs Square, which means that St. Peterโs Basilica will not open until the early afternoon. If you want to visit St. Peterโs Basilica, you can do one of two things: visit Vatican City in the afternoon or attend the audience.
You can find out if the Pope will be holding an audience here.
Here are two ways to plan your time on a Wednesday.
Colosseum, Vatican City, Historic Heart of Rome
9:00 am: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
11:30 pm: Lunch at La Prezzemolina (This is one of Romeโs best cheap eatsโฆeat pizza by the slice. Itโs a short walk from the Roman Forum).
12:30 pm: Metro or taxi to the Vatican Museums
1:00 pm: Vatican Museums
3:30 pm: St. Peterโs Basilica
5:00 pm: Walk to Piazza Navona and stroll through the historic heart of Rome
7:30 pm: Dinner
Audience with the Pope, Vatican City, Historic Heart of Rome
7:30 am: Arrive at St. Peterโs Square
9:00 am: Audience with the Pope (Get more information on the official website and get your ticket)
11:00 am: Vatican Museums
1:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: St. Peterโs Basilica or the Colosseum
4:30 pm: Historic Heart of Rome walk
7:00 pm: Dinner
By choosing to attend the Papal Audience, you will have to give up either the Colosseum or St. Peterโs Basilica.

Piazza Navona
Are the Travel Passes Worth It?
There are several different travel passes in Rome, including the Roma Pass, the Omnia Card, and the Turbo Pass. The Roma Pass does not offer a one day version, so it is not worth it. The other two passes are even more expensive.
The passes only become worth it if you plan to spend several days in Rome with plans to visit attractions listed on those passes.
For this one day in Rome itinerary, it is best to book your tickets online in advance using the official websites or joining a tour of some sort.
How to Get Around Rome
The majority of the must-see sights in Rome are located in central Rome. Itโs possible to get around mainly by walking, but you can save your steps, and a little bit of time, by also using the Rome metro or taking a taxi.
Taxi stands are set up throughout the city. On Google Maps, you can search โtaxi standโ for the ones closest to your location. Then you get in the taxi first in line and tell them your next destination. We frequently do this and in 2022, every taxi we took used credit cards (but it is good to have some cash on hand as a back up). To tip the taxi driver, we added on 1 to 2 euros to the fare.
You can also use Uber but we ended up spending a lot of time waiting for the Uber to arrive and figured out it was quicker to walk to the closest taxi stand.
The metro is fast, cheap, and easy to use. Itโs a lot more economical than a taxi. Just beware of pick pockets on the metro and in other crowded places throughout Rome.
Best Time to Visit Rome
Spring and fall are the best times of the year to visit Rome. During this time, the weather is great for sightseeing and crowds tend to be lower than the busy summer months. But here is a breakdown by season of what you can expect in Rome:
WINTER: Itโs chilly in Rome during the winter months. Daytime highโs average around 13ยฐC (55ยฐF) and it is a little colder at night. Rainfall is slightly above average for the year (averaging about 7 days of rain per month in December, January, and February).
SPRING: In early spring, the high temperature is 16ยฐC (60ยฐF) and it continues to get warmer week by week, reaching an average high of 27ยฐC (80ยฐF) by June. Rainfall chances go down the closer you get to the summer months. May and June have warm weather and lower chances of rain than the fall and winter months.
SUMMER: Expect the biggest crowds of the year and hot weather during the summer months. Daily high temperatures average 31ยฐC (87ยฐF) but they can easily get up to 35ยฐC (95ยฐF). Rainfall is the lowest of the year. If you plan to visit in the summer months, make your hotel reservations far in advance as well as your entrance tickets into the museums.
FALL: In early fall, crowds can still be high, not really quieting down until the end of October. Daytime highโs range from 26ยฐC (79ยฐF) in early fall and cooling off to 17ยฐC (62ยฐF) by late fall. Autumn is the wettest time to visit Rome (mid-September through early December with rainfall peaking in November), so bring an umbrella if you plan to be here at this time.
VERDICT: The best time to visit Rome is May through mid-June. The weather is nice and crowds are manageable.

Tiber River and Castel Sant’Angelo
Where to Stay in Rome
For recommendations on where to stay, read our guide Where to Stay in Rome. Learn where to stay for a great view of the Colosseum and Piazza Navona and get recommendations whether you are looking for a budget hotel, luxury hotel, or if you are traveling as a family.
Where to Eat in Rome
We listed several recommendations in this itinerary, but for a bigger list of recommended restaurants, take a look at our Rome Restaurant Guide. And for rooftop bars, take a look at our guide about the Rome Rooftop Bars.
Tours of Rome
Tours & Tickets
Frequently Asked Questions
What shouldnโt you miss in Rome?
Here are the top 10 things to do in Rome if it is your first time in the city:
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- St. Peterโs Basilica (be sure to climb the dome!)
- Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel
- Stroll through the historic heart of Rome (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona)
- Eat gelato
- Enjoy the view from the Altar of the Fatherland
- Tour an underground site (Catacombs, Capuchin Crypt, or the Domus Aurea)
- Galleria Borghese
- Have dinner and drinks at a rooftop bar
How much time do you need in Rome?
Ideally, plan on spending two or more days in Rome. With 2 days, you have just enough time to visit all of Romeโs top attractions without cramming them into one very busy day. Even more time allows you to go off the beaten path, explore the underground sites and the Appian Way, visit a few neighborhoods, and sample some of Romeโs amazing restaurants.
Can I visit Rome in 1 day?
Yes, with one well planned day you can visit the must-see sights in Rome, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican Museums, St. Peterโs Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.
If you have any questions about this one day in Rome itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Italy
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Basilicata, Sicily, and Puglia.

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