Rome 1-Day Itinerary: What to See, Eat, and Do in Under 24 Hours

Only have one day in Rome? This Rome 1-Day Itinerary shows you exactly where to go, what to eat, and how to enjoy the best of the Eternal City without rushing.

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - Piazza Navona — Piazza Navona

Who Needs A One Day In Rome Itinerary?

If you have never been to Rome or are planning your “Trip Of A Lifetime” to the Eternal City, the idea of cramming everything into 1 day seems made. Consider an alternative. You are traveling to Italy, with a connection in Rome, and you only have one day to get a taste for Rome. If this is you, we’re here to help.

The Focus Of This One Day In Rome Itinerary

The focus of this itinerary is being the most effective with the limited time available, seeing the most important sites, and getting an opportunity to enjoy the best food in Rome. The sites are the ones you’ve heard of like: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Vatican Museums.

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Because there are a couple of self-guided tours, you will need to make reservations prior to your arrival. We have included a couple of links to tours that are not led by a guide, rather they give you an entrance ticket and allow you to go at your own pace, focus on your interest and make quick work of the things you are less interested in.

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - Il Colosseo — The Colosseum At Night

Your 1-Day Itinerary

Before you arrive in Rome, there are a couple of things for which you need to prepare. If you are traveling during the summer months, these should be accomplished 4 or 5 days ahead, and if you are traveling during the off-season, 1 or 2 days ahead for these should be enough:

Book your tours for the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, The Pantheon and the Vatican Museums.
Make a reservation for dinner at Hostaria Dino & Tony

The Morning Itinerary

Since there is no way to know where you are coming from, I can only recommend that you head over to the Colosseum. You can take a cab or take a bus to the via Labicana stop, which is only a few steps from the Colosseum. Here you will find the coffee bar Ciuri Ciuri. Have an espresso and pastry and start your day off on the right step. Chat with the friendly staff as they will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - Tazza D'Oro — Quick Espresso

When you are done eating, walk down to the Colosseum. Be sure not to wait in the long line of people without reservations. Having followed our recommendations, you purchased a ticket and audio guide and should be able to head right on in. Since this is a self-guided tour and you have limited time, you will need to balance speed and getting the most out of the tour.

As for prioritization, I would definitely see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, but unless you feel like you have a lot of extra time, Palatine Hill can wait for your next (longer) visit. When you feel finished, walk across the street and grab either the #85 or #51 bus and take it to the Largo Chigi stop.

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - The Pantheon — The Pantheon

The Afternoon Itinerary

From the bus stop, walk uphill on Via del Tritone and head into Rinascente, which is a department store, and head up the escalators to the top floor. Here you will find Sorbillo’s Pizzeria where you can enjoy authentic and delicious Neapolitan pizza without heading to Naples.

After lunch, head on over to the nearby Trevi Fountain and enjoy its beauty. If you feel the need, yes, you should toss three coins into the fountain. After the fountain, head over to the Pantheon for another self-guided tour. Here you can enjoy an audio guide to all the historically important corners of the circular church. After the tour, stop by Caffè Tazza D’Oro or Sant’Eustachio Caffè for a quick espresso to ensure you finish strong.

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - Vatican City — Vatican City

An Itinerary For A Strong Evening Finish

Now that you have gotten a caffeine jolt, head on over to the Vatican Museums for the final tour of the day. This is where your time management skills are really needed. The guided versions of these tours can last upwards of 4 hours. You don’t really have the time to see everything, so I would recommend prioritizing these:

The Bramante Staircase
The Raphael Room
The Sistine Chapel

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - Trevi Fountain — Trevi Fountain

This will mean a quick jog through the long hallways of the Vatican Museums where unless you are an art history major, probably aren’t the most interesting pasts of this museum. Since you are constrained for time, you’ll want to focus on the highlights.

Not far from the Vatican Museums, you will find the amazing Hostaria Dino & Tony. This traditional restaurant offers Roman cuisine, delicious house wines and an environment you will have a hard time finding. While you can certainly order off the menu, the recommended way is to let them know that they should choose your dinner. What you will get is a multi-course feast of antipasti, pasta, meat and dessert courses that cannot be beat.

Rome 1-Day Itinerary - Dino & Tony's Pasta — Dino & Tony Pasta

Now that you are stuffed, grab a cab and head back to the airport (or hotel) depending on your schedule. Take the time to prepare for your return trip and think about when you want to return to Rome for a more comprehensive visit. There is so much more to see, but for one day you have seen a lot!