Is guide of what to see in Rome in one day It is designed to know the best of the city for travelers who have very little time or for your first day in the Eternal City.
We know that Rome is an endless city and impossible to see in 24 hours, although if you optimize well the routes on foot or by public transport, that pass through the main points of interest of the city, you can take a good first view of everything That this city has.
Packed with archaeological sites and buildings of the ancient Roman Empire, baroque squares and fountains, neighborhoods to get lost in its narrow streets, old churches and an endless number of charming corners, in Rome you will also enjoy one of the best gastronomies in the world based of pasta and fresh products of the highest quality.
Based on the three times we have visited this impressive city, the last on a trip that we stayed for a month in Trastevere and from where we wrote this travel guide to Rome step by step, we have made this guide to know the best from Rome in one day.
How to get from Rome airport to downtown
Rome has two airports: Fiumicino (30 kilometers away) and Ciampino (15 kilometers away), where direct flights land from Spain and most European cities.
To get to the center from these two airports you have the following options:
- Bus: Terravision buses make the transfer of Fiumicino in 30 minutes and from Ciampino in about 40 minutes to Termini Station, for a price of 5 euros, 9 euros round trip. The departure of these buses is synchronized with the arrival of the flights, so the waiting time is very short. There are other companies that make the journey like Flixbus, which stops at the Vatican. You can book here the bus from Ciampino and here from Fiumicino.
- Train: Leonardo Express will take you from Fiumicino Airport to Termini Station in 30 minutes for 14 euros. From Ciampino you will have to first take a bus that will leave you at Ciampino station and from there a train to Termini and in total you will pay less than 3 euros but you will lose time with waiting.
- Cab: They have a fixed price to the center being in Fiumicio of about 50 euros and in Ciampino of 30 euros.
- Direct transfer: It is the most convenient and quick way to get to the hotel from these two airports. If you book this service here a driver will wait for you at the exit of the terminal, raising a sign with your name and will take you directly to the door of your hotel.
You can find more detailed information about the transfer in this post about how to get from Fiumicino Airport to Rome and in this post about how to get from Ciampino Airport to Rome.
Where to sleep in Rome
A good option to stay in the Rome in one day, with good communication with the airport, it is close to the Termini station, located 15 minutes walk from the Colosseum and the old town of Rome.
We have stayed twice in this area, the first in the Hotel Cherubini, a basic hotel according to its price and the second in the UNA Hotel, more expensive than the previous one, although with a better value for money.
If you are going to spend more days and prefer to stay in a neighborhood with more charm and gastronomic offer, we recommend Residenza San Calisto, located in a historic building a few meters from Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere.
You can expand the accommodation information by reading this post about the best neighborhoods to stay in Rome.
Other tips for Rome
Other recommendations and tips for a good stay in the eternal city are:
- Check if it is profitable to book the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card, a card with which you will have free and skip-the-line access to the main attractions of Rome and the Vatican, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican Museums. Also included are significant discounts to 30 other attractions in the city and unlimited public transport.
- Look at the prices of the cards, drinks and "coperto" before sitting at any restaurant located in a tourist area or nearby.
- Arrive a little before dawn to see the most famous places like the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain, without people.
- Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
- Book this free tour of the city center or this free tour of mysteries and legends, located both among the best free tours in Rome for free with a guide in Spanish.
For more recommendations you can consult this post of tips to travel to Rome essential.
What to see in Rome in one day
The route of what to see in Rome in one day Start early in the morning by visiting the Roman Colosseum, which opens at 8:30 in the morning. In this 2000-year-old amphitheater you will move to the era of maximum splendor of the Roman Empire when more than 50,000 people enjoyed shows such as gladiator fights and reproductions of battles.
When going just in time it can be very interesting to book this guided tour of the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine or this tour that also includes the entrance to the gladiatorial arena, with which you will avoid the long queues that form in the access to the Colosseum and You will also know the history of each place by the hand of an expert guide in Spanish.
Rome Coliseum
Upon leaving the Colosseum you will pass the spectacular Arch of Constantine in 315 to reach the entrance of the Palatine Hill, one of the oldest areas of the city. On this mountain are the remains of former emperor residences such as the huge Domus Flavia, the August House, the Livia House and the Domitian Racecourse. Just as it will happen to you when you visit the Roman Forum, it takes a lot of imagination to get an idea of the size of these buildings, so it is also highly recommended to do some of the guided tours or take a paper or mobile guide.
Before going down the stairs to the Forum we advise you to approach one of the sides of the Palatine from where you will have incredible views of the Roman Forum with the Colosseum in the background.
In ancient times in the Roman Forum justice was administered and was the center of the social, religious and business life of the Roman Empire, which dominated half the world. At present it looks like an open-air museum with a large avenue dotted with triumphal arches, churches and remains of ancient Roman temples that will delight every traveler.
Roman Forum
After seeing all its corners, the Rome in one day Continue climbing in the direction of Campidoglio Square to have the best views of the Forum. Before arriving at the square you will see a reproduction of the Capitoline Wolf who breastfed the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. At this point in the route and if you had more time, you could see the original of this statue in the Capitoline Museums, one of the most important in the city.
When you get off this Campidoglio Square you will arrive at the great Venezia Square where you will be surprised by the enormous dimensions of the Vittorio Emanuele II National Monument, a building with a large viewpoint at the top, which was not very well accepted by the Romans, They called it Zuppa Inglese, a kind of cake pie.
Vittorio Emanuele II Monument
Once you have visited the building, on one of the sides of this square you will find the ruins of the Temple of Trajan, the Ulpia Basilica and the Trajan Column that has spectacular reliefs that honor one of the great emperors of Rome. Next to this column is also the Trajan's Market, which was the first commercial center in history 2000 years ago and which is another of the essential places to visit in Rome, if you have more time.
At this point of the day and if you are hungry we recommend you go to the Trevi Fountain to taste a table of delicious sausages, cheeses and pickles in the popular Pane e Salame, one of the best restaurants to eat in Rome.
After eating the Rome in one day Continue with the visit to the Trevi Fountain, the most beautiful fountain in the world and one of the city's icons. At this time it will be full of people, but you are sure to get a hole to throw a coin at the source with which you will make sure to return to the eternal city.
Fontana di Trevi
When you leave the square you will head to the Pantheon wandering through the old town and passing in front of the impressive Temple of Hadrian of the year 145. During this walk you can take a break to taste the delicious ice cream of the Venchi or have the best Italian coffee in the Tazza D'Oro, two of the best things to do in Rome.
When you arrive at the Pantheon you will be speechless when you see this architectural marvel of the year 126 AD, considered the best preserved building of ancient Rome in which inside you can observe the incredible dome and find the tomb of the great Renaissance master Rafael.
Pantheon of Agrippa
A few meters from the Pantheon, is Piazza Navona, the most beautiful in the city that impresses with its three baroque fountains, among which the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, located in the center, which represents the 4 most famous rivers of that Time is simply spectacular.
And as we know that Rome always arouses appetite, at this point we recommend you approach the Two Sizes, to have the best tiramisu in Rome, along with Pompi's.
The sunset arrives and during the Rome sunset in one day We recommend you take a walking route to the most famous and charming neighborhood of the city, Trastevere.
Trastevere
The bohemian air, the cobbled streets, the terraces with checkered tablecloths and traditional shops, will make you fall in love at first sight of this neighborhood and do not want to do anything but come back another day to know all these places to see in Trastevere.
After taking a walk in the neighborhood you can put the icing on the Rome in one day having a good dinner of Cacio e Pepe or Carbonara pasta at the Grazia e Graziella restaurant or in Tonarello, two of the most recommended restaurants to eat in Trastevere.
If you have more days, we will shortly publish the Rome guide in two days.
Map of the route through Rome in one day
Do you want to organize a trip to Rome?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Rome here
The best hotels at the best prices in Rome here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in Rome in Spanish here
Book your transfer Airport⇆Roma here
Rome guide in two days
The best offers of Flights to Rome here
The best hotels at the best prices in Rome here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in Rome in Spanish here
Book your transfer Airport⇆Roma here
Rome guide in two days
