Introduction: Best things to do in 1-day in Rome

Rome is a city full of interesting things to do. From its ancient heritage dating back to the Roman Empire, or its long history with the church. It’s a city worth visiting for any type of traveller. To truly discover it, let’s say that 4 to 5 days would be best, but there is also a lot you can do in a shorter stay.

If you only have 1 day in Rome, this guide will help you make the most of it. It will be intense, and you won’t have too long in each of the top spots, but you will be able to get most of it. So, let’s dive into those 11 Best things to do in 1-day in Rome.

1-day in Rome Map

11 Best things to do in Rome in 1 Day

St. Angelo Bridge

Let’s start this 1-day in Rome by going to the St. Angelo Bridge. This will give you a top view of the Castel Sant’Angelo. And in the morning, it won’t be crowded at all.

St. Peter’s Square

From there head toward the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square. You just step in, and you have changed country and are now in Vatican City. At the centre of the square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, erected at the current site in 1586.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Don’t worry, we will be back on the square later.  From there, continue your 1-day in Rome by heading left and walking around the Vatican wall until you reach the museum. There are 13 museums in total, and their collections are just amazing. There is an order to follow within the museum, but you can go as you want as well. At the end of the museum, you will visit the Sistine Chapel before going out on the square.

St. Peter’s Basilica & its dome

Now, you can line up to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. But before entering the huge Basilica, you can climb to its dome to get the best view of St Peter’s Square. To access the rooftop, you can either take the stairs or an elevator and then walk some stairs. While going up, it gets pretty tight in there.

Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but the dome costs 8 or 10€. At the exit of the dome, you will be in the Basilica.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Time to walk back to the Fortress. We loved it, and it’s right around the corner, so it was a must to include in our 1-day in Rome. On your way, you could grab a pizza from a smaller street near the Vatican and then go eat it in the park around the Castel Sant’Angelo.

With only 1 day in Rome, you could consider visiting this monument, but faster than usual, or just skip it altogether.

Piazza Venezia & Altar of the Fatherland

Then walk back and head to Piazza Venezia, one of the main squares of Rome. As this square is only a big roundabout, it’s a quick stop to simply enjoy the Altar of the Fatherland. If you have some free time later in the day, you can always visit it, but we didn’t. Most of those recent monuments are often more majestic from the outside.

Trajan Forum

Next, on your 1-day in Rome, you will walk along the Trajan Forum, which was the last of the Imperial fora to be constructed in ancient Rome. The ruins are simply amazing and super big. You just need to walk all along them toward the colosseum.

In the middle, there is a bridge where you can sit for a while and enjoy the Roman sun and the ruins altogether.

Arch of Constantine

Right next to the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312. You can simply admire it for a few minutes before entering the Colosseum.

Colosseum

Next stop on your 1-day in Rome is The Colosseum. With a capacity of more than 50,000 spectators, it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire.

Before entering it, you can go around it as well as on the small hill on its left side for some nice views.

To visit it, you need to buy a ticket online. We bought the “Full Experience ticket” for 22€, which gives access to some additional parts of the Colosseum, as well as the Roman Forum, the Palatine, and other attractions managed by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo, which manages all those sites.

Also, we personally got an audio guide in the colosseum, and we found it worth it. It was nice to learn about the place directly in it.

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

You are almost at the end of your 1-day in Rome. Next to the Colosseum, you can access the Roman Forum, a vast archaeological complex where the life of Rome unfolded. You can either first walk the Palatine Hill or the Roman Forum. To do both, you need to go back and forth. In the past, there was an exit from the Roman Forum toward the Capitol Square, but it was closed in December 2021.

Still, we would recommend starting with the hill, getting an amazing view of the site, strolling on it, visiting the Palatine Museum, and then going to the forum.

On top of the hill, you can also take some time to stop, sit, and enjoy the ruins while taking a break.

Historical center and the end of the 1-day in Rome

From there, and depending on the time you have, you can now stroll around the historical city center and go to places like the Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps, the Pantheon, and Plaza Nueva. Even at night, those places are really nice to see.

That’s the end of our 11 Best Things to Do in 1 Day in Rome.

Where to Stay in 1-day in Rome

For us, a big part of the travel experience is where you stay. In Rome, the right accommodation can truly enhance your visit, offering comfort, convenience, and a sense of local charm. Here are some great options we recommend for your stay in Rome:

• (€): Residenza Maritti
• (€€): Martius Private Suite
• (€€€): Umiltà 36