How to Visit Rome Day 1 Introduction
In December 2021 we made a 5 days trip to Rome, the Italian capital. With this we had quite enough time to visit most of the main landmarks of Rome and got to do more than enough things to do in Rome.
In 5 days, we actually spent 4 nights there and had a total of 4 days of visiting as we needed one day to travel there. We arrived in the late afternoon the first day and left in the evening the last day. We stayed in the city center near Campo de’ Fiori which was perfect as we could reach everything walking. Vatican was up north 25min, Coliseum was south, 20min and so on.
This day, we will visit the main Roman site of Rome.
We tried making sense of this itinerary in order to avoid going back and forth. This guide is based mostly on how we did it with a few corrections to improve it.
If you need more detail about Rome, you can read our ultimate guide.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
How to Visit Rome Day 1 Step by Step
Churches and Basilicas
Let’s start by the day going out. We stayed at Campo di Firoi, so on our way to Piazza Venezia we popped by a few churches. You can either enter them quickly or just pass them. There are so many of them that’s hard to truly recommend one or the other. During your stay in Rome, you should go to explore as many as possible. Most of them are breath-taking.
Piazza Venezia & Altar of the Fatherland
First stop of the day, is 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 later during the day, you have some free time, you can always visit it, but personally we didn’t. Most of those recent monuments are often more majestic from outside.
Be careful on Venice square, it is not easy to cross and there are lots of cars. Unfortunately to pursuit the day, you will have to.
Trajan Forum
Next, and on your way to the Colosseum, you will walk along the Trajan Forum which was the 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 seat for a while and enjoy the Roman sun and the ruins altogether. This is one of our favourite spots in Rome. Perfect to enjoy some suns in the middle of an unique landscape.
If you feel like it, the ruins can also be also visited.
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 a few minutes before entering the Colosseum.
Colosseum
Now, the main attraction of the day: 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. You can get a great view from the small hill on its left. To get there, you need to go straight and then up left.
In order to visit it, you need to buy a ticket online. We bought the “Full Experience ticket” for 22€ that gives access to some additional parts of the Colosseum, as well as the Roman forum, the Palatine and other attractions made by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo that manage all those sites.
Also, we personally got an audio-guide in the colosseum, and we found it worth it. It was nice to lean about the place directly in it.
With the full experience, you will get access to the small inner court of the arena and get a better view of its underground. If you want go get in the underground, this can be done with a group or private tour.
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Next to the Colosseum, you will be able to access the Roman forum which is a huge archaeological complex where the life Rome was taking place. 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 will the hill, get an amazing view of the site, stroll on it, visit the Palatine Museum. Take a small break on one of the benches in front of the old center and and then go to the forum. In the forum, you can also visit temples and other sites.
From the forum, if you go backward within the complex, you can also get nice views of the Colosseum.
Campidoglio & Capitoline Museums
Once out, and if the exit from the Roman forum is still closed, you can just walk back out and toward the Altar of the Fatherland. A bit before turn left to go up the Capitol square. Once there, hike up the stairs and visit the church in the right side then if you feel like it you can visit the Capitol Museum.
We did visit the museum and it was Ok and cool to see the famous statue but that was all.
End of Rome Day 1
If you still have some time, from there you could slowly stroll back, passing by the pantheon or plaza Nueva. If not, this is the end of How to Visit Rome Day 1
Nessuna Nuova, Buona Nuova – “No News Is Good News”
