One Day Rome Itinerary (Greatest for First Timers)

24-Hour Rome Itinerary Particulars

Espresso & Croissant

Begin early, actually early, and head to La Biga Wine Meals, straight beside the Colosseum on By way of Nicola Salvi On my go to, we stopped right here for a pistachio croissant and a few drinks. And I’ll be trustworthy: this isn’t the place I’d ship you for probably the most memorable pastry in Rome. You’re right here for the backdrop. There’s one thing fairly particular about sitting with a cup of tea whereas the Colosseum is correct there in entrance of you.

If meals is your precedence quite than the view, take into account stopping by Mercato Centrale as a substitute. However for a one-day itinerary, I like utilizing this cease as a delicate begin to the morning and, extra importantly, positioning you proper the place you could be for the Colosseum.

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Colosseum (and Roman Discussion board)

That is the cease I’d construct the morning round, as a result of The Colosseum is one place you don’t wish to miss (or go to within the warmth of the afternoon). The big amphitheater dates again to A.D. 80 and will maintain tens of 1000’s of spectators that have been there for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, public spectacles and different leisure for the individuals of historic Rome.

What makes the Colosseum so fascinating isn’t simply its dimension or age. You’re standing inside a constructing that was on the middle of Roman public life almost 2,000 years in the past. It stays one of many world’s most recognizable historic landmarks, which is why it constantly ranks amongst Rome’s hottest points of interest. And why you wish to pre-purchase your tickets on-line. 

✨ I pre-bought our tickets nicely prematurely by means of GetYourGuide as a result of I didn’t wish to take the prospect that morning spots can be gone. 

The usual mixture ticket contains the Colosseum, Roman Discussion board and Palatine Hill. On my go to, nevertheless, it was a 101°F day, and despite the fact that we arrived early, I knew I didn’t wish to spend hours strolling by means of uncovered archaeological ruins in that warmth. We toured the Colosseum, took a fast take a look at the Roman Discussion board and skipped the longer Palatine Hill portion. That’s the type of choice I need you to really feel comfy making on a 24-hour journey. You don’t get further factors for making your self depressing. In case you have cooler climate and extra power, spend longer exploring the Discussion board and Palatine Hill. If it’s brutally scorching, don’t really feel responsible about shortening this portion. The Colosseum itself is the precedence.

✨ In order for you a extra in-depth Colosseum expertise, there are additionally ticket choices that add particular areas of the Colosseum, together with the underground ranges and area ground. I like to recommend this tour that has choices for each: Colosseum 3-In-1 Tour with Underground Choice

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Getting from the Colosseum to Spanish Steps: Bus —You’ll be able to stroll, however it’s about half-hour and also you’ve already received an extended day forward of you. I like to recommend taking the bus (in the event you purchased a 24-hour transit cross, it’s included!).

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are well-known for good purpose, however I don’t suppose you could deal with them as a significant time-consuming attraction. The staircase was constructed between 1723 and 1726 by architect Francesco De Sanctis and consists of 11 ramps containing 12 steps every. It connects Piazza di Spagna with the church of Trinità dei Monti above. On the backside, you’ll additionally discover the Barcaccia Fountain, designed by Pietro Bernini and accomplished within the early seventeenth century.

Folks come right here to climb the steps, {photograph} the dramatic staircase and spend time in Piazza di Spagna. It’s a type of locations the place the setting itself is the expertise.

Give your self about half-hour. Stroll up, look again over the piazza, take your photographs, benefit from the structure, after which transfer on.

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Getting from the Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain: Stroll — It’s roughly a ten minute stroll. 

Trevi Fountain

By now you’ve reached one among Rome’s most recognizable sights. The Trevi Fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi and accomplished by Giuseppe Pannini within the 18th century, from 1732 to 1762. It options Oceanus driving a shell-shaped chariot and has change into one among Rome’s defining landmarks (its look within the film La Dolce Vita helped!)

There’s one necessary change to know earlier than you go: non-residents want a €2 ticket to enter the world instantly across the fountain. The payment applies from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; viewing the fountain from the encompassing sq. stays totally different from getting into the basin space.

And sure, persistence is required. In order for you that excellent picture, you’re going to should work for it. However that is one other place the place your timing makes an enormous distinction. If you happen to’re prepared to rise up earlier than 7 a.m., I’d really transfer Trevi forward of the Colosseum. The fountain may be dramatically quieter in these very early hours (and getting into the basin space is FREE at the moment).

Take your photographs, toss in your coin if that’s your custom, admire the fountain after which hold transferring. You don’t want an hour right here.

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Getting from Trevi Fountain to Pane e Salame: Stroll — That is a simple transition as a result of your lunch cease may be very near Trevi Fountain. 

Lunch at Pane e Salame

Pane e Salame is one among my Rome staples and I come right here each time I’m within the metropolis. The restaurant is thought for its Italian sandwiches, cured meats, cheeses and ginormous sharing boards. We at all times order the big charcuterie board, which comes loaded with meats, cheeses and bruschetta topped with issues like a scrumptious pink pepper unfold. On my newest journey, we additionally tried the tuna salad, and it was surprisingly scrumptious.

There’s one catch: it’s tiny, and folks line up. I like to recommend getting there at the least quarter-hour earlier than opening if you need a very good likelihood of being among the many first seated. That’s a lot simpler than attempting to squeeze right into a packed restaurant if you’re working with a sightseeing schedule.

If there may be already a line and you could hold transferring, don’t stress. There are many  different informal lunch choices. I like to recommend attempting Barretta Pesce e Porchetta or I Pizzicaroli Roma.

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Gelato at Pompi

You don’t want an extended break after lunch, simply sufficient time for one thing chilly and candy. Pompi is conveniently proper subsequent door to Pane e Salame, making this one of many best stops of all the day. They’re recognized for desserts (together with tiramisu!), together with gelato and different candy treats. On this journey, I needed to get my compulsory pistachio gelato, one other little ritual I repeat at any time when I’m in Italy. However, you do you.

Pantheon

The Pantheon is a type of locations the place I feel you need to really step inside quite than merely {photograph} the outside. Initially constructed as a Roman temple and later transformed right into a basilica, the constructing is greatest recognized for its huge dome and central oculus. It’s additionally remarkably nicely preserved in contrast with many historic buildings.

I’d enable round 45 minutes right here. You don’t have to rush by means of it, however you additionally don’t have to spend half your afternoon inside.

Getting from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona: Stroll — It’s a few 5-7 minute stroll

Piazza Navona

If you wish to see the extra theatrical, over-the-top aspect of Rome, that is one among my favourite piazzas. The sq. was constructed on the positioning of the traditional Stadium of Domitian, however what you’ll see as we speak is basic Baroque Rome, with lovely buildings, fountains and the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone surrounding the piazza.

The star of the present is certainly Bernini’s Fountain of the 4 Rivers within the middle. The 4 huge marble figures symbolize the Danube, Ganges, Nile and Rio de la Plata, symbolizing the 4 main rivers of the continents recognized on the time. There are additionally two smaller fountains, the Moor Fountain and Neptune Fountain, at both finish of the sq..

However actually, you don’t have to know all of that to take pleasure in Piazza Navona. Stroll the size of the piazza, admire the fountains, search for on the structure and watch the individuals round you.

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Getting from Piazza Navona to Castel Sant’Angelo: Stroll — Round 15–20 minutes relying in your route and tempo.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo provides you a very totally different perspective on Rome as a result of the constructing itself has had a number of lives. Initially constructed as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, it was later reworked right into a fortress and ultimately a papal residence and navy construction. Its place beside the Tiber additionally makes it one of many metropolis’s most recognizable silhouettes.

You’ll be able to tour the inside, however on my go to we merely walked across the exterior. And actually, after this many stops, I feel that’s a superbly affordable alternative.

The citadel can be linked to the historic middle by Ponte Sant’Angelo, the bridge lined with angel sculptures. In case your timing works, the bridge is an exquisite place to pause towards sundown. An alternative choice is Ponte Sisto, particularly if you wish to proceed towards Trastevere for an aperitivo otherwise you’re attempting to place your self nearer to Testaccio for dinner.

Since you’re doing a 24-hour journey, I’d make the inside elective quite than important. If you happen to’re operating behind, admire the citadel from outdoors and hold going.

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Non-obligatory Add-On: Vatican Museums

If seeing the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel is excessive in your Rome bucket record, you can add it to this itinerary. However I’m going to provide you permission to skip it.

The Vatican Museums are huge, with collections constructed up by the popes over centuries. What started as papal collections grew into one of many world’s most necessary museums, full of historic Roman and Greek sculpture, Renaissance work, tapestries, maps and fantastically embellished rooms. A few of the most well-known areas embody the Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps and, in fact, the Sistine Chapel. The museum’s collections span 1000’s of years of artwork and historical past, so there may be much more right here than you might presumably see in a brief go to.

The massive draw for a lot of guests is the Sistine Chapel, the place you may see Michelangelo’s well-known ceiling frescoes and The Final Judgment. Your Vatican Museums admission contains the Sistine Chapel, so that you don’t have to buy a separate ticket for it.

Why would I add it? If you happen to’re an artwork, historical past or religious-history individual, this can be one of many highlights of your total journey. There’s something fairly unbelievable about standing in rooms embellished by artists like Michelangelo and Raphael and seeing works which have influenced Western artwork for hundreds of years.

However right here’s the catch: this isn’t a fast little cease you squeeze in between the Trevi Fountain and lunch. The museums are enormous, and even a centered go to entails a number of strolling and taking in an amazing quantity of artwork. Including the Vatican means you’ll be transferring shortly by means of the remainder of Rome and spending a major chunk of your 24 hours inside a museum.

So my recommendation is easy: in case your character is “I got here all this fashion and I wish to see EVERYTHING,” add it. If you happen to’d quite wander Rome, cease for a leisurely lunch, linger in a piazza and benefit from the metropolis with out continually checking your watch, skip it.

If you happen to determine to go, purchase your tickets prematurely and select your entry time if you ebook. The official Vatican Museums ticket contains admission to each the museums and Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican particularly recommends buying by means of its official ticket portal.

Dinner at MASTO a Testaccio

By the point you get to dinner, you’ve earned a correct Roman meal. My decide is MASTO within the Testaccio neighborhood. It’s a small restaurant, wine bar and salumeria, and it’s precisely the type of place I like ending a busy day. Testaccio is thought for its deep connection to conventional Roman meals tradition, and MASTO feels far more intimate and native than a number of the eating places you’ll discover proper round Rome’s largest vacationer points of interest. The restaurant focuses on basic Roman dishes, Italian wines and meats and cheeses from its salumeria counter.

We cherished the saltimbocca alla romana with potatoes and the eggplant parmigiana. After which there’s the tiramisu. I actually suppose it was one of the best tiramisu I’ve ever had in Italy. Sure, I notice that’s a really daring assertion. However I stand by it. 

Tip: Positively make a reservation on-line. It’a small restaurant, so I wouldn’t go away dinner to likelihood. If you happen to’d quite keep in Trastevere for dinner, that’s another choice. We’ve eaten at Tonnarello Scala and loved it, and there are many eating places and wine bars to select from there.

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Again to the Lodge

It’s been an extended day, so after dinner I’d hold the night easy and head again to the lodge. For this itinerary, we stayed close to Termini Station which was nice from a public transportation standpoint. I stayed at NH Assortment Roma Palazzo Cinquecento, and the placement is smart for a brief Rome go to — particularly in the event you’re arriving by practice, catching an early practice, or persevering with onward to a cruise.

➞ Camplus Lodge Roma Centro is my extra budget-friendly various in the identical common space. Or examine one of the best lodge offers right here.

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