1 Day in Rome: The Perfect 24-Hour Itinerary

Wondering how to spend 1 day in Rome? If you only have 24 hours in the historic Italian capital, here’s exactly how to make the most of your time. 

Of all the beautiful European cities, you cannot tell me that Rome isn’t on your bucket list. It was on mine for years before I finally made it to the Eternal City and, let me tell you, Rome really lives up to the hype.

The entire city is basically an open-air museum. Every corner you turn, you’ll find more historical buildings, archaeological ruins, or other beautiful things to see. From museums to the only Wonder of the World in Europe, it really is the perfect city break. 

But, if you only have one day in Rome, you might be wondering if it’s worth going at all. I’m not going to lie to you, it’ll be a busy day, and you’ll definitely want to come back and see more. However, don’t discount Rome if you only have 24 hours. 

There’s still a lot that you can see and I’m going to show you exactly how to map out your time. 

8:30 – Start with the Colosseum

Since we’re working with just 24 hours in Rome, we’re going to start the day nice and early. We’re also going to start with the city’s top attraction – the Colosseum. 

This magnificent structure is possibly the main reason that thousands of tourists flock to Rome every year and it’s definitely worth the visit. It’s super impressive. 

Of course, it’s also very busy, but that’s almost to be expected. However, I recommend booking your tickets in advance to ensure you can get in. 

There are several ticket options to choose from, however, since you are spending a day in Rome, I recommend buying the 24-hour ticket. This option costs just €18,00 and grants access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Colosseum Museum, and more. 

You won’t have time to see everything. However, this makes it cheaper than if you were to buy the tickets separately. You can buy your tickets here. 

Since you’ll be arriving for opening time, you should also skip a lot of the midday crowds around the Colosseum. Once you’re inside, you can explore the lower and upper levels and panoramic terraces. It’s truly magnificent. 

✅ Be sure to book your Colosseum tickets in advance to avoid the queues!

10:45 – Head to the Arch of Constantine

Once you’ve explored the Colosseum, head just 2 minutes on foot to the Arch of Constantine. The huge triumphal arch was created in 315 AD to celebrate Emperor Constantine I’s battle victory.

It’s 21 metres high, features a large central arch with two smaller arches on either side and is one of the best-preserved Roman arches in the city. 

Since you’ll walk this way to reach your next stop anyway, it makes sense to stop quickly here. However, it won’t be a particularly long stop and I don’t think you’ll need longer than 15 minutes to see the archway. 

11:00 – Visit Palatine Hill

Once you’ve snapped several photos of the Arch of Constantine, head a further 7-minute uphill walk towards Palatine Hill. This is one of the city’s most famous sights and well worth a visit during 1 day in Rome. 

The Colosseum Combo tickets will also give you access to Palatine Hill, so you won’t have to pay separately here. However, because it’s slightly later in the day now, you may have to queue to get in. It’s worth the wait though because it’s pretty amazing. 

According to legend, it was here where Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC. As such, this hill became one of the most important and prestigious parts of the city, home to emperors, aristocrats, and even Augustus, who built his palace there.

Today, you can wander around the archaeological site, read about the history, and, of course, take a million photographs. There’s a lot to explore here, from former palaces, ruined temples, elaborate gardens, and panoramic views over modern and ancient Rome.

✅ Be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid the queues!

13:00 – Explore the Roman Forum

From here, head to the Roman Forum. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are literally right next to each other and, once again, entry is included in this combo ticket.

Also located at the heart of the city, the Roman Forum was the political, religious, and commercial centre of Rome. It used to contain grand temples, public spaces and government buildings including the Senate House and the Temple of Saturn.

The Forum was where people gathered for public speeches, criminal trials, and triumphal processions, making it a pretty important place for public life in Ancient Rome. 

Today, it’s once again a UNESCO World Heritage site and a fantastic archaeological site with so much to see including grand archways and columns from ruined temples.

✅ Be sure to book your Colosseum tickets in advance to avoid the queues!

15:30 – Visit the Altar of the Fatherland

After exploring the Roman Forum and devouring several slices of pizza, head down the street to the Altar of the Fatherland. 

This magnificent structure is one of the most impressive buildings in the city – it’s a little more modern than the structures you’ve seen so far, but still very cool and well worth a stop during 1 day in Rome. 

Also known as the Vittoriano, this monumental structure was created to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. You’ll find it on the far side of the Piazza Venezia and it definitely dominates the square with its gorgeous white marble design. 

You have to cross several fairly busy roads to actually reach the structure, so be careful. But when you are there, you can climb up the stairs and admire it up close. 

As well as the grand staircase, you can also see the columns, the statues of horses and their riders along various levels, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbol of the sacrifices made during World War I.

As well as exploring the lower levels, you can also take the glass elevator up to the top and see fantastic views from the panoramic deck. There’s also a museum here, so there’s a fair amount to see in just a small space. 

The Altar itself is free to visit, but tickets to the elevator and the museum cost €32.

16:30 – Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain

Of all the many famous sights in Rome, the Trevi Fountain is a pretty well-known one. It can also be extremely busy so you’ll likely need to prepare yourself for quite a large crowd here. However, it’s such an iconic spot, I just couldn’t leave it off this 1 day Rome itinerary.

The impressive Baroque fountain is located about 13 minutes on foot from the Altar of the Fatherland. Completed in 1762, it features a dramatic figure of Oceanus, the god of the sea, in the centre. 

It had much more of a purpose than simply a decorative fountain though. It marks the end of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct which has supplied water to Rome since 19 BC. 

Today, it’s a tradition to toss a coin into the fountain which is said to ensure a return to Rome. This is such a popular tradition in the city that the fountain collects up to €1.5 million each year, all of which is collected and donated to charity. 

17:30 – Admire the Pantheon

After leaving the crowds at the Trevi Fountain behind, head to the Pantheon. With its towering columns, this is another of the most impressive structures in the heart of Rome. 

This is another of the city’s most well-preserved ancient buildings and was constructed under Emperor Hadrian as a temple to all the gods. The most impressive feature is the massive dome which remains one of the largest unreinforced concrete domes in the world. 

Today, it’s also home to several tombs including several Italian Kings and a painter.

18:00 – Wander around the Piazza Navona

We’re reaching the end of our 1-day Rome itinerary now and our final stop before dinner is the beautiful Piazza Navona. I just had to recommend visiting a piazza on your Rome itinerary and this is one of my favourites. 

Mostly known for its stunning Baroque architecture, it was built on the site of an ancient stadium. As such, it retains the elongated oval shape of the original arena. 

Within the square, you’ll find 3 beautiful fountains, the most famous being Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. But there are also several impressive buildings surrounding the piazza, including the impressive Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone.

You may also see lots of street performances here. When we spent 3 days in Rome and visited the square, we saw a really interesting light show and several musical acts that day.

Have a wander around the square, admire the fountains, and then, head off to dinner. 

18:30 – Go for Dinner at Osteria da Fortunata

When it comes to restaurants in the Italian capital, Osteria da Fortunata is pretty famous. But, if you only have one day in Rome, I highly recommend eating here. This was one of our favourite meals we had in all of Italy.

It made it even better that you could actually see the fresh pasta being made through the window. We ordered in typical Italian fashion – pasta dishes first, followed by a meat-based second course, washed down with a glass of wine.

It was completely delicious and the perfect end to your day in Rome. 

How to get around Rome

One of the best things about visiting Rome is that it’s so walkable. All of these attractions on this Rome itinerary are very close to each other. The longest walking distance is 13 minutes, so you’ll be able to get around for the entire day on foot. 

However, how you get to the Colosseum first thing in the morning depends on where you’ve chosen to stay in Rome. If you only have 1 day in Rome, I’d recommend staying near the centre, to make it easier to get to all of the attractions. 

However, if you decide to stay outside of the city centre, there is a metro station literally right outside the Colosseum, so you’ll be able to catch the metro to the first stop.

✅ Be sure to book your Colosseum tickets in advance to avoid the queues!

Is one day in Rome worth it?

In my opinion, yes, one day in Rome is worth it. No, you won’t be able to see everything in Rome in one day. You’ll be missing the Vatican City completely along with several of the other places and hidden gems in the city centre. 

Nonetheless, you can see many of Rome’s top attractions in just a single day, including the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. 

So, if you’re debating whether it’s worth coming to Rome at all, I honestly think it is. You can still have a wonderful time in just one day and it will give you a great taste of the beautiful city.

👉 Haven’t decided where to stay yet? Here are all of my favourite places to stay in Rome.