Sharing is caring!

*This post contains affiliate links, if you click on a link I make a small commission with no charge to you

Rome gave me my best and worst experiences during my time in Italy, starting when I boarded the train from Grado and realized I had left my credit card with my boyfriend (who is now my husband).

He was staying in Italy for a couple conferences and I was flying out of Rome, so it was my first solo travel experience outside of North America. I boarded the train and after several hours, sharing a car with others who I could not communicate with, reached Rome.

By this point I was so overwhelmed by the whole situation that I rushed to the nearest washroom, shut myself into a stall and sobbed for a short time. Yup, sobbed. I had no idea where my hotel was, how I would get there, what I was thinking traveling by myself to such a place, basically I was a mess.

Eventually I pulled myself together and found a payphone (because I didn’t have a cell phone at the time) where I called my hotel and found out how to get there. The main reason I had chosen a hotel close to the airport was for convenience sake, but it was extremely far from the city and not well connected. Pro Tip: If you have the time to spend in Rome, stay within the city, it’s not worth staying near the airport.

After a goodnight sleep I was ready to head into Rome for my one-day whirlwind tour. Ancient Rome is something I was taught about as a kid and there are tons of movies about it that makes everyone curious to visit. For first-time visitors, Rome can be extremely daunting, especially if you are only there for a short visit. If you have only one day in Rome these are the top things to do around the historic center.

Best time to Visit

A good time to visit Rome is in the spring, from March to May, when temperatures are comfortable, flowers are blooming and the crowds haven’t gotten out of hand. Later in the summer it can get very hot there, so if this is your first time visiting maybe consider going at a time when you can comfortably walk around without the risk of heat stroke.

Getting there

Flying into the main airport (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) of course is a good option, but if you are already in the country or in a nearby country the best option is to take the train. You can purchase your tickets at the station and you will be assigned a seat, so don’t just sit anywhere.

Best sites to see in Rome: a one day itinerary

Vatican museums & Sistine Chapel

This is one of the major attractions in the historic center. There are long lines for entrance tickets, so you will want to arrive early. But this is truly a must-see site and you shouldn’t skip it. It’s popular for a reason.

The Sistine Chapel is spectacular, albeit it is hard to really enjoy its beauty when you are elbow to elbow with 100s of 1000s of other people and a booming voice overhead constantly telling you not to take photos. Unfortunately, that kind of ruined it a bit for me, but I still couldn’t help but be in awe of the ancient and meticulously maintained artwork.

I expected to come into a quiet chapel where I could gaze up at that miraculous ceiling painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, but it was not to be. It’s too crowded and the magic was gone. I know I am not making much of a case for visiting the Sistine Chapel, but if you can get past the fact that you are not the only one that wants to see this site, it’s still worth it.

Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps

Continue your Rome walking tour along the cobblestone streets to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Though crowded, the Trevi Fountain is so embedded with incredible history and beautiful architecture it’s hard not to love it. It’s a great place to sit on the Spanish Steps and people watch, but if you have limited time, spend a few moments getting some great photos and enjoy the architecture before moving on.

Trevi Fountain is one of the oldest water sources in Rome, made from the same material as the Colosseum and is charitable. Every night the coins thrown into the fountain are collected and donated to a charity called Caritas, that makes me smile just thinking about it.

Pantheon

One of the iconic landmarks is the Pantheon. It is free entry and easy access and just a quick stop. Get your Instagram worthy photo with the hole in the top of the dome, wowing at the incredible feat of architecture and then move on to the Colosseum.

By the time I reached the Colosseum, during my one day in Rome tour, I felt pretty savvy with the subway system. But when I walked out of the subway and saw the Colosseum I had the jaw dropping, heart stopping experience of seeing that incredible, history steeped piece of architecture in person and in that moment the number one spot on my bucket list had officially been checked off.

Colosseum

All around the Colosseum are people offering a guided tour. As I reached the Colosseum I was approached by an extremely good looking Australian guy who asked me if I wanted to purchase tickets for a tour of the Colosseum and the surrounding ruins. I did the stupid girl thing and just nodded, breathing yes in response and gave him my 20 Euros.

It turns out that was an excellent choice. The tour guide was an older gentleman who took his time talking about the history of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, bringing to life the arena floor, so much so that some of the others on the tour were starting to get irritated. To which he promptly noted that Rome was not built in a day.

I laughed out loud and that certainly shut up the others. The tour really gave you a feeling of being a part of the history of such a place and was absolutely worth seeing.

You could sit there and listen to him talk about the games and how they took place and almost visualize it happening as you sat in the stands. The follow-up tour of the ancient ruins was equally good, with a young girl explaining the history of the area, and was only a short walk from the Colosseum.

Other stops if you have time

Palatine hill

This is the centermost and one of the oldest of the seven hills and thought to be the birthplace of Rome. It has the best views of the area and is the perfect place to wander around gardens and ancient ruins of former palaces and homes of the aristocracy.

Concluding Thoughts

This city has so much to offer and is one of the best places to visit, and a must visit if you are in Italy. If you only have one day in Rome and it is your first time, I think the best things are seeing the big sites on your first visit, then spending at least a week in Rome to really see the treasures the city has to offer. It is the best way to get an initial taste that will certainly leave you wanting more.

Once you’ve had a great time in Rome on your one day tour, hope a train for your next stop, spending 2 days in Florence.