Rome in a Day – Make The Most of A Short Visit to Rome

There is so much to see and do in Rome, even if your visit is a short one. In fact, you can see a great deal of Rome in a day or two. These are my top tips to help you get the most out of a short visit to Rome including places to go, things to see and ways to make your visit more enjoyable.

Rome is one of those places where there is something interesting around every corner, so you can pack a lot of sightseeing and history into a very short time. It also makes it easy to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and culture very quickly.

We have visited Rome on a number of occasions, however it has been a few years since our last visit. Post updated March 2026 with the latest information, but please note the photos are from a few years ago.

Here are my top tips for a visit to Rome  – even it it’s only Rome in a day!

Places to Visit in Rome

The Forum, the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is thought to be where Rome was founded and many emperors of Rome had their palaces here.

The centre of life in Rome, the Forum was the location of everything from the Senate and criminal courts to the marketplace were located here. Seeing the centre of a civilisation in ruins always feels a bit disconcerting to me, but fascinating nonetheless.

As for the Colosseum, it’s hard to imagine it being acceptable for people to watch Christians being thrown to the lions or gladiators fighting to the death in the Colosseum. I always find visits here a bit spooky, thinking of the number of souls who met their end here. However the architecture is absolutely amazing.

Combination tickets for all three sites are available, but there are three separate entrances with security checks at each entry point. It is best to book your ticket in advance and start your visit early in the day.

The Vatican

Queues can stretch around the block – and it is a really big block! You could absolutely spend a day just in the Vatican, but you can still get a really good idea of what it is like in a short time.

The Sistine Chapel gets extremely crowded, so be prepared. I remember feeling like I was being herded through with the crowd pressing in on me. I was so worried I honestly missed a lot of the ceiling.

For both the Colosseum and the Vatican, there are some online options for pre-booked tickets and private tours. I haven’t personally tried any of these but I would definitely look into them for next time. They make it more likely that you can see even more of Rome in a day.

St Peter’s Basilica

There is so much to see at the Vatican it could take days but if I had to choose one place to visit, it would be St Peter’s Basilica, one of the most beautiful churches I have ever been in. Of course there are a lot of people, but there is a much more relaxed vibe, not least of all because many of the people visiting have come to pray.

I love the Chapel de la Madonna della Bocciatta. It’s very peaceful and a lovely place to go if you do want to have a bit of time to pray. It’s also traditional to touch the foot of the statue of St Peter for a blessing. I always find this very moving, as pilgrims have done so since the 1500’s, but these days I do use sanitising gel afterwards.

Tips for Visiting Rome

Use the Metro

This avoids the terror of a taxi journey and saves your feet. At the time of writing a one way journey on the Rome subway costs €1.50, a day pass is €7.00 but please check before you visit. Since our last visit, tap and go has been introduced, meaning you can pay with Apple Pay or a smartphone or watch.

The Roman Metro features an easy to understand system – all roads meet at ‘Termini’ in the middle of an X shape. Make sure you know where you are going before you get into the station though, keep your wits about you and watch your bags/pockets.

Choose a Good Hotel

A well-rested traveller can cover more ground in a day! The quality of hotels varies radically in Rome and some of the more budget-friendly places really are <ahem> basic.

On our most recent visit, we started out at The Kolbe Hotel, a four star establishment just opposite the Forum. Location wise it is perfect, and the public areas and bathrooms were beautiful. However the rooms were quite utilitarian and the beds were hard as rocks.

We moved to the five star Grand Hotel de la Minerve, our favourite hotel in Rome due to its location and the quality of the accommodation and service. Since our last visit, the hotel has recently been completely updated by the Belmond Group and featured in Season 5 of Emily in Paris. I can’t wait to go back!

Most hoteliers are happy to help you with directions, dinner reservations or tours. Also do let them book you a return taxi to the airport. You can save money if they telephone and book you a car, as opposed to just getting one on the day.

Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’

Restauranteurs will literally step out in front of you to ask you to come into their establishments, or even jump up and down and wave at you in the street. It’s not rude to just walk on by if you are not interested. A firm ‘no thank you’ also works well.

It’s hard, but ignore the beggars or folks who ask you to look at anything. There’s usually a second person waiting to grab your bag if you engage with them. Avoid buying souvenirs or umbrellas in the streets.

A Lot to See in a Day

Rome doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to tourism, but in reality most people are very friendly and it’s quite easy to find your way around. Provided you keep your wits about you, you can have a really lovely time in this beautiful, historic city.

Spending a few days in Rome is wonderful but even if you only have a short time, you really can see a lot of Rome in a day.

This post shares my honest opinions and the advice I would give to friends. Nothing was gifted and we paid all our own expenses. Information is correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing, but details like opening hours and prices can change. Please check official venue websites before making plans. I cannot be held responsible for changes or for individual experiences.