Rome in less than 24 hours
The city of Rome is full of world-famous historical monuments. One could spend a week in this ancient city and still not see all it has to offer. However, there are several places in Rome that are considered attractions that need to be seen because of their highly prestigious artistic, historical and cultural values. They are some of the most interesting monuments in the world to see and are on the list of every world traveller.
Ideally, you should spend at least two days in Rome to get a good look at all its main sites. Unfortunately, sometimes circumstances allow a tourist to enjoy the city only to a limited extent. However, given Rome’s historical importance in world history, it is important to make the most of the time you have there. But with careful planning, Rome’s biggest attractions can only be seen in one day and one night.
8:30 - The Roman Forum
Come to the entrance of the Forum of Rome along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, which is opening, and buy a combined ticket to the Forum and the Colosseum and walk around the Forum of Rome for a while. The line for tickets at the entrance to the Forum is always much shorter than at the Colosseum, so buying tickets there saves a lot of time.
Many people choose to skip the tour of the Forum and head straight to the Colosseum, but the Forum is full of history and astonishing in itself. But the Forum is at first sight a jumble of rocks and columns, and there is no plaque commemorating a museum, so take a decent guide with you to make sure you leave with a decent understanding of what you have seen. On the way there, you can also consider picking up some pastries from an Italian cafe and having breakfast on the roof of the remains of a 2.000-year-old building.
9:30 - The Colosseum
Leave the Roman Forum from the exit closest to the Colosseum on the East side of the Forum. On your way between the Forum and the Colosseum, make sure you note the Arch of Constantine to your right. Built in the early 300s, it is well-preserved for its age, and its size is nothing short of impressive. Like the Forum, it is often underappreciated due to its proximity to the Colosseum.
Now onto the main attraction: The Colosseum. Go to the entrance, and make sure not to get into the line to purchase tickets; you already have yours from the Forum. Go inside the Colosseum and wander around a bit.
10:30 - Getting to the Vatican
Leave the Colosseum and head across the street to either get a taxi or if you want to save some money, go to the metro stop. Rome’s metro system is reliable, clean and easy to use. In this case, you won’t get to the Vatican by taxi much faster than the metro.
When you arrive in the Vatican area, head for the Vatican walls at Piazza del Risorgimento. There you’ll find about a dozen people selling guided tours to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica on behalf of several travel companies. While they have unorthodox advertising methods, these travel companies are generally good value for the amount of knowledge they impart and, most importantly, they allow you to jump the queue to get to the Vatican Museums, which can be long hours at the peak of the tourist season. The price will be about €40 per person. Ask when their tours are and choose a company that has an early afternoon tour (usually around noon or 1 p.m.). Make sure to double check that the tour company has permission to jump the lines of the Vatican Museum.
16:00 - View of Castel Sant'Angelo
You should be done with your tour around 4:00 PM, if not earlier. It all depends on which company you used and what time you started your tour. Walk directly East from St. Peter’s Square up the Via della Conciliazione. As you are walking, be sure to turn around every now and then for the picture-perfect view of St. Peter’s Basilica. Veer off to the right onto Via San Pio X and go onto Ponte Vittorio Emanuele, one of Rome’s many bridges over the Tiber River. This particular bridge is a work of art in its own right, and almost everyone that crosses it overlooks the statues that decorate it. However, the real goal here is to see the impressive view of Castle San Angelo, the ancient fortress that has also served as a tomb, dungeons, and papal refuge throughout its long history. Unfortunately, there is not enough time to go inside, so the view from the outside will have to suffice.
17:00 - The Pantheon
Call a taxi and direct the driver to the Pantheon. While there are bus routes that could take you there, I do not recommend using the Roman bus system if you have a limited amount of time in the city. Buses are notorious for never being on schedule, and it is often difficult to know which stop you should get off at. A taxi ride should not cost you more than 10 euros. Once you see the Pantheon, you can handle the rest of the itinerary at your own pace, as other attractions do not have closing times to worry about.
18:00 - The Trevi Fountain
Make your way from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain (the street you want to take is to your left when you are facing the front of the Pantheon). It is about a ten minute walk, although you might want to poke around the souvenir stands that line the pedestrian street leading up to the Trevi Fountain. Once you get to the fountain, spend some time looking at it. You might consider getting some pre-dinner gelato from one of the nearby gelaterias to eat while you sit on the steps of the fountain.
19:00 - Piazza Navona and Dinner
The Trevi Fountain is a 20-minute walk from Piazza Navona. Take a walk around the square and maybe buy some art from one of the many artists who sell their wares there. Find a place to dine. There are dozens of small restaurants to choose from nearby.
