24 Hours in Rome

Rome wasn’t built in a day, however, it sure can be explored in one. Many travelers believe you must spend an entire week in Rome to fully see everything. Though that may partially be true, it does not consider those with smaller budgets and timeframes. So, whether you are on a Mediterranean cruise, a long layover, or only have a single day while passing through, here is how to spend 24 hours in Rome. 

EARLY MORNING

Vatican Museum Tour & Breakfast

Rise and shine! The first thing you want to do during your 24 hours in Rome is the Vatican Museum Tour. You can schedule this tour on the Vatican’s official website. You want to pick the first tour in the morning to be able to make the most of your day. First thing in the morning head to the Vatican City, with your pre-booked tour, you will be able to get a private group tour before the rest of the tourists wake up. The Vatican Museum will be completely empty, only full of the few tourists in your tour group or the one before you.

Your guide will explain the long history of the Vatican City, take you through long halls of ancient, weaved tapestries, and introduce ancient and sacred relics. Once the tour is over, you’ll have breakfast in the gardens of the Vatican Museum. There, you can enjoy traditional Italian breakfasts, including sausages, fresh fruits, croissants, and cappuccinos, all while enjoying the crisp Roman sunrise over St Peter’s Dome. 

Here are a few of the most popular Vatican Museum tours in Rome. Book now to secure your spot!

St. Peter’s Basilica Tour

Next, while in the Vatican City, you want to tour St. Peter’s Basilica. While making your reservations for the Vatican Museum, you next want to make it for St. Peter’s Basilica. Depending on the time you chose for your museum tour, schedule to tour the giant, historic church about thirty minutes after. This way you have some time to explore the gardens of the Vatican Museum before you have to go.

Once you get there, even though it is early in the morning, you will find long lines of travelers looking to enter the basilica. Don’t worry, as long as you have your pre-booked tour, you won’t have to wait in any of these lines. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous white and gold architecture, read the Latin on the walls, and bask in the sun beaming through the glass ceiling windows. If you have the stamina, you can even climb the 550 steps of St. Peter’s Dome to view the Vatican City from its highest point.  Click here to find a group to make the climb with you!

I want to emphasize again, to pre-book these tours if you only have 24 hours to spend in Rome. Without reserving your spot for a tour, you will have to wait in line. Waiting in these lines wastes precious time and they often are longer than they appear. It is normal for these waits to stretch for more than an hour. Avoid standing and waiting, book in advance to make the most of your time.

AFTERNOON

Piazza Navona

After touring the whole of the Vatican City, you’ll want to walk a few steps over to Piazza Navona. Located around 10 minutes from the Vatican City, this famous square features gorgeous stone architecture, beautiful churches, and a magnificent water fountain. Luckily the public square is open-air and requires no tour guide and no lines to wait in. Take your time to explore each corner of the Piazza, you’ll find some curious stone statues, a towering historic obelisk, and so much more. If you have some coins to spare, toss some into the fountain of Neptune. This fountain tells a glorious story and highlights the artistry and detail of the Roman artists of the past. In this one square, you can find so many myths and legends to help you learn the History of Rome.

Food Tour

By the end of your exploration of Piazza Navona, it should be around noon. That means it is time for food. There is no better place in the world to be hungry than in Piazza Navona, Rome. As you walk around the surrounding streets, it will be hard not to find a restaurant serving authentic Italian food. Around each corner, you’ll find restaurants full of pasta, bruschetta, pizza, and so much more. If you are looking for a more tailored and guided experience, it may do you good to book a food tour for the area.

Whether you are looking to taste wines, cheeses, or fresh pasta, there are multiple food tours to choose from. That way, you can get more bang for your buck and try all the places you want. If, however, you are good with guiding yourself and want to be spontaneous during your 24 hours, walking down the street and picking the best looking restaurant is the best way to go in this plaza. 

Here are a few of the most popular food and wine tours in Rome. These are likely to sell out, so book now to ensure you get to taste the best Rome has to offer!

Pantheon 

While still around the Piazza Navona, you will find a giant ancient structure just a few steps to the side. Located about 10 minutes from Piazza Navona is the Pantheon. Like the plaza, you won’t need any tour or reservation for this spectacle. You may find a line, but when I visited during peak season, the highest wait time I saw was about 20 minutes. This is because it is more of a walkthrough experience. Take your time to walk through the old temple, enjoy the architecture, and watch the way it is still used by Romans today. 

EVENING 

Colosseum and Palatine Hill

Now the evening approaches in your 24 hours in Rome and you find yourself missing something essential. This missing piece is the Roman Colosseum, one of the great wonders of the world. Explore the Colosseum and Palatine Hill as the sun sets. This is another attraction you MUST book in advance. By this time of the evening, most tours for the day will be booked and doors might even be closed to those visiting without a guide.

Then if for any reason, the doors are still open, you’ll find a massive line. Once you make sure you have your pre-booked tour, you can enjoy your day and not have to wonder if you’ll be able to see the main attraction of Rome. This tour includes stepping inside of the Colosseum, learning the true history of the gladiators, and how it was built. Along with this, you’ll be walked down the ancient ruins of Palatine Hill and learn all the history of Rome in its entirety. 

Here are the most popular Rome colosseum tours for you to choose from, all of which bring you inside the arena! You must book this experience in advance to be able to make the most of your 24 hours. You can book them below!

NIGHT 

Trevi Fountain 

Watch the sunset, ending the day at Trevi Fountain. This iconic and beautiful fountain is a bit away from the Colosseum, though you can walk everywhere, it might be best to call a taxi or take one of the hop-on and hop-off buses to the location, especially after such a long 24 hours in Rome on your feet. You may be curious as to why I recommend the fountain at night, as most would recommend first thing in the morning to avoid crowds. Trevi Fountain is no secret, I have found that there are crowds around the fountain during all hours of the day, so why not enjoy it when the orange sunset glistens on the water and white marble.

I found that Trevi Fountain is most beautiful in the evening and at the end of the day, regardless of the amount of people there. Take time to make a wish and throw it in the fountain or inspect all the gorgeous elements of the beautiful marble story. If you miss the sunset, seeing the fountain at night is still a stunning sight. It comes alive as the light shines upon it in such an elegant way. 

Dinner

As the last word of your wish falls into the water of the fountain, you’ll find your stomach rumbling for more food. You are lucky to find out that you are in another hotspot with incredible restaurants and delicious food. Take a small walk around the streets by the fountain and you’ll once again find every corner has bustling restaurants looking to feed hungry tourists. If you play your cards right and look well enough, you might even be able to find a few rooftop restaurants and Instagram favorite locations. Now that your day is slowing down, you can sit down and eat pizzas, pasta, risotto, prosciutto, and so much more. It will be a good way to rest your feet after a long day and enjoy a relaxing environment. 

Gelato

After the party is all over, there is no better way to end the evening than getting gelato as the night ends. During my time lingering around the Trevi fountain, I found so many Gelato shops with lovely, tasty, and traditional flavors. To end your night and your 24 hours in Rome, grab either a pistachio, limoncello, or cherry Gelato. Either walk through the streets to take in the glory and the way the moonlight shines on the city, or take a seat back near the Trevi fountain and watch the way the water splashes and observe all the smiles on everyone’s faces. 

Looking for more Rome travel tips before you embark? Check out travel mistakes to avoid in Rome or find out the best time to visit Rome!