1 day in Rome: the ultimate 24-hour trip

In a place where history seeps from every cobblestone, edifice and ancient wall, Rome certainly was not built in a day. Yet you can get a surprisingly thorough intro to the city in 24 hours.

My following day-long itinerary will guide you, with stops at iconic sites, delicious meals and gelato and a celebrity-approved hotel stay. Assuming you arrive in the early morning, here’s the best way to do Rome in a single day.

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How do I get from the airport to the city?

Sure, you can take a taxi or an Uber, but the fare starts at a hefty 55 euros, with additional fees if you’re being dropped off in the historic center. Instead, take the Leonardo Express train from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport to Roma Termini (the main train station) – a journey of just 32 minutes that costs €14 each way.

What should I do with my luggage?

If you're not staying overnight at a hotel and have a heavy suitcase you need to ditch for the day, there are luggage-storage options at the airport (and Termini) for €10 per bag. From Termini, you can get to any part of Rome fairly easily. Take a taxi, a bus or the Metro to your hotel or first stop. I stayed at Hotel Locarno and dropped my luggage there.

In the morning...

Rome is best admired early in the morning, when crowds are few and temperatures are cool.

Fuel up as the Romans do

Breakfast in Rome is not a big affair – usually just a cappuccino and a cornetto (an Italian croissant). There’s no shortage of places to grab and go. Hit up the nearest pasticceria (cake shop) once you are ready to start your day – or make a beeline for Roscioli Caffe (it opens at 7am Monday through Saturday; 8am on Sunday) on your ramble to your first stops in ancient Rome.

Planning tip: Some shops and restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays, so check out all the spots you’re hoping to visit before you head there.

Get stepping

Rome is a wonderful city to explore on foot (if you’re able). Every aspect of life in this charming and historic city is on display if you open your eyes and ears to it. Wear comfortable shoes – since well more than 10,000 steps, across uneven terrain, are in your future.

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See a different side of the Colosseum

The Colosseum, Rome’s huge gladiatorial arena, is usually mobbed – but less so if you start early. I recommend booking a guided tour to visit the hypogeum, the area underneath the field where gladiators and animals were prepped before taking the stage. This is an entirely different way to experience this iconic structure, especially if you’re lucky enough to have visited before.

From there, you can roam (get it?) over to the Palatino to poke around ancient ruins, before descending into the Roman Forum. Just get any and all tickets in advance so you don’t have to use up your time looking for kiosks and standing in lines.

Visit more ruins – and see cats

Before you take a very well-earned lunch, take a 10-minute walk to Area Sacra di Largo di Torre Argentina, the site where Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BCE. These ruins, among the oldest in the city, are accessible via a new footpath that opened in 2023. The site is also home to a thriving stray cat population and volunteer-run cat sanctuary. It’s surprisingly uncrowded and relatively quick to view.

Sit down to pasta for lunch (you’ll have earned it)

Take it slow as you stroll along Via del Corso, Rome’s thoroughfare for high fashion. A block or so off this main drag is casual yet refined La Buca di Ripetta, with a Vespa as the centerpiece of its dining room. Any pasta from the menu will satisfy your appetite for carbs (I loved the bucatini all’amatriciana).

Afternoon into evening

Park it at the Villa Borghese

After lunch, wander toward Villa Borghese to relax and chill out. It’s the best park in Rome, and sitting on a bench under a tree provides fabulous people-watching.

After you’ve taken a load off, make your way to Museo e Galleria Borghese, the lauded museum located in the park, to cool down and see an extraordinary collection of sculptures, mosaics and paintings. Be sure (there’s a theme here) to book your timed entry ticket in advance.

Planning tip: Casa del Cinema at Villa Borghese shows outdoor films at their Ettore Scola open-air theater on summer nights from June to early September. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Check into your hotel, then enjoy the essential aperitivo ritual

A 15-minute walk from Villa Borghese, the garden at the Hassler Hotel is an ideal place an early-evening drink. However, since I stayed at Hotel Locarno, I chose to have my aperitivo (a Negroni) on their rooftop terrace. Incidentally, Hotel Locarno is one of the seven (!) properties where Dua Lipa and Callum Turner stayed during their iconic, glamorous and lengthy honeymoon tour of Italy. (I've also once stayed at another of their dreamy hotel picks: Hotel Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole on the Tuscany coast.)

Make an early dinner reservation

Romans generally take dinner late in the evening, which means the first reservation slot at Armando al Pantheon is at 7pm. This place is very popular (for good reason), so it’s imperative to book in advance. Centrally located, this testament to Roman cooking has been around since 1961, the food is consistently delicious. I love the lamb.

Plus, it’s just a five-minute walk to a post-meal gelato at Giolitti, where the team has been scooping the sweet stuff since 1890. (Note that you need to pay for your gelato before you order it.) Enjoy the evening scene around the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain as you enjoy your treat.

Continue the evening – but stay safe

If you’re up for more, there are plenty of great spots to continue the evening in Centro Storico. Two excellent nearby options are speakeasy Club Derrière and cocktail bar The Gin Corner.

Be sure to stay mindful of your surroundings. Rome isn’t dangerous, per se, but it’s a busy, crowded city not totally free of pickpockets and other petty crime. Pay attention to what you’re doing and keep your possessions secure.