One-day itinerary for visiting Rome.

If you are only in Rome for one day, we suggest the route below, which will let you discover the city's emblematic monuments. Of course, in a single day the visit will be very superficial…

Visiting route

We suggest starting the visit at the Basilica of St John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano), which you can reach by metro by getting off at San Giovanni station.

St John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome; the Pope is its bishop. Do not forget to visit the cloister.

Take a look around you to see the city walls that still date from the Roman Empire.

Continue the visit along Via San Giovanni in Laterano to reach the Colosseum.

Walk around the Colosseum, the most famous amphitheatre of antiquity, and go and admire the Arch of Constantine. (Without visiting the interior of the Colosseum).

From the Colosseum you can either go up Via dei Fori Imperiali, which gives you a view of the Roman Forums, or go through the Forums, but entry is chargeable. The ticket is combined with the Colosseum and the Palatine (buy the ticket at the entrance to the Palatine or the Colosseum, but there are far more people at the Colosseum). The walk is more pleasant through the Forums, but you will not have time to enjoy the Colosseum and the Palatine…

At the end of the Forums you can climb up to the Capitoline, whose square was designed by Michelangelo. A very fine view over the Forums. Come back down by the great staircase opposite the Forum and pass in front of the monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II.

Then make your way to Trajan's Forum and its famous sculpted column, a stone's throw from the monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II.

From there, head for the Pantheon and visit the interior. Take the chance to have a break and enjoy an ice cream, for example at Della Palma, a stone's throw from the Pantheon, which offers a huge choice of flavours! Turn your back on the Pantheon and take the street opposite (Via del Pantheon), continue for 200 metres. On your left the ice-cream parlour is on the corner.

Continue towards the famous Piazza Navona, which still has the shape of the stadium that stood here in Roman times.

Carry on and cross Rome's river, the Tiber, to reach Castel Sant'Angelo, once the tomb of the emperor Hadrian, later turned into a fortress by the Popes.

Then go up Via della Conciliazione to reach the Vatican and St Peter's Square.

Depending on the queue and how much time you have left, you can make a quick visit to St Peter's Basilica.

Then go to Ottaviano-San Pietro metro station and get off at Spagna, to discover the Spanish Steps and the Trinità dei Monti staircase.

From there, you can finish your visit by going to the Trevi Fountain and enjoying an ice cream at San Crispino. If you are facing the fountain, take the street on your right (Via del Lavatore) and take the second on the left, Via del Panneterai; the shop is small but highly regarded.