How to spend 24 hours in Rome
Rome is a maze of cobbled streets and piazzas, studded with fountains and palaces steeped in history. If you only have 24 hours in this spectacular city, this easy schedule will help you capture its flavor...
Morning
When in Rome, do as the Romans do and sip on Italian roasted coffee with a sweet pastry for breakfast as you map out a route by foot, or bus, to the Colosseum. There’s no time for sleeping late, as the ancient amphitheatre opens at 8:30 a.m. If there’s long lines, take a slow walk around the oval structure to view its world-famous tiered arches.
Wander along the Via Sacra ("Sacred Road") past the giant columns of the Roman Forum, and visit the Capitoline Museum — home to a multitude of 15th century antiquities. Once done, take a break and treat yourself to coffee and breathtaking views from the rooftop bar Caffetteria dei Musei Capitolini, to see Rome from a new perspective.
Now recovered, stroll through the winding piazzas, through the Jewish Ghetto to Campo de’ Fiori with its open-air market, stopping for lunch at Ar Galletto restaurant (Piazza Farnese) opposite a Renaissance palace partly built by Michelangelo.
Afternoon
Wind across to the elegant Piazza Navona square, and do a lap of the gorgeous fountains dotted among the bars and street artists that make the area vibrant. Cross over to visit the iconic Pantheon, and buy an ice cream from Giolitti before window-shopping your way to the Trevi Fountain.
Head north to Piazza di Spagna to join the bustling throngs on the baroque Spanish Steps, then walk along Via Trinità dei Monti to marvel at sweeping views over the multi-domed skyline of Rome to St Peter’s.
Evening
Settle down for a rewarding sunset with an aperitivo on the panoramic terrace of Ciampini al Café du Jardin (Piazza Trinità dei Monti) — open between April and October. It gets busy, but the views are worth it. In winter, when the cafe is closed, head back to Piazza di Spagna and join the smart set for a cocktail at the Hotel de Russie’s Stravinskij Bar. Then move on to Assaggia Roma for a dinner of delicious traditional Italian cuisine.
One of the most enjoyable things to do in Rome at night is stroll through the lively streets, pausing for a drink at a pavement cafe to people-watch. Round off the night by seeking out Rome’s hidden craft beer scene at Open Baladin, which has over 40 draft craft brews to sample. If you’re visiting in summer, get lost in Rome’s summer-long cultural festival, Estate Romana, which includes concerts, pop-up bars and alfresco eating along the banks of the River Tiber — an atmospheric place to spend a warm evening.
Read next
Where to find the world’s best pizzas
The classic pizza is a staple when it comes to our fast-food fantasties, and has stood the test of time, with the first traces of the dish dating back to antiquity. But where are the world’s best pizzas today hiding for us to devour?
Two weeks in Italy: a grand tour
Italy offers the perfect blend of culture, civilization, and relaxation. Its rich history and culture give it so many must-sees, it can be hard to know where to start: Venice? Naples? Florence? Rome? The good news is you don’t have to choose; this two-week tour will help you get your travel planning under way...