You go in weekend in Europe or traveling in Italy and want to visit Rome on foot in 1 day?

So, here I am offering you my free tour which allows you to visit Rome on foot in 1 day but only the most beautiful places in Rome!

In fact, this walking route (see interactive route map below) gives the opportunity to make a loop around the most beautiful monuments of Rome to get a general overview of this magnificent city!

How to visit Rome in 1 day?

Don't think you can see the whole city of Rome, the Vatican, the ancient sites and all the museums in just one day. This is totally impossible because the tourist sites are very numerous and the queues are very long to be able to visit them in 1 day.

This is why I advise you to take my tour below without taking the tickets (even skip the line) but simply to contemplate from the outside the most beautiful sites of Rome and take some beautiful photos.

Otherwise, you also have the possibility of visiting Rome by tourist bus in the morning and in the afternoon, you can visit the Vatican including the Sistine Chapel in 2h30.

See prices below: Tourist bus - Vatican tour

What to visit in Rome in 1 day?

There are many circuits to visit Rome on foot, but the one you will find below only brings together the emblematic sites of Rome, that is to say only the sites which seem to me the most interesting to visit when you do not have only 1 day.

To fully enjoy a day of optimized visits, here is the list of must-sees on my Rome in 1 day tour:

• Coliseum
• Roman Forums
• Capitol Square
• Trajan's Forum
• Pantheon
• Navona Square
• Place Saint Pierre
• Vatican / Saint Peter's Basilica
• Vatican / Sistine Chapel
• Castel Sant'Angelo
• Spanish Steps
• Trevi Fountain

Itinerary to visit Rome on foot

Walking tour to visit Rome in 1 day

If you want to do this tour and take full advantage of it, I advise you to start your day very early before the arrival of the buses full of tourists. Especially since the first stages can only be visited from the outside and you will thus have a head start to visit the other sites without the crowds!

Now discover all the stages of my self-guided walking tour:

Morning program

My tour starts with one of the most famous addresses in Rome: The Colosseum in Rome!

The Colosseum

You can take a tour of the Colosseum to discover the most famous amphitheater of antiquity. Do not miss theArch of Constantine which is a magnificent triumphal arch located right next to the Coliseum.

Roman Forums

From the Colosseum, I advise you to go see the Roman Forums by going up the Via dei Fori Imperiali avenue. This way you will have a nice overview of the Forums without going to visit them from the inside because the visit is very long.

Indeed, the Roman Forum is the most important archaeological site in Rome. It covers an area of ​​4 hectares located between the hills of the Capitol and the Palatine Hill. One can discover many vestiges of the Roman era there: The senate, the tribune to the harangues, the temple of Saturn, of Castor and Pollux, of the Concord and several basilicas, arches, columns, sculptures…

Capitol Square

Continuing on Via dei Fori Imperiali, you will come to the Campidoglio square. This magnificent square was designed by Michelangelo.

The Capitol is located on one of the Seven Hills of Rome. It represented the religious and political center of Ancient Rome.

The Palais Neuf and the Palais des Conservateurs can be visited because they have been transformed into museums. Tourists will discover famous collections of ancient statues such as the famous She-Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus and beautiful paintings from different eras.

Imperial Palace

From the Capitol Square, you will turn left and go to the Fontaine dei Leoni Egizi. Then you will turn right towards Via del Teatro di Marcello. You will thus arrive at Piazza Venezia where the famous monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II is located.

This monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, which is also called Altare della Patria or Vittoriano or Imperial Palace, is simply sumptuous and majestic (I love it!!!).

Trajan's Forum

From Piazza Venezia, on the right, you will have to return towards Via dei Fori Imperiali to reach Trajan's Forum and its famous sculpted column via Via Foro Traiano. It is the last of forums imperials to have been built in Rome and one of the best preserved today.

Where to eat at lunchtime?

Right next to Trajan's Forum (Foro Traiano, 82) is a nice, quiet little restaurant with a beautiful view of Trajan's Colony and interesting prices!

This is the restaurant Enoteca Provincia Romana (on rreservation at +39 06 6994 0273) which offers Roman specialties prepared with quality products.

Afternoon program

After having feasted, you will take a 10-minute digestive walk!

You will have to head back towards Piazza Venezia to reach Via del Corso which you will follow until you reach Via del Caravita. You will take this street on the left to continue straight to the Pantheon.

The pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the most famous ancient monuments in Rome. It was originally a sacred monument dedicated to gods (Mars, Venus…). Today it is a chapel which houses the tombs of important personalities from Italy, in particular that of Raphael.

Saint Peter's Square

From the Pantheon, you will have two options to get to Saint Peter's Square:

• Or by bus taking the n ° 64 at Argentina station and stop at Cavalleggeri / S. Pietro (journey of about 20 minutes);
• Either on foot by walking 2 km or about 25 minutes and following in GPS mode the route on the Google Map above.

320 meters long and 240 meters wide: St. Peter's Square in the Vatican is one of the most popular squares largest and most famous in the world. This square where Saint Peter's Basilica stands has welcomed more than 300 people!

St. Peter's Basilica

Here is the most important religious monument of Catholicism: St. Peter's Basilica. It is here that the Pope celebrates the most important liturgies.

This Basilica is built on the site of the tomb of Saint Peter (apostle of Christ) near the old circus of Nero in which the apostle Saint Peter was tortured to death.

The Sistine Chapel

In the papal palaces of the Vatican, is the famous Sistine Chapel which part of the Vatican Museums.

This chapel serves as a place for pontifical ceremonies and a gathering of conclaves for the election of a new pope.

It is especially visited for its ceiling which Michelangelo painted in 4 years. It is a huge fresco representing scenes from Genesis: the creation of the Sun, the Moon, Adam and Eve, darkness and light, etc.

The Castel Sant'Angelo

You will then have to walk for a quarter of an hour on the Via de Conciliazione then the Lungotevere Castello to join the Saint Angel Castle.

The Castle San Angelo is a must in Rome because it is at the same time a Palace, a fortified castle, a burial chamber and a museum that can be visited when you have the time. On the top floor, there is a large terrace where the view is magnificent over the city from the heights.

The Spanish Steps

Another 20 minutes walk along the Tiber and you will arrive at another unmissable site in Rome la Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna). It takes this name because the Embassy of Spain is located there.

With its staircase of the Trinity of the Mountains, this picturesque square is one of the most famous in Rome and is surrounded by streets and luxurious districts (beautiful buildings, designer boutiques, jewelry stores, brand stores…).

Trevi Fountain

From the Spanish Steps, take Via de la Stamperia then Via del Nazareno then Via di Propaganda. So in 8 minutes you will arrive at the Holy Grail of lovers: The Trevi Fountain.

Monument of the Baroque period, this fountain attracts thousands of tourists who come day and night to make a wish and throw coins there so that it comes true.

La Fontaine de Trevi is located in a very touristy and lively area where you can end your day on the terrace of a café or do some shopping ...

Which hotel to visit Rome on foot?

For tourist weekend in Rome, I recommend that you take a hotel very well located in the city center so as not to waste time in transport.

My good plan in Rome is accommodation My Trevi Charming. This hotel has an exceptional location, 100 m from the Trevi fountain and very close to a metro station! Lots of restaurants and cafes around, this address is perfect for visiting Rome by following my tour!

Be careful, however, of pickpockets, which are numerous in this area.

More info about this hotel in Rome

See also Which neighborhood for shopping in Rome?

Good deal in Rome - Apartment

A friend gave me the tip. She stayed there last year and loved it!

This is simply perfect accommodation for visit Rome in 1 weekend because it has an ideal location. the Monti condominium is located in Via Dei Serpenti, in the heart of the Monti district, 5 minutes walk from the Colosseum and next to the Cavour metro station.

Its little extra: Its roof terrace with a fantastic view of Rome. More info about this apartment in Rome

Best hotel in central Rome

As stated on my article: Where to stay in Rome to visit on foot, I have a good address for those looking for the must in terms of accommodation.

Indeed, the Villa Spalletti Trivelli - Small Luxury Hotels of the World is a little gem that offers comfort, great luxury and a beautiful roof terrace with jacuzzi.

And to continue the city tours in Europe, why not a weekend in Amsterdam, a little stay in Lisbon or a romantic weekend in Venice ou an excursion to Florence ?