The Best Way to Spend 24 Hours in Rome

The Best Way to Spend 24 Hours in Rome

24 hours is Rome is a lot of time to do a collection of small activities, and not that many of the bigger ones. What I mean is, the crowding and queueing times at most of the ancient city’s main attractions make them unsuitable for someone with just a few hours to spare.

That being said, if you keep things simple and within close proximity to one another, 24 hours in Rome is ample time to experience the city authentically. Here’s how:

Morning

8am — Breakfast in Monti

Assuming you’re checked into your one night’s accommodation by this time, starting your day around 8am in Rome would be the best time to greet the city.

We begin in Monti, the neighborhood that first transformed Rome into a metropolitan hotspot. This area holds a vibrant shopping and dining scene, etched between some exquisite architecture that is older than you and I can comprehend.

It is here you’ll have breakfast at any one of the street side cafes that catches your attention.

Monti – by Oleksandr Zhabin – Unsplash

9am — Shopping in Monti

Like everywhere in Europe, mornings tend to be nonexistent times of activity. Luckily Monti is considered a touristic hot-spot, and so the stores here open earlier than elsewhere in the city.

Get some souvenir and gift shopping done for the next hour, while the rest of the city starts to wake up.

The Via Urbana and Via del Boschetto in Monti are the two best shoppings strips!

10am — Experience the Colosseum

From here, you’re a short walk over to perhaps the most iconic attraction in all of Rome: the Colosseum.

Luckily for this sight you can book online and skip the queues by using your designated entry time. Book for around 10am, which will give you a solid two hours to enjoy exploring these ruins.

The Colosseum is a fascinating place, and I highly recommend the guided tours or the self guide information packs. Take your time here, but also keep track of it so that you get to see all areas in the arena as well as the newly opened underground.

The Colosseum – by Henry Paul – Unsplash

Afternoon

12pm — Walk to St Peter’s Basilica

After the Colosseum it’s midday and the perfect time for a stroll between the two city hemispheres.

St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican are bucket list items for millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, due to lengthy queues, you won’t be able to do them properly in 24 hours.

One can, however, admire the church from the outside, and possibly even have a quick walk through the inside depending on traffic. The Vatican, unfortunately, is not an option. Waiting times just to get to the ticketing gate can take over two hours on a good day. You’ll have to come back to Rome for this one!

by Millie Greaves – Unsplash

1pm — Lunch in Prati

The neighborhood surrounding the Vatican is known as Prati. It’s a very old, very traditional part of Rome that has adapted to the constant presence of tourists.

You’ll find some of Rome’s top authentic trattorias here, the perfect spot for your last lunch in the ancient city. Again, wait for the one that catches your attention while roaming the streets; there are many outdoor seating areas.

Prati – by Anna Church – Unsplash

2pm — Visit the National Pantheon

Back across the river we go to explore another one of Rome’s most iconic attractions: the Pantheon.

The Pantheon is free to enter, and is open all day long, seven days a week. It’s a phenomenal former temple, that is now a church. A lot of travelers regard their visit here as one of their trip highlights.

There will almost always be a queue to get in, but unlike the Vatican it moves pretty quickly. Once inside, take your time and learn all of the stories and history that go along with this place — you cannot imagine!

The Pantheon – by Christopher Czermak – Unsplash

4pm — Gelato at the Piazza Navona

You’ve earned a sweet treat at this point, I’d say. And you didn’t come to Rome to not try the gelato!

Stroll over to the Piazza Navona near to the Pantheon. This ancient public square was constructed in the 1st century AD, so you definitely need to see it while in Rome!

There are ample gelato shops en route to, and surrounding the piazza. In Rome, finding vegan ice cream is easy if needed, as is gluten free as well!

Piazza Navona – by Blanca Paloma Sánchez – Unsplash

5pm — Coin Toss and Sunset at the Trevi Fountain

Before the day gets any older we need to make time to see the historic Trevi Fountain. This is close to the piazza, and late afternoon is one of the best times to visit in terms of overcrowding.

Be sure to have some loose change on you for this one! Depending on the time of year, you might be treated to a sunset during this time. Revel in it!

by Chris Malinao Burgett – Unsplash

Evening

6pm — City Walk between the fountain and the Trastevere

As the day begins to close on Rome, one must move toward a more festive, nightlife oriented district.

The Trastevere is on the left bank of the Tiber, and will be where you spend the rest of your evening in the city. Take a slow stroll toward this neighborhood, enjoying the way Rome begins to light up by night and becomes even more charming than you likely thought possible.

7pm — Coffee and Tiramisu on the Tiber River

There is never a wrong time for a coffee and a slice of tiramisu in Rome; if you want to understand the locals, then let go of the notion that this has to be enjoyed after a meal.

There’s still time to spare before the night kicks into full swing, and the river bank of the Trastevere is lined with great Italian coffee shops and tiramisu eateries. Grab coffee and a slice to go, and settle on the river bank while you indulge. This should set your appetite for dinner right up.

The Tiber River – by Kameron Kincade – Unsplash

8pm — Dinner in the Trastevere

The Trastevere is known as being the most diverse and culturally inclusive district in Rome. You can eat just about any cuisine from around the world here, so don’t feel restricted to traditional Italian like you had for lunch!

Mexican food, Greek souvlaki, Chinese dim sum, Thai curries… whatever your heart desires you’ll find available between these narrow alleys.

Trastevere – by Fineas Anton – Unsplash

10pm — Drinks and Dancing in the Trastevere

Another thing abundant in the Trastevere is bar culture. When the restaurants start to close up, diners usually move over to the nearest or most vibrant watering hole for more Prosecco; most of the bars in the Trastevere have dancing of sorts, and all of them will carry you through until 2 or 3am in the morning.

(Optional) 2am Onward — Visit Rome’s biggest techno nightclub

This is for those who really want to extend their 24 hour experience in Rome to the absolute max.

When the bars of Rome close up, there are two massive techno nightclubs that remain open until even earlier in the morning. One of which goes right through until 10am!

You can read more about them here. Or you can just go to bed.