One day in Rome: a self-guided walking itinerary

Ancient Rome: Colosseum to Circus Maximus

• 1Colosseum2 min
• 2Arch of Constantine3 min
• 3Arch of Titus7 min
• 4Temple of Saturn2 min
• 5Curia Julia4 min
• 6Basilica of Maxentius7 min
• 7Palatine Hill2 min
• 8Palatine Belvedere3 min
• 9Circus Maximus

Start at the Colosseum when it opens at 8:30. With a pre-booked ticket you walk past the queue and straight through the turnstiles. Spend about 75 minutes inside, then pause at the Arch of Constantine before entering the Forum. Walk the Via Sacra past the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Saturn, the Curia Julia, and the Basilica of Maxentius. Climb the Palatine Hill to the spot where Rome was supposedly founded, take in the view from the Belvedere over the Circus Maximus, then descend into the Circus itself. The whole archaeological park is covered by one ticket.

• CostThe combined Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill ticket costs €18 full price, €2 reduced for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, and is free for under-18s. It is valid for 24 hours with one entry to the Colosseum and one entry to the Forum-Palatine area.SourceParco Archeologico del Colosseo: official site
• HoursThe Colosseum opens at 8:30 year-round. Closing time varies by season: 16:30 in deep winter, 19:15 in summer. Last admission is one hour before closing. Book a timed entry slot online; same-day walk-up queues can exceed an hour.SourceParco Archeologico del Colosseo: official site
• BookYou must arrive 15 minutes before your booked Colosseum entry time. You can visit the Roman Forum and Palatine within 24 hours before or after that slot.SourceParco Archeologico del Colosseo: official site

EatGrab a cornetto and an espresso standing at the bar at Caffè Propaganda, a short walk from the Colosseo metro station on Via Claudia.

Capitoline Hill and the Jewish Ghetto

From the Circus Maximus, walk up to Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill. The geometry of the square, the equestrian Marcus Aurelius, and the view down into the Forum from the terrace are all free. Descend past the Theatre of Marcellus, Augustus's prototype for the Colosseum, and into the narrow streets of the former Jewish Ghetto. The Portico d'Ottavia, once Rome's fish market, marks the old gateway. This is where you stop for lunch.

• The Theatre of Marcellus and the Portico d'Ottavia are visible from the street at no cost. The Jewish Ghetto's streets are open to walk through at any hour.SourceTurismo Roma

EatLunch at Nonna Betta on Via del Portico d'Ottavia for carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes) and a plate of cacio e pepe.

Baroque Rome: Fountains, Domes, and Piazzas

Cross over to Campo de' Fiori, a working market square since the 15th century. Walk to Piazza Navona, Rome's most theatrical square, built over Domitian's stadium. Then into the Pantheon. The unreinforced concrete dome has stood for nineteen centuries and the oculus floods the interior with shifting light. From there, walk to the Trevi Fountain, where Oceanus commands a chariot of seahorses, and finish at the Spanish Steps as the late-afternoon light softens the travertine.

• TicketsThe Pantheon is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. The ticket office closes at 18:00 and last entry is at 18:30. Entry costs €7 full price, €2 reduced for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, and is free for under-18s and Rome residents.SourceDirezione Musei Nazionali Roma: Pantheon
• The Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps are free and open 24 hours a day. The Trevi Fountain is at its most dramatic in the late afternoon when the low sun hits the travertine. The Spanish Steps close to sitting at night; you can still walk up and down.SourceTurismo Roma: Trevi Fountain

EatGelato at Giolitti, a few blocks from the Pantheon on Via degli Uffici del Vicario, open since 1900.

Trastevere: Dinner Across the Tiber

Cross the Tiber on Ponte Sisto, a Renaissance pedestrian bridge built for Pope Sixtus IV in 1479. Step into Piazza Trilussa, Trastevere's front door, where the 1613 fountain still runs. Walk the cobbled lanes to Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome's oldest Marian church. Its 12th-century apse mosaic shows Christ and the Virgin enthroned together in gold. The square out front is the neighborhood's open-air living room. Pick a trattoria on a side street, order a carafe of house wine, and let the evening unwind.

• EatTrastevere's restaurants fill up after 20:00. Arrive by 19:30 to get a table without a wait, or book ahead for the popular spots like Da Enzo al 29.SourceGeziKolik: 1 Day in Rome 2026

EatDinner at Tonnarello on Via della Paglia for tonnarelli cacio e pepe served in the pan, or at Da Enzo al 29 on Via dei Vascellari if you booked ahead.