We attempted the impossible, to see the highlights of Rome in a day, including a visit to the Vatican. While this is not the recommended way to see this historic city, it was our only option, as it was a port on a Mediterranean Cruise. The secret to our success was two-fold. First, we did our research. We knew what was here, studied the history, and selected what was most important to us.
Secondly, we found a guide that could meet all our needs. He had VIP passes that allowed us to cut the queue just about everywhere. And, he had a driver, so we were dropped off at one destination, and picked up from the next.
In addition to seeing the Vatican, these photos are our highlights of Rome in a day:















See Our Vatican City Images:
Photo Tour: Vatican City – The World’s Smallest Country
Note: Based on world conditions, we advise checking official channels including cancellation policies prior to booking. Also, with often reduced capacity, booking ahead becomes more important.
Tips to see Rome in a Day:
- If you are going to try to cram in Rome in less than a week, get a guide.
- Be sure your guide has VIP tickets for the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum to avoid the long queues. This saved us over an hour wait in each location. We met a few people on the ship who were happy with Viator (Get the lowest prices on Skip-the-Line Tours in Rome)
- Remember to cover your shoulders and knees if you are going into the Vatican or other Catholic churches in Rome.
Rome was our third port on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise that started in Spain then headed to the French Riviera. The day before was also busy as we disembarked and visited both Pisa and Florence in a day. Our next stop will be Naples, where we will head to Pompeii. Then we leave the coast of Italy and head to Greece and Turkey before returning. While some days are a bit exhausting, we are enjoying the cruise. If you headed out a cruise, check out these tips.
Is it possible to see Rome in a day? What do you consider to be Rome’s highlights? What did we miss?
If you enjoyed this photo tour of Rome in a day, please share it on social media including Pinterest:
Rosey
We didn’t have time to visit the Sistine Chapel when we went (we were there 3 days) but we did see most of these. The Spanish Steps were desolate on the rainy days and really came to life the last day we were there, and the sun came out. Such a treat to see your pictures!
Rhonda Albom
That was the big advantage of having a guide with the pass that cut the queue. We could get into the Sistine Chapel and Callosum without a wait.
clairejustine
Beautiful pictures. I wish I could travel the world and see such beautiful things ๐
Rhonda Albom
Maybe one day?
kelleyn rothaermel
Rome is such an amazing city! Though Venice has my heart!
Rhonda Albom
Interesting, if I had to choose between the two, I would go to Rome.
Trekking with Becky
This is great! I can’t imagine only having one day in Rome, but this is definitely how to do it if that’s all you have. I would hate to feel rushed, especially in the Colosseum, but did cutting the queues make up for it?
Rhonda Albom
Cutting the queues made it possible, as did the driver who was always there when we were ready to move on.
guru
Pictures are awesome in the blog and by looking at these pics anyone would love to visit Rome.
Molly
Never been to Rome but would love to go one day
Mollyx
Rhonda Albom
If you get a chance, go longer than a day.
Anda
The secret to your success were the VIP passes. Being able to shortcut all those lines allowed you to cover a lot of territory. Now you have an idea about what’s there and when you return you’ll feel right at home. Rome is one of those cities I could never get bored of. The first time we’ve been there (in 1989) se stayed for 3 weeks and left feeling that there was so much more to see. The second time (just a few years ago) we stayed for 10 days and left with the same feeling. Well, I guess moving there for a while would be in order. How can you not fall in love with Rome?
Rhonda Albom
I loved our day, and it was nowhere near enough time for Rome. It is a city that I could live in for a while. Maybe a few months, as I don’t speak the language.
Photo(Geo)grapher
I have never been to Rome. I definitely have to travel there and see the places you show in the pictures
Rhonda Albom
It is a photographer’s paradise.
Debbie D.
I am amazed you were able to see so much all in one day! Love the photos. My husband has family in the area and we’ve been to Rome twice. This is a place one never gets tired of. ๐ The Roman Forum and Colosseum were especially exciting for this ancient history buff.
Rhonda Albom
If we had family or people to see, we never would have been able to see so much. We didn’t have time to stop and relax, and certainly not enough to visit. But if we did have family, I am sure we would have stayed longer.
Lyn @ A Hole in my Shoe
Great itinerary for the day. We were the same when we did a Mediterranean cruise. It’s not like I wanted to rush to see everything, but wasn’t going to go all the way to Rome and not at least try. Like you say, wasn’t optimum way to see Rome, but still very happy with what we saw.
Rhonda Albom
Exactly, when in Rome . . .
Cathy Kennedy
Rhonda, the architecture is amazing in Rome! How amazing to walk the streets of such an old city to see where gladiators fought but it’s also a city that holds a lot of sadness. I think about the countless Christians facing off with furious lions in the colosseum arena. Great photo op and experience. So, glad you shared it with us on WW! Thanks for visiting yesterday!
Rhonda Albom
True, I think most places with such a long history have sadness attached.
Barb
Seeing Rome in a day is very ambitious. I cant think of another city that has as many places to visit as Rome does. Surely, you can visit the top five sites in the city.
Linja in Virginia
Good tips. I’ve only taken one cruise and the amount of time allowed in ports was way too brief.
Rhonda Albom
However, it’s a great way to get an introduction to a city.
Buckeroomama
Wow, you certainly covered a LOT in one day! We’d love to take the kids and visit Rome again one day. It’s such a beautiful city.
Rhonda Albom
Take them for longer than a day ๐
Kathe W.
amazing how much you managed to see! Bravo!
Shere
I think you did very well! Short time but you saw a lot. I was 4 days and more or less visited the same.
Rhonda Albom
You did it the normal way ๐
Lexa Cain
Wow! You deserve an award for seeing so much an sharing the pics with us! Funny that the Pantheon has such blackened stone. I wonder why they can’t clean it. The Trevi fountain is awesome and so is the Coliseum! The arch and the back wall of the Coliseum seem to be leaning… You were so lucky to have found a great guide. No way you could’ve done all that without him.!
Rhonda Albom
You are so right. Max was the key to our day. Plus he was fascinating.
Bill
Been there, done it and got the tee shirt 50 odd years ago, not been back since, least not to Rome. Had a great time there then
Rhonda Albom
That’s the cool thing about historic sites, 50 years, they don’t change much.
Jim, Sydney, Australia
Was there a few months ago. Great times.
Rhonda Albom
It’s a wonderful city. I have been there twice.
Elizabeth
You covered a lot in a day! On a trip to London we took day trips to Edinburgh and to Paris. Edinburgh wasn’t to hard to see in a day, but we didn’t get to see much of Paris other than the Eiffel Tower, a boat tour up the Thames and a fabulous meal at a sidewalk cafe. Enough to know I want to go back!
Rhonda Albom
The queues in Paris are so long, you can’t see much in a day at all.
Joyce Lansky
I passed through Rome on a moving bus in the middle of the night. Never got to see all this cool stuff!
Rhonda Albom
Where were you headed?
Alissa Apel
So much to enjoy! I’d love to be there right about now. The ruins was my favorite, but they are all so wonderful.
Rhonda Albom
I wouldn’t mind being there right now either, for weeks, not just a day.
Carol
I’ve always wanted to see Rome – now I know how to do it if I have a day there!
Rhonda Albom
It’s a long and tiring day.
L. Diane Wolfe
You packed in a lot in one day. That’s amazing it’s the biggest Colosseum ever built.
VIP – fast passes are the only way to see anything these days.
Rhonda Albom
It’s the biggest amphitheatre ever built. I am guessing that is a narrow definition, and how they were able to keep the title so long.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Oh my goodness! What a place to visit. I’m so proud just being an Italian. Even though I’ve never been there, my father was born in the mountains around 50 miles. You must be exhausted seeing as much as you did. The Colosseum in Rome (The Flavian Amphitheatre) was where many Christians died for their religion. Just thinking about that I wonder how I would feel in those days. Thanks Rhonda. By the way, have you ever created a book a book about your travels? I thought you did but I can’t remember.
Enjoy your day my friend. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
I am sure you will visit one day. I know you like to cruise. Many ships start or end in Rome, so you could tack on some serious time. Don’t try and do it the way we did. As for a book, mine is about Auckland, but he publisher pulled the series a few months ago. I need to change the cover and republish it.
Teresa Kindred
Who is injured? Are you okay? Lovely pics as always! Take care!
Rhonda Albom
Sarah ruptured her ACL ( the ligament that holds your knee together) in Argentina and has had it surgically repaired here in Auckland. She is doing great, but the recovery is a long slow 9-month process, with no long-haul flights for at least 12 weeks.
indah nuria
I love Rome! Wherever you look, it’s all world class art! I made a few visit here, but I have tried to see all the highlights, well most of the highlights, in a day. It was super tiring but I was thrilled and happy!
Rhonda Albom
We were completely shattered by the end of the day, and slept well that night.
Sandee
Great shots of a place I’ll never visit. We’re okay with that. Some people love to travel, and others don’t. We’re in the don’t category.
Have a fabulous day. โบ
Rhonda Albom
That’s okay, I will visit them and share my photos so you can experience them too.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – I’ve only visited Rome with a friend whose parents lived there … so we had a Roman time … rather than a visitor’s time – I did get down to the Vatican though and I’m sure I saw other places .. though don’t really remember – it was long ago, it was very hot … and … but this seems a great way to see the sights – clever – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, I would have had a tough choice deciding between the sights in this historic city and a locals day. In most places, I would pick the local cultures, but Rome I am not so sure.
ladyfi
You certainly crammed in a lot! Fabulous shots of the eternal city!
Rhonda Albom
All this plus the Vatican.
Little Wandering Wren
Lovely photos! So you can do Rome in a day! Isn’t it amazing that the Colosseum remains the largest amphitheatre in the world? May your Trevi fountain wish come true ๐
Wren x
Rhonda Albom
I had to look it up again before I republished as it is hard to believe it is still the largest. I am guessing there are bigger ones, but they are classified as something other than amphitheatre.
Gemma Wiseman
Even as ruins, the forum, Colosseum and arch still retain impressive beauty. What a grand set of photos.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
great photos!
stevebethere
I really enjoyed these photos Rhonda love cities especially the old buildings nice photos of you all too.
Have a pizzatastic day Rhonda ๐
J. Shcmuhl
Wow, you sure did a lot in a day.
Tony Payne
That is pretty amazing for a day! I could spend a week in Rome, if I ever got to Italy…
Liz
Beautiful photos. I hope I can visit rome someday.
stevebethere
Fab photos Rhonda you must all be knackered by now ๐
Aussiepomm
Oh I loved Rome… I so want to go back there as well… Maybe next year…
Mines up as well at AussiePomm – Cymbidium Orchids
Have a great WW!!
MaryDPierce
Oh, the places you’ve been. . . .
I love reading your posts, even if I don’t always comment. You should do a book when it’s done and the dust has settled. I homeschooled my son, and it never occurred to me that a trip such as this was even possible. Your daughters are getting an education like no other. Bravo!
Sarah
ยกY soy mas estudio!
Paula J
AMAZING photos!
Happy WW ๐
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
Mitch
Love the pics! Love Rome!
Comedy Plus
I would have love to go along on this day. Would have loved to see all these things. Awesome.
Have a terrific day. ๐