Two years ago, on my first study abroad trip, a few of my friends and I decided to conquer Rome in a day. We were based in Florence at the time, and we had one day to do whatever we wanted. So, we hoped on a train to see some of the coolest monuments that I have ever seen.
We traveled from Florence to Rome the night before our big adventures, so we could start bright and early. We stayed at the Hotel Veneto Palace, which I highly recommend.
The next morning we were up and out of the hotel by 7:00 A.M. our first stop was the Spanish Steps. They are usually not this empty, but we were there so early in the morning that we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.
Next we were off to the Trevi Fountain to live our own Lizzie McGuire moment. If only we had a Paolo to whisk us off on a motor bike around the city. We threw in our coins, made a wish, and then got a celebratory gelato at 8:00 in the morning. You know what they say, “When in Rome..”
Next we walked over to the ruins. By this point of the day it was starting to get very hot, but nonetheless beautiful.
Our last stop before the Vatican was the Colosseum. This was such a cool experience. Beware there are a lot of really steep stairs, so be prepared for some climbing. By the time we were done it was 11:00 A.M., and it was time to head off to Vatican City. Make sure you plan most of your day for the Vatican. It takes a long time to walk through the museum and St. Peters Basilica.
I took this *illegal* photo in the Sistine Chapel, that is why it’s blurry. Like I said before, When In Rome…
After Vatican City we headed to the train station to make our way back to Florence. It was an absolutely great, but equally exhausting day. I think it was the perfect way to see Rome.
What are your favorite things to do in Rome!? Let us know in the comments below.
Did you know we have travel guides over on As Told By Shop!? Do you want an even more in depth guide to visiting Rome In A Day!? Head over to the shop to check it out, or buy our guide directly below.
Shelby xx
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My heart is positively soaring at the sight of all these pictures! I studied abroad in Rome. I don’t think I EVER saw the Spanish Steps so empty. But I definitely did have an 8am gelato… 🙂 How did you like Rome compared to Florence? When I visited Florence, I was not as in love. But I’m also not a huge art lover so that’s probably got a lot to do with it!
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I was so glad we got to see the Spanish steps so empty. It was a quite a treat! I absolutely loved Florence. It was a lot quieter than Rome which I liked. I was there at the end of June, so it was extremely hot, and we had to walk everywhere. Other than that it was a breathtaking city. You should definitely give it another chance!:) I’m so glad you enjoyed our post. Did you visit anywhere else while you were over there?
I did! However, I was so tempted by the cheap flights to other European cities (London, Maris, Madrid) that I saw way less of Italy than I wanted to. It’d be a dream just to go back and focus on Italy. What a beautiful country!
We have 13 hours in Rome. It’s one of our stops on a cruise. Do you think we will have time to do everything you did? Did you do the actual tours of the Colosseum and Vitican or everything on your own? I wanna make the best of our time but also enjoy the bustle and bustle of the city and sit down for a gelato and cafe. Ahhhhh!
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I think you should have plenty of time. We did everything in about 10 hours. Just make sure to get going as soon as you get there and move fast. You can rest when the day is over! We did not do the actual tours, but we did buy our tickets for the Colosseum in advance. As long as you stay focused and keep moving you will be able to do everything. You are going to have a great time. Don’t forget to have fun, and let me know if you have any other questions.
-Shelbs xx