Rome in a Day: The Ultimate Extreme Day Trip

Visiting Rome in Italy on an extreme day trip is totally doable and easy to do. We are here to help you make the absolute most of it and, of course, help you save money. There’s something special about stepping into a city with so much history and energy, knowing you’ve got just a short window to soak it all in. It can be exciting rather than overwhelming. You will be able to see so much more than you think, eat incredibly well, and leave feeling like you’ve had a real taste of the city. It will be a full day, but a brilliant one, and proof that even a quick trip to Rome can be unforgettable.

Best Flights to Rome

The closest airport to Rome is Ciampino Airport (CIA), just 13–15 km from the city centre. However, most travellers use Fiumicino Airport (FCO) because it’s larger, better connected, and handles the majority of international flights. This is where we flew in to and where I’ll be linking flights to below. Out of season, a lot of flights come out at around £60-70 return pp. For Ciampino (flying with Ryanair), I’ve seen day returns as cheap as £30.

Find the cheapest Direct flights from the UK to Rome Fiumicino

Find the Cheapest Direct flights from the UK to Rome Ciampino

How to get from each airport to the centre of Rome

From Rome Fiumicino Airport:

By Train – It is a short walk from the airport terminals to the station for the Leonardo Express into the centre of Rome (Rome Termini). We made the mistake of not booking our tickets in advance. The queues at the self-service machines were very long, and the machines were not reliable. The train takes around 30 minutes, and there is a train every 15 minutes. A return should cost no more than £30. Even though you have to choose a time when booking online, the Leonardo Express is:

• A non‑reserved train
• It runs every 15–30 minutes
• Seats are on a first‑come, first‑served seating
• Valid for a window of time, not a specific departure

So if your flight is delayed, or queues are long, you can just take the next Leonardo Express train.

By Taxi – This is the fastest but also the priciest option, with fares usually around €50–60 each way. Head to the official white taxis outside the terminal — look for the “TAXI” sign and the “Comune di Roma” logo, and check they take card payments. Always confirm the fare before you set off. The big advantage is convenience: taxis can drop you much closer to the sights than buses or trains. When you’re ready to head back, you can simply hail another taxi and agree on the price for the return to the airport.

By Bus – The shuttle bus is the cheapest option at around £7 pp each way, with a return costing around £14 pp. This is the most popular and highly rated shuttle transfer bus. With this option, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You will need to book your bus to Rome and your bus back using the link, as it’s not a return as such. This option will take more of your precious time, though, as buses depart every 20–30 minutes and the journey takes around 1 hour, though traffic can make it longer. They drop you off close to the Termini train station.

From Rome Ciampino Airport:

By Train – To reach central Rome by train, you take a short shuttle bus to Ciampino train station, then a regional train to Roma Termini. This combined service is called the Ciampino Airlink. The shuttle bus stops just outside the airport and takes around 10 minutes to reach Ciampino train station with no stops. From there, you can hop on a train straight to Rome’s main station, Termini, in the city centre. It is said to cost less than €3.

By Taxi – A taxi from Ciampino Airport to central Rome costs a fixed €40 each way. This is the pricier but quickest option. Make sure you hail down an official taxi (see above) and check the price before setting off.

By Bus – The shuttle bus is a relatively easy and cheap option, costing around €5 each way per person. Make sure you purchase both your outward and inbound ticket. A journey takes about 40 minutes, and buses typically run every 20–30 minutes, depending on the company.

Our One-Day Extreme Trip Itinerary

How much you fit into one day could certainly depend on how many hours you manage to have in between your flights. The following are all easily walkable, and where tickets are required, it is a good idea to prebook to avoid disappointment. You can amend this itinerary to suit your own day trip.

Start your day – It’s worth noting that the bus and the train drop you off at Rome Termini. This is around a 20-minute walk from the main attractions, so paying for a taxi from the airport could be your best all-around option despite the cost. You can get the underground from Rome Termini, but a lot of the attractions are still some distance from the closest metro station. We walked everywhere, and this route is totally doable on foot. If you don’t want to walk this much, there are a variety of transport options, such as taxis, buses, etc.

Start your day at the Trevi Fountain – Starting at the Trevi Fountain is an easy way to ease into the day. It’s usually a bit quieter first thing, and you get a nice moment to take it in before heading deeper into the city. From here, most of the big sights are only a short walk away, so it’s a simple, central place to begin exploring. If you want to take the metro here, you will need the orange line A to Barberini. It is then an 8-minute walk to the fountain. Depending on how long you have before your next attraction, you may want to stop for a snack or drink in this area if you haven’t brought your own.

Trevi Fountain charge – There is now a €2 entry fee for tourists to access the immediate basin area of the Trevi Fountain, with viewing from a distance remaining free.

Head for the Colosseum – There are a number of options here. We recommend booking a combined ticket for the Colosseum and the Forum with the Palatine Hill. Because visits to the Colosseum are timed entry, we have put this down as your second thing to do, so you don’t risk being late. The Colosseum is one of those places that really hits you the moment you see it. Even if you’ve seen a hundred photos, standing in front of it feels different. Once you’re inside, you get a real sense of the scale and history. From here, you can cross the road to the Forum and the rest of ancient Rome.

Then onto the Forum with the Palatine Hill – Walking up the Palatine Hill, you can enjoy some of the best views in Rome of the Colosseum. If you’ve purchased the ticket recommended above, entry here will be included. The Forum is one of the best places to get a feel for everyday life in ancient Rome. Once you’re inside, you can wander past old marketplaces, temples, and crumbling columns that were once the centre of politics, religion, and trade. It’s a surprisingly peaceful place to walk around, and the paths are open and easy to follow.

Victor Emmanuel II Monument – Depending on the direction you walk in, you might want to walk past this magnificent monument and building. The lower levels are open, so you can climb partway up for views over Piazza Venezia and the start of Via dei Fori Imperiali. Right at the front, guarded and marked by an eternal flame, is the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Time for some lunch – Rome is full of charming squares with restaurants, bars and cafes. Around 15 minutes walk from the Forum is the Piazza Navona. We love this Baroque square. It’s famous for its open-air art market, fountains, and pastel buildings. The square is cobble-lined with some beautiful fountains. If you don’t want to pay over the odds for a pizza and don’t mind losing the pretty view, even walking one or two streets back usually means better food and more reasonable prices.

After lunch, head for the Pantheon – The Pantheon is just a short walk from the Piazza Navona. Pre-booking a timed slot is essential as this is one of Rome’s smallest but most visited attractions. The Pantheon is one of the easiest landmarks to dip into as you move around the centre of Rome. It doesn’t take long to look around. The Oculus draws your eye straight upward; it’s such a striking design for a building that’s nearly 2,000 years old. Because it’s so close to places like Piazza Navona and Trevi, it naturally fits into almost any walking route without adding extra effort. There are some great places to sample some gelato near the Pantheon. It’s also a great area for tourist shopping.

The Spanish Steps – If you have any energy left – If you want to fit it in and you think you can manage it, the Spanish Steps are a 15-minute walk from here. People sit, chat, and take a breather here, so it has a relaxed feel even though it’s busy. You don’t need long — a quick wander up part of the staircase gives you a nice view over the surrounding streets before you carry on to the next spot.

Finish your day visiting the Trevi Fountain – It might be getting dark now, so you might want to head back to the Trevi Fountain for some nighttime photos. If you have time for dinner, you will pass various restaurants along the way. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to the airport for your flight home.

Highlights of the day – Trevi Fountain – The Colosseum, The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – Victor Emmanuel II Monument – Piazza Navona – The Pantheon – Gelato – The Spanish Steps – Trevi Fountain

What to take with you on a day trip to Rome

You want to pack light for a day trip to Rome. You are going to be walking a lot, so make sure you wear your comfiest pair of shoes. Take a lightweight backpack with secret zips for safety and have pockets for reusable water bottles, tissues, phones, plasters and your money is always a good idea. Don’t forget your passport and travel insurance (we always purchase a year’s insurance).

Costs Breakdown

You can get a return flight from £30-60 if you are flexible with regards to when you travel.
The cheapest travel option from Rome Fiumicino Airport is £14 pp return
OR the cheapest travel option from Rome Ciampino Airport is less than €6 pp return.
Tickets to the Colosseum, The Forum with Palentine Hill – Around £34 for an adult. Children are incredibly cheap at around £5-7 each.
Tickets to the Pantheon – Adults are just under £10, children just over £5.
Most travellers spend around €20-30 for a sit-down meal in Rome.

Cheapest flights with the cheapest options = around £100 per adult, with children at around £60. Obviously, you can visit Rome more cheaply by not visiting the attractions that have paid entry, but this is what I would recommend if you want to see the most and the best of Rome. I spent a lot more money than this visiting Rome for three nights and two days!

Top Tips for visiting Rome

Our top tip for eating in Rome is to check the restaurants on Google reviews before you walk in. We were tired and hungry, and ended up walking into one that, had we bothered to read the reviews first, we would never have visited. We were scammed like many other tourists before us.

Rome, like many major cities in Europe, has a problem with people trying to sell you fake goods. If you see a sheet on the ground with tourist tat or ‘designer’ goods on it, walk away. They have that sheet to pick everything up with and run away from officers.

It’s easier to walk than wait for local transport. The roads in Rome are scary and not for the faint-hearted. I personally avoid road transport for that reason.

Rome has free drinking fountains (“nasoni”) all over the city, which are cold and safe. This is why we recommend you bring reusable water bottles with you.

A bit of planning goes a long way in Rome. The main sights are close together, but having a rough route in mind makes the day run more smoothly and saves a lot of backtracking. Once you’ve got the basics mapped out, the rest is easy. You can wander between neighbourhoods, stop for a coffee when you feel like it, and take in the city at a pace that suits you. If you feel that you want to visit Rome for longer, you can find out all about how to visit the city for 2-3 days. Plus, you can find out all the great day trips you can go on from the centre of Rome.

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