(Newswire.net — August 28, 2017) — Rome, Italy has always been one of the most popular and coveted vacation spots. People save for years to travel to this romantic city in Europe. In fact, more than 7.2 million tourists visit Rome every single year, making it the world’s 16h most visited destination. When you consider its incredible architecture, conquering history, detailed artworks, and romantic venues, it’s no wonder it’s such a popular vacation spot.
But what if you only have one day to spend in Rome? This is often the case for Mediterranean cruisers or backpackers. You could spend weeks exploring this glorious city, but if your schedule only allows one day, things will be a little tight.
It’s true that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but can you see it in a day? It’s possible if you plan ahead and consider some of the most important sights first.
Pre-Plan Your Day
Before you leave home, plan your single day carefully. You’ll get much more out of it with a carefully mapped itinerary. Start by familiarizing yourself with the city. Read in-depth guides about all the things to do in Rome, and ask friends what they did when visiting the city.
As you write down your activities minute-by-minute, factor in transportation time between events. Leave enough time that you can get to the next place, even if there’s traffic. You’ll enjoy the trip a lot more if you don’t have unrealistic expectations that can’t possibly be met.
Bookmark the Most Important Sights
As a part of your planning process, list the attractions you want to see most. Put them in order of priorities. Most first-time Rome visitors try to hit the most famous sights first. These include:
- The Colosseum
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Roman Forum
- The Vatican City (St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square)
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Various churches
Add other sights of interest to your list with numbers indicating their importance to you. Although your schedule will be tight, chances are, you can squeeze in a couple of sightings on your way to some of the bigger landmarks.
Know Your Times
There’s nothing worse than planning your day to the minute only to find out that the Vatican closed early. If you aren’t aware of these times, you’ll likely miss your window of opportunity to see history.
For example, the Colosseum is only open to visitors from 8:30 a.m. until an hour before sunset. The Vatican is only open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the ticket office closes at 4 p.m. If you get there late without a ticket in hand, you’ll miss your touring opportunity.
Be wary of the times for your flight or cruise departures as well. As great as it would be to spend a little extra time in Rome, it’s probably not worth missing your transportation at the end of the day.
Check for Events
Although you’ll likely spend most of your time sightseeing the major landmarks, make time for special events. If you’re there on the right day, such events can make the experience even more memorable.
If you’re there during a holiday, especially New Year’s Day, Easter, and Christmas, there are always festivals and shows going on. You might also watch out for Liberation Day (April 25), May Day (May 1), Patron’s Saints’ Day (June 29), Feast of the Assumption (Aug 15), or All Saints (November 1). You’re in for a great time if your visit falls on any of these days.
Set up Transportation Ahead of Time
Don’t enter one of the busiest cities in the world, thinking you’ll just grab a cab between destinations. Traffic can be ugly at certain times of the day, and failing to plan ahead will have you stuck in a traffic jam rather than enjoying your favorite sights.
While a taxi can be a good way to get from the airport to the city, it’s not the best way to get from place to place. Look into the following methods of transportation to minimize your traveling time, increase your convenience, and get the most out of your short visit:
- Scooter rental (for the confident city driver)
- Rome Metro (for speed and economy)
- Hop on hop off bus (for sightseers with plenty of cash)
- Buses (for long trips)
- Trams (for quick trips in the city)
For optimum cost and efficiency, you’ll likely use a combination of these transportation methods. You’ll also do a great deal of walking, so wear sensible shoes and be prepared for a long journey. You can’t do Rome in a day if you don’t have the physical capacity to keep up!