THE ULTIMATE ROME WALKING TOUR: TOP LOCATIONS IN ONE GO!

Are you interested in a self-guided Rome walking tour? You’re in the right place!

Rome is the perfect city to explore on foot since the city is an open-air museum – everywhere you turn, there’s something marvelous to see. It would be a real shame to waste your time on Metro or buses if you’re able to walk. Trust me, you’ll have a much better time wandering through the old streets of the Eternal City.

If you want to find out what to include in your self-guided Rome walking tour, this blog post is for you. Keep reading!

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BASIC FACTS ABOUT ROME

Rome is the capital city of Italy and it’s situated in southern Italy. It has around 2,5 million citizens and it houses 7-10 million tourists each year. Crowded much? Yeah, but for a reason!

The city is on UNESCO’s world heritage site list because historically, it’s the most important city in the world. There’s truly no place like Rome!

Rome is an incredibly walkable city and you should totally take advantage of that. If you’re able to walk, that’s the best way to discover the beauties of this ancient city.

WHAT DOES THIS GUIDE INCLUDE?

This guide includes all the must-see tourist attractions, how to get from one location to the other and how much time it takes, as well as how much time you should spend at each location!

The start of this guide is our accommodation, Armonia All’Opera, which is near the Rome Termini train station. We definitely enjoyed our stay here and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for the perfect place to stay. The room with the private bathroom was around 100 euros per night!

If you’re staying somewhere in the city center, start with the attraction that’s closest to you and continue following this list!

1. COLOSSEUM

FROM ARMONIA ALL’OPERA TO COLOSSEUM – 20 minutes

SPEND AT THE COLOSSEUM – 0.5 to 1.5 hours

The symbol of Rome is the first on this list. Take a walk from the hotel and you’ll reach one of the most magical places in Rome – the Colosseum. The biggest amphitheater in the world is over 2 thousand years old and it looks spectacular from any point of view.

Although it’s incredibly beautiful from the outside, the inside is something you must see. You need to explore the arena floor and the underground corridors because that’s something you won’t find anywhere else. The walls of the Colosseum are also full of informative texts about different parts and pieces of the Colosseum, so if you’re a history fan you will LOVE it. Our tickets were bought on GetYourGuide. If you’re interested in buying some, click here or on the box below!

2. ARCO DI COSTANTINO

FROM THE COLOSSEUM TO THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE – 2 minutes

SPEND AT THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE – 10 minutes

Probably the second most famous Arch in the world, after the one in Paris, is Arco di Costantino, or Arch of Constantine. Dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great, the Ancient Roman military passed through the Arch whenever they were victorious in one of their military battles. The Arch is only 2 minutes away from the Colosseum so you will find it easily. You can only see the Arch from the outside so walk over, marvel over it, and take some amazing pictures there!

3. PALATINE HILL

FROM THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE TO PALATINE HILL – 2 minutes

SPEND AT THE PALATINE HILL – 1 hour

Rome was built on seven hills, and Palatine Hill was the central and most famous one. Today, you can see various excavations of different Italian sites which will bring you back to ancient Rome. Palatine Hill, in my opinion, is not as exciting as Colosseum or Forum Romanum, but it’s worth a visit and it’s included in the ticket!

4. FORUM ROMANUM

FROM PALATINE HILL TO FORUM ROMANUM – 1 minute

SPEND AT THE FORUM ROMANUM – 1 hour

Forum Romanum is a place with maybe the most history in one place. Once, it was the main square of Rome, where literally EVERYONE used to come. The ancient Romans used to shop there, socialize, elect their leaders and prosecute their criminals. There are several incredible excavations there such as government buildings and temples. If you already bought a ticket for the Colosseum, the ticket is also valid for Forum Romanum, so enjoy and learn some ancient history!

5. VIA DEI FORI IMPERIALI

FROM FORUM ROMANUM TO VIA DEI FORI IMPERIALI – 2 minutes

SPEND AT VIA DEI FORI IMPERIALI – 10 minutes

The Via dei Fori Imperiali is one of the prettiest roads I’ve ever seen! The cobbled road is in the city center of Rome, and it’s a real treat walking through it. Why? Well, each side of the road has incredible excavations in the open, leaving you completely in awe. The pavements on the sides of the road are also full of people making art or playing music so it’s a perfect place for some people-watching. I come back to this road multiple times a day when I’m in Rome because it’s just so wonderful!

6. ALTARE DELLA PATRIA

FROM VIA DEI FORI IMPERIALI TO ALTARE DELLA PATRIA – 10 minutes

SPEND AT ALTARE DELLA PATRIA – 30 minutes

Altare della Patria or The Altar of the Fatherland is one of the biggest and most impressive buildings in Rome. The magnificent building is 135 meters wide and 70 meters high and it’s completely made out of white marble. Inside the building, there is a museum you can visit, but if that doesn’t interest you, at least climb the stairs for the incredible view of Rome you will get!

7. CAMPO DE FIORI

FROM ALTARE DELLA PATRIA TO CAMPO DE’ FIORI– 15 minutes

SPEND AT CAMPO DE’ FIORI – 30 minutes

Campo de’ Fiori is a daily market (excluding Sunday) where each morning you can come and buy fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables but there are also other interesting products like spices, fresh pasta or even second-hand clothes. The market is very lively and it’s a great place to come and have a cup of coffee in the morning.

The square on which the market is held also includes a statue of Giordano Bruno who was executed there in 1600, so make sure to pay him a visit. Campo de’ Fiori is also a great place to have lunch. My recommendation goes to the restaurant Osteria da Fortunata, merely a few meters from the market. Delicious!

8. PIAZZA NAVONA

FROM CAMPO DE’ FIORI TO PIAZZA NAVONA – 5 minutes

SPEND AT PIAZZA NAVONA – 30 minutes

Rome’s most famous square is definitely Piazza Navona. Although the square is always crowded with tourists, it has a certain charm with all its churches, fountains, and monuments. Keep in mind that the restaurants and bars on the square are certain tourist traps so choose someplace else to have your authentic Italian meal.

9. THE PANTHEON

FROM PIAZZA NAVONA TO THE PANTHEON – 5 minutes

SPEND AT THE PANTHEON – 1 hour

The Pantheon is the best-preserved building in the whole city of Rome, and it truly makes you wonder how in the world did they manage to build something so magnificent! The Pantheon is a Catholic church now, so if you’re up for a visit make sure you are covered – short pants are not a problem but your shoulders must be covered. If you’re going during the week, the entrance is free but the queues are massive. If you’re going on the weekend you must book your spot. We’ve bought an audio guide tour for 8 euros and secured a spot on a very busy Saturday morning!

10. TREVI FOUNTAIN

FROM THE PANTHEON TO THE TREVI FOUNTAIN – 8 minutes

SPEND AT THE TREVI FOUNTAIN – 15 minutes

I’m a big Trevi fan. Every time I come to Rome, the Trevi fountain is what impresses me the most each time. The fountain is 30 meters high and the name of it comes from the Italian “tre via” or three roads which used to collide back in the day. It’s a tradition to throw a coin into the fountain to ensure you’ll be back in Rome, so don’t forget to toss a euro while there! The Trevi gets crazily crowded during the day and evening so if you want no crowds, get up early! Still, make sure to stop by during the evening to see it illuminated.