If you are planning to take a day trip to Rome from Florence, I’ve got you! Italy is my favourite country in the world! I have visited it pretty much every year. I’ve been to Rome more times than I can count, and I also lived near Florence for a while. I’m in love with the Italian lifestyle, the beauty of the country, and the delicious food.
I know from experience that when you are planning a trip to Italy you may want to visit everything, even if you only have a ten day/two week holiday. And you may think that Italy isn’t that big, but it takes time to visit it. I always recommend either visiting the North, the Centre, or the South in one trip. You want to be able to breathe Italy, feel it with all your pores, as well as enjoying the country, which you can’t do if you’re on the move all the time.
A great way to plan your trip to Italy is to find a central base, and do day trips to the cities around it. So, in this article, I want to tell you how you can take a day trip to Rome from Florence.
How to Get from Florence to Rome
The easiest way to do a day trip to Rome from Florence is by train. There are high speed trains that connect the two cities in less than one and a half hours. If you want to do a day trip from Florence to Rome you must take one of these fast trains. Rome is big and you want to maximise your time there to see as much as possible.
The price for a single ticket for the high speed train from Florence to Rome, booked in advance, is 15 euros. If you book on the day, you will pay much more, up to 50 euros each way.
If you want to travel to Rome on a day trip from Florence, but don’t want to hassle with preparing your own itinerary or spend time booking train tickets, you can always choose a guided tour. A guided small group tour will provide you with train tickets, a local guide and a well built itinerary, as well as all the background information on the places you are seeing. And trust me, you will need especially if this is your first trip to Rome, as the city has so much history! You can book such a tour by clicking here.
About this Day Trip to Rome from Florence Itinerary
Rome is a massive city and whilst many of the sights are within walking distance of each other – it’s a lot of walking. To see all the main attractions, you will need to be smart about how you organise your time in the Eternal City.
When I built this itinerary I took into consideration the proximity of the sights. As you arrive at the Termini train station, you will be starting this itinerary by heading straight over to the Colosseum, which is a 30 minute walk from the station. As you only have one day to explore Rome on your day trip from Florence, you won’t have time to go inside the monuments as well. The Colosseum and the Roman Forum take at least one day to visit and will exhaust you – take it from me, as I did it back in April. By the end of the day, when the Roman Forum was closing, I could barely feel my legs anymore.
If you have mobility issues, or if you want to maximise your time in Rome, go for an organised tour that will provide you with train tickets from Florence to Rome as well as a professional guide who knows Rome very well. You won’t risk getting lost or not see everything you planned to. If this is your first visit to Rome, it’s important to understand what you will be seeing – Rome is an open air museum and there is a lot of history to be told. Walking around with a guide who can tell you what you are seeing and where are you going, is important. You can book such a trip with a guide by clicking here.
Whatever option you choose, keep in mind that there will be a lot of walking involved.
Sights to See on a Day Trip to Rome from Florence:
Have a Quick Breakfast at Café Pasticceria Regoli
Breakfast in Italy consists of a quick coffee and a delicious cornetto, which is a pastry filled with chocolate, jam, or cream. The traditional breakfast in Rome is the maritozzo, which is a sweet pastry cut in half and filled with whipped cream. It’s a fantastic way to give your body a sugar boost of energy for the busy day ahead.
A great place to enjoy a local breakfast in Rome, close to Termini station, is Pasticceria Regoli. Decide what you want, pay at the counter, and then give your receipt to the barista. They are such a lovely bunch and I enjoyed this place so much that during my last trip to Rome I had breakfast here every day. Click here for directions.
Check Out the Colosseum
I still remember the first time I saw the Colosseum and the impression it left on me. It was my first ever trip abroad, and all of a sudden, the famous Italian landmark I knew from postcards and pictures in history books, was right in front of me. And it was more majestic than anything I had ever seen before. I remember I spent quite a bit of time in front of it, just looking and touching its walls, which gave me shivers thinking those same walls were touched by other people, 2000 years ago!
The Colosseum remains at the top of the best touristic sights I have ever seen. Since that moment I have visited over 60 countries, but Rome and the Colosseum have a special place in my heart. If there is one thing you should do on your day trip from Florence to Rome, it is to visit the Colosseum. You just can’t skip it.
If you want to go inside the Colosseum and see some of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill as well, consider booking an express VIP tour. This includes a skip the line ticket, a qualified guide, as well as a history lesson about the Colosseum and Ancient Rome. You can book this three hour long tour by clicking here. Keep in mind that if you choose this option, you will probably have to sacrifice time at the Vatican as well as take taxis to move quickly from one side of the city to another.
Gaze at the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is another marvel of the Roman Empire. When you are in Rome on a day trip, you can see a glimpse of it by walking from the Colosseum towards Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele II. On the right hand side of the street you will see the Foro Augustus and the Traian’s Column, whilst on the other side you will get a glimpse of the temple ruins in the main Colosseum archaeological park.
For an amazing view of the Roman Forum, climb the Capitoline Hill and check out the viewpoints on each side of the Campidoglio square. Click here for the exact location.
Throw a Coin in Fontana di Trevi
The next famous stop on this day trip itinerary is Fontana di Trevi. Unfortunately this is a very popular stop, so I wouldn’t recommend spending too much time here. Even if you come early in the morning or late at night, there will still be crowds around.
Just throw a coin in the fountain, make a wish, take some photos then to return to Rome and head over to the next attraction on this itinerary: lunch near Piazza di Spagna.
Have a Portion of Pasta to Go from Pastificio Guerra
For a quick but delicious lunch on the go, head to Pastificio Guerra, just around the corner from the Spanish Steps. This is a takeaway pastificio – which translates as a pasta factory. They make two types of fresh pasta every day, one of which is vegetarian. A generous portion costs 4.5 euros and the sauces are usually on the traditional side, such as cacio e pepe, carbonara, or pesto.
Once you finish eating, check out Pompi across the street, which sells tiramisu with different toppings, to go. I highly recommend the forest fruits.
Climb the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna
Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous squares in Rome. In front of the Spanish Steps you will see the Fontanella della Barcaccia, one of the works of the famous Italian sculptor Bernini.
If you visit Rome in late spring, you will find the Spanish Steps decorated with large pots of beautiful pink azalea flowers. From the top of the Steps you can admire a beautiful panorama of Rome.
Walk to the Pantheon
The next must see site during this day trip to Rome is the Pantheon. It is a mere 20 minute walk from the Spanish Steps, through the centre of the city. You will get to see the architecture of Rome, and pass by a range of small alleys leading to main roads, crossing Via del Corso where you will find the most posh shops in town.
The Pantheon is a temple built around 125AD, the best preserved in Rome. It was transformed from a pagan temple to a church back in 608, which spared it from being destroyed. The Pantheon has seen more than 2000 years of history, and it’s still standing. The entrance to the Pantheon is free of charge, but you must wear modest attire, as it’s still a church.
When you visit the Pantheon make sure to look up and see the perfect spherical hole in the dome. When it was a pagan temple, the hole was used to air the temple because of the fumes from the fire related rituals. And yes, when it rains in Rome it does rain inside the Pantheon as well, but because the floor is slightly tilted, the water immediately drains away.
Whilst there, don’t miss enjoying a gelato from Giolitti – my favourite in the whole of Italy. This family owned gelateria makes the best pistachio gelato I have ever tasted. Every time I’m in Rome I make sure to have at least 2 or 3 gelatos from here.
See Castel Sant’Angelo
On your way from the Pantheon to the Vatican you will pass the Castel Sant’Angelo. This is another iconic landmark of Rome, made even more famous by the Da Vinci Code film.
The castle was initially built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian, hence it’s peculiar cylindrical shape. Later, during the 14th century, it was converted into a fortress and a papal residence. The castle has a fortified corridor that connect it to the Vatican.
Be Amazed by the Vatican
The last sight on this day trip to Rome from Florence is the Vatican. Depending on how much time you have left, you can go inside St Peter Basilica, or just admire it from the outside.
The Vatican is not only the residence of the Pope, it’s also a valuable collection of art. It doesn’t matter whether you are admiring it from the outside, exploring St Peter Basilica or visiting the Musei Vaticani, the Vatican City has so many works of art displayed everywhere. For example, St Peter’s Square is flanked on both sides by 284 columns and 88 pillars, arranged in four rows. On top of them, facing the square, there are 140 saint statues which were sculpted 4 centuries ago by the disciples of Bernini.
Inside St Peter’s Basilica you will find one of Michelangelo’s most famous works, the Pieta statue, depicting the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus Christ, after he was taken down from the cross.
The Musei Vaticani is home to one of the most impressive paintings in the world, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
Have Dinner at Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
For a one of a kind dinner experience, check out the Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina. I had the best cacio e pepe pasta in Rome here. It was so good that everyone at the table (who ordered the same thing), stopped talking after taking the first bite, and just enjoyed the journey that was taking place on their taste buds. I included this place on my list for the best restaurants in Rome, for that plate of cacio e pepe alone.
On the menu you will find many classic Roman dishes, as well as a large selection of charcuterie or cheese boards.
Be aware that you must book a table if you want to dine here. The restaurant is actually a deli where in the morning you can buy cold cuts, cheeses, and local products, whist in the evening you can dine among the large shelves filled with bottles of wine. It is a very small venue with a limited number of tables and a few seats at the bar.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is totally doable to take a day trip from Florence to Rome. Because of the great rail connection by fast trains, you can enjoy a fantastic day in Rome, seeing the sights, as well as indulging in the delicious traditional Roman food the capital of Italy has to offer.
And don’t forget that you can always book a tour and a guide that will make this trip much easier for you.
Like it? Pin it!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this website are “affiliate links.” This means that if you click on the link and do a purchase, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost for you. This helps me keep my website running and continue to share my travelling knowledge with you. I thank you for booking your flights or hotels using the links on my website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
Please note that this is a collaborative post.
Oh, how I miss Europe! Even though I have visited Italy, I haven’t toured around there much. This is something we would love to do with my family starting from Rome. This is great itinerary as I there is so much to see that I think we would quickly get overwhelmed while planning where to go. I did not know that they also have bullet trains there, very cool! Many times the information we struggle the most is how to transfer from one place to another.
This is an excellent way to maximize the day trip to Rome. I am glad that you included places to eat because sometimes, that takes too much time to decide where to go. The Cornetto from Café Pasticceria Regoli looks delicious.
We have always wanted to visit The Vatican and it’s nice to know that it is possible to include it on a day trip to Rome.