This itinerary is perfect for anyone looking to visit Rome from Naples in a single day. It only takes just over an hour to reach Roma from Napoli so you can really maximise your time.

In this guide I’ll be giving you all the details you need for the perfect day trip, covering: 

• Why visit Rome from Naples
• Tips for maximising your time
• Prepare for your day trip to Rome from Naples
• How to get to Rome from Naples
• Spending a morning in Rome
• Lunchtime in Rome
• An afternoon in Rome
• Early evening and aperitivo in Rome

Rome is a big city, with a lot to see and do, especially if you are interested in history, art and/or food. I’d recommend researching what you’d like to do before coming (or at the very least on the train from Naples on the day of your visit!) and you should be prepared to be flexible with your itinerary. 

If you follow my guide exactly, you will see a lot of the city but not have much time in any one location.

The best way to get from Naples to Rome is by using Italy’s high-speed train network. No other transport option offers the same speed and comfort. 

To make the most of your day in Rome you should aim to leave Naples around 7AM on a train headed out from Napoli Centrale train station.

The inter-regional trains take around 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Rome from Naples (and vice versa) with regular departures in both directions from early in the morning until late in the evening.

To avoid stress at the station, I recommend buying your tickets in advance. This way you will have them saved on your smartphone, don’t need to worry about losing the paper tickets and are pretty much always cheaper than getting them on the day.

When you arrive at Roma Termini train station, follow the ‘M’ signs for the metro. This will lead you underground and past several machines from which to get public transport tickets. You’ll also find numerous stores here, so grab a few snacks and drinks for your exploration of Rome if needed.

You can purchase a couple of the standard 100 minute tickets, which are valid for one metro journey and unlimited buses/trams in a 100 minute period from the first use. Or you can use a credit/debit card, or Apple/Google Pay on your phone for the tap and go machines on the turnstiles. 

A note about the tap and go; you can only use a credit/debit card once. So, if you are traveling as a family, you can add your card to your children’s phones with Apple/Google Pay which counts as separate uses.

Once you’ve sorted your tickets, take Metro B (the blue line) in the direction of Laurentina until the Circo Massimo stop. Get off here and exit the station, turning right as you come up out of the stairs and crossing the road when it is safe to do so. Turn left and walk up the hill for a few minutes until you arrive at Belvedere Romolo e Remo.

Welcome to Rome!

This small modern piazza is named after the twin brothers Romulus and Remus who, according to legend, fought for the right to found Rome in 753 BCE. Romulus won (hence the name of the city) and became Rome’s first king. 

Here you are on the edge of the Circus Maximus, ancient Rome’s great chariot and horse racing stadium, and the largest entertainment venue ever constructed in history. Estimates suggest that up to 250,000 people could have watched the games here during antiquity! 

Directly in front of you stands the ruins of the Palatine Hill, where Rome’s emperors lived and ruled their vast empire from.

Spend a moment here to take in the view (and refresh using the nearby water fountain) before turning around and heading back down the hill towards the metro station. 

If you have visited Rome previously and are looking for a new/different experience, consider visiting the Circus Maximus VR experience where virtual reality technology is used to bring the ancient stadium to life. Or, you could detour very slightly to visit the Baths of Caracalla, one of ancient Rome’s biggest public bathing complexes. 

At the base of the slope, with the Circus Maximus on your left, turn left and walk straight for about 10 minutes, passing the Palatine Hill ruins. As you walk you should see a large, monumental arch in the near distance, and behind that, a much bigger structure…

Are You Not Entertained?!

As you approach the arch, the building behind it should become clearer. You are walking towards the Colosseum, Rome’s most iconic landmark!

Once you reach the arch (inaugurated by emperor Constantine in 315 CE to celebrate his victory in a civil war), stop and take a moment to absorb your surroundings – this is truly the epicenter of Imperial Rome. 

Next, bear right and follow the path that circles the ‘back’ of the Colosseum to avoid the crowds, and to get a unique perspective of this incredible structure.

If seeing the Colosseum or Roman Forum is on your bucket list, you will need to book in advance. The queues for these sites can get very long, so the earlier you can get here the better. If this is your priority, skip the first part of this itinerary and ride the metro from Termini directly to the Colosseo metro stop (Line B, Laurentina direction) before starting your visit.

If you’re not going inside, continue walking until you come to the main road, then cross the road and head up the hill, bearing left. Make your way to La Biga Wine Food which is a good place to stop and grab a quick coffee (the food is nothing special) in order to appreciate their incredible view of the Colosseum.

My favourite neighbourhood in Rome

From here follow Via degli Annibaldi to reach one of Rome’s most picturesque neighborhoods; Rione Monti. For a couple of summers, longer ago than I’d like to admit, I called this neighborhood home and it is still my favorite part of the city. 

If you’re not too worried about sightseeing and want to spend a more relaxing day in Rome, head to Piazza della Madonna dei Monti where you can sit with a coffee/gelato/spritz in one of the prettiest piazzas in the city. 

From Rione Monti, follow Via della Madonna dei Monti southeast, where you’ll get glimpses of the Colosseum through the side streets.

Rione Monti wasn’t always one of the best-looking and most desirable neighborhoods in Rome. In fact, in ancient times, this area was known as the suburra which loosely translates as ‘slums’. It was in this neighborhood that Julius Caesar was born, using his reputation as a man of the people to great effect throughout his career. 

At the end of the road you will be met by a huge stone wall towering above street level. This is a ‘fire wall’, designed to prevent the spread of fires (which were commonplace in ancient Roman residential areas) into the administrative and religious center of the city – the area that we are about to enter.

The imperial heart of Rome

Look for some small steps slightly to your left, take these to arrive in Largo Corrado Ricci. Here you’ll find one of Rome’s iconic nasoni water fountains (so called as ‘naso’ means ‘nose’ in Italian and locals say the shape of the fountains is nose-like – you be the judge!) from which you can drink freely from. 

If you arrived in Rome a little later in the morning and are beginning to think about lunch, cross the road and head to Angelino “ai Fori” dal 1947. This is a very traditional Italian restaurant serving all of the classics at fair prices given its prominent location and shaded garden. 

Next cross the main street and take a look left for another epic view of the Colosseum. 

The road you have just crossed is called the Via dei Fori Imperali and was opened at the direction of Mussolini in 1932. The purpose of this wide boulevard was to connect the city’s principal locations and monuments, and to provide Mussolini with a parade route.

The construction of this road is a contentious issue even now, as a lot of historical structures were destroyed during the building process, but inversely, the demolitions and clearances opened up previously hidden archeological treasures. 

We want to walk away from the Colosseum, following the Via dei Fori Imperali in a westerly direction. As you progress, I recommend zig-zagging from side to side of the road (always watching the traffic) to look at the ancient monuments that flank the road.

These sites are forums, with the left side being the famous Roman Forum (the main meeting place in ancient times) and the Forum of Julius Caesar, and the right side featuring the Imperial Forums; more elaborate constructions built by Rome’s emperors. 

As you progress you’ll see large metal statues of the emperors who built forums here, as well as a matching statue of Julius Caesar denoting where his forum is.

At the end of the Via dei Fori Imperali you’ll find the impressive Column of Trajan on your right which features friezes that document Rome’s conquest of ancient Dacia (near modern Romania). You can get close enough to these incredibly detailed examples of ancient Roman art by skirting the edges of the road that runs around the column and adjacent excavated area.

The Via dei Fori Imperali connects with the rest of the city via Piazza Venezia, so-called for the large palazzo on the left side that was formerly the Venetian embassy.

The dominating feature however of Piazza Venezia is the Vittoriano, or the Altar of the Fatherland monument. This huge structure was built to celebrate the unification of Italy and like the Via dei Fori Imperiali, is disliked by a large part of the city’s native population as a lot of history was destroyed to make way for it.

The Vittoriano is another great option for anyone looking to visit something a little different and off the regular tourist radar. Inside you’ll find a museum dedicated to the unification of the modern Italy state.

By this point it will be approaching lunchtime, but before eating there are just a few more locations to see.

From Piazza Venezia, head down Via del Plebiscito until you arrive at Largo Argentina. Take a moment to peer down into this exposed archeological site. What you can see are the remains of four ancient Roman temples, as well as the location where on the Ides of March (March 14) 44 BCE that Julius Caesar was assassinated, changing the direction of world history.

At this point you have a couple of options; continue sightseeing and grab a quick street food lunch, or make your way to a sit down restaurant.

If you’d like to continue sightseeing, set Google Maps to take you to Campo di Fiori. This is my favorite piazza in Rome as it still holds a daily market (in the mornings through to the early afternoon) and the history connected to this piazza is fascinating.

In the center of the piazza you’ll find a statue of Giordano Bruno, a 16th century philosopher. He is memorialized here following his execution in this piazza in 1600 after being found guilty of heresy by the Catholic Church. It is still common today to find notes at the base of this statue from locals lamenting issues with Rome, keeping Bruno’s spirit of speaking up alive.

Let’s eat!

Close to Campo di Fiori you’ll find Forno Roscioli, one of my go-to places to grab something quick to eat while on the move. Everything on offer is freshly baked and cooked daily. I love their pizza by the slice and arancini, but honestly everything is good.

If you would prefer a sit down lunch, head straight from Largo Argentina to one of the two recommendations below. Or you can visit Campo di Fiori very quickly and then turn around to get to Via del Corso and reach one of these two spots:

• Turning right at Via dei Sabini, head to Agrodolce Roma if you’re looking to sample authentic Roman pastas. This intimate restaurant tucked away from the crowds is one of my favourite places in the center of Rome to eat real local cuisine, and the only place I now order tiramisu from – get one yourself and you’ll see why! When booking, cite code NAPLESWISE and you’ll get a free glass of prosecco when you arrive 🥂
• Turning left at Piazza Colonna, make your way into the historic back streets of Rome to Piazza Capranica where you’ll find Kisaki Ramen if you are looking for non-Italian food. Sara and I have loved this restaurant since 2018 for its amazing ramen, sushi and pan-Asian options. 

Depending on where you ate lunch, our next stops are two of Rome’s main landmarks; the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. To arrive at these sites, follow these directions from your lunch stops:

• From Campo di Fiori, make your to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II up Via di Torre Argentina following it to Piazza della Rotonda
• From Kisaki Ramen, follow Via degli Orfani to Piazza della Rotonda
• From Agrodolce, head back to Via del Corso, crossing the road and using Google Maps to guide you to the Pantheon. 

Depending on the exact route you follow from either Agrodolce or Kisaki you should pass the Column of Marcus Aurelius (a monument built to celebrate the military victories of the 2nd century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius) and the Italian Parliament building at Montecitorio (home to an ancient Egyptian obelisk).

My top locations in Rome

Arriving at Piazza della Rotonda is an incredible experience, especially for first time visitors to Rome. The piazza opens out to reveal (what I believe to be) the greatest example of ancient Roman engineering still standing today; the Pantheon.

This structure was built in the early 2nd century BCE and was originally a temple to honor all the gods (a.k.a. the pantheon – hence the name) of ancient Rome. The Pantheon was later converted into a church and this is the main reason why the structure was preserved through the centuries. Most ancient Roman temples were neglected over time or destroyed to make use of their materials in new constructions.

If you want to go inside the Pantheon you’ll need to book a ticket in advance online. However if you are short of time, simply standing in Piazza della Rotonda and appreciating this incredible building from the outside is amazing in its own right.

Exit Piazza della Rotonda in the northwestern corner and use Google Maps to make your way to Piazza Navona.

On arrival in Piazza Navona the first thing you’ll notice is the fact that this is not a regular shape (like most Italian piazzas). This space is an oblong, because it follows the footprint of an ancient Roman stadium. The remnants are still under the modern piazza, and can be visited at the Stadium of Domitian museum if you have time.

This piazza is adorned with three beautiful fountains but the central monumental Fountain of the Four Rivers designed by Bernini in the 17th century is the showstopper. This was the same Bernini who designed the colonnade in St Peter’s Square and many more wonderful things in Rome.

Shopping in Rome

If you’re looking to do some shopping when in Rome, Piazza Navona is a great place. Two of our favorite stores are:

• For leather goods, go to Manufactus. Everything for sale here has been handcrafted in Italy by the best artisans using only top quality skins. 
• For ceramics, gifts and homeware, go to L’Artigianato. This small shop is crammed full of authentic artisan ceramics, gifts, home décor and kitchen items. 

The choice is yours

From Piazza Navona you have two options depending on how you are feeling. You can either continue exploring the centro storico (historic center) of Rome (to visit the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and more) or make your way to the Vatican.

Follow Google Maps to zig zag through the streets to reach the Trevi Fountain.

This monumental water feature was designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762. Seeing the beauty up close is truly incredible, and when you consider that the water flowing through this fountain arrives here via aqueduct from the Roman countryside, it’s hard not to appreciate its historical value. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Trevi Fountain and Rome’s unique water network (and have time during your trip, or are looking for something special to do) I recommend visiting the Vicus Caprarius (The Water City) museum nearby.

From the Trevi Fountain, head along Via della Stamperia and follow the brown tourist signs to the Spanish Steps.

This famous staircase was constructed in the 18th century as a means of connecting the top of the nearby hill with Piazza di Spagna below. Over the centuries locals and visitors have come to appreciate the architectural beauty of this urban planning project.

From the Spanish Steps, walk along Via del Babuino to Piazza del Popolo. This huge piazza marks what was once considered the official entrance to Rome. Since ancient times there was a major gate here, and during the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, most pilgrims to Rome would arrive in the city via this gate.

The focal point of the piazza is the huge Egyptian obelisk in the center. This remnant of ancient Egypt is over 3000 years old and was first brought to Rome by emperor Augustus to mark his conquest of Egypt. It initially stood in the Circus Maximus (where this itinerary began) before later being moved to Piazza del Popolo under the orders of Pope Sixtus V in 1587.

From Piazza del Popolo you have two options for reaching Vatican City, our final location. You can either take Metro Line A from Flaminio to Ottaviano or walk along the river Tiber.

Opting for the metro will take about 20 minutes to reach the Vatican, and walking will take around 40 minutes.

One plus of walking (aside from burning off an indulgent lunch!) will mean you will pass two of my favorite places in Rome; the Ara Pacis Museum and the Castel Sant’Angelo.

The Ara Pacis Museum, easily ancient Rome’s most overlooked museum, is home to the restored Altar of Peace. It was constructed in 9 BCE to honor emperor Augustus’ victories over various peoples of ancient Spain and France.  

This stunning example of ancient Roman art and architecture is housed in a modern structure which creates a unique contrast of old and new. If you’re looking for something special to do in Rome, look no further – read my guide to visiting this museum on Romewise for more details.

The Castel Sant’Angelo, now a museum inside a fortress constructed by Renaissance popes, was originally a huge mausoleum constructed between 134 and 139 CE to house the remains of Roman emperor Hadrian and his loved ones.

The Castel is impressive from the outside, but the views from the top are even more awe-inspiring. If you have time or are looking for something different to do during your day in Rome, visit this museum and make your way to the top. Here you’ll find a great bar serving classic Italian drinks with some of the best views in Rome.

Depart Piazza Navona at the northern end, bearing left to walk along Via dei Coronari. This picturesque street is crammed full of antique shops and other boutique stores making it a fun place to explore in its own right. One of my favorite stores is Creart Roma who manufacture and sell unique marble-based resin sculptures that showcase Rome’s history. 

Just before the end, turn right to make your way towards the river Tiber. Cross the beautiful Ponte Sant’Angelo (commonly referred to as the Angel Bridge) with the Castel Sant’Angelo directly in front of you.

If you walked to the Castel Sant’Angelo, the route to Vatican City is easy; just head straight towards St. Peter’s Basilica along Via della Conciliazione.

If you used the Metro, from the Ottaviano station follow Via Ottaviano (using the crowds to guide you) towards St. Peter’s Square.

Depending on the time you arrive here, and your visit priorities, you have a number of options for what to do once you arrive at the Vatican:

• Go inside Basilica San Pietro (St Peter’s Basilica), the heart of the Catholic world and marvel at the incredible art and architecture on display. It is also possible to climb to the top of the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica – see Romewise’s guide here for full details. 
• Visit the sprawling Vatican Museums, one of the greatest collections of art and historical artifacts in the world and home to the Sistine Chapel. Visiting later in the day is the best time to do so as the crowds start to thin.
• All of the above! (You should get here ASAP on arrival from Naples in this case, skipping everything else in this guide)

Regardless of what you end up doing, I would recommend dedicating a little time to simply walk around Piazza San Pietro and marvel at the epic architecture. From St Peter’s Basilica to Bernini’s famous colonnade, few places rival the grandeur of this city state. 

Ending your day

If you have time after visiting the Vatican before your return train back to Naples, consider stopping by one of our favorite spots for aperitivo in this part of Rome; La Zanzara on Via Crescenzio. 

From Zanzara, or Piazza San Pietro, make your way to Ottaviano metro station and take line A to Termini where you can connect for your return train to Naples. 

Enjoy your train back! One final tip; make dinner easy by heading to Franco Gallifuoco Pizzeria right near Napoli Centrale and then grab a taxi from the train station back to your hotel/apartment – you’ve earned it!