Rome in 8 Hours

Rome is a big city with a lot of great points of interest. You may think that 8 hours in Rome is just too little to see most of the landmarks and sights, but hear me out because I am about to tell you that it is possible. Yes, 8 hours in Rome is just too little, but it is doable!

I was in Rome on a Sunday, so all my planning revolved around the time Pope Francis appeared at the window and gave us a blessing.

My starting point was at Vatican City. Our plan was to make it to the Spanish Steps then walk back to Vatican City to see Pope Francis. After his blessing, we walked back in the same direction as the Spanish Steps, but this time farther to see The Colosseum. Yeah, it was a lot of walking back and forth.

Okay, let’s begin.

Fiume Tevere (The Tiber). It is the second longest river in Italy.

Then, we also saw Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel). This building has a long history. During its existence, it functioned as a monument, a city wall, a fortress, a residence, a military prison and now a museum. It was once the tallest building in Rome.

Next up, was Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Prati). This Church sits right in the center of Rome. It is sometimes referred as little Milan Cathedral because of its style.

Last but not least, we finally made it to the famous Spanish Steps. At the bottom of the steps, you will see a fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Old Boat). It may be hard to see because of all the tourists there.

It was about 11:30am when we left the Spanish Steps. We had to rigorously make our way back to Vatican City because Pope Francis came out at noon. There he was… in the top second window from the right building. His entire speech was in Italian and I understood none of it.

It was finally time for a well deserved lunch meal. We ate at an Italian restaurant that was 5 minutes away from Vatican City. It was so delicious. These portions were huge. We ordered 5 entrees for 7 people and some of them couldn’t finish their portion. That was fine by me because it meant I got more 🙂

With some food and cold drinks in our stomach, we decided it was smarter to take a taxi to The Colosseum rather than walk. People say you shouldn’t work out right after you eat right? A taxi ride from Vatican City to The Colosseum will cost you around 10€-12€. That is including tips as well. Also, some taxis fit 5 people.

Our final stop was Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain). This time we actually walked. We came across The Roman Forum. It is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world.

And Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland). It is an impressive monument that you wouldn’t miss while walking to Trevi Fountain. It was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king.

I knew Trevi Fountain was under construction, but we still wanted to go because we had been told that the best gelato was at Trevi Fountain.

There you go. Rome in 8 hours is definitely possible. It may feel rushed, but at least you can see 8 points of interest and enjoy 1 delicious meal.