How to Spend an Extra Day in Rome

Rome offers an endless assortment of pleasures. Perhaps that’s why it’s drawing the likes of Arri Group, which opened a new office in Italy’s capital, and events like the Ryder Cup, the biennial golf competition that attracts global sponsors such as BMW, Rolex and Hilton. New businesses are providing a fresh reason to visit and inviting travelers to linger longer each time. With only a single day here you’ll just be scratching the surface, but there’s a world of ways to spend 24 hours in Rome.

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi

Lobby bar at the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Hotel / Photo: Courtesy of Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Hotel

Thai brand Anantara debuted in Italy with this 238-room grand hotel at the center of Piazza della Repubblica. The historic buidling just underwent a total refurbishment, while preserving architectural elements that date back to 1705 (the structure was commissioned by Pope Clement XI for the Vatican). The regal property offers spacious rooms and a business center partly suspended over the foundations of the fourth-century Baths of Diocletian. A rooftop terrace featuring the restaurant and bar Seen offers an ideal spot for entertaining.
anantara.com

Aperitivo Hour

A cultural tradition, aperitivo hour usually begins around 6 p.m. House wine and regional aperitifs such as Campari and soda and Aperol spritz are discounted and served with a variety of complimentary snacks, such as olives, nuts, prosciutto and bread. Many venues partake, from wine bars like Il Goccetto to restaurants surrounding main squares such as Piazza Navona.

Walks of Italy

The Roman Forum, seen on a Walks of Italy tour / Photo: David Soanes Photography/Getty Images

Offering something for every traveler, Walks of Italy organizes exclusive small group experiences that range from niche pasta-making classes to Best of Rome tours. The latter is quite popular for ticking off “must-sees” in half a day, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Jewish Quarter (not to mention a taste of authentic Roman pizza). The tour concludes at the Colosseum with skip-the-line access and an in-depth tour of the iconic amphitheater.
walksofitaly.com

Trastevere 

Rome’s cobbled bohemia, Trastevere is where buskers attract crowds of dancers and Etruscan facades are ivy-lined and graffitied. It’s the spot to embrace a slow afternoon, hopping from gelateria to beer pub (Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà is a long-standing hole-in-the-wall), while popping into artisanal shops in between.
football-pub.com

Campo de’ Fiori

Campo de’ Fiori / Photo: Giulio/DGR/iStock/Getty Images

Although this popular piazza contains tourist-trap restaurants waiting to upcharge gullible visitors, there are exceptions to the rule. Like Pierluigi (touted as the first fish restaurant in Rome) and Assunta Madre, both only a skip away from the “field of flowers.” More casual spots include Forno, known for its street-style pizza and the oldest focaccia in Rome, and Roscioli, for a quick snack on supplì–fried rice with mozzarella. The square also hosts a famed local farmers market, displaying fresh flowers and vibrant produce.
pierluigi.it; salumeriaroscioli.com