7am arrival in Rome

What time of year?

I wouldn’t plan anything important or costly as you will likely be jet lagged
It’s best to stay outside -weather permitting and let the sunshine help adjust your clock

A simple walk to familiarize yourself, lunch then check in (drop your bags on arrival-hotel will hold for you)
We take a very short nap and freshen up then head out for apertivo and dinner

RS Heart of Rome walk covers the piazzas, fountains, etc and can be split-some on arrival then some in the evening

Most churches are free and make a nice cool quiet place to stop for a bit
Full of amazing art

Are you by chance taking The Best of Southern Italy tour? Because the Best of Italy starts in Venice. Just asking because you see different sites in Rome on the different tours.

Sounds like you're taking the Heart of Italy tour? That one starts at 3:00 PM in Rome, and includes three walking tours with your group. The first night's covers Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona but it's unclear from the itinerary what else. The 2nd day's walk itinerary is uncertain ("your guide's favorite neighborhoods), and the third is Ancient Rome: Pantheon, exterior of the Colosseum, Forum, and not sure what else.

So while I'd love to recommend a walk on arrival day to stay awake, it's hard to know where to send you that won't be covered over the next 3 group walks. Anyone who has done this tour (if this is indeed the one you're taking, vclaxton) any suggestions?

Yes I am sorry we are taking The heart of Italy tour.

Prior to the Heart of Italy tour in October ................

From OP's other post .. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/prior-to-the-heart-of-italy-tour-vatican-or-not

I would seriously consider booking your hotel from the night before your arrival and warning them that you will check-in in the morning. That way, your room will be ready for you when you arrive so you can shower and maybe take a brief nap before spending the afternoon exploring outside. It's an extra expense, but one that I often find worth it with such an early arrival.

It's an extra expense....

That might be nice but during high season it can be a considerable expense that not every visitor can manage. They (there are two couples involved) may also not be able to change their flights at this point, and the hotel may not have rooms available. At least they're coming in the day before the start of the tour so a big thumb-up there!

seriously consider booking your hotel from the night before your arrival and warning them that you will check-in in the morning

This is an excellent idea. It may sound like an extravagance but the opportunity to get cleaned up and maybe take a nap (No more than 90 minutes! Voice of experience here!) is priceless in setting the stage for your trip. Get some fresh air in the afternoon but nothing scheduled.

This is when my favorite and productive tip comes in handy (but not in this case, besides the "productive" part)......I usually do RT flights, so I plan to end in my city.....I hop on a train and I get enough "rest" or even a tiny nap with an alarm on the way to a farther destination. Last time we got to Salerno from Rome around 1:30ish and had lunch and made our way to our B&B after that. I do always hate everything around 7pm that night of arrival (though my last trip flying into London I managed to finagle an eye mask and intentional sleeping on the plane and I survived, even during the microsoft meltdown!) but I like to get something accomplished right away.

I would go with the other folk in suggesting a wandering time, maybe grab a panino and go to a park? Villa Borghese sounds nice for that :)

If you're arriving that early and up with the Italians, head to a bar and get a caffe at the counter! You'll fit right in! hahahaha

If you are on a flight arriving at 7AM, and likely have to clear passport control, and retrieve luggage, it is unlikely you would get to the hotel much before 10AM.

I would just make sure the hotel could store luggage until check in time and you could them wander the local area and get something to eat. Not sure I would bother, or incur the expense, of reserving a room for 'the night before'

Last year we arrived at 7:00 am and were out of the airport and (via taxi) at our Campo de Fiori hotel before 9:00. We had made prior arrangements to store our luggage and they graciously offered us a cappuccino before we headed out to explore. We enjoyed wandering through Campo de Fiori, then walked to the Victor Emanuel Monument (the largest structure around and hard to miss) and explored there — because it was early still there were no crowds. We took the elevator to the top (it was the first Sunday of the month so we went up for free) and oohed and aahed over the panoramic views of the Forum and the city. Then we wandered around the Capitoline Hill area. We found a cafe and enjoyed lunch outdoors, then visited the cat sanctuary. By that time we were able to check in and shower. Then we explored Piazza Navonna, had an early dinner, returned to the hotel and slept SO well…no jet lag at all the next day. I’m all for combating jet lag with fresh air and walking.