The 35 best things to do in Rome
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Rome is such an ancient and dense place that prioritising which attractions to visit can be an overwhelming task. How do you even start to figure out what to do in Rome? To shed some light on that impenetrable question, we've pulled together a list of world-famous sites and lesser-known destinations – museums, markets, archaeological and architectural marvels – that will provide you with the full spectrum of outstanding experiences the Italian capital offers. Whether you have only a day in the city or a couple of weeks to explore every detail, this list of the best things to do in Rome will help you organise an itinerary you won't forget.
AlamyPalazzo Spada
Near Campo dei Fiori, one of Rome's essential piazzas, yet blissfully uncrowded – Palazzo Spada is a striking historic palace built in the 16th century and redesigned by Roman architect Borromini a century later. Inside, there’s a rich art collection with Renaissance and Baroque masters, and outside there’s a peaceful courtyard where eight impressive colonnades create a mesmerising optical illusion. The palace itself is exquisitely Baroque, with elegant, perfect symmetry and ornate decorations. There are walls plastered in frescoes, immaculate stucco work and grand halls of opulent, gilded marble. Palazzo Spada houses an incredible art collection with paintings, sculptures and decorative works by artists including Titian and Caravaggio. Don’t miss the Borromini Perspective Gallery, a masterclass in optical illusion where a corridor appears to be much longer than it actually is.
Address: Piazza Capo di Ferro, 13, Rome, 00186, Italy
AlamyCase Romane del Celio in Rome
Underground beneath the Basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo, this heritage museum shows how Roman daily life has changed over the years. There are 20 rooms showing ancient Roman homes, shops and shrines. It’s cheap to get into, relatively quiet even on weekends and one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Roman domestic architecture. The houses, which date back to the second and third centuries AD, were part of a larger residential complex and possibly belonged to a single aristocratic Roman family. One of the most remarkable features is the underground area known as the hypogeum – a subterranean complex of chambers and passageways. Visitors can explore several interconnected rooms, including reception areas (atria), living quarters (cubicula), kitchens and courtyards. The houses are decorated with colourful frescoes, intricate mosaics and marble floors, showcasing the opulence and artistic sophistication of the Roman elite.
Address: Clivo di Scauro, Rome, 00184, Italy
Website: coopculture.it
AlamyVilla Farnesina
This Villa was the private residence of Agostino Chigi, one of the Renaissance's wealthiest men; he liked to showcase his wealth by hiring artists to paint elaborate frescoes on the walls and ceilings in his palace. That makes this a great place for Renaissance fans who want to take their time and see the art in situ without the crowds. Thanks to Raphael's emphasis on mythological themes, it's also an excellent place for kids who know about the Roman gods – or want to!
Address: Villa Farnesina, Via della Lungara, 230, 00165 Roma RM
Getty ImagesColosseum
If you know the background of the building, a visit to the Colosseum will be truly amazing and totally live up to the hype. The place was used for wild beast hunts, public executions, and gladiator fights for several hundred years, then became a condo of sorts as medieval Romans made their homes in the hulking ruins. Spend a little time in the second-story exhibition area, check out the artists' renderings of the building's ancient and medieval incarnations, and you'll be anxious to learn more.
Address: Colosseum, Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM
Getty ImagesMonte Mario Nature Reserve
A hike through this huge nature reserve – the highest of Rome’s ‘seven hills’ – makes for a great alternative to Villa Borghese with a fraction of the crowds and fantastic views over the city. The Monte Mario Natural Reserve spans around 100 hectares. Nature trails wind through canopies of oak trees, pines and cypress trees. There’s a rich array of wildlife – look out for hawks, kestrels, foxes and hedgehogs. There are a number of different walking trails throughout the reserve, some more difficult (and steep) than others. It couldn’t feel farther from one of the world’s biggest cities.
Address: Monte Mario Nature Reserve, 00135 Rome, Italy
Website: parks.it
Ryan NeevenJog at Villa Borghese and Gianicolo
A morning run is a great way to explore Rome’s lush public gardens, where businessmen and nannies go for lunch breaks. The Gianicolo Park, lined with patriots’ statues, has a unique belvedere, while Villa Borghese and Villa Sciarra are near the main archaeological sites. Il Giardino degli Aranci garden has a romantic panoramic terrace, and from a tiny garden gate next door, there’s a peephole that perfectly frames Saint Peter’s dome.
Address: Villa Borghese, 00197 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital
Getty ImagesQuartiere San Lorenzo
This working-class neighbourhood near Termini station first gained international prominence when Soho House opened its Rome outpost last year. Over the past few years, it’s evolved from a rough-around-the-edges student hangout into a decidedly bohemian district with street art, street food, lively bars, and cool fashion boutiques. To get the most out of the neighbourhood, visit in the late afternoon, when fashion boutiques like L’Anatra all’Arancia and La Maison de la Mode will still be open. Refuel with a coffee at the diminutive Giufà Libreria Caffè bookstore bar, then check out the street art around Via dei Sabelli and Scalo San Lorenzo. Stop by Blackmarket San Lorenzo for a pre-dinner cocktail and vegetarian small plates, or pop into Sanlollo for pizzas, bruschetta, and salted cod. Gelato San Lorenzo does some of the best organic ice cream in town. Still, don’t bring your parents or your fussiest friends here; instead, come with someone up for a cheap-ish night out in a gritty but very cool neighbourhood.
AlamyVilla Doria Pamphilj
Rome's largest public park is divided into manicured gardens, stretches of forest, pine groves, and bits of wild vegetation. There are wide open fields and intimate nooks for romantic picnics. It's a perfect destination for runners or cyclists who want to get in a few miles without the nuisances of car traffic and smog. Whether you visit for a stroll, a meal, or a workout, be sure to have a map. The place is huge, and some exits spit you out into residential neighbourhoods.
Address: Villa Doria Pamphili, Via di S. Pancrazio, 00152 Roma RM
Website: villadoriapamphilj.it
Getty ImagesCapitoline Museums
Home to one of the finest collections of ancient sculpture in Rome (and, therefore, the world), the Capitoline Museums are – weirdly – rarely crowded. They attract school groups, local history and art buffs, and travellers, all of whom tend to meander through the museums' various buildings, two of which were designed by none other than Michelangelo. Thanks to its collection and its proximity to Rome's main archaeological attractions, it's a logical place to stop after visiting the Roman Forum and Colosseum.
Address: Capitoline Museums, Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM
AlamyVicus Caprarius
This museum takes you beneath the Trevi district, through an intricate maze of ancient vestiges, to the archaeological ruins of Vicus Caprarius (which roughly translates to “City of Water”), an old Roman apartment complex dating back to the first century AD. You get to see first-hand how the rich Romans lived, using their own aqueduct – the same one that feeds the Trevi fountain – for their running water. The entrance is unassuming; if you hadn’t been told it was there, it would be easy to walk right past. There’s a fairly comprehensive website, but all bookings are made (and confirmed) via a Whatsapp chat. Skip the guided tour – there were eight of us in the tour group, but we shared the same (small) space with self-guided individuals, many of whom had just shown up and booked on the day. If you’re keen on a post-museum cocktail, head upstairs to Harry’s Bar.
Address: Vicus Caprarius, Vicolo del Puttarello, 25, 00187 Roma RM
Website: vicuscaprarius.com
Getty ImagesTestaccio Market
This market in one of Rome's most bustling central neighbourhoods has all the usual suspects: bread bakeries, produce stalls, fishmongers, butchers, and delis. You'll also find seasonal vegetables like artichokes or zucchini, cuts typical of the local cuisine like tripe and liver, and little chewy pizzas common to Roman bakeries. If you're looking for lunch (or to stock a picnic), hunt down takeaway stalls like the stellar Mordi e Vai, which serves Roman sandwiches near the Via B. Franklin exit. The stalls on the eastern side of the market mainly sell clothes, shoes, and housewares. There's even a hair salon, in case you're needing a touchup.
Address: Testaccio market, Via Aldo Manuzio, 66b, 00153 Roma RM
Website: mercatoditestaccio.it
Ryan NeevenVisit the flea market of Porta Portese
Enclosed by Via del Corso, the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti, this is where the glossy boutiques and big brands are. If you’re looking for less flashy clothes and less crowded streets, the Prati and Ottaviano districts are great substitutes. Flea market fans can’t miss Porta Portese, the Romans’ favourite Sunday attraction. Here you can buy everything from vintage radios to old scooters. Via Sannio in San Giovanni district also has a popular second-hand clothing market for jeans and leather jackets collectors.
Getty ImagesSanta Maria in Trastevere
There are hundreds of churches in Rome, but Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the most breathtaking. Not only are the mosaics and gilded ceiling spectacular, the very skeletal structure of the church is mind-boggling. The columns that support the nave and separate the aisles are single, solid pieces of granite that were lugged across the river in the 12th century after being plundered from the 3rd-century Baths of Caracalla. The church will help you develop a taste for medieval Rome, a period often outshined by the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
Address: Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, 00153 Roma RM
Website: santamariaintrastevere.it
Getty ImagesSanta Maria del Popolo
Santa Maria del Popolo is a Renaissance church at the edge of Piazza del Popolo and just within Rome's 3rd-century walls. It was decorated during Rome's most recent artistic peak, the 15th to 17th centuries, and is packed with masterpieces. The church is free, though some coins will come in handy for turning lights on in chapels. The place mostly draws visitors on the Caravaggio trail. Two canvases painted by that controversial and innovative artist hang in the chapel next to the main altar.
Address: Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo, Piazza del Popolo, 12, 00187 Roma RM
Website: agostiniani.it
AlamySan Zeno Chapel at Santa Prassede
The San Zeno Chapel is a small chapel and a major pilgrimage destination inside the church of Santa Prassede (aka Saint Praxedes). The church, chapel, and mosaics all backdate to the 9th century when Pope Paschal I built the chapel and its Byzantine mosaics for his mother. Because the chapel houses the remains of a pillar believed by many Catholics to be from the Flagellation of Christ, it draws some pilgrims. Other visitors are travellers specifically there to see the Byzantine mosaics.
Address: Basilica of Saint Praxedes, Via di Santa Prassede, 9/a, 00184 Roma RM
Website: santaprassede.wordpress.com
Getty ImagesSant'Ivo alla Sapienza
Most artists and architects working in the characteristically ornate and emotional Baroque style leaned heavily on colour and materials to create strong visual impressions. Not Borromini, in this magnificent church originally designed for the Università di Roma. Using simply moulded stucco forms and daylight, the maestro created an interior space that's at once intimate and infinite, simple and complex. If you've seen Bernini's interior design at St. Peter's Basilica, this is a great place to see how his rival achieves absolute architectural perfection without using scale and colour as a crutch. There's no guide. Walk in, take a seat, and take it in.
Address: St. Ivo alla Sapienza, Corso del Rinascimento, 40, 00186 Roma RM
Website: sivoallasapienza.eu
AlamyPigneto
Pigneto is popular with Italian college students and twenty- and thirty-somethings who frequent the bars on the "Isola," a pedestrianized stretch of Via del Pigneto, the neighbourhood's central artery. It's also a destination for Pasolini fans who visit the streets that were the backdrop for his Neorealist films. It's an acquired taste and may feel too rough around the edges for some, but anyone interested in urbanism and street art or just thirsty to explore neighbourhoods outside of Rome's historic centre will enjoy it.
AlamyPalazzo Massimo
Jesuits built the Palazzo Massimo's building itself in the late 19th century, and was only turned into a state-owned museum in 1980. It's next to Stazione Termini, Rome's busiest train station, yet few travellers make the trip to see the museum's masterpiece-packed halls. The collection is a mix of Classical sculpture, Imperial frescoes, and Hellenistic baroque-style statuary. After the Vatican Museums and Capitoline Museums, the Palazzo Massimo is a must for ancient art lovers.
Address: Palazzo Massimo, Largo di Villa Peretti, 2, 00185 Roma RM
Website: museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it
Getty ImagesPalatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is a big, sprawling open-air museum. There are emperors' palaces, manicured gardens, medieval churches, and a terrace overlooking the Forum and beyond. The admission fee covers the Roman Forum and Colosseum, too, making it a pretty great deal. Although the Palatine has monuments from every major era in Rome's history, the real draw is a first-century palace built by Domitian, a mad emperor with a very serious architecture addiction.
Ryan NeevenFollow the ristretto trail
Romans are addicted to ristretto, a sort of concentrated espresso. They have it on the go, like a shot, and several times per day. Bars are the temple of coffee, and most have outside tables. Must-stop cafés, brimming with local politicians and students, are historical La Tazza d’Oro and Sant’Eustachio. At Canova Tadolini, a former artist atelier, you get to sip an espresso surrounded by bronze and marble statues. Caffé Greco, one of Europe’s oldest cafés, was an artist's hangout spot and has a dreamy, elegant atmosphere.
AlamyMercato di Campagna Amica del Circo Massimo
Despite being Rome's largest farmers market, the Mercato di Campagna Amica remains down to earth and not at all corporate – as demonstrated by the fact it's only open on weekends. The stalls adhere to the "0 km" philosophy, shorthand for products made or grown within 100 kilometres from the point of sale; and vendors come mostly from Lazio, Rome's home region. It's a crash course in the local leafy greens, amusing in their number and variety, especially to visitors from northern climates. Both the olives and the olive oil you'll find here are worth a splurge, but one of the market's best uses is as a source of super-fresh (and super-cheap) picnic material. Grab some bread, a little fresh pecorino, a few slices of prosciutto, and some fruit, and make yourself a lunch.
Address: Campagna Amica Market, Via di S. Teodoro, 74, 00186 Roma RM
Website: campagnamica.it
Getty ImagesMAXXI Rome
MAXXI is the kind of place you go to spend half a day, with no plans other than to take the entire place in. Designed by Zaha Hadid, this is Rome’s museum for all things contemporary, with exhibitions spanning modern fashion, cinema, art, and architecture. Heck, it’s worth visiting just to check out the building, a piece of art in itself. The labyrinthine space at MAXXI is astounding. It gets busy, but there's so much space that you wouldn't notice. Big, wide halls give way to rooms of different themes and sizes, resulting in five floors of non-stop, incredible artwork. Spaces range from performing arts to galleries with modern artworks to open cinemas. For some, this might feel a little incoherent, but it helps if you take it in as a whole rather than in different spaces.
Address: Maxxi, Via Guido Reni, 4a, 00196 Roma RM
Website: maxxi.art
AlamyLe Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini
The Domus Romane are ancient Roman villas and other structures that were abandoned in antiquity, filled in with debris, and inadvertently used as foundations for Palazzo Valentini, a Renaissance palace turned government office building. They are now underground, obscured by buildings and pavement just beside Piazza Venezia. Booking is required and must be done online.
Address: Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini, Foro Traiano, 85, 00186 Roma RM
Website: palazzovalentini.it
AlamyJubilee Church
Chiesa di Dio Padre Misericordioso, also known as the Jubilee Church, was designed by American architect Richard Meier as part of the Vatican's grand church-building and city revival program leading up to the Millennium Jubilee, a Catholic pilgrimage year held in 2000. The church is free, though getting there may cost you. It's about six miles from central Rome, so a taxi could easily cost more than €25 ($28). Alternatively, you can reach the church via public transport.
Address: Church of God the Merciful Father, Piazza Largo Terzo Millennio, 8, Via Francesco Tovaglieri, 194, 00155 Roma RM
Website: facebook.com
Ryan NeevenDine and drink on the Tiber River
The Ancient Romans transported goods along the Tiber River. Now, you get to navigate it on hop-on, hop-off tours that include cocktails and munchies. Stops include the old port of Trajan, the excavations of Ostia and the mouth of the Tiber in Fiumicino, on the coast. Supper cruises with live music depart at sunset. Alternatively, there are convenient hop-on, hop-off buses and guided bike tours along the Appia route lined with lavish villas and aqueducts.
Website: turismoroma.it; romebiketour.it
Getty ImagesJaniculum Hill
This is a leisurely stroll beginning in Trastevere and winding up via Garibaldi to the top of Janiculum Hill. The mood changes from urban at the beginning to monumental at the end; it's a bit of work, but rewards those willing to do it with a unique perspective on Roman history and some of the best views of the city. It's best to do the walk during the day or early in the morning if it's summer. If you're on a tight schedule, don't want to brave the hill in the heat, or just want to get a view, skip the hike and take a taxi directly to Piazzale Garibaldi.
Address: Janiculum Hill, via Garibaldi, Salita di Sant'Onofrio, 00165 Roma RM
Website: sovraintendenzaroma.it
Have an authentic drink with the locals
It's like a scene from a Fellini film. In the piazza outside Bar del Fico, day and night, the kind of grizzled old guys you'd expect to see cursing their bad luck in a betting shop sit playing chess on a couple of trestle tables as spectators make sarcastic comments in broad dialect. The proletarian players were here before historic del Fico emerged from a makeover in 2010, and the equally weathered shabby-chic bar, with its pared-back lunch menu of Roman specialities such as rigatoni alla gricia, is a fine place to flop when art and history are hurting your head. Around the corner is the evening-only restaurant of the same name, where grilled steaks take star billing. Get talking to the locals here – there's no need for textbook Italian, just enthusiasm, and you may just discover one of your new favourite things to do in Rome by simply wiling away the afternoons, building a little black book of further suggestions.
AlamyGalleria Doria Pamphilj
This museum houses Rome's largest private collection, a trove assembled by the Doria, Pamphilj, Landi, and Aldobrandini families and brought together through marriage. It’s set in a noble palace still owned by the Doria Pamphilj family, and the ornate halls provide a grand setting for such an overwhelming amount of art. The collection is acclaimed among 16th and 17th-century art aficionados but is off the average visitor’s radar even though it's located just off Piazza Venezia and close to the Forum.
Address: Doria Pamphili Gallery, Via del Corso, 305, 00186 Roma RM
Website: doriapamphilj.it
Explore an offbeat design destination
This cobbled lane in the centro storico's boho-chic Monti district is a poster boy for the charms of small-scale Rome. Not just because of its size but because the shops, wine bars and restaurants that line it are almost without exception, quirky and fascinating, with not a single brand among them. Highlights include the fashion boutique of Danish designer Tina Sondergaard at number 1D; one of Rome's great wine bars, La Barrique, at number 41; and, at number 35, Perlei, which showcases the fresh and kooky creations of Peruvian jeweller Kely Paucar.
Address: Via del Boschetto, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
AlamyDomus Aurea
This sprawling palatial pavilion, built by Emperor Nero in the 1st century, will blow you away with the design taste and command of concrete and space on display. You can only visit on weekends – the site's under restoration during the week – but admission includes a guided tour. Ours was led by an archaeologist who not only worked on the site but was totally obsessed with it; the passion made for a terrific tour. Try your luck.
Address: Domus Aurea, Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM
Website: colosseo.it
Go back in time in the artists' quarter
Even in the late-summer heat, as soon as you turn the corner into this cool, cobbled street, the thermometer seems to drop to a more civilised level. Until well into the dolce vita years, this lane of pastel palazzos draped with wisteria in the artists' quarter north of the Spanish Steps was full of artisan workshops. Today, only a handful survive among the art galleries and antique shops that now line the alley. One is the marvellously cluttered Bottega del Marmoraro at number 53B, where former architect Sandro Fiorentini carries on the cave-of-wonders marble workshop founded by his father. Nearby, at number 51, is the courtyard where Gregory Peck's bohemian bachelor pad was located in Roman Holiday.
Getty ImagesBaths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla were a massive public bathing complex built in the third century. Throughout the year, the site is open during the day for visitors to stroll through ruins that were so magnificent they inspired the Main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal. Each summer, the city of Rome's Opera Company performs at the Baths, using the towering brick ruins as a backdrop. The contrast of the ancient buildings, celebrated operas, and modern acoustics and lighting is stunning.
Address: Baths of Caracalla, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Roma RM,
Website: coopculture.it
Alamy Stock PhotoAncient Pharmacy of Santa Maria della Scala
Entering this ancient apothecary, the oldest in Europe, feels a little like stepping back in time. You enter through the ground floor of the building, which is now a functioning, modern pharmacy, before heading upstairs to the ancient iteration. Visitors are welcomed by a friar, who talks you through the various herbs, potions, unguents, balms, and oils that they used to heal the ancient Romans. He knows his stuff. Ask him to show you some of the original wooden furniture from the 18th century, and the instruments they used for weighing ingredients and making the medicines. Look out for the teriaca, a potion created and used by Romans as an antidote – ingredients include viper meat.
Address: Antica Farmacia S. Maria della Scala, Piazza della Scala, 23, 00153 Roma RM
Website: turismoroma.it
Ryan NeevenSoak up the sun in a picturesque piazza
Romans love shooting the breeze on benches in beautiful sunny squares. The piazza is the stage of the social buzz. The most iconic, overcrowded yet always breathtaking squares are the Baroque Piazza di Spagna with its Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza della Rotonda, home to the Pantheon temple-turned-basilica, and Piazza di Trevi where tourists throw coins inside the Renaissance fountain. Offbeat, quieter piazzas include Santa Maria in Trastevere and Campo de Fiori, popular for its farmers' market. Then, of course, there’s Saint Peter’s Square, which is best to avoid on Sundays when the Pope addresses gathered pilgrims.
Ryan NeevenFeel the religious vibe on a Vespa
Spirituality is everywhere. If you want to spice up the Giro delle 7 Chiese, an ancient pilgrim route connecting seven top churches, rent a Vespa to squeeze through the narrow cobbled alleys just like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck did in Roman Holiday. The majestic Saint Peter’s Basilica is worth climbing to the top of the dome for a unique city view. The pilgrimage also includes the Archbasilica of St John Lateran with the Sacred Steps climbed by Jesus during the Passion and a divine Holy Door, which is opened every 25 years for the remission of sins.