Rome packs 2,800 years of history into a city that still pulses with modern life. Ancient ruins stand beside Baroque fountains, Renaissance churches tower over cobblestone piazzas, and trattorias serving cacio e pepe sit steps from architectural masterpieces. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or spending a week exploring the Eternal City, the best things to do in Rome balance iconic landmarks with authentic experiences that reveal why locals never tire of calling this place home.
Snapping photos at famous monuments is among the many fun things to do in Rome. You’ll walk through the Roman Forum, where senators once debated, toss coins into fountains where legends promise your return, climb dome stairs for panoramic views, and wander neighborhoods where every corner reveals another layer of history. Plus, you’ll get to eat lots of gelato.
Pack comfortable shoes for the cobblestones, bring your sense of wonder, and prepare to understand why millions visit the Italian capital every year, using this list as your starter itinerary.
1. Tour the Colosseum and Roman Forum
The Colosseum stands as the world’s largest ancient amphitheater, a monument to Roman engineering that has survived nearly 2,000 years. This massive structure once held 50,000 spectators who watched gladiatorial combat, mock naval battles, and animal hunts staged for imperial entertainment. The exterior features three levels of arched entrances, while the interior reveals the underground chambers where gladiators and beasts waited before emerging onto the arena floor. Construction began in 72 AD under Emperor Vespasian and finished in 80 AD under his son Titus.
Colosseum tickets include access to the adjacent Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, creating a complete picture of ancient Rome. The Roman Forum was the beating heart of the Roman Empire, where political speeches echoed through temples, basilicas, and government buildings. Palatine Hill rises above the Forum, showcasing palatial ruins where emperors lived in opulence, overlooking the city they ruled. Tours offering arena floor access or underground passages provide perspectives impossible to experience independently.
Insider Tip: Book skip-the-line tickets online at least a week in advance. Arrive at opening (8:30 am) to beat tour groups and midday heat. The combined ticket to the Colosseum and Roman Forum is valid for two consecutive days, allowing you to split your visit.
Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma
Phone: +39 06 3996 7700
Hours: Daily 9 am-7 pm (hours vary seasonally)
Estimated Cost: €18-24 adults (Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill combined)
Find a hotel just minutes away from the Colosseum and Roman Forum!
2. Explore Vatican City
Vatican City functions as an independent nation within Rome, the headquarters of the Catholic Church, and home to artistic treasures spanning centuries. The Vatican Museums house 70,000 works across 54 galleries, though only a fraction are displayed at once. The collections include Egyptian mummies, classical sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and contemporary art. The Gallery of Maps features 40 topographical maps of Italian regions that took three years to complete in the 1580s.
The museum route culminates in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes and Last Judgment create one of art history’s most profound experiences. After the museums, St. Peter’s Basilica awaits with Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s bronze baldachin, and the opportunity to climb 551 steps to the dome’s summit for panoramic views across Rome. The basilica holds 20,000 people and ranks among the world’s largest churches. Lines form early and stretch for hours during peak season, particularly for St. Peter’s Basilica, where security screening slows entry.
Insider Tip: Book your Vatican Museums tickets online with specific time slots to skip the general entrance lines. Visit Wednesday mornings if you want to skip the Papal Audience (which draws massive crowds to the square). Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees for entry to religious sites. The museums close Sundays, except for the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free but impossibly crowded.
Address: Vatican City, 00120
Phone: +39 06 6988 4676
Hours: Museums Mon-Sat 9 am-6 pm (last entry 4 pm); St. Peter’s Basilica daily 7 am-7 pm
Estimated Cost: Vatican Museums – €20 adults, St. Peter’s Basilica – free (dome climb €10)
3. Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain represents the pinnacle of Baroque artistry, where architect Nicola Salvi transformed the terminal point of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct into Rome’s most photographed fountain. The central figure of Oceanus commands a shell chariot pulled by sea horses, flanked by statues representing Abundance and Salubrity. Water cascades dramatically over carved rocks into the basin below, creating the sound that fills Piazza di Trevi day and night. The fountain took 30 years to complete, finally finishing in 1762 after Salvi’s death.
Legend says that throwing a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand ensures your return to Rome. A second coin brings new love, while a third guarantees marriage. Recent regulations limit access to 400 visitors at once between 9 am and 9 pm to protect the monument, with entry through the central stairs and exit through Via dei Crociferi. There’s also a hidden “Fountain of Lovers” that sits to the right, where couples drinking together are said to have guaranteed eternal love and faithfulness.
Insider Tip: Visit after 9 pm or before 9 am when crowd limits lift, and the fountain transforms in a different light. The nearby Rinascente department store’s underground level displays part of the ancient aqueduct for free. Avoid restaurants immediately surrounding the piazza as they target tourists with inflated prices and mediocre food.
Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma
Phone: N/A
Hours: Open 24/7 (limited access 9 am-9 pm with capacity controls)
Estimated Cost: Free
4. Visit the Pantheon
The Pantheon stands as ancient Rome’s best-preserved building, a temple to all gods that has survived nearly 2,000 years through its conversion to a Christian church. Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the current structure around 126 AD after fire destroyed the original. The unreinforced concrete dome measures 43.3 meters in diameter, precisely equal to its interior height, creating perfect classical proportions. The oculus at the dome’s center admits the only natural light while allowing rain to fall directly onto the floor, where ancient drains handle the water.
The portico of the Pantheon features 16 Corinthian columns, each carved from a single piece of Egyptian granite and transported to Rome by ship. Inside, the dome’s coffered ceiling reduces weight while creating visual depth that draws eyes upward to the oculus. The building houses tombs of Italian kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I, along with the Renaissance artist Raphael.
Insider Tip: Arrive before 9 am, when crowds are minimal and morning light streams through the oculus at its most dramatic angle. The square outside fills with cafes and restaurants, but venture one street away for better value and fewer tourists.
Address: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma
Phone: +39 06 6830 0230
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 am-7 pm, Sunday 9 am-6 pm
Estimated Cost: Free
5. Wander Through Trastevere
Trastevere occupies the west bank of the Tiber River, where narrow cobblestone streets wind between medieval buildings draped with ivy and laundry. The neighborhood name translates to “across the Tiber,” referencing its position outside ancient Rome’s original boundaries. During daylight, artisan workshops and vintage boutiques invite exploration, while evenings transform the area into Rome’s liveliest dining and nightlife district. The central Piazza di Santa Maria fills with locals and travelers mingling at outdoor tables as street musicians provide the soundtrack.
The Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere anchors the neighborhood with its 12th-century mosaics and claims to be Rome’s oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Wander toward Villa Farnesina to view Renaissance frescoes by Raphael after, or climb Janiculum Hill for panoramic views across Rome’s terracotta rooftops toward St. Peter’s dome.
The neighborhood’s trattorias also serve authentic Roman cuisine at prices lower than the historic center, with dishes like carbonara, amatriciana, and gricia prepared according to centuries-old traditions. Sunday mornings also bring the Porta Portese flea market, Rome’s largest, where vendors sell everything from antiques to vintage clothing across acres of stalls.
Insider Tip: Visit weekday afternoons when the neighborhood reveals its authentic character before evening crowds arrive. The climb up Janiculum Hill rewards the effort with Rome’s best sunset views and the opportunity to watch the noon cannon fire. Avoid restaurants with aggressive touts calling from doorways, as they typically serve inferior food at inflated prices.
Address: Trastevere neighborhood (start at Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere)
Phone: N/A
Hours: Open 24/7 (individual business hours vary)
Estimated Cost: Free to explore
6. Climb the Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps cascade 135 steps from Piazza di Spagna up to the Trinità dei Monti church, creating Rome’s most famous staircase and a gathering spot since their 1725 completion. The steps take their name from the Spanish Embassy located in the square below, though they were actually funded by French diplomat Étienne Gueffier. The irregular butterfly design allows the stairs to accommodate the steep, irregular slope while creating terraced levels perfect for sitting and people-watching.
At the base, the Barcaccia fountain, sculpted by Pietro Bernini, represents a sinking boat. It’s a very clever design accommodating the square’s low water pressure from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. The Via Condotti leads away from the steps toward designer boutiques, including Gucci, Prada, and Bulgari, making this area Rome’s luxury shopping district.
Insider Tip: New regulations prohibit sitting on the steps, with fines for violations. Visit early morning, around 7 a,m for photos without crowds before the ban is strictly enforced. The nearby Keats-Shelley House at the steps’ base honors the Romantic poets who lived in Rome. Be sure to walk up to Trinità dei Monti for views back across the city and into the Villa Medici gardens.
Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma
Phone: N/A
Hours: Open 24/7
Estimated Cost: Free
If you want to be surrounded by luxury during your stay, find a hotel near The Via Condotti.
7. Experience Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona follows the exact footprint of Emperor Domitian’s Stadium, built in 86 AD for athletic competitions. The elongated oval shape matches the ancient track where Romans once watched foot races and other contests. Three fountains punctuate the piazza’s length, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers dominating the center through allegorical figures representing the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. An Egyptian obelisk rises 16.5 meters from the fountain’s center, originally erected in the Circus of Maxentius.
The surrounding Baroque palaces and churches create an architectural harmony that’s rare even in Rome. Street artists, portrait painters, and musicians create constant entertainment while cafes lining the square offer prime people-watching territory at premium prices. The Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone features Borromini’s concave facade, designed in deliberate contrast to Bernini’s fountain across the piazza.
Insider Tip: The cafes rimming Piazza Navona charge double or triple normal prices for mediocre food. Walk one street away in any direction for authentic food at fair prices. Visit early morning before 9 am when the square belongs to locals walking dogs and drinking espresso.
Address: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma
Phone: N/A
Hours: Open 24/7
Estimated Cost: Free
Looking to stay near Piazza Navona? Find your perfect hotel.
8. Tour Castel Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant’Angelo is a cylindrical fortress that began as Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum in 139 AD before evolving into a papal refuge connected to the Vatican by a secret elevated passageway. The towering bronze Archangel Michael statue crowns the summit, commemorating the vision Pope Gregory I experienced here in 590 AD when the angel appeared sheathing his sword, signaling the end of a plague.
Seven floors spiral upward through history, from Hadrian’s funerary chamber to Renaissance frescoes adorning papal rooms to military fortifications facing invasion threats. The rooftop terrace provides 360-degree views across Rome, which are particularly striking at sunset when light bathes the Tiber and St. Peter’s dome glows golden. If you’re an Opera fan, you’ll recognize the setting of Tosca’s tragic final act—where Puccini’s heroine leaps to her death from the battlements.
Insider Tip: Book tickets online to skip entrance lines that form by mid-morning. The rooftop cafe serves drinks with million-dollar views at reasonable prices, and you’ll want to visit in the late afternoon to tour the interior before ascending to the terrace for a gorgeous sunset.
Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma
Phone: +39 06 681 9111
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-7:30 pm; Closed Monday
Estimated Cost: €15 adults
9. Stroll Through Villa Borghese Gardens
This 80-hectare public park offers Rome’s largest green space, where manicured gardens, wooded groves, and man-made lakes provide escape from urban intensity. Cardinal Scipione Borghese created the estate in the 17th century as a pleasure garden showcasing his art collection. Today, you’ll find locals picnicnicking on lawns, renting rowboats for the artificial lake, and visiting multiple museums housed within the grounds. The Pincio Terrace provides sweeping views across Piazza del Popolo toward St. Peter’s dome.
The Galleria Borghese houses one of the world’s finest private art collections, with Bernini sculptures that appear to breathe and Caravaggio paintings radiating dramatic intensity. Only 360 visitors enter every two hours, creating an intimate viewing experience impossible at larger museums. The park also contains the modern art museum Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, the Villa Medici (French Academy), and the Bioparco zoo. Bike rentals allow coverage of the extensive grounds, while the Cinema dei Piccoli operates as the world’s smallest movie theater showing films for children.
Insider Tip: Galleria Borghese requires reservations in advance, as it often books weeks ahead for popular time slots. The Pincio Terrace draws locals for sunset but provides spectacular views at any time of day. Rent bikes near Porta Pinciana to explore the entire park efficiently.
Address: Piazzale Napoleone I, 00197 Roma (main entrance)
Phone: +39 06 0608
Hours: The Park opens daily from sunrise to sunset; Galleria Borghese Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-7 pm
Estimated Cost: Park free; Galleria Borghese €15 adults (advance reservation required)
Stay close to the Gardens by booking your visit near Villa Borghese.
10. Discover the Jewish Ghetto
Rome’s Jewish community dates back over 2,000 years, making it Europe’s oldest continuous Jewish presence. The Jewish Ghetto occupies the area where Pope Paul IV forced Rome’s Jewish population to live beginning in 1555, confining them behind walls with gates locked at night. The community endured these conditions until Italian unification in 1870 brought emancipation. Today, the neighborhood preserves Jewish culture through kosher restaurants, bakeries selling traditional pastries, and the Great Synagogue, completed in 1904 with its distinctive square dome.
The Portico d’Ottavia, ancient Rome’s fish market, anchors the neighborhood with columns dating to 23 BC. Nearby, the Theater of Marcellus predates the Colosseum and still shows its three tiers of arches despite medieval and Renaissance modifications. The Via del Portico d’Ottavia concentrates most of the area’s restaurants, where specialties include carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes) and baccalà (salt cod). The Largo di Torre Argentina cat sanctuary occupies Republican-era temple ruins where hundreds of felines lounge among 2,000-year-old columns, cared for by volunteers.
Insider Tip: Visit weekday afternoons when the neighborhood is alive and well with more locals than tourists. The Jewish Museum and Synagogue offer guided tours explaining the community’s long history. Many kosher restaurants close Friday afternoon through Saturday evening for Shabbat.
Address: Located near the Via del Portico d’Ottavia
Phone: N/A
Hours: Open 24/7 (business hours vary, many closed Saturdays)
Estimated Cost: Free to explore
11. Take a Food Tour
Rome’s culinary traditions span millennia, from ancient Roman recipes to Jewish-Roman specialties to classic dishes like carbonara that define the city’s taste. The Twilight Trastevere Food Tour offers an authentic way to experience authentic Roman cuisine, combining exclusive access to award-winning local eateries with a journey through one of Rome’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
You’ll taste burrata, Jewish-style fried artichokes (if in season), traditional pasta dishes like amatriciana and cacio e pepe, supplì (fried rice balls), and finish with artisanal gelato. The experience includes prosecco, three Italian wines, and beer throughout the evening. Highlights include skipping the line at iconic restaurants like Da Enzo al 29 and gaining exclusive access to Spirito DiVino’s wine cellar, which predates the Colosseum by 160 years.
Local guides also share stories about the neighborhood’s history and traditions behind each dish, providing cultural insights impossible to gain independently.
Insider Tip: Tours accommodate vegetarians, but vegan, gluten-free, or kosher options may be limited, so share dietary restrictions when booking. Arrive hungry as portions are generous across multiple stops. Book directly through Eating Europe’s website for the best rates.
Address: Piazza S. Bartolomeo All’Isola, 22, 00186 Roma (meeting point on Tiber Island)
Phone: Contact via the Eating Europe website
Hours: Daily evening tours, 4 hours duration
Estimated Cost: €94 adults, €85 adolescents (13-17), €75 children (4-12)
Get Ready for Your Roman Holiday
There are so many fun things to do in Rome that capture the Eternal City’s magical blend of ancient history, artistic masterpieces, vibrant neighborhoods, and culinary traditions. Whether you’re drawn to iconic landmarks like the Colosseum and Vatican, charming piazzas like Navona and Trastevere’s streets, or authentic experiences like food tours through local markets, Rome delivers moments that linger long after you return home.
One last tip: Authentic gelaterias store their gelato in covered metal bins, not piled high in colorful mounds (which signals artificial ingredients). As long as you see lids, you won’t be disappointed.
Visiting Rome soon? Start your Roman adventure by booking a hotel using the HotelsOne booking platform, and check out our city guide for getting around in Rome to ensure your planning is complete.
HotelsOne is a premier reservation booking platform that allows you to browse over 400,000 hotels worldwide. Enjoy hassle-free, secure booking with discounted rates and no reservation fees! For more information on booking and customer support, check out our FAQs page.
