Top 8 best museums in Rome you should visit in 2025

Rome, the Eternal City, boasts an extraordinary variety of museums worth visiting in 2025. Among the must-see collections are works by renowned artists, historical artifacts, and masterpieces of sacred art. The city's museums offer an unparalleled cultural experience, immersing visitors in Rome's rich history and exceptional artistic legacy. 

Rome's museums house various works, from classical sculptures to Renaissance paintings and contemporary creations. In them, one can admire masterpieces by celebrated artists and archaeological finds that tell the city's thousand-year history. With such diverse and inspiring collections, Rome's museums offer a unique opportunity to explore and fully understand the city's incredible cultural heritage. But what are the best museums to visit in Rome in 2025? Let's find it out together!

In 2025, Rome continues to be a must-see destination for art and history lovers, offering a wide range of museums that testify to the city's cultural richness over the centuries. One of the places not to be missed is the beating heart of Roman heritage, where visitors can explore an eclectic collection of artworks and historical artifacts. The narrative fabric of this thousand-year-old city is revealed through a series of cultural institutions spanning antiquity, the Renaissance, and contemporary art.

Each museum is a unique journey through time: from ancient frescoes and sculptures that capture the essence of imperial Rome to more modern artistic expressions that tell the city's recent history. The museum experience in Rome is a journey through eras and styles, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a cultural setting that embraces the majesty of the ancient and the vitality of the contemporary. The city offers a full spectrum of museums, each of which contributes uniquely to painting a fascinating and multifaceted portrait of its extraordinary heritage. And how not to take advantage of such an experience? Impossible! With Visit Rome Pass you can access a piece of the city as if it were a key. In addition to free public transportation in the capital, you'll get free access and discounts to numerous museums, the best ones to visit in 2025.

In 2025, the Capitoline Museums in Rome continue to stand as an invaluable treasure trove of archaeological and artistic masterpieces, making the entire museum an unmissable experience for art lovers. The prestigious collection of ancient and modern artworks housed in the world’s oldest museum offers an extraordinary overview of Italian and international painting and sculpture. Visiting the Capitoline Museums is a unique opportunity to admire artistic masterpieces and archaeological finds of priceless value, further cementing the museum’s reputation as the premier destination for an unforgettable artistic experience in 2025.

Hours: the museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; December 24 and 31 will change its hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Ara Pacis Museum in Rome, graced with its elegant modern architecture designed by Richard Meier, is confirmed as a must-see in the city's cultural landscape in 2025. This museum is dedicated to the celebration of the Ara Pacis Augustae, the altar of the Augustan Peace, a masterpiece of Roman art dedicated by Augustus in 9 BC. As a precious casket, the Ara Pacis Museum preserves and enhances the ancient work through interactive exhibits and a setting that enhances its majesty.

Hours: the museum is open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm.

The Modern Art Gallery of Rome stands as one of the city's must-see cultural gems in 2025. Located in the Villa Borghese neighborhood, this museum is an oasis of contemporary creativity, housing a rich collection of works ranging from the 19th century to contemporary art. Its panoramic location offers breathtaking views of the city, making the art experience even more unforgettable.

With its eclectic collection and engaging exhibitions, the Gallery of Modern Art establishes itself as a premier cultural destination in Rome's vibrant art scene in 2025.

The Modern Art Gallery of Rome welcomes visitors every day of the week with the following hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays.

The Vatican Museums, an essential stop for anyone in Rome in 2025, continue to enchant visitors with their extraordinary collection of art and history. Located within Vatican City, these museums are home to an unparalleled artistic and cultural heritage, with masterpieces by the likes of Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. The Sistine Chapel, with its celestial frescoes, is just one of the unforgettable treasures within this museum complex.

In the Vatican Museums, history, art and spirituality come together in an extraordinary union. The frescoes in the Raphael Room tell stories of artistic genius, while the Gallery of Maps transports visitors on a journey across the world with incredible cartographic mastery.

The Vatican Museums are a must-see for those who wish to immerse themselves in the art and history of Rome, offering an extraordinary journey through the centuries. 

Opening hours of the Vatican Museums: Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last admission at 4:00 p.m.). Closed Sundays, except on the last Sunday of the month when admission is free and open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (last admission at 12:30 p.m.).

The Castel Sant'Angelo Museum stands majestically along the banks of the Tiber, offering visitors a fascinating immersion in Roman history. This monument, originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, has been transformed over the centuries, taking on various functions including medieval fortress and papal residence. Today, the museum houses an eclectic collection of artifacts, weapons, and frescoes that tell the many facets of its fascinating history.

One of its main attractions is the Passetto di Borgo, a secret corridor connecting the castle to Vatican City. The panoramic view from the terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo offers a breathtaking spectacle over the city of Rome, giving an unforgettable experience to anyone who decides to explore this historic treasure. Buy the ticket through Visit Italy by clicking the button at the end of this paragraph and you will get concessions!

Opening hours of the Castel Sant'Angelo Museum: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last admission at 6:30 p.m.). Closed Mondays, December 25 and January 1.

This year, the Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo is confirmed as one of the cultural destinations not to be missed, offering an exciting journey through the eras and secrets of Rome.

The Borghese Gallery in Rome stands as one of the city's must-see cultural gems in 2025, nestled in the heart of the striking Villa Borghese park. This gallery, created from the collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 17th century, offers visitors an extraordinary experience among masterpieces by artists such as Caravaggio, Bernini, and Raphael.

Among its most famous artworks is "Amor Sacro e Amor Profano" by the young Caravaggio, a painting that embodies the mastery and innovative realism of the Baroque master. Gian Lorenzo Bernini's sculptures, including the famous "Apollo and Daphne," transport visitors to a world of unparalleled expressiveness and dynamism.

With its extraordinary collection and unique atmosphere, the Borghese Gallery promises to fascinate and inspire visitors in 2025, offering a timeless journey through art and culture.

Opening hours of the Borghese Gallery: Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Centrale Montemartini, located in Rome's charming Aventine district, emerges as one of the most fascinating and innovative museums to explore in 2025. Set up in an early 20th-century thermoelectric power plant, this museum offers an extraordinary experience that blends the industrial world with that of classical art. The Centrale Montemartini's collection houses sculptures and ancient artifacts from the Capitoline Museums, placing them in a unique industrial setting amid majestic vintage engines and machinery.

The striking juxtaposition of these works of art with the industrial elements creates an extraordinary dialogue, transforming the power plant into a fascinating and unexpected museum space. This fusion of ancient and modern offers visitors a unique experience, allowing them to immerse themselves in the history of Rome in an unusual but fascinating context.

With its innovative approach to artistic presentation and unique atmosphere, Centrale Montemartini is positioned as a must-see stop for those who wish to have an out-of-the-box cultural experience in the vibrant city of Rome.

Opening hours of Centrale Montemartini: Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Villa Torlonia, a hidden gem in the heart of Rome, is home to a complex network of museums that offer an extraordinary overview of the history and art of the eternal city. The villa, with its Italianate gardens and impressive architectural complex, has been the residence of some of the most influential figures in Roman history, including the Torlonia family and Benito Mussolini.

The Casina delle Civette Museum is one of Villa Torlonia's most striking spaces, renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture and stained glass windows. The ever-changing collection includes stained glass windows, lamps, and period decorations, transporting visitors to an enchanted atmosphere.

The Carriage Museum, located inside the villa's stables, offers a fascinating journey through time, presenting a rich collection of historic carriages and means of transportation of the period.

The Casino Nobile, the beating heart of Villa Torlonia, houses the Villa Museum, a collection of artifacts and documents that tell the complex history of this aristocratic residence.

Opening hours of the Villa Torlonia Museums in 2025: Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Mondays.