Places to visit in Rome: your full guide to the eternal city

That's right. The best places to visit in Rome, Italy, will make you want to know more and more.

In fact, you visit its ancient monuments and museums, those mentioned in the history books that have accompanied you since childhood, and you discover that Rome is a master of a glorious past. You visit Rome and the vibrancy of Trastevere, the immense parks and savor intensely a genuine joie de vivre that is embodied in the liveliness of the language and the love of food, and you discover that Rome, in truth, is also present. You then visit the Eur neighborhoods, dive into museums that tell of the avant-garde and of an art you thought was not part of Italy's capital. And you see that Rome is also the future.

On this trip, you will discover the best places to visit in Rome with us, between past, present and future. So when you come, you'll immediately fall in love with it too!

Rome is charming its visitors from the earliest time in history. Exploring the best attractions and places to visit in Rome, you will discover so much about its past. Here, we'll be able just to give you some quick hints.

According to tradition, Rome was founded on April 21, 765 B.C.: Romulus, his twin brother Remus and the She-wolf are the mythical protagonists of the genesis of this city. Romulus was the first of the mythical 7 Kings of Rome who ruled the city until it became a Republic. And it was then that the history of this city suddenly became great. The Romans conquered much of the then known world: names such as Julius Caesar and his grandson, Octavian, entered legend. And it was the latter who became the first emperor of one of the best-known empires in history, under the name Octavian Augustus. That was in 31 BC.

Within a few centuries, Rome became a great power. And, as is often the case, the wider the borders, the more numerous the enemies became. Not all of them, however, were external to the empire. There were, for example, Christians who, unwilling to recognize the emperor as god and unwilling even to fight for him, were considered dissidents to be eliminated. Bit by bit, the Roman empire could not withstand the fury of the so-called "barbarian invasions." That was in 476 AD.

If you think, however, that this was the end of Rome's greatness, in reality, a long and shining period then followed: for it had become the spiritual center of Christianity and the power of the popes. Immense works were realized under the auspices of the Popes. One above all? The famous Sistine Chapel by the genius of Michelangelo. Even in the following centuries, in the period of the Counter-Reformation, Rome was enriched with marvelous Baroque works bearing the signature of the geniuses of the time: Bernini and Borromini, above all.

Everything changed again when Rome was conquered by Garibaldi in 1870 and the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy. The story, however, could by no means be said to be over. In 1871, in fact, Rome officially became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

So, when you visit Rome, you will truly experience all of this: you will be able to see and admire with your own eyes each of these faces of Rome, although, in reality, they are really many more.

And now, we are ready to leap into the present with some practical information.

Rome is excellently connected both nationally and internationally.

You can have access to the best places to visit in Rome thanks to the two main airports of the city. Fiumicino, a very important international airport, and Ciampino, more locally frequented.

Both are connected to the city center by an efficient public transportation system. Trains connect Ciampino to the center in about 20 minutes, Fiumicino in about 30 minutes.

From a rail perspective, Italy's capital also presents itself excellently. Termini and Tiburtina are in fact the most important railway stations in Italy and make it possible to arrive from major cities very quickly. Naples and Florence in just over 1 hour, Milan in 3 hours, Venice in 4, just to give examples.

Once in the city, however, how do you get around?

When you come to Rome, you will soon realize that this city, in addition to its many virtues, also presents some difficulties.

For those coming here for the first time, getting around the streets of Rome can be complex. Not only is Rome an open-air museum, littered everywhere with attractions, monuments, and spectacular sights that you will struggle to see if you decide only to walk. On the other hand, to get around the city, you can choose from several types of public means.

One above all, we recommend you to use the subway! The traffic in the capital can be very tough, and if you take the bus, you may find yourself caught in endless traffic jams. Or, if you prefer to move around Rome by surface, there is also another solution. There are really a lot of streetcar lines, and you would no longer have the traffic problem.

Not to mention that, if you like to take advantage of every single minute spent in the city to get to know more about this wonderful city, you could board the tourist bus! Equipped with Wi-fi and audio guides, Rome and its main attractions will lie at your feet. Best of all, you can get off whenever you want.

What attractions of Rome are we talking about though?

How to sum up all the attractions of Rome in one itinerary? Perhaps you can't, and you will return to visit Rome many times before you discover them all.

But one thing is certain: planning a trip to Rome following Visit Italy's tips is more immersive. With our and suggestions, you will discover not only the most famous places to visit in Rome, but also hidden places, curiosities, secrets, and above all, the local way of life.

So, follow the call and immerse yourself in the teeming life of the capital.

Wonder awaits you!

Visit Rome is our motto. So, where better to start the visit to the city than from its most famous symbol?

The construction of the Colosseum, also called Flavian Amphitheater, began in the first century A.D. and since then, history has indeed seen it pass. Today you can visit it from the outside, you can walk through its interior and basement, and you can even visit it at night.

It is an experience that we, who have experienced it many times, struggle to describe in words. Each time it is intense, different, magnificent. You can only experience it yourself.

The history of Rome, the very history of the first kings and emperors started from here, from the Palatine Hill. So important was this place that it became the root of the future word "palace."

If you want to visit Rome, you cannot fail to climb up here, the original core of the city.

Not only is this the mythical site of the founding of the city: you will also find the ruins of the House of Augustus and the first emperors, the Horti Farnesiani, and you can have a wonderful view of the whole archaeological area.

If on the Palatine Hill is the Rome of emperors and worship, at its foot lies the Rome of the people.

The Roman Forum was for centuries the meeting point of the Ancients: a place to participate, or simply witness, the life of the city. Business, politics, religious or administrative matters: everything was debated here.

At one time, the most precious monuments enriched its architecture. Today, the poignant ruins communicate to us all the grandiose power of the past.

Who has not seen Fellini's La Dolce Vita? And even those who haven't actually seen it actually know the scene of Anita Ekberg in the waters of the fountain as she whispers "Marcello, Marcello, where are you?"

The monumental fountain dates from the eighteenth century and it is perhaps one of the most famous places to visit in Rome. Here there is also the tradition to throw coins into its waters to receive some luck.

Whether this is true or not doesn't really matter because every day, hundreds of people from all over flock to the small square in front of the fountain. Some looking for luck, some for beauty and some simply for an ideal Dolce Vita bath.

Among the attractions to visit in Rome, very few monuments have managed to resist the passage of time. And, indeed, resist is not really the appropriate term. Agrippa's Pantheon, though with very different uses, has managed to shine magnificently in every era since its construction.

When you are in Rome, go to Piazza della Rotonda and admire its façade. The Pantheon was the temple dedicated to all deities, and the wonderful building you see today is a reconstruction from the Hadrianic period (second century). Yet the harmony of this monument survived even into the Christian era, when the Pantheon became a splendid Christian Basilica.

So important is this place, that the first two kings of the Kingdom of Italy are buried here, as well as Raphael and numerous other important figures in the history of Italy.

When you visit Rome, you simply cannot fail to pass this way.

Entering the Piazza after walking down Via della Conciliazione is an experience that leaves its mark. The immense colonnade, work of Bernini, is imposing: 44 thousand cubic meters of travertine to make 284 columns of Doric order.

Beyond it, stands the immense Basilica, the fulcrum of Christianity and the place where some of the most precious works of art in history are preserved: Michelangelo's splendid Pieta, the Baroque Baldachin on which Bernini collaborated with his rival Borromini, but also the majestic Cathedra, also by Bernini. Let's not forget Michelangelo's Dome, one of the largest masonry domes in the world.

If this garden is one of the parks that is worth a visit in itself for its extent and beauty, what is preserved inside will leave you even more breathless.

Indeed, the Galleria Borghese is one of the most incredible art collections, begun by Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese in the seventeenth century.

The works of which artists are displayed here? First and foremost, splendid canvases by Caravaggio and sculptures by Bernini, but also works by Canova, Raphael, Perugino, Rubens and Titian.

Of them all, Bernini's Rape of Proserpine is one that manages to catalyze the visitor's gaze for hours.

Your heart will beat wildly as soon as you see it. The Baroque style Piazza Navona occupies the ancient stadium of Domitian and indeed is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the city.

In the center of the Piazza towers the symbol of this place: the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers (Ganges, Rio de la Plata, Danube and Nile), a monumental work that bears Bernini's signature.

Nowadays, when evening comes, it is possible to have an aperitif and watch performances by street performers enveloped in the magical atmosphere of the fountain and the buildings that have marked Rome's history.

Not many people know Castel Sant'Angelo for its original function. The mighty building that stands on the right bank of the Tiber was originally designed as the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian.

Yet, as with many other monuments you will visit in Rome, also here history has since willed otherwise. Indeed, while initially the remains of Hadrian and several Roman emperors and their families rested here, over time this place became an important building for defensive purposes. It was also a prison, one of the most terrible imaginable, a papal refuge, and, since 1925, a museum.

If you want to discover the thousand faces of Rome, this will undoubtedly be one of the main things to do.

Within the Vatican State, there is a museum that attracts more than 6.5 million visitors each year.

A treasure chest of art not only for the masterpieces this museum contains, but also for the halls and corridors that house the masterpieces themselves. Let the wonder lead you as you explore the section of ancient Greek, Etruscan, and even Egyptian and Hellenistic art, such as the magnificent, and terrible at the same time, Laocoon Group. Then continue your journey to discover more recent works: Roman, medieval and modern times. It's all here, and you'll be able to see wonders by Caravaggio, Raphael, Leonardo, and all the great geniuses of the past. And then, at the climax of the visit you can finally enter the Apostolic Palace and admire one of the most extraordinary works of all time, the Sistine Chapel.

Michelangelo's famous frescoes, in fact, are here within reach of your rapt gaze.

If you want to experience all the charm of the Roman Holiday and eat a delicious ice cream cone against the backdrop of one of the most iconic squares in the world, you should definitely come here.

In the heart of the capital's luxury shopping streets lies the monumental Stairway of Trinità dei Monti. Ironically, one of Rome's best-known places to visit was once dedicated to the French while now, as everyone knows, it is dedicated to Spain, thanks to the Embassy Palace which faces the square.

This place, however, is even richer in treasures than one would expect. There one can find an ode to English literature, with the Keats House, now a museum dedicated not only to Keats but also to his friend Shelley; there is an ode to art and architecture, thanks to the Barcaccia fountain, created by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo. Not to mention the splendid staircase of 135 steps made by Francesco De Sanctis in the 18th century: a sumptuous succession of steps and splendid terraces to be able to appreciate with aristocratic calm all the charm of the square.

To best savor the lively atmosphere of Rome, one of the most interesting things to do is to visit one of its markets.

The one we will discuss here was made famous by a film named after this very square: Campo de' Fiori, starring Anna Magnani and Aldo Fabrizi.

Since the late nineteenth century, this very Campo has been home to a picturesque market that attracts not only Romans but also tourists and visitors every day. Moreover, precisely because of this genuine atmosphere, this place is also interesting for snacks, aperitifs and youthful nightlife: bars, pubs and all kinds of clubs are in fact located in this area.

It covers a large area near Trastevere, between Piazza Nievo, Via Rolli and Via Portuense. It is the largest market in Rome that is not dedicated to fruit and vegetables. In this Flea Market, in fact, you can buy all kinds of antiques and items, new and used clothes, but also accessories and household goods, shoes, toys, mirrors and even furniture and plants.

In short, whatever you can think of, you will most likely be able to find it here. And even if you don't know what to look for, it will be the place with its incredible atmosphere that will give you the inspiration you need.

If after visiting the center you want to cross Tiber Island and visit Trastevere, it will certainly be one of the best things you will do in Rome.

This neighborhood that spreads out on the bend of the Tiber retains an atmosphere that you won't find anywhere else. One after another, there are restaurants where you can take advantage of delicious cacio e pepe and amatriciana, but also bars, aperitif places, and above all lots of little independent stores. Small bookstores, wonderful artists' studios, and stores selling excellent quality clothing and footwear.

At sunset, the streets fill with young people, students, tourists, travelers, but also lots of Romans who come here to enjoy this special atmosphere, when every day of the year seems to belong to a very long vacation. Don't miss the sunsets, the aperitifs, the art and the chatter that make this area of Rome so spectacular. It is certainly one of those places that you will have to visit over and over again during your visit to Rome!

You probably refer to this white monument as "the Wedding Cake". Indeed, very white and layered, it does seem to tower over the heart of Piazza Venezia like a large cake.

However, located on the eastern slope of the Capitoline Hill, this is the Monument dedicated to King Vittorio Emanuele II, where you can see the Altar of the Fatherland, the symbol of the Risorgimento in Italy. Under the Altar, the Unknown Soldier, who fell at the front during WWI.

Piazza Venezia is certainly busy, but one look at this incredible monument still manages to leave one breathless.

Thanks to a grandiose nineteenth-century renovation, Piazza del Popolo (also called People's Square) now presents itself in all its elegance. The fountain supporting the obelisk represents the focal center of the entire immense space.

Yet when the eye sweeps to the edges of the Piazza del Popolo, it recognizes museums, churches and above all the Fountain of the Goddess of Rome at whose feet rests the statue of the She-wolf of the founding legend. Behind the Piazza is the Pincio Park. If you come here at sunset you can enjoy some of the most beautiful views of Rome.

The Baths of Caracalla are among the most shining examples of spa architecture that have come down to us from imperial times.

For a long time, they were the most majestic and imposing baths in the entire Roman Empire, at least until the construction of Diocletian's bath complex that today overlooks Piazza della Repubblica.

In any case, strolling through the splendid ruins, admiring the mosaics that still decorate the floors is a sublime way to spend an afternoon in Rome. Not to mention that on warm summer evenings they become a splendid venue for events and concerts.

In front of the Piazza del Campidoglio, another great work by Michelangelo, stands one of the world's first public museums: the Capitoline Museum. In fact, until then, and we are talking about the eighteenth century, art collections were for the exclusive enjoyment of the owners and their guests. From that time, however, we begin to talk about art being available to the people. And what art!

Within these museums, in fact, the eye can range between ancient and more recent art. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, for example, to the better known bronze of the Capitoline She-Wolf: they are found here, protected by halls and corridors whose decorations are themselves worth the visit.

One of the most interesting Archaeological Parks is located in the southern part of the capital. It follows the course of the ancient Via Appia, the queen of all roads, which once carried its travelers from Rome to present-day Apulia.

Walking even a stretch of this magnificent road will allow one to see great attractions of Rome, like mausoleums and tombs of great importance, some still perfectly preserved.

It is certainly a different way to visit the city, completely immersed in the greenery of nature: for this very reason, it is all the more worthwhile.

The Gianicolo promenade is one of the most beloved attractions of Rome. Walking along what is considered the eighth hill of the city, it is indeed possible to enjoy extraordinary views of the capital, especially at sunset.

Not to mention that the promenade leads through a magnificent monumental fountain, a lighthouse, an equestrian statue dedicated to Garibaldi and a small temple dedicated to St. Peter, because he was apparently crucified right here.

We can only agree that this is truly one of the most fascinating attractions to visit in Rome.

Not only is Rome rich in historical attractions: here you can visit some of the most incredible art collections in the world.

Whether kept in the heart of ancient palaces or housed in futuristic buildings, art in Rome finds a way to express itself in ever new means.

In addition to the best-known museums that you can find scattered throughout Rome's most central neighborhoods, from the Vatican to Villa Borghese, you will also find lesser-known collections just waiting for you to be discovered. From modern art to industrial archaeology, from Etruscan art to Renaissance art: in Italy's capital there are almost 200 museums, both large and small, where you can renew your thirst for curiosity!

They definitely are among the best places to visit in Rome!

Could you visit the city without spending a euro? Well, you’ll see that most of the attractions you can see in Rome are free.

Most of the city's public parks, churches (yes, even San Pietro!) have in fact free admission. You can also explore the city's most picturesque squares and neighborhoods on foot and have priceless views before your eyes.

Not to mention that, if you want to explore further and enter inside palaces, museums and monuments, you can always consider buying a city pass and see everything included at very affordable rates!

However, in the city famous for its amazing food, won't you even stop to grab something to eat? You won’t pay too much, we promise.

If you have a few hours (or a few days), which places can you visit in Italy's capital?

Actually, if you optimize your time well and study in advance what you would like to do, you could organize some incredible excursions.

If you're short on time and coming here for the first time, you could devote yourself to the area of ancient Rome and be enchanted by the fascination of history. Or you might decide to immerse yourself in contemporary Rome, and visit the shopping streets, that of luxury, and be enchanted by all that Rome represents to the world.

Or, you might want to see as much as you can, and perhaps by getting on and off a panoramic bus, you might actually be able to take home all the best that this extraordinary city has to offer!

And, who knows, this quick visit might just be the beginning of a long series of dates: just like in a love story.

How to really get to know the Eternal City and its wonders? The solution is right here and it is called Visit Rome Pass.

With just a few clicks, you can have access to more than 50 attractions in Rome, including even the best-known ones we mentioned just now, such as the symbol of the city, the Flavian Amphitheater, or the Vatican Museums.

Thanks to this pass, you can therefore set off to discover the Caput Mundi, organizing your visits according to your days of stay.

In addition, with Visit Rome Pass you will also have free access to Rome's public transportation and for the entire duration of your pass!