Rome is a city full of history, culture, and, of course, amazing Italian food. From exploring ancient ruins like the Colosseum to tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, there’s so much to see and do. Whether you love art, history, or just strolling through charming streets, Rome has something for everyone.
In this blog, we’ll share the best things to do in Rome to help you make the most of your time in Italy. Keep reading to learn all the must-know visiting tips and the best things to do to plan the ultimate itinerary for your bucket list trip to Rome!
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11 Best Things to Do in Rome
1. Tour the Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of the most famous landmarks in the world and is an absolute must-see when visiting Rome. This ancient amphitheater, built nearly 2,000 years ago, was once the site of epic gladiator battles and grand entertainment. Today, it stands as a symbol of Rome’s rich history and attracts millions of visitors each year.
While you can marvel at this ancient landmark from many different vantage points, the best way to experience in the Colosseum is inside the walls. There’s so much more to this historical site than what’s shown in the iconic Gladiator movie! We highly recommend booking a guided tour to explore the Colosseum. It will give you more details, in-depth knowledge, and appreciation for what you’re seeing. Some guided tours even take you underground to see the behind-the-scenes of what used to be “backstage.” Regardless of if you want to book a guided tour, we STRONGLY recommended getting your tickets in advance to avoid hours waiting in lines (no matter what time of year you visit).
Note: Italy is busy YEAR ROUND, especially at the popular tourist destinations! We visited for a month from the end of October into mid-November, and we were shocked by how busy it still was. But we’ve heard horror stories about peak summer crowds and hours of waiting in the heat, especially at the Colosseum. So keep in mind that you will be waiting in line everywhere in Italy, no matter the time of year, even if you purchase your tickets in advance (like we did).
Below are some of the best and top-rated tour options for the Colosseum. Check them out if you plan to visit on your trip to Rome!
2. Explore the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is one of the most important historical sites in Rome. Once the heart of ancient Roman life, it was a bustling center for politics, religion, and public events. Today, its impressive and well-preserved ruins, including temples, arches, and government buildings, offer a glimpse into the city’s glorious past.
The grounds of the Roman Forum are massive! You could easily spend 3 to 4 hours inside, even if you aren’t on a guided tour. There are lots of areas to walk around and sites to explore. We’d definitely recommend going up to the top of the Hill, Campidoglio (or Capitoline Hill in English), for the best viewpoint of the Forum!
Pro-Tip: Many times, tickets or tours will include both admission into the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. If that makes sense for your itinerary, we recommend booking them together! We booked our tickets separately (because we originally wanted to visit on separate days), but it turned into quite a hassle for us, and we had to wait extra hours in line that could have been avoided.
3. Visit the Vatican City – Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, & St. Peter’s Basilica
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. While it’s only about 20 minutes’ drive from Rome’s city center, many people do not realize it’s technically not in Italy. But there’s no border control, so you don’t need your passport to enter when coming from Rome!
It’s home to some of the world’s most famous religious and artistic treasures. The Vatican Museums house incredible collections of art and history, including the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, where you can admire Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling. St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world, is a masterpiece of architecture and a sacred site for millions.
When planning your visit to the Vatican City, plan to spend an entire day there! There is so much to see, and you’ll spend a decent amount of time waiting in line at each attraction. We STRONGLY recommend booking your tickets for the Vatican Museum (which includes the Sistine Chapel) in advance! St. Peter’s Basilica is free to enter, and you don’t need a ticket. More on all these sites are broken down in more detail below!
Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel
The Vatican Museum has one of the world’s most impressive art collections, showcasing centuries of history, culture, and religious significance. Visitors can explore stunning galleries filled with ancient sculptures, Renaissance masterpieces, and intricate tapestries. The highlight of the museums is definitely the Sistine Chapel! Where you can see the iconic and breathtaking ceiling painting by Michelangelo!
For all the reasons mentioned above, it’s no surprise that the museum is very large. It reminded us a lot of The Louvre in Paris! You could easily spend 3 to 4 hours inside. Similar to many sites in Rome, this one is very crowded year-round. We would highly recommend booking your tickets in advance for the earliest time slot of the day, right when they open. You can book tickets directly on their website here.
The Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museum; it’s near the end of the museum (you are guided in a specific direction through the museum). Since we arrived right when they opened, we noticed many people racing there to see it before it got too crowded. Which started to stress us out! So we thought maybe we needed to move faster as well. But we wish we’d taken more time in certain exhibits! Since the most famous part of the Sistine Chapel is the ceiling, you have to look straight up. Which means that no one can block your view regardless of how crowded it gets!
We did not book a guided tour or an audio guide and honestly regretted it. Unlike most museums we’ve visited around the world, there were NO signs explaining the different artworks or exhibits. So, sadly, we had no idea the history or significance of what we were looking at. If you don’t want to book a guided tour, at least purchase the audio guide!
Note: You cannot take ANY photos or videos of any kind inside the Sistine Chapel. So you’ll have to visit to enjoy it’s beauty with your own eyes!
St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most breathtaking and important churches in the world. It is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Known for its grand architecture and stunning interior, it features masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and the impressive dome he designed. During your visit, you can explore its ornate chapels, admire Bernini’s stunning altar, or climb to the top of the dome for breathtaking views of Rome.
Our biggest tip for visiting St. Peter’s Basilica is to ARRIVE EARLY. It opens daily at 7:00 am, and we recommend getting there right as they open to avoid the multi-hour long line that will be there year-round by 9:00 am. Which may sound like a contradiction since we said the same thing about arriving right as it opens for the Vatican Museum. So, in a perfect world, we’d actually recommend visiting these sites on different days to avoid the crowds! But if you don’t want to do that and don’t mind waiting a few hours in line, just visit one site right as it opens and head to the next one directly after. They do not connect so you will need to walk along the outside walls to get to the other entrance line.
The incredibly long line you see to enter St. Peter’s Basilica is actually a security line to enter the church. The Basilica is free to enter, and you do not need a ticket.
But if you plan to visit the top of the dome, you need a ticket for that. Upon passing through the security checkpoint, there is another line to purchase a ticket (that does have an entry fee). It’s €8 to climb the 551 steps to the top and €10 to take the elevator to the top.
As information is always changing, especially with the Jubilee in 2025, be sure to check their website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: To enter all Vatican sites, both men and women need to be in modest clothing that covers their knees and shoulders.
Pregnant women do not have to wait in the main line to get into St. Peter’s Basilica. There is a separate line called the “Prayer Path” (Percorso Preghiera). When we visited, there was no line, but I’m sure this line may have a short wait in the summer. At the time of our visit, I was 5 months pregnant, and it was so nice to be able to skin the multi-hour line that wrapped around the entire St. Peter’s Square (even at 9:00 am on a weekday in November). In case you think we’re being slightly dramatic about the crowds, here’s a link to a video with just a few of the lines we experienced. 😂
Another option is to book a guided tour of all the Vatican City sites. It will provide you with a lot more knowledge about what you are seeing. Sometimes, there are separate lines for groups/guided tours as well. Not sure if they’re shorter or quicker, depending on the time of day! As we mentioned briefly above, we did not book a guided tour and regretted it. Below are some of the top-rated tours we’d recommend booking for your trip to Rome!
4. Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s most famous and beautiful landmarks. This stunning Baroque fountain features intricate sculptures and flowing crystal blue water. Tradition says that tossing a coin into the fountain ensures a return to Rome, making it a popular tourist attraction. Whether admiring its detailed artwork or making a wish, seeing the Trevi Fountain is one of the best things to do in Rome.
During our visit in October 2024, it was sadly completely closed due to a 3-month restoration project. We could not get any closer than these from behind these glass walls. Definitely a bummer as we didn’t get our iconic “Lizzie” McGuire moment” tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain! But on the plus side, it wasn’t crowded at all haha.
Shortly after our visit, in December 2025, the Trevi Fountain reopened. In addition to lots of restoration work, they actually redesigned the entry to limit the amount of visitors close to the fountain. To help with the severe overcrowding issues, they now only allow 400 visitors at a time. In addition to that, we’ve read that visitors are now required to book entry online with a €2 fee. Upon entry, you are only allowed 30 minutes inside. But we haven’t been able to read if that has 100% already started being enforced.
We haven’t spoken to anyone who’s visited the Trevi Fountain since these changes, but we are eager to hear what people think! As the fountain has continued to gain popularity, we know overcrowding has been a serious issue. No matter what time of day, it always had hoards of people gathered around it!
5. Walk around Monti, Trastevere, & Centro Storico
Rome has lots of unique neighborhoods to explore around the city! It’s always fun to walk around a new area and see what beauty you may stumble upon. Many of these neighborhoods you’ll already be in or very close to when visiting some of Rome’s most iconic sites!
Monti is just a short walk from the Colosseum. It’s one of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods, known for its cobblestone streets, trendy boutiques, and lively cafés. This historic district offers a perfect mix of old and new, where ancient ruins sit alongside hip restaurants and artisan shops. Making it a great spot to explore in-between touring Rome’s historic sites!
While walking around Monti, we saw some of the coolest and most unique vantage points of the Colosseum in between buildings!
Trastevere is a vibrant and picturesque neighborhood in Rome. It’s most known for its colorful buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and lively nightlife. With its charming piazzas, traditional trattorias, and a local bohemian atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to experience authentic Roman culture.
Of all the areas we explored in Rome, Trastevere felt like the quietest and least touristy. We just spent one morning walking around the streets, admiring the beauty, and enjoying an espresso in a local cafe. Of course, I’m sure at night this area has a totally different vibe!
Centro Storico is the historic heart of Rome. Its streets are filled with stunning piazzas, ancient churches, and iconic landmarks like the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Wandering through its charming streets, you’ll stumble upon beautiful fountains, bustling cafés, and famous landmarks.
6. Visit the Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of Rome’s best-preserved ancient monuments, originally built as a temple to the Roman gods. Its impressive dome, with a central oculus that lets in natural light, is a marvel of engineering and design. Today, it serves as a church and a popular tourist attraction.
It’s just a short walk from the Trevi Fountain, so after spending time there in the early morning, head over to the Pantheon. The Pantheon doesn’t open until 9:00am, but we saw people lining up starting an hour before they opened.
Similar to many sites in Rome, you can book a self-guided ticket, add-on an audio guide, or book a guided tour. Regardless of what option you choose, we recommend booking your tickets in advance! As information is always changing, especially with the Jubilee in 2025, be sure to check their website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: To enter the Pantheon, both men and women need to be in modest clothing that covers their knees and shoulders. In the summer months, we’d recommend packing a light shall that you ladies can use to cover your shoulders when going in and out of churches!
Watch our Rome Travel Vlog to see us experiencing the best things to do in Rome!
7. Go on a Vespa tour of the city
A vespa tour was something we really wanted to do during our time in Rome! But sadly, you are not allowed to book any sort of Vespa tour while pregnant (at the time of our trip I was 5 months pregnant). But next time we’re in Rome, we’ll have to book one of these tours next time we’re in Rome!
Below are what we believe to be the best Vespa tours in Rome! They offer different experiences depending on your interests and what you’re looking for. Whether that’s a food tour, seeing all the famous sites, or taking photos at all the iconic spots!
8. Find the best gelato, cup of espresso, & pizza
It’s no surprise that Italy is known for its food! Finding the best gelato, pizza, and espresso in Rome is a culinary journey that immerses you in the city’s rich flavors and traditions. You’ll read lots of blogs about the best gelato spot or what cafe has the best cup of espresso, but we think you should explore to find your own! After visiting many famous food spots around Italy, we felt that most were super touristy and overrated. Instead, we’d recommend you try your best to find spots off the beaten path, away from all the touristy attractions!
But as far as gelato, you can’t go wrong if you follow this simple tip: avoid super colorful, piled-high gelato and find gelato in containers with silver lids. Here’s an example of what we mean! The reason is that the colorful gelato contains lots of artificial flavors and ingredients. The gelato in silver lids (and usually served with flat metal utensils) is authentic. We PROMISE you will be able to taste the difference!
9. Rent a row boat in Villa Borghese
Villa Borghese is a beautiful and picturesque park in the heart of Rome. It is home to gardens, fountains, walking paths, and the famous Galleria Borghese, which displays artworks by masters like Caravaggio and Bernini. The Park is filled with so many incredible things to do! You can rent bikes, enjoy a boat ride on the small lake, or relax with a picnic. The park also features a zoo, a theater, and stunning views from the Pincian Terrace!
One of the most unique things to do is rent a row boat to paddle around Villa Borghese Lake. There’s a small boat house where you can rent a boat for 20 minutes at 5€ per person (for adults). After you pay, they’ll hand you a ticket with a number. Then they’ll call your number (in Italian) when it’s time for you to get in the boat! After 20 minutes, they’ll call your number again to come back.
10. Admire the beauty of the ceilings in Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola
Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola is a beautiful Baroque church in Rome, known for its stunning frescoed ceiling by Andrea Pozzo. The artwork creates an incredible illusion of a vast, domed space, even though the church has no real dome. It’s somewhat of a hidden gem, although Instagram has made it gain more recent popularity with tourists! We visited late at night, around 8:00 pm, because we heard it’s less crowded in the evening. And it was a very peaceful and enjoyable experience!
The church is free to enter and definitely worth visiting on your trip to Rome! There’s a large mirror, visitors wait in line to pay a 1€ donation to turn the mirror from foggy to clear to view the ceiling. At night, the 1€ donation lights up the ceiling since it’s dark! The ceilings throughout the entire church are absolutely breathtaking. We felt they rivaled the paintings in the Sistine Chapel!
11. Go to the top of the Victor Emmanuel II Monument
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument is a grand white marble structure in the heart of Rome that was built to honor Italy’s first king and the country’s unification. The monument features massive columns, bronze statues, and a towering equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II. It also houses Italy’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by an eternal flame. It’s an impressive landmark that stands as a symbol of Italian history and pride!
While many admire it from afar, not actually visit the monument, we think it’s worth visiting simply to climb to the top for breathtaking panoramic views of Rome! To take the glass elevator up to the Panoramic Terrace, you do need a ticket that costs 12€. The ticket includes entry to the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Museum of Palazzo Venezia. But if you would rather enjoy views from the lower terraces and simply walk around the monument, there is no entry fee.
Tips for Visiting Rome, Italy
#1. Prepare for Crowds Year-Round
Rome is a popular tourist destination with crowds present year-round, especially at famous sites like the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain. Peak seasons (spring and summer) bring the largest crowds, with long lines and busy streets. But even in the off-season, Rome remains very busy.
We visited at the end of October and were truly shocked by how crowded it was (see photos below). We don’t share any of this to deter you from visiting, but rather as a heads up for what to expect!
#2. Prepare for the Heat
Depending on the time of year you visit, of course, the weather will be drastically different. But we’ve heard horror stories about the summer heat, especially in July. Even when we visited at the end of October, the afternoons were warm!
There’s nothing you can do to control the weather but there’s things you can definitely do to make it more bearable! Here’s our tips to prepare for the heat in Rome:
- Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated! Some sites have water refill stations/fountains
- Start your days early to beat the afternoon heat
- Avoid waiting in long lines or activities that require hours standing in direct sun
- Bring sun protection – sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc.
- Wear lightweight or flowy clothes to stay cool
#3. Have Coins to Pay for Bathrooms
Almost every bathroom we visited in Rome, we had to pay for it (usually €1 or less). Usually, inside a paid attraction, like the Vatican Museum, or dining in a restaurant, we did not have to pay. Sometimes, the toilets take credit card or tap payments, but not always. It’s best to be prepared with coins so you don’t get in a tricky situation!
#4. Booking Everything You Can in Advance
If you’ve read our entire blog until this point, then this tip isn’t new to you! Book everything you possibly can in advance to avoid waiting in multiple lines. Many times, there’s one line to purchase tickets and then another entirely separate line you wait in to get inside the attraction. Having a ticket already cuts down your wait time significantly! In addition, you avoid the risk that the activity or attraction will be sold out!
We use GetYourGuide to book all our tours in advance! It’s a great website to find unique tour options and compare between experiences.
#5. Pack Modest Clothing
Since Rome is a Catholic city with many iconic sites being churches, you will want to pack modest clothing (or at least a few modest outfits). To enter any church in Rome, both men and women will need to be dressed modestly with both their knees and shoulders covered. When you’re packing, keep this in mind so you have at least a few items you would be permitted to wear entering a church!
Women: pack flow sundresses that go below your knees! Then, bring a thin scarf or shawl, which you can throw over anything you have on top. So that way you can still wear your tank top or thinned strap dresses!
Men: pack linen pants to stay cool in the summer heat while still keeping their knees covered! And then just don’t pack any cut-off sleeve shirts, and you should be good.
It’s not super complicated or restrictive, just something to keep in mind when preparing for your trip to Rome!
If you’re planning a trip to Italy, check out our blog post about the Best Towns to Visit in Tuscany!
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