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As the old saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’, and it can’t be seen in one either. Built over two millennia, there is a huge amount to explore and get your head around. So the trick is not to try to see everything, because you can’t. It’s best to cherry-pick the sights you really want to see, book them well in advance, then leave plenty of time for all the wonderful bits in between.
Here’s our pick of the very best things to do in the Eternal City.
Whether you’re a fan of ancient history or not, you can’t really visit Rome without seeing the Colosseum. Completed in 80 AD and one of the largest amphitheatres ever built, it is, quite frankly, mind-blowing. Standing on the arena floor will send shivers down your spine as you imagine the gladiators emerging onto the sand. It’s worth booking a ticket that includes the underground tour too. That allows you access to the hypogeum, the tunnels beneath the arena where the gladiators and wild animals waited before being raised above to face the 50,000 roaring spectators. It really brings the whole thing to life. Your ticket will also include entry to the Roman Forum next door. This was the centre of public life in ancient Rome, but today it’s a collection of ruined temples, arches and basilicas. Above it is the Palatine Hill, where the emperors built their palaces, with lovely views back over the ruins.
While you’re in the area, the Capitoline Museums house some incredible ancient Roman treasures, including the Capitoline Wolf, the famous bronze statue. Plus, the Basilica di San Clemente lets you descend through three layers of Rome, all the way down to an ancient Roman house and pagan temple.
Rome’s historic centre is a maze of cobbled lanes, with the ultimate highlight being another ancient history icon: the Pantheon. Its huge concrete dome, with its circular opening to the sky, is a genuine engineering marvel. A few minutes away is Piazza Navona, one of the city’s loveliest squares. It was built on the site of an ancient Roman stadium, with Bernini’s impressive Fountain of the Four Rivers in the centre. It’s lined with cafes and is a great place for a people-watching pitstop. The Trevi Fountain is another must. Go late at night if you can, when it’s all lit up. Legend has it that tossing a coin guarantees your return to Rome, so it’s well worth a try. The Spanish Steps are nearby, all 135 of them, leading up to the church of Trinità dei Monti. Climb to the top for the view back down over the piazza and Via dei Condotti below — Rome’s most glamorous shopping street, lined with the likes of Bulgari, Gucci and Prada.
Finally, Campo de’ Fiori is worth a visit at two different times of day. In the morning, it hosts a lively street market, and by evening, the stalls are gone and it transforms into one of the best spots in the city for an al fresco drink or dinner.
Not technically ‘in Rome’ but an obvious stop when in Rome, the Vatican City is the world’s smallest country. Piazza San Pietro, the main square, is framed by colonnades with an ancient Egyptian obelisk in the centre. On most Sundays, the Pope appears at his window above to deliver the Angelus to the crowds gathered below, with big screens set up across the square.
Then there’s the magnificent St Peter’s Basilica itself. You can climb the dome for a fabulous view across Rome, and straight down over the square below. The Vatican Museums hold one of the world’s greatest art collections, ending in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo spent four years painting his breathtaking ceiling across 500 square metres.
Often overshadowed by the city’s iconic landmarks, the Galleria Borghese is one of Rome’s finest museums. Housed in a beautiful 17th-century villa, it’s a manageable size, doesn’t get too busy (due to timed entry slots) and is home to a wonderful collection of Renaissance and Baroque art. This includes Bernini’s lifelike marble sculptures and Caravaggio’s dramatic paintings. Afterwards, you can stroll through the Villa Borghese itself, a lovely park with tree-lined avenues, a boating lake and the Pincio terrace looking out over Piazza del Popolo.
Castel Sant’Angelo is a drum-shaped fortress on the riverbank that began life as Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum. Here you can climb a spiralling ancient ramp through papal apartments and prison cells to reach a rooftop terrace that rewards you with a fabulous view of the city.
For a moment of blissful calm in an otherwise fairly full-on city, head to the Aventine Hill. Here, the Giardino degli Aranci (the Orange Garden) offers gorgeous views over Rome’s rooftops, and you can peer through the famous keyhole to see St Peter’s dome perfectly framed at the end of a hedge-lined avenue.
The Tiber River runs through the heart of Rome, and crossing it brings you to Trastevere, one of the city’s most atmospheric quarters. Its cobbled lanes, tumbling ivy and the golden mosaic church of Santa Maria in Trastevere make a nice afternoon or evening visit.
Find a little café, order a coffee, and watch the world go by. The Gianicolo hill offers one of the best panoramic views over the city, particularly at sunset.
Thinking about visiting Rome? Keep it classic with your very own ‘Grand Tour’ of Venice, Florence & Rome, combine it with the glamour of Sorrento and Capri on our Rome, Sorrento & Capri holiday, or pair it with the rolling hills of Tuscany and the Renaissance treasures of Florence on Rome, Tuscany & Florence. Or you could go for something completely bespoke. Simply get in touch, and we’ll put together the perfect trip for you.
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