So you have booked your trip and now you are wondering what to see in Rome? Great question and you have come to the right spot. Whether this is your first time or your tenth time visiting Rome it always helps to have a friend to gather ideas from. This is what I am here for. Below you will find a list of the 10 coolest things to do in Rome as well as Rome top attractions. Enjoy the ride!
*This article may contain affiliate links that may earn me some extra espresso money at no additional cost to you. To see the full affiliate disclosure go here.
10 Coolest Things to Do in Rome and Rome’s Top Attractions
- Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum
- Visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican
- Climb the Dome at St. Peter’s Basilica
- Take a Food Tour or a Cooking Class
- Visit the Most Important Squares and Churches
- Go Shopping in Rome
- See a Soccer, Football or Rugby Match
- Get Off the Beaten Path
- Venture into the Outskirts of Rome
- Take a Day Trip from Rome
Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Archeological Park
Rome’s top attraction by far and one of the most visited monuments in the world. In 2019 alone 7.9 million visited this incredible site.
Rome is known as the Eternal City for good reason. It was founded in the 8th century B.C. and has never been abandoned since. The level of preservation of the archeological ruins is in many cases excellent.
The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater, was home to the hunting and gladiatorial games. The Colosseum itself was completed in 80AD. It is an architectural marvel. If you are wondering what to see in Rome, this is a great place to start.
Visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill portion of the archeological park is the natural extension of a visit to the Colosseum. The Roman forum was the political, administrative and religious centre of Rome. It is in the Roman Forum where you will be able to see the the altar dedicated to Julius Caesar, the temple of the Vestal Virgins and the Roman Curia (Senate Building).
Take a tour of the Colosseum archeological park. Booking with a tour company eliminates the need to deal with tickets which can often sell out in advance plus you get the important benefit of having an expert guide to show you and point out the things that you likely would have missed on your own. A tour can help to turn that bunch of rocks and stones into a lively, colorful and memorable experience.
Here are a few tips to help make your visit even more enjoyable:
- Bring a bottle of water or refillable bottle of water there are lots of places along the way where you can refill
- Wear a hat especially in the warmer summer period because the majority of the area you will visit will be in full sun exposure
- Wear sunscreen
- Large backpacks or rugsacks are strictly prohibited as are any glass containers and sharp metal objects. This includes pocket and or utility knives.
Visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
Marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece fresco located on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. See various Popes apartments by visiting the Vatican Museums. A complex where the first buildings were built int he early 15th century up to the more modern additions added for the Jubilee year of 2000 under St. John Paul II.
The number of visitors to this museum has consistently been over 6 million per year. It is no wonder why the Sistine Chapel is on everyone’s “What to see in Rome” list.
This collection contains the painted works of Michelangelo and Raphael. The museums also house a significant archeological collection which helped inspire these Renaissance kings to paint what they did.
The quick link to tours that I recommend can be found here and here.
Or see my article on the Best Vatican Tours for more in depth analysis as to what kind of tour would be best for you.
Dress code for the museums is you can wear whatever you like, however to enter the Sistine Chapel which is part of the Vatican museums you must have shoulders, knees and mid section covered.
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica and Dome Climb
St. Peter’s Basilica is the the largest Catholic Church in the world. It is a marvel of Baroque architecture and design. Most people when they walk into St. Peter’s Basilica can’t help but say “Wow!” It has the WOW factor whether you are Catholic or not.
There are a few ways to visit St. Peter’s. One is by having the basilica included in your Vatican Museums tour. Another way, is to access the Basilica from St. Peter’s square and perhaps doing the dome climb. See my article about climbing St. Peter’s Dome or the cupola of the Basilica for more info.
Scavi Tour
A very special way to access the basilica is by doing a Scavi tour. A Scavi tour is a tour of the necropolis underneath St. Peter’s Basilica. It is in this necropolis where the body of St. Peter was laid to rest after his martyrdom. Tours of the necropolis must be booked well in advance and are very special. These tours are booked directly through the Vatican Excavations Office here.
Dress code: Shoulders, knees and midsection must be covered at all times, when entering any and all parts of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Catholic or not, religious or not, make sure that St. Peter’s Basilica is on your “What to see in Rome” list.
Take a Food Tour or Cooking Class in Rome
Suppli (deep fried rice croquets with a surprise of melted mozzarella on the inside), Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Roman Pizza (thin and crispy crust), Carciofi alla Romana (simmered artichoke with herbs) or alla Giudia (double deep fried artichoke in the Jewish style, seriously how can you go wrong), Saltimbocca and many more. These are just some of the traditional dishes that make up Roman cuisine.
The roman kitchen is seasonal and it’s origins are very much in what is called cucina povera the poor people’s kitchen. This cuisine often used leftovers, the less desirable and cheaper cuts of meat, stale bread and other ingredients to prepare exquisite dishes. Trippa alla romana (tripe) or Coda alla vaccinara which is an oxtail stew prepared in the butchers style of tomato sauce and spices.
The neighbourhood where the traditional Roman offerings are concentrated is in the Testaccio district where the old slaughterhouse used to be located. Check out these food tours for a deliciously fun experience.
You can also try your hand at making pizza or pasta with wonderful cooking classes that take you through every step of the process.
What to see in Rome: the Most Important Squares and Churches
The films Roman Holiday (1953), Eat Pray Love (2010), Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and To Rome with Love (2012) all offer a glimpse of the romance and charm of Rome’s winding streets, it’s majestic and artful fountains, its inspiring squares and impressive churches. The top square and spots to visit would be the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo and Campo dei Fiori.
There are more than 900 churches in Rome. For churches I recommend Santa Maria del Popolo, Sant’Ignazio, San Luigi dei Francesi, Chiesa di Gesù, Santa Maria ed Angeli e Martiri or Sant Andrea Delle Valle. Any one of these churches will likely surprise and delight you. Works of art by some of the greats like Caravaggio, Baciccia, Lanfranco and Gian Lorenzo Bernini in all of them.
Get lost in the magic of Rome’s winding streets or book yourself a walking tour or a Segway or bike tour to hear some of the stories and history about the incredible places you will see along the way.
Shopping in Rome
From the best of iconic Italian brand names to artisanal producers to mainstream shops to lesser known boutiques. You are sure to find what you are looking for while shopping in Rome.
For high end shopping you will want to focus your attention on the area in and around the Spanish Steps. Via Condotii, Via Borgognona, Via del Babuino and Via Frattina are the streets to stroll when looking for the best of Fendi, Dolce Gabana, Bulgari, Gucci, Hermes, the Valentino headquarters and so much more.
For mainstream shopping you can take to Via del Corso. Via del Corso is Rome’s main shopping street. If you prefer more boutiques and eclectic items try Via Dei Coronari for vintage prints and maps as well as antiques, and estate jewelry.
You can also try crossing the Tiber river and heading to Trastevere. Via Garibaldi and Viale Trastevere offer lots of places for a nice bite or afternoon aperitivo as well as one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques selling shoes, clothes and unique gifts.
For the man looking for bespoke dress shirts and and bespoke suits there is no better place than Rome. Loads of tailors that are happy to take your measurements and provide you with your custom made dress shirts all they way up to complete outfits.
You can also try a shopping tour which can range from a local Roman adventure up to visiting a luxury outlet in Tuscany like the Mall and Space where you find the likes of Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s, Car Shoe, Ferragamo and YSL.
See a Soccer, Football or Rugby Match
Football or soccer is a national obsession in Italy. It is a very important part of the cultural fabric of the nation. Embrace your inner sports fan and join in on the fun.
In Rome there are two main football or soccer teams the first AS Roma and the second is SS Lazio. They both play out of Stadio Olympico (or Olympic Stadium). Traditionally those that live in the city of Rome support AS Roma and those that live in the province of Rome support SS Lazio.
There are a few ways to watch an AS Roma or SS Lazio match. One way to watch is on screen at a pub. Even better you catch a match live. There is very little that can compare to watching a football match live. The energy, the chants and the love of the sport all come together to make for a very memorable experience.
For tickets you can go directly to an AS Roma store or SS Lazio store to purchase directly. You will need a piece of ID for all of the people who will be attending the match. You will also need to bring ID with you on match day in order to be able to enter the stadium.
Piazza Risorgimento is very close to St. Peter’s square. On occasion you can purchase match tickets there. You will see people dressed up in AS Roma garb and likely the little truck or ticket stand as pictured in the image above.
Make sure to dress up in the colours appropriate for supporting the team you choose. AS Roma fans will want to wear gold and deep red and for SS Lazio fans sky blue. Outside the stadium on the way in, you can pick up team scarves and other fan garb.
Add going to a soccer match to your list of what to see in Rome.
Get Off the Beaten Path
Have you visited Rome before? Would you like to avoid dealing with crowds? How about visiting somewhere that is off the beaten path? They say it takes a lifetime to know Rome: this is absolutely true. You could spend many lifetimes visiting Rome and still not see everything.
A location you may want to consider when deciding what to see in Rome is the Botanical Gardens of Rome, run by la Sapienza University Horticulture department. The Botanical Gardens Rome are located in the Trastevere neighbourhood. Pronounced trass-te-ve-rre. Trastevere means across the Tiber river.
While in the neighbourhood you could check out Santa Maria in Trastevere, Galleria Corsini or Villa Farnesina which houses incredible frescoes by Raphael including his Amore e Psiche or Cupid and Psyche.
The Appian Way is one of the most ancient roads leading from Rome built in 312BC. There ware many ways to enjoy the Appian way including by bike, horse back riding or part of a scenic driving tour. Part of the the archeological park that is connected to the Appian Way is the Park of the Aqueducts.
Another off the beaten path you could visit is a part of underground Rome. There is a whole network of catacombs, underground water systems and other interesting things just lying beneath your feet as you walk to the city.
For a more macabre activity there is always the Capuchin Crypts where you will find the bones of 3,700 friars that have been used to decorate the crypts.
To get your blood pumping or a sense of nostalgia considering renting a Ferrari for a few hours or taking a helicopter ride or taking a vintage vehicle for a spin.
Venture into the Outskirts of Rome
Why not venture out of the historic centre of Rome? Outside of the historical centre means outside of the Aurelian walls. There are a myriad of places to see just by venturing out of the city centre. Rome was founded on the Tiber river. The Tiber river carves a valley between two extinct volcanoes. To the north of Rome we have the Sabatino volcanic complex and to the south the Lazio volcanic complex. Rome’s proximity to these two extinct volcanoes was critical in providing building supplies for the ancient Romans.
Castelli Romani or Roman Castles
To the south of Rome in the area of the Lazio volcanic complex there are some exciting places to visit. There is a collection of towns called the Roman Castles or Castelli Romani located in this area. Frascati is one of the towns in the Roman Castles famous for its white wine.
How about a castles wine and vineyard tour?
Another town in the Roman castles is the town of Castel Gandolfo. This has historically been known and continues to be known as the Pope’s summer residence. They have extensive gardens which can visited through the spring summer months.
To the north of Rome lies the Sabatino volcanic complex. The the craters of this complex there are some gorgeous lakes. The largest in the area is Lago Bracciano or Lake Bracciano. There are several visit worthy towns that lie on the shores Bracciano Lake. Trevignano di Roma, Anguillara Sabazia and Bracciano. In Bracciano you can find the totally charming Odelscachi-Orsini Castle. Or how about taking a helicopter ride over to Bracciano Lake?
Being a volcanic area there are also many options for going to the hot springs. There are the Terme Dei Papi hot springs in Viterbo, or the Stigliano hot springs which are set in a gorgeous park setting. To the south east of Rome you can find the Tivoli hot springs which are not really that hot so they are actually a great place to go to during the summer months.
I have to confess, sooner or later I will write a post about the hot springs that can be found in and around Rome. I am personally a huge fan of hot springs and make a point of checking them out whenever I travel anywhere that has them.
Tivoli is a great town roughly 30kms ore 20 miles east of Rome and there are two very important sites that can be visited there. One is Hadrian’s Villa, the imperial complex that was built in the 2nd century AD. Just a little way beyond Hadrian’s Villa, you’ll find the incredible Villa d’Este which is a veritable celebration of water and fountains.
It is best to make a day of this trip where you visit Hadrian’s villa in the morning. Stop for lunch in the town of Tivoli and from there in the afternoon visit Villa D’este. Join an organized excursion here.
Take a Day Trip from Rome
Continuing with our what to see in Rome theme, here is a different spin on it. How about seeing something outside of Rome? Try taking a day trip from Rome. This way you can see more and still return to your hotel room in the evening.
It is becoming more and more common for people to use Rome as their home base and to take day trips to see other parts of Italy. The reasons for this are varied. One of the reasons is that it is just easier. It is easier to book just one hotel room or apartment and not have to lug luggage around every few days. When you do not have to move accommodation, you get the best and most out of your time.
Many private and group tour companies have really increased their offerings to accommodate the needs of these travellers. The selection is vast for those who would like to see all that Italy has to offer, while staying in Rome.
Pompeii Tours from Rome
Go back in time and walk the streets of the ancient port city of Pompeii. Pompeii was a very important port city when in 79AD Mount Vesuvius erupted completely burying the city in volcanic ash. Walk the streets, see their theatres, their shops, their bath houses and their restaurants. It is like entering the ultimate time machine.
Day trips to Pompeii are usually coupled with visiting a town on the Amalfi coast, visiting the Archeological Museum of Naples or climbing Mount Vesuvius. However you choose to visit Pompei it is not a site to be missed when deciding on what to see in Rome and on your trip to Italy.
Day Trip from Rome to the Tuscany
Heading north of Rome and beyond we find the region of Tuscany. Famous for having been the settlement area for the Etruscan ancient civilization, for being the bas of the Medici family and having an incredible terrain for producing some of the best wines int he world. What is not to love about Tuscany. In Tuscany you can see several UNESCO certified valleys including the Val d’Orcia.
A day trip to Tuscany from Rome is a wonderful way to experience some of the charming medieval hilltop towns, taste wine and immerse yourself in the history and culture of these picturesque locations. I really mean picturesque. There is a huge list of films that have been entirely or partially filmed in Tuscany including Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), Twilight (2008) and The Gladiator (2000) to name a few.
Day Trip from Rome to Capri or the Towns on the Amalfi Coast
Capri the island of sunglasses, sandals, the jet setters and yachts. Explore the crystal blue waters, exclusive shopping, limoncello and the Blue Grotto on this fun filled adventure to to the famous island of Capri.
The Amalfi coast is a protected UNESCO site and shows all the best the bay of Sorrento has to offer. This tour that I recommend includes a coordinated trip with high speed train, mini bus and three ferry rides. A fully thrilling day.
Day Trip from Rome to Orvieto
A perfect way to see this gorgeous town in Umbria. Umbria is a region located north of Rome and is known as the green heart of Italy. See the Duomo of Orvieto and the chapel that inspired Michelangelo for his depiction of the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.
Wander Orvieto’s cobblestone streets. Taste the sumptuous food and wine of this region. Don’t tell anyone I said this but as far as I am concerned Umbria is hands down the best region to taste the best of Italian cuisine. From olive oil, to wine to their incredible pasta to salami and cheeses. You will not be disappointed tucking into an Umbrian meal. Everything else which is absolutely noteworthy is a wonderful bonus.
Check out a few options here for day trips to Orvieto or day trips to Orvieto and Assisi.
