An absolute gem of a city within one of Europe’s most beautiful countries, Rome is a popular tourist destination and for many good reasons. Perhaps the most famous city in the world, Rome has a notorious history and culture which offers an abundance of unique experiences and sights to see.
Between the excellent food, stunning architecture, and ancient ruins, it’s full of amazing things to do and see. It was a true privilege to explore and indulge in the culture here for a few days and if you are doing the same then here are 22 things you must see and do when in Rome!
*This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
1) Make a Wish at the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s many architectural marvels and there are a number of reasons to check it out. Built over 250 years ago, the Baroque-style fountain features various figures from Greek mythology sculpted into the stonework with the God Oceanus at the center of it. It is located in the heart of a vibrant city intersection with a gelateria, bars, and shops surrounding it.
There are a few traditions you can partake in here such as throwing a coin in the fountain and making a wish, or drinking from the ‘Lover’s spout’ located to the right of the fountain. Whether you are here day or night, you will certainly be impressed by the size and detail of it and its artistic and historical value.
Quick Tip: The Fountain is cleaned every Monday and Wednesday morning so be sure to plan your visit accordingly
2) Grab A Drink at Rooftop Lounge Trevi
If you are seeking a different way of enjoying the Trevi Fountain then we highly recommend sipping on a drink at the peaceful Rooftop Lounge Trevi.
Located atop the Fontana Hotel, you will enter the lobby found directly across from the Trevi Fountain and ask to go to the top floor where you will find the rooftop bar overlooking the Fountain.
It will cost 25 euro per person to access this bar, but this includes your first drink and the unique view you will get here makes it well worth the price.
3) Explore The Vatican Museums
Within the city of Rome, you will find the Vatican City which is a country within a country and is home to many artistic and architectural masterpieces. A few things to consider doing while visiting the home of the Pope include seeing the roof of the Sistine Chapel, wandering the Vatican Gardens, and hanging out in St. Peter’s Square to name a few.
We highly recommend booking a guided tour as this will provide great insight into the vast collection of art on display and the tours often have agreements where you can even skip some of the lines. Another piece of advice is to go on the earlier side of the day to avoid the larger crowds.
Highlights
- Explore the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica with skip-the-line access
- View some of the most iconic art pieces as well as lesser-known gems
4) Visit St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is a recommendation you will often hear before your visit to Rome and for good reason. This gorgeous 400-year-old church is filled to the brim with Renaissance artwork and has a nice atmosphere inside. The vast number of paintings and sculptures are only the beginning of the artistic features on offer. The walls and ceilings themselves are intricately designed as well as the beautiful stained-glass windows.
Located in the heart of the Vatican City, it can be a long queue to get inside but it’s absolutely worth the wait but if you want to get in quicker then arriving before 8 is your best bet. We viewed the Basilica during a walking tour of the Vatican which included the luxury of skipping the line, so we highly recommend seeing it that way.
5) Try Rome’s Best Pizza
When our local tour guide told us this was the place to get pizza in Rome, we didn’t think twice about giving it a try. Pizzeria Malaterra came highly recommended as a spot beloved by locals, promising an authentic taste of some of the best pizza Rome has to offer- and it did not disappoint!
The freshly made pizzas often had the authentic thin crust, and the infamously delicious Italian tomatoes definitely stood out in the marinara sauce.
We stopped in for lunch after touring the Vatican, just a 20-minute walk away. After hours of exploring the Vatican Museums, we had definitely worked up an appetite!
If you’re searching for authentic and delicious pizza in Rome, be sure to add Pizzeria Malaterra to your list!
6) Row A Boat In The Villa Borghese Gardens
While Rome is unique in countless ways, it shares one thing with many other cities: its abundance of public parks where you can escape the bustling streets. Among these, the Villa Borghese Garden’s stand out in particular, not only for their size but for their many attractions including the chance to rent a rowboat on the picturesque pond.
For just 10 euros, you can rent a rowboat for 30 minutes with each boat accommodating up to four adults. While the boats are popular, you might wait a few minutes, but the peaceful ambiance makes up for it.
The area is surrounded by trees and there is even a gorgeous 18th-century temple protruding into the pond which makes it one of a kind! This was truly the most peaceful activity to enjoy in the evening after a day of walking.
You’ll often find live music being played in the park nearby, adding to the serene and romantic atmosphere. Rowing here felt like a peaceful escape- a true highlight of our trip!
7) Watch The Sunset At Pincian Hill
After a tranquil escape on the rowboats in the Villa Borghese Gardens, we walked about 5 minutes to Pincian Hill- one of Rome’s most breathtaking spots to watch the sunset.
This stunning viewpoint overlooks the Piazza del Popolo and the sprawling city skyline beyond. As you make your way up the hill you will find gardens and elegant architecture as a result of the private villas that once occupied the hill.
Today it is a public space and is a great place to hang out and have a picnic or people watch, but we highly recommend coming here in the evening and watching the sunset over the stunning city skyline. The climb up the steps is nothing too challenging and is definitely worth the effort.
8) Visit the Pantheon
The Pantheon is arguably the best-preserved Ancient Roman building in the world and is well worth visiting. The building served as a temple dedicated to Roman Gods when it was built almost 2000 years ago.
It features 8 tall columns at the front with an iconic domed roof and an interesting obelisk standing adjacent to the Pantheon.
Today the building is a church which features some nice artwork and statues inside and it is here that you really appreciate the dome and the architecture behind it.
There is a 5 euro entry fee to get inside and getting a ticket was quite messy so we recommend planning for about 25-30 mins to queue up for tickets. It is worth the effort without doubt.
9) Stroll Through Galleria Borghese
If you are visiting Rome and looking to appreciate some of its finest artwork, then the Galleria Borghese is a must! Here you will find a large collection of gorgeous statues mingled with paintings from various historical periods including some well-known Renaissance pieces. The large walls and high ceilings in every room are superbly designed and are works of art in their own right. There is a nice garden outside where you can enjoy a stroll before or after your time at the museum. Tickets are $30 and we advise buying ahead of time as they can sell out, but the regulated crowd means you won’t have to worry about long lines to visit.
10) Tour The Colosseum
The Colosseum is notoriously one of the most fascinating ancient ruins in the world and lives up to its expectations. Completed almost 2000 years ago, this stadium is steeped in history and the scale of the accomplishment of such a building is fully appreciated once you take a tour of it and climb the flights of stairs.
We entered the Colosseum with a walking tour where we got great insight into the history and interesting facts about its use in Roman times. There are some good spots to get photos outside the stadium and you can even sit at an outside table at a nearby bar with a picture-perfect view of this incredible landmark.
Highlights
- Skip-the-line tickets to the Colosseum with a knowledgeable guide
- Walk on Palantine Hill and explore the Roman Forum to see some of Rome’s most iconic monuments
- Over 20,000 5-star reviews on GetYourGuide
11) Grab a Drink With a View of The Colosseum
If a tour inside didn’t quench your thirst for appreciating the Colosseum, then we suggest you head to a street called Via Nicola Salvi where you can enjoy a beverage while having a spectacular sighting of the stadium. This small street, which features a bar/restaurant and a cafe, is situated on a hill giving an elevated and unobstructed view of the iconic landmark. It can be tough to get a seat here during the day but if you come a little later in the evening, you’ll have a better chance.
12) Grab a Cappuccino and Cornetto
The classic ‘cappuccino e cornetto’ is a true staple of Italian breakfast and is something you should indulge in during your stay. Italians can be admirably picky when it comes to coffee so there are no shortages of places to find a delicious frothy cappuccino or other milky beverages such as a macchiato. The cornetto is an Italian croissant which can be plain or filled with cream or jam and it pairs beautifully with a coffee. Find a seat at any local coffee shop and get your day off to the perfect start with this light and tasty breakfast.
13)Marvel at the Church of St. Agnatius of Loyola
Another lesser-known, must-visit spot in Rome is the Church of St. Agnatius of Loyola famous for it’s stunning ceiling frescoes painted by Andrea Pozzo. What makes this church unique is the artist’s painting techniques used to create the illusion of a large, dome ceiling where there is none.
The Church has also been gaining popularity due to a mirrior placed in the center of the Church which can be used to admire the intricate artwork on the ceilling without straining your neck. While it was originally designed for a better view, it’s become a popular spot to snap a selfie with the artwork in the background
14) Explore The World’s Oldest Museum: Capitolini Museum
Located atop one of the 7 hills that Rome was founded on is the world’s oldest public museum, the Capitolini Museum. Dating back to 1471, the art collection here is remarkably vast with room upon room filled with beautiful paintings and sculptures.
The museum is within a palace and as we moved through it we were also admiring the ceilings, walls, and even the doorways. One artwork in particular we recommend you should see while you’re here is the Capitoline Wolf and the Fountain of Neptune.
15) Roman Forum
Nestled not too far from the Colosseum lies the Forum, an incredible archaeological site with many attractions to take in. Once the center of social activity and politics, the Forum provides a first-hand look at the architectural marvels of Ancient Rome with a series of arches, columns, and temples on display. We recommend doing a guided tour to see the Forum as you will get valuable facts and context as you explore the ruins, you also get the privilege of skipping some lines with the tour group. Some would say that visiting Rome and not seeing the Forum is like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower and we can’t really argue with that one!
16) Stroll through Trastevere
A hidden gem outside of Rome’s main attractions is Trastevere, a lovely little neighborhood that is well worth a visit day or night. The charm of the area will strike you immediately with its quaint shops and restaurants situated among the narrow-cobbled streets. It is certainly a safe bet to find a nice place for dinner in Trastevere between the al fresco seating, the vibrant atmosphere, and authentic Italian food. You should also check out the Piazza Santa Maria which is the neighborhood square, which is a cool spot to hang out, grab a snack and watch some of the street performers. There are some beautiful churches in the neighborhood that are worth a look as their interiors are beautifully decorated, the Basilica of Santa Maria being particularly impressive.
17) Climb The Spanish Steps
Within the Piazza di Spagna are the beautiful Spanish Steps, a 135-step staircase in the heart of Rome offering great views whether you’re at the bottom or the top. Surrounded by elegant architecture, the steps were built in the 17th century to connect the Piazza to the church above and the top of the steps features an impressive Egyptian obelisk. The Spanish Steps are often crowded during the day so we recommend coming here at night when it is lit up by the yellow street lamps and there are fewer peopl
18) Piazza Navona
The Piazza Navona is a square that features beautiful architecture from the Baroque era and is well worth a visit. On display here are three intricately carved fountains and a great church which is mesmerizing inside and out. The large open square features tourists and locals alike socializing along with street performers and there are also a number of cafes and restaurants to choose from. We recommend coming here in the daytime to fully appreciate beauty on display.
19) Case Romane del Celio
A cool gem off the beaten track is the Case Romane del Celio which is an archaeological site and museum that gives you a first-hand glimpse at the lives of Ancient Romans. Located beneath a church, you will find 20 rooms to wander which feature limited signage but is very interesting to look at the frescoes on the walls and see what homes and shops were like back then. Despite its close proximity to the Colosseum and the Forum, this is a relatively quiet and tranquil place to visit with minimal tourists.
20) Enjoy a Bowl of Pasta at Osteria da Fortuna
Pasta is well known to be one of, if not the best, cuisine that Italy has to offer and Osteria da Fortuna is a restaurant that will not leave you disappointed on that front. There are a few locations within the heart of the city where you can find one of their restaurants and you will even see the pasta being freshly handmade through the front window!
You can expect to wait in line to get seated but it moves quite quickly and we only had to wait 20 minutes at lunchtime. The pasta lived up to expectations and coupled with the excellent service we got the traditional Italian dining experience we were searching for.
21) Take an Italian Cooking Class
A fun activity to try out when visiting a new country is a cooking class for a local dish and Italy is as good a place as any to do so. Whether you’re keen to learn how to make a homemade pizza, a traditional tiramisu, or fresh pasta from scratch, Rome has many opportunities for group lessons in cooking. This is a unique chance to immerse yourself in the culture of Italian cuisine through the guidance of a local and have a lot of fun along the way.
22) Visit A Local Book Shop
Dotted around Rome are some quaint book shops that are well worth a visit and affords you a great chance to take some reading material home. Being such a culturally and historically important place, there is countless literature centered around Rome and naturally, some of the finest collections are found in the city itself. There are English versions for the vast majority of books and regardless of your reading preferences, you will be sure to find something of interest as you browse. The local Italian store associates are all very kind and helpful too
