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Things to do in Rome

Rome packs a lot into a compact centre. Here are all 56 sights in our planner, starting with the must-sees and then grouped by theme, each with opening hours, price and the time you need.

Don't miss

Colosseum, RomeAncient Rome

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Colosseum

The Roman amphitheatre: timed slot required, ticket is also valid for the Forum and Palatine.

Roman Forum & Palatine HillAncient Rome

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Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

The political heart of ancient Rome and the Palatine hill, on the same ticket as the Colosseum.

Pantheon, RomeCentro Storico

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Pantheon

The best-preserved building of ancient Rome, with its open oculus; still a church, timed ticket.

Trevi Fountain, RomeCentro Storico

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Trevi Fountain

Rome’s largest Baroque fountain; toss a coin over your shoulder. Very busy, go early or late.

St. Peter’s Basilica & Square, RomeVatican & Prati

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St. Peter’s Basilica & Square

The world’s largest church, with Michelangelo’s Pietà; the dome climb needs its own ticket. Cover shoulders and knees.

Sightseeing: squares, landmarks and viewpoints

Vittoriano (Altare della Patria), RomeAncient Rome

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Vittoriano (Altare della Patria)

The white marble monument on Piazza Venezia; the panoramic terrace lift gives one of Rome’s best views.

Circus Maximus, RomeAncient Rome

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Circus Maximus

The long grassy valley where chariot races once drew 150,000 spectators; a good sunset spot.

Piazza Navona, RomeCentro Storico

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Piazza Navona

Baroque square on the shape of an ancient stadium, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers.

Largo di Torre Argentina, RomeCentro Storico

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Largo di Torre Argentina

Sunken ruins of four Republican temples where Caesar was killed, now home to a cat sanctuary.

Spanish Steps & Piazza di Spagna, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Spanish Steps & Piazza di Spagna

The 135-step stairway to Trinità dei Monti above Piazza di Spagna. Sitting on the steps is fined.

Piazza del Popolo & the Pincio, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Piazza del Popolo & the Pincio

A grand neoclassical square with an obelisk; climb to the Pincio terrace for a sunset view over Rome.

Villa Borghese, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Villa Borghese

Rome’s big central park: boat pond, Pincio views, bike and rickshaw hire, and its museums.

Santa Maria in Trastevere, RomeTrastevere

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Santa Maria in Trastevere

One of Rome’s oldest churches, with a glittering 12th-century apse mosaic on the piazza.

Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill), RomeTrastevere

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Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill)

Hilltop terrace with the best panorama over Rome’s rooftops; a cannon fires at noon.

Aventine Hill, Orange Garden & the Keyhole, RomeAventine & Testaccio

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Aventine Hill, Orange Garden & the Keyhole

The Orange Garden terrace and the Knights of Malta keyhole that frames St. Peter’s dome.

Bocca della Verità, RomeAventine & Testaccio

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Bocca della Verità

The ancient marble mask in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; "tell a lie and it bites".

Baths of Caracalla, RomeAventine & Testaccio

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Baths of Caracalla

The vast ruins of 3rd-century imperial baths, with mosaics and an underground complex.

Santa Maria Maggiore, RomeTermini & Esquilino

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Santa Maria Maggiore

One of Rome’s four papal basilicas, with gilded ceilings and 5th-century mosaics.

San Giovanni in Laterano, RomeTermini & Esquilino

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San Giovanni in Laterano

Rome’s cathedral and the mother church of the world’s Catholics, with a huge nave and a 13th-century cloister.

Appian Way & Catacombs of San Callisto, RomeAventine & Testaccio

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Appian Way & Catacombs of San Callisto

Walk the ancient Roman road lined with tombs and visit the early Christian catacombs; about 4 km from the Baths of Caracalla.

Piazza del Quirinale & Quirinal Palace, RomeCentro Storico

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Piazza del Quirinale & Quirinal Palace

Hilltop square with the Dioscuri fountain, an obelisk and a view to St. Peter's, in front of the president's palace.

Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe), RomeCentro Storico

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Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe)

Tiny Renaissance fountain in the Jewish Ghetto where four bronze youths lift turtles into the basin.

Basilica of San Clemente, RomeTermini & Esquilino

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Basilica of San Clemente

Three layers in one: a medieval church, a 4th-century basilica below and a Roman house with a Mithras temple under that.

Museums and galleries

Capitoline Museums & Piazza del Campidoglio, RomeAncient Rome

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Capitoline Museums & Piazza del Campidoglio

The world’s oldest public museums on Michelangelo’s Campidoglio square, with the Marcus Aurelius statue and a rooftop view.

Galleria Borghese, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Galleria Borghese

Bernini’s sculptures and Caravaggio paintings in a villa; two-hour timed visits for 180 people.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, RomeVatican & Prati

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Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Raphael Rooms, galleries and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel; book a time slot online to skip the queue.

Castel Sant’Angelo, RomeVatican & Prati

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Castel Sant’Angelo

Hadrian’s mausoleum turned papal fortress, with a terrace overlooking the Tiber and St. Peter’s.

National Roman Museum, Palazzo MassimoTermini & Esquilino

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National Roman Museum, Palazzo Massimo

Ancient Rome’s finest frescoes, mosaics and sculpture, near Termini station.

Ara Pacis Museum, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Ara Pacis Museum

Richard Meier's glass pavilion shelters Augustus's altar of peace (13 BC), a masterpiece of Roman relief.

Trajan's Markets & Imperial Forums Museum, RomeAncient Rome

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Trajan's Markets & Imperial Forums Museum

The multi-storey shopping complex of Emperor Trajan (2nd century) with a museum of the Imperial Forums.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj, RomeCentro Storico

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Galleria Doria Pamphilj

Princely palace with a private collection: Caravaggio, Velázquez's Pope Innocent X and rich 18th-century halls.

Capuchin Crypt, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Capuchin Crypt

Museum and chapels decorated with the bones of about 4,000 Capuchin friars under Santa Maria della Concezione.

Baths of Diocletian, RomeTermini & Esquilino

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Baths of Diocletian

The largest baths of ancient Rome, with a Michelangelo cloister and the epigraphy section of the National Roman Museum.

Domus Aurea, RomeAncient Rome

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Domus Aurea

Underground rooms of Nero's palace on the Colle Oppio with frescoes and a virtual-reality tour; booking required.

Food and markets

Campo de’ Fiori, RomeCentro Storico

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Campo de’ Fiori

Lively square with a produce market in the morning and bars in the evening.

Jewish Ghetto, RomeCentro Storico

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Jewish Ghetto

Rome’s old Jewish quarter: Portico d’Ottavia, the Great Synagogue and the best carciofi alla giudia.

Trastevere, RomeTrastevere

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Trastevere

Cobbled lanes, ivy-covered houses and trattorias; liveliest in the evening.

Mercato di Testaccio, RomeAventine & Testaccio

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Mercato di Testaccio

Rome’s local food market: supplì, trapizzino, porchetta and produce stalls.

Mercato Centrale RomaTermini & Esquilino

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Mercato Centrale Roma

Artisan food hall beside Termini station: pizza, pasta, gelato, bread and street food under one roof.

Eataly Roma OstienseAventine & Testaccio

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Eataly Roma Ostiense

Huge Italian food emporium by Ostiense station with counters, restaurants, a bakery and a rooftop.

Mercato Trionfale

Vatican & Prati

One of the biggest covered food markets in Rome, with produce, cheese, cured meats and lunch counters.

Beer

Open Baladin RomaCentro Storico

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Open Baladin Roma

Showcase of Italian craft beer by Baladin with dozens of taps and bottles, open from lunchtime near Campo de' Fiori.

Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà

Trastevere

Tiny Trastevere beer pub with a long list of Italian and Belgian craft beers on tap, a classic for Rome beer fans.

Chocolate

Said (San Lorenzo)

Termini & Esquilino

Historic chocolate factory in San Lorenzo (1923) with a shop, pastry counter and café-restaurant for tasting.

Moriondo & Gariglio, RomeCentro Storico

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Moriondo & Gariglio

Turin-style chocolatier since 1886 in a small historic shop near the Pantheon: pralines, gianduiotti and cocoa creams.

Grezzo Raw Chocolate, RomeAncient Rome

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Grezzo Raw Chocolate

Small Monti shop making raw, vegan chocolate and desserts at low temperature; tastings and a tiny café.

Shopping

Monti, RomeAncient Rome

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Monti

Rome’s village-like old quarter of vintage shops, wine bars and small trattorias, a step from the Forum.

Via del Governo Vecchio, RomeCentro Storico

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Via del Governo Vecchio

Pedestrian-feeling lane near Piazza Navona with vintage shops, small designers, bakeries and trattorie.

Via del Corso, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Via del Corso

Rome's long main shopping street from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo: high street brands and department stores.

Via Condotti, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Via Condotti

Rome's luxury shopping street from the Spanish Steps: fashion houses, jewellers and the historic Caffè Greco.

Via dei Coronari, RomeCentro Storico

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Via dei Coronari

Renaissance lane of antique dealers, art galleries and restorers between Piazza Navona and the Tiber.

Porta Portese Market, RomeTrastevere

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Porta Portese Market

Rome's huge Sunday flea market: clothes, antiques, bric-a-brac and bargains along Via Portuense.

With kids

Explora Children's Museum, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Explora Children's Museum

Hands-on museum for children up to 12 in 105-minute timed slots; booking recommended, slots sell out.

Bioparco di RomaTridente & Villa Borghese

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Bioparco di Roma

Historic zoo in Villa Borghese park with elephants, big cats and a reptile house; a family classic.

Villa Borghese Lake Rowing Boats, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Villa Borghese Lake Rowing Boats

Rent a rowing boat on the small lake with the Temple of Aesculapius; a relaxed break for families.

Casina di Raffaello, RomeTridente & Villa Borghese

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Casina di Raffaello

Small villa in Villa Borghese with play rooms, workshops and a garden for children up to 10; often free to enter.

Plan your trip → Put these places in a day plan with walking times.

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Last updated: 10 October 2026