Rome, capital of Italy, is known as “the eternal city”. It is one of the most impressive cities in the world. Besides, it is very rich in history, art, culture, traditions and gastronomy. However, it is almost impossible to make a list of things to do. But, as well as for Italians and, of course, not only for them – visiting Rome at least once in our lifetime is a must.
Rome is, after all, one of the cities that receives the most tourists in Europe. As you walk through the historic centre, you will find a lot of history in monuments like Fontana Di Trevi. It is also a must to stroll through charming neighbourhoods such as Trastevere.
Where to stay in Rome
If you wish to explore Rome, give preference to staying in the historic center. This is where the main sights of the city are located.
Rome has the largest historical centre in the world, and over the years it has changed a lot, both in its flow of tourists and in the best areas to stay. You will find a huge range of accommodation of all kinds, in various areas of the city: hostels, cheap hotels, resorts and luxury hotels. However, if you wish to explore Rome, this area is ideal for walking tours. In addition, you will find the ideal accommodation for you, at the best cost and benefit.
Highly rated by guests ❤️
Hotel Europa Splendid
Hotel Europa Splendid is a 4-star hotel in the heart of Merano. It offers comfortable rooms, delicious cuisine, and a spa and wellness center. Its central location and excellent amenities make it a top choice for visitors to the town.
See more accommodation tips in Rome in our latest travel experiences to Italy’s capital.
How many days in Rome?
To visit Rome, this question is even difficult to answer. We believe that everything depends on one’s rhythm. But depending on how many days you book, it will never be enough. Besides, being in Rome, it is also possible to take several day trips to other cities.
Guided tours and excursions in Rome
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
See priceless works of art from the Papal collections in the Vatican Museums. Marvel at masterpieces from antiquity to Michelangelo’s legendary frescoes.
Colosseum & Roman Forum
Explore Ancient Rome on a walking tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, and skip the lines to enter the popular attractions with an expert guide. Learn about the Roman Empire, see the tomb of Julius Caesar, and stop at the Via Sacra.
Personal Photo Shoot with Professional
Take home a unique souvenir of your time in Rome with a 1-hour photo session with a professional photographer.
More options for tours and tickets in Rome
Gastronomy & Food Experiences
One of the best ways to get to know a city is a gastronomic tour.
The “real” Rome has a rich gastronomy and delicious cuisine. Besides, the gastronomy makes us meet wonderful people and their stories. A unique insight into the daily life of the Romans, which we will not forget so quickly.
So, if you plan to enjoy Rome’s Italian cuisine, keep following our restaurant tips, typical dishes and a selection of jewelry hidden in our Instagram.
Tourism in Rome
The most visited tourist attractions in Rome are: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, where the Sistine Chapel is located. In addition, taking advantage of the Vatican tours, you can participate in the papal audience, attend the Angelus or other events, and obtain a blessing from the Pope in Rome.
Coliseum
Built in Ancient Rome, the Coliseum has always been seen for many years as the greatest and most famous symbol of the Roman Empire. It is one of the best examples of the architecture of that time, despite being in ruins due to earthquakes and looting.
The Roman Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre or Flavius, gathered for centuries several gladiatorial battles and hunting of animals imported from Africa, in games that led the public to delirium.
During the Middle Ages, the marble and bronze of its structure were gradually plundered and used to decorate churches and Catholic monuments. Marble pieces from the amphitheatre were even used in the construction of the famous Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.
Today, the monument receives about 3 million visitors per year and is the stage for the Via Crucis, held on Holy Fridays, presided over by the Pope.
Palatine Hill and Roman Forum
The ticket purchased to visit the Coliseum also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so it would be a pity not to see them, as these 3 tourist sites are related to each other. They are all located in the same archaeological area of Rome, adjacent to each other.
However, these 3 tourist sites have separate entrances, but share the same access ticket valid for two days, valid for all 3 sites.
The Forum was the center of the city and you can see the ruins of old markets, administrative and religious buildings. However, you will not find any explanatory panel on the site, so if you are interested in the history, you should really opt for a guided tour.
According to mythology, Palatine Hill, which is one of the 7 hills of Rome, was the place where the city was founded by Romulus and Remus. As you may know, it is the twins who were found and suckled by a wolf inside a cave. At the top of Mount Palatine, you will have access to this cave and to the ruins of the residences of historical figures like Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.
Heart of the Historic Centre of Rome
The famous Via del Corso divides the heart of the historic centre of Rome. This “Via” is a commercial street that begins in Piazza del Popolo and ends in Piazza Venezia.
You can start at the first “piazza” and finish your walk at the last. This way, you will get to know the main monuments of this part of the city. Also, another tip is to do the opposite route and find the morning fair at Campo de Fiori.
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo is very famous for being a place of celebration for Italians. Whether it’s the arrival of a new year or the Azzurri’s winning of a world title. It is also an important point of interest, with its fountains, 3 churches and the obelisk. Finally, it is one of the largest squares in Rome and is located near Villa Borghese. From the square, you can get the stairs to hills top. There, you will have access to Pincio’s terrace, from where you can have a wonderful view to the Vatican.
Piazza Spagna
Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous and most popular squares in Rome. It owes its name to the Spanish Embassy, which once had its headquarters there.
Piazza di Spagna is the centre of cultural and tourist life in Rome. Its elegance has always been a trademark. From the ochre-coloured facades of the palaces, through the staircases of Trinità dei Monti, and the “Barcaccia”, the fountain carved by Pietro Bernini. In short, Piazza di Spagna, at the foot of the Pincio hill, is a magical place. It was no accident the best fashion brands have opened their stores everywhere in this place.
Fontana di Trevi
The Fontana di Trevi is the most beautiful in Rome. It built by Nicola Salvi near the Palazzo Poli and completed in 1732 by Giuseppe Panini. The famous central nucleus with the statues of the god Ocean. Besides, the two seahorses and two newts are the work of Pietro Bracci. Bracci was one of the greatest late baroque sculptors and he buried in the Pantheon.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the most famous Roman monuments, one of the symbols of Rome. According to a legend, it says that in this place where it was built, Romulus, at his death, was grabbed and carried to heaven by an eagle.
As its name indicates (Pan = all and Theon = gods) the building is a monument dedicated to all the gods. Moreover, it was built by Emperor Adriano between 118 and 125 AD. In 609, it was converted from a pagan temple to a Christian basilica, dedicated to Saint Mary ad Martyres. However, in 1870 it became the resting place of the sovereigns of Italy, including Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I and Margherita di Savoia. Buried in the Pantheon is also the great artist Raffaello Sanzio.
Piazza Navona
It is one of the most loved squares by Romans and tourists, one of our favorites during the tours in Rome. Also, the ideal place to entertain yourself while sitting comfortably at a bar between sculptures and baroque architecture.
The main attraction of Piazza Navona is the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gianlorenzo Bernini (1651). The rivers are the Ganges, the Danube, the River Plate and the Nile represented by four giants arranged on a pyramidal rock from which a Roman obelisk is born. In front of the magnificent fountain is the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone with its concave façade, designed by Borromini to highlight the dome.
The square is adorned by two other fountains, the Fountain of Neptune or the Calderari, in the extreme north, and the Fountain of the Moor facing the Palazzo Pamphilj (south of the square), designed by Giacomo della Porta.
Moreover, during the day, it is a place much sought after by tourists. But it is during the night that young people come here to stay.
Finally, it’s an ideal place not to miss, especially during the Christmas period when one fills up with characteristic tents, typical foods and during the night between 5 and 6 January on the occasion of the Befana Festival.
Campo de’ Fiori
Rome is also a lively and lively city and there is no better way to discover it than by visiting the market at Campo de Fiori, right in the centre and just a few steps from Piazza Navona. In fact, it is an ideal place to enjoy the smell of fresh produce and admire its lively colours.
Every morning (except Sundays) there is a market for fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. Although it is very popular among tourists because it is located in the historical center of Rome, this small market has managed to preserve all its authenticity.
It’s the perfect place if you want to take home high quality products from Italy. Besides, it is much cheaper than the tourist areas of Rome!
At night, the fruit and vegetable stalls give way to busy restaurants and young people, who meet here and then go to the clubs nearby.
Vatican
A visit to the Vatican is a must for a trip to Rome, even if you are not a fervent believer in the Catholic Church.
However, despite being the smallest nation in the world, the Vatican is one of the most visited places during holidays in Italy. However, only priests and nuns, some dignitaries, guards and, of course, the Pope can live there.
In addition, the guards can only be Swiss and, of course, must be Catholic. They take an oath of loyalty to the Pope himself. This tradition goes back to the looting of Rome in 1527, when the Swiss guards protected the pope during his escape to Castel Sant’Angelo.
St Peter’s Basilica
The heart of the Catholic Church and the seat of the Pope, besides being the most important of the 5 “Major Basilicae” (the others are San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Paolo and San Lorenzo). Thus, regardless of religious denomination, St. Peter’s Basilica remains an essential stop in Rome.
There are no words to describe the majesty and elegance of Michelangelo’s façade and dome, the vast square with Bernini’s colonnade, the breathtaking baroque interiors, the beauty of the Pietà statue and the other works of art that decorate the naves and chapels.
Papal and Angelus Audience
Whoever goes to Rome wants to see the Pope. In this way, there are various ways of seeing the pope in Rome. Besides being able to participate in general audiences, you can participate in the Angelus or the liturgical year celebrations as Masses that take place on holy or special days. In addition, you can participate in the Urbi et Orbi in the program of Holy Week in Rome. Finally, there are also special Masses at Christmas and Corpus Christi.
- How to attend a Papal Audience (in Portuguese)
Vatican Museums
After St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums are among the first places to visit in the Vatican if you want to admire the beauty and art contained in the papal city. Among its vast halls you can get lost even for a day inside, discovering from archaeological finds to masterpieces of every century, from religious art to the most precious and ancient volumes.
However, perhaps in one day it will not be enough to admire all the beauty contained in the thirteen museums accessible through a comfortable entrance built in 2000 on the occasion of the Jubilee desired by Pope John Paul II. It is ideal to keep in mind what you wish to see and any path that is chosen, in the end, will have as its destination the famous Sistine Chapel, one of the treasures of humanity.
Castel Sant’Angelo
Once in this area, you cannot miss a visit to Castel Sant’Angelo, built in 130 at Adriano’s behest as a burial place for you and your family. However, over the centuries its history has become increasingly intertwined with papal events, given its proximity to St. Peter’s Basilica. Since 2014, the monument has become part of the Polo Museale del Lazio and now houses a rich gallery of pottery, sculptures and paintings, as well as offering a magnificent view of the Corso Vittorio II.
Trastevere
Trastevere is located in the old working-class district west of the Tiber and south of the Vatican. The trasterini claim that only real Romans exist here. But this is almost true, because here almost exclusively Romans live.
Trastevere is the most Italian of the districts of Rome. Besides being a charming and quiet neighbourhood, it is also an invitation to stroll aimlessly through its streets and have a coffee in one of the countless squares or simply stroll through the market.
Also, during the day, you will find fairs, snack bars with typical foods and other attractions.
However, during the night, it is a fantastic place for those who like to go out. Bars, restaurants, pizzerias, tractor shops, osterias and prosciuttarias welcome tourists and residents in this picturesque space.
More tourism tips in Rome
Book a ticket for the gastronomic tour in Rome
Before the trip, we were recommended for a gastronomic tour in Rome. We booked this before the trip because it is a very popular tour among travelers.
So, it’s a way to discover Rome outside of the best known routes and in a not very touristic area. Besides, knowing the Rome cuisine, in Testaccio is wonderful.
Take a cooking class in Rome
Learn how to prepare and cook homemade pasta in an incredible cooking class in Rome. Visit a food market, learn the secrets of local chefs and enjoy a relaxed lunch with the fruits of your labor.
Save money with Roma Pass!
Before the trip, we bought a pass from Rome to the sights. We wanted to find out if it would be worth our trip.
Why is Roma Pass worth the first trip to Rome?
- Avoid waiting times and save time.
- Save money (if you want to visit sights and museums).
See how buy a Roma Pass to avoid queuing at major tourist spots and still save on public transport.mizar com o transporte público. (in Portuguese)
