Looking for places to visit in Rome? Discover what you can do in Rome – We found 15 best tourist attractions and things to do.
Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world and a destination that never ceases to surprise tourists.
Sitting on the banks of the Tiber River, Rome is one of the most important tourist centers in Europe, with a friendly Mediterranean climate all year round, delicious cuisine and narrow streets that hide interesting stories.
Also known as the Eternal City, Italy’s capital is a mix of captivating ancient ruins, art and a lively atmosphere.
Here are the 15 places to visit in Rome that you should not miss.
Best Things to Do in Rome
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is probably the most impressive historical ruin of the Roman Empire and a tourist attraction visited by tourists from all over the world. Places to stay in the area
Impresses with its dimensions: it has an elliptical shape with a length of 189 meters (620 ft), a width of 156 meters (511 ft) and a height of almost 50 meters (164 ft).
In ancient times, this amphitheater was used as an arena for gladiators and other public events or theatrical performances and various hunting expeditions.
The Colosseum, together with the Roman Forum and the Arch of Constantine, form a fairly compact tourist area, which is ideal for those who want to spend a complete Roman holiday in the capital of Italy.
The Pantheon
It is an impressive monument built as a temple of Greek deities and the most complete ancient structure in the city, being also one of the most visited places in the capital. Places to stay in the area
The Pantheon is the oldest building in the world that is still in use today and has become a destination not only for tourists and filmmakers, but also for architects, designers and artists from around the world.
Famous buildings modeled after the Pantheon in Rome include the US Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial, and the National Gallery in Washington, DC.
Piazza Venezia and Il Vittoriano monument
Piazza Venezia is in the vicinity of the Capitol Hill and the Roman Forum and is a place full of famous monuments, but the monument to Victor Emmanuel II is by far the most remarkable. Places to stay in the area
Inside the monument there are large halls used for exhibitions. Also here is the Museo centrale del Risorgimento, a museum dedicated to the history of Italian unification.
The main attraction at Il Vittoriano is the glass-walled lift from the top, from where superb panoramic views of the city can be admired.
Trevi Fountain Rome
Fontana di Trevi is the most famous and probably the most beautiful artesian fountain in Rome.
The fountain – a masterpiece of the Italian Baroque – is dominated by the figure of the god Neptune and to the left and right of Neptune stand the statues of Abundance and Health, respectively. Places to stay in the area
The fountain is built mostly of travertine stone and is about 26 meters (85 ft) high and 20 meters (65 ft) wide. The water at the bottom of the well represents the sea.
Legend has it that whoever throws a coin into the water will return to Rome. This coin must be tossed over the shoulder with the back to the well.
The Spanish Steps and the Trinita dei Monti church
Piazza di Spagna is one of the most popular sights in Rome and home to the famous Spanish Steps and a French church (Trinita dei Monti). Places to stay in the area
The Spanish Steps were designed between 1723 and 1725 and are characteristic of the Baroque style. Here there are 137 steps that attract both tourists and locals.
The atmosphere at the famous Spanish Steps is romantic, and young people use this area as a meeting place.
At the base of the steps is the small and eccentric Fontana della Barcaccia.
The Trinita dei Monti Church is a Catholic place of worship located at the top of the famous Spanish Steps. It is one of the 5 French-speaking Catholic churches in Rome.
Its location near the Spanish Steps makes this church an important tourist attraction in Rome, and from here tourists can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
Trastevere district
The Trastevere neighborhood is a picturesque neighborhood with a special charm.
Here everything exudes a typical Italian atmosphere with the narrow and cobbled streets, the buildings full of flowers and hanging plants, the cheerful terraces and the music that can be heard inside them. Places to stay in the area
A walk through Trastevere should include the main attractions of the area: the Basilica of San Crisogono or the Church of Santa Maria. The Museum of Rome or the Botanical Garden.
Today, Trastevere also has a young breath, with several universities in the area.
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
The smallest country in the world can offer you one of the most interesting visits during your Rome vacation.
The Vatican Museums represent one of the most complex objectives to visit. They are among the largest museums in the world, where you can find 30 separate collections, housed in 1400 rooms. Places to stay in the area
Vatican Museums include: Egyptian Gregorian Museum, Gregorian Etruscan Museum, Museums of Classical Antiquities, Pio-Clementino Museum, Art Gallery, Tapestry Gallery, Missionary-Ethnological Museum, Sacred Museum (Library), Profane Museum, Vatican Historical Museum.
The Vatican Museums Tour also includes the famous Sistine Chapel, where visitors can enjoy the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo. This is the chapel of the papal palace in the Vatican and is one of the most famous artistic treasures of Europe.
St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Square is the huge Vatican square that houses the famous St. Peter’s Basilica.
The square has an elliptical shape and is surrounded by the colonnade with 284 columns and 140 statues of saints. In the center of the square is an Egyptian obelisk, having a height of about 40 m (460 ft). Places to stay in the area
Saint Peter’s Basilica is the most famous work of Renaissance architecture and one of the largest churches in the world and the seat of the Pope.
St. Peter’s Square is considered by many to be an attraction in itself, a place to meditate, whether as a pilgrim or an art lover.
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is one of the most visited and most photographed public squares in Rome, located in the historic center of the city, west of the Pantheon. Places to stay in the area
It has many attractions, from fountains (Fontana del Moro, Fontana del Nettuno, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), palaces (Palazzo Pamphili, Palazzo Braschi (houses Museo di Roma), Palazzo de Cupis, Palazzo Torres Massimo Lancellotti) or churches ( Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone).
It is one of the liveliest squares in Rome, home to many cafes, restaurants and night clubs.
One of the streets that crosses Navona Square, Via dei Coronari, is ideal for tourists who want to buy rare and extravagant antiques, here you can visit numerous specialty shops.
Sant Angelo Castle
The Castle is located in Rome’s Parco Adriano and is a monument of Etruscan inspiration, in the construction of which materials such as brick, marble and mosaic were harmoniously combined. Places to stay in the area
Initially, the building served as a mausoleum, then became part of the city wall, and was later transformed into a fortress. It was also used as a papal residence and later served as a military prison.
Today it is a national museum that attracts an impressive number of tourists from all over the world.
Each room of the castle is impressive and loaded with historical events. The court of honor, the halls of Clement, the hall of justice, the hall of Apollo or the Prison are just a few of them.
From the terrace under the statue of the Archangel you can admire a superb panoramic view of the city.
Villa Borghese Rome
Villa Borghese is the largest public park in Rome and a place where several tourist attractions such as a lake, temples, fountains, statues and museums can be found. Places to stay in the area
It covers an area of about 80 hectares and offers diversity, from culture to entertainment or relaxation opportunities.
The Borghese Gallery is one of the most important elements that attract visitors to the park and is a gallery that stands out for its collection of sculptures and paintings.
Here you can also see the Globe Theater (a faithful reproduction of Shakespeare’s own building), the so-called Casa del Cinema and the Bioparco di Roma.
Sant Angelo Bridge Rome
The Bridge, is one of the ancient bridges of Rome, completed in 134 AD. by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, to connect the Campus Martius with his mausoleum (later renamed Castel Sant Angelo). Places to stay in the area
Sant Angelo, which spans the Tiber, consists of seven stone arches and five main spans of approximately 18 m (60 ft).
Cinecitta
Rome hides a special tourist attraction for those who are passionate about cinematography.
Cinecitta is one of the largest film studios in the world and the location of many major American films.
In Cinecitta, the films Roman Holiday (1953), Helen of Troy (1956), La Dolce Vita (1960), Cleopatra (1963), Casanova (1976) or the famous Gangs of New York (2002) and the well-known Passion of the Christ (2004).
Via del Corso
This is Rome’s main thoroughfare, cutting through the city from Piazza Venezia in the south to Piazza del Popolo in the north. Places to stay in the area
It is remarkable because it is absolutely straight, in an area full of narrow, winding alleys and small squares.
Via del Corso is a popular place for evening strolls and is flanked by two baroque churches. It is also an important shopping street.
Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita)
The Bocca della Verita is a marble disc that has become famous all over the world and is known for the medieval legend that the Bocca della Verita works like a lie detector. Places to stay in the area
The massive marble disc is found on the wall at the entrance to the church of Santa Maria de Cosmedin, in Bocca della Verita square, and weighs approximately 1300 kg.
It attracts a lot of tourists who take pictures with their hands in the famous Bocca della Verita.
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck shot a few shots here for the 1953 movie Rome Holiday.
What to Do in Rome
- Best Things to Do in Rome
- The Colosseum
- The Pantheon
- Piazza Venezia and Il Vittoriano monument
- Trevi Fountain Rome
- The Spanish Steps and the Trinita dei Monti church
- Trastevere district
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica
- Piazza Navona
- Sant Angelo Castle
- Villa Borghese Rome
- Sant Angelo Bridge Rome
- Cinecitta
- Via del Corso
- Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verita)