Rome is a special city! It’s a city brimming with history, Roman culture, gorgeous buildings around every corner and enough pasta and gelato to satisfy even the hungriest of appetites.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first, second or zillionth time in the city, there are so many of the best things to do in Rome around each and every corner.
Now, one thing I quickly realised is that there’s always something I seemingly miss on previous visits (it always happens with bigger cities), which is expected but also terrifying if you’re anything like me and want to experience every inch of a place.
Without hankering on about my deep-seated love for Italy, I wanted to share some of the best things to do in Rome. You’ll love the city.
Book tours when in Rome!
Imagine what Airbnb does for accommodation; this is what GetYourGuide does for experiences via their free app (or website). You can peruse the best things to do in Rome via some really cool tours. Best of all, they’re all arranged by locals, who genuinely want to share their love of Rome. This way, you’ll get to see all the best things to do in Rome on a schedule that suits you.
Once you’ve decided on where you’re visiting, you can search for some of the most unique, fun tours that range from the exciting to the hidden nooks you might not normally think of seeing in the city. After all, who knows the city better than a local, am I right?
We particularly chose to explore Rome (again, back to that hankering love of Italy I have) with GetYourGuide due to how ginormous and somewhat overwhelming Rome can be. Honestly, every street corner seems to bring out another of the best things to do in Rome (which can be overwhelming), and so a local guide totally helped us prioritise better and make the most of our limited time in the city.
As we had a few days in Rome, we knew we wanted to experience some of the best things to do in Rome as efficiently as possible. Of course, I had it to include mountains of pasta and gelato, too. It sounds like a running joke, but I swear I eat my weight in pasta whenever I visit Italy!
After a little back-and-forth between Yaya and me, we pinpointed two hosts and tours with amazing feedback from other travellers and some cool things we wanted to try.
Driving the city in a retro Fiat 500
One thing I’d always wanted to do was to explore Rome in a retro Fiat 500. I’ve been obsessed with that car for the longest time, so that tour pretty much stood out to me straight away. What Minis are to Britain, the Fiat 500s are to Italy. It’s so dinky and such a cute car that we just had to book this tour.
Then, of course, there was the fact that our local guide, Emanuele, knew all the best things to do in Rome and the more hidden corners we might have easily bypassed. Just make sure to book this ticket when visiting Rome (and preferably in advance). Tickets can sell out at peak times.
Eating across the city: A Rome Food Tour
Our second tour was with a local Roman on an amazing food tour, who promised to show us some of the best Roman spots for a scrumptious bite to eat – how could I resist? After his amazing tour (which you can see here), I think I piled on an extra 5kg that I swear I won’t be shifting for a good few months. Yum!
Again, like most tours of Rome, book these tickets as soon as you know your plans.
How to get to and around Rome
So, there are several ways to get to Rome (both internationally and within Italy itself). For instance, if you’re arriving by;
- Air: You’ll likely arrive at Fiumicino or Ciampino Airports with a short taxi or train/bus journey into Rome. From Fiumicino, it’s probably best to arrive by train or taxi and from Ciampino, there are direct buses and taxis to get you into the city.
- Train/bus: In my opinion, Italy has a relatively good train network that easily connects the main cities to the capital, Rome. It’s the same for buses, too, though I personally find the trains more comfortable. If you’re in Florence, for instance, it’s really easy to grab your tickets through search and booking platforms like GoEuro that make it super easy to understand.
- Taxi/Uber: Both of these options work well in Rome – just like most major glocal cities.
Anyway, before I ramble on anymore, take a look at some of the best things to do in Rome, below.
Best things to do in Rome
1.) Scale the heights of St. Peter’s Basilica
Technically not in Rome at all, but in the Vatican City! No visit to experience the best things to do in Rome is complete without a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica. One thing to note, due to heightened security, you’ll notice lots of queues to go through security (which can be quite tough during the midday heat of a Roman summer). Pack some water and layers, as the queue can take quite some time at busy periods of the year.
Also, entry to the Basilica is free, but if you want to scale to the top of the Duomo, you’ll need to pay a small fee to enter.
Finally, don’t forget, you can easily partner this part of your trip with a visit to the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel, too. They’re very close to each other, and it’s worthwhile doing both experiences on the same day. This way, you’re not carting yourself across different sides of Rome and wasting time on your trip. Just be sure to book these advance official tickets, so you’re not stuck in the queues that can last forever!
Looking for a beautiful hotel in Rome? Make sure to book Hotel Nomos, which is tucked away in an old monastery within the city centre. The design is incredible, and it’s one of our favourite Roman hotels to book. Plus, it’s so easy to walk from Nomos Hotel to other parts of the city.
These specific suites are beautiful. Oh, and don’t forget about their restaurant, Nomos Ante, for their yummy tasting menu and cocktails in the courtyard. It’s lovely.
2.) See the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is the home to some of Rome’s most important historic ruins and the beating heart of the Roman Empire. Make sure you see the Temple of Vesta and the Temple of Saturn. Best of all, tickets to enter the Roman Forum are included in the price when you buy tickets to the Colosseum (which is opposite and possibly one of the best things to do in Rome).
If you’re not visiting the Colosseum, you can still see the majority of the Roman Forum from Via Dei Fori Imperiali (road area), where you can get some pretty beautiful views totally for free.
Also, if you’ve got time, book this Roman Forum guided tour in Rome. It’s a great way to learn more about the history of the Roman Empire, and it’s incredible!
For a truly unforgettable stay in Rome, book Residenza Napoleone III. We loved staying here, right in the heart of Rome, in a 500-year-old palace where members of the last Royal Family of France once lived. It’s truly unique and feels like your own apartment within the centre of Rome. I mean, just look how stunning the suite is! You have your own breakfast salon, an incredible bedroom with hidden doors (behind paintings) and your own reading room. Wow! We loved every second of our stay here.
3.) Visit the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum
The Sistine Chapel needs little introduction, but it’s only one tiny part of the much larger Vatican Museum site. Before arriving, make sure to purchase these advance Vatican Museum tickets – the lines are huge at the door! With these tickets, you can just rock up at your time, without joining the massive queue.
Spend a few hours wandering the grounds, see the world-famous Creation of Adam by Michelangelo and discover the ornate sculptures that embellish every inch of this place. Be warned, queues are HUGE, which can be tough on a really hot summer’s day.
We booked these tickets online (with an allocated time slot given), and we didn’t have to queue at all. Not only did it save hours queuing, but I didn’t have to risk getting sunstroke in that glaring Roman sun. Give yourself at least 3-5 hours to enter, see and experience everything at the Vatican Museum.
For a great hotel to stay in Rome, make sure to book this room at Palazzo Dama. This iconic property is one of the world’s best hotels and a total gem to stay in whilst visiting Rome. Not only that, it’s a mere 9-minute walk from The Spanish Steps, and its pool and lemon grove are so beautiful in summer.
4.) Wander around the Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of Italy’s most iconic sites and arguably one of the best things to do in Rome! Book this guided Colosseum tour in Rome, which will take you on a wander around this stunning Amphitheatre. You’ll be able to explore the inside grounds, climb to the upper levels and see the ground below the main arena floor itself.
Colosseum security and ticket queues are notorious in Rome. We tried to avoid some of these by arriving in the late afternoon and only queued for around 10 minutes. Just remember, you can buy tickets online before you go, but if the Colosseum is at capacity (around 3,000 people), you’ll still need to wait.
For a really cool Rome hotel, book this room at Umiltà 36. The rooms are stunning and quite a bit larger than most room sizes in the centre of Rome. Also, this hotel is a few minutes’ stroll from Piazza Venezia, which makes it nice and easy to explore from.
5.) Climb the Spanish Steps
You can’t go to Rome without seeing the Spanish Steps, can you? If I’m honest, it wasn’t (in my opinion) one of the best things to do in Rome… controversial, I know! But, to be honest, it’s so easy to visit if you’re already in the centre and well worth passing by when climbing to enjoy the beauty of Rome!
Afterwards, if you’ve got time, make sure to stroll further around Central Rome and visit Galleria Doria Pamphilj. This family home is open to the public to view and walk around (with a small entry fee, of course). It’s incredible and one of the hidden gems in Rome that most visitors fail to visit. You see, it’s all kind of unassuming from the outside. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d easily miss it!
Plus, you’ve got the stunning courtyard where Caffè Doria is situated within the building. This place is great for an afternoon cocktail and dessert. The perfect place for a pick-me-up after exploring the stunning palatial halls of Galleria Doria Pamphilj.
Another gem of a hotel in Rome to book is the relatively new Orient Express La Minerva. Yes, it’s one of the Orient Express’s first-ever hotels, and it’s already an iconic addition to Rome’s hotel scene. Not only is the hotel totally chic, but the building is beautiful and is easily Rome’s best hotel. It’s perfect for a few days in Rome and the most unforgettable stay you will have in the city. We loved it so much.
6.) Grab an Aperol Spritz in Piazza Navona
There’s nothing better than a chilled-out afternoon, sipping an Aperol Spritz and enjoying one of Rome’s prettiest piazzas, Piazza Navona (Google Maps pin). Food prices can be a little higher here, so you might want to hold your appetite for something a little more off the travellers’ trail. Don’t forget to also see the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Google Maps pin) and the Egyptian obelisk, which are stunning.
Also, another great hotel to book when visiting Rome is the Rocco Forte Hotel de la Ville. The hotel really leans into the building’s Italian and Roman heritage, and the rooms are stunning. It’s a luxurious and totally beautiful hotel to stay at in Rome. Plus, it’s right next to Piazza di Spagna and the iconic Trevi Fountain, which you just have to visit. You will love staying here, especially as you can just wander out of the hotel to all the local restaurants and bars in the area. We love it.
Afterwards, don’t forget to book these tickets to visit Galleria Colonna. It can only be visited with these guided tours, and on certain days, but it’s iconic to see and one of the most stunning palaces in Europe you can visit. Tours take around 90 minutes, and you’ll get to see the iconic halls, palatial rooms, gardens and even stop for a coffee in the private garden area. We loved it. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for the canon ball that was shot straight through the window and still sits, wedged in the marble steps of Galleria Colonna. It’s amazing to see.
7.) See the views from Altare della Patria
Altare Della Patria (Google Maps pin) is one of the grandest monuments built in Rome. Constructed to honour Victor Emmanuel, this incredible site is well worth a gander at.
Right next to the Roman Forum and about 10 10-minute stroll from the Trevi Fountain, plus you can now head to the top of the building (via a lift) to see some lovely views. Just make sure to buy your tickets before arriving – this way, you’re guaranteed entry. Plus, if you can, plan your trip just before sunset. The views over Rome are incredible, and it’s a great time to just relax at the top and take in the beauty of Rome.
Also, for a really cool, independent hotel in the heart of Rome, book Margutta 19. It’s a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, and the rooms are so beautifully designed and totally plush. We loved it.
8.) Find the best gelato in Rome
Now I pride myself on being able to devour mountains of delicious gelato, so you can imagine my delight when our GetYourGuide tour taught us some of the best tips to spot good, authentic Italian gelato, which I intend to spread as a gospel of gelato.
This is the tour we booked, and it includes a guided tour in a cart across Rome, with gelato tasting! It was incredible – But I digress. For good-quality gelato, always look out for Pistachio gelato. The natural colour of Pistachio gelato should be a light brown rather than a bright or overly vibrant colour.
Apparently, as pistachio nuts are quite expensive, some low-quality places will add additional colours to make up for a lack of pistachio… This is never good and usually reflects badly on the quality of the rest of the ice cream.
Secondly, those mounds of ice cream that you see in glass cabinets aren’t always a great sign, either. Ice cream shouldn’t naturally set thick enough to be ‘mounded’ high in containers. If the ice cream is presented in mounded trays, thickening additives have likely been included to stabilise it. The best, authentic gelato will be kept in cylinders rather than overflowing tubs.
Make sure to visit Verde Pistacchio on Via Nazionale for some of the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s so good I ended up here for a breakfast of gelato on our last day in Rome… no judgement, please. Ha!
Read more: Tips to spot the best gelato in Italy
9.) Grab a wine, cheese and prosciutto at La Prosciutteria Trevi
One of the best things to do in Rome, after a day of exploring, is to visit La Prosciutteria Trevi (Google Maps pin). Grab yourself a glass of wine and one of their cold cut meat, prosciutto and cheese boards that come with mountains of Olives.
It’s a great grazing dish that’s perfect to have after a gallivant around the city.
Alternatively, if you want a more refined, Michelin-starred dining experience, book a meal at INEO. The tasting menu is incredible, and the dishes are literal art. We had so much fun here.
10.) Peek through the Knights of Malta keyhole
You might know that the Vatican City is a different country that’s surrounded by the city of Rome, but have you heard about the Knights of Malta on Aventine Hill (Google Maps pin)? This gorgeous place is still a sovereign entity that technically isn’t a part of Italy at all.
Although you might not be able to enter, take a peek through the keyhole at the building itself, and your eyes will be immediately drawn to one of the best views of St. Peter’s Basilica! It really is a special spot.
11.) Explore the Pantheon
This historic Roman Temple is one of Rome’s most iconic converted sites. Now standing as a church, the Pantheon has been on this site for over 2,000 years. Don’t forget to head inside to see the incredible domed ceilings.
Just be sure to book these fast-track entry tickets to get inside the Pantheon. The queues are wild if you just rock up at the door!
12.) Enjoy the best views of Rome
Parco Savello (Google Maps pin) or the Orange Garden is a pretty amazing viewpoint to see the city of Rome. It’s a great vantage point to enjoy – I just wish we’d brought some olives and a cheeky wine!
Also, if you’re a little further away, another great sunset veranda in the city is at Passeggiata del Pincio (Google Maps pin). This spot overlooks Piazza del Popolo, so you can easily visit this spot for drinks and dinner before or after sunset. There are heaps of little places around here, but if you want a lovely restaurant, head to Jardin De Russie. It has a lovely greenhouse area and a fresco-painted indoor restaurant that serves up delicious pasta. A great spot for lunch or early dinner.
13.) Visit the oldest food market in the city
One of the best things about the historic Campo Dei Fiori (Google Maps pin) is its food market. I swear this place is a foodie paradise. Filled to the brim with Italian products like truffle oil, fresh pasta and sauces, it’s a great place to fill up when those hunger pains kick in.
Make sure to grab some of the city’s famous cured hams from the family-owned Antica Norcineria Viola. It’s the perfect place to stock up on some picnic supplies for Parco Savello at sunset.
14.) See the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain (Google Maps pin) is easily the city’s most famous fountain, which was built almost 250 years ago. It’s hard to find a ‘sociable’ time when the Trevi Fountain is quiet from visitors, but it’s still worth seeing. Now, you do need to book a ticket to see the Trevi Fountain (if you want to get right to the edge of the water). Though if you’re not bothered about going to the waters edge, you can still see it from the barriers outside the newly cordoned off area.
Just make sure you don’t sit on the fountain edge… You WILL get a stern whistle blown at you!
15.) Eat up at one of Rome’s oldest bakeries
Baking in the centre of Rome for around 500 years, Forno di Campo de’ Fiori (Google Maps pin) is the perfect stop for a yummy Pizza Bianca with sea salt, which is arguably one of Rome’s most common street foods.
If Pizza Bianco isn’t your thing, try a slice of the surprisingly yummy potato pizza dusted with fresh herbs. I was totally unsure at first. I mean, potato on pizza sounds overkill on the carbs, but it is so yummy.
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