Editor's note: If you're traveling to Rome during the Rome Jubilee (Dec 24, 2024–Jan 6, 2026), expect heavier traffic and restorations on major landmarks. Plan in advance to avoid disappointment, and note that there may be some last-minute disruption to tour inclusions.
Eternally raucous, eternally rarified: eternally Rome. The Eternal City has withstood millennia to dazzle 21st-century visitors with ancient ruins, baroque squares, and more art than you could ever cover. Tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the Vatican City are the top-tier things to do in Rome. The city’s historic center—home to headliners like the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain—also draws admirers from across the globe. Once you’ve checked off the heavy hitters, delve into the dining and nightlife in historic neighborhoods like Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto.
Here, get your guide to Rome’s best attractions, tours, and more.
From September to November and March to June are the ideal weather windows for visiting Rome. Summers are famously scorching and muggy, making it difficult to do any serious sightseeing. And don’t even think about coming in August, when many businesses and restaurants close so locals can take month-long vacations. Winters tend to be mild but can bring heavy rains, although the festive Christmas season still draws crowds from abroad.
If you stick to the Historic Center of Rome (Centro Storico) and Rome’s main sights, you can get pretty much everywhere on foot. Buses in the capital are notoriously iffy, while the metro's three lines are reliable but limited. Fast and efficient regional trains stop at stations Ostiense, Tuscolana, and Tiburtina and also connect to the Vatican. Electric scooters and bikes can be found in tourist areas, while you’ll also see taxi stands located in well-trafficked areas.
If you want a taste of real Roman cuisine, venture outside the city center. While you’ll find excellent options in Testaccio or close to the Pantheon—Armando al Pantheon is a standout—dedicated foodies will be rewarded for heading further afield. Reachable by Metro C or the lemon-yellow trenino, Centocelle is a down-to-earth, historically working-class neighborhood in Rome’s sprawling east known for its locally sourced "zero-kilometer" cuisine and buzzy aperitivo joints.
Local Currency Euro (€) | Time Zone CET (UTC +1) | Country Code +39 | Language(s) Italian | Attractions 190 | Tours 6,870 | Reviews 402,825 |
Born and raised in Rome, Emiliano is a software engineer now living in the UK. With family roots in Naples, he’s been a seafood lover from birth.
visit the Colosseum and learn all about its history, before trying a typical Roman dish, like spaghetti alla carbonara or coda alla vaccinara, in a nearby trattoria—Luzzi, near the Colosseum, is my favorite.
includes shopping in Via Del Corso; visiting the Spanish Steps, Barcaccia Fountain, and the Pantheon; and finishing at the Imperial Fora. Don’t forget to stop at Giolitti’s for a fabulous multi-flavoured gelato!
the Pantheon. It still has many original features and the dome is considered one of the ancient world’s most astonishing architectural feats. Oh, and did I mention it’s free to enter?
take a walking tour of Trastevere and visit Tiber Island, where you’ll find many restaurants still serving rare but traditional Roman dishes such as pajata (unweaned calf intestine).
head to the Janiculum Hill. If you happen to be there around noon, you might also catch the cannon that’s fired daily in the direction of the Tiber.
Pizza is not a typical dish in Rome. If you want to taste something close to Neapolitan-style pizza (but still really typical of the city), look for Pinza Romana on the menu.
Italy’s capital is known as “The Eternal City,” thanks to its collection of ancient sites that have been standing since the peak of ancient Roman glory 2,000 years ago. The independent city-state of Vatican City is also set in Rome, famous for St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.
...MoreThe Colosseum has been the symbol of Rome since it was completed in 80 AD and continues to be the city’s most popular attraction. The largest ancient amphitheater in the world, it sees about 8,000 visitors a day—slightly more than the Vatican Museums across the Tiber River.
...MoreThe Colosseum tops most visitors’ lists of things to do in Rome, but the city is also home to a number of impressive ancient sites. The Roman Forum and Pantheon are two headliners in the city center, while the catacomb-lined Appian Way—an intact Roman highway—cuts through the countryside past ancient aqueducts and villa ruins. Palatine Hill is one of the most ancient parts of the city; it has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire." The Column of Marcus Aurelius (Colonna di Marco Aurelio) is another striking ancient landmark, soaring more than 100 feet (30 meters) above Piazza Colonna.
...MoreDivide your time between the two banks of the Tiber River. Dedicate one day to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and historic center sights including the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps. Then cross the river to spend your second day exploring St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Trastevere neighborhood.
...MoreMany of the top things to do in Rome are free, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. The Colosseum and Forum can both be admired from outside and strolling through the city’s top squares (Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, and Campo de’ Fiori) doesn’t cost a penny.
...MoreNo, Rome does not have a problem with violent crime, though this major metropolis and premier tourist destination is rife in petty crime like theft and pickpocketing. Always keep your eye on your valuables and store your phone, wallet, and documents in zipped, inner compartments of your bags.
...MoreThe Eternal City has so many exceptional sights that most travelers don't know where to begin—and that’s where exploring with a local expert comes in. Get your guide to customize your itinerary according to what interests you most, so you can make the most of even a limited time in remarkable Rome.
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