What are the best things to do in Rome, Italy? Let’s discover all the beauties of the Italian capital and one of the cradles of our civilization. In this blog post, we uncover the best landmarks to see, the best activities to do, itineraries to spend 2, 3, or 4 days in Rome, the best places to eat and the hotels to stay at, and practical tips to make a great trip. Let’s go!
- TOP 15 things to do in Rome
- Nice places in Rome
- Best areas to visit and stay in Rome
- Itinerary and tips for visiting Rome in 2, 3, or 4 days
- How to get from the airport to the city center?
1. TOP 15 best things to do in Rome
What to do in Rome to enjoy your trip and have a great vacation? The city of Rome is full of treasures; if you spend two days on your first trip, you will want to return. So, what are the essentials to see and discover in Rome? Here are our top 15!
Good to know! Rome is a fantastic city. In addition to all the must-see places in Rome, Italy, during your walks, we strongly advise you not to hesitate to enter the churches and basilicas you will encounter. They are all fantastic! It’s everywhere, and it’s incredible. And as soon as we leave the path of the tourist flow a little bit, we find these exceptional places almost empty, just for us! So, let’s take advantage of it.
1.1 Visiting the Pantheon area in Rome
It is the most central district of Rome: pedestrian streets, alleys, exceptional architecture, and stunning monuments to discover.
- Pantheon
- Trevi Fountain
- Piazza Navona
- And treasures that are not very touristy but very beautiful! For example, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Anima, the Church of Saint Louis, or the Church of Santa Maria in Via.
Advice. Deviate just a little from the most direct route, and you will see that the experience will be pretty different! You will avoid souvenir shops and crowded streets and discover Rome differently. Even in the parallel streets very close to the direct route, it is already much quieter.
To see the must-sees of the Pantheon area, plan for at least 3 hours. You can discover the Panthéon district at any time. There are fewer people at the very beginning of the morning and in the evening. Moreover, you can come back several times for a stroll or dinner.
1.2 Visiting the Pantheon in Rome
The Pantheon is an ancient religious building in Piazza della Rotonda in Rome. Romans built it in the 1st century BC, but it burned down in 80 AD. They rebuilt it in the 2nd century AD. The monument was originally dedicated to all the deities of the ancient world. It was converted into a Catholic church in the 7th century. The Pantheon in Rome is the largest ancient monument that has survived in good condition. What a heritage!
1.3 Discovering the Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is the most famous fountain in the world. In the heart of the historic center of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is a must-see if you spend 2, 3, or 4 days or more in Rome.
Advice. As we saw above, this area of Rome is the most touristic. And clearly, the Trevi Fountain is taken over by tourists from all over the world. So, to take advantage of this architectural treasure, come here in the morning, ideally before 9 am.
1.4 Visiting the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
To save time, we advise you to see these three places on the same day, because they are in the same district. You can arrive via Piazza Venezia and visit the Roman Forum and the Colosseum after, or vice versa. If you visit Rome in 2 days, seeing these 3 places will take at least 5 hours.
Highly recommend skip-the-line tickets. Of course, it depends on when you go to Rome. If you go in high season, you will save time with skip-the-line tickets: find out prices and more here. Using skip-the-line tickets for a 2-day trip to Rome in autumn, spring, and especially summer is crucial. You can also choose to only see the outside without visiting them. Here are our tips for visiting the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
1.5 Discovering Venice Square in Rome
Piazza de Venezia is especially famous for the monument to Victor Emmanuel II. Compared to other buildings in downtown Rome, this monument is 70 meters high. It is possible to climb on the terrace of the monument to admire a captivating view of Rome!
1.6 Going to the Vatican: visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
There are several things to visit in the Vatican, but St. Peter’s Basilica is the main thing to see first. Same as for the Colosseum, if you spend 2 full days in Rome and want to save time, we advise you to take skip-the-line tickets to visit Saint Peter’s Basilica and the museums of the Vatican (prices and booking here).
Plan at least 3 hours to go to the Vatican, visit Saint Peter’s Basilica, and discover this part of Rome peacefully. Check out our blog post to learn more: Visiting the Vatican. You can also visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In this case, allow more time, at least 2 hours of visit.
1.7 Walking along the Tiber river
What to do in Rome to get off the beaten track? Stroll along the quays of the Tiber! We found that the banks of the Tiber are not highlighted enough in travel guides, although they are very nice.
1.8 Visiting the Trastevere area of Rome
Less touristy. Even if you only have 2 days to visit Rome, it is interesting to discover less touristy areas. The Trastevere neighborhood is one of them (for now). It is in another district of Rome. You will pass through charming streets and squares worth visiting to go there! You can go there during the day and in the evening for dinner.
1.9 Discovering Plaza de España and Plaza del Popolo
If you have already had time to visit the Vatican Museums in the first two days, you can discover other areas of Rome. For example, you can see two beautiful squares: Plaza de España and Plaza del Popolo.
Good to know. Calle del Corso is a semi-pedestrian shopping street. Via del Babuino Street is also a shopping street. It goes from Plaza de España to Plaza del Popolo. These two streets have plenty of charming and typical Roman alleys. There is also Via Margutta, which is very enjoyable. I invite you to take them to avoid the crowds and enjoy Rome better.
1.10 Going to the Terrasse del Pincio, admiring a lovely view of the city, taking a walk in the park
You can go from Plaza de España towards Plaza del Popolo to create an exciting route. You can also climb the Terrasse del Pincio and observe Rome.
Peaceful and refreshing. Once up, you will discover a pleasant park. If you visit Rome in 3 days and in the middle of summer, this little break will make you happy!
1.11 Visiting the Villa Borghese in Rome
It is a lovely park that you will like, especially if you appreciate art! Inside this park, you will find 3 exciting places: the Villa Medici, the Gallery and the Borghese Museum, and the Museum of Carlo Bilotti. Otherwise, beautiful statues, temples, and fountains are spread throughout the park. Entrance to the park is free, but not to the museums.
Route idea! You can walk there from the park located after the Terrasse del Pincio. It is a pleasant route for those who enjoy walking.
1.12 Going to the Campo di Fiori market
Taking a trip to the market during a trip is always a great idea! The atmosphere is generally excellent. Campo di Fiori is one of those markets. You can go there from the Pantheon, Trastevere, or Piazza Venezia.
1.13 Visiting Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome
After visiting the Vatican, you can walk along the Tiber and discover the Castel Sant’Angelo – another exceptional monument built in 139! From the castle, you can have a beautiful view of the city. Buy the skip-the-like tickets here.
Besides, if you want to walk more, you can see the beautiful Cavour Square and the Supreme Court building. We stumbled upon it by chance, and it was worth it (there were 10 people on this vast square in the middle of the day!). We think it’s a pretty cool place to visit in Rome if you have at least 4 days to spend.
1.14 Visiting the Cavour area in Rome
It is a neighborhood around the Cavour metro station and close to the Colosseum. Visiting is not necessarily interesting if you only stay in Rome for two days. If you spend four days in Rome, it is worth it to discover this lovely little district. Surprisingly, this area is more peaceful than the other areas of downtown Rome. You can find some tasty places to have lunch or dinner. On the other hand, the Parc del Colle Oppio should be avoided.
1.15 Enjoying Italian cuisine
If you visit Rome with family, lovers, or friends, Italian cuisine is among the essential things to do!
Good to know. Sometimes, having a table in the evening is challenging, even during the day. If you visit Rome in the middle of the tourist season, we advise you to book the table in advance. Find here peak and low season in Rome.
2. Tasty places where to eat in Rome
What else to do in Rome besides sightseeing? Eat, of course! Discover our addresses where to eat in Rome. Click on the location to open its location in Google Maps.
Hostaria Farnese: very well located in Rome but still a little further away from the touristy streets, this Italian restaurant is an excellent place to eat in Rome. Fresh products, delicious dishes. We recommend!
Virginiae: a delicious restaurant with Italian specialties! The service is impeccable, the food is good, and the restaurant is in the heart of the historic center of Rome, just a few minutes walk from the Pantheon.
Tonnarello: on the other side of the Tiber, in the Trastevere district, this restaurant is a perfect place to have a great time and taste good Italian cuisine!
3. Best neighborhoods and places to stay in Rome
Where to stay in Rome? There are 5 main areas of downtown Rome to know. We have made a map so you can quickly identify them: the best areas to stay in Rome. In this blog post, we have also given our favorite hotels in Rome to stay at. Here is a glimpse:
For a romantic trip to Rome. The Little Queen Pantheon hotel is perfect for visiting Rome as a couple. The decoration of the rooms is splendid, and the location is ideal for visiting Rome on foot.
Not far from the Tiber. The Bridge Suites hotel is just a few minutes from Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo. It offers beautiful rooms in Rome where you can stay and enjoy your trip.
Guest house. Very well located in Rome, Residence Regola is an excellent place to sleep comfortably in Rome without breaking the bank.
4. How many days to spend in Rome
Here is what you can do day by day to spend 2, 3, or 4 days in Rome.
4.1 Best things to do in Rome in 2 days
If you have 2 full days ahead of you to spend in Rome, you will see once there that you will come back. Nonetheless, you can visit Rome in 2 days and enjoy it to the fullest! Here are the must-sees to see in Rome in 2 days.
- Discovering the Pantheon area
- Visiting the Colosseum in Rome and the Roman Forum (prices, photos, and tickets here)
- Discovering Venice Square
- Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
- Strolling along the quays of the Tiber
- Discovering the Trastevere area
4.2 Best things to do in Rome in 3 days
If you visit Rome in 3 days, you can see the places we saw above for 2 days, but organize them differently and add other stunning places to see.
- In addition to what we have seen above, spend more time in the Vatican by visiting, for example, the Sistine Chapel or other museums (prices and tickets here). The treasures of the Vatican are not only Saint Peter’s Basilica but also its museums. The Vatican art collections are world-famous. The interiors are also exceptional and worth seeing. Find out more in our blog post: Visiting the Vatican, tickets, times, and days to avoid.
- Seeing Plaza de España and Plaza del Popolo
- Going to the Terrasse del Pincio: Admire a lovely city view and walk in the park.
- Visiting the Villa Borghese in Rome
4.3 4 days to spend in Rome
To visit Rome in 4 days, you can take the places mentioned above in the post and add to them: the Campo di Fiori market, the Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Cavour district.
- Going to the Campo di Fiori market
- Visiting Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome
- Discovering the Cavour area
5. How to get from Rome airport to the city center?
You have at least 3 options to get from Rome Fiumicino airport to the city center:
- Leonardo Express train
- Bus or airport shuttle
- Take a taxi once there, or book an airport transfer with a reception on arrival.
- Find the pros and cons of these solutions in our dedicated blog post: How to get from the airport to the city center of Rome.
Rome is an open-air museum city. Visiting Rome is one of the must-do things in Europe. We hope your stay in Rome will leave you with terrific memories, and we wish you a lovely trip!
You shouldn’t miss the Colosseum. It’s gorgeous and unique. Remember, however, that the Colosseum has a maximum capacity. When it’s complete, nobody can enter until someone gets out. Buy your skip-the-line tickets in advance to avoid the queue.
The Pantheon is Rome’s most visited place, with more than 8 million visitors annually. It’s stunning, and admission is free. The Colosseum is Rome’s second most visited place, with more than 6 million visitors annually.
If you skip some parts, three days could be enough to visit Rome. For example, if you are not interested in archeology, you could skip the Roman Forum or Palatine Hill. Likewise, you could go to the Vatican to see St. Peter’s Basilica without visiting the interior (although it’s gorgeous). Visiting everything with skip-the-line tickets everywhere or a private guide is also doable.
There are never too many days in Rome. In seven days, you can plan a visit to Pompei, a visit to Naples (1h by train to Naples), or a day trip to Florence (1h30 by train). There are also beaches near Rome, like Santa Marinella (40mn by train) or Anzio (1h by train).
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