This ancient city is home to some of the most iconic monuments and landmarks in the world. To get there, though, you’ll need to fly or take a bus. If you’re traveling by car, you have a few different ways to get there. It’s located on the western coast of Italy; Rome is accessible by car from all parts of the country. You can drive along the coast or take the famous superhighway that circles Italy. Many scenic routes wind their way through the hills and villages of central and southern Italy. Once you arrive in Rome, don’t miss out on visiting some of its top tourist destinations. The most popular ones include the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum, the Trevi Fountain, etc… Rome is the 2nd most-visited city in Europe after Paris and receives between 7-10 million visitors each year.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is by far the top activity on the list of things to do in Rome. You simply must see it before leaving the city. The structure, which was constructed between 70 and 80 AD, was used for a variety of entertainment, but gladiator fights were its most well-known purpose. It was reportedly once able to accommodate 80,000 spectators. I suggest taking a tour of this building to fully appreciate its beauty and history. This enables you to enter and truly take in the Colosseum at its finest. Taking the Rome Metro is the most economical option to reach the Colosseum. The Forum, the Domus Aurea, and the Pantheon are three of the most impressive Roman ruins in the city, and history aficionados should make this trip a required pilgrimage. This is an excellent starting place from which to explore the Roman ruins in the city.
Palatine Hill
This vast archaeological site, Palatine Hill, is at a short distance from the Roman Forum yet is frequently disregarded. It was Rome’s Beverly Hills, and it remains my favorite location in the city. The original affluent section of Rome is where you may stroll up and take in some calm time in the middle of the city. Because it is believed that Rome’s founders Romulus and Remus were discovered in the cave known as the Lupercal, which is located beneath Palatine Hill, the hill’s supernatural associations first attracted attention. At that time, it housed opulent mansions and villas for rulers. The Palatine Hill entrance is midway down the road that runs from the Colosseum along the base of the Palatine Hill, less than 5 minutes walk from the Colosseum.
Source: Jenny Ly WANDERLY
Vatican Museums
– Overall Duration: 3 hours
– Starting Hour: From 6 pm
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after hours. Your Access Italy Guide will present the Vatican Museums, which feature the most comprehensive art collection in the world with more than 2,000 rooms and nine miles of art. Originally intended to be viewed exclusively by the Pope, the museums house spectacular treasures from past ages. In the Raphael Rooms, you will get an up-close look at one of the Renaissance master’s most famous frescoes, The School of Athens. Next is the Sistine Chapel, where you can marvel at Michelangelo’s exquisite ceiling painting. There simply isn’t enough time to see it all in one trip. I recommend hiring a private guide who can customize the experience for you allowing you to experience the rooms that will be most meaningful to you.
Source: KIPR Global
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is also known as Fontana di Trevi. The Trevi Fountain began construction in 1732 and was completed in 1762 by Nicola Salvi and finished by Giuseppe Pannini.
Constructed between 1732 through 1762, the Trevi Fountain is the largest in Rome. This 18th-century masterpiece is the largest fountain in Rome and is also known as the oldest water source in Rome.
People from around the world come to toss their coins into the fountain. It is said, if you toss one coin, you will come back to Rome, with two coins, the fountain will bring you love, and if you dare to toss three coins, the fountain will bring you marriage.
The Trevi Fountain is estimated to collect around 3,000 Euros each day! Throughout the week, the fountain is cleaned in the morning, and the coins will be collected. The money is then donated to those in need living in Rome.
The Trevi Fountain is centrally located in Rome, so the best way to get there is by foot or to take a cab.
Museum and Gardens of Villa Borghese
The Borghese Gardens are one of Rome’s biggest parks and are home to a variety of landmarks, the most famous of which is the Villa Borghese museum. Paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and reliefs, most dating from the 15th to the 18th century and including works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, and Rubens, fill the gallery, which was built as a party villa and to hold the Borghese art collection. The Etruscan Museum is located in the Villa Giulia, a summer palace of Pope Julius III constructed in the 16th century. Added villas from the 1911 Rome World’s Fair. The park is laid out like an English garden, complete with paved walkways and ponds where rowboats may be rented. It’s possible to hire bicycles or a surrey and ride around the park that way. Bioparco di Roma is a great zoo with tiny trails linking its naturalistic habitats. Playgrounds, pony rides on the weekends, and even puppet performances are just a few of the kid-friendly activities offered.
The gallery contains the world’s largest collection of Caravaggio paintings, and also the world’s largest collection of works by the prolific and multi-talented artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini — the man who created dozens of famous Baroque sculptures, designed elements of St. Peter’s Basilica (including the baldachin and the massive square itself) and is responsible for several of Rome’s best-known fountains.
The Borghese holds one other quiet delight: because it is smaller, there are a limited number of people allowed in at one time, which creates a very pleasant, peaceful, and intimate experience.
How to Reach
Quickest and easiest: By taxi from any part of the city.
Public Transit:
From Roma Termini station, take Bus 910, 92, or 360 to the Via Pinciana stop just outside the museum. Journey time: About 15 minutes.
Source: Patrick Johnson
The Pantheon
The Pantheon is an ancient building that has now been converted into a church. But you can go inside and the visit is free, you do not have to pay anything. This building is so beautiful and unique. The Dome and the Dome entrance is my favorite part of the building.
How to Reach
You must go to the Colosseo bus station and take bus 51 toward Lodi. Then get off at Corso- Minghetti and walk for 4 min to the Pantheon.
Source: James Anderson
The Caracalla Baths
These were much more than just public baths when Caracalla finished them in 216. Hot and cold baths, a swimming pool, dry and steam saunas, gymnastics, and sports equipment, social rooms, gardens, libraries, hair salons, and stores were all part of this comprehensive sports facility. The big and imposing building was 300 square meters in size and consisted of a series of enormous halls with vaulted ceilings and massive columns and piers for support. As many as 1,500 people may fit inside at once. Even in ruins, the marbles, mosaics, and frescoes covering the floors and walls show their former glory.
Source: Mathew Bowley
Quartiere Coppedè
Quartiere Coppedè gets its name from Gino Coppedè, a Florentine architect who designed and built the quarter between 1913 and 1926. While mostly only known to locals, this attraction is gainly more popularity in recent years. It’s unique for its Tuscan turrets, Liberty sculptures, Moorish arches, Gothic gargoyles, frescoed façades, and palm-fringed gardens.
How to Reach:
Take Bus 32 from Termini, or Line B train to Policlinico, then walk 2 minutes to tram stop V.Le Regina Margherita/Morgagni and get the 3 Tram to stop Buenos Aires. From here it’s a 2 min walk.
Santo Stefano Rotondo
It is the First Circular Church in Rome. A short walk from San Giovanni in Laterano, this is one of the largest and oldest circular churches in existence. As soon as I entered this church, I immediately fell in love with its spiraling columns.
Built on top of a 2nd-century Mithraic temple, this church dates back to the 5th century A.D. and is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first martyr. The altar in the center of the church was ordered by Pope Gregory XIII (1572-85), along with the frescoes on outer arcade walls, painted by Antonio Tempesta and Niccolo Circignani, which portray the gruesome deaths of 34 martyrs.
How to Reach:
Take bus 81 or 117 and get off at S. Stefano Rotondo/Addolorata (directly outside the entrance).
Source: Michele Frolla
Domus Aurea
Savvy tourists who plan can visit an ancient pleasure palace used for inspiration by artists like Michelangelo that has been newly rediscovered.
It’s called “Domus Aurea” or “Golden Palace,” and it’s an active archeological dig.
Built by Emperor Nero, it features hundreds of rooms set on expansive grounds. Nero had it built after the fires of 64 AD. The palace was abandoned in 69 AD after Nero’s suicide.
It was rediscovered in the 15th century when someone fell into a strange cave-like opening with paintings. Soon after, Italian artists from the Renaissance period lowered themselves into some rooms through ceiling holes. These artists admired the paintings – Michelangelo and Raphael included. They got inspiration from Nero’s palace, and they signed their names on the walls after their visits, like graffiti tags today.
The Golden Palace has been forgotten again and discovered again. Today, archeologists give special, limited tours.
Wander rooms of the old palace, see artwork that inspired great artists, and get a man incredible virtual reality look at just how stunning the Golden House once was.
How To Advance Register
Archeologists work at the site on weekdays, limited tours run only on weekends. Reservations are mandatory and limited.
Book as far in advance as you can.
The official website to make your reservations for Domus Aurea is here. It cost $20.
Check that official website well in advance of your trip to Rome, because the current schedule might change as archeological work continues.
Tips:
The temperature drops about 10 degrees inside the palace since it’s technically underground.
The entrance can be hard to find. Look for the adjacent public park — Parco del Colle Oppio. You will see the Coliseum down the hill.
Source: Ellen Mc Gregor Kortan
Capitol Museums
The Capitoline Museums house extensive collections amassed from former popes or other regional dignitaries. If you go inside, you may also view artwork created by previous popes. The museums have been open since 1734, but due to the quality of their Caravaggio paintings and other works, they have now been considered a must-see for visitors to Rome. It’s often regarded as among Rome’s finest. Margutta 19, located close to Via del Corso, is another great option for a centrally located hotel in the heart of the city. That place is amazing; it’s a Small Luxury Hotel in the World! You can take a cab there.
Nearby the Forum and in the center of Rome, the Capitoline Museums is a two-museum complex on Capitoline Hill that contains many of the best-known sculptures, sarcophagi, busts, mosaics, artifacts, jewelry, and paintings in the world.
From the museum cafe, and some of the galleries, you’ll be treated to views of the Roman Forum – and they are spectacular.
The courtyard (*Piazza del Campidoglio*) that rests between the buildings is a marvel in itself, designed by Michelangelo and completed after his death.
How To Reach
The Capitoline Museums are very centrally located. Right by the western end of the Roman Forum. From any point in the city, you can take a bus to Piazza Venezia (a bus and taxi hub) and walk just 3 minutes up to the Campidoglio and Museums.
Source: Anthony Mixides
The Garden of Oranges on Aventine Hill (Giardino degli Aranci)
Aventine Hill is one of the 7 famous hills that Rome was built on. This location not only offers visitors some of the most secret views in all of Rome, but it also offers free admission to the elegant Garden of Oranges in Parco Savello which was planted long ago by monks. The serene pathways of the garden offer a peaceful reprieve from the many loud and overcrowded tourist locations in Rome. While visiting the hilltop gardens, don’t forget to peek through the famous keyhole to see St. Peters Basilica. Visit in the Spring, Fall, or Winter for the fewest number of tourists and the best times to see the orange trees adorned with their
gorgeous fruit.
Location:
This southernmost hill in the city of Rome can be reached by car, bus, bike, or even an invigorating walk. A 10-minute drive from Vatican City.
Street: Via di Santa Sabrina one block from the Tiber River.
Villa d’Este
This often overlooked estate, from the 1500s, is home to Rome’s best collection of fountains and sculptures and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are 51 separate fountains with nearly 400 spouts, 364 water jets, 64 waterfalls, and 220 pools and basins fed by more than 800 meters of canals, cascades, and channels all working by the force of gravity alone without even a single pump. Besides the stunning gardens and fountains, the villa is one of the most incredible locations to walk through with its sumptuous
interiors offering a feast for the eyes.
Location:
The Tivoli neighborhood or quarter in Rome, this area is about a 20-30 minute drive from the heart of the city center.
Street: Via Taddei Piazza del Governo 1
The Park of the Aqueducts
This is one of the best places to visit in Rome – especially if you can be here at sunset. This is a free park that has some of the best examples of Rome’s famous water system made up of hundreds of miles of aqueducts. The park is easily reached from the city by taking Metro line A and going to Lucio Sestio or Giulio Agricola stations – the park is just a short walk from either station. Because this site is so immense, try to give yourself at least half a day to see it – you won’t regret your visit.
Location:
A very short metro ride from the city center or a 30-minute drive by car
Street: Via Lemonia
Source: Nathan Heinrich
Ostia Antica
Located in the greater Rome metropolitan area and only a short 40-minute train ride from the Colosseum, Ostia Antica’s archeological site is one of my favorite places to visit for a half-day away from the hustle and bustle of the Eternal City.
Rich in incredibly well-preserved buildings, pathways, artifacts, and artworks, Ostia Antica is considered by some travel experts as the “better Pompeii”. The mix of fascinating archeological remains, natural beauty, and fewer crowds, creates the perfect opportunity for visitors looking to experience Rome off the beaten path, soak in this historic setting, and get a vivid picture of Ancient Roman daily life.
This once thriving port of roughly 60,000 inhabitants Ostia played a major strategic role in protecting the mouth of the river Tiber and then transitioned into a bustling commercial bay where goods of every kind
imaginable circulated and different cultures blended.
How to Reach
Take Metro Line B to Piramide stop (which is only 2 stops from the Colosseo stop – or just 4 stops from Rome’s main train station (and metro hub), Roma Termini).
Piramide station is attached to the Roma Porta San Paolo train station. Take the Roma-Lido line train in the direction of Lido (the only direction from this station). Trains leave every 15 minutes. The journey time to the Ostia Antica stop is only 30 minutes.
Tips
One of the most immersive ways to experience this marvelous site is by hiring an English-speaking guide, who will help bring the harbor town to life as you walk through the archeological site.
Source: Cassie Tetro
Mausoleum of Hadrian
My biggest tourist recommendation for Rome would be the Mausoleum of Hadrian, otherwise known as the Castel Sant’Angelo. Located in Parco Adriano, many tourists can see it towering in the distance but relatively few seem to ever visit Emperor Hadrian’s final resting place. It spent its time as a residence for popes, as a fortress, and is now a breathtaking museum. It’s fairly easy to reach if you’re willing to brave the metro, as it is just a pleasant 15-minute walk from the Lepanto stop on Line A. You’re going to want to have some comfortable footwear and dedicate at least an hour and a half if you want to see the majority of the really interesting sights.
Source: Dragos Badea
Appian Way
I lived in Rome for over a year and one of the coolest places I went to was the Appian Antica – or “Appian Way”.
The Appian Way is the ancient road that Romans would use to bring water into the city in antiquity. The Romans would use aqueducts, which you can still see ruins of along the road.
Even more interesting than the aqueducts are the dozens and dozens of ruins along the road. You can just keep walking and never get bored because there’s so much to see.
Most tourists only visit the first few KM of the Appian Way, which is a shame because if you walk a bit further you can have the road basically to yourself.
When I was younger I walked 10 miles down the Appian Way to where the road reaches one of Rome’s airports outside of the city. I believe it goes on for at least 30 KM and people frequently go on multi-day treks and camp out.
Another popular thing to do on the Appian Antica is ride bikes, this will help you cover more ground and see more sights but be aware – the ancient Roman cobblestone streets make for a bumpy ride!
You can reach the Appian Antica by foot, car, or bicycle from Rome’s center. Towards the start of the road, there are lovely little pubs and open-air Trattorias. At night, they’re lit by candlelight – In my opinion it’s the most romantic way to finish a day out in Rome.
The Appian Way was the most important ancient route in Rome. It ran from Rome down to Brindisi, which is located in the southeast of Italy. It was formerly a military route and got its name from a Roman censor who went by the name Appius Claudius Caecus. Today, in the first 8 kilometers (five miles) of the 560 kilometers (350 miles) long stone road, there are many historical monuments to be found. At the beginning of this old highway, there is a lot of traffic from vehicles, but after a couple of miles, it is completely safe for pedestrians.
Source: Katie Caf Travel
Piccola Londra
By now, everyone knows about the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Castel Sant’Angelo when it comes to tourist guides for the Eternal City. However, one spot they might have missed is ‘Piccola Londra’ aka. ‘*Little London*’.
Constructed in the early 1900s and designed by the legendary Quadrio Pirani, Piccola Londra was intended to be a very ‘un-Italian’ stretch of architecture that would help cement Rome as a modern European capital.
The houses are styled as tightly-packed narrow buildings with small steps leading up to the front door, with a small garden at the back. Located on Via Bernardo Celentano, directly off of Via Flaminia, it is the only
stretch architecture like this in the city, and well worth a peek if you’re in the area!
Source: Rhyan from The TEFL Academy
Conclusion:
Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world and visiting it is no easy task. The city is full of amazing attractions and many hidden gems that will stay hidden unless you have really good guidance.
Overall, with the high volume of tourists in Rome this summer and fall, the best way to view top tourist spots is with a private guide. Travelers will have a much more personal and authentic experience immersing themselves in beautiful Rome with a local.