Best Things to Do in Rome (2026 Guide)
Rome is one of the world's great cities — 3,000 years of continuous civilisation layered into a landscape where ancient temples stand beside medieval churches, Renaissance piazzas adjoin baroque fountains, and the world's greatest concentration of Western cultural heritage is compressed into a walkable city centre. The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Forum, and the Trevi Fountain are the non-negotiable experiences, but Rome also rewards those who discover its neighbourhood restaurant culture, its Baroque churches, and its quieter ancient sites. This guide covers the best things to do in Rome.
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The best things to do in Rome require advance planning for the most visited sites. The Colosseum (Colosseo) — the 2nd-century AD amphitheatre that held 50,000-80,000 spectators for gladiatorial games — should be booked online in advance (the combined Colosseum-Forum-Palatine Hill ticket: €22) to avoid queues of 2-3 hours. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel require advance booking even more urgently — the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo between 1508-1512, is one of humanity’s greatest artistic achievements, and the queue without a reservation can exceed 3 hours. St. Peter’s Basilica (free, no reservation needed) and the climb to Michelangelo’s dome (€8 stairs, €10 lift) should follow. The Pantheon (a 2nd-century Roman temple with an unreinforced concrete dome 43.3 m in diameter that remained the world’s largest for 1,300 years) now requires a €5 reservation. The Galleria Borghese in Villa Borghese park (strictly timed entry, book weeks ahead) holds the world’s finest collection of Bernini sculptures alongside Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian.
Best time to visit
April-May and September-October are Rome’s finest travel months: comfortable temperatures (20-26°C), photogenic light, and fewer crowds than summer. Holy Week (Easter) in Rome is extraordinary — papal processions, outdoor masses, and the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday — but accommodation prices double. June-August is hot (30-38°C) and crowded; many Romans leave the city in August and some neighbourhood restaurants close. Christmas brings beautiful decorations and the Papal Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square. The Rome Film Festival (October) and the Estate Romana summer festival (open-air concerts, cinema, and events June-September) are the main seasonal events.
Getting around
Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) is 30 km from Termini Station by the Leonardo Express train (30 minutes, €14). Ciampino Airport (CIA) serves low-cost carriers with bus connections (40 minutes, €6-8). Rome’s historic centre is best explored on foot — the main sites between the Colosseum and St. Peter’s are about 5 km, fully walkable. The metro has only 3 lines (A, B, C) and is useful for reaching Termini, the Vatican (Ottaviano station), and Trastevere (no direct metro — bus 8 from Largo Argentina). E-scooters (Lime, Bird) have proliferated across the city. Taxis are metered and reliable from official ranks.
What to eat and drink
Roman cuisine is based on offal, pasta, and the humble cuts of the cucina povera tradition. Cacio e pepe (spaghetti with Pecorino Romano and black pepper) is Rome’s simplest and most defining pasta — Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere and Trattoria da Cesare al Casaletto are the most acclaimed. Carbonara (guanciale, egg yolk, Pecorino — no cream, ever) at Roscioli (Via dei Giubbonari 21) or Grotte del Teatro di Pompeo. Supplì (fried rice balls with mozzarella centre) from Supplì Roma on Viale Trastevere. Artichokes two ways: carciofi alla romana (braised with mint and garlic) and carciofi alla giudia (deep-fried flat, Jewish ghetto tradition). Gelato: Giolitti on Via degli Uffici del Vicario (since 1900) and Fatamorgana (original flavours, natural ingredients) on multiple locations. Aperitivo: Negroni Sbagliato at any Pigneto or Ostiense neighbourhood bar.
Neighborhoods to explore
Trastevere — The medieval neighbourhood across the Tiber — narrow cobblestone streets, ivy-covered facades, and the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (the oldest church in Rome, with 12th-century mosaics). The best evening dining neighbourhood in Rome.
Pigneto / Ostiense — Rome’s creative district east of the Aurelian Walls. Independent bars, street art, the Gazometro industrial skyline, and the Centrale Montemartini museum (Roman statues displayed against industrial machinery — extraordinary).
Prati — The residential neighbourhood next to the Vatican. Via Cola di Rienzo market street, the best aperitivo bars near the Castel Sant’Angelo, and more affordable restaurants than the tourist zones.
Monti — Rome’s most fashionable neighbourhood, between the Colosseum and Termini. Vintage shops, craft cocktail bars, and the morning market at Piazza della Madonna dei Monti.
Jewish Ghetto — The oldest Jewish community in Europe (since the 2nd century BC). The Great Synagogue, carciofi alla giudia, and the ruins of the Porticus Octaviae visible in the street fabric.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Rome?
The best things to do in Rome include the Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Galleria Borghese, and wandering the Trastevere neighbourhood for dinner. Book all major sites in advance.
How many days do I need in Rome?
Three days covers the Vatican, the Colosseum/Forum, and the main piazzas. Five days allows the Galleria Borghese, neighbourhood exploration, and day trips to Ostia Antica (Rome's best ancient site, far less crowded than the Forum), Tivoli, or the Castelli Romani. A week gives Rome room to breathe.
Is Rome safe for tourists?
Rome is generally safe. Pickpocketing is the main concern — particularly on the metro (Line A near Vatican and Termini), the Trevi Fountain crowds, and tourist restaurant areas. Wear bags across the front in crowded areas. Avoid money changers outside banks.
What is the best time to visit Rome?
April-May for ideal weather and Holy Week spectacle. September-October for comfortable temperatures and lower crowds. December for Christmas atmosphere. Avoid August if you dislike heat and some business closures.
How do I get around Rome?
Walking is best for the historic centre. Metro Lines A and B cover main hubs. Bus 8 for Trastevere. E-scooters supplement for medium distances. Taxis are metered from official ranks.
Is Rome expensive?
Rome is moderately priced by major European capital standards. Museum entrance fees add up (€15-22 per major site). Trastevere restaurant meals average €20-35 per person. Tourist-area restaurants overcharge — avoid anywhere with photos on the menu. Accommodation in the centro storico is expensive; Prati and Trastevere are better value.
What are hidden gems in Rome?
Ostia Antica (the ancient port of Rome, 30 km southwest, reachable by suburban train from Piramide) is a 4th-century town preserved to second-storey height — as complete and atmospheric as Pompeii but visited by a fraction of the tourists. The Catacombs of Domitilla on the Appian Way (earliest Christian burial tunnels, 2nd century) are less visited than the more famous San Callisto catacombs next door but have better-preserved painted chambers. The Palazzo Doria Pamphilj on the Corso (a private family still lives there) holds Rome's finest private art collection, including Velázquez's portrait of Innocent X and Bernini's bust of the same pope, displayed almost without interpretation in rooms unchanged since the 18th century.