10 Unforgettable Things to Do in Rome
The first bite of a supplì, that fried rice ball oozing melted mozzarella, tells you everything about how Rome treats its food and its history: with reverence, but never so much that it stops being fun. This city rewards travelers who mix the big monuments with the small, unscripted moments. Here are ten experiences that capture both sides of Rome.
Walk Through the Colosseum at Sunrise
The Colosseum draws over six million visitors a year, and by midday the crowds can make it hard to appreciate what you're looking at. Arriving right at opening time, usually 8:30 or 9 a.m. depending on the season, gets you inside before the tour groups arrive in force. Booking one of the guided Colosseum tours Rome offers is worth the extra cost, since guides explain details easy to miss on your own, like the trapdoor system that once lifted animals and gladiators onto the arena floor. Ask about tickets that include the underground chambers and the third tier, which aren't part of the standard entry.
Toss a Coin Into the Trevi Fountain
Legend says a coin tossed with your right hand over your left shoulder guarantees a return trip to Rome. City officials collect roughly 1.5 million euros from the fountain each year, and the money goes to a Catholic charity that supports the city's needy. Visit late at night or very early in the morning to see the fountain without the daytime crush of tourists. The Trevi looks especially dramatic when it's lit up against the dark sky, with the white travertine stone practically glowing.
Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
The Vatican Museums hold more than 70,000 works, though only about 20,000 are on display at any time, so trying to see everything in one visit is a losing battle. Focus instead on a handful of highlights: the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and of course the Sistine Chapel ceiling, which took Michelangelo roughly four years to complete. Book tickets online in advance, since walk-up lines can stretch for hours, especially in spring and summer. Arriving right when the museums open, or booking a late afternoon slot, tends to mean thinner crowds.
Wander the Streets of Trastevere
Trastevere sits across the Tiber from the historic center and has kept a scrappier, more residential feel than neighborhoods closer to the major landmarks. Cobblestone alleys open onto small piazzas where locals gather in the evening, and the area is packed with trattorias serving Roman classics like cacio e pepe and carbonara. Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome, has a facade covered in gold mosaics that catch the light beautifully at dusk. Skip the restaurants directly on the main squares and wander a block or two further for better food at lower prices.
Stand Inside the Pantheon
The Pantheon has stood since around 126 AD, making it one of the best-preserved buildings from ancient Rome, and it remains the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Its oculus, a 27-foot opening at the top, lets in a shaft of light that moves across the interior throughout the day and occasionally lets rain fall straight onto the marble floor. Entry costs a small fee now, a change from years past, but it remains one of the most affordable major sights in the city. Visit around midday when the sunlight through the oculus is at its most striking.
Climb to the Top of the Spanish Steps
The 135 steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church have been a gathering spot since they were completed in 1725. Sitting on the steps themselves is no longer allowed, a rule introduced in 2019 to protect the marble, but the surrounding piazza still makes a good rest stop. From the top, the view stretches over the rooftops toward the city center. The nearby streets, including Via dei Condotti, hold some of Rome's most upscale shopping.
Explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
The Roman Forum was the center of political and commercial life in ancient Rome, and walking through it gives a clearer sense of daily Roman life than the Colosseum alone can offer. Combined tickets typically include Palatine Hill, where emperors once lived and where the views over the Forum and Circus Maximus are worth the climb. Bring water and sun protection, since there's little shade among the ruins. Early morning or late afternoon visits are far more comfortable than midday in summer.
Eat Your Way Through a Local Market
Testaccio Market and Campo de' Fiori both give a real look at how Romans shop and eat, with stalls selling everything from fresh porchetta sandwiches to seasonal produce. Testaccio, less touristy than Campo de' Fiori, is a good spot to try Roman specialties like trapizzino, a pizza dough pocket filled with braised meats or stews. Arrive in the late morning when vendors are in full swing but before the lunch rush hits.
Take a Day Trip to Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica, the port city of ancient Rome, gets a fraction of the visitors that flock to Pompeii, despite being just a 30-minute train ride from central Rome. The site includes well-preserved mosaics, an amphitheater still used for performances, and public latrines that offer a surprisingly candid look at Roman daily life. A regional train ticket costs only a few euros, making this one of the best value excursions near the city.
See Rome From Above at the Gianicolo
The Gianicolo Hill, sometimes overlooked in favor of the more famous Pincian Hill, offers one of the widest panoramic views in Rome. A cannon fires there every day at noon, a tradition dating back to the 19th century that once helped churches across the city synchronize their bells. Sunset is the best time to visit, when the dome of St. Peter's Basilica catches the light against a city that has been building, rebuilding, and layering its history for nearly three thousand years.
Rome rewards a mix of pace: book the major sights in advance to avoid wasted hours in line, but leave enough unplanned time to follow a good smell down an alley or linger in a piazza. The city's best moments rarely fit neatly into a schedule.