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Top 5 things to do in Rome

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Colosseum
1. Colosseum
The Colosseum is a massive ancient amphitheater in the center of Rome. Picked apart by scavengers and ravaged by earthquakes and time, the Colosseum still stands as an impressive symbol of life in Ancient Rome. It showcases the power of past emperors and the durability of the Eternal City. This huge, marble and limestone structure was built to hold more than 50,000 spectators, all there to revel in the various forms of (mostly violent) entertainment, such as hunts, gladiator battles, and executions.
Vatican Museums
2. Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are full of artistic and historical treasures by some of the world's greatest artists. Inside you’ll find epoch-defining masterpieces from Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian and Caravaggio (to name a few). The collection, housed in 54 galleries, includes the statue of Laocoön, the Apollo del Belvedere, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Gallery of Maps, and of course, the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's renowned frescoes. The artwork here changed the course of Western art.
St. Peter's Basilica
3. St. Peter's Basilica
The Renaissance-era St Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world (and the home-church of the Pope). Highlights include the dome (the biggest in the world), Bernini's Baldacchino (the centerpiece of the church), and Michelangelo's Pietà (the only artwork he ever signed). For both the pious and the casual visitor, a trip to St. Peter's is an awe-inspiring trip into the heart of Vatican City.
Borghese Gallery
4. Borghese Gallery
Built between 1609 and 1613, this opulent structure - fountains, gardens, pink marble walls, frescoed ceilings - seems ideally suited to house one of the world's best collections of art. And that was exactly what it was built for. Architect Flaminio Ponzio designed it for the cardinal and art collector Scipione Borghese, who wanted a party villa on the edge of town where he could house his enormous collection of priceless art. In 1901, the collection (and the gallery, and the park that surrounds it) was acquired by the Italian government, and opened to the public. As a museum, Galleria Borghese punches well above its weight with an impressive hit rate of masterpieces. Sculptures by Bernini and Canova, paintings, by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian... the list goes on.
Castel Sant'Angelo
5. Castel Sant'Angelo
The towering cylinder of Castel Sant'Angelo, and its statue of Archangel Michael, is an instantly recognizable silhouette on the banks of the Tiber. Initially built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and his family, its purpose has changed many times over the years, from a fortress, a residence, a prison, and now a museum.

Reasons to visit Rome

Hand-picked combinations

Combine Rome favorites. Some things are better together.

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Rome Tourist Card

  1. Colosseum & Mamertine Prison
  2. Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  3. Rome City Audio Guide

+ 2 other top things to do

4.1 (3597)
From $128.04 $118.43
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The Vatican City Pass

  1. St. Peter's Basilica: Guided Tour
  2. Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  3. Rome City Audio Guide
4.3 (336)
From $68.29 $64.02

Popular exhibitions in Rome

All things to do in Rome

Once a pantheon to the gods of Ancient Rome, this stunning structure in the heart of Italy's capital has been a church since the 7th century. Among its many spectacular features, its perfect dome (designed and created in 120 AD) is to this day the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.
4.2 (685)
From $2.08
Bioparco di Roma is an open-air zoological garden and biopark located on the original Villa Borghese estate in Rome. There are 1,114 animals of 222 species, spread across 17 hectares of gardens and enclosures.
4.5 (2125)
From $18.14
stadio olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico is located within the Foro Italico sports complex, north of the "Eternal City" of Rome, 4 kilometres north of Vatican City. It is home to both A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio, and now visitors can take a tour, peek into the dressing rooms, and even walk the same path that players walk onto the pitch! A must-see for fans everywhere.
4.7 (46)
From $24.27
Consisting of four grand and historic palazzos, this complex of museums was designed by Michelangelo. Its large collection is devoted largely to the history of Rome itself, and it features many many artifacts that date back to antiquity. It's also considered to be the world's original museum. Pope Clementine XII opened it up to the Roman public in 1734.
4.5 (204)
From $34.14
Terme di Caracalla is one of the largest ancient thermal complexes in the world. When bathing here, Ancient Romans respected the order of cold room, warm room, and hot room. These magnificent baths of Emperor Caracalla were also a place for walking, studying, and relaxing.
4.6 (224)
From $14.94
Lady observing the Lantern Room.
IKONO Museum Roma offers an unparalleled experience in the Eternal City. This 60-minute, immersive journey takes you through a variety of sensory spaces that evoke a spectrum of diverse emotions. You'll be surrounded by vibrant colors, and mesmerising moving images. Digital and original works come together in a space that turns traditional photography into something truly unique.
4.3 (38)
From $19.21
up to —18%
Villa d'Este is one of the most magnificent villas in Italy. The Renaissance-era villa's gardens are resplendent with the sound of water features and birdsong, and make for a great retreat on hot and sunny days!
4.7 (455)
From $20.27
up to —28%
The Pontifical Villas, commissioned by Pope Urban VIII in the 17th century as a papal country residence, are located 25 km south of Rome in the fairy-tale town of Castel Gandolfo. The property was first opened to the public in 2014 and spans 55 hectares, including the palace and the massive gardens built into the 2,000 year old ruins of Emperor Domitian's residence.
4.4 (484)
From $14.94
On Rome's Via del Corso, the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is one of the largest privately owned galleries in the city. It houses a significant collection of paintings, furniture and statues, and features regular live opera performances.
4.7 (153)
From $23.47
The magnificent Palazzo Colonna has been home to over 20 generations of the Colonna family and contains one of the largest private collections of Baroque art in the world.
4.8 (251)
From $22.41
This fascinating exhibition is dedicated to the timeless genius that was Leonardo da Vinci. Featuring reproductions of some of his most forward-thinking inventions, and a newly animated hologram section, the Mostra di Leonardo puts you right into the heart of the Renaissance. This exhibition is located in the center of Rome, around the corner from Campo di Fiori and within walking distance of many of the Eternal City's best attractions.
4.3 (307)
From $9.60

More ways to experience Rome

Planning your Rome visit

Language

Italian

Currency

Euro (€)

Dialing code

+39

Time zone

Central European Time (CET)

Public Transport

Rome's metro is laid out in a north-south, east-west cross, and they intersect at Termini Station. They're quite handy if you're staying near a stop, but if not... well, get to know the buses.

The system can seem complex at first, but routes are laid out in an easy-to-understand manner at stops. Buses are frequent, but subject to the low-level chaos that is Roman traffic!

Transit tickets are valid across all modes of public transport and readily available at vending machines at metro stations, major bus stops and at some bars and tobacconists. Don't forget to validate them after boarding the bus!

Weather

Rome has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry. Don't forget to pack sunscreen and hats too. If you happen to have a hand fan, throw that in too. Winters are cool, and it can even get a little cold - though it is still a Mediterranean climate. The mid-seasons of spring and fall tend to be pleasant and balmy, and are perfect times for al fresco dining in short-sleeved shirts.

Rome doesn't tend to get a lot of rain, but when it does it can be torrential. Check the weather report in the morning, just to be safe. Also, note that the plentiful fountains around town are fed by the aqueducts. Bring a water bottle and fill it up with the free, spring-fed cool water.

La Dolce Vita

This phrase (literally: "the sweet life") entered English parlance when the classic film of the same name debuted in 1960, and fans of Federico Fellini's film took to using it. But even before then, it’s been a part of Italian lingo. It refers not just to an enjoyment of life, but to actively savoring the lived experience. It's worth using your time in the Eternal City to really get to understand the concept. Make like a local and go for a passeggiata (stroll) in the evening air after your meal. Sip a morning cappuccino with friends at a table on the sidewalk. Get an extra scoop of gelato at the gelateria. Open a second bottle of Chianti. And of course: throw a coin in the Trevi to ensure your return to the Eternal City.

What to do in Rome for 3 days

The Colosseum

Life in Ancient Rome was pretty tough. And when the ancients needed entertainment, they got it in epic proportions at the Colosseum. Finished in 80 AD, it's the largest amphitheater ever built - it could hold up to 80,000 cheering spectators. They came to watch animal hunts, the recreation of famous battles and, of course, gladiators battling lions (and each other).

Today the Colosseum is a magnificent ruin. To quote Lord Byron, it is, "A ruin,—yet what ruin!" Enter and you can explore its vast interior, gaze up at the raked seating where the Roman masses sat, and look down on the floor area where the famous battles and hunts took place. Underneath the floor, there was a complicated system of hoists, ramps and trapdoors, allowing for beasts, men, and scenery to be raised into the arena.

Modern Rome

Rome is rightly famous for its compelling history, but you’ll also find it to be a vibrant, dynamic European capital. Many of the ancient areas have become modern meccas for the young and hip. Creative cuisine, designer cocktails, and beautiful, smartly dressed people abound. Take some time to experience some of that famed dolce vita. Rione Monti, Trastevere, Testaccio and Pigneto are all great places to rub elbows with the capital's creative class.

If the ruins seem too ruined for your tastes, there's some incredible modern architecture. Highlights include MAXXI, a new museum that looks like a bent collection of oblong tubes, designed by the wonderful and recently deceased Zaha Hadid. And Renzo Piano's Auditorium Music Park, that resembles a futuristic space beetle on the move, is a sight to behold.

Squares and Fountains

Rome is famous for its charming squares. From the pleasantly self-contained Piazza della Rotonda in front of the ancient Pantheon, to the clamor of Piazza Navona, from the unrivaled people-watching of the Spanish Steps, to the fresh food and flowers on offer in Campo de Fiori, meandering from square to square is a great way to spend an atmospheric afternoon.

And as for fountains: you may find yourself turning corners and stumbling upon some of the most exquisite marbles waterworks you've ever seen. Piazza Navona's Fontana de Quattro Fiumi is awe-inspiring, and the Spanish Steps has its Barcaccia. But the hands-down favorite is the Fontana de Trevi – tossing a coin towards Neptune is said to ensure your return to the Eternal City. That's why an estimated €3,000 is launched into its waters every day (!)

Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel

The art collection in the Vatican is truly unique because it defines not just an era or a region, but an entire civilization. Amassed over two millennia by the Popes, it's a truly historic (and unrivaled) collection of riches. It features artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, as well as the Collection of Modern Religious Art and works by more obscure, earlier painters.

The collection is laid out over 54 sale or galleries, in a one-way route. The final stop is the Sistine Chapel. Look above you and witness the fresco in the ceiling. Michelangelo changed the course of Western art when he worked on these from 1508-12. Unbelievably, he'd never worked in the medium before. Look behind you and you'll see his The Last Judgement on the wall above the altar, which he completed many years later.

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