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Orient Express La Minerva, Rome

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Rome

Updated 1 October 2026 · 17 things to do

Pictured: Orient Express La Minerva

In Rome, history isn't kept behind glass; it's the furniture. You'll eat lunch beside a temple, catch a bus past a 2,000-year-old arena and drink from fountains fed by aqueducts the emperors would recognise. Layer on Michelangelo, Bernini and Caravaggio, Baroque piazzas and some of the best simple food in Italy, and the Eternal City is overwhelming in the best possible way.

Don't try to see everything. Book the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery before you go, plan each day around one big sight, then let the rest happen: a wander through Trastevere, an espresso at a bar counter, a plate of cacio e pepe, a gelato on the way home. Rome rewards slow travellers.

Don't miss

  1. 1The Colosseum
  2. 2The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
  3. 3The Pantheon
  4. 4The Trevi Fountain
  5. 5Trastevere

Ancient Rome

The heart of an empire, still standing.

  1. The Colosseum

    Landmark

    The arcaded walls of the Colosseum
    Photo: Tournasol7, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The great Flavian Amphitheatre, opened in the 1st century AD, once held tens of thousands of spectators for gladiator fights and wild-animal hunts. Even in ruins it's staggering: walk the arcades, look down into the maze of tunnels beneath the arena floor and imagine the roar.

    Tip: Tickets are timed and include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill: book online well ahead, especially for the arena floor and underground areas.

  2. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    Landmark

    Columns and temple ruins in the Roman Forum
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Next to the Colosseum, the Forum was the centre of public life in ancient Rome: a valley of temples, triumphal arches, law courts and the Senate House, now a field of broken columns and marble. Above it, the Palatine Hill, where Rome was said to have been founded and where emperors built their palaces, gives views over the Forum and the Circus Maximus.

    Tip: There is little shade: bring water and a hat in summer, and wear comfortable shoes.

  3. The Pantheon

    Landmark

    The portico of the Pantheon behind the fountain in Piazza della Rotonda
    Photo: Rabax63, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Nearly two thousand years old and still in use as a church, the Pantheon is ancient Rome's best-preserved building. Step inside and look up: the vast concrete dome opens to the sky through a single round oculus, and a disc of sunlight slides slowly across the walls. Raphael is buried here.

    Tip: Entry is now ticketed; book online and go early, before the tour groups arrive.

The Vatican

  1. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

    Museum

    Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel
    Photo: Michelangelo, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The papal collections are among the richest in the world: ancient sculpture such as the Laocoön, the frescoed Raphael Rooms, the long Gallery of Maps and, at the end of it all, the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's ceiling and his Last Judgement fill every inch of wall and vault.

    Tip: Closed on Sundays except the last Sunday of the month. Book a timed ticket and go first thing; photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel.

  2. St Peter's Basilica

    Landmark

    The main facade and dome of St Peter's Basilica
    Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The vast basilica at the heart of the Catholic world stands at the head of Bernini's colonnaded St Peter's Square. Inside, find Michelangelo's tender Pietà and Bernini's towering bronze canopy over the altar, then climb Michelangelo's dome for a view over the square and across the city.

    Tip: Shoulders and knees must be covered. Expect a security queue; go early in the morning.

Piazzas, fountains and galleries

  1. The Trevi Fountain

    Landmark

    The Baroque Trevi Fountain with Neptune at its centre
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Rome's most theatrical fountain fills an entire small square with Baroque drama: Neptune rides a shell chariot pulled by sea horses as water tumbles over sculpted rocks. Tradition says that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the water, you'll return to Rome.

    Tip: Go early in the morning or late at night; by day the crowds are many deep.

  2. Piazza Navona

    Landmark

    Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona
    Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Built on the outline of an ancient stadium, this long oval piazza is Baroque Rome at its finest, with Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in the middle and Borromini's church of Sant'Agnese in Agone facing it. Café terraces, street artists and buskers keep it lively day and night.

  3. The Spanish Steps

    Landmark

    The elegant 18th-century staircase sweeps up from Piazza di Spagna to the twin towers of the Trinità dei Monti church. At the bottom, the boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain; all around, the designer shops of Via Condotti.

    Tip: Sitting on the steps is not allowed, so enjoy them on the move.

Neighbourhoods to wander

  1. Trastevere

    Neighbourhood

    An ivy-clad lane, Vicolo del Cedro, in Trastevere
    Photo: trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Across the Tiber, Trastevere is a tangle of ivy-draped lanes, ochre houses and washing lines, where trattorias spill out onto the cobbles. Its centre is the piazza in front of Santa Maria in Trastevere, whose golden mosaics glitter above the fountain. By night it's one of the liveliest corners of the city.

  2. Monti

    Neighbourhood

    Tucked between the Colosseum and Via Nazionale, Monti is a village within the city, full of vintage shops, wine bars and little restaurants. In the evening, locals gather around the fountain in Piazza della Madonna dei Monti with a drink in hand.

  3. The Jewish Ghetto

    Neighbourhood

    Carciofi alla giudia, Roman-Jewish fried artichokes, in the Ghetto
    Photo: Marco Iannantuoni, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe, this small, atmospheric quarter by the river has the ancient Portico of Octavia, the Great Synagogue and restaurants serving Roman-Jewish dishes. The star is carciofi alla giudia, whole artichokes deep-fried until they open like crisp, golden flowers.

Eat and drink

  1. Roman pasta

    Food

    A plate of spaghetti cacio e pepe in Rome
    Photo: Blackcat, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Rome's four great pastas are simple and sublime: cacio e pepe (pecorino and black pepper), gricia (with guanciale, cured pork cheek), carbonara (guanciale, egg and pecorino, never cream) and amatriciana (with tomato). The traditional trattorias of Testaccio are the place to try them.

  2. Pizza and supplì

    Food

    Roman pizza comes thin and crisp from a wood-fired oven, or as pizza al taglio, rectangular slices sold by weight. Before your pizza, order supplì, fried rice croquettes with a molten mozzarella centre that stretches into strings when you bite.

  3. Gelato

    Food

    Eating gelato on an evening stroll is a Roman ritual. Look for a gelateria with natural, slightly muted colours, often kept in covered metal tubs, rather than towering mounds of neon-bright ice cream. Pistachio should be a dull, earthy green. Try classic flavours such as nocciola (hazelnut) and stracciatella.

Day trips

  1. Ostia Antica

    Day trip

    The ancient Roman theatre at Ostia Antica
    Photo: Rabax63, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Ancient Rome's port is one of the best-preserved Roman towns anywhere: whole streets of shops, apartment blocks, baths, mosaics and a theatre, with far fewer crowds than the Forum. A local train runs there from Piramide station.

  2. Tivoli

    Day trip

    In the hills east of Rome, Tivoli has two UNESCO-listed treasures: the Renaissance gardens of Villa d'Este, with hundreds of fountains cascading down terraces, and Hadrian's Villa, the emperor's sprawling country retreat of pools, temples and palaces.

Where to stay in Rome

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Rome →

Getting around

The historic centre is best explored on foot, and many of the sights are a short walk apart. The metro is handy for the Vatican, the Colosseum and Termini, and buses and trams fill the gaps. Taxis must be taken from official ranks or booked. Don't drive: much of the centre is a restricted traffic zone.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal, with warm days and softer light. July and August are hot and crowded, and many locals leave in August. Winter is mild and quieter, a good time for museums.

Questions about visiting Rome

What is Rome best known for?
Ancient sites such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon, the Vatican with St Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel, Baroque fountains and piazzas, and Roman food.
How many days do you need in Rome?
Three days is enough for the Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican and the historic centre. Four or five lets you add the Borghese Gallery, Trastevere and a day trip to Ostia Antica or Tivoli.
Which Rome sights should you book in advance?
The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery, which requires a reservation. Booking the Pantheon ahead also helps in busy months.
Is Rome good for families?
Yes. Children love the Colosseum, the gladiator stories, the fountains, pizza and gelato, and the open spaces of the Villa Borghese park, where you can hire bikes and rowing boats.

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