Rome is one of the most famous cities in the world and is a hot spot for tourists. Spend your day shopping streets lined with designer boutiques or marvel at the architecture of the Pantheon and Sistine Chapel. Find all of these can't-miss places when you visit Rome below, including visiting the Colosseum and a foot tour through the streets of Rome.
1. Get historical and discover the Colosseum and Roman Forum
As the largest amphitheatre ever built, the Colosseum is an iconic Italian landmark and a must-visit while exploring Rome. The structure, built of concrete and sand, housed gladiators in ancient times. The Forum is behind the Colosseum and features the ruins of government buildings. Take a tour with skip-the-line access to avoid the crowds and as your guide tells you about Rome's long and interesting history.
The ultimate experience: Guided Colosseum Tour, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
2. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain
Toss a coin over your right shoulder into the Trevi Fountain. If it falls into the fountain, you'll return to Rome. Throw in a second coin and you'll find a new romance. Throwing a third coin into the fountains suggests marriage is on the cards. Found in the Trevi district of Rome, this 23.6-metre high fountain is one of the cities most visited landmarks and is featured in many films. Take yourself to the fountain, or join a tour with a guide that will tell you all of the myths and legends behind the Trevi Fountain.
Once a Roman temple, the Pantheon is now a church and is regarded as one of the most influential and best preserved buildings to have survived ancient times. Once you step into the building, you'll notice the dome-shaped roof, which features an incredible design for the time it was built in 118-125AD.
What's a trip to Italy without indulging in the country's world-famous and loved cuisine? Try local delicacies including cured meats, pizza and gelato, and wash it down with locally made beer and wine as you take a food tour in the city and treat your taste buds to authentic Italian dishes.
They say Rome wasn't built in a day, and the sights are a telling sign of that. There are so many attractions to visit in Rome, you don't want to waste any time getting from A to B. The "I Love Rome" Panoramic Hop On, Hop Off pass gives you access to nine "I Love Rome" bus stops around the city that are close to the main attractions of interest. The Roma Pass gives you access to the best attractions in Rome, with the choice of one or two participating museum and archaeological attractions.
6. Take a day trip down to the ruined city of Pompeii
A visit to Pompeii will have you exploring the ruins of an ancient city that was wiped out by a volcanic eruption. The once thriving city in southern Italy is now an archaeological site with well preserved ruins that you can visit and explore. The city was covered in metres of ash after the Mount Vesuvius eruption and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pompeii is around a 3.5-hour drive from Rome and you have multiple tour options that will transport you to and from Pompeii.
There's a certain magic around Rome during twilight hour. Segway the streets of the city as it lights up at night making your way to sights like Capitoline Hill and Piazza Navona, and get the opportunity to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain.
Enjoy an intimate Vatican experience with a night tour of the prominent sight where you can visit the museum's exhibits and the Sistine Chapel after the crowds disappear. You can add dinner to your experience, with a 3-course meal at the Le Carrozze restaurant located inside the Vatican.
If you are short on time to see the sights or you want to spend the night relaxing while taking in the views, a bus tour around Rome is a great way to explore. Choose between a double-decker bus or minibus that will whisk you around to the most popular landmarks so you can capture panoramic shots of your picturesque surroundings.
Pocket-friendly option: Panoramic Bus Night Tour
The ultimate experience: Romantic Rome Bus Night Tour with Dinner
Free things to do in Rome
10. See the Pope
If the Pope is in town on Wednesday, you have the chance to catch a glimpse of him at the General Audience. The Pope will give a speech and pray in front of the audience before giving blessings to people, bibles and rosaries – though you'll need to get there early to get to the front of the crowd.
11. Walk the Spanish Steps
You've probably come across pictures of people sitting on the Spanish Steps, but new rules in Rome indicate that you are no longer allowed to sit on the iconic attraction. Don't fret though, as you can still climb the steps and take pictures along the way. You're likely to find artists at the top of the stairs painting portraits of visitors, and many attractions are close by so the Spanish Steps make for a great pit stop on the way to your next location.
12. Visit Piazza Navona
Whether you visit during the day or night, there's always something going on at Piazza Navona. Street performers and artists fill the streets, making it a great place to relax and take in your surroundings. There is a free walking tour that departs from Piazza Navona, though you don't need to leave the square to see popular attractions including Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi and the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone.
Seasonal events in Rome
Things to do in Rome in summer
Estate Romana
Festa de' Noantri
Isola del Cinema
Things to do in Rome in winter
Carnevale
Six Nation Rugby
Piazza Navona Christmas Fair
Things to do in Rome in autumn
Romaeuropa
Roma Jazz Festival
Festa del Cinema di Roma
Things to do in Rome in spring
Primo Maggio
Natale di Roma
Mostra delle Azalee
Feeling inspired? Book your flights to Rome below:
Rome deals
Deal
Up to 53% off Europe adventures
Available on tours in 2023 – 2024 to Rome, Budapest, Bansko, Santorini, Amsterdam and more.
Join the Viator newsletter and get 10% off your first purchase on attractions, food and drink experiences, sightseeing cruise, skydives, bus tours and more. Plus access to members-only sales, travel tips and more.
Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday.
Here's what you need to know about what's open during the Easter long weekend and a list of activities and events to keep you occupied over the 4-day weekend.
Here's our guide on what you can do in Sydney this Easter long weekend.
Feedback
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
findershopping.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
