Traveling to Rome for the first time? From ancient ruins and stunning cathedrals to picturesque piazzas and world-renowned museums, there is no shortage of impressive tourist attractions in Rome. The city’s nickname, the Eternal City, dates back to the first century when its citizens believed the power of Rome would grow forever. Two thousand years later, Rome has indeed become an eternal destination that receives millions of travelers every year. Visitors can get a glimpse of its glorious past through numerous monuments and historic sites still standing in Rome today.
It’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed with planning your first trip to Rome. We’ve prepared this special travel guide to help you discover and plan great things to do in Rome. Expect to find plenty of practical information including a wide range of travel tips, the best attractions in Rome, and a carefully curated list of unique things to do.
Best Time to Visit Rome
With its wet winters and humid summers, Rome is known for its pleasant Mediterranean climate. Temperatures in summer can exceed 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit), while the temperature in the winter season can drop to -1 degrees Celsius (30 Fahrenheit). However, it rarely snows in the capital of Italy. The best time to visit Rome is in spring (April, May) and in autumn (September, October) when the crowds are fewer and days are long, sunny, and bright.
Rome Itinerary Ideas
As a start, it might be helpful to look at a few selected Rome trips from other Hoptale travelers. You will get a better idea of what to do in Rome and some inspiration for building your own Rome itinerary.
3 Days in Rome with Friends
Roma
by maria.wh
Piazza del Popolo | Colosseum | Plaza Navona | Trevi Fountain | Roman Forum | Palatine Hill | Altar of the Fatherland | …
3 Days in Rome Solo Trip
Roma
by matteopeluzzi
Colosseum | Campidoglio | Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana | Terrazza del Pincio | Castillo de Sant’Angelo | Campo de’ Fiori | …
3 Days in Rome Family Trip
Rome
by jadde_sz
Trevi Fountain | Pantheon | Altar of the Fatherland | Castillo de Sant’Angelo | Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore | Vatican City | …
3 Days in Rome Couple Trip
Italy
by Yanee
Colosseum | Trevi Fountain | Trastevere | Pantheon | Spanish Steps | Plaza Navona | Vatican City | …
1 Day in Rome Solo Trip
Rome
by chapis.world
Colosseum | Trevi Fountain | Roman Forum | Pantheon | Plaza Navona | Marcus Aurelius Column | Piazza di Spagna | …
2 Days in Rome Couple Trip
Rome
by sarah-obeid
Piazzale Michelangelo | PiazColosseum | Trevi Fountain | Spanish Steps | Piazza Venezia | Plaza Navona | Vatican City | …
6 Days in Rome Couple Trip
Rome & Napoli
by mkyiv
Roman Forum | Ponte Sant’Angelo | Piazza del Popolo | Colosseum | Trevi Fountain | Vatican City | Pantheon | Vatican Museums | …
5 Days in Rome Solo Trip
Rome & Verona
by biancamtz
Colosseum | Roman Forum | Altar of the Fatherland | Campidoglio | Roma | Trevi Fountain | Trattoria Dai Tre Amici Al Pantheon | …
Travel Tips for Rome
Here are some tips and tricks to help you settle in this vast city quickly on your first trip.
16 Top Attractions in Rome
If you are searching for top tourist attractions in Rome, you’ll be pleased to hear that the capital of Italy is home to many amazing sites. Visit the world’s most impressive ancient ruins, people-watch at Rome’s beautiful piazzas (town squares), throw a few lucky coins into Trevi Fountain to find love in Rome, or admire Sistine Chapel’s painted ceiling by Michelangelo in Vatican City … we have a list of the 16 most popular things to do in Rome based on the real trip experiences of Hoptale users.
These top attractions should easily fill a 3-day or 4-day trip. If you have more time to spend or are looking for more special things to do in Rome, we suggest you also check out the next section.
1. Colosseum
ancient ruinarena
As the world’s largest standing amphitheater, Colosseum unequivocally deserves the top spot on our list of top things to do in Rome. This ancient stadium was where epic gladiator battles took place in front of 50,000 spectators for centuries (200 – 500 BC).
Cost of visit: 16+2 Euros combo ticket for Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Estimated visit length: 2-3 hours
2. Roman Forum
ancient ruin
Adjacent to the Colosseum, Roman Forum is a set of magnificent ancient ruins dating back to the 7th century BC. This is one of the world’s most important archaeological areas and includes famous ruins such as the Sacred Way and Temple of Caesar. Roman Forum was the site of the original Senate and the epicenter of social life in the city.
Cost of visit: 16+2 Euros combo ticket for Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palantine Hill
Estimated visit length: 1-2 hours
3. Palatine Hill
ancient ruin
Palatine Hill is the most famous of Rome’s seven hills. It was the most desirable neighborhood where many Roman emperors and aristocrats built their grand homes. It’s a great place for visitors who wish to enjoy stunning views of the city while exploring fascinating ancient ruins. It’s usually less crowded than the other two more famous sites nearby – the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
Cost of visit: 16+2 Euros combo ticket for Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palantine Hill
Estimated visit length: 1-2 hours
4. Vatican City
holy sitereligious site
Nestled in the city of Rome is the Vatican, the world’s smallest independent state and the headquarters of the Catholic Church. There are numerous religious and cultural sites within the Vatican City such as St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. You can also see the Pope live in person if you head to St. Peter’s Square at noon on Sunday for the Angelus.
Cost of visit: 8-17 Euros for admission to the Vatican Museums (include the Sistine Chapel)
Estimated visit length: 4+ hours
5. Trevi Fountain
fountain
Rome is a city of public fountains and Trevi Fountain is the largest of them all. It’s always crowded with tourists as the legend says that throwing a coin into the fountain means that you will return to this Eternal City, two coins means you’ll return to Rome and fall in love, and three coins means you’ll return, find love, and get married!
Cost of visit: Free.
Estimated visit length: 15 minutes
6. Pantheon
religious site
As one of the best-preserved Roman ancient ruins, Pantheon is believed to be 2,000 years old. Once you are inside, look up to admire the temple
