Things to Do in Rome, Italy: Everything Worth Your Time
Rome, Italy completely blew me away. The food, the art, the history, all of it. If you’ve read my post on How many days you need in Rome, you’ll already know I think most people don’t give this city enough time. This post is the full list of what to actually do while you’re there, so you can pick and choose based on how many days you’ve got.
Tip: No matter the weather, cover up before you go into churches or religious sites. Most have rules about shoulders and knees being covered. I kept a scarf and a pair of flowy pants in my bag just in case.
Why Rome, Italy Belongs on Your Travel List
There’s a reason Rome, Italy stays on so many bucket lists year after year. Between the ancient ruins, world-famous art, and food that ruins every other Italian meal you’ll ever have, it’s a city that rewards however much time you can give it.
1. The Vatican
Entry fee: 20 Euros
Do this in the morning. We went later in the day and barely had time to take it all in before the crowds built up and we were rushing through rooms we wanted to linger in. If you can, go early, and don’t rush yourself out. This is one of those places that’s worth a full morning on its own.
Inside the Vatician
2. The Colosseum
Entry Fee: €18
A must, even if you only see it from the outside. It’s genuinely more beautiful in person than any photo prepares you for, and it’s one of the most photographed spots in Rome, Italy for good reason. There are a few spots nearby that give you the best angle for photos, which I’ve marked below.
3. The Pantheon
Walk in and look straight up through the oculus photos really don’t do it justice. Takes way less time than the Vatican or Colosseum, so it’s an easy add to any day.
4. Piazza del Campidoglio
Entry Fee for the museum: €20
Just wow. This place has your eyes glued, it’s so much larger in person than you’d expect. We actually started our walking tour from here, and our guide gave us such interesting history on the piazza. He also pointed out there’s a bar at the top that gives you a beautiful view over the city, just know it does shut early, so don’t leave it for late in the day.
5. Galleria Colonna
Worth knowing before you go, since the pricing changes depending on the day and how much of the palace you want to see.
- Saturday (self-guided) short tour: €15 Galleria, Pio Pavilion, and gardens
- Saturday (self-guided) complete tour: €25 adds the Princess Isabelle Apartment (€20 for FAI cardholders)
- Friday guided tour: €35 (€30 for FAI cardholders), guide included
- Audioguide: +€5, Saturdays only
- Free entry: kids under 12 (max 2 per paying adult), Saturdays only
Our tip: Palazzo Colonna only opens to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s worth building your Rome itinerary around that. Saturday is the better value day since it’s self-guided (so you can move at your own pace) and it’s the only day you can do the complete tour with the Princess Isabelle Apartment included.
Just like most places in Rome, you walk in with such awe. This place is definitely worth adding to your list. You can see how well the art has stayed preserved, and every inch has so much detail.
6. Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore)
Entry is Free!
This place is so special, and should be added as something to see. If it’s not already part of your tour, it’s great to just stop by and take it all in.
Our tip: Dress modest because it’s a religious site there is a dress code.
7. Cloister of Bramante (Chiostro del Bramante)
Entry Fee: €19 (this can vary since the space hosts different exhibitions)
This is a beautiful old Renaissance building that houses rotating art exhibitions, so what’s on display, and the fee, can change depending on when you visit.
Tip: If you just want to see the building without paying the entrance fee, grab a coffee at their cafe, Caffetteria del Chiostro. You still get to take in the space without needing a ticket.
8. Palazzo Farnese
Palazzo Farnese can only be visited with a guided tour, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
Tickets (Guided Tour Only) Fee: This ranges from €15-€20
Entry Times: Entry times range from 3 pm–4 pm, so plan around this if you want to fit it into your day
This place is different from what you normally add to the list of things to see but with such strong history, it should be added in as a must see.
10. Do a Walking Tour
This ended up being one of the best things we did. You get the history and all the stories from very knowledgeable people, you’d otherwise miss wandering on your own. Our guide genuinely made the whole city click for us in a way just reading about it beforehand hadn’t.
There a few fun options:
Price: €25
Rome’s most iconic monuments come alive on this guided walking tour through the city center. Along the way, your guide will point out some of the hidden gems you’d easily miss wandering on your own.
Price: €25
This guided nighttime walking tour takes you through the historic center under the city lights, with stops at the iconic Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon along the way.
Price: €3.20
In this tour, you’ll step into Rome’s layered history, tracing the legacies of the city’s most powerful families, uncovering hidden gems tucked away from the crowds, and taking in some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks along the way.
11. Shopping and Souvenirs
I put together a full list of my favourite souvenir and shopping spots in Rome, check it out here.
12. Where We Ate and Drank
Rome’s food scene was just beautiful. I’ve got all my favourite places we ate and drank while we were there in a separate post. There was just too many to list here.
Where I Ate & Drank in Rome blog post
A Few Things I’d Tell You Before You Go
- No car needed, we didn’t recommend one for getting around Rome, it’s an easy city to walk or use public transport in
- Book the Vatican and Colosseum in advance if you can, especially for a morning slot
- Give yourself more time than you think you need. 2-3 days is the common recommendation, but I really believe this city deserves more
