Capitoline Museums
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Three museums on one complex, founded in 1471, packed with ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian statues. Look out for the Capitoline Wolf and the statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12
Best things to do & places to stay:
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Rome has been on history’s front page for more than 2,000 years; it’s a city of marvels that has seen glory, greatness and triumph – and excess, murder and decadence – in equal measure. Yet despite its dazzling wealth of ancient, medieval, Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture, the Eternal City is no museum piece.
A thriving and modern metropolis among venerable treasures, Rome boasts a hip, 21st-century art scene, world-class theatre, outstanding shopping, superb cuisine and, of course, gelato. One of Europe’s most exciting capitals, Rome is a shining example of la dolce vita; its many piazzas alive with al fresco bars and restaurants.
Founded on seven hills, Rome is largely defined by its tightly packed historic centre. Most of the city’s landmarks can be found here, such as the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Colosseum. Across the Tiber lies the Vatican, the world’s smallest independent state and home to the world’s most famous ceiling fresco. Beyond the ancient walls, Rome is also very close to the sea, and a trip to the beach makes the perfect urban escape.
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Three museums on one complex, founded in 1471, packed with ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian statues. Look out for the Capitoline Wolf and the statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Built by Emperor Vespasian in the 1st Century AD, Rome’s magnificent and iconic Colosseum, steeped in gory gladiatorial history is a must-see. Let the games begin!
Best for ages: 8+ | £14
Vatican City, Lazio, Italy
The sublime, world-famous basilica built over St. Peter’s tomb and crowned by Michelangelo’s heavenly dome.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign nation-state and Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church. Within its borders are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and Apostolic Palace, home to the Pope.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Located between the Colosseum and Palatine, the triumphal arch – the Arch of Constantine – was built by Emperor Constantine in AD 315. Art was at a nadir: most of the carvings were pilfered off earlier monuments.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Located on the Via Sacra, just southeast of the Forum, the Arch of Titus was built in 82 AD by Emperor Domitian. It has inspired other triumphal aches around the world since, most notably the Arc de Triomphe.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Rome has so many treasures, this one is often overlooked. But with the empire under threat from invaders, Emperor Aurelian gave the city one of the greatest sets of fortifications in the world – a job finished in only five years. 19km long, and almost completely intact today, the circuit includes several monumental gates, and it passes some of the Eternal City’s most interesting monuments.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Caravaggio single-handedly transformed Italian art in the early 1600s. Three of his most stunning paintings hang in the Contarelli Chapel of this small Rome church, including The Martyrdom of St Matthew.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Rome
€65 | Rating 4.89 / 5 [47 ratings]
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Rome
€576 | Rating 4.87 / 5 [212 ratings]
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Rome
€110 | Rating 4.92 / 5 [223 ratings]
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Rome
€826 | Rating 4.2 / 5 [20 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Rome, Lazio, Italy
A peaceful, family-oriented hotel in a 17th-century convent, close to the main sights of Rome, and in the heart of buzzing Trastevere.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy
A strikingly designed, romantic B&B in a superb central location. It combines state of the art comforts and privacy – perfect for couples.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy
A 1911 Roman villa-turned-fashionable townhouse hotel with lush gardens in a peaceful setting and Michelin star restaurant.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy
Seven gorgeous, ultra-comfortable boutique suites in a historic townhouse, in Rome’s most fashionable quarter.
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High summer can be unbearably hot and humid in Rome so it’s best to visit in spring or autumn, though the Easter holiday period, when pilgrims and school groups descend on the city, tends to be very busy.
Winter is a charming time to visit, especially around Christmas, and January and February can be mild.
June and July are good months for culture vultures – the squares are filled with open-air restaurants and bars, and parks such as Villa Celimontana and Villa Ada play host to concerts and festivals.
Rome has two main airports. The main international airport, Fiumicino (FCO), also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport, is 30km from the city centre and serves major international airlines. Busy Ciampino (CIO), 17km to the southeast, serves mostly budget carriers from European destinations. There are plentiful taxis at both flat-rate fares of approx EUR50 from Fiumicino and EUR30 from Ciampino. From Fiumicino, you can take a fast, direct train to Roma Termini. The journey takes about a half-an-hour and costs around EUR20, departing every 20 minutes.
Walking around the compact historic centre is the best way to admire its many sights – and discover its hidden secrets. You can’t hail taxis on the street – they must be booked or hailed at taxi ranks. Licensed taxis are white or yellow, with ‘SPQR’ on the doors; don’t get in an unauthorised taxi. Also watch for drivers switching to the more expensive tariff 2 – tariff 1 is standard within the GRA ring road. See here for up-to-date rates.
Renting a car isn’t recommended as the traffic is usually awful and parking is almost impossible. Cycling is a popular option and especially good for getting around the historic centre: there are bike-sharing racks on most of the piazzas. Download Uber’s Lime app and go!
The ‘Archaeologia Card’ allows access to nine major archaeological sites in Rome, with discounts on audio guides and guided tours. It may be purchased at the Colosseum, Baths of Caracalla and the four museums that comprise the National Museum of Rome (Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Baths of Diocletian and Balbi Crypt).
The three-day Roma Pass offers free entrance to the first two museums visited and discounts on the others, as well as free public transport.
Rome’s historic centre is split into key urban quarters or rioni. Most of the grand luxury hotels are around Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps) and Via Veneto, while intimate boutique hotels and B&Bs tend to be in Trastevere and near Campo de Fiori. Other neighbourhoods such as Testaccio – a mecca for foodies – and Monti, Rome’s oldest neighbourhood are filled with cool shops, funky bars, and fashionable restaurants.
For an edgier cosmopolitan mix, head further west towards Esquilino, near Termini train station and Il Pigneto, home to loft-dwelling artists and students.
Founded on seven hills, Rome is largely defined by its tightly packed historic centre. Most of the city’s landmarks can be found here, such as the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Colosseum. Across the Tiber lies the Vatican, the world’s smallest independent state and home to the world’s most famous ceiling fresco. Beyond the ancient walls, Rome is also very close to the sea, and a trip to the beach makes the perfect urban escape.