39 Best things to see & do in Rome

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!

The sublime, world-famous basilica built over St Peter’s tomb and crowned by Michelangelo’s heavenly dome.

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.

A mind-bogglingly opulent complex of museums, home to one of the greatest hoards of treasure, antiquities and art anywhere.

Historic, beautiful hill-town southeast of Rome, famed for its villas and honey-scented wines. Stop by the fraschette (outdoor wine bars) to sample the many excellent wines produced in these hills.

An archaeological treasure map packed with Rome’s most ancient shrines, temples, and landmarks – the Forum was the heart, soul and nerve centre of the ancient Roman Empire.

A mythic hill, once home to sumptuous imperial palaces including the House of Tiberius, Temple of Cybele, Nero’s revolving dining room and the Domus Flavia. Also go for the views over the Circus Maximus.

The capital of European gastronomy, Rome’s cuisine is reputed for its ancient recipes made of fresh, local ingredients. From Michelin-starred restaurants to family-friendly trattorias to earthy farmers’ markets, there’s no shortage of wonderful places to eat in Rome.

A lavish treasure-filled palazzo housing paintings and furniture assembled since the 16th century by the Doria, Pamphilj, Landi and Aldobrandini families. Works by Titian, Guercino, and Caravaggio.

The world-famous, spectacular Baroque fountain, where gods, goddesses and tritons mix with cascades of water, immortalised in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

A superbly preserved Roman shrine under an astonishing 43m dome, housing the tomb of Raphael. The Pantheon was originally a temple to the Gods, rebuilt by Hadrian in AD 118.

One of the world’s greatest private art collections – that of the extraordinarily wealthy, art-mad Borghese family – housed in a stunning 17th-century villa surrounded by exquisite, landscaped gardens.

Zaha Hadid’s futuristic contemporary art and architecture museum is a modern masterpiece on Rome’s ancient skyline. A refreshing change from all that history.

A stunning 17th-century Palazzo Villa, designed by Bernini and Maderno, packed with old masterpieces – a wealth of art by Filippo Lippi, Raphael, Tintoretto, Titian, Caravaggio and Holbein.

A theatrical masterpiece, the Spanish Steps were designed by Francesco de Sanctis in 1725 and paid for by the French. At the top is Villa Borghese; at the bottom lies the boat-shaped Fontana della Barcaccia (by Bernini’s dad).

The evocative, well-preserved ruins of Ancient Rome’s once-opulent port city. One of Italy’s best archaeological sites, it offers an unparalleled insight into life in ancient Rome.

Stroll around Europe’s most engaging and intriguing Jewish quarter – learn about its tragic past, and sample some of the best food in the city.

Borromini’s convex church of Sant’ Agnese frames his arch-rival Bernini’s stunning Four Rivers Fountain in an eternal Baroque battle; at night it’s beautifully illuminated.

A World Heritage Etruscan cemetery with more than 400 remarkably preserved tombs from the 9th-2nd centuries BC.

Excellent 19th- and 20th-century art with works by Canova, by Italy’s Impressionists (the Macchiaioli, ‘splatterers’) and Futurists such as Balla and Boccioni. Also paintings by De Chirico, Modigliani, Klimt, Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne and Kandinsky.

A cluster of busy stalls offering delicious eats, Testaccio Market in Rome’s former meat-packing district, is where you’ll find authentic Roman delicacies, such as stuffed braised meat sandwiches, rustic piazza, and handmade pasta dishes. Eat in or take-away.

Sumptuous 16th-century Roman villa designed by Baldassare Peruzzi and beautifully frescoed by Raphael, in particular the Triumph of Galatea featuring a nymph driving a scallop-shell chariot pulled by dolphins.

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.

Museum holding one of Italy’s finest archaeological collections – antiquities from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD including superb sculptures, bronzes and frescoes.

If time allows, make the short 40-minute hop out of the city to wander around this small commune in the Castelli Romani, which occupies heights overlooking Lake Albano. It was voted one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, and is home to the summer residence of the Pope.

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.

Former pleasure palace of Pope Julius III, now houses the world’s greatest collections of Etruscan art. It includes artefacts and finds from the Banditaccia Necropolis at Cerveteri.

This tremendous series of squares (fora) were among the greatest works of the Romans. Trajan’s includes library, Trajan’s Column and the well-preserved Trajan’s Market – the ‘world’s first shopping mall’.

Adjacent to Capitoline Hill, this enormous, gleaming white marble was built in 1935 to honour the first king of Italy. It houses the Museum of Reunification, and Italy’s Tomb of the unknown soldier.

Walk the Passetto do Borgo that connects the Vatican with Castel Sant’Angelo, used by Pope Clement VII to flee mercenaries in 1527. It’s only open in July and August; enter via the castle.

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.

This Roman bridge was built in AD 134 by the Roman emperor Hadrian, to provide a scenic access route from the city to his newly built mausoleum, the Castel Sant’Angelo (which later became a fortress, and is now a museum).

The Centrale was the first electric power plant in Rome and the industrial building now houses a superb collection of Hellenic statues from the Capitoline Museums.

Spanning the Tiber from Campus Martius to Tiber Island, this is the oldest bridge in Rome. Commissioned by Lucius Fabricius, then curator of roads, it has been in constant use since its construction in 62 BC.

Peer through the keyhole on Aventine Hill to admire the perfectly framed vista of the dome of St. Peter’s. The view encompasses three nations: the Italian State, the Priory and the Vatican.

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.

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.

One of the most beautiful places in Rome for a walk, a road lined with lavish tombs, the Baths of Caracalla, the Roman Catacombs, and many other sights.

To get away from the bustle of Rome, Emperor Hadrian decreed a suburban palace that was a city in itself. Built for pleasure, most of it was gardens, pools, baths, fountains and temples, all in a sumptuous, almost decadent style.