The Best of Rome, Italy
The Main Attractions of Rome that you Cannot Miss
There is so much to see and do in Rome we had to break it into two sections. What you absolutely need to see and then great things to do. You should plan on spending quite a bit of time at a lot of these places, both for a tour and to just appreciate the beauty and history.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built and still standing today, over 1,900 years later. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the main symbol of Rome. You should plan on spending at least two hours at the Colosseum.
We took a tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill – I highly recommend it and linked it below in the “What to do in Rome” section!
Roman Forum
What was once the heart of Ancient Rome, the Roman Forum was left for ruins following the fall of the Roman Empire. The Forum was slowly buried, then in the 20th century, it was excavated. Located between Palatine and Capitoline Hill, the Forum is incredible to walk through.
Make sure you also stop at Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill to overlook the Roman Forum!
The Roman Forum is another attraction you can plan to spend at least an hour or two wandering around. It is located near the Colosseum, making it easy to see both on the same day. If you take the same tour we did, this is included!
If you decide to skip the tours, you should either go early in the morning, right when the Roman Forum opens, or you should get skip-the-line tickets! I will link the most popular attractions with the longest lines below!
Palatine Hill
Located above the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill is the most centrally located of the seven hills in Rome. Palatine Hill is considered to be the birthplace of Rome; many of the wealthy Roman’s lived in their palace’s on Palatine Hill – many of the ruins you can still see today.
The ruins hold so much significance and history that I knew nothing about before going to Rome, I found it easiest to learn about them from the tours.
Palatine Hill also has the best viewpoints of the Roman Forum!
The Pantheon
The Roman Pantheon is the best-preserved building from Ancient Rome. The current Pantheon construction began in 126 A.D.; the former Pantheon was originally built in 27 B.C. but was destroyed by a fire in 80 A.D. Inside the Pantheon, you can find many tombs of Roman Kings and incredible works of art.
You will likely have to wait in a long line to get into the Pantheon, unless you go very early or you take a guided or audio tour that includes the skip-the-line tickets.
Capitoline Hill
Capitoline Hill ( or Campidoglio Hill) is one of the seven hills of Rome and arguably, one of the most beautiful. It has great views over Rome and it is free to visit! I highly recommend going there at night as well, the views are incredible.
Make sure to climb the staircase designed by Michelangelo to get the Capitoline Hill and stop to view the Piazza del Campidoglio (also designed by Michelangelo) on the way up.
One of the most charming and popular squares in Rome, filled with stunning fountains and many restaurants and terraces to spend the afternoon. I highly recommend spending time wandering around the square!
Trevi Fountain
Last but definitely not least, you need to stop at the Trevi Fountain and of course throw a coin (or three) into the fountain. The history of the fountain dates back to 19 B.C., but the appearance of the Trevi Fountain was finalized in 1762.
What to do in Rome
Rome, Italy, is a place where you can simply wander the streets and still be completely in awe of the history that has been preserved for centuries, the beautiful streets and neighborhoods, and the intricately detailed architecture.
While the attractions listed above are astonishing, learning about the history of each place is the most incredible part. History was a subject I always dreaded, but traveling to Rome made me love it! I mean it helps not actually ever having to study history now, but I learned more traveling around Rome in three days than I did in my 16 years of school.
Anyways, that being said, I learned so much because of the tours we took and I could not recommend them enough. You learn so much more about these incredible places, you skip the lines and get into the attractions much faster (and I mean MUCH FASTER… you save hours), and most tours include multiple attractions.
Anyways, back to what to do when you are in Rome. Here are my favorite things to do while you are in the city!
Take a tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
I highly recommend taking a tour of the Colosseum, it gets you better access to the stage and underground depending on the tour you choose. The tour also allows you to skip the line – which in Rome is necessary! You can spend hours waiting in line for entry into the attractions (especially the Colosseum).
We took this three-hour tour of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, and it was well worth it! The tour guide was amazing in explaining the history and events in Rome.
Explore the Trastevere Neighborhood
Take a tour of the Catacombs
Something unique (and eerie) to do here… take a tour of the catacombs – there are five open to the public! The catacombs in Rome span for miles; there are thousands of tombs underground.
Eat your way through Rome
Stop at the Gelateria in Gracchi for the best gelato in Rome! Also, highly recommend checking out Da Enzo al 29 and Grappolo d’Oro!
For more recommendations in Rome, head to the bottom of this guide or select "Eat", "Drink", or "Cafe" on the map!
Spend a day exploring Vatican City
Your trip to Rome would not be complete without spending a day exploring Vatican City. You should plan on spending a day in Vatican City exploring St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums!
Other things to do and see in Rome
Favorite Places to Eat (& Drink)
Churches to Visit
Thank you so much for trusting my recommendations! I hope you will love this city just as much as I do.
Happy traveling!
xx,
Jenny
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