25 Top Sites in Rome and How to Get There
These are the places we send friends and family when they visit Rome. For each one we share what we love, what to skip, and the easiest metro stop or bus stop to get there. You don't have to see them all. Pick the ones that fit your trip.
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica sits in Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. It's the largest church on earth and one of the most important in the Christian faith, built over the tomb of Saint Peter. It opens at 7 a.m. and entry is free. Come early and you'll usually walk right in. After mid morning, the line can take one to two hours or more.
If you can, climb the dome. It opens at 8 a.m., so get in line around 7:45 to be one of the first to the top. The view over Rome from up there is worth every step. Inside, take your time with Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's bronze canopy over the main altar, called the Baldachin.
Getting there: Metro line A, Ottaviano Station.
The Colosseum is the one place almost everyone wants to see in Rome, and it deserves it. It was built almost 2,000 years ago, without any of the machines we'd use today. Walking under its huge arches and looking down at the arena floor where gladiators fought is a powerful moment. It's estimated that over 500,000 people and a million animals died in the games held here. It's beautiful and brutal at the same time, and it helps you understand the Roman Empire in a way no book can. Book your ticket on the official site ahead of time, especially in spring and summer.
Getting there: Metro line B, Colosseo Station.
The Colosseum
The Roman Forum
The Pantheon
Your Colosseum ticket also includes one entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, so check the time window on your ticket when you plan your day. The Forum was the center of life in ancient Rome, and walking among its temples and arches gives you a real sense of history. Save some energy for the climb up Palatine Hill. In my opinion, it has the best views in all of Rome. From up there you can look out over the Forum and the whole city and picture what it was like at the height of the empire.
Getting there: Metro line B, Colosseo Station.
The Pantheon is probably my favorite building in Rome. It's one of the best preserved buildings from ancient Rome, and it looks so perfect it almost seems fake. It's also much bigger in person than it looks online. Right in front is a fountain with wide steps, a perfect spot to sit with a sandwich or some street food and watch the world go by. I've spent many happy hours there just taking it all in.
Getting there: A short walk from the Largo Argentina bus stop.
Rome Travel Guida + PDF Booklet
We've walked this city for years. The same mistakes keep showing up: the wrong neighborhood, a reseller ticket, a tout at the airport, lunch from a photo menu. The Rome Travel Guida is the help we wish someone had handed us. Watch our videos from home, follow our GPS maps on your phone in Rome, and keep the 2027 PDF booklet handy for quick answers. Where to stay, how to get around, official tickets, day trips, and the food we actually eat. Have the trip. Skip the stress.
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is one of my favorite squares in Rome, and whenever I'm nearby I end up there. Its long oval shape comes from the ancient stadium it was built on. Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers stands in the center, and there are street performers and plenty of places to sit. The streets around the square are full of boutique shops and little places to eat, and they're lovely to wander. The whole area comes alive in the evening, and it's a relaxed place for a stroll or a slow dinner.
Getting there: A short walk from the Largo Argentina bus stop.
No trip to Rome is complete without an evening in Trastevere. Once you cross the Tiber River, you're there. This neighborhood feels like the real Rome, with narrow winding streets and a lively, local feel. Many people say Trastevere has the best food in Rome, and I'd agree. A few popular spots are Da Enzo al 29 for classic Roman dishes, Osteria da Fortunata for homemade pasta, and Tonnarello for traditional Roman food. After dinner, walk to Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere and step inside the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome. Bring an appetite and take your time.
Getting there: About a 10 minute walk from Largo Argentina, or take tram 8.
Trastevere
Circus Maximus
Largo Argentina
Circus Maximus is where ancient Rome held its chariot races nearly 2,000 years ago. Most of the stadium is gone and today it looks like a long grassy park, but the size alone lets your imagination run wild. Palatine Hill rises right beside it. From here you can also walk up Aventine Hill and peek through the famous Knights of Malta keyhole for a perfectly framed view of St. Peter's dome. If you'd like to stretch your legs, rent a bike and ride the path along the Tiber River.
Getting there: Metro line B, Circo Massimo Station.
Sooner or later you'll pass through Largo Argentina. It's one of the busiest bus stops in Rome, and it's also where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Today the ruins below street level are home to a cat sanctuary, so you'll see stray cats napping among ancient columns. A newer walkway lets you get a closer look at the temples. While you're here, grab a slice at Pizza Florida, my favorite pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) in Rome. The remains of the Theater of Pompey are hidden under the buildings just around the corner.
Getting there: Many city buses stop right here.
Campo de’ Fiori
Campo de' Fiori is home to one of Rome's oldest open air markets. The name means "field of flowers," because that's what it was long ago. Today the market sells fruit, vegetables, flowers and souvenirs, and it's a fun morning stop. The streets around the square are full of character. My favorite sandwich spot is Forno Campo de' Fiori, the bakery in the corner of the square. In the evening the market packs up and the square fills with tables, so it's a lovely place for dinner after a busy day of sightseeing.
Getting there: A short walk from the Largo Argentina bus stop.
Aqueduct Park (Parco degli Acquedotti)
Aqueduct Park is my favorite place in Rome to slow down and recharge. Most visitors miss it, even though it's easy to reach by metro. Huge arches of ancient Roman aqueducts stretch across open green fields, and it's a sight you won't forget. We like to bring a picnic lunch and sit on the grass like the locals do. It's a peaceful break from the busy center and a quiet way to see a big piece of Roman history.
Getting there: Metro line A, Subaugusta Station, then a short walk.
Via Appia Antica (the Appian Way)
Via Appia Antica is a place I come back to again and again. Built around 300 BC, the Appian Way is one of the oldest roads in the world, and long stretches of the original stones are still there. The Apostle Paul traveled this road on his way to Rome, and it's said Julius Caesar walked it too. After the Spartacus revolt was crushed, 6,000 of his followers were crucified along this road as a warning. Today it's lined with ancient tombs and ruins, and it's a beautiful place to walk or ride a bike.
Getting there: Easiest by taxi.
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, along with St. Peter's, St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Step inside to see its mosaics from the 400s, which show scenes from the Old Testament. The basilica also holds a relic believed to be a piece of the Holy Crib from Bethlehem. Pope Francis is buried here, and many visitors now stop to pay their respects. It's close to Termini Station, so it's an easy visit on the day you arrive or leave.
Getting there: Metro line A or B, Termini Station, or metro line B, Cavour Station.
Want a guide? See the Rome tours we recommend.
The Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill)
Michelangelo redesigned the top of Capitoline Hill in the 1500s, and Piazza del Campidoglio is still one of the most elegant squares in Rome. A statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback stands in the center, and the Capitoline Museums line the square. Walk around to the back for a wonderful view over the Roman Forum. Right next door is the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. Climbing its 124 steps takes some effort, but inside it's peaceful, with beautiful frescoes and the Santo Bambino, a figure of the baby Jesus that many believe works miracles.
Getting there: A very short walk from the Piazza Venezia bus stop.
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain may be the most famous fountain in the world. I'll be honest, I don't quite understand all the fuss. It's packed at every hour of the day and night, and I find it a little overrated. But that's just me. It's still a Rome must see, so go have a look, toss in your coin, and decide for yourself.
Getting there: Metro line A, Barberini Station, then about a 7 minute walk.
Tiber Island
Tiber Island is a little gem in the middle of the Tiber River. You reach it on Ponte Fabricio, a bridge built in 62 BC that people still walk across every day. The island has been linked to healing since ancient times, and there's still a hospital on it today. Look for the snake carved into the old stone, a symbol of healing from the island's ancient past. Tiber Island is small, but it's full of stories.
Getting there: About a 10 minute walk from the Largo Argentina bus stop.
The Jewish Ghetto
Whenever I'm nearby, I walk through the Jewish Ghetto. My excuse is the pizza ebraica, or Jewish pizza, from one of Rome's oldest bakeries, which has been baking for over 300 years. It's a dense, sweet bake packed with nuts and candied fruit. Don't miss the fried artichokes, carciofi alla giudia, a local specialty. As you walk, look down for the small brass stones set in front of some doors. They mark the homes of people who were lost in the Holocaust. Many shops and restaurants close on Saturday for the Sabbath, so plan your visit for another day.
Getting there: A short walk from the Largo Argentina bus stop.
Use code "ROMA" at checkout for $10 off the Guida
〰️
Use code "ROMA" at checkout for $10 off the Guida 〰️
Piazza del Popolo
A lot of visitors miss Piazza del Popolo because it sits a little north of the usual sightseeing path. It's worth the detour. The square is huge and grand, with an ancient Egyptian obelisk in the center. From here, walk up to the Pincio terrace in Villa Borghese park for one of the best views in Rome, looking across the rooftops to St. Peter's dome. Then stroll down Via del Corso, a busy shopping street that runs straight to Piazza Venezia. The Spanish Steps are an easy walk away too.
Getting there: Metro line A, Flaminio Station, about a 4 minute walk.
Castel Sant'Angelo
Truth be told, I lived in Rome for over a year before I finally went inside Castel Sant'Angelo. Here's a tip: on the first Sunday of every month, many museums and monuments in Rome are free. I went on one of those Sundays and waited about 30 minutes in line. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I couldn't believe I'd waited so long to go. The castle is full of history, and the view from the top over St. Peter's and the city is one of my favorites in Rome.
Getting there: Metro line A, Lepanto Station, then a pleasant walk.
The Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums may be the most famous museums in the world, and they're home to the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's ceiling. But I'll be honest. They're not for everyone. If you love art and don't mind big crowds, put them at the top of your list. If museums aren't really your thing, think twice. I found them crowded and overwhelming, with thousands of statues and paintings, and I would rather have spent that time in other parts of Rome. If you do go, book ahead and consider a guided tour. A good guide helps you see the highlights without wearing yourself out.
Getting there: Metro line A, Ottaviano Station.
Monti and Via Cavour
It's easy to get so caught up in the big sights that you miss Rome's neighborhoods. Monti is one of the best. It's full of small boutique shops, cozy restaurants, old churches and a pretty fountain square. Via Cavour runs along its edge and links Monti to the rest of the city. Don't miss Michelangelo's statue of Moses inside the church of San Pietro in Vincoli. For a meal, Trattoria Monti is a good choice for traditional dishes, and a gelato as you wander is a must. It's a lovely way to see everyday life in Rome.
Getting there: Metro line B, Cavour or Colosseo Station.
The Tiber River
The Tiber River is a peaceful escape from Rome's busy streets, and I'm always surprised more people don't walk along it. Take the stairs down from street level to the path beside the water. It's great for a walk, a jog or a bike ride, and you'll find rental bikes and scooters along the way. You'll pass under old bridges and see Tiber Island and Castel Sant'Angelo from a whole new angle. The river was the lifeline of ancient Rome for trade and travel, and walking beside it is a relaxing way to feel that history.
Getting there: Walk down to the river from Trastevere, Tiber Island or Castel Sant'Angelo.
Use code ROMA and save $10
*
Use code ROMA and save $10 *
The Spanish Steps and Via dei Condotti
The Spanish Steps are one of Rome's best known landmarks. They connect Piazza di Spagna at the bottom with the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. There are 135 steps, and the view over the rooftops from the top is worth the climb. Just know that sitting on the steps is no longer allowed, so enjoy them on your way up or down. At the bottom, Via dei Condotti is lined with designer shops, perfect for window shopping. The steps became famous around the world in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
Getting there: Metro line A, Spagna Station.
The Victor Emmanuel Monument (Altare della Patria)
I lived in Rome back in 1984 and have come back many times since, but it wasn't until 2024 that I finally went inside the Victor Emmanuel Monument. I went on the first Sunday of the month, when many sites in Rome are free. My first thought was how enormous it is. Romans call it the Altare della Patria. It honors Italy's first king and holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We took the elevator to the top. The views are nice, though I liked the view from Castel Sant'Angelo a bit more. It's still a landmark worth seeing, and a free Sunday makes it an easy choice.
Getting there: Piazza Venezia bus stop.
Basilica of St. John Lateran
St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome and the oldest of the four major papal basilicas. Many visitors are surprised to learn it's the Pope's official church as Bishop of Rome, not St. Peter's. Inside, giant statues of the apostles line the main aisle. Across the street, don't miss the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs, which pilgrims climb on their knees. It's an easy metro ride from the center and usually much calmer than St. Peter's.
Getting there: Metro line A, San Giovanni Station.
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
St. Paul Outside the Walls is one of the four major papal basilicas, built over the tomb of the Apostle Paul. It's huge, bright and peaceful, and it gets far fewer visitors than St. Peter's. Look up at the long row of round mosaic portraits of every pope in history. Then step into the cloister, with its twisted, mosaic covered columns. It's an easy trip on the metro and a lovely half day away from the crowds.
Getting there: Metro line B, Basilica San Paolo Station.
