Back to Italy

ROME

Three thousand years of human civilization. Every street corner is a masterpiece, every meal is sacred. 41 curated spots.

🔍
↓
No spots match...
Eternal

Ancient Rome

Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, walking through 2,000 years of the world's greatest empire.

Colosseum
Landmarks

Colosseum

The greatest amphitheatre ever built (AD 80). 50,000 spectators watched gladiators. Book ARENA FLOOR tickets for the best experience. €16-24. Book online weeks ahead. Skip-the-line essential. Allow 2 hours.

Google Maps
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Culture & History

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

The political heart of the Roman Empire. Walk where Caesar walked. Combined ticket with Colosseum. Palatine Hill has the best views. Audio guide essential. Allow 2-3 hours. Morning light is best.

Google Maps
Pantheon
Culture & History

Pantheon

Best-preserved ancient Roman building (AD 125). The unreinforced concrete dome is still the world's largest. Free entry. Raphael's tomb is inside. The oculus lets in rain. Arrive early. 30 minutes.

Google Maps
Baths of Caracalla
Culture & History

Baths of Caracalla

Massive 3rd-century bath complex. Once held 1,600 bathers. Mosaics, swimming pools, and libraries. €8. Summer opera performances in the ruins are magical. Less crowded than the Colosseum. 1 hour.

Google Maps
Circus Maximus
Culture & History

Circus Maximus

Ancient chariot racing stadium (250,000 spectators). Now a public park. Free. Walk the length to appreciate the scale. Best at golden hour with Palatine Hill above. Immersive AR experience available (€12).

Google Maps
Castel Sant'Angelo
Sacred

Vatican & Churches

St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and churches hiding Caravaggio masterpieces.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Culture & History

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, Egyptian collection, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. €17. Book online, always sells out. Friday night openings are special. Allow 3-4 hours minimum.

Google Maps
St. Peter's Basilica
San Luigi dei Francesi
Culture & History

San Luigi dei Francesi

Three Caravaggio masterpieces in a side chapel, free. The Calling of St Matthew alone is worth crossing an ocean for. Near Piazza Navona. Bring coins for lighting. 20 minutes.

Google Maps
Santa Maria del Popolo
Culture & History

Santa Maria del Popolo

Two Caravaggio paintings and Bernini chapels, free. The Cerasi Chapel has 'Crucifixion of Saint Peter'. Piazza del Popolo. Less crowded than major churches. Raphael's Chigi Chapel. 30 minutes.

Google Maps
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Culture & History

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

One of Rome's four papal basilicas. 5th-century mosaics, Bernini's tomb, and stunning baroque interior. Free. Esquiline Hill. Less touristy than St Peter's. The gold ceiling came from Columbus-era Americas.

Google Maps
Iconic

Piazzas & Fountains

Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Rome's open-air living rooms.

Trevi Fountain
Landmarks

Trevi Fountain

Baroque masterpiece (1762). Throw a coin to ensure you return to Rome. Go at dawn (6am) to have it nearly to yourself. At night it's dramatically lit. Free. The most beautiful fountain on Earth.

Google Maps
Spanish Steps
Landmarks

Spanish Steps

135 steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to Trinità dei Monti church. No sitting allowed (fines!). Caffè Greco nearby (1760, Rome's oldest café). Free. Best at sunset. Via Condotti luxury shopping below.

Google Maps
Piazza Navona
Landmarks

Piazza Navona

Rome's most beautiful piazza. Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, three fountains total, and street artists. Tartufo gelato at Tre Scalini. Free to wander. Best in evening light.

Google Maps
Campo de' Fiori
Shopping

Campo de' Fiori

Morning market by day (produce, flowers, spices). Bars and nightlife by night. Giordano Bruno statue in the centre. Roman street life at its finest. Free. The most atmospheric market square.

Google Maps
Piazza del Popolo
Landmarks

Piazza del Popolo

Grand neoclassical piazza. Twin churches, Egyptian obelisk, and entrance to Villa Borghese gardens. Free. Pincio terrace above has stunning sunset views over the city. The northern gateway to old Rome.

Google Maps
Taste

Food & Drink

Carbonara, supplì, gelato, and the sacred rituals of Roman dining.

Carbonara at Roscioli
Food & Drink

Carbonara at Roscioli

Rome's holy pasta: carbonara (egg, guanciale, pecorino). Roscioli is the benchmark. Also: cacio e pepe at Felice, amatriciana at Bucatino. Book ahead. Budget €15-25 per pasta. No cream, ever.

Google Maps
Supplizio
Food & Drink

Supplizio

The best supplì (fried rice balls) in Rome. Classic: al telefono (mozzarella stretches like phone cord). Also try carbonara supplì. Via dei Banchi Vecchi. €3-5. The perfect Roman snack.

Google Maps
Gelato at Fatamorgana
Food & Drink

Gelato at Fatamorgana

Rome's best gelato. Natural ingredients only, no artificial colours. Creative flavours: Kentucky (tobacco, chocolate, walnut). Multiple locations. €3-5. If the gelato is piled high and neon, walk away.

Google Maps
Testaccio Market
Shopping

Testaccio Market

Rome's authentic food market. Trapizzino (pizza pocket), supplì, and fresh produce. Not touristy. Via Galvani. Budget €10-20. Combine with Testaccio neighbourhood walk. Monte Testaccio (ancient amphora dump).

Google Maps
Pizzarium Bonci
Food & Drink

Pizzarium Bonci

Gabriele Bonci, the Michelangelo of pizza. Pizza al taglio (by the slice) with toppings like mortadella + pistachio. Near Vatican. Budget €5-10. Queue is always worth it. Possibly the best pizza in Rome.

Google Maps
Felice a Testaccio
Food & Drink

Felice a Testaccio

The definitive cacio e pepe in Rome. Family-run since 1936. The pasta is tableside theatre, flipped in the pan. Book ahead. Testaccio. Budget €15-25. Also excellent amatriciana and tonnarelli.

Google Maps
Da Enzo al 29
Food & Drink

Da Enzo al 29

Tiny Trastevere trattoria. Authentic Roman cuisine, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style artichokes). Queue early (no reservations). Budget €15-25. Cash only. The real deal.

Google Maps
Antico Forno Roscioli
Food & Drink

Antico Forno Roscioli

Rome's best bakery. Pizza bianca (white pizza with olive oil) is the Roman breakfast. Supplì, focaccia, and bread. Via dei Chiavari. Budget €3-8. Take pizza bianca to go and eat walking, the Roman way.

Google Maps
Trapizzino
Food & Drink

Trapizzino

Pizza pocket stuffed with Roman classics (oxtail, chicken cacciatore, tripe). Invented by Stefano Callegari. Testaccio flagship. Budget €4-6. The most genius Roman street food invention of the 21st century.

Google Maps
After Dark

Nightlife & Aperitivo

Rooftop bars with Colosseum views, jazz clubs, and the art of the Italian aperitivo.

Hotel de Russie Secret Garden Bar
Food & Drink

Hotel de Russie Secret Garden Bar

Hidden garden bar behind Via del Babuino. Negroni under fairy lights and greenery. Piazza del Popolo. Cocktails €18-22. The most romantic bar in Rome. Smart casual. Book for weekends.

Google Maps
Salotto 42
Food & Drink

Salotto 42

Design-forward cocktail bar near the Pantheon. Aperitivo buffet with drink purchase. Piazza di Pietra with the Temple of Hadrian as a backdrop. Cocktails €14-18. Sophisticated Roman aperitivo.

Google Maps
Pimm's Good
Food & Drink

Pimm's Good

Trastevere's best cocktail bar. Creative drinks, intimate setting, and friendly bartenders. Via di Santa Dorotea. Cocktails €10-14. The Trastevere bar crawl starting point. Open late.

Google Maps
Terrazza Borromini
Food & Drink

Terrazza Borromini

Rooftop bar above Piazza Navona with Bernini fountain views. Cocktails €18-25. The most stunning rooftop view in Rome. Book a table for sunset. Smart casual. Worth the splurge.

Google Maps
Shop

Shopping & Markets

Leather goods, vintage markets, artisan workshops, and Sunday antique strolls.

Via Condotti
Shopping

Via Condotti

Rome's luxury shopping street. Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Bulgari (founded here in 1884). Below the Spanish Steps. Free to window shop. The Italian fashion pilgrimage. Also Via del Corso for mid-range.

Google Maps
Porta Portese Flea Market
Shopping

Porta Portese Flea Market

Sunday morning flea market along the Tiber. Vintage clothing, antiques, books, and Roman curios. 7am-2pm. Arrive early. Watch for pickpockets. Free entry. The best Sunday morning in Rome. Budget €5-50.

Google Maps
Officine Creative Leather Workshop
Shopping

Officine Creative Leather Workshop

Trastevere leather artisans. Watch bags and belts being made by hand. Buy directly from the maker. Budget €50-300. Italian leather at source. Several workshops along Via della Lungaretta.

Google Maps
Do

Experiences

Cooking classes, Vespa tours, catacombs, and sunset over the Eternal City.

Pasta-Making Class
Experiences

Pasta-Making Class

Learn to make carbonara, cacio e pepe, and fresh pasta from scratch. 3-hour classes from €60-90. Multiple providers in Trastevere and Centro. Wine included. The most delicious souvenir.

Google Maps
Vespa Tour of Rome
Experiences

Vespa Tour of Rome

See Rome like a Roman, on the back of a Vespa. Guided tours covering major sights plus hidden gems. 3 hours from €120. Scooteroma and others. Helmets provided. The most fun way to see the city.

Google Maps
Borghese Gallery
Culture & History

Borghese Gallery

Bernini's sculptures (Apollo and Daphne is world-shaking), Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian. €15. MUST book timed entry, always sells out. 2-hour sessions. Villa Borghese park. The best small museum in the world.

Google Maps
Sunset at Pincio Terrace
Nature & Outdoors

Sunset at Pincio Terrace

The best sunset viewing spot in Rome. Above Piazza del Popolo, overlooking St Peter's dome. Free. Villa Borghese gardens entrance. Bring wine and cheese. The most romantic free activity in Rome.

Google Maps
Explore

Neighbourhoods

Trastevere's cobblestones, Testaccio's food scene, and the Appian Way's ancient tombs.

Trastevere
Districts

Trastevere

Most charming neighbourhood. Cobblestone streets, ivy-covered buildings, trattorias, and night life. Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (oldest Marian church). Cross Ponte Sisto at golden hour.

Google Maps
Via Appia Antica (Appian Way)
Districts

Via Appia Antica (Appian Way)

Ancient Roman highway (312 BC). Catacombs, tombs, aqueducts, and countryside within the city. Rent a bike (€5/hr). Sunday when it's car-free. Free. Catacombs of San Callisto €8. Half day.

Google Maps
Testaccio
Districts

Testaccio

Rome's most authentic food neighbourhood. The market, Trapizzino, traditional trattorias, and Monte Testaccio (hill made of ancient amphorae). No tourist buses. This is where Romans eat.

Google Maps
Monti
Districts

Monti

Rome's hippest neighbourhood. Vintage shops on Via del Boschetto, craft cocktail bars, and artisan workshops. Former red-light district turned creative hub. Sunday antique market. Very walkable.

Google Maps
Jewish Ghetto
Districts

Jewish Ghetto

Europe's oldest Jewish quarter (1555). Carciofi alla giudia (fried artichokes), the Great Synagogue, and Portico d'Ottavia ruins. Nonna Betta for Roman-Jewish cuisine. Deeply historic and delicious.

Google Maps

More Italy guides →

FlorenceMilanNaplesVenice

Explore other countries

TokyoSeoulBangkokReykjavikDublinMexico CityPunta CanaSydney
0 places selected
Globe