Things to do and see in Rome Italy

Rome, the capital of Italy, and by definition, the city of art, culture and architecture of the world. They say that all roads lead to Rome, and it is a place to come and stay. Nothing in this city goes unnoticed, everything has great historical and artistic value. This city is like the biggest museum in the world. Everyone encounters this city at some point in their lives, and when you discover it, it will make you want to come back many more times. If you have a pending visit to this city, and you don’t know what to see in Rome, or where to start touring it, don’t worry. In this post, we help you select the essential places to see in Rome.

To organize your travel itinerary we recommend you to do it on the Passporter website, totally free, easy and functional.  You can draw inspiration from the experiences of other travelers and choose the places that interest you most, adding them to the route map.

Essential places to see in Rome

This city is full of important stops and points of interest. For many, organising a trip to Rome is a puzzle as the list of places to see could be endless. But, here we have made a selection of only the 12 must-see places we consider to be the must-see in Rome.

The Colosseum

When you think of Rome, you think of the Colosseum, the most representative image of the city. The Colosseum is the main symbol of Rome and an obligatory stop in the city. It is an imposing monument approximately 2,000 years old, considered the largest amphitheatre built during the Roman Empire. Such is its popularity that it is visited by 6 million people every year. In addition to being Rome’s biggest tourist attraction. On 7 July 2007, the Colosseum became one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is the most famous fountain in all of Rome, harbouring myths and stories that endow it with a magical and special air. It is 20 metres wide and 26 metres high, making it the largest fountain in the city. The Trevi Fountain is, for many, the most beautiful fountain in the world. Also, it is true that its attraction and beauty is undeniable. Whether by day or by moonlight when illuminated, the Trevi Fountain is always in the company of its beauty and fame.

The myth linked to this fountain was born with the film “Three Coins in the fountain” in 1954. This myth states that; if you throw one coin: you will return to Rome. If you throw two coins: you will find love. And, if you throw three coins: you will marry the person you met. It also states that for it to be effective, the coin must be thrown with the right hand over the left shoulder.

Plaza de España

The Spanish Steps is one of the most important and magical locations in Rome. It has a monumental staircase, built to connect the square with the Church of Trinità dei Monti in the 18th century. As you climb its famous staircase, it is impossible not to be reminded of the number of films that have used this square as a backdrop. These stairs make the square even more grandiose and make it one of the liveliest places in the city. It is Plaza España is so-called because of its proximity to the Spanish Embassy Palace.

Pantheon of Rome

The Pantheon of Rome is located in Piazza della Rotonda and is considered the best-preserved architectural work of ancient Rome. It is an ancient Roman temple on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa. It is also one of the city’s architectural masterpieces. The most remarkable thing about the architecture of the Pantheon is that the circular building measures exactly the same diameter as its height, 43.30 metres. Inside it houses a large number of works of art. Also, it houses the tombs of numerous Italian kings and important figures such as the Renaissance painter and architect Raphael.

Pincio di Roma Terrace

The Pincio di Roma is a hill north of the Quirinale, which is located above Piazza del Popolo. From this hill, you can admire the beauty of the city and it is the strategic point to watch the sunset over the rooftops of Rome. It can be reached either by metro or on foot, with the A Flaminio line. Then, walk to Piazza del Popolo and climb the stairs leading up to the terrace. Pincio di Roma is the ideal place to take a break, take a photo of the trip and take a breath of fresh air from the top.

Via Margutta

One of the most picturesque streets in the city of Rome is Via Margutta. It is a small street located in the centre, near the Piazza del Popolo. It is close to the slopes of Monte Pincio and is a place that over the years has been inhabited by an interesting range of artists. From Fellini and Stravinksy to Picasso and Puccini.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is one of the most recognisable places in Rome. This square is home to sculptures, fountains and buildings of great artistic value and is a centre of social, cultural and tourist life. The most important buildings that dominate the square are the Palazzo Pamphili and the Church of Santa Agnes. This square has a very elegant baroque style, which makes it one of the most popular squares in Rome. But, the main attraction of Piazza Navona are the three fountains that adorn its interior. It is a very busy square, with music and performances by different street artists, practically at any time of the day.

What to see in Rome’s Vitorio Emanuelle Monument

The Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II is an imposing building located in Piazza Venezia. It houses the Institute for the History of the Italian Risorgimento and the Central Museum of the Risorgimento. But one of the monument’s greatest attractions is the panoramic views from its terrace located at the height of the quadrigas. Panoramic lifts are the only way to reach the top of the monument, but the beautiful views make it well worth the climb.

St Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square is perhaps the most famous square in the world and also one of the most beautiful. Located in Vatican City, it was built in the mid-17th century by Bernini. The most impressive thing about the square, apart from its size, are the 284 columns that line the square in a four-row portico. At the top of the columns are 140 statues of saints made in 1670. The square is home to St. Peter’s Basilica, the great temple of Catholicism.

Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums

Considered to be Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel is one of those places that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. Located in Vatican City, this is one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican, and of Rome. It is renowned both for its decoration and for being the temple where the Popes are elected and crowned. The most remarkable and eye-catching feature is the frescoes that completely cover the walls and ceiling of the chapel. Some of the important artists who worked in it, besides Michelangelo of course, are Botticelli, Perugino, and Luca.

The Vatican Museums are the galleries and rooms of artistic value owned by the Church and accessible to the public in Vatican City. It is the visit that will take you to the Sistine Chapel, as the pass is for all the rooms, and ends at the Sistine Chapel. It is recommended to get your ticket in advance to avoid queues.

Trastevere neighbourhood

Rome invites you to get lost, to let yourself be swept away by the people and to find more and more interesting streets and places. One of the places where you can do this is in the narrow streets of Trastevere, one of the most authentic and bohemian neighbourhoods in Rome. The Trastevere neighbourhood is located in the north of the city, just north of the Vatican City. It is a medieval neighbourhood that retains the essence of non-touristy Rome. It is a different environment where you can breathe a different atmosphere from other corners of the city, which invites you to relax.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo is a fortress located on the right bank of the Tiber River, very close to Vatican City. It is divided into five floors which are accessed by a spiral ramp that leads first to the chamber of ashes and then to the cells in which some historical figures were imprisoned. The views from this castle are well worth seeing and are one of its main attractions.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Where to eat in Rome?

Of course Rome is the city of pasta and pizza, but not just any pasta and pizza. Here you will taste the authentic flavour of Roman pasta, which will leave you in a coma. The most classic and typical pastas of the city are pasta all’amatriciana, pasta alla Carbonara and pasta cacio e pepe, a cheese and pepper sauce. If you want to try these recipes properly, here are two suggestions of the most recommended and best rated restaurants by the locals. Da Enzo al 29, a small restaurant located in Trastevere with traditional Italian food made in the classic style of the city, it is mainly a pasta restaurant, and what a pasta… It stands out for its spaghetti alla carbonara. Alfredo e Ada, very cosy family restaurant with homemade and varied food, you will find pasta, meats, baked aubergines.

If you want to try the quintessential Italian coffee, you have to go to La Casa del Caffe Tazza d Oro, known for being one of the most famous coffee shops in Rome, it is the perfect place to have a coffee at the bar, right next to the Trevi Fountain.

For the perfect dessert while strolling around the charming corners of this city, l’Arena del Gelato is known for its artisanal gelato, especially the nocciola, which is made of hazelnut, a classic throughout Italy. The price for a small glass is 2.5 euros.

What to see in Rome in 3 days?

Rome is a city where you could stay forever and never finish seeing it. However, here is a 3-day plan to see the most outrageously beautiful parts of the city. Visiting the Vatican museums will take you a long time, practically the whole day, so if you are only in the city for three days, it is better to leave them for another occasion. In this Itinerary, we have not included them, in order to prioritise more symbolic areas of the city.

First day: The Colosseum, The Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.

Second day: Vitorio Emanuelle Monument, Piazza Spagna, Pincio di Roma, and Via Marguta.

Third day: St. Peter’s Square, Trastevere and Castel Sant’Angelo.

What to see in Rome in 4 days?

If you take a 4-day trip to Rome, you will probably be able to see most of the important stops. In this itinerary we have added the Vatican Museums so that together with St. Peter’s Square, where they are located, you can spend the whole day marvelling at these Renaissance works.

Day 1: The Colosseum, The Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.

Second day: Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Pincio di Roma, and Via Marguta.

Third day: St. Peter’s Square, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

Fourth day: Vitorio Emanuele Monument, Trastevere and Castel Sant’Angelo.

How to organise what to see in Rome?

If you don’t know how to organise your trip, or where to start to visit all the points of interest in Rome, download the Passporter App and we will help you.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add to it the suggestions of the app.
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest that we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by days of the route according to its location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.

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