A Millennium-long Center of Power, Culture, and Religion

A. About Rome

Nickname: The Eternal City

The second Italian city on our list, its capital Rome with a population of around three million, has an extraordinarily rich history.

As a millennium-long center of power, culture, and religion the Eternal City has been the origin of one of the globe's greatest civilizations ever.

Rome has exerted a huge influence over the world and the traces of these times are still visible all over the eternal city. 

 

Best Things to do in Rome

The Good: 

With grand romantic Roman ruins like the Colosseum or the Forum Romanum, millennium-old churches (St. Peter's Basilica), world-class museums (Vatican Museum), and graceful fountains, Rome scores extremely high for its sights.

Furthermore, the Italian Capital proves to be an extremely well-balanced city, scoring remarkably high in most of the important categories.

Particularly noteworthy in this context are the fantastic food, the great shopping experience, and the vibrant nightlife.

The Not-So-Good: 

Most noteworthy, Rome is rather expensive.

As a minor point, the public transport system has some flaws. Local buses are normally overcrowded, and the metro is of limited use for tourists because it is not passing the city center.

B. Best Things to Do in Rome in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and More Information)

In total, we count more than two hundred sights in Rome. The following sights and attractions contribute to a highly impressive score of 8.95/10 — the third highest in the world — in this most important category:

# COLOSSEO (Colosseum) 9 4.6 out of 5 stars

Completed in 80 C.E., this masterpiece of architecture is considered the best-preserved Roman monument.

This impressive arena featured extremely bloody circus games, gladiator fights, and even naval battles for up to 87,000 spectators at its peak.

Amphitheater  World Heritage Site: since 1980 | Completed: 80 C.E.

Best Things to do in Rome, 1) COLOSSEO (Colosseum) | 9/10

# BASILICA PAPALE DI SAN PIETRO (St. Peter’s Basilica) 9 4.6 out of 5 stars

Consecrated in 1626 and designed by five of Italy's greatest artists, the basilica is the world's largest church and the core of Roman Catholicism.

Highlights of this breathtaking masterpiece of Renaissance architecture include Michelangelo's PietĂ  statue, Bernini's bronze baldachin, and the superb panorama from the top of the dome at a height of 136 m (448 ft).

Roman Catholic Cathedral World Heritage Site: since 1984 | Completed: 1626 | Height: 36.6 m / 448 ft | Style: Renaissance and Baroque

Best Cities | No. 5: Rome | Things to do in Rome | BASILICA PAPALE DI SAN PIETRO (St. Peter’s Basilica)

# Musei Vaticani with SISTINE CHAPEL 8 4.1 out of 5 stars

Highlights of this unparalleled religious art museum include a suite of rooms frescoed by Raphael (including the masterpiece “The School of Athens”), Caravaggio’s “Entombment”, the spectacular ceiling of the Gallery of Maps, the double spiral staircase, and — of course — the glorious Sistine Chapel, painted 1508-1541.

Show top 10 artworks (click here)

Art and Archaeological Museum World Heritage Site: since 1980, Gallery Space: 43,000 m2 / 460,000 ft2 | Galleries: 54 | Artworks on Display: ca. 20,000 | Established: 1506 | Visitors 2017: 6,427,277

by Alex Proimos / CC BY-SA 2.0

# HISTORIC CENTER 8 4.1 out of 5 stars

Rome’s fascinating UNESCO-listed historical center is small (only around 4% of the city's surface), compact, and crammed with abundant valuable sights.

Historic Area World Heritage Site: since 1980 | Main Sights: FONTANA DI TREVI, PANTHEON, Spanish Steps and Trinita dei Monti, Piazza Navona

Best Cities | No. 5: Rome | Things to do in Rome | HISTORIC CENTRE

# FONTANA DI TREVI 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

Sculpted by Nicola Salvi between 1732 and 1762 in baroque style, the twenty meters long and twenty-six meters high Fontana di Trevi is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world.

Fountain World Heritage Site: since 1980

Best Cities | No. 5: Rome | Things to do in Rome | FONTANA DI TREVI (fountain)

# PANTHEON 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

Constructed in 118–128 C.E. and one of the wonders of the ancient world, this former pagan temple with its elegant forty-three-meter-high concrete dome was converted into a church in the seventh century.

It remains the best-preserved Classical building in the world and now contains the tomb of the legendary High Renaissance painter Raphael.

Historic Building World Heritage Site: since 1980 | Constructed: 118–128 C.E.

by Stefan Bauer / CC BY-SA 2.5

# FORUM ROMANUM (Roman Forum) 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Roman Forum was once the commercial, political, social, and religious heart of the Roman Empire.

Even though today only a few ruins of this former glory remain, with some imagination, you can see ancient Rome come back to life.

Roman Structure World Heritage Site: since 1980

Best Cities | No. 5: Rome | Things to do in Rome | FORUM ROMANUM (Roman Forum)

# Galleria Borghese 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

Admire outstanding marble sculptures from artists such as Canova and Bernini as well as world-famous paintings from Correggio, Titian, Raphael, and Caravaggio in the twenty elegant rooms of this beautiful Baroque mansion.

Show top 10 paintings (click here)

Show top 3 sculptures (click here)

Museum Prebooking required Gallery Space: ca. 2,000 m2 / 21,527 ft2 | Galleries: 20 | Artworks on Display: ca. 1,000 | Established: 1903 | Visitors 2016: 527,937

Best Cities in the World | No. 4: Rome | Best Things to do in Rome | Borghese Gallery

Caravaggio, David with the Head of Goliath by Wikimedia / Public Domain

# Spanish Steps and Trinita dei Monti 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

This famous monumental stairway of 135 steps leading towards the TrinitĂ  dei Monti church was designed in 1723-26 by Francesco de Sanctis.

Church and Set of Steps Steps: 135

by 2pi.p / CC BY-SA 3.0

# CASTEL SANT'ANGELO (Mausoleum of Hadrian) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Ascend the terrace at the top of this striking cylindrical building on the right bank of the Tiber to enjoy a wonderful 360-degree view of Rome.

Commonly referred to as Castel Sant'Angelo, the striking Mausoleum of Hadrian was erected by Emperor Hadrian in 135 CE as a mausoleum and later converted by the popes into a mighty fortress.

Museum and Fortress World Heritage Site: since 1980

by Giuseppe Milo / CC BY-SA 2.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Rome

    • BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE (Church) 6
    • CHIESA DEL GESĂ™ (Church) 6
    • Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square) 6
    • Trastevere (City District) 6
    • Piazza Navona (Square) 6
    • Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II (Building with Panoramic Views) 6
    • Forum Traiani with COLUMN OF TRAJAN 6
    • CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI IN LATERANO  6
    • Villa Borghese Gardens 6
    • Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (part of the Museo Nazionale Romano, Palace and Museum) 6
    • Palazzo Altemps (Part of the Museo Nazionale Romano, Palace and Museum) 6
    • Capitoline Museums 6
    • Catacombs 6
    • Palazzo Doria Pamphilj (palace) 6
    • Palatine Hill and Palatine Museum 6
    • Arco di Costantino (triumphal arch) 6

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Rome

FLORENCE (city, 276 km, 1h 50 min by train) 7

NAPLES (city, 226 km, 1h 15 min by train) 7

  VILLA D'ESTE (World Heritage Site since 2001, 35 km) 5.5

E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Rome (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Rome for at least three entire days.

COLOSSEO (Colosseum) 9

BASILICA PAPALE DI SAN PIETRO (St. Peter’s Basilica) 9

  HISTORIC CENTRE 8

 Musei Vaticani (museum) with SISTINE CHAPEL 8

FONTANA DI TREVI (fountain) 7

  PANTHEON (building, built 118–128 AD) 7

 FORUM ROMANUM (Roman Forum) 7

Galleria Borghese (art gallery) 7

Trinita dei Monti and Spanish Steps 6

 CASTEL SANT'ANGELO (Mausoleum of Hadrian) (fortress) 6

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