It is an open-air museum, a cradle of Western civilization, and a city of seven hills. The city of Rome has had many nicknames throughout its history, but none of them can capture the feeling that one gets when strolling its streets, enjoying its gastronomy, or admiring its architecture.
In addition to being eternal, Rome is also infinite. Each trip leaves you wanting more, as it would be impossible to cover the grandeur and history of Rome in a single visit. In this post the travel specialists at OThingstodo will be detailing the top things to do in Rome is just a list of the most common places to start exploring the city, which can serve as a checklist for your trip.
Here is the list of best things to do in Rome
- Tour inside the Colosseum
Rome’s guardian, this amphitheater could be called that. One of the most visited monuments in the city, its interior galleries draw the eye just as much as its exterior walls, which include Greek columns and arches. Since its construction in 72 AD, the Colosseum has witnessed countless tales of gladiators and animal fights, which you can learn about on one of the many guided tours of the Colosseum.
Seeing the Colosseum for the first time is a breathtaking experience, but don’t get carried away by its beauty and keep these few things in mind. Like you, thousands of tourists want to visit this monument and before starting your trip you know where to eat at the end of your visit to the Colosseum or how to get cheap tickets for the Colosseum, the influx of tourists will be much more bearable.
- Marvel at St. Peter’s Square
Vatican City is a must-see in Rome. St. Peter’s Square and the Sistine Chapel are integral parts of the Vatican. The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica that presides over the square are the two landmarks of the smallest state in the world bollyfuntv.
You’ve probably seen this oval plaza surrounded by two semicircles in more than one aerial photo; this is the view you get when you go up to St. Peter’s Dome (entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but not to the dome).
When visiting the neighborhood (see here for how to get to the Vatican from central Rome ), keep in mind that this is one of the busiest areas in Rome. So I recommend you write down these places to eat near the Vatican so you can book ahead. There is so much to see and do in the Vatican that after a morning spent there, you will find yourself starving.
- Visit the Roman Forum and the Palatine
The Forum was a place where all the judicial, political, and commercial life of ancient Rome was concentrated. Today it is an impressive exhibition of archaeological remains through which one can glimpse the essence of this golden age of the city.
After a guided tour of the Roman Forum, you can go to Palatine Hill, the most central of the seven hills of Rome, from where you can also see extraordinary archaeological remains. Colosseum guided tours and Colosseum tickets usually include access to the Colosseum, but if you plan to also visit the Vatican, I recommend that you investigate the possibility of taking the Vatican and Colosseum tour together: worth it and you’ll save on entrance fees!
- Soak up tradition and history with a guided tour of the center
Taking one of Rome’s historic center guided tours is one of the best ideas for getting around the city and understanding what you’re seeing. This is the experience, I would choose in most cities I travel to because, far from the boring tours that overwhelmed you with endless historical dates and facts, today’s tours are becoming more authentic and varied, like this is the case of night tours of Rome or photo tours of Rome.
Particularly in Rome, where tradition and art are everywhere, a guide helps you appreciate not only the history but also the essence of the city.
- Have a gelato in front of the Trevi Fountain
Rome is known for its fountains and this is arguably the most iconic of them. It will come as a surprise when walking around the historic center of the city and the first thing that will surprise you will be its size. This baroque fountain depicts Neptune and two tritons and is known for the legend that if you throw a coin in it you will return to Rome and if you throw two in it you will find love in Italy.
For me, the most authentic way to enjoy it is to enjoy delicious Italian gelato on the steps. I warn you that it will be practically impossible to do during the central hours of the day, but if you accept my advice, do it after dinner, at the end of the day, and before going to sleep at your hotel. With almost no tourists and much more space to sit, it will be much more relaxing and you will remember this moment forever
- Admire the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums
The crown jewel for art lovers can be found in the Vatican Museums. Works by Da Vinci, Titian, Caravaggio, and Raphael are just a small sample of what you can find in Europe’s greatest art collection, presided over, of course, by the famous Sistine Chapel.
The essential thing to know before arranging your visit is that you can explore the museums at your own pace, by purchasing skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums or you can take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums.
In any case, I recommend that you book your ticket in advance, to avoid a wait of several hours. And if you think that the price of entrance tickets to the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and so many other museums and places of interest is an expense that you did not plan for in your budget, I recommend that you consider getting a Roma Pass or Omnia Card. These are tourist cards for Rome and the Vatican that will give you access to all the attractions for a better price than buying them separately.
- Climb the steps of Piazza di Spagna
The huge steps of Piazza di Spagna are another visual must-see in Rome. These stairs connect the church of Trinità dei Monti to the Fontana della Barcaccia.
If they were once a meeting place for artists, today they are a meeting place for tourists who visit Rome and stop to admire the beauty of this place. It takes its name from the seat of the Spanish Embassy and is one of the busiest places you will see while walking around the center of Rome.
My advice is not to see the place only from below. Climb the steps (for some time now groups have not been allowed to sit on them, as crowds of tourists block passers-by) and admire the view of Rome from the top. And if you plan to explore the city in-depth and know all its magical squares.
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