What to see in Rome: travel guide

What to see in Rome? In this post we share the most important tips and advice so you can have your own Rome travel guide, plan a trip without setbacks, and enjoy the Eternal City to the fullest.

💡 Need more information for your trip to Rome? Don’t miss our section of articles about Rome

How to get from Fiumicino Airport to central Rome

When you arrive for your trip to Rome, you probably arrive at the Fiumicino Airport (officially Leonardo da Vinci International Airport). This is Rome’s most important airport and the main gateway for international flights. It is located about 30 km from the city center, and fortunately there are several ways to get to Roma Termini, the main transport hub in the city.

🚆 Train

• Leonardo Express: The fastest and most direct option. It connects Fiumicino with Roma Termini in about 32 minutes, with no intermediate stops. Departs every 15–30 minutes. 📌 Official info: Leonardo Express – Trenitalia
• Regional Train (FL1): A cheaper option, from €8, but it doesn’t go directly to Termini. You’ll need to transfer (e.g. at Tiburtina or Ostiense). The total journey takes 45–60 minutes. 📌 Official info: Regional Trains – Trenitalia

If you’re traveling with heavy luggage, the Leonardo Express is the most convenient. The regional train is perfect if your accommodation is near stations like Trastevere or Tiburtina.

🚖 Official Taxi

Official taxis have a flat fare of €50 from Fiumicino to any destination within the Aurelian Walls (which covers most central hotels). Travel time is 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Always make sure to take an official white taxi with a license and visible fare chart.

🚌 Buses

Several companies operate between Fiumicino and Termini. It’s the cheapest option, although the ride can take 50 minutes to 1h15 depending on traffic. Companies such as SitBus, T.A.M. Bus, and Terravision sell tickets from €5–7. Buses usually run every 30–40 minutes and stop at Termini or other central points. A great choice if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a longer trip.

🚐 Private & Shared Transfers

If you prefer total comfort, you can book a private transfer that will wait for you at the airport and take you straight to your hotel. It’s a great option if you don’t want to deal with schedules or tickets. Prices are around €50–60 per car (up to 3 people). Shared transfers are cheaper, from €15–20 per person, going to central hotels with other travelers.

General Tips for Your Trip to Rome

• Always wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be walking a lot, even when using metro or buses. Distances between attractions are long, and in historic areas you’ll need to walk cobblestone streets.
• Free water: Bring your bottle and refill it at any of the 1,500+ public fountains (nasoni). The water is cold and safe. If you prefer bottled water, buy it in supermarkets or small stores, where it’s cheaper than tourist kiosks.
• Proper clothing for churches: If you’re visiting in summer and plan to enter churches, you must cover shoulders and knees—especially in the Vatican. This applies to men and women.
• Beware of pickpockets: As in every tourist city, pay special attention on public transport and crowded places. Keep your valuables secured.
• Don’t accept “gifts”: Bracelets, keychains or flowers given on the street aren’t free—you’ll be asked for money afterwards. Politely decline.
• Language: You don’t need perfect English. With Spanish you’ll get by easily, as many Italians understand and can communicate with similarities between the languages.
• Maps & orientation: Rome is a maze of narrow streets. Carry a paper map or download one offline on your phone.
• Smart planning: There’s too much to see. Make a list of your must-sees and group them by area to visit calmly.
• Choose your museums & churches wisely: There are so many that after a couple they may feel repetitive. For example, if you’ll visit the Vatican Museums, you can skip smaller ones like the Etruscan Museum—unless you’re really into art.

Where to stay during your trip to Rome

Rome is a big and diverse city, with neighborhoods very different from each other. Choosing the right one can save you time and make your trip more comfortable.

• Historic Center: Best if you want to be near top attractions like Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona or Spanish Steps. Most convenient, but also the most expensive.
• Prati (near the Vatican): Quiet, more affordable than the center. Great if you’ll spend time visiting the Vatican.
• Termini: The main station area. Well connected and with budget options, though more chaotic and multicultural. Very popular with budget travelers.
• Trastevere: Bohemian neighborhood with cobblestone streets and lively nightlife. No metro, but buses and trams connect it with the center.

How to Get Around Rome

The most practical way to move around Rome is using the public transport system, although you’ll also walk a lot.

The metro has only 3 lines (A, B and C) but connects main sights such as the Colosseum, Termini, Spanish Steps and the Vatican. Buses, however, are much more numerous: over 350 lines, some running at night (metro runs from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm, until 1:30 am Fridays and Saturdays). There’s also a small tram network serving areas like Termini and Trastevere.

A single ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes on metro, bus and tram. There are also 24, 48 and 72-hour passes if you’ll use it a lot. Always validate your ticket—controls are frequent and fines are expensive.

In practice, most attractions are close to each other, so you won’t need more than 2–3 rides a day.

Where to Eat in Rome

No Rome travel guide is complete without food. For lunch and dinner you’ll find a wide range of restaurants: not only Italian, but also international cuisines like Spanish, Chinese or Turkish. Menus are usually divided into first course, second course and dessert. The first is typically pasta, and the second often meat. Sometimes pasta and dessert is more than enough.

Don’t miss trying pasta (especially carbonara), pizza, classic tiramisu and a ristretto coffee. These are iconic Italian flavors you shouldn’t skip.

Popular options include trattorie—small family restaurants with short menus and lower prices than formal restaurants. You can also grab food on the go: pizza by the slice or sandwiches from street shops. You’ll also find kiosks and stands selling burgers, sandwiches and snacks.

If you’re on a tighter budget, supermarkets are a great option, offering ready meals like salads, sandwiches and microwavable trays. Some even allow you to eat them on site.

What to see in Rome? 10 Places to Include in Your Itinerary

Here’s a list of attractions we consider must-sees. Of course you can adjust it, but this gives you an idea of what to visit, how long to spend, and whether tickets are needed.

1 – Colosseum & Roman Forum

No trip to Rome is complete without visiting the majestic Colosseum, the most famous amphitheater in the world. Built in the 1st century AD, it hosted gladiator fights and public shows for thousands of spectators. Its structure, made of travertine, concrete and marble, still amazes for its size and preservation.

Today you can visit:

• The underground: Only accessible with guided tours and advance booking. These were the gladiators’ prep areas and animal cages.
• The arena: A recently reopened section requiring a special ticket.
• The main rings: The spectator stands. The upper level has a gallery with original pieces explaining the site’s history.

Nearby are the Roman Forum and Imperial Fora, once the political and social center of ancient Rome. You’ll see temples like Saturn and Venus, plus triumphal arches like Titus and Septimius Severus. The same ticket includes entry to the Palatine Hill, where Rome’s emperors built their palaces.

💡 Rome travel guide tip: Book your tickets in advance, especially in high season. The combined ticket covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, valid for 24 hours.

2 – Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is a true icon of Rome. Legend says: toss one coin to return to Rome, two coins to find love, and three to marry an Italian. Coins are collected weekly and donated to charity. The fountain is open 24/7 and free to visit, but expect crowds—arrive early in the morning for quieter views.

3 – Pantheon

The Pantheon of Agrippa is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings. Originally a temple to all gods, today it’s a church and final resting place of figures like Raphael and Italian kings.

Its main feature is the dome, still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world after nearly 2,000 years. The central oculus is open to the sky, letting in light (and rain, drained through the floor system).

😎 Tip: Reserve your ticket in advance on the official website.

4 – St. Peter’s Basilica & Vatican Museums

The Vatican is a country inside the city, and a must on any Rome travel itinerary. Don’t miss the Vatican Museums.

• St. Peter’s Basilica: Built originally in 324 AD and replaced in 1626, this is the most important Catholic church. Inside are masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bramante’s Dome. Entry is free.
• Vatican Museums: Huge art collections gathered by popes over centuries. Galleries, sculptures, paintings—it’s one of the world’s largest museums.
• Sistine Chapel: The highlight, with Michelangelo’s frescoes of the Creation and the Last Judgment.

💡 Rome travel guide tip: Reserve your tickets in advance and choose what sections to see—visiting everything would take days.

🎫 Secure your entry in advance for Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour, book your ticket now through this link.

5 – Santa Maria in Cosmedin

This small church was built over an ancient temple (1632). It’s famous for the Bocca della Verità (“Mouth of Truth”), a marble mask said to bite liars’ hands. You can also visit the underground crypt (paid), a hidden gem.

💡 Tip: Lines for the Mouth of Truth move quickly—have your camera ready.

6 – Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona was built over the Stadium of Domitian, giving it its unique oval shape. Today it’s lively, surrounded by cafés, restaurants and street artists.

Its star attraction is the Fountain of the Four Rivers, Bernini’s masterpiece symbolizing the Nile, Danube, Ganges and Río de la Plata, crowned by an Egyptian obelisk.

7 – Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is Rome’s green lung, perfect for relaxing during your trip to Rome. This large park combines gardens, fountains and wooded paths with top museums.

The highlight is the Borghese Gallery, home to works by Caravaggio, Raphael and Bernini. Access is limited and must be reserved well in advance.

The park also has a small lake with boat rentals, Rome’s zoo, and viewpoints like the Pincio Terrace, with great views over Piazza del Popolo.

8 – Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo was built in 135 AD as Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum, later becoming a fortress, papal residence and prison. Today it’s a museum with multiple levels to explore, including papal apartments.

The rooftop terrace offers one of the best views of Rome: St. Peter’s Dome and the Tiber River. Don’t miss crossing the Ponte Sant’Angelo, lined with angel statues by Bernini.

🎫 Secure your entry in advance for Castel Sant’Angelo Tour + Terrace Access, book your ticket now through this link.

9 – Victor Emmanuel II Monument

This massive monument in Piazza Venezia honors the first king of unified Italy. Built of white marble, it features huge staircases and columns.

It also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame for WWI victims. Curiously, locals often nickname it “the wedding cake” or “the typewriter.” Entry is free.

10 – San Pietro in Vincoli

The Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) is a hidden gem in any Rome itinerary. Built in the 5th century to house the chains of St. Peter, the relics remain under the main altar.

The main attraction is Michelangelo’s Moses, an extraordinary marble sculpture, part of Pope Julius II’s unfinished tomb. You can’t miss this in your trip to Rome.

Bonus: Free Walking Tour of Rome

Rome is one of the world’s most historic cities, and the best way to dive in is with a FREE walking tour of Rome. Guided by a local expert, you’ll discover iconic landmarks, culture, history and hidden secrets.

There are several options—choose the one that fits your interests and enjoy the experience.