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Italy
Best Things to Do in Rome
Looking for the best things to do in Rome? We've gathered 9 experiences covering the best attractions Rome is known for — tours in Rome, food walks, cultural highlights and Rome day trips — every one bookable directly with GetYourGuide, our trusted partner for skip-the-line tickets and local guides.
Colosseum tours
The Colosseum and ancient Rome
The Colosseum tops almost every list of things to do in Rome, and a skip-the-line ticket or guided tour is the single biggest upgrade to a visit — it can turn a two-hour wait into a walk-in. An arena-floor ticket lets you stand where gladiators did, while an underground tour takes you into the passages beneath.
Your ticket almost always includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill next door. For the full planning walkthrough, see our Rome travel guide.
Vatican attractions
The Vatican Museums and St Peter’s
The Vatican is a city within a city and the spiritual heart of Rome. The Vatican Museums hold one of the world’s great art collections, culminating in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, while St Peter’s Basilica and its dome dominate the skyline.
Book a skip-the-line Vatican tour to avoid the long museum queues, and dress conservatively — shoulders and knees must be covered inside the basilica. Many of our Rome tours bundle the museums with the basilica for a single well-paced morning.
Food tours
Eat your way through Rome
Rome is a city that eats as beautifully as it looks, and a guided food tour is the single best way past the tourist menus — someone else navigates the trattorias, translates the menus and steers you to the pasta, supplì and gelato the locals actually eat.
Trastevere after dark is the classic introduction. For a deeper dive, read our Rome food tours guide covering markets, pasta and gelato, or browse every food tour we offer worldwide.
Day trips
Escapes beyond the city
Some of the best things to do in Rome are actually outside it. The Renaissance gardens and fountains of Tivoli (Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa), the ancient harbour ruins of Ostia Antica, and the hilltop towns of the Castelli Romani all make rewarding Rome day trips — the easiest worthwhile escapes when you want to see more without changing hotels.
Browse our day trips hub to compare escapes worldwide, or open the full Rome travel guide for planning tips.
Frequently asked questions
Rome travel FAQ
What are the top things to do in Rome?
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica, and a walk through Trastevere headline most first visits. Pair them with a food tour and a day trip to Tivoli or Ostia Antica for a well-rounded trip.
What are the best Colosseum tours in Rome?
Skip-the-line Colosseum tours save hours of queuing, while an arena-floor ticket lets you stand where gladiators did and an underground tour takes you into the passages beneath. Most Colosseum tours bundle the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which share the same ticket, into a single well-paced morning.
What Vatican attractions should I not miss?
The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica are the headline sights, with the dome climb offering the finest view over Rome. Book a skip-the-line Vatican tour to avoid the long museum queues, and dress conservatively — shoulders and knees must be covered inside the basilica.
Where are the best food tours in Rome?
The trattorias and gelaterias of Trastevere, the markets of Testaccio, and the pizza al taglio counters of the historic centre. A guided food tour lets someone else navigate, translate and order, steering you to the pasta, supplì and gelato the locals actually eat.
What day trips can I take from Rome?
The Renaissance gardens and fountains of Tivoli (Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa), the ancient harbour ruins of Ostia Antica, and the hilltop towns of the Castelli Romani are all reachable as Rome day trips. Tivoli is the easiest and pairs well with a morning in the gardens.
How many days do I need in Rome?
Three full days is a comfortable minimum — enough to cover the Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican, the Pantheon and Trastevere, and fit in one day trip without rushing. Add a fourth day for a second day trip to Ostia Antica or the Castelli Romani if you want to see more of the region.
What is the best time to visit Rome?
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) for mild weather and smaller crowds are the most pleasant. Summer is hot, busy and exposed, while winter (December to February) is crisp, quiet and atmospheric, with shorter queues at the major sights.
Explore Rome tours
Every Rome tour above is bookable directly with GetYourGuide — skip-the-line tickets, local guides and free cancellation on most experiences. Ready to dive deeper? Open the full Rome travel guide.