20 Best Things to Do in Rome (2026): Top Sights, Prices & Tips

Rome has more great sights than any visitor can see in one trip. This list of the 20 best things to do in Rome mixes the famous landmarks with quieter places locals love, with 2026 prices so you can plan your budget.

Ancient Rome

1. The Colosseum — the great amphitheatre of ancient Rome. €18 standard or €24 with the underground or arena floor; tickets open 30 days ahead. Ticket guide.
2. Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — the heart of the ancient city, included with your Colosseum ticket. The Palatine has the best view over the Forum.
3. The Pantheon — a 2,000-year-old temple with a perfect dome and an open oculus. €7 since July 2026; free on the first Sunday of the month.
4. Baths of Caracalla — enormous ruined baths, far quieter than the Colosseum; open-air opera in summer.
5. Appian Way and the catacombs — walk or cycle an ancient Roman road lined with tombs, and visit the underground Christian catacombs.

Vatican City

6. Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel — €25 online; closed most Sundays. How to book.
7. St Peter’s Basilica — free entry; see Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s canopy. Cover shoulders and knees.
8. Climb St Peter’s dome — 500+ steps (or a lift part of the way) for the best view in Rome.
9. Castel Sant’Angelo — Hadrian’s tomb turned papal fortress, with a rooftop terrace over the Tiber.

Piazzas, fountains and views

10. Trevi Fountain — €2 to approach the basin from 9:00 to 22:00, free outside those hours. Trevi fee explained.
11. Piazza Navona — Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers in a square built on an ancient stadium.
12. The Spanish Steps — 135 steps up to Trinità dei Monti; sitting on them is forbidden and fined.
13. Campo de’ Fiori — a morning market square that turns into a nightlife spot.
14. Giardino degli Aranci and the Aventine keyhole — an orange garden with sunset views, and a famous keyhole that frames St Peter’s dome.
15. Pincio Terrace — above Piazza del Popolo, beautiful at sunset.

Art and museums

16. Borghese Gallery — Bernini’s sculptures and Caravaggio’s paintings; timed entry, booking required, and the villa gardens are free.
17. Capitoline Museums — the world’s oldest public museum, with the bronze she-wolf and views over the Forum.
18. Santa Maria Maggiore and San Clemente — two churches with stunning mosaics; San Clemente has layers of earlier churches and a Roman temple underneath.

Food and neighbourhoods

19. Dinner in Trastevere — try Roman classics: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana and supplì.
20. A food tour in Testaccio or Monti — markets, maritozzi and gelato, with a local guide. Compare Rome food tours and activities.

How much things cost (2026)

Tips

• Use the first Sunday of the month for free state museums only if you don’t mind queues.
• Visit the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon early in the morning.
• Wear comfortable shoes — Rome’s cobblestones are tough on feet.
• Carry a scarf for churches and a bottle for free drinking fountains.
• Budget for the city tourist tax, paid at your hotel.

More Rome guides

• Rome itinerary
• Where to stay in Rome
• Colosseum tickets
• Vatican Museums tickets
• Rome airport to city centre
• Best time to visit Rome
• Rome tourist tax and Trevi Fountain fee
• Rome travel guide

FAQ: Things to do in Rome

What should you not miss in Rome?

The Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and an evening in Trastevere.

How many days do you need in Rome?

Three days covers the highlights; four lets you add the Borghese Gallery and the Appian Way. See our Rome itinerary.

What is free in Rome?

St Peter’s Basilica, the piazzas and fountains (Trevi outside 9:00–22:00), the Spanish Steps, many churches and the Villa Borghese gardens.

Do I need to book the Colosseum in advance?

Yes. Tickets are timed and in your name, and often sell out in spring and summer.

Is the Roma Pass worth it?

It can be if you visit several paid sights and use public transport, but it doesn’t cover the Vatican Museums or the airport train.