Rome Tours, Attractions And Things To Do

    Compare Rome's most popular tour styles, top attractions, first-time routes, food experiences, private city tours, Vatican visits, Colosseum tours, and day trips before opening live tour availability.

    Top attractions

    Top attractions in Rome

    Use these as the main route anchors before filling the day with flexible piazzas, churches, meals, and neighborhood time.

    View all Rome attractions
    ColosseumPopular attraction

    Colosseum

    4.6 (200128 reviews)

    Explore Colosseum and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    1,747

    Attraction guide

    Colosseum

    Explore Colosseum and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.6 / 5 (200128 reviews)

    1,747 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Pompeii Archaeological SitePopular attraction

    Pompeii Archaeological Site

    4.6 (86383 reviews)

    Explore Pompeii Archaeological Site and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    1,491

    Attraction guide

    Pompeii Archaeological Site

    Explore Pompeii Archaeological Site and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.6 / 5 (86383 reviews)

    1,491 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Trevi FountainPopular attraction

    Trevi Fountain

    4.6 (77832 reviews)

    Explore Trevi Fountain and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    1,452

    Attraction guide

    Trevi Fountain

    Explore Trevi Fountain and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.6 / 5 (77832 reviews)

    1,452 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    PantheonPopular attraction

    Pantheon

    4.8 (75862 reviews)

    Explore Pantheon and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    1,412

    Attraction guide

    Pantheon

    Explore Pantheon and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.8 / 5 (75862 reviews)

    1,412 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Piazza NavonaPopular attraction

    Piazza Navona

    4.8 (74138 reviews)

    Explore Piazza Navona and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    1,211

    Attraction guide

    Piazza Navona

    Explore Piazza Navona and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.8 / 5 (74138 reviews)

    1,211 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Vatican MuseumsPopular attraction

    Vatican Museums

    4.5 (176583 reviews)

    Explore Vatican Museums and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    983

    Attraction guide

    Vatican Museums

    Explore Vatican Museums and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (176583 reviews)

    983 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    St. Peter's BasilicaPopular attraction

    St. Peter's Basilica

    4.5 (156515 reviews)

    Explore St. Peter's Basilica and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    964

    Attraction guide

    St. Peter's Basilica

    Explore St. Peter's Basilica and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (156515 reviews)

    964 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro)Popular attraction

    St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro)

    4.5 (156515 reviews)

    Explore St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    964

    Attraction guide

    St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro)

    Explore St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (156515 reviews)

    964 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Roman Forum (Foro Romano)Popular attraction

    Roman Forum (Foro Romano)

    4.5 (152797 reviews)

    Explore Roman Forum (Foro Romano) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    955

    Attraction guide

    Roman Forum (Foro Romano)

    Explore Roman Forum (Foro Romano) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (152797 reviews)

    955 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Sistine ChapelPopular attraction

    Sistine Chapel

    4.5 (173919 reviews)

    Explore Sistine Chapel and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    872

    Attraction guide

    Sistine Chapel

    Explore Sistine Chapel and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (173919 reviews)

    872 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo)Free attraction

    Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo)

    4.5 (51702 reviews)

    Explore Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    719

    Attraction guide

    Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo)

    Explore Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (51702 reviews)

    719 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Palatine Hill (Palatino)Popular attraction

    Palatine Hill (Palatino)

    4.5 (145757 reviews)

    Explore Palatine Hill (Palatino) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    628

    Attraction guide

    Palatine Hill (Palatino)

    Explore Palatine Hill (Palatino) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.5 / 5 (145757 reviews)

    628 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)Popular attraction

    Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)

    4.7 (35629 reviews)

    Explore Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    611

    Attraction guide

    Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)

    Explore Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.7 / 5 (35629 reviews)

    611 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    St. Peter's SquarePopular attraction

    St. Peter's Square

    4.6 (120669 reviews)

    Explore St. Peter's Square and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    574

    Attraction guide

    St. Peter's Square

    Explore St. Peter's Square and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.6 / 5 (120669 reviews)

    574 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    Piazza VeneziaPopular attraction

    Piazza Venezia

    4.6 (39631 reviews)

    Explore Piazza Venezia and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    406

    Attraction guide

    Piazza Venezia

    Explore Piazza Venezia and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.6 / 5 (39631 reviews)

    406 available experiences

    See tours and tickets
    TrasteverePopular attraction

    Trastevere

    4.9 (34499 reviews)

    Explore Trastevere and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    Available experiences

    364

    Attraction guide

    Trastevere

    Explore Trastevere and compare tours, tickets, and experiences for your visit.

    4.9 / 5 (34499 reviews)

    364 available experiences

    See tours and tickets

    FIRST-TIME ROME TIPS

    Plan Rome around the days you want to have

    Start with the choices that shape the whole trip—your main sights, base, and walking pace—then open the guide that answers the question you still have.

    01

    Give each major anchor its own day

    Keep the Vatican and the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine as separate anchor days unless the group actively wants a long, structured schedule.

    02

    Reserve what changes the whole day

    Decide the access and pace you need for major sights first. Keep meals, piazzas, churches, and evenings flexible.

    03

    Choose a base and pace before choosing activities

    Pick accommodation around walking tolerance, transport, and evenings—not only price—and leave room for queues, heat, cobbles, and unplanned stops.

    Free Rome planning guide

    Plan your first Rome trip with confidence

    Get the practical PDF checklist for what to book, where to stay, and how to pace your days before you arrive.

    BookTheSights uses your name and email only to send this guide and help if it does not arrive. Read our privacy notice.

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions about Rome

    How many days do I need for a first trip to Rome?

    Two full days are enough to see Rome's major first-time anchors at a fairly quick pace. Start with a realistic two-day Rome itinerary. A third day gives you more room for neighborhoods, slower meals, smaller sites, or recovery time between major visits.

    Should I visit the Colosseum and Vatican Museums on the same day?

    You can combine them, but it usually makes a first visit feel rushed: each involves a timed entry, queues, security, and substantial walking. The two-day itinerary, leaving enough room for the Forum, central Rome, breaks, a missed connection, and time to absorb both places.

    What should I book before arriving in Rome?

    Book only the parts of the trip that can dictate the day: major sights, timed transport, or a format that matters to you. Our Rome booking-ahead guide helps you rank those decisions without implying that a particular time, ticket, or tour remains available.

    Do I need a guided Colosseum tour?

    No. A guided tour makes sense when historical context, a managed route, or help choosing an entry format is genuinely useful to you. If you prefer independent pacing, an official entry may be enough. Compare the trade-offs in our Colosseum ticket-versus-tour guide.

    Do I need a Vatican Museums guided tour?

    Not necessarily. A guide can be valuable if you want interpretation and a fixed route through a very large museum, while independent entry may suit travelers who prefer to set their own pace. Use the Vatican ticket-versus-tour guide to choose the format before booking.

    What are worthwhile free things to do in Rome?

    Some of Rome's best first-day moments cost nothing: walking the historic center, visiting piazzas, seeing fountains from the outside, and taking time in public parks. Museum admissions and special openings can have conditions, so use our free things to do in Rome guide before building a day around them.

    Can Rome work well with children?

    Yes, when you plan less and protect energy. Choose one main sight or experience per day, leave time for meals and unplanned stops, and use a simple transport option when walking stops being fun. The Rome planning hub is a good starting point for family-friendly pacing.

    What can I do in Rome if it rains?

    Rain is a cue to simplify rather than promise a backup itinerary. Pair one indoor stop with a flexible nearby plan, and check official rules before leaving. For a common indoor anchor, start with our Vatican Museums planning guide and keep the rest of the day light.