Colosseum
Things to do in Rome
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Photo: FeaturedPics, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
AirportsFiumicino (FCO), Ciampino (CIA)
Getting aroundOn foot, metro lines A, B and C, buses
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
Best monthsApril to June, September and October
Rome in brief
Rome rewards planning more than almost any other city. Its three biggest draws, the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery, all work with timed entry, and the popular slots go first. Decide those three before anything else and the rest of the trip falls into place around them.
The historic centre is compact and best seen on foot. The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps are within a half-hour walk of each other, and none of the squares or fountains costs anything to see. The ancient city (Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill) sits to the south-east, and the Vatican lies across the Tiber to the west.
Group sights by area and you will halve the walking: one day for ancient Rome, one for the Vatican, one for the centre.
Top attractions in Rome
Tickets and guided visits for the city’s best-known sights.
Colosseum
Vatican Museums & Sistine ChapelAttraction
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Papal art collections ending in the Sistine Chapel. Closed on most Sundays.
Guide and ticket optionsView
St. Peter’s BasilicaAttraction
St. Peter’s Basilica
The great church of Vatican City, with a dome you can climb. Dress code applies.
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Pantheon
Roman Forum & Palatine HillAttraction
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Ruins of the old civic centre and the hill above it, on the same ticket as the Colosseum.
Guide and ticket optionsView
Borghese GalleryAttraction
Borghese Gallery
Bernini and Caravaggio in a villa inside a park. Entry only by reserved two-hour slot.
Guide and ticket optionsView
Photo: Colosseum — Diliff (CC BY-SA 2.5); Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel — Wilfredor (CC0); St. Peter’s Basilica — Alvesgaspar (CC BY-SA 4.0); Pantheon — John Samuel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Roman Forum & Palatine Hill — Wolfgang Moroder (CC BY-SA 3.0); Borghese Gallery — Alessio Damato (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
Tours and day trips
Guided tours, day trips and experiences, with photos, reviews and prices.
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More tours and experiences
Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
★ 4.6 (15,951) · 3 h
From$21.12
Getting there and around
Airport transfer from Fiumicino (FCO)A pre-booked car from arrivals to your hotel. The alternative is the Leonardo Express train to Termini station, which takes about half an hour.
Trains from RomeHigh-speed trains reach Florence in about an hour and a half and Naples in a little over an hour, both from Termini.
Car rentalUseful for the countryside, not for the city. The centre is a limited-traffic zone (ZTL) with camera-enforced fines.
Flights
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Where to stay
Pick a neighbourhood first, then compare hotels.
1
Centro Storico
Most sights within walking distance. Busy, and louder at night.
2
Trastevere
Lively lanes, restaurants and bars across the river. Can be noisy.
3
Monti
Next to the Colosseum and Forum, with small shops and cafes.
4
Prati
Quieter, residential and close to the Vatican, with good metro access.
Hotels in Rome with live prices
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Top hotels in Rome
Popular hotels with strong guest ratings. Open a hotel to see photos, facilities and live prices.
Grand Hotel Palace Rome★★★★★
490.58 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 44.12 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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B&B Hotel Roma San Lorenzo Termini★★★
329.31 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 26.48 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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Hotel Isola Sacra Rome Airport★★★★
267.37 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 22.08 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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hu Roma Camping In Town
88.39 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 13.52 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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The Hive Hotel★★★★
255.43 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 33.08 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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Hotel Cristoforo Colombo★★★★
213.37 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 33.76 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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c-hotels Club House Roma★★★★
187.88 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 33.76 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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Hotel American Palace Eur★★★★
284.27 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 33.76 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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Hotel Barrett★★★
498.40 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Includes taxes and fees
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Umiltà 36 - Preferred Hotels & Resorts★★★★★
1,298.66 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 44.10 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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A.Roma Lifestyle Hotel★★★★
396.09 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 33.15 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
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Hotel Diocleziano★★★★
291.74 USD for 2 nights, 2 adults
Plus 33.76 USD in taxes paid at the hotel
See hotel
Rome day by day
- Day 1: Ancient RomeColosseum in the morning on a timed ticket, then the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same ticket. Walk up to the Capitoline Hill for the view back over the Forum, and finish in Monti for dinner.
- Day 2: The VaticanVatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel first thing, then St. Peter’s Basilica and, if your legs agree, the dome. Cross the river past Castel Sant’Angelo in the late afternoon.
- Day 3: The centre on footPantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, with the Borghese Gallery if you have a reserved slot. Evening in Trastevere.
- With a fourth dayTake a day trip: Pompeii for the ruins, Tivoli for gardens and fountains, or Florence by fast train.
Local tips
- Shoulders and knees must be covered in St. Peter’s Basilica and other churches.
- Drinking water is free from the small street fountains called nasoni. Carry a bottle.
- Many state museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, and far more crowded.
- Validate paper bus and metro tickets in the machine when you board.
- Rome is hot in July and August. Plan indoor sights for the middle of the day.
Before you go
Travel insuranceCover for medical costs and cancellations.
Luggage storageLeave bags near the station or the sights.
Flight delay compensationCheck whether a delayed or cancelled flight qualifies.
Everything for Rome
Ten services for the trip, all in one place.
Travel guide
Rome is best in April to June and September to October, and three days is enough for the main sights. Book the Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Borghese Gallery ahead, and take the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Rome?
Spring and autumn are milder and less crowded than high summer, when it can be very hot. Winter is cooler and quieter, with some rain.
How many days do I need in Rome?
Three full days cover the main sights at a comfortable pace. Add a fourth for a day trip.
Should I book the Colosseum and the Vatican ahead?
Yes. Both use timed entry and popular slots sell out, especially from spring to autumn. Booking ahead also saves the ticket queue.
How do I get from the airport to the centre?
From Fiumicino, the Leonardo Express train runs to Termini station. There are also buses, fixed-fare taxis and pre-booked transfers. Choose by luggage, arrival time and budget.
Is Rome walkable?
The centre is, and walking is the best way to see it. Use the metro for longer hops such as the Vatican to the Colosseum.