Most Popular “Must Visit” Tourist Attractions in Rome

Rome is a delight for history lovers or anyone that loves European chic, great food, wine and La Dolce Vita. You haven’t really gone to Rome unless you’ve paid a visit to most or all of the classic, evergreen and eternal landmark tourist spots in the Eternal City.

Here is our list of the Quintessential Roman tourism landmarks, these sites will always be the main attractions because of their historic or cultural significance with endless facts about the rich and vast history of each place to explore, research or enlist a guide to enlighten you on.

1. Colosseum 

The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of travertine limestone, tuff, and brick-faced concrete, it was the largest amphitheatre ever built at the time and held 50,000 to 80,000 spectators. A 2-min walk from the Arch of Constantine.

Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy.   

Duration: More than 3 hours

2. The Vatican  

A must visit in my humble opinion.

BONUS ENTRY – as the Vatican is technically its own sovereign state, the smallest one in the world, but it is its own little enclosure within Central Rome. 

If possible, visit early. The later you visit, the more you may need to pay extra for the “skip the queue” service to beat the long lines that form by 10 am. 

For the full experience go to the Vatican Museums first before St Peter’s Basilica to get a glimpse of some of the most priceless and famous artwork in the history of art, including the Origin of Man on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel housed inside the Vatican Museums. It never gets old. I’d advise that you book an all-inclusive tour with an “in-person” English guide to explain what you’re looking at, it’s worth having some context on the Vatican City and St Peter’s Basilica after flying all the way. It’s cheaper to use the museum’s audio headset but fiddly to log into their wifi and know when to play the guide.  

Opening hours – Closed for Church service on Sundays and on significant days in the Catholic calendar so be sure to look online first. 

3. Trevi Fountain: 

The Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini and several others. Standing 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy.

Open Duration: Sun-Sat 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM

4. Roman Forum 

The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum, is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the centre of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum. A 4-min walk from the Capitoline Hill.

Address: Via Della Salara Vecchia, 5/6, 00186 Roma RM, Italy.

Suggested Duration: More than 3 hours.

5. The Spanish Steps

A monumental stairway at the base of Piazza Di Spagna, with the 135 steps leading up to Trinita Dei Monti church at the top. 

Built in1723 to 1725, the steps became a meeting point for the city’s well-heeled, celebrated creative and glitterati in the 1900s. Featured in the Roman holiday movie starring Audrey Hepburn and a central point with nearby cafes where great writers, Businessmen and models would frequent.  Sadly as of 2019, you are no longer allowed to sit on the steps and could be fined. Be sure to visit Via Dei Condotti just opposite the steps for the best designer high fashion shops.

6. Pantheon

The Pantheon is a former Roman temple, now a Catholic church, in Rome, Italy, on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus. It was rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated about 126 AD.

Address: Piazza Della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy 

Open Duration: Sun 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM | Sat 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM

7. Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a public open space in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in the 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans went there to watch the “agones” athletic competitive games. Today it’s the site of a magnificent “Fountain of the Four Rivers” and lots of cafes and restaurants where you can sit al fresco and enjoy some nice food and drink. 

Address: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy.

Open Duration: Mon-Sat 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM, Sun-Sat 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM

8. Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant’Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The popes later used the building as a fortress and castle and is now a museum. The castle is brimming with centuries of history, an imposing construct with the Arch Angel Statues that the building takes its name from. I regularly walk through all the exhibitions all the way to the Archangel Michael statue at the top. Fans of Dan Brown books and movies may recognise the Castle.

Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma RM, Italy.

Open Duration: Tue – Sun 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM

9. Trastevere/Colorful Trastevere

This cool, vibey, bohemian area clings to its centuries-old, working-class roots. It’s known for traditional and innovative trattorias, craft beer pubs and artisan shops, as well as simple B&Bs and budget hotels. From the pre-dinner passeggiata (promenade) until late, a young crowd buzzes around Piazza di San Calisto and Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, the site of a gilded, mosaic-filled church.

Address: 00153 Rome Italy.

Open Duration: 1-2 hours

10. Villa Borghese Park & Galleria Borghese

Villa Borghese is a large beautiful expanse of green parks, gardens and statues. Perfect for an idyllic walk or hire an electric buggy to get you around the massive expanse of the park much quicker.  The Galleria Borghese is an art gallery in Rome, Italy, housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana. At the outset, the gallery building was integrated with its gardens, but nowadays the Villa Borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction.
Address: Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197

Open Duration: Tue – Sun 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tickets: €2–13

11. Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill, which is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called “the first nucleus of the Roman Empire.

Address: Piazza Santa Maria Nova, 53, 00186 Rome Italy.

Open Duration: Mon-Sat 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM

12. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Papal major basilica and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy. 

Address: Piazza di S. Maria Maggiore, 00100 Roma RM, Italy.

Open Duration: Sun-Sat 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

13. Sample the Gastronomic delights of the city 

Visit Campo De Fiori, Google for the nearest Enoteca near you to try the wine and cheese, and take a  food tour.