Things to do in Rome: The 7 Best Places to Visit
Are you planning to visit Rome on your next trip to Italy? Rome is a perfect place to spend a weekend with your family, especially as the city is easily visited thanks to our private tours.
To better plan your holiday in Rome, we have written this guide of the best things to do in Rome, with all the tours at your disposal.
But let’s not get lost in chat and let’s see immediately what are the best things to do in Rome, during your holidays.
1. Visit the Colosseum and the Roman Catacombs
Let’s start this list of things to do in Rome with the Colosseum, the most emblematic monument to visit in Rome. With a capacity of over 50,000 spectators, it is the largest amphitheater in the Roman world. Many bloody gladiator fights, animal fights and Roman games took place here, always followed by horrific deaths.
After seeing the Colosseum, we recommend an unusual activity, namely a visit to the Roman Catacombs. Once used as cemeteries for Jews and Christians, they are the largest in the city and extend over almost 15 hectares. On the walls you can see representations of Christian life such as baptism and scenes from the Old and New Testament.
If you like this combination, we have a perfect tour for you: Colosseum and Roman Catacombs
2. Ostia Antica “Ancient Ostia”
As a second proposal among the things to do in Rome, we propose a visit to Ostia Antica.
Ostia Antica is a large archaeological site, close to the modern town of Ostia, that is the location of the harbour city of ancient Rome, 15 miles (25 kilometres) southwest of Rome. At the mouth of the River Tiber, Ostia was Rome’s seaport, but due to silting the site now lies 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the sea. The site is noted for the excellent preservation of its ancient buildings, magnificent frescoes and impressive mosaics.
Also for this destination we have a dedicated Ostia Antica half-day tour (6 hours) with a private guide and in an air-conditioned minivan.
3. Castel Gandolfo and Pope’s Residence
The summer residence of the Popes made Castel Gandolfo famous all over the world and its beautiful gardens also house the remains of the Villa of Domitian and the Vatican Farm. In the square in front of the Papal Palace, there is the beautiful church of San Tommaso di Villanova and the fountain, both designed by Bernini, and the oldest post office in Italy. The village has a series of panoramic points of Lake Albano and the surrounding woods and is dotted with shops and excellent restaurants.
A visit to the lake wedged in the former volcanic crater is a must. You can stroll along the lakefront full of restaurants and bathing establishments, take a boat ride, canoe, sailboat and walk or cycle the path that surrounds it. You can also visit interesting Roman works overlooking the lake such as the Doric Nymphaeum, the Bergantino Nymphaeum and the Lake Emissary.
The guided tour of Castel Gandolfo and the Pope’s residence lasts half a day (about 6 hours) in a minivan equipped with air conditioning and door-to-door service. We will pick you up at your hotel in Rome and take you back there at the end of the tour.
4. Castel Gandolfo and Nemi
Another great combination of things to do in Rome is to visit Castel Gandolfo and Nemi.
Today Nemi is famous for its tasty strawberries, which are celebrated every year in June with the festival of the same name; their scent inebriates you as you stroll through the small shops and pastry shops in the center, where ice creams, pastries, sweets and the most varied drinks prepared with succulent red fruits peek out from trays to shop windows.
5. Castel Romano Outlet
Among other things to do in Rome, you could not miss shopping at one of the largest outlets in the capital.
Satisfy your urge to splurge with a 6-hour shopping excursion to the Castel Romano Designer Outlet. Located just 20 minutes from Rome’s city center near the Tyrrhenian coastline, the sprawling retail complex offers deep discounts on more than 150 brands, including designer names like Valentino, Michael Kors and Roberto Cavalli, as well as more casual apparel like Nike and Guess. Enjoy the help of a personal shopping assistant throughout the day — so you can return from Italy’s capital with fabulous new pieces to add to your wardrobe.
Here you will find more information about the shopping tour at Castel Romano Outlet offered by Luxury Rome Tour.
6. Visit Rome by night
Don’t miss our guided tour of Rome by night.
Rome is magical at night. Discover how incredible the Eternal City is at night with this 6-hour guided tour of Rome. Cross the Italian capital with a comfortable minivan and stop at the main points of interest in the city. See the sites of Ancient Rome and visit the Vatican City. See the illuminated Colosseum. Stroll through the romantic Piazza Navona and toss a coin or two into the Trevi Fountain to get lucky and make sure you come back.
7. Visit Rome by Luxury Van
If you want to see Rome’s top attractions without walking too much, especially in the hot months, take a sightseeing tour by comfortable vehicle limited to seven people. You’ll see the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon and more with a knowledgeable driver-guide, who tells you about Rome’s history and culture.
The tour has a minimum duration of 3 hours in an air-conditioned minivan with a maximum of 7 seats on board.
Don’t miss this unique experience. For more information, visit the page dedicated to the tour of Rome by car.
Things to do in Rome from Civitavecchia
If you are planning to visit Rome during your cruise trip, we have studied some tours that could be for you.
1. Full day Rome and Colosseum
The Full Day Rome and Colosseum Tour from Civitavecchia Port allows you to see all of Rome and the interior of the Colosseum during your stop in Rome. Discover the beauties of Rome with this shared tour from the Port of Civitavecchia. Visit the main attractions of the city of Rome and the interior of the Colosseum on this 8-hour tour. Let yourself be carried away by our comfortable minivans for up to 8 passengers and equipped with air conditioning, leather interiors and tinted windows as you visit the main attractions of Rome. During the tour we will make stops to take photos, have a coffee and much more.
For more information see: Full Day Rome and Colosseum Tour from Civitavecchia Port.
2. Vatican Museum, Sistine chapel, San Pietro Church and Rome
Don’t miss this full-day Rome city tour from Civitavecchia Port to see the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and San Pietro Church. Discover the beauties of Rome on this shared tour departing from the port of Civitavecchia. Visit the main attractions of Rome seated in a comfortable minivan for up to 8 passengers, equipped with air conditioning, leather interior and tinted windows.
For more information see: Full Day Vatican Museum, Sistine chapel, San Pietro Church and Rome City tour from Civitavecchia.
3. Full day Rome Tour
Full Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia Cruise Port is the best shared tour of Rome that you can choose during your stopover in Rome from Civitavecchia. Discover the beauties of Rome on this shared day tour departing from the port of Civitavecchia. Visit Piazza del Popolo, the Trevi fountain, Piazza Venezia, the exterior of the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums, the church of San Pietro “Vatican”, Trastevere, Castel Sant’Angelo and many other fantastic places on this full-day tour in Rome from the port of Civitavecchia.
For more information see: Full Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia Cruise Port.
Things to do in Rome when it rains
On rainy days you could visit the Museums, shop at a Roman market such as the Testaccio Market or the Trionfale Market, have a wine tasting, take a cooking class or visit the Roman catacombs. Last but not least, you could book a show at the Rome Opera House.
Things to do in Rome with family
If you are planning a trip with your family to Rome, know that there will be many things to do, here are a few:
For example, you can make a guided visit to the Colosseum. The Colosseum always impresses children and is a wonderful place to visit as a family.
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are located next to the Colosseum and are a wonderful place to explore with children.
See the sky from inside the Pantheon. The Pantheon is an ancient temple now converted into a church with something special: a huge hole in the roof! Kids and adults alike are left wondering what happens when it rains, but even on a dry day you can get your kids involved in trying to figure it out!
Cross an international border entering the Vatican City. The Vatican is a state within a state and entering St. Peter’s Square effectively means crossing an international border!
Visit Villa Medici: The Villa Medici is a Mannerist villa and an architectural complex with a garden contiguous with the larger Borghese gardens, on the Pincian Hill next to Trinità dei Monti in Rome, Italy. The Villa Medici, founded by Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and now property of the French State, has housed the French Academy in Rome since 1803. A musical evocation of its garden fountains features in Ottorino Respighi’s Fountains of Rome.
Contact Us
If you need more information, do not hesitate to contact us:
Luxury Rome Tour
- Phone: +39 331 756 6672
- WhatsApp Chat: Write to Bruno! Owner of Luxury Rome Tour
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Related Questions
What should you not miss in Rome?
If you are planning a holiday in Rome, here are the places you cannot miss: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Capitoline museums, the gardens of the Villa Borghese, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, the Bocca della Verità, Via Condotti, Castel Sant ‘Angelo, Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona.
What should u do when in Rome?
If you are coming to Rome for the first time, our advice is to take a 3-hour car tour on your first day, so that you can see all the main attractions of the city and visit your favorites at your leisure in the following days.
Can i visit Rome in 3 days?
Of course! On the first day we recommend that you take a private tour by car that lasts 3 hours to visit the main attractions of Rome. This tour does not cost much and allows you to see all of Rome and choose what to visit in the following days.
Is 2 days in Rome enough?
Two days isn’t a lot but you can still see the whole city by purchasing a car tour that lasts 3 hours and doesn’t cost much.
What are the top attractions to visit in Rome?
The main attractions of Rome are the Colosseum, the Vatican City, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Villa Borghese and Castel Sant’Angelo.
What are the most popular things to do in Rome with kids?
The best things to do in Rome with children are: visit the inside of the Colosseum, take a rowing boat inside Villa Borghese, eat an ice cream at the most famous ice cream shop in Rome, meet a mummy and read the hieroglyphs in the Vatican Museums, look through the hole in the roof of the Pantheon, explore the Catacombs, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain.
What are the top things to do in Rome?
The 5 best things to do in Rome are: visit the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.
What are the top activities in Rome?
The best activities in Rome are: visit the Colosseum, take a walk in Villa Borghese, visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, see St. Peter’s Square, the Pantheon, walk to the Imperial Forums and take the Spanish Steps.
What are unique things to do in Rome?
Walk outside the Colosseum and visit it internally, see the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, stroll through the Imperial Forums, visit the Spanish Steps.