Top 15 attractions in Rome

This is one of those places where a story from centuries ago awaits at every turn, and the monuments are so impressive that it's hard to take your eyes off them. Walking through the streets Rome, you can feel the spirit of the ancient empire, admire the masterpieces of art and architecture, and lose yourself in the climate of italian everyday life - fragrant with coffee, pizza and the sounds of the Italian language.

In this article we have prepared a summary of Rome's 15 biggest attractions, which simply have to be seen. Whether you're here for the first time or returning years later, these places delight every time.

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1️⃣ Colosseum - an icon of the Empire's power

Want to discover more secrets of antiquity? Check it out:
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🏛️ The largest amphitheater of the ancient world still impresses today with its grandeur and history of bloody gladiator fights, wild animal hunts and imperial spectacles. A walk through the preserved arcades and a view of the exposed arena lets you imagine how 50,000 spectators cheered here two thousand years ago.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Book entry to the arena, to stand where the gladiators fought
🔹 Discover underground passages - Former "backstage" with animal cages and stage elevators
🔹 Climb to the top floor, which offers a panoramic view of the Roman Forum
🔹 Combine sightseeing with the Forum and the Palatineusing a combination ticket

📍 Access: metro Colosseo (Line B) - exit from the platform straight to the facade of the amphitheater
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1.5-2 hours
🌅 Best time: Early in the morning (less crowds) or just before sunset, when the stone takes on a golden hue

📸 This is a must-see on any visit to Rome - a place that really takes you back to the time of the Caesars.

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2️⃣ Roman Forum - the heart of ancient Rome

Looking for attractions for the whole family? Check also:
👉 Top 10 - attractions for children in Rome

🏛️ This is where the daily life of the republic and empire played out: speeches, triumphal processions, fairs, trials and religious rituals. Today the Roman Forum is a picturesque set of ruins that still tells the story of a great empire.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Stop by the Arch of Titus - commemorating the capture of Jerusalem
🔹 See the Temple of Saturn - With majestic columns that have become a symbol of the Forum
🔹 Climb the Palatine Hill, from where there is the best view of the whole area
🔹 Take a walk along the former Via Sacra, the main street along which the victorious chiefs walked

📍 Access: metro Colosseo (Line B), entrance on Via dei Fori Imperiali
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1.5 hours (or a total of 3 hours with the Colosseum and Palatine)
🌞 Best time: Morning or pre-morning - in summer it can be very hot and shadeless

📖 Roman Forum is the place where history not only speaks - she continues to breathe. Walking among the ruins of temples and basilicas, you can feel like a citizen of ancient Rome.

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3️⃣ Pantheon - the temple of all the gods

Are you interested in architecture and history? Read:
👉 The 5 most beautiful squares of Rome you must see

⛪ One of the best preserved buildings of ancient Rome and a masterpiece of engineering. The Pantheon impresses with its monumental dome, which for more than 1900 years has remained the largest in the world made of unreinforced concrete. Formerly dedicated to the gods, it now serves as a church and the resting place of great Italians - including Raphael and kings of the Savoy dynasty.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Look up oculus - hole in the dome with a diameter of 9 m, which is still the only source of light today
🔹 Note the perfect proportions - the diameter of the dome is equal to its height
🔹 Visit Raphael's tomb - one of the most famous painters of the Renaissance
🔹 Take a look at the nearby Piazza della Rotonda, where life goes on until the late hours

📍 Access: metro Barberini (Line A) + walk about 10 minutes or bus 30/70/81
🕐 Tour time: approx. 30-45 minutes
🎟️ Introduction: free, but online registration on weekends and holidays has recently become mandatory
🌤️ Best time: noon - a ray of light coming through the oculus creates a magical effect

📸 The Pantheon is a place where ancient architecture combines with Christian spirituality -. simple on the outside, stunning on the inside.

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4️⃣ Trevi Fountain - Rome's most famous fountain

⛲ A baroque masterpiece and one of the city's most recognizable attractions. The Trevi Fountain attracts tourists with its monumental composition, sculptural details and... the legend of the return to Rome. According to tradition, all you have to do is throw a coin into it to ensure your return to the Eternal City.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Look out for Neptune in his chariot - The central figure of the fountain symbolizes the power of the waters
🔹 Flip a coin over your left shoulder - one is return, two is love, three is marriage
🔹 Pay attention to facade details, which tell the story of the Aqua Virgo water supply system
🔹 Visit the place at different times of the day - nighttime illuminations are particularly impressive

📍 Access: metro Barberini (Line A) + walk about 7 minutes
🕐 Tour time: approx. 20-30 minutes
💡 Best time: very early in the morning or late in the eveningto avoid the crowds

💶 Up to 3,000 euros are fished out of the fountain every day - all the money goes to charity.
📸 The Trevi Fountain is the perfect place for A symbolic farewell to Rome - but only until your next visit!

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5️⃣ Spanish Square and Spanish Steps - a classic meeting place

🌸 One of the most photogenic places in Rome, known for its elegance, spring flower decorations and unique atmosphere. The Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) are a favorite gathering place for locals and tourists alike. They lead to the church of Trinità dei Monti and offer a beautiful view of the city.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Sit on the steps and enjoy the life of the square, but remember - food and drink are prohibited here!
🔹 See the Barcaccia fountain, designed by Bernini's father, in the shape of a sinking boat
🔹 Go right to the top, to visit the church and look at the skyline of Rome
🔹 Take a look at Via dei Condotti - exclusive street with boutiques of well-known brands

📍 Access: metro Spagna (line A) - exit straight to the square
🕐 Tour time: approx. 30-45 minutes
🌇 Best time: Sunset - perfect light for photos and romantic atmosphere

📸 Spanish Square is the essence of Roman style -. The perfect place for a moment's rest and a postcard photo.

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6️⃣ St. Peter's Basilica - the spiritual and architectural heart of Vatican City

⛪ The largest and one of the most important temples of Christianity Delights both the faithful and art lovers. Rising above the tomb of St. Peter, it attracts pilgrims from all over the world. The basilica's interior is impressive, from Michelangelo's majestic dome to Bernini's canopy over the main altar.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Admire Michelangelo's Pieta, a masterpiece of sculpture from early in his career
🔹 Enter (or climb) the dome, to see an unforgettable view of Rome and St. Peter's Square
🔹 Descend into the Vatican grottoes, where the tombs of popes including John Paul II are located
🔹 A look at Bernini's Baldachin, 29 meters high, made of bronze from ancient temples

📍 Access: metro Ottaviano (Line A) + walking about 10 minutes
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1.5-2 hours (with dome)
🎟️ Introduction: free to basilica, payment only for the dome (by elevator or on foot)
🙏 Attention: modest attire is obligatory (covered shoulders and knees)

📸 St. Peter's Basilica is the place to be. combines spirituality, history and architectural craftsmanship On an unprecedented scale. Must-see not only for believers!

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7️⃣ Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - masterpieces hidden behind Vatican walls

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🖼️ One of the largest and most valuable art collections in the world. The Vatican Museums are a maze of halls, corridors and courtyards, filled with works from antiquity to the Renaissance. The highlight of the visit is the Sistine Chapel with frescoes by Michelangelo - the site of a conclave and one of the greatest art achievements of all time.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Stop by the Map Gallery - A fabulously decorated room with 17th-century maps of Italy
🔹 Visit Pinakothek, where works by Raphael, Caravaggio and Leonardo, among others, can be found
🔹 See Stanza della Segnatura - A room with frescoes by Raphael, including the famous "School of Athens"
🔹 Maintain silence in the Sistine Chapel, admiring the "Last Judgment" and the vault

📍 Access: metro Ottaviano (Line A) + walk to the entrance at Viale Vaticano
🕐 Tour time: min. 2-3 hours, for art enthusiasts even the whole day
🎟️ Introduction: paid - it is worth buying a ticket online to avoid long queues
📅 Best days: Tuesday-Thursday morning (weekends are the most crowded)

📸 This is the place where every ceiling and wall tells a story of art and faith. One visit is not enough to see everything - but it's definitely worth starting!

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8️⃣ Castle of Saint Angelo - from imperial mausoleum to papal fortress

🏰 Monumental building overlooking the Tiber River and St. Peter's Basilica, whose history dates back to the 2nd century AD, when it served as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. Over the centuries, the castle has been a fortress, a prison, a papal residence and a bastion protecting the Vatican. Today it is a fascinating museum with a maze of chambers, ramps and terraces.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Enter the panoramic terrace, which offers one of the most beautiful views of Rome
🔹 See the former papal apartments, decorated with frescoes and antique furniture
🔹 Take a look at the armory and prison halls, learning about the military history of the castle
🔹 Learn about the legend of the archangel Michael, which was to appear over the castle, heralding the end of the plague

📍 Access: Walk from St. Peter's Square (about 10 minutes) or bus 23 / 280 / 62
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1.5-2 hours
🎟️ Introduction: paid, can be purchased online or with Roma Pass
🌅 Best time: evening - terrace delights at sunset

📸 St. Angelo's Castle is an extraordinary combination of history, architecture and unforgettable views. a must-see for lovers of Rome's mysteries.

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9️⃣ Piazza Navona - the Baroque jewel of Rome

🎨 One of the most beautiful and characteristic squares of the Eternal City. Piazza Navona was built on the site of the ancient stadium of Domitian, and its oval shape has survived to this day. It is a Baroque landmark of Rome, full of fountains, street artists, cafes and a unique atmosphere.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Admire the Fountain of Four Rivers - Bernini's work symbolizing the Nile, Ganges, Danube and Rio de la Plata
🔹 Take a look at the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, designed by Borromini
🔹 Sit in one of the local cafes, observing the life of the square and street artists
🔹 Come back here tonight, when illuminations and live music create a romantic atmosphere

📍 Access: metro Spagna (Line A) + about 10 minutes walk or bus 64 from Termini
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1-1.5 hours
🌆 Best time: afternoon or evening - when the square is bustling with activity

📸 Piazza Navona is a combination of the history, art and Roman daily life - A must-see place on the map of every tourist.

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🔟 Campo de' Fiori - a square with history and character

🍷 The bustling heart of Rome with the soul of an ancient marketplace and the shadow of dramatic events. Campo de' Fiori, or "Field of Flowers," is today a place of daily market, nightly bustle and cafes with a local flair. In the past, public executions took place here - a monument to Giordano Bruno, the philosopher burned at the stake in 1600, reminds us of this.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 See the statue of Giordano Bruno, standing with a stern look amidst the daily hustle and bustle
🔹 Visit the morning market, full of fresh vegetables, fruits, cheese and spices
🔹 Sit in one of the trattorias, to enjoy a classic Italian breakfast or a glass of wine
🔹 Look into the side streets, where small galleries, bookstores and Roman details await

📍 Access: Bus 40 or 64 from Termini, walk from Piazza Navona (about 5 minutes)
🕐 Tour time: approx. 30-45 minutes (morning or evening)
🌞 Best time: morning for shopping and observing the market, evening - for aperitivo

📸 Campo de' Fiori is a place that connects the Rome's authenticity, history and local energy. Perfect if you want to get a feel for the city off the beaten track.

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1️⃣1️⃣ Thermae of Caracalla - monumental baths of ancient Rome

🛁 One of the largest and best preserved thermal structures from antiquity. Built in the 3rd century AD during the reign of Emperor Caracalla, they impress with their grandeur, symmetry and advanced infrastructure. It housed baths, gymnasiums, libraries, gardens and resting places - a true center of social life for the ancient Romans.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Walk around the huge ruins, imagining ancient marble pools and decorations
🔹 Look out for original floor mosaics and fragments of vaults
🔹 Learn about heating systems, which distributed heat under the floor and in the walls (hypocaustum)
🔹 Visit this place in the summer evening, when open-air opera concerts are held here

📍 Access: metro Circo Massimo (Line B) + walk about 10 minutes or bus 628
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1-1.5 hours
🎟️ Introduction: paid, also available through the Roma Pass
☀️ Best time: Pre-monsoon or evening - in the summer it can be very hot at midday

📸 The Thermae of Caracalla is a place that shows how advanced and organized daily life was in ancient Rome -. architecture, recreation and engineering at the highest level.

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1️⃣2️⃣ Catacombs of Rome - the underground world of early Christianity

🕯️ Silence, coolness and narrow corridors full of history. Catacombs are vast networks of underground tunnels and tombs where the early Christians buried their dead and practiced their faith during times of persecution. They are mainly located outside the ancient city walls, along ancient roads such as the Via Appia Antica.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Go underground with a guide, to learn the stories of the first martyrs and saints
🔹 See frescoes and Christian symbols, such as fish or dove
🔹 Choose one of the main catacombs - e.g., St. Callistus, St. Sebastian or St. Domicile
🔹 Combine sightseeing with a bike ride on the Via Appia, passing ancient tombs and ruins

📍 Access: Bus 118 from Circo Massimo or bike along Via Appia Antica
🕐 Tour time: approx. 45 minutes (guided tour mandatory)
🎟️ Introduction: paid, varies according to catacombs
🌡️ Attention: It is cool in the catacombs (about 15°C) - a sweatshirt is useful even in summer

📸 Catacombs are a place of reflection and spiritual reverie -. A unique journey into the history and faith of the early Christians.

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1️⃣3️⃣ Palatine Hill - the birthplace of Rome

🌿 One of the seven hills of Rome and the legendary cradle of the city. It was here, according to mythology, that the she-wolf fed Romulus and Remus, and later emperors built their palaces overlooking the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus. Today it's a vast archaeological park with ruins of residences and green avenues perfect for a stroll.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 See Augusta House - with preserved imperial frescoes and mosaics
🔹 Walk through the Farnese gardens, one of the first Renaissance gardens in Europe
🔹 Take a look at House of Livi, Augustus' wife - an intimate space with original paintings
🔹 Photograph the Roman Forum and the Colosseum from vantage points from a completely different perspective

📍 Access: metro Colosseo (Line B), entrance shared with the Forum and the Colosseum
🕐 Tour time: approx. 1-1.5 hours (including the Forum even 3 hrs)
🎟️ Introduction: as part of a combined ticket with the Colosseum and Roman Forum
🌳 Best time: Morning or late afternoon - perfect light and shade among the ruins

📸 The Palatine Hill is a A less crowded but extremely picturesque part of ancient Rome - The ideal place to feel the spirit of the past among the greenery and marbles.

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1️⃣4️⃣ Via Appia Antica - Rome's oldest road

🛤️ "Regina Viarum" - Queen of the Roads, built in the 4th century BC, was one of the most important transportation routes of the Roman Empire. Today it's a magical place for a walk or bike ride - among ruins, catacombs, ancient tombs and cypress avenues. Despite the passage of centuries, some of the original pavement is still preserved!

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Start the walk from the Gate of St. Sebastian, where the museum of the Appian Way is located
🔹 See the tomb of Cecilia Metella, one of Rome's most impressive necropolises
🔹 Take a look at the catacombs of St. Sebastian and St. Callistus, located on the road itself
🔹 Rent a bike, to explore a larger section at a leisurely pace

📍 Access: Bus 118 from Circo Massimo or metro Colli Albani + on foot
🕐 Tour time: min. 2-3 hours, preferably with a bicycle
🎟️ Introduction: Free walk along the road; some attractions - paid entrance fees
🌤️ Best time: Sunday - road closed to traffic

📸 Via Appia Antica to. time capsule - a place where you can literally and metaphorically walk in the footsteps of the Romans. Silence, greenery and antiquity at your fingertips.

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1️⃣5️⃣ Trastevere - a charming neighborhood with a soul

🌙 On the other side of the Tiber hides the most atmospheric part of Rome. Trastevere is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets, colorful townhouses, lively squares and small trattorias. Formerly a district of artisans and artists, today it combines authentic character with pleasant nightlife.

✨ During the visit:
🔹 Get lost in the streets full of greenery, string washing and local details
🔹 Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere - One of the oldest in Rome, with mosaics dating back to the 12th century
🔹 Sit in the Piazza di Santa Maria, at the fountain and enjoy the local daily life
🔹 Try Roman cuisine - pizza bianca, supplì, amatriciana - in one of the traditional trattorias

📍 Access: Streetcar 8 from Piazza Venezia or walk across the Ponte Sisto bridge
🕐 Tour time: 1-2 hours, even longer in the evening
🌆 Best time: evening - the district comes alive, but does not lose its charm

📸 Trastevere is the place where the the best way to get a feel for how Rome really lives - away from the crowds, but with heart and taste.

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🧳 Practical tips for visitors to Rome

🔹 Plan ahead - Buy tickets online for the Colosseum, Vatican City or the Thermal Baths to avoid queues
🔹 Dress comfortably - sightseeing means several thousand steps every day
🔹 Bring a water bottle - The city has a number of drinking water fountains (so-called. nasoni)
🔹 Watch out for pickpockets - especially in subways and crowded attractions
🔹 Reserve time for an evening walk - Rome by night can enchant even more than by day
🔹 Don't visit all at once - Leave something for next time. To Rome always worth coming back

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Summary

Rome is one of the few cities in the world where, walking down one street, you can see a ancient ruins, baroque fountains, renaissance masterpieces i atmospheric squares. Each of the described attractions is a separate chapter in the history of the Eternal City - from the monumental Colosseum, to the mystical catacombs, to the charming backstreets of Trastevere.

Whether you are visiting Rome for the first time or returning for another time, these places will delight you anew each time.