Colosseum
Things to do in Rome
Compare tickets, tours, transfers, hotels and flights for Rome in one place, and see who provides each one before you book.
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 for these are sold by booking partners. Every card names who provides it.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Attraction · Partner
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Papal art collections ending in the Sistine Chapel. Closed on most Sundays.
Partner booking opens soon
St. Peter’s Basilica
Attraction · Partner
St. Peter’s Basilica
The great church of Vatican City, with a dome you can climb. Dress code applies.
Partner booking opens soon
Pantheon
Attraction · Partner
Pantheon
Roman temple, now a church, under its vast open-topped dome. A small entry fee applies.
Partner booking opens soon
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Attraction · Partner
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Ruins of the old civic centre and the hill above it, on the same ticket as the Colosseum.
Partner booking opens soon
Borghese Gallery
Attraction · Partner
Borghese Gallery
Bernini and Caravaggio in a villa inside a park. Entry only by reserved two-hour slot.
Partner booking opens soon
Tours and day trips
Guided options from partners, with the provider named on each card.
Pompeii day trip from Rome
Day trip · Partner
Pompeii day trip from Rome
A long full day to the buried Roman town south of Naples, usually by coach or high-speed train.
Partner booking opens soon
Tivoli villas day trip
Day trip · Partner
Tivoli villas day trip
Hadrian’s Villa and the fountains of Villa d’Este, in the hills east of Rome.
Partner booking opens soon
Rome food tour in Trastevere
Food tour · Partner
Rome food tour in Trastevere
A walking tasting tour through the lanes across the river.
Partner booking opens soon
Rome by night walking tour
Walking tour · Partner
Rome by night walking tour
An evening walk past the floodlit squares and fountains of the centre.
Partner booking opens soon
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.Partner
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.Partner
Car rentalUseful for the countryside, not for the city. The centre is a limited-traffic zone (ZTL) with camera-enforced fines.Partner
Where to stay
Pick a neighbourhood first, then compare hotels.
Centro Storico
Centro Storico
Most sights within walking distance. Busy, and louder at night.
Trastevere
Trastevere
Lively lanes, restaurants and bars across the river. Can be noisy.
Monti
Monti
Next to the Colosseum and Forum, with small shops and cafes.
Prati
Prati
Quieter, residential and close to the Vatican, with good metro access.
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
eSIMMobile data for Italy. Buy and install it before you travel.
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.
These services are provided by partners. Booking links open once our partner connections are active.
Members save 5% on tours we run
A free account lets you save experiences, compare them later and keep your bookings in one place.
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.