Yet this grandeur feels intimate, wrapped in a lazy, sun-drenched rhythm that prioritizes coffee over clocks and conversation over schedules. It is less a museum than a living neighborhood, where modern Romans weave through centuries-old ruins with casual ease, inviting you to slow down and savor the beautiful chaos of daily life amidst history’s heavy footsteps.
Do Rome the way locals do: start slow at Villa Borghese, eat where the regulars do at Tonnarello, let the evening run long at Bar San Calisto.
Top things to do in Rome
Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
Colosseum
Monumental 3-tiered Roman amphitheater once used for gladiatorial games, with guided tour option.
Check tours & tickets2
Trevi Fountain
Aqueduct-fed rococo fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi & completed in 1762, with sculpted figures.
Check tours & tickets3
Pantheon
Iconic temple built circa 118 to 125 A.D. with a dome & Renaissance tombs, including Raphael's.
Check tours & tickets4
Piazza Navona
Elegant square dating from the 1st century A.D., with a baroque fountain, street artists & bars.
Check tours & tickets5
Roman Forum
Vast excavated area of Roman temples, squares & government buildings, some dating back 2,000 years.
Check tours & tickets6
Vatican Museums
Multiple galleries of classical & Renaissance art masterpieces, plus the Sistine Chapel frescoes.
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Piazza del Popolo
Grand, landmark square centered by Rome's oldest obelisk & the site of the city's northern gate.
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Castel Sant'Angelo
Circular, 2nd-century castle housing furniture & paintings collections in Renaissance apartments.
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Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
Grand marble neoclassical temple honoring Italy's first king & First World War soldiers.
Check tours & tickets10
Sistine Chapel
Famous chapel in the Vatican Museums, best known for Michelangelo's 16th-century painted ceiling.
Check tours & ticketsWhere to eat
Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
Tonnarello
Casual stop for pasta, meatballs & other simple Roman dishes, plus patio seating & acoustic guitar.
Website12
La Nuova Piazzetta
Pasta, pizza & other classic dishes pair with wine in this basic, brick-lined eatery with a terrace.
13
Achille Al Pantheon di Habana
Pizza, pasta & other traditional provisions served in a laid-back operation with outdoor seating.
Website14
La Nuova Piazzetta Navona
Website15
Osteria da Fortunata
Organic recipes & handmade pasta are offered in this down-to-earth, country-style venue.
Website16
Cantina e Cucina
Casual restaurant serving regional fare & pizzas amid rustic, vintage-style surroundings.
Website17
Benso 215
Italian plates & wine served in a polished bistro with brick arches, old-school accents & a terrace.
Website18
Tonnarello San Pietro
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Tours worth booking ahead
These sell out, so lock them in early.
19
Eating Europe Food Tours Rome
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Crown Tours
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Carpe Diem Tours
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Touriks Rome Info & Support Point
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Cooking Italy & The Roman Food Tour
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Tipsy Tours Rome
Check tours & ticketsGet outside
25
Villa Borghese
Vast urban park with formally landscaped gardens, a lake & villas now housing important museums.
Website26
Giardino degli Aranci
Secluded public square with fragrant orange trees, medieval walls & views over the city & Tiber.
Website27
The Park of the Aqueducts
Protected parkland with a Roman aqueduct & ancient archaeological sites, plus a former mill.
Website28
Parco della Caffarella
Protected, dog-friendly park with many archaeological ruins, plus a bird hide & biking/hiking paths.
Website29
Roman Coast State Nature Reserve
Vast nature preserve with wetlands, forests & dunes, plus diverse archeological finds.
WebsiteAfter dark
30
Bar San Calisto
Italian beers, long drinks & cream-topped coffee granita at a down-to-earth bar opened in the 1960s.
Website31
Scholars Lounge Irish Pub
Unpretentious institution offering pub grub, whiskey & beer, plus music & trivia nights.
Website32
The Basement - Pub. Cocktail Bar. Events
Downstairs hangout for cocktails, Italian craft beer & sports, with couch seating & brick ceilings.
Website33
The Race Club
Classic & inventive cocktails in a brick-vault setting with a cozy, old-world vibe.
WebsiteEverything above is live data. Real ratings, opening hours, and photos, not AI guesswork. The planner turns it into your day, hour by hour.
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