A highly subjective list of the most important, most popular or most beautiful tourist attractions in Rome. There is no particular order. Those who do not agree with our choice are invited to comment below.
Rome’s top 10 Tourist Attractions
- Colosseum: When the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall. When Rome falls, the world will fall. How many monuments inspire such reverence? The world’s most famous amphitheatre has never stopped to inspire awe and lately more parts have become accessible for tourists.
- The Vatican City contains Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. It is hard to imagine another place on earth with so many artistic masterpieces per square meter.
- Trastevere: Although there are older areas in Rome, Trastevere is the quintessential Roman neighbourhood. Especially the part close to the river Tiber is characterized by narrow, winding alleys and intimate, picturesque squares. The family-run trattorie in Trastevere are famous for their hospitality and the Sunday flea market at Porta Portese is famous for its chaos.
- Piazza Navona: Every big city has to have one: A square where pseudo-artists overcharge you for their charicatures and tacky tourist attraction drawings. Of course they wouldn’t be there if Piazza Navona wasn’t such a gorgeous square, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers in the middle and the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone facing it.
- Pantheon: A short walk from Piazza Navona, the Pantheon could well be the most beautiful building in Rome, but certainly is the oldest religious building still being used as one. Built more than two thousand years ago, architects still marvel at the perfection of its spectacular dome. The pantheon is officially called Chiesa di Santa Maria ad Martyres, but Temple of All Gods does sound better.
- Trevi Fountain: We recommend everyone to see the Trevi Fountain twice: Once during daytime and once after midnight, when the throngs have disappeared and it is possible to have an idea of the real grandiosity of the place. Anita Ekberg has by now given up on getting Marcello Mastroianni to join her, but also without movie stars the Trevi Fountain remains unique.
- Spanish Steps: Although most impressive in spring when big pots with azaleas are placed on the Steps, there are few places in Rome that are so alive with people and atmosphere. Towering over the Piazza di Spagna and the Fontana della Barcaccia and in turn being towered over by the Trinita dei Monti church and obelisk the Spanish Steps are amongst Rome’s most romantic hangouts. Walking straight down the steps you will enter the Via Giolitti and your shopping spree may commence.
- Faded glory, but beautiful faded glory. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the Via Veneto used to be the place where paparazzi hoped to be able to take pictures of movie stars and aspiring movie stars hoped to have their pictures taken by paparazzi. Still one of Rome’s most prestigious streets with big luxury hotels and prestigious restaurants, but remember that a cup of coffee here costs the same as a full meal elsewhere. The Santa Maria della Concezione “church of the bones” vainly attempts to counteract Via Veneto’s vanity.
- Castel Sant’Angelo: This monument was originally built as a mausoleum and later functioned as both a fortress and a prison. Nowadays it is a mere museum, but from its roof you will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the entire city Rome has to offer.
- The Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill are both included in the ticket to the Colosseum. The Palatine Hill is full of ruins of the former emperors’ dwellings, while the Roman Forum used to be the center of Rome’s political and social life. After you have visited these ruins we recommend a climb up the Capitol Hill (Campidoglio), The view from here shows you more of how the Forum was structured at the time.
