Italy / Rome & Lazio / RomeRome
The Colosseum, the Vatican and Three Thousand Years in One City
Italy's capital and its main arrival airport: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, and, across the Tiber, Vatican City with St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Trastevere and Monti are the neighbourhoods for evenings. Every major sight now runs on timed tickets, so book ahead. High-speed trains reach Florence in about 1.5 hours and Naples in about 1 hour 10. Indian restaurants are easy to find near Termini station and in the centre.
Highlights
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
- St Peter's Basilica and the dome climb
- Pantheon
- Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps
- Evening in Trastevere
- Borghese Gallery (booked slots)
- Day trip to Tivoli or Ostia Antica
- Gelato and a Roman pizza al taglio
Things to do
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine HillMorning · 4h
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter'sMorning · 5h
- Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps walkAfternoon · 3h
- Trastevere evening and dinnerEvening · 3h
- Borghese Gallery and gardensAfternoon · 3h
- Day trip to Tivoli: Villa d'Este and Hadrian's VillaMorning · 7h
- Capitoline Museums and the view over the Forum from the CampidoglioMorning · 2h 30m
- Castel Sant'Angelo and the angels of Ponte Sant'AngeloAfternoon · 2h
- Appian Way on foot or by hired bike, with the Catacombs of San CallistoMorning · 4h
- Baths of CaracallaAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Campo de' Fiori market, Piazza Navona and the Jewish GhettoMorning · 2h 30m
- Testaccio market food stalls and a Roman food walkMorning · 2h
- Aventine Hill at sunset: the Orange Garden and the Knights of Malta keyholeEvening · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: March – June, September – November
Heads up
Ferragosto: Cities Half-Closed in August
Around Ferragosto (15 August, a national holiday) and for much of August, Italians take their holidays: many family restaurants, bakeries and small shops in the cities close for one to three weeks, and Sunday-style hours spread across the week. Museums and the main sights stay open. Book restaurants and check opening days before you go.
Heads up
Summer Heat
July and August regularly bring heatwaves of 35-40 °C to Rome, Florence, the south and Sicily. Sightsee early and late, rest in the afternoon, carry water (Rome's street fountains are drinkable), and book rooms with air-conditioning. Churches still require covered shoulders and knees, so carry a light scarf.
- Holy Week and Easter in Rome — The Pope leads the Good Friday Way of the Cross at the Colosseum and Easter Sunday mass in St Peter's Square, with the Urbi et Orbi blessing. Free tickets for the papal masses are requested from the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Rome is at its most crowded, and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel can close on some days of the week; check before booking.
- Ferragosto — The Assumption holiday and the peak of the Italian summer holiday: beaches, lakes and islands are at their fullest and dearest, many city shops and restaurants close for the week either side, and there are fireworks and beach parties on the coast. Book everything well ahead.
Part of a longer route
Rome is a stop on 2 curated circuits through Italy.