The top 10 Rome attractions

No city in Europe manages to flaunt quite so much glory, character and heart-stopping wonders as the Eternal City. Prepare for your senses to head into overload when you dive into this cultural dream world.

Even when you’re just poking around Rome’s labyrinthine streets following the scent of pizza, you’ll encounter ancient domes, Baroque fountains and Herculean arenas. But if you fancy having an itinerary to inspire your travel, we’ve rounded up the top 10 must-see tourist attractions in Rome. That way, you can squeeze every inch of ‘la dolce vita’ out of the Italian capital.

Colosseum

Gore, glory and gorgeous Instagram photos – the Colosseum ruins of Rome is bucket-list gold. Let your imagination run wild as you soak up this spectacular space, where 50,000 spectators once sat watching circus games, chariot races, wild beast hunts and gladiators fighting to the death.

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Russell Crowe’s famous line in Gladiator, “Are you not entertained?” instantly springs to mind as you step inside the ancient edifice. There’s a museum offering a fascinating insight into its blood-soaked history, while if you book a Colosseum underground tour you can skip the lines and stand where the gladiators once nervously waited for battle.

The Vatican

Step out of Rome and into Vatican City – the smallest sovereign state in the world, and the official residence of the Pope. Crane your neck at never-ending streams of golden frescoes, which lead to the most famous of them all – Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel.

It’s hard to take it all in, with colorful biblical figures covering every inch of the ceiling and walls. Apart from the ethereal beauty and significance of the Vatican itself, one of the first things that will hit you on arrival will be the long lines to get anywhere. Skip them without giving in to tourist-trap prices by booking Vatican tickets online in advance.

Trevi Fountain

No photo can ever do the Trevi Fountain justice. Huge, gleaming sea gods glisten as azure water trickles around them, with sunlight bouncing off their pearly, marbled torsos. This Baroque beauty stands 85 feet high and 65 feet across, with Neptune in the middle in his shell-shaped chariot, drawn by two sea horses.

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Toss a coin into the famous fountain – over your left shoulder with your right hand – and legend has it that you’ll be guaranteed a return trip to Rome. It’s estimated that the Trevi Fountain coins total up to €3,000 daily, all of which is given to charity.

Roman Forum

Once the heart of the Roman Empire, this open-air museum is best explored on a Roman Forum tour, where an expert guide will bring its ruins to life with stories of those who once lived, worked and prayed here.

You’ll step through a sprawling archaeological site of jutting columns and arches – once temples, courts, markets and government buildings constructed in the 7th century BC. Your Colosseum admission covers Roman Forum tickets, so book online in advance and zip through the crowds.

Palatine Hill

Brimming over with legends, Palatine Hill is one of the most ancient parts of the city, with Roman Forum buildings on one side and the Circus Maximus on the other. According to Roman mythology, this was the location of the cave where Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome, were brought by a she-wolf who saved their lives.

It’s one of the Seven Hills of Rome, once home to the city’s rich and famous, now opened up to everyone. Get your Palatine Hill tickets (included in your Colosseum tickets) in advance to avoid the waiting lines.

Spanish Steps

Experience ‘la dolce vita’ in action as you stroll down Rome’s iconic 135 steps, pausing with a creamy gelato as Audrey Hepburn once did for the movie Roman Holiday. Italian jewelry brand Bulgari donated €1.5 million to restore the famed steps, originally built to link the Trinità dei Monti church at the top with the Spanish square below.

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After an evening being plied with delicious pasta dishes, head to the Spanish Steps at night to see the Baroque-style icon enchantingly illuminated.

Rome Pantheon

Piazza della Rotonda is home to bustling trattorias, gelateria and family-run leather stores – and right in the middle is what can only be described as a masterpiece of architectural wizardry. You’ll spend most of your time in the Rome Pantheon repeating the word “how?” with your head back and jaw ajar.

Almost 2,000 years after it was built, the Rome Pantheon dome remains the largest unsupported dome in the world. It’s one of the most historically significant and best-preserved of all ancient Roman buildings. Originally built as a temple by emperor Hadrian, it still operates as a church today.

St. Peter’s Basilica

You can’t visit Vatican City without setting foot inside one of the world’s largest churches and the hub of Christianity, St Peter’s Basilica. Head towards its Michelangelo-designed dome as soon as you arrive – you’ll want to be in the line as early as you can to avoid a long wait.

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Inside, St Peter’s Rome is spellbinding. Climb the dome and marvel at its lavish works of art, keeping an eye out for Michelangelo’s signature on the sash across the Madonna’s breast – it was the only work he ever signed. If the Pope is home, you and the rest of the Vatican crowd may well be blessed by him from the window in St Peter’s Square on a Sunday.

National Roman Museum

As with everything in Rome – the monuments, the pizzas – the city’s museums don’t do things by halves. Spread across four fascinating spaces, each packed with the world’s most spectacular collection of Ancient Roman art, the National Roman Museum offers tickets valid for three days at a time.

Browse magnificent paintings in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, read up on Renaissance architecture at Palazzo Altemps, explore the depths of urban Rome at Crypta Balbi and wander through the cloister of Michelangelo at the Baths of Diocletian. Again, reserve tickets online in advance to avoid long waiting times.

Roman Ghetto

For a truly unforgettable trip to Rome, we recommend you add this off-the-radar attraction to your list. Hidden in the heart of the city, in the Rione Sant'Angelo, between the Tiber and Piazza Venezia, this Jewish ghetto established in 1555 is a history jewel.

Visit the Jewish Museum of Rome or Teatro Marcello to learn about the oldest Jewish community in Europe and see how it shaped the Italian capital. Stroll along the Ghetto’s vibrant streets and try some Roman-Jewish dishes, like carciofi alla Giudia (fried artichokes), or kosher pizzas and burgers.

Ready for your own Roman holiday? Check out our three-day Rome itinerary for more travel inspiration.