Rome doesn’t just show you history; it drags you into it. Over the course of a week (and several gelatos), I learned that the real magic of the Eternal City isn’t just ticking off landmarks—it’s getting lost. To save you the trial and error of my first trip, here are the 21 absolute must-see sights and experiences you need to book, walk, and eat your way through.
1. The Colosseum (But Book the Underground Tour)
You cannot miss the Colosseum. It is the symbol of Rome. However, do not just stand in the regular line and look down from the upper tiers. Pay extra for the “Underground” (Underground) tour. I walked onto the wooden floor where the gladiators actually fought, then descended into the dark tunnels where the lions and stage elevators were kept.
Seeing the cages and trapdoors up close makes you realize this wasn’t a sports stadium; it was a death machine. Book this two months out—seriously, they sell out instantly.
2. The Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Right next to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum, which used to be the center of the known universe. My advice? Hire a guide or buy an audio guide. Looking at a pile of bricks is boring; learning that you are standing in Caesar’s funeral pyre is not. After the Forum, trudge up Palatine Hill. It is a steep walk, but from the top, you get the perfect postcard view of the ruins below. Plus, this is where Romulus supposedly founded the city.
Tip: The Colosseum and Roman Forum are sold as one attraction, with one ticket covering both locations. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. If thereyour your Colosseum entrance is in the afternoon, you can plan to visit the Roman Forum the next morning, with the same ticket.
If you want a guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, this one is the best.
3. The Pantheon (During a Rainstorm or Sunbeam)
The Pantheon is architecturally perfect. Actually, in my opinion, it is the building with the most aura in Italy. Although you can get a ticket at the ticket counters (on the same day), I highly recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket and choosing the best time to go in.
But go twice. First, go on a sunny day around noon. Look up at the oculus (the hole in the ceiling). You will see a massive beam of light shining down like a spotlight from God. It hits the marble floor, and for a second, you forget you’re with 500 other tourists. Second, if you are lucky enough to be there during a light rain, go back. Watching the rain fall inside a building without getting the floor wet (thanks to the ancient drainage system) is a weird, magical experience.
4. St. Peter’s Basilica (Climb the Dome First)
Inside Vatican City, St. Peter’s is overwhelming. Most people walk right in, but I made a tactical error. Climb the dome (The Cupola) before you go into the church. You pay €8 to take the elevator, then climb 320 narrow, sloping steps that feel like you’re inside a whale.
When you burst out onto the roof, you are 136 meters high with a bird’s-eye view of Rome, St Peter’s Square, and the Vatican gardens. Only after you come down do you walk into the basilica, and seeing the massive bronze altar from above first makes the scale click.
5. The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
This is a marathon, not a sprint. The Vatican Museums are a labyrinth of endless hallways filled with Greek statues, Egyptian mummies, and Raphael’s paintings. You will walk miles. My biggest tip: Go on a Friday night (if available) or book the “Prime Experience” early morning tour.
The chapel is silent, and you are not allowed to take photos. I sat on the floor (which the guards hate, but everyone does) and craned my neck for fifteen minutes looking at Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. It is worth the neck pain.
6. The Trevi Fountain (Before Sunrise)
Here is the truth: The Trevi Fountain at 2:00 PM on a Saturday is a mosh pit of selfie sticks. You will hate it. The magical Trevi Fountain exists at 6:30 AM. I set an alarm for 5:45 AM one morning. When I arrived, the sun was just rising, the street lamps were still on, and I had the entire fountain to myself.
I sat on the edge, tossed my three coins (right hand over left shoulder), and heard the water splashing without the screams of vendors. Do this. You will feel like a movie star.
7. The Spanish Steps (At Sunset)
The Spanish Steps are just stairs. Let’s be honest. But the experience is sitting on the steps (technically illegal to sit now, but you can stand) with a cone of gelato from the nearby “Fatamorgana” shop. The view looking down Via dei Condotti is pure fashion and chaos. Go at sunset when the pink light hits the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. It is the perfect place to rest your feet after a long day of walking.
8. Piazza Navona & Bernini’s Fountain
Skip the restaurants on the piazza (they are overpriced tourist traps) but do not skip walking around at night. Piazza Navona is built on the stadium of Emperor Domitian, meaning it is shaped like a racetrack. The main attraction is the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini. Look closely at the statue of the river Nile—his head is covered. Why? Because the Nile’s source was unknown in the 1600s. It’s these little historical jokes that make Rome brilliant.
9. Trastevere (Get Lost After Dark)
Cross the Tiber River to the neighborhood of Trastevere. During the day it’s pretty; at night it’s alive. I have a rule in Rome: If you see a menu with pictures of food on it, walk away. In Trastevere, walk down the tiny cobblestone streets until you find a place full of Italians speaking loudly.
Look for Ponte Sisto area. Grab pasta at a hole-in-the-wall like Osteria da Zi’Umberto, then just wander. The ivy-covered buildings and hanging laundry are the “real” Rome you see in movies.
10. The Altare della Patria (The “Wedding Cake”)
Locals call it “The Wedding Cake” or “The Typewriter” because it is giant, white, and ridiculously over-the-top. Tourists often ignore it because it’s so big you assume it’s a government building. Go to the rooftop elevator (€7). There is a glass elevator that takes you to the very top. From here, you see the Roman Forum on one side and the modern city on the other. It is the best 360-degree view in Rome that doesn’t require a Vatican ticket.
Note: The correct name for this building is: Monument of Victor Emanuel II
11. The Catacombs of Priscilla
Rome isn’t just above ground. Underneath the city lies a maze of tunnels. The Catacombs of Priscilla (on Via Salaria) are nicknamed the “Queen of the Catacombs.” You walk down steep stairs into the damp dark where early Christians buried their dead. The guide turns off the lights for a second so you feel the absolute darkness. You will see the oldest known painting of the Virgin Mary here. It is cold, creepy, and fascinating.
12. Eat Cacio e Pepe (The Roman Pasta)
You have to do this, but do it right. Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper) is Rome’s signature dish. It is literally just pasta, pecorino cheese, and black pepper. It sounds simple, but it is incredibly hard to make. Don’t order it at a fancy place.
Go to a trattoria near the Vatican like Ponte e Parione or Felice a Testaccio. Watch them mix it in the cheese wheel. When you twirl that thick, peppery, creamy noodle, you will understand why Roman cuisine is the best in Italy.
I had the best Cacio e Pepe in a tiny restaurant in Trastevere. Again, you will not find the best meals in those fancy restaurants that pay influencers to market them.
13. The Jewish Ghetto & Carciofi alla Giudia
Most tourists walk past the Jewish Ghetto because it looks quiet. Don’t. This is the oldest Jewish community in Europe. The history is heavy (the walls that trapped Jews were only removed in 1888), but the food is heaven.
You must eat Carciofi alla Giudia (Jewish-style fried artichokes). It looks like a fried sunflower. It is crunchy, salty, and you eat the whole thing, leaf by leaf. Go to Nonna Betta or Giggetto al Portico d’Ottavia.
14. The Borghese Gallery (Must Book in Advance)
If you love sculpture, this is the best museum in Rome. It is small but perfect. You cannot just show up—you must book a two-hour time slot online. I walked in and saw Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne. I stood there for twenty minutes staring at marble that looks like soft skin and tree bark turning into fingers. The gallery is inside the Borghese Gardens, so after you finish, rent a bike or a rickshaw to cruise the park.
15. The Mouth of Truth (La Bocca della Verità)
This is a silly, quick stop, but it’s a rite of passage. Located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, this ancient marble mask looks like a demonic drain. Legend says that if you are a liar, it will bite your hand off. The line looks long, but it moves fast (usually 20 minutes). Put your hand in, take the photo, and don’t lie for the rest of the day. Plus, the church itself is beautiful and free.
16. Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
Rent a bike. Do not try to walk this. The Appian Way is the “Queen of Roads,” built in 312 BC. About 10 miles of the original cobblestones are preserved as a regional park. You will cycle past Roman tombs (look for the Tomb of Cecilia Metella), ancient temples, and giant pine trees. The best part? You can go down into a real tomb (the Tomb of Romulus) or walk on the same stones that legionnaires marched on. It is silent out there compared to the city.
17. The Aventine Keyhole
This is the best free secret in Rome. Walk up the Aventine Hill to the Priory of the Knights of Malta. Find the big green door. Bend down and look through the keyhole. I promise you, I got chills. Through the keyhole, you see a perfect, straight line of hedges leading directly to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is a perfect optical illusion. There is usually a line of 5-10 people waiting to look. It takes 10 seconds, but it is the ultimate “insider” Rome photo.
18. The Capuchin Crypt (Bone Chapel)
This is not for the squeamish. Under the church of Santa Maria della Concezione, there is a crypt decorated with the bones of 4,000 monks. Chandeliers made of hip bones. Clocks made of vertebrae. The monks wrote: “What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you will be.” It is macabre, haunting, and strangely beautiful. No photos allowed (please respect that), but you will never forget the smell of old wax and dust.
19. Gianicolo Hill (For the Cannon)
Most tourists go to the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo) for the view of Rome’s skyline. It is spectacular. But go at 12:00 PM (noon) . Every single day, a cannon fires once. It is a tradition from 1847 to signal the exact time to the city. You will jump out of your skin, then laugh. Bring a picnic; there are usually puppet shows for kids and vendors selling grattachecca (Roman shaved ice).
20. Eat Pizza al Taglio (Pizza by the Slice)
Stop eating sit-down pizzas for dinner. In Rome, the best pizza is Pizza al Taglio (by the cut). You walk into a shop, point at a rectangular tray of pizza (white potato, zucchini, margherita), they cut it with scissors, weigh it, and you eat it standing on the street with wax paper. Look for a place called Bonci (near the Vatican) or Pizzarium. The crust is thick and airy, not thin and crispy. Eat it hot. Eat it while walking. This is how Romans lunch.
21. Terme di Caracalla (Caracalla Baths)
Everyone goes to the Colosseum, but they miss the Baths of Caracalla. These are massive ruins—even bigger than the Forum in terms of sheer size. You can walk through the ancient gyms, libraries, and the hot room where a floor once held 1,600 people at once. Bring headphones and download the free audio guide.
As you stand where the massive mosaic tiles are, try to imagine the 50-foot-high ceilings. In the summer, they even do opera performances here. It is empty compared to the Colosseum, so you get silence and scale.
A Final Piece of Advice
Don’t try to see all 21 in three days. You will burn out and cry on a curb (I almost did). Pick 5-7 “big” sights, and fill the rest with the neighborhoods and the food. Rome rewards the slow traveler. When in doubt, sit at a cafe, order a caffè shakerato (shaken iced coffee), and just watch the chaos go by. That is the 22nd sight, and it’s free. Buon viaggio.
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NOTE BEFORE YOU GO: Italy rewards travelers who go prepared. And it is easy to ruin your trip. I have a checklist for you of things you should never go to Italy without. CHECK IT OUT HERE. I have also curated a list of some of the best hotels in Italy. I would highly recommend checking them out before booking. THESE ARE THE BEST HOTELS IN ITALY. And for unique experiences, attractions, and tours, don’t book before CHECKING THIS OUT. Thank me later!