Things to do in Rome

Why go to Rome

• Colosseum & Roman Forum

  Step inside the greatest arena ever built and walk the streets of the ancient empire right next door.

• Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

  Michelangelo's ceiling is every bit as breathtaking in person as you've always imagined.

• Trevi Fountain

  The world's most dramatic fountain is free to visit and utterly spectacular after dark.

• Pantheon

  A perfectly preserved 2,000-year-old temple with an oculus open to the sky, entry is just a few euros.

• Borghese Gallery

  Bernini's jaw-dropping sculptures and Raphael paintings in an intimate villa setting, book ahead, it's worth every cent.

Good to know in Rome

• Transit: A single metro/bus ticket costs about $1.75 and is valid 100 minutes; buy a 48- or 72-hour pass (~$7-11) if you plan to use transit daily, most major sites are walkable from the center.
• Tipping: Tipping is not expected in Rome; a small rounding up or leaving 1-2 euros after a sit-down meal is appreciated but never obligatory, avoid restaurants that add a mandatory service charge (coperto is normal at ~$2, but forced gratuity is a tourist trap).
• Tap water: Rome's tap water is excellent and free, the city is famous for its 'nasoni' drinking fountains scattered everywhere, so carry a refillable bottle and never buy bottled water.
• Free-entry days: State museums including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month; lines are long so arrive before 9 a.m., plan your trip around this if possible.

Trip essentials