The 17 Best Things To Do When You Visit ‘La Città Eterna’ AKA Rome, Italy

Rome is known as “La Città Eterna” or “Eternal City,” and with all of the history and culture just overflowing from the city, it’s easy to see how it got its name. Rome is the capital of Italy; it has the biggest population and is the largest metropolis in Italy, per Turismo Roma. According to Tourist Italy, 2023 was Rome’s best year when it came to how many tourists they had: 35 million, to be exact. This year, I was lucky enough to be one of them, and I’m ready to share the 17 very best things to do in Rome, Italy.

Rome has seven “famous” hills: Palatine, Aventine, Campidoglio, Viminale, Esquilino and Celio, per Turismo Roma. Even though it’s a popular phrase to say that Rome has seven hills, it does, in fact, have more than that, according to Hotels.com. And outside of its topography and natural beauty, Rome has the “highest concentration of historical and architectural riches in the world,” Rome’s official tourism website states. Plus, over 16% of “the world’s cultural treasures” are located in Rome. But even if you aren’t a history nerd like myself, Rome has something for everyone.

I recently took a week-long vacation to Italy, spending about four full days in Rome. And while this wasn’t my first time in this gorgeous city, it had been eight years since I last stepped foot in Rome, so it was kind of like I was seeing the city with fresh eyes. Even though I had visited the major museums and historical sites before, I definitely did things differently this time around (and I’m glad I did). So here is what I think are the top 17 things you should do when visiting Rome, Italy—whether for the first time or as a repeat visitor.

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Is 3 Days Enough for Rome?

First off, how many days should you stay in Rome, Italy? Is a weekend—or three days—long enough to visit the places you need or want to see? The short answer is most likely. 

My partner and I arrived in Rome early on a Wednesday and used that day to explore the city around our hotel and booked a food tour for that first evening (more on that in a second). Thursday was our most jam-packed day, with two 3-hour tours to the Vatican and Colosseum, and Friday we took a late morning train to Florence.

We then came back to Rome on a Monday afternoon; we ate at Mercato Centrale near the train station and didn’t do much else except go to dinner. That Tuesday was our last full day in Rome and we spent it exploring more tourist attractions like the Trevi Fountain and did a self-guided tour of the Pantheon.

That was about three full days in Rome and I’m glad we did all of that in those three days! We were able to see what we wanted including all the big sight-seeing hotspots. But I will also say that the day we booked our two biggest tours was a very busy and kind of stressful day (we had to eat a grocery store lunch because we didn’t have more time and went hours without the bathroom). So if you want a more relaxed vacation, but still want to do the more elaborate, historical spots, I’d say four full days might be better. Otherwise, map out travel time between attractions and stick to that plan. Three days is definitely doable.

Best Things To Do in Rome, Italy

1. Take a walking food tour

Walking food tours—or food tours of any kind—are becoming more popular, and it’s easy to see why. We booked The Tour Guy’s Trastevere Local Food Tour in Rome and we not only got our fill of several different types of food, but we also got a historical tour of the Trastevere neighborhood. The history of food in Rome is already interesting enough, but our local tour guide also pointed out buildings and piazzas we wouldn’t have looked twice at or known the stories of otherwise.

We got to try meat from a family-owned salumeria (deli) called Norcineria Viola. We then went to the old Jewish quarter, to Filetti di Baccalà, for some of the best fried cod (baccalà) I have ever tasted. Then, we finished off the evening with a sit-down dinner at Da Vittorio, where we ate traditional Italian pasta: cacio e pepe and pasta all’Amatriciana (a classic Roman dish). All the while we were drinking delicious wine that was paired perfectly with what we were eating. And we ended the evening with gelato (of course).

2. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain

Did you know that over 1.4 million euros worth of coins were thrown into the Trevi Fountain in 2022 (and probably more last year)? Well, according to Reuters, that’s true! And with how crowded the Trevi Fountain is, it’s a pretty believable number. This fountain is very recognizable and famous (whether from The Lizzie McGuire Movie or elsewhere), but the sculptures and art of the fountain is worth seeing in person.

Speaking of fountains, Rome has thousands of water fountains in different forms and sizes; Carpe Diem Tours reported that the number of fountains you can drink from is over 2,000). In fact, I would recommend bringing a water bottle around with you, because you’re going to need the hydration (especially when it’s hot) and you can easily find places to fill it up throughout the city.

The yummiest water fountains we found were located in St. Peter’s Basilica’s grotto, the Roman Forum gardens and even one to the right side of the Trevi Fountain. (You cannot drink the actual water in the famous fountain, but look for spouts nearby.)

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3. Stay at citizenM Hotel Rome Isola Tiberina

One of the best places we visited was actually the hotel we stayed at during the first part of our stay: citizenM Hotel Rome Isola Tiberina. It’s Italy’s first citizenM hotel, which is a Netherlands-based hotel chain that started operations in 2008. Not only was our view of Isola Tiberina (an island in the Tiber River, which was right across the street), gorgeous, but our stay was pleasant. It’s a very modern hotel where you can check in and out by using a kiosk and every room has an iPad where you can control the lights, AC and TV. The breakfast was also very lovely, with cappuccinos included.

4. Drink espresso and try out local pasticcerias

Speaking of cappuccinos, I’d recommend trying out espresso from any local coffee shop you might find. You can Google search for pasticcerias (bakeries, places where pastries are sold) or just walk around an area of Rome. You’re sure to find some authentic Italian pastries and espresso.

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Things You Have To Do When You Visit Rome

5. Visit the Vatican Museum

Okay, this is a pretty obvious one, but you have to visit the Vatican Museum if you’re in Rome. Now, this is coming from someone who is really into learning things and who loves history (not to mention I went through almost 15 years of Catholic school). However, this museum has something for everyone and it’s for anyone of any religion. Plus, the massive collection of historical artifacts alone is enough to keep you entertained.

We went on the Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with the Sistine Chapel that we booked through The Tour Guy tour company, which they then booked through Tours and The City. Even though this is the second tour I’m recommending, I usually don’t recommend going on big tours (mostly because of the people on the tours with you, to be quite honest). But booking a tour of the Vatican Museum is the way to go; it gives you premiere access to the museum along with a privileged entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica. We didn’t have to wait in any lines to get into the museum or the basilica.

Rome is known as the “Capital of Two States,” because of the Vatican, which is a foreign state within a city (the only city in the world like that). You truly feel like you’re stepping into a time machine, and the Sistine Chapel is really all it’s cracked up to be. Definitely a bucket list item.

Something that future tourists can look forward to, and that’s fun and unique, is the 2025 Vatican Jubilee, which is a major Holy Year in the Catholic church. The last one took place in 2000 and it includes the opening of the Holy Door and many other celebratory events. Many people are expected to make a pilgrimage to the Vatican during this time: Dec. 24, 2024 to Jan. 6, 2026.

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6. Check out St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church ever built, and it feels like it when you step inside. There are even lines on the ground in the center aisle that show you where other famous churches measure compared to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Even though the basilica itself is massive and contains so many famous sculptures and artifacts, you can also go to the dome of the basilica for an added cost. Plus—and this is one of the cooler things about the basilica, in my opinion—you can go down into the Papal Tombs where past popes are buried. Even the tomb of Saint Peter—yes, the St. Peter, one of Jesus’ Apostles and the first pope of the Catholic church—is here. As with most things that the Catholics do, it’s pretty gothic, pretty hardcore, very cool.

7. Tour the Colosseum and the Roman Forum

Courtesy Alani Vargas

We booked The Tour Guy’s Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour through the Gladiator’s Gate, which then booked us with a Carpe Diem Tours tour. I would also recommend going with a tour group to the Colosseum because it’s so big and so full of history. Put your walking shoes on, though, because the stairs inside are steep and slippery (though it’s totally worth it in the end).

We got to walk on the arena floor (as the tour’s name suggests) and learned a lot about the gladiators that once fought here. Saying you got to visit one of the new Seven Wonders of the World is impressive (and easy to see why it has that title).

This tour also took us to the Roman Forum, where public meetings, law courts, open-air markets and more took place during ancient times. This is also where Julius Ceasar’s ashes are buried. No one tell Gretchen Wieners.

8. Do a self-guided audio tour of the Pantheon

The Pantheon is “the only ancient building in pristine condition,” according to Hotels.com. It was built between 119 and 128 AD by Emperor Hadrian and was originally meant to be a temple dedicated to Roman gods (potentially). It was given to Pope Boniface IV in 608 AD who then consecrated it as a church dedicated to St. Mary and martyrs, as Wanted in Rome reported.

The Pantheon is massive and truly a sight to behold, with several altars inside and burial plots for historic figures. There’s also a large hole at the top of the dome of the building, which is purposeful and partly what it’s famous for. We booked a self-guided audio tour through the official Pantheon site the day of and were able to get in at the time we wanted. This was a pretty good way to understand the history of the famous building while staying within budget.

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Things To Do in Rome When It Rains

9. Visit the Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola

In English, it’s called the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and it’s one of the many gorgeous churches in Rome that are free and underrated. It has grown in popularity recently, though, thanks to TikTok and the mirror they have in the center of the church that allows you to get a selfie with the gorgeously painted ceiling.

There is a lot of history here along with some burial sites of Saints Aloysius Gonzaga, Robert Bellarmine and John Berchmans—so, it’s a very convenient place to walk around to wait out some rain because there is a lot to see.

10. Take a lunch break

If you can plan it out and it’s raining during lunchtime, go visit a nice restaurant and take a couple of hours just eating. That’s pretty customary in Italy (and Europe in general), so grab some wine and go to town.

If you’re near the Mercato Centrale, near the Rome Termini train station, I highly recommend going in. It’s an eatery with tons of authentic Italian food and desserts along with some great cocktails and beer.

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Things To Do in Rome for Families

11. Eat so much gelato!

The last stop on our food tour was at Otaleg Trastevere, a lovely gelato shop you should definitely check out. That being said, it’s hard to go wrong with gelato from any shop.

BIG tip though; if the gelato is piled high in the containers, it’s likely not authentic and won’t be the best you can eat in Italy. You have to find gelaterias with flat bins of gelato. Your family will thank you later.

12. Visit a Flying Tiger Copenhagen store

This isn’t a Rome-specific suggestion, but anytime I’m in Europe, I have to stop into a “Flying Tiger” store. It’s like if Claire’s and IKEA joined together to bring you really inexpensive home goods, decor, electronics, office supplies and more that were cute as heck. They also have candy, snacks, games and pet toys. I’d say not to let your kids go crazy in here, but it actually might be harder to stop yourself from doing so.

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13. Take the Frecciarossa to places outside of Rome

What’s nice about Rome is that it’s a big city with a large train station that has trains going out to different parts of Italy. And their Frecciarossa high-speed trains can get you somewhere so fast, allowing you to take a day trip or weekend trip and come back to Rome before heading home (that’s what we did).

You will benefit from knowing Italian if you decide to take the trains, but it’s also not super hard to figure out if you’re from a city or take regional trains often. I booked our tickets through Trenitalia and we left from the Rome Termini station.

14. Visit the Torre Argentina Roman cat sanctuary

My partner and I stumbled across this cat sanctuary when we were walking to a Flying Tiger from our citizenM hotel, and it’s truly such a fun spot. The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary has volunteers who feed the cats and take care of them. A Roman law went into effect in 1991 that protected the city’s cats. While you’re not supposed to touch them (and I wouldn’t for fear of fleas), we came across some friendly, pretty feline friends. You can also go down into the ruins and check those out, too.

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Things To Do in Rome for People Over 50

14. Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere

This basilica is the first official place of Christian worship in Rome and was finished being built in 340 AD. We visited this church while on our food tour because it’s situated in the cool neighborhood of Trastevere (where most of the food we had was). There is a very special feeling to the inside of this church and it looks different to others just because of how old it is. Plus it’s one of the free churches we mentioned before, so you can easily check it out without going over budget.

15. Actually, go to any church or basilica you can find

Speaking of, Rome has over 900 churches, according to the Visit Rome website. Google Maps is an easy tool to find out churches by you, or you can do some more research into specific churches you’d like to visit. Since these are places of worship, they follow a dress code (no shoulders or knees showing on women and men). Some are more strict than others (like the Vatican does not play about this), but just keep that in mind before stepping into one.

16. Visit the Limon’é store

My partner is a major lemon fan, so Italian limoncello was a big part of our trip. I didn’t realize just how big lemons were in Italy in terms of decor, though, until this trip. And we stumbled upon the store for any and all lemon lovers out there. It’s called Limon’è, and it has almost every food you can think of—but in a lemon flavor.

They had lemon pasta, lemon olive oil, lemon candy and the cutest lemon decor you’ve ever seen. They also offer free samples. This includes limoncello, which they sell in gorgeous hand-painted containers. Not to mention, they have lemon sorbet that they serve in a real hollowed-out lemon. It’s truly wild and worth a visit.

17. Take the public transit (carefully!)

Lastly, it can be harder to walk around a large city if you’re older, and Rome has a pretty extensive public transit system. Rome is notorious for pickpockets, though, so I would be careful on buses, specifically. But otherwise, they’re pretty safe and get you across the city pretty quickly.

You can purchase tickets at any metro station (AKA the subway) or if you’re getting on a bus, most tabacarias and newsmagazine stands sell tickets. You can find more information at ATAC’s official website. But keep a look out for strikes; they happen a lot and you don’t want to get stranded. Uber was available, but expensive (though I did like the feature to book a cheaper, local taxi through Uber’s app). 

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