10 Fantastic Things to Do in Rome, Italy

Walking through winding city streets, crossing bridges and busy streets, we were eager to make our way to the famous Villa Borghese Gardens for a bit of natural scenery–what we weren’t expecting was to find an incredible oasis in the middle of the biggest city in Italy.

It was as if the surrounding noise of the city just vanished as we approached the beautiful pond, nestled within tall trees and warmed by the sun. Music wafted through the wind as we passed someone playing their guitar softly against a tree trunk, and, above our heads, at least fifty beautiful, bright green parakeets swooping from branch to branch.

Across the pond, the Tempio di Esculapio was a stunning centerpiece, seemingly floating on the water. Tall marble pillars guarded the lovely statue inside, surrounded by deep green foliage, the reflection of it all rippling below. We stared so long we forgot how much time went by–a peaceful moment secluded from even the people wandering around us.

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Rome is a BIG city. That goes without saying, but it can be hard to understand just how huge it is until you get there and try to travel from one end to the other while still figuring out the public transportation options. But, being such a big city (the largest in Italy), there are countless things you can do during your time there, both touristy and not-so-touristy. We stayed in Rome for one month, and though most of our weekends were spent visiting other cities, we still felt like we got to explore a ton of the city with the time we had. The following are 10 of my favorite things I did in Rome that you should do on your next visit, too!

1. TOSS A COIN IN THE TREVI FOUNTAIN

We’re going to start off with a major tourist checkmark here: tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain. You have to do this when in Rome, if not only to live out your Lizzie McGuire dream (no? just me?). If you want to take it to the next level, though, you can toss three coins in: one coin to ensure your return to Rome, a second coin to fall in love with an Italian, and a third coin to marry that person. So if you’re hoping to find love in Italy, tossing three coins might prove helpful (and you can add to the €3,000 that’s collected from the fountain each day)!

It was really cool to see this place up close and personal, so if you want to avoid the insane crowds and the gate blocking the lower level of the fountain, get there as early as possible. It was about 8am when we visited the first time, but I’d even suggest earlier than that if you want as few people around as possible.

2. CLIMB THE SPANISH STEPS

Keeping the tourist checklist going strong here–another must when you’re in the Eternal City is climbing the Spanish Steps. Built in the 18th century, there are 135 steps to climb with beautiful views at both the bottom and the top. Just don’t sit on them, as tempting as it may be–sitting on the steps is currently banned and has been since 2019.

At the base of the Steps you’ll find some tea rooms, lots of designer shopping, and the Fontana della Barcaccia, or the Fountain of the Old Boat. The Trevi Fountain is only an 8 minute walk away, and the Pantheon is another 8 minutes, making for a great little walk that hits a few iconic stops.

3. TOUR THE COLOSSEUM

The Colosseum is a no-brainer for anyone traveling to Rome. It’s the largest ancient amphitheater that’s ever been built (it was completed in 80 AD), and it’s one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Colosseum has been used for many different things since it's construction during the Roman Empire; it was used as a castle and a fortress, and for events and purposes like church services, gladiator battles, executions, drama productions, and more.

I definitely recommend taking a guided tour through the Colosseum that allows you to also visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It was so helpful to have a knowledgable guide explaining the history of the site to us, granting us access to the gladiator platform, and showing us multiple landmarks that would have taken us much longer to explore ourselves. You can easily find multiple tours that cost under $50 per person (some even under $30), and they’re well worth the money in my opinion!

4. EXPLORE THE VILLA BORGHESE GARDENS

If that little blurb at the start of this post wasn’t enough to convince you to visit the Villa Borghese Gardens, then these pictures should do the trick. The rest of the foliage in the gardens wasn’t super impressive honestly (though maybe that’s because we visited in late fall rather than the spring), but this little gem made the trek worth it by far. There are also lots of other spots to explore in and around the gardens, like the Borghese Gallery, the Globe Theatre, the Bioparco (zoo), and more, so you can rest assured that a visit to Villa Borghese won’t leave you unsatisfied.

The 18th century building pictured below, on the artificial lake within the gardens, is the Temple of Aesculapius (a demigod son of Zeus in Greek and Roman mythology). You can rent rowboats to glide across the lake and get a closer view of the temple among the ducks, swans, fish and turtles swimming below.

5. EAT TRADITIONAL ROMAN PASTAS

This one really needs no explanation, but I’m going to give it to you anyway because I’m obsessed with traditional Roman pasta recipes. There are four big ones that you’re likely aware of: carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and alla Gricia. They all play off each other a bit when it comes to ingredients, yet they’re each amazing and unique in their own flavors. My favorite happens to be carbonara, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a bad plate of pasta anywhere in Rome, especially if you order one of these four traditional dishes. Here’s a little brief if you don’t know which one to get (though you can’t go wrong):

Cacio e pepe: literally meaning “cheese and pepper”, that’s exactly how you make it–freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and a bit of pasta water to bring the cheesy sauce together. Typically served over spaghetti or bucatini.

Pasta alla Gricia: similar to cacio e pepe, but diced guanciale (cured pork) adds a crispy, flavorful punch. This was the one dish I sadly didn’t get to try in Rome–so obviously that’s my excuse to go back.

Pasta alla Carbonara: probably the overall crowd favorite. Essentially, it’s Gricia with an egg added, making a super creamy, decadent sauce. Also probably the hardest to make correctly, considering you add the raw egg directly to the warm pasta and mix at the right speed and temperature so not to cook the egg.

Pasta all’Amatriciana: an old-school go-to. Amatriciana is basically Gricia in a red sauce (San Marzano tomatoes, traditionally). Incredible flavor, and feels super traditional to eat in a classic Italian trattoria.

6. VISIT THE PANTHEON

Another major hit on the tourist checklist: the Pantheon. This was arguably my favorite landmark that we saw in Rome; free to enter, right in the middle of Centro Storico, and sitting comfortably at the head of the Piazza della Rotonda. I loved how the piazza bustled during the day but still wasn’t the most crowded area we came across in Rome–it was a comfortable level of crowded.

The Pantheon is one of the most well-preserved Ancient Roman buildings, over 2,000 years old, and is the world’s biggest unreinforced concrete dome, meaning there’s no extra support helping to keep the dome upright. It was also a huge source of inspiration for some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. The oculus, or opening, at the top of the Pantheon lets both light and rain inside, and is the only source of light in the building, also serving as a connection between the temple and the gods. The Pantheon also holds the tombs of famous artist Raphael, two Italian kings: Vittorio Emmanuel II and Umberto I, and the latter’s Queen, Margherita of Savoy.

7. EXPLORE VATICAN CITY

Vatican City being it’s own country (the smallest in the world) is a really cool experience when visiting Rome, especially since there’s so much to do! The Vatican Museums are the highlight, of course, showcasing incredible Roman sculptures and Renaissance artworks. There are 70,000 works at the museum and 20,000 are on display as you walk through the 24 different rooms, ending in the Sistine Chapel (another must-see I talk more about below). You can buy tickets and walk around freely, but we paid for a guided tour and loved the experience–it’s great to have someone who knows what they’re talking about show you around a place like this!

You can also see St. Peter’s Basilica and Square for free nearby, though the lines to get into the Basilica can be extremely long. It’s probably best to get there early before the crowds start showing up, and likewise with most of the iconic landmarks on this list (unless you don’t mind sweaty strangers rubbing up on you).

There are other museums, castles, buildings, gardens, and more to see within the Vatican City, and right outside the country walls are tons of restaurants, shopping, and more.

8. SEE THE SISTINE CHAPEL

This was arguably the highlight of my trip to Rome, if only because I’ve been obsessed with The Creation of Adam for years and years. Technically you’re not allowed to photograph inside the Sistine Chapel (but that’s really only due to a Japanese copyright that’s now expired). The guards will yell every couple of minutes, but people still whipped out their phones and took videos and pictures whenever they wanted. Regardless, it’s one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever seen, and the experience of walking through those doors and just staring straight up for minutes on end was unlike anything else I’ve done throughout my travels. I’m a sucker for art and museums, though, so I can wander and stare like nobody’s business. Make sure you see this if you’re in Rome!

9. LUXURY SHOP AT LA RINASCENTE

If you’re a shopaholic, or just looking for something to do on a slow day, I’d suggest taking a stroll over to La Rinascente and wandering around the seven levels of luxury shopping they offer. There’s no shortage of designer brands, from Gucci bags to Prada perfumes and everything in between, so if you’re looking to splurge, this is the place to do it (I was so mesmerized that I only got photos of the candy level…oops).

And in true Vagrant Appetite fashion… if you go up to the very top floor, there’s a rooftop bar called Up Sunset Bar that serves drinks and some great little pasta dishes (pictured below). I got lamb and sage mezzelune and it was incredible. The views weren’t as great as I’d imagined (lots of close-up sides of buildings) but I imagine it’s better at sunset. Regardless, the food is super yummy so I’d say it’s worth a trip!

10. EXPLORE OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN CITY

Something I like to do in a new place, no matter where I am, is exploring a bit outside of the main city area. In our case, we even picked an Airbnb outside the main neighborhoods of Rome, away from the landmarks and crowds. We stayed in Pigneto, which is just behind the Termini station-an edgier little neighborhood filled with street art, vibrant outdoor restaurants, and lots of local shops. It was a bit of a trek to get into the city every time we wanted to visit a monument, explore different streets, cross the river, etc., but it was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the center of Rome once we’d done our exploring.

Even if your lodging is within the busy center of a city like Rome, I definitely still suggest making some trips outside the craziness and venture to the outskirts to find different neighborhoods, local restaurants, and new experiences.