# The 23 best things to do

- City: Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
- By: GoGoGuide
- Places: 24
- Link: https://gogogo.place/s/ztm1qwr

Rome is such an ancient and dense place that prioritizing which attractions to visit can be an overwhelming task. How do you even start to figure out what to do in Rome? To shed some light on that impenetrable question we've pulled together a list of world-famous sites and lesser-known destinations—museums, markets, archeological and architectural marvels—that will provide you with the full spectrum of outstanding experiences the Italian capital has to offer. Whether you have only a day in the city or a couple weeks to explore every detail, this list will help you pull together an itinerary you won't forget.

- **Quartiere San Lorenzo** — Quartiere San Lorenzo, 00185 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Quartiere%20San%20Lorenzo%2C%20Quartiere%20San%20Lorenzo%2C%2000185%20Rome%2C%20Metropolitan%20City%20of%20Rome%20Capital%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJXXpV5ZthLxMR6b6wtW-nW5E) — This working-class neighborhood near Termini station first gained international prominence when Soho House opened their Rome outpost there last year. Over the past few years it’s evolved from a rough-around-the-edges student hangout into a decidedly bohemian district, with street art, street food, lively bars, and cool fashion boutiques.
- **Baths of Caracalla** — Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Baths%20of%20Caracalla%2C%20Viale%20delle%20Terme%20di%20Caracalla%2C%2000153%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJ1YU-M85hLxMR3Jhb6gZAK2o) — The Baths of Caracalla were a massive public bathing complex built in the third century. Throughout the year, the site is open during the day for visitors to stroll through ruins that were so magnificent they inspired the Main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal.
- **Pigneto** — Pigneto, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Pigneto%2C%20Pigneto%2C%20Rome%2C%20Metropolitan%20City%20of%20Rome%20Capital%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJA8OLAophLxMRCdp8M4c3MKc) — Pigneto is popular with Italian college students and twenty- and thirty-somethings who frequent the bars on the "Isola," a pedestrianized stretch of Via del Pigneto, the neighborhood's central artery. It's also a destination for Pasolini fans who visit the streets that were the backdrop for his Neorealist films.
- **Testaccio market** — Via Aldo Manuzio, 66b, 00153 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Testaccio%20market%2C%20Via%20Aldo%20Manuzio%2C%2066b%2C%2000153%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJB-6b3zFgLxMR7R-kXLa_VYw) — This market in one of Rome's most bustling central neighborhoods has all the usual suspects: bread bakeries, produce stalls, fishmongers, butchers, and delis. You'll also find seasonal vegetables like artichokes or zucchini, cuts typical of the local cuisine like tripe and liver, and little chewy pizzas common to Roman bakeries.
- **National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo** — Largo di Villa Peretti, 2, 00185 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=National%20Roman%20Museum%20-%20Palazzo%20Massimo%2C%20Largo%20di%20Villa%20Peretti%2C%202%2C%2000185%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJ18PTgaZhLxMRvINaLw9AZ2w) — The Palazzo Massimo's building itself was built by Jesuits in the late 19th century and was only turned into a state-owned museum in 1980. It's next to Stazione Termini, Rome's busiest station, yet few travelers make the trip to see the museum's masterpiece-packed halls.
- **Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere** — Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, 00153 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Basilica%20of%20Santa%20Maria%20in%20Trastevere%2C%20Piazza%20di%20Santa%20Maria%20in%20Trastevere%2C%2000153%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJs_RYejhgLxMRIkBM8PNSZzY) — There are hundreds of churches in Rome, but Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the most breathtaking. Not only are the mosaics and gilded ceiling spectacular, the very skeletal structure of the church is mind-boggling.
- **Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini** — Foro Traiano, 85, 00186 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Le%20Domus%20Romane%20di%20Palazzo%20Valentini%2C%20Foro%20Traiano%2C%2085%2C%2000186%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJr2C1NU1gLxMRAQ8Cfk1debk) — The Domus Romane are ancient Roman villas and other structures that were abandoned in antiquity, filled in with debris, and inadvertently used as foundations for Palazzo Valentini, a Renaissance palace turned government office building.
- **Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo** — Piazza del Popolo, 12, 00187 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Basilica%20Parrocchiale%20Santa%20Maria%20del%20Popolo%2C%20Piazza%20del%20Popolo%2C%2012%2C%2000187%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJn8_twvhgLxMRrSlE7RYxCbg) — Santa Maria del Popolo is a Renaissance church at the edge of Piazza del Popolo and just within Rome's 3rd-century walls. It was decorated during Rome's most recent artistic peak, the 15th to 17th centuries, and is packed with masterpieces.
- **Vicus Caprarius-the Water City** — Vicolo del Puttarello, 25, 00187 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Vicus%20Caprarius-the%20Water%20City%2C%20Vicolo%20del%20Puttarello%2C%2025%2C%2000187%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJZQJAKq1hLxMR82avObaOeZc) — This museum takes you beneath the Trevi district, through an intricate maze of ancient vestiges to the archaeological ruins of Vicus Caprarius (which roughly translates to “City of Water”), an old Roman apartment complex dating back to the first-century A.D..
- **Janiculum Hill** — via Garibaldi, Salita di Sant'Onofrio, 00165 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Janiculum%20Hill%2C%20via%20Garibaldi%2C%20Salita%20di%20Sant'Onofrio%2C%2000165%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJ-Z2cHUBgLxMRz8Wfw_RW_Qw) — This is a leisurely stroll beginning in Trastevere and winding up via Garibaldi to the top of Janiculum Hill. The mood changes from urban at the beginning to monumental at the end; it's a bit of work, but rewards those willing to do it with a unique perspective on Roman history and some of the best views of the city. Best to do the walk during the day, or early in the morning if it's summer.
- **Villa Farnesina** — Via della Lungara, 230, 00165 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Villa%20Farnesina%2C%20Via%20della%20Lungara%2C%20230%2C%2000165%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJmUUGzkZgLxMR-T6gV-Qsy4o) — The Villa was the private residence of Agostino Chigi, one of the Renaissance's richest men; he liked to showcase his wealth by hiring artists to paint elaborate frescoes on the walls and ceilings in his palace.
- **Campagna Amica Market** — Via di S. Teodoro, 74, 00186 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Campagna%20Amica%20Market%2C%20Via%20di%20S.%20Teodoro%2C%2074%2C%2000186%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJMXt6sUpgLxMRpXEHibg4wtM) — Despite being Rome's largest farmers market, the Mercato di Campagna Amica remains down to earth and not at all corporate—as demonstrated by the fact it's only open on weekends. The stalls adhere to the "0 km" philosophy, shorthand for products made or grown within 100 kilometers from the point of sale; and vendors come mostly from Lazio, Rome's home region.
- **Domus Aurea** — Via della Domus Aurea, 00184 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Domus%20Aurea%2C%20Via%20della%20Domus%20Aurea%2C%2000184%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJp-3oaLdhLxMRS_bYIp1GB8w) — A sprawling palatial pavilion built by emperor Nero in the 1st century that will blow you away with the design taste and command of concrete and space on display. You can only visit on weekends—the site's under restoration during the week—but admission includes a guided tour.
- **Basilica of Saint Praxedes** — Via di Santa Prassede, 9/a, 00184 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Basilica%20of%20Saint%20Praxedes%2C%20Via%20di%20Santa%20Prassede%2C%209%2Fa%2C%2000184%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJqfIiLbthLxMRlfAZLBtfCl8) — The San Zeno Chapel is a small chapel and major pilgrimage destination inside the church of Santa Prassede (aka Saint Praxedes). The church, chapel, and mosaics all backdate to the 9th century when Pope Paschal I built the chapel and its Byzantine mosaics for his mother.
- **Church of God the Merciful Father** — Piazza Largo Terzo Millennio, 8, Via Francesco Tovaglieri, 194, 00155 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Church%20of%20God%20the%20Merciful%20Father%2C%20Piazza%20Largo%20Terzo%20Millennio%2C%208%2C%20Via%20Francesco%20Tovaglieri%2C%20194%2C%2000155%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJCX4TjPFiLxMRiL5YIjCuU8s) — Chiesa di Dio Padre Misericordioso, also known as the Jubilee Church, was designed by American architect Richard Meier as part of the Vatican's grand church-building and city revival program leading up to the Millennium Jubilee, a Catholic pilgrimage year held in 2000.
- **Palatine Hill** — Palatine Hill, 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Palatine%20Hill%2C%20Palatine%20Hill%2C%2000186%20Rome%2C%20Metropolitan%20City%20of%20Rome%20Capital%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJ8zdPo7VhLxMRwgAXwZzzm50) — The Palatine Hill is a big, sprawling open-air museum. There are emperors' palaces, manicured gardens, medieval churches, and a terrace overlooking the Forum and beyond.
- **Capitoline Museums** — Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Capitoline%20Museums%2C%20Piazza%20del%20Campidoglio%2C%201%2C%2000186%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJ8-wGeU9gLxMR--zJtnpGod4) — Home to one of the finest collections of ancient sculpture in Rome (and therefore the world), the Capitoline Museums are—weirdly—rarely crowded. They attract school groups, local history and art buffs, and travelers, all of whom tend to meander through the museums' various buildings, two of which were designed by none other than Michelangelo.
- **Sistine Chapel** — 00120, Vatican City — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Sistine%20Chapel%2C%2000120%2C%20Vatican%20City&query_place_id=ChIJ268jxWVgLxMRIj61f4fIFqs) — The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481.
- **MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Art** — Via Guido Reni, 4a, 00196 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=MAXXI%20-%20National%20Museum%20of%2021st%20Century%20Art%2C%20Via%20Guido%20Reni%2C%204a%2C%2000196%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJjT_cwulgLxMRbL2aAaLagKw) — MAXXI is the kind of place you go to spend half a day, with no plans other than to take the entire place in. Designed by Zaha Hadid, this is Rome’s museum for all things contemporary, with exhibitions spanning modern fashion, cinema, art, and architecture.
- **Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala** — Piazza della Scala, 23, 00153 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Chiesa%20di%20Santa%20Maria%20della%20Scala%2C%20Piazza%20della%20Scala%2C%2023%2C%2000153%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJJTl7akdgLxMRCwbqXkbTK10) — Entering this ancient apothecary, the oldest in Europe, feels a little like stepping back in time. You enter through the ground floor of the building, which is now a functioning, modern pharmacy, before heading upstairs to the ancient iteration.
- **Colosseum** — Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Colosseum%2C%20Piazza%20del%20Colosseo%2C%201%2C%2000184%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJrRMgU7ZhLxMRxAOFkC7I8Sg) — If you know the background of the building, a visit to the Colosseum will be truly amazing and totally live up to the hype. The place was used for wild beast hunts, public executions, and gladiator fights for several hundred years, then became a condo of sorts as medieval Romans made their homes in the hulking ruins.
- **Villa Doria Pamphili** — Via di S. Pancrazio, 00152 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Villa%20Doria%20Pamphili%2C%20Via%20di%20S.%20Pancrazio%2C%2000152%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJYeUz0BpgLxMRBNr_z8ge-CA) — Rome's largest public park is divided into manicured gardens, stretches of forest, pine groves, and bits of wild vegetation. There are wide open fields, as well as intimate nooks for romantic picnics. It's a perfect destination for runners or cyclists who want to get in a few miles without the nuisances of car traffic and smog.
- **Doria Pamphili Gallery** — Via del Corso, 305, 00186 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Doria%20Pamphili%20Gallery%2C%20Via%20del%20Corso%2C%20305%2C%2000186%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJF0obe01gLxMR0JJHtlD0kMY) — This museum houses Rome's largest private collection, a trove assembled by the Doria, Pamphilj, Landi, and Aldobrandini families and brought together through marriage. It’s set in a noble palace still owned by the Doria Pamphilj family and the ornate halls provide a grand setting for such an overwhelming amount of art.
- **St. Ivo alla Sapienza** — Corso del Rinascimento, 40, 00186 Roma RM, Italy — [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=St.%20Ivo%20alla%20Sapienza%2C%20Corso%20del%20Rinascimento%2C%2040%2C%2000186%20Roma%20RM%2C%20Italy&query_place_id=ChIJzyf5wE9gLxMRQ5FAydJfyqE) — Most artists and architects working in the characteristically ornate and emotional Baroque style leaned heavily on color and materials to create strong visual impressions. Not Borromini, in this magnificent church originally designed for the Università di Roma.