Planning a trip to Rome? Discover 10 of the best things to do in Rome, from the Colosseum and Vatican City to the Trevi Fountain, beautiful churches, hidden gems and the best places to watch the sunset.

Rome is one of those cities where you can turn almost every corner and find something beautiful. Ancient ruins, incredible churches, lively piazzas, fountains, little cafés… there is so much to see that planning your first trip can feel overwhelming.

I spent three days in Rome during my Interrail trip, and these were some of my favourite things we did and places we discovered.

If you’re visiting Rome for the first time, here are 10 things I would definitely recommend adding to your itinerary.

1. Visit the Colosseum 🏛️

Of course, you can’t visit Rome without seeing the Colosseum!

This ancient amphitheatre is probably one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, and seeing it in person is honestly impressive. I especially recommend seeing it at sunset or at night, when the atmosphere is completely different.

We also visited the Colosseum during the day, but because we went in August, the combination of the heat and the huge crowds was honestly a bit overwhelming. We ended up rushing through the visit.

So if you can, visit outside the peak summer months — or go early in the morning.

💡 Budget tip: European visitors under 26 can benefit from reduced-price tickets, so check the current conditions before booking. Plus, you can also visit the Roman forum with your Colosseum ticket!

2. Explore Vatican City ⛪

Vatican City was one of my favourite parts of our trip.

We started at St. Peter’s Square and then went inside St. Peter’s Basilica, which is free to visit.

We arrived around 8 AM and didn’t have to wait at all. Inside, the golden ceilings, paintings and enormous dome were absolutely incredible.

Honestly, nothing beat St. Peter’s Basilica for me. It was one of the most impressive places we visited in Rome.

You can also buy tickets to visit the Vatican Museum, and the Sixtine Chapel. You’ll see one of the biggest art collections in the world. But the rooms themselves are art, the walls and the golden ceilings. Italy is really the place where art was born.

3. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain 💦

The Trevi Fountain is one of those places that you have to see at least once.

It’s beautiful, but be prepared for a lot of people, especially during the day. We walked past it during our first day of exploring Rome, and although it was crowded, it was still worth seeing.

It used to be free, but now if you want to go closer to the fountain you have to pay 2€, but honestly we didn’t pay and still got cool pictures. 

Take a moment to admire all the details before continuing through the surrounding streets.

4. Discover Rome’s beautiful churches 🎨

Something I didn’t expect before visiting Rome was just how many incredible churches there are.

We visited several during our three days, and each one had something different to offer.

One of my favourites was Sant’Andrea della Valle. The painted ceiling was absolutely beautiful and honestly one of the most impressive church ceilings I’ve ever seen.

We also visited Santa Maria della Vittoria, San Luigi dei Francesi and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

The best part? Many churches are completely free to enter, so they’re perfect if you’re travelling on a budget. 

My tip is everytime you see a church just walk in it, but don’t forget to wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. Or bring a scarf. 

5. Spend an afternoon in Trastevere 🍝

If you want to experience a more lively and local side of Rome, head to Trastevere.

The neighbourhood is full of charming streets, restaurants, osterie, trattorie and pizzerias.

It’s also a good place to eat if you’re travelling on a budget. We went to Pizzeria Giardino Interno, where my boyfriend had yet another carbonara (he really committed to the challenge 😂), while I had eggplant in tomato sauce with Parmigiano.

Trastevere is also a lovely place to simply wander around without having a specific destination in mind. There are many stores that sell leather bags, clothes, all made in Italy. 

6. Watch the sunset from the Spanish Steps 🌅

The Spanish Steps are another classic Rome landmark, but they’re also a great place to end the day.

We went there for sunset, and because the area is slightly elevated, you get some lovely views over the city.

It’s the kind of place where you can just sit for a while and watch Rome change as the sun goes down.

The Spanish Steps are just next to a beautiful park, Villa Borghese where you can see the Tempio di Esculapio and more beautiful fountains. I really recommend taking a walk in this park in the afternoon. 

7. Visit the Pantheon

The Pantheon was another one of my favourite landmarks. It was built over 2.000 years ago.

What makes it so impressive is that you can be walking through the busy streets of Rome and suddenly come across this enormous ancient building.

The architecture is incredible, and the inside is just as impressive as the outside. It is a place for history lovers. If you book an audio tour, you’ll learn more about which famous figures were buried there, and how it remained standing for all those years. 

It’s also conveniently located near Piazza Navona, so you can easily combine the two during the same walk.

8. Explore Piazza Navona and Rome’s little streets

Don’t spend your entire trip rushing from one famous landmark to another.

Some of my favourite moments in Rome were simply walking around without a plan.

Piazza Navona is a great place to start, with its fountains, architecture and lively atmosphere. From there, let yourself wander through the smaller streets and discover little shops, cafés and beautiful buildings.

That’s one of the things I loved most about Rome: you don’t always need a plan to find something beautiful. 

9. Visit Castel Sant’Angelo 🏰

Just a short walk from Vatican City, Castel Sant’Angelo is another place worth adding to your itinerary.

We crossed the beautiful Ponte Sant’Angelo to get there and then explored the castle.

I really enjoyed the visit because you get to learn more about Rome’s history while exploring the different rooms and viewpoints.

It’s also a great option if you’ve already visited the Vatican and want to continue exploring the area.

It costs only 2€ for Europeans under 26. But you can also book an audio tour on Get Your Guide.

10. Try as much Italian food as possible 🍕🍝

Okay, maybe this one is obvious, but you cannot come to Rome without eating!

We tried pizza, pasta, gelato and, of course, way too much carbonara.

One of our favourite meals was at Ristorante Pancrazio, which has a really unique setting inside what feels like a cave. The Roman-style decor makes the experience really immersive, and the food was delicious.

It was a little more expensive than some other places, though, so if you’re travelling on a student budget, Trastevere is a great area to find more affordable restaurants.

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A few tips for visiting Rome

☀️ Avoid the summer heat

If possible, I’d personally choose September or another shoulder-season month rather than August. We visited at the end of August and the heat made some sightseeing much harder than expected.

🚇 You don’t need a car

Rome is very walkable, and when the distances are too long, you can use the metro or buses. We used Google Maps to check routes and bus times, which was really helpful.

💶 Rome can be affordable for students

I actually found Rome less expensive than I expected. Our accommodation was the cheapest of our entire Interrail trip, and many of the places we visited were free or had very cheap reduced tickets for European visitors under 26.

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Would I recommend Rome?

Absolutely! If you’ve never been to Rome, I definitely think you should visit. The combination of ancient history, beautiful architecture, incredible food and the lively Italian atmosphere makes it such a unique city.

Three days was enough for us to see many of the main sights, but I already know there are plenty of places I didn’t get to discover.

Have you been to Rome? What would you add to this list? Let me know your favourite places, restaurants or hidden gems in the comments! ✨