Rome is one of my favorite cities. The ancient architecture, stylish locals, romantic language—I love it all. When we decided to take our kids to Italy for the first time, there was no question it would be one of our stops. In order to keep everyone happy, we carefully planned our days so that they weren’t overly packed. The trip was amazing—from the food and wine (check out our favorite restaurants) to the sights and shopping. Below is a list of some of the best things to do in Rome. I would highly recommend hiring a guide to show you around some of the top historical sights, especially if you’re traveling with kids. They will dive deeper into the history and share unique stories that bring this amazing city to life.
Best Sites in Rome
Vatican City (Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica)
The Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent nation-state. Within its walls resides the Vatican palace, home to the pope, along with the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. You will want a tour guide to make the most of the visit. Not only are they educated about all of the history, but with so much to see it helps to have someone identify the highlights. Typical tours last 3-3 ½ hours, which is a good amount of time to get spend touring around.
Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum
This famous amphitheater was built 2000 years ago. The enormity of this site is hard to describe and is a must-see when in Rome. The underground tour reopened just before our visit and we were unable to get tickets, but it could be a good addition. You get to walk through the area where the gladiators waited before heading into battle. Palatine Hill, located next to the Colosseum, is the sight where Rome began. It’s a pretty area to walk around and learn about the history while enjoying one of the best views of the city. Typical tours are 2-2 ½ hours, which is more than enough time especially in the heat of the summer.
Pantheon
We made the mistake of not reserving a tour before we arrived, so we ended up wandering through on our own. It was a good reminder that using a tour guide in unfamiliar cities helps to bring these ancient buildings to life and, in my opinion, is worth the extra cost. Despite not planning ahead, we were glad we visited this church and used the audio tour to learn more about the architecture and history. As a bonus, there’s an amazing charcuterie next door with salumi, cheese, paninis and incredible Italian cookies.
Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola
There are many beautiful churches in Rome, but this one left a mark. We stumbled upon this church while walking home from dinner one evening. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. The artwork is stunning and it’s open late.
Tour Guides in Rome
Mami's
With history playing a pivotal role in everything you see in Rome, using tour guides is a great way to elevate visits to the most prominent sites. We used Mamis, which was also the company that managed our airbnb. Chiara was our guide for the activities mentioned above (except for Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola). She was wonderful—full of knowledge, very friendly, and engaging. We skipped lines, visited the highlights, and learned so much more than we would have on our own. Chiara grew up in Rome and studied Italian art history making her a breadth of knowledge. I would definitely recommend Mami’s for a very personal and educational experience.
Neighborhoods Worth Visiting
Spanish Steps
Stop by and climb the 135 steps to the top of the stairs seen in Roman Holiday. It’s a great place to shop – or window shop – with high-end boutiques mixed in with budget-friendly stores, as well as some of the best vintage consignment shopping we’ve found (check out Lesley Luxury Vintage). After you’ve wandered in and out of the storefronts, grab a cafe and enjoy some great people watching.
Piazza Navona
This is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome and worth a visit. Stop by and take some photos in front of the famous fountains that adorn the area: the Fountain of the Four Rivers and the Fountain of Neptune.
Campo de Flori
A short 5 minute walk from Piazza Navona is Campo de Fiori. This is one of the oldest open air markets in Rome, so plan accordingly. If the market isn’t open, you’ll still find excellent bars and restaurants lining the streets.
Monti
We visited this great neighborhood after our tour of the Colosseum given the close proximity. It’s funky, full of vintage boutiques, local unassuming bars, and amazing restaurants.
Trastavere
We visited this great neighborhood after our tour of the Colosseum given the close proximity. It’s funky, full of vintage boutiques, local unassuming bars, and amazing restaurants.
Testaccio Market
A bit underwhelming. Not as big or interesting as we expected, but this could have been due to our timing. We went on a Monday morning and many of the meat and fish stands were closed. Personally, it was not my favorite place in Rome and given the location in comparison to where we were staying, I could have skipped it and not been disappointed.
