Rome – TOP 10, what to see in Rome?

Rome is a very interesting destination for both weekend getaways and longer stays. What to see there? How to plan a tour? We rush to give you tips, introducing you to the places you absolutely must consider when planning a trip to Rome :)

The account of our stay in Rome together was one of the first on our blog. Let’s be honest, today when we look at it we know that it leaves a lot to be desired ;) Seriously, you can see for yourself after all. In this post we will try to summarize it all and describe our TOP 10 from Rome (and the Vatican of course ;)).

Table of contents

TOP 10 places to visit in Rome

Rome is a city where there is, of course, much more to see than the following 10 places. You can spend weeks, probably even months here and there will still be something worth knowing. That’s to spell out what and how ;) Here we go!

10. the Piazza Navona and the Quatro Fumi Fountain

A very interesting and distinctive place that we associate with the book and movie Angels and Demons. It was here that one of the key scenes took place. But of course, that’s not the only reason why we recommend you Piazza Navona square with the Fountain of the Four Rivers (one of the 3 fountains in the square).

The most interesting, of course, is the fountain, which depicts 4 great rivers from 4 continents: Nile, Danube, Rio de la plata and Ganges. In addition, in this elongated square you can find numerous stalls and restaurants, at which it is worth squatting and watching the life going on around you.

9th Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows

Rome is full of various religious buildings. The average tourist may get a headache from their number, types, uses, names, relics, etc. Nonetheless, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows, which we wrote about here, is one of those sites that is long remembered.

It’s definitely not a top spot in Rome, sometimes hard to find in a guidebook, but in our opinion it’s worth a look here at least for a while, if only on the way to Termini Station.

Among the more interesting things we liked most here were the Relics of the Holy Manger (Sacra Culla) and, above all, the vault along with the dome of the basilica.

8th Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels and Martyrs

Quite near the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels and Martyrs. It was built in the ruins of Diocletian’s Thermae. And it was this aspect that interested us the most. It is built as if in rock and very spacious inside.

The basilica also has a Polish accent. The doors to this basilica were designed by Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj.

7. the Karakalli Thermae

Karakalli Thermal Baths are located a bit off the beaten path. Walking from the Vatican and the Center of Rome towards the south, they are still a piece behind the Colosseum. And what is so interesting about them?

First of all, they are the best preserved Roman thermae. The enormity of this place is incredibly impressive, although too much of it no longer remains ;) Nevertheless, the place has a very cool atmosphere, you can learn a lot about the rituals and how the ancient Romans spent their free time. Moreover, there are far fewer tourists here than around the Colosseum or Roman Forum.

You can read about the Karakalli Thermal Baths in this post.

6. pantheon

I don’t think anyone is surprised that the Pantheon in Rome was so high on our list. Probably most of all because it is a kind of “must see” on the list of attractions in Rome and every tour will look here.

What did the Pantheon become famous for? First of all, from the fact that it is a rotunda, with a dome that has an opening at the very top. Apparently, when it rains, this rain doesn’t fall inside, although we don’t know how much truth there is in that ;) Besides, the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved buildings from ancient Rome.

5. the Di Trevi Fountain

The most famous fountain in Rome, if not the world, had to be included in our list. Sure, it’s crowded there even in the middle of the night, it’s hard to take a picture there without thousands of tourists in the background…. however, the Di Trevi Fountain has that something about it that makes us come to it and throw in a coin for luck ;)

4 Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square. St. Peter’s Cathedral and Basilica

Vatican City, including especially St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. St. Peter’s Church makes a great impression on anyone who visits the place. In addition to visiting the piazza itself, it is also worth entering the Basilica, where a look at the Vatican Grottoes is also a must.

It’s also worth looking up at the vaulted ceiling and climbing up to enjoy the view of the Vatican and Rome from the Basilica’s dome.

We wrote about the Vatican here.

3. the Roman Forum and the Palatine

Despite appearances, the Roman Forum and especially the Palatine, although popular, are not on the TOP list of many visitors to Rome. Why? Usually all they need is a glimpse on their way from the Colosseum to the Vatican and that’s it. And that’s a shame…

It’s worth walking around both the Roman Forum and the Palatine and feel like an ancient Roman :) The surrounding remains of temples, arches and other buildings make it easy. And after walking among the remains of the buildings, take a moment to relax in the gardens on the Palatine grounds.

2. the Colosseum (from inside)

The Colosseum is by far the most recognizable sign of Rome. This is the number 1 point of any visitor to Rome for the first time. And with us “only” in second place ;)

Nonetheless, we believe that the Colosseum in Rome is a must-see and from the inside. A mere “throw” from the outside is not enough, it is essential to go in and see it with your own eyes in its full glory, because inside it is even more impressive.

What we suggest to you is to purchase tickets in advance online, so you can avoid long queues :)

1. the Vatican Museum

Our number 1 during our visit to Rome. Although we were there already a nice few years ago, we still remember the impression the museum made on us. And it is probably still, in our opinion, the best museum we have been to.

The downside of the Vatican Museum (which we wrote about here) is only that it takes a long time to visit, a very long time! But it’s worth it! This museum has one of the largest collections in the world.

Among the highlights are: The Sistine Chapel (although faint memories will remain of it due to the noise and crowd of people inside), the Shrine Courtyard, sarcophagi and mummies, numerous statues, sculptures, paintings, maps, etc., which it is impossible to even list them all. Here you can find works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio or even Jan Matejko.