Why go to Rome? The 10 good reasons to go Rome
The seven churches tour
An urban pilgrimage to discover the four major and three minor basilicas.
The Rome of museums and culture
Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Raphael: all the greats have left their mark in Rome.
The Italian way of life
La dolce vita, like Fellini's major work, wonderfully translates the atmosphere of Rome.
Nature just a few steps from the center
There are many gardens in the heart of the city, offering pleasant oases of coolness in summer.
A unique heritage in the world
Rome's historic center is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The smallest state in the world
Vatican City is the seat of the Catholic Church, but also the smallest state in the world.
The succulent local specialties
From the famous pasta alla carbonara to pinse and gelati!
The warm Roman nights
From VIP evenings like Grande Bellezza to neighbourhood bars, Rome comes alive at nightfall.
A warm and smiling welcome
Although Rome is a large city, its inhabitants are friendly and welcoming.
A city full of paradoxes
A mixture of ancient and modern, religious and profane, harmony and chaos.
What to visit Rome?
Interview: My Rome
Aurélie Hannier, author
From her personal travel diaries to the Petit Futé guides, it was only a short step! Aurélie Hannier always has one foot in France and the other in Italy. Passionate about transalpine culture and in love with Rome, she introduces you to the city's treasures, as well as her best addresses, carefully noted during her many strolls through the alleys of the Eternal City.
See the video of the interviewGood to know to visit Rome
Timetable
The Italian national museums are closed on Mondays. It is best to visit during the week, even if Rome is always very busy, at least you will avoid the weekend tourists.
To be booked
Rome is a much-visited city in every season, and the Colosseum is undoubtedly the tourists' favorite monument.
Book your ticket for the Colosseum, Forums and Palatine online, on the official website: https://www.coopculture.it/. Ticket availability has doubled since October 2023, but the queue is still very long. Two official ticket offices: piazza del Colosseo and largo della Salara Vecchia (the latter is generally a little less crowded). The ticket is now nominative, and an identity document is required at the entrance. It allows entry to the Colosseum (please arrive 15 minutes before the reserved time) and to the Forum-Palatine area. The Colosseum entrance is near the Sperone Valadier, while the Forum-Palatine entrance is near the Arco di Tito or Varco Vignola (via di San Gregorio).
Different types of ticket are available for the Colosseum, Forums and Palatine : The 24h ticket (€16) gives access to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forums and the Palatine. The Full Experience ticket (€22), valid for 48 hours, also gives access to the underground passages of the Colosseum (subject to availability) and to the SUPER sites (https://colosseo.it/super/), including the exhibition halls of the Domus Tiberiana. The Forum Pass Super ticket gives access to the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forums and the SUPER sites, but does not include entry to the Colosseum.
Don't forget to make a reservation for the Galleria Borghese: https: //www.gebart.it/
To avoid waiting times, it's particularly advisable to buy asaltafila ticket for the Vatican Museums in advance.
Budget & Tips
Tickets to Roman monuments and museums are often combined, so remember to keep your tickets and check that you have not already paid when you return!
Remember also that admission is often free for EU residents under 18 and reduced for those under 25. If you are a Parisian, thanks to the twinning of Rome with Paris, you can benefit from free admission to the municipal museums. You can find the list on the website(http://www.museiincomuneroma.it/).
Think of the Roma Pass: This multipurpose pass gives access to most of the archaeological sites and museums in Rome. It gives you two free entries (for the 3-day pass) for the first two places visited, and then reduced rates for the following visits. Big advantage of the card: free public transportation in Rome during the 2 or 3 days, depending on the formula chosen! Points of sale: museums, tourist offices, online(www.romapass.it) or by phone (+39 06 06 08). Please note that online, you can only collect the Roma Pass 24 hours after purchase. Pass 48h: 32 €; 72h: 52 €.
Much more expensive, the Vatican OMNIA Card allows you to visit basilicas and monuments of great religious and cultural interest in Rome and offers access to the Roma Cristiana Open Bus. Sites such as the Vatican Museums are also included in the card. The OMNIA Card 72 hours costs 129 €, the OMNIA Card 24 hours is 69 €. The card can be purchased online(www.omniavaticanrome.org).
Guided tours
Like everywhere else: the red buses(www.city-sightseeing.com) allow you to visit the city in comfort. It is also possible to travel around the city by Vespa(www.onmovo.com/).
There is no main tourist office in Rome, but there are several PITs(punto informativo turistico) scattered throughout the city. Here are the main ones: Piazza Pia (Castel Sant'Angelo), Fori Imperiali, via Minghetti (corner of via del Corso) and Stazione Termini (entrance via Giolitti). You can also find them at the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino, and another at the Vatican, largo del Colonnato, near San Pietro.
Tourist traps
Beware of the various touts at the metro exits who will offer you reduced-price tickets: always buy your tickets on the official website. And don't succumb to the charm of the gladiators in front of the Colosseum: the photo isn't free, and it's illegal!
What's very local
For religious sites, appropriate dress is required: no shorts or tank tops. Think about it, or you may not be able to get in.
