Like a dream has come true. After years of waiting, finally in Rome! The excitement and anticipation consumed you as you walked the cobblestone streets.
It was a beautiful day with a crisp breeze that lightly rustled through the leaves on some trees lining both sides of the street. You can’t wait anymore to explore every inch of this fantastic city!
Rome is where the old meets the new. Centuries-old landmarks sit beside modern shops and restaurants.
In your excitement, you seem to have lost track of time; you suddenly realize it’s late at night and everything has closed for business. What a bummer! Don’t worry, though. There are a lot of unforgettable things to do in Rome that will leave you with lasting memories.
Things To Must Do
To ensure you can adequately use most of your time in Rome, be sure to check out these 10 unforgettable things to do in Rome before saying ciao (that’s goodbye in Italian).
1. Visit the Vatican Museums
Source image: joyofmuseums.comYou have to see this place! It’s vast, and it will take hours to go through all of the fantastic exhibits. In your search for masterpieces, you’ll find out more about the history of Rome. Some of the most beautiful masterpieces sit on display inside these walls that were built for Vatican City.
Visiting the Museums of the Vatican is one of those things you should do, if not only for the Sistine Chapel. The museums are vast and packed with paintings from some of Europe’s best painters, including Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo. Visiting on the weekend can be more crowded than on weekdays
In the Sistine Chapel, you’ll see Michelangelo’s famous ‘The Last Judgment.’ His painting of God giving Adam life is also on display, and his other paintings are from the roof of the chapel. In total, there are about 1,300 exhibits to view and enjoy. You should plan a few hours for this one.
2. Visit the top of The Spanish Steps
Source image: romewise.comYou can’t leave Rome without standing at the base of these steps, staring up as far as your eyes will take you. After a few moments, look down, and you’ll see all kinds of people from different countries enjoying this famous landmark that’s been around since 1723. Piazza di Spagna!
The sweeping staircase that leads from the bottom of Piazza di Spagna to Trinità dei Monti is called “The Spanish Steps,” and it’s a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike. On a beautiful day, just join the crowds and try to find your way through – or better yet, stop to take in the view!
3. Take a tour of The Colosseum Underground
Source image: media.tacdn.comColosseum has the largest arena (theater-in-the-round) in the world and was completed in 80 A.D. You can’t miss it since it is smack dab in the middle of the city, surrounded by other famous landmarks.
It opened up as a place for gladiators to fight. But through renovations, it now holds concerts and other performances. It is a sight to see with the towering exterior and stunning interior that’s still in superb condition after all of these years.
The most important highlight of the entire Colosseum tour is the underground section. By taking the Colosseum Underground tour you can
4. Visit The Pantheon
Source image: upload.wikimedia.orgThis monument took years to build, but it was worth it once it was completed in 128 A.D. by Marcus Agrippa (Emperor Augustus’ son-in-law). It is a historical place where people of all ages and races can honor the Gods and other important figures.
The dome that sits atop it has been intact for centuries, which is unbelievable given how many earthquakes it’s suffered through!
5. Take a gondola ride on the Tiber River
Source image: italy4real.comThis is something you can’t miss during your time in Rome since it is an activity that will give you a sight into the romantic side of this city. It is something that couples have been doing for centuries, so if you want to experience what they’ve experienced.
Why not take advantage of this opportunity? It might evoke your romantic mood! Enjoy your time, just kidding! Sightseeing by gondola is a truly unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Another added perk to doing this activity during night time so be sure to do it as soon as possible!
6. Visit The Vatican Gardens
Source image: upload.wikimedia.orgEnjoy the beauty within these walls. The lush green grass changes color with the seasons, and of course, it’s always fill up with some gorgeous flowers. You can lose track of time as you stroll along through all of its paths that lead to different smaller gardens throughout.
7. Explore Testaccio Market
Source image: images.squarespace-cdn.comIt is a local place where locals shop for meats, cheeses, and all types of pasta that they will then take home to cook in their kitchens. It’s a great place to pick up some fresh, local ingredients to try out in your kitchen back home.
Rome is full of little shops, boutiques, and market stalls selling everything from clothes to shoes, handbags, jewelry, and colorful ceramics. Keep your eyes searching for great deals around Rome. You never know when you’ll stumble across a hidden treasure or a jewel that would make the perfect gift!
8. See the Pantheon from Piazza Della Rotonda
Source image: upload.wikimedia.orgNot only is this square incredibly beautiful, but it has some of the best views in all of Rome. The Pantheon sits directly across from where you’ll be standing, and if you look to your right, you can see The Colosseum peeking out at you! Take a selfie with these two famous landmarks to make your friends back home jealous.
9. Explore Trastevere
Source image: mappimondo.itThis is the place to be for authentic Italian cuisine and fun, trendy bars. It can get crowded since it’s always packed with tourists, but there are tons of hidden spots you’ll find if you wander around long enough.
You will also enjoy checking out all of the shopping here that ranges from clothes to home goods. It’s also one of the most bohemian neighborhoods in town.
10. Go to the Roma Termini Station
Source image: planetofhotels.comYou have to do this since it’s one of the largest stations in all of Europe. It opened up in 1866 and is used by over 320,000 passengers every day! You can get there via The Metro A-line, so you don’t even need a car.
Rome has tons of great attractions, but these are just some of the must-see places. You can wander around for days and never get bored because there is so much to do here! Have fun exploring.
Final word:
Now that you’ve come to know some of the most unforgettable things to do in Rome, it’s time to explore! Make sure you don’t forget your camera. I bet you won’t be disappointed! You’re going to capture all these memories for years (and maybe even generations) to come.
So go ahead! We can’t wait until we hear about all the fantastic adventures you had during this life-changing trip full of lasting memories. Now not wasting any more time, get out there and enjoy! Are you ready? Ciao Bella!