Rome Travelers Recommend

You can save time and take the hassle out of your visit by booking Skip the Line tickets and heading straight inside. Skip the Line tours and tickets are available for many of Rome’s most popular sights and experiences, like Viator’s exclusive VIP Vatican tour, as well as Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Fast-track entry can also be enjoyed at some of Rome's other famous attractions with Skip the Line: Borghese Gallery and Gardens and Skip the Line: Colosseum and Ancient Rome, meaning you’ll have plenty of time left for quintessential Rome experiences like throwing coins into the famous Trevi Fountain or eating gelato on the Spanish steps. You won’t even have to wait for a table for dinner by booking a Skip the Line Rome Hard Rock Café reservation and you’ll be whisked to your table upon arrival.

Of the global cultural wonders which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, only one represents an entire country: Vatican City. The world’s smallest sovereign state is – as well as being the spiritual home of the world’s billion or so Catholics – an incomparable storehouse of artistic treasures. It’s also one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so a pre-booked ticket which takes you to the head of the line is a must. Once you’ve mounted the remarkable double helix stairs at the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a unique overview of the origins and development of Western art awaits you. It’s a journey which takes you from fine Greek and Roman statuary to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, the undisputed masterpiece of the Renaissance, and on to contemporary ecclesiastical works. And that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the colossal house of worship that is St Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s Pietà and countless other sacred works.

Michelangelo is considered one of Tuscany’s most famous sons, but many of the masterpieces for which is he is best known are not found in Tuscany. In fact, Michelangelo spent much of his life in what is now the Italian capital of Rome, and you can see much of his artistic legacy in Rome today. In his artistic youth, Michelangelo was held in local esteem by the ruling Medici family of Florence, but he was by no means an artistic legend by the time he arrived in Rome in 1496 at age 21. But the following year, he began work on a commissioned piece that would become one of his most celebrated sculptural works - the stunning Pieta, which now sits near the entry of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The other Michelangelo masterpieces in Vatican City are his enormous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling was painted from 1508–1512, and the Last Judgement fresco behind the altar was painted from 1534–1541.

Getting to Pompeii from Rome is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to take the train to Naples, and then change trains to the slower Circumvesuviana line that will take you to the excavation site at Pompeii. (The Circumvesuviana is in the same station as the main trains to and from Naples, so that part is easy - it’s just in a different part of the station.) From Rome-Naples on the high-speed train takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and then from Naples-Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana takes a little over a half-hour. You can catch an early train from Rome and be at the entrance to Pompeii with plenty of time to explore the site before retracing your steps for the journey home. It’s definitely an investment in time, since you’ll spend nearly four hours of your day in transit, but it beats missing out on the ruins of Pompeii completely.

Day 1: City of Rome Explore Rome with a hop-on hop-off bus or a specialist walking tour that includes Ancient Rome, Baroque Rome, Jewish Rome, and art history. Don’t forget to visit the Colosseum, the Roman catacombs, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. Then end the day with a night tour of the city or a Tiber River cruise. Day 2: The Vatican Spend a day in the Vatican City. Witness the Papal Audience and skip the line to the Vatican Museums, Raphael's Rooms and La Pieta, in St Peter's Basilica. Then view Michelangelo's masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel or experience an exclusive viewing of the Vatican Museums. Day 3: Day Trips Take a food trip out of the city to Chianti and Umbria or an overnight tour of the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. Sail across the Gulf of Naples and discover the secrets of Capri, or take a three-day excursion to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri.

Explore Rome in style on a private tour! Whether you desire a more flexible Vatican experience or want to take your time viewing legendary art and historic structures, we have a variety of private tours for you to choose from. Explore on your own on an independent tour or enjoy personalized attention with a guide. You'll come away with a better understanding of Rome and a host of stories (and photos!) to share with your friends and family back home.

The heart of Roman civilization, which once included some 80 million inhabitants, has now been reduced to a series of important ruins in the center of the city of Rome. It is believed that Rome itself was founded in 753 B.C. by brothers Romulus and Remus, decedents of a Trojan prince. Over just a couple of centuries the city evolved into the most powerful entity on the planet, with over 20 percent of the entire Earth's estimated population under its control at one point. In its glory, this part of the Roman city was full of intricately built temples and other important buildings made of the world's finest marble and stone. However, in the 15th century, many of the ancient city's temples were scavenged of their materials and used to build a number of churches and other more modern buildings.

Take a break from Rome's big-city bustle to discover the fascinating history of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. Combine the highlights of southern Italy with a trip to Naples and visit to Pompeii's haunting ruins and climb to the smoking summit of volcanic Mt. Vesuvius. Lava flows have scarred the sides of Mt. Vesuvius, and are visible on the winding road up to the summit. Climb Mt. Vesuvius and hike through soft volcanic ash and pumice as you circle the crater, with panoramic views of the picturesque Bay of Naples. You may see plumes of steam issuing from the sleeping, but still active, volcano.

The city of Rome alone is full enough of treasures to last a lifetime, however, when in Rome you shouldn’t forget the other amazing sights of Italy. It may be impossible to truly discover everything, but luckily with some planning, any traveler can experience the best of other regions and cities in just one day. So take a day and go beyond the hectic urban sprawl on one or more of these fantastic full-day sightseeing tours from Rome. Ah Tuscany. The gorgeous landscapes, quaint villages and lush vineyards of this hilly region provide the perfect setting for a relaxed day trip. On a Tuscany in One Day trip, you’ll explore three villages in the Val d’Orcia, Italy’s most fertile region. Tuscany’s largest city and cultural center deserves as much exploration as possible. You might think you can’t see the top attractions and artworks of the birthplace of the Renaissance in a day, but with the help of a Skip-the-Line Tour you’ll enjoy many of Florence’s highlights.

The beguiling Amalfi Coast runs from Sorrento to Salerno, with jaw-dropping cliff-top panoramas, a coastline of rare beauty and a sparkling cluster of seaside towns including ravishing Positano and Amalfi. Inland there are tranquil hiking trails through ancient landscapes around the classy hilltop town of Ravello, famed for its literary and musical connections as well as its aristocratic, stucco villas. Exploring the Amalfi Coast from a base in sophisticated Rome has never been easier; options stretch from a single day’s flying visit by high-speed train to discover the charms of Amalfi and Positano or a full immersions in the region – varying from three- to nine-day packages —which can incorporate tours of cosmopolitan, chaotic Naples; the UNESCO-listed ruins at Pompeii; the Blue Grotto on the sleek island of Capri; and overnight ferry trips to Sicily to bask in the shadow of Mount Etna.

Easter may be the most popular and exciting time of year to visit Rome, the world’s hub for the Catholic holiday. The city is alive with celebration and spring colors, and you’re going to want to get in on the action. Most of the activity centers at the Vatican, with a Papal Mass on Easter Sunday and a public message to the tens of thousands who gather in the square and up via della Conciliazione to the Tiber River. It's an unforgettable experience, but be warned that the crowds are absolutely massive.

So much can be said for Rome and the surrounding south of Italy. But those who would sing the praises of its cobbled alleyways, ancient aqueducts, and bustling air of Italian joie-de-vivre, can only help but fall in love with its sister, Florence, for she is like Rome, only somehow more beautiful.

Rome is one of the world's greatest food cities. While every visitor to the Italian capital should experience an al fresco meal at a traditional trattorie, the food experiences in the Eternal City go far beyond the restaurant table. One of the best ways to experience the breadth of Rome's food culture and to eat like a local is to sample the city’s best offerings on a food tour. Each neighborhood has its own signature flavors, from the pizza bianca and fresh mozzarella of Trastevere to the suppli and fried artichokes of the Jewish Ghetto. You can also sign up for an Italian cooking class and learn the secrets of making handmade Italian pasta in the home of a local chef or master pizza-making in a Roman restaurant kitchen. Enjoy a rooftop meal overlooking ancient ruins, feast in the Pinecone Courtyard of the Vatican Museums or an organic Italian-style picnic in the Borghese or Villa Pamphili gardens.

Every single one of Italy’s 20 regions produces wine, including the two islands. Some are more famous worldwide than others – and some don’t even make it out of Italy. But if you’re a wine lover planning a trip to the country you would be smart to try to sample as much Italian wine as you can during your visit. These are some of the best wine regions in Italy.