Why go
- The density is the point — you cannot walk a block in the centro storico without tripping over something two millennia old.
- The Vatican holds one of the greatest art collections on earth, and it is a ten-minute walk from a working-class trattoria.
- Roman food is stubbornly local and cheap: cacio e pepe, carbonara, and supplì, done the same way for generations.
- It rewards aimless walking more than almost any city — the fountains, piazzas and churches are free and everywhere.
History
Rome grew from Iron Age villages on the Palatine into the capital of an empire that ran from Britain to the Euphrates, then the seat of the Papacy that shaped the Western church for a thousand years after the empire fell. Left half-ruined and depopulated in the Middle Ages, it was rebuilt in waves — Renaissance and Baroque popes laying the domes, fountains and avenues you see now — and made capital of a unified Italy only in 1871. Every layer is still visible, often in the same building.
Major sights
Colosseum & Roman Forum
The amphitheatre and, beside it, the ruined civic heart of the empire with the Palatine hill above. One combined ticket; book a timed slot to skip the worst queues.
The best-preserved building of ancient Rome — a 2nd-century temple with an open oculus, still roofed by the original concrete dome. Free, and astonishing.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Miles of galleries ending at Michelangelo's ceiling. Vast and crowded — go at opening or book the late slot, and dress to enter a church.
St Peter's Basilica
The largest church in the world; climbing the dome is the view. Free entry, strict dress code, long security line.
Baroque theatre in travertine and water. Impossibly busy by day — come at 7am or after midnight to have it.
Galleria Borghese
Bernini's marble that looks like flesh, in a garden villa. Entry is by two-hour timed slot and must be booked ahead — the one reservation to make.
When it rains, or in the August heat
Capitoline Museums
The world's oldest public museum collection, on Michelangelo's piazza — the original bronze she-wolf, and a terrace café over the Forum.
Basilica di San Clemente
A church on a 4th-century church on a Roman house with a pagan temple — you descend through the centuries under one roof.
Baths of Diocletian & Palazzo Massimo
Rome's antiquities museum in a monumental bath complex — the best Roman frescoes and mosaics anywhere.
Mercato Centrale / Testaccio Market
Covered food halls to wait out a downpour eating well — Testaccio is where Roman cooking is most itself.
Must-see attractions
Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, 6, 00044 Frascati RM, Italy
Outdoor
61 more attractions in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Where to stay
Via Federico Cesi, 37, 00193 Roma RM, Italy · marriott.com
Via Salvatore Rebecchini, 39, 00148 Roma RM, Italy · marriott.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CETFjltATMg · Viale Pio XI, 23, 00073 Castel Gandolfo RM, Italy · hotelcastelvecchio.com
Vicolo del Piede, 2, 00153 Roma RM, Italy · hotelsantamariatrastevere.it
Via Torino, 45, 00184 Roma RM, Italy · theromehello.com
Via del Gambero, 3, 00187 Roma RM, Italy · hotelsansilvestroroma.com
Via Guido Mazzoni, 18-28, 00162 Roma RM, Italy · adessohotel.it
Via Andrea Mantegna, 130, 00147 Roma RM, Italy · precisehotels.com
Largo Corrado Ricci, 32, 00184 Roma RM, Italy · hotelromano.it
Via d'Aracoeli, 11A, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · otiumhotel.eu
Via Merulana, 4, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · doriapalace.com
Via della Stazione Vaticana, 1, 00165 Roma RM, Italy · hotelleboutique.com
Via del Nazareno, 25, 00187 Roma RM, Italy · palazzotalia.com
Via Nazionale, 18, 00184 Roma RM, Italy · hotelcortinaroma.it
Via Principe Amedeo, 3, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · starhotels.com
Piazza di Monte Citorio, 12, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · hotelcolonnapalace.com
Via Marghera, 51, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · royalcourthotel.it
Vicolo dei Granari, 3, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · navonatheatrehotel.com
Via di Torre Rossa, 80, 00165 Roma RM, Italy · barcelo.com
Via del Traforo, 133, 00187 Roma RM, Italy · theoneboutiquehotel.com
Via Varrone, 2/D, 00193 Roma RM, Italy · hoteldeiconsoli.com
Via Oristano, 14, 00182 Roma RM, Italy · lodihotelrome.com
Via S. Martino della Battaglia, 58, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · stmartinroma.com
Via del Lavatore, 30, 00187 Roma RM, Italy · trevipalace.com
Via Ettore Perrone, 1, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · hotelinfinitoroma.com
Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 10, 00184 Roma RM, Italy · imperialrooms.com
Via Riccardo Forster, 24, 00143 Roma RM, Italy · barcelo.com
Via in Arcione, 94, 00187 Roma RM, Italy · casacau.com
Corso del Rinascimento, 69, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · navonastay.com
Via Giovanni Prati, 1, 00152 Roma RM, Italy · hotelvillarosaroma.eu
Via Liguria, 26/36, 00187 Roma RM, Italy · marriott.com
Via Labicana, 144, 00184 Roma RM, Italy · all.accor.com
Via Palestro, 87, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · hotelcambridge.it
Via Principe Amedeo, 14, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · hotelgigliodellopera.com
Via Giovanni Amendola, 58, 00185 Roma RM, Italy · bookingromaresort.com
Via Cavour, 134, 00184 Roma RM, Italy · hotelvalle.it
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 251, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Lungomare Amerigo Vespucci, 62, 00122 Ostia, Roma RM, Italy · vloungebeach.tv
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64 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) 22 km to the centre
Rome, 62, IT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 92 airlines (Alitalia, easyJet, Iberia Airlines, Air France…) · direct flights to 157 destinations incl. Chicago, New York, Prague, Brussels, Catania… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 92 airlines, 157 direct destinations
- Alitalia AZ (A319, 32S, A320, Embraer 175, A321, Embraer 190…) · 99 routes: Abu Dhabi, Algier, Amman, Amsterdam, Ancona, Athens, Atlanta*, Baku*, Barcelona, Bari, Beirut, Belgrade, Bilbao, Bologna, Bolzano, Bordeaux, Boston, Brindisi, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cagliari, Cairo, Caracas, Casablanca, Catania, Chicago, Colombo*, Copenhagen, Delhi*, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Genoa, Iasi, Istanbul, Jeddah*, Kiev, Kuwait* … +59 more
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 21 routes: Amsterdam, Athens, Belgrade, Berlin, Bristol, Copenhagen, Geneva, Hamburg, London, Lyon, Milan, Milano, Mulhouse, Nantes, Nice, Palermo, Paris, Prague, Tel-aviv, Thessaloniki, Toulouse
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, 767-300, A319, A321) · 12 routes: Alicante, Barcelona*, Brussels, Catania, Chicago*, Madrid, Malaga*, Nantes*, New York*, Paris, Prague*, Valencia*
- Air France AF (A319, Embraer 190, A320, A321, CRJ-700, Embraer 175…) · 10 routes: Atlanta*, Bordeaux*, London*, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier*, Nice*, Paris, Strasbourg*, Toulouse
- Meridiana IG (A320, 767, A319, 737, MD-80) · 10 routes: Amman*, Berlin*, Catania, Duesseldorf*, Fuerteventura, La Romana, Malta*, Milano, Olbia, Vienna
- Blue Panorama Airlines BV (737, 767) · 9 routes: Catania, Havana, La Romana, Milano, Moscow, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Tirana, Torino
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320) · 9 routes: Alicante, Barcelona, Brussels, Catania, Malaga, Nantes, Paris, Prague, Valencia
- Delta Air Lines DL (330, A330-200, 777-200, A330-300) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Boston*, Chicago*, Los Angeles*, Miami*, New York, Toronto*
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800, 737-300) · 7 routes: Bergen, Copenhagen, Gothenborg, Helsinki, London, Oslo, Stockholm
- US Airways US (A320, A330-300, 767-300, A319) · 6 routes: Athens*, Charlotte, Chicago, Lisbon*, New York, Philadelphia
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 6 routes: Budapest, Gdansk, Prague, Sofia, Vilnius, Warsaw
- American Airlines AA (A330-300, 767-300, A319, A320, A321, 767) · 5 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, London*, New York, Philadelphia
- Etihad Airways EY (A319, A320, 330, 32S, EMJ) · 5 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Bucharest*, Budapest*, Malta*, Zurich*
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320) · 5 routes: Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Hannover, Stuttgart
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A320, A321, A319, A330-300, 767-400) · 5 routes: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Newark*, Toronto*
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 5 routes: Barcelona, Brussels, Catania, Lamezia, Palermo
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, 767-300, A321, 734, 767) · 4 routes: Chicago*, London, London, New York*
- Jet2.com LS (737-300, 737-800, 737-800, 73C) · 4 routes: Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle
- Air Berlin AB (A320, A321, 737-800, 737-700, Embraer 190) · 3 routes: Berlin, Duesseldorf, Vienna
- Airlinair A5 (CRJ-700, Embraer 170, Embraer 190, CRK, ERJ-145) · 3 routes: Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg
- Finnair AY (767-300, A321, A321) · 3 routes: Chicago, Helsinki, New York*
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A321, 737-800, 737-700, 737-800) · 3 routes: Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A319, A320, A321, AR1, A320) · 3 routes: Geneva, Mulhouse*, Zurich
- Transaero Airlines UN (735, 737-800, 767-300) · 3 routes: Moscow, Moscow, St. Petersburg
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A320, A321) · 2 routes: Moscow, St. Petersburg
- Air Transat TS (330, 310) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines BG (777-300) · 2 routes: Dhaka, Frankfurt
- Carpatair V3 (Fokker 100, 737-300) · 2 routes: Chisinau, Lublin
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200, 737) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Shanghai
- Croatia Airlines OU (Dash 8-400) · 2 routes: Dubrovnik, Split
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (767-300) · 2 routes: Addis Ababa, Milano
- Flybaboo F7 (S20, ATR 72) · 2 routes: Bolzano, Geneva
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A330-300, 737) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*
- Kuwait Airways KU (340) · 2 routes: Kuwait, Paris
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A320, A321) · 2 routes: Birmingham, London
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (A320) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Riyadh
- TAP Portugal TP (Fokker 100, A319, A320, A321) · 2 routes: Lisbon, Porto
- Tarom RO (737-300) · 2 routes: Bucharest, Iasi
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 2 routes: Nantes, Venice
- United Airlines UA (767-300, 767-400) · 2 routes: Newark, Washington
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A320) · 1 route: Athens
- Aer Lingus EI (A320) · 1 route: Dublin
- Aerolineas Argentinas AR (340) · 1 route: Buenos Aires
- AeroMéxico AM (A330-300) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Afriqiyah Airways 8U (A320) · 1 route: Tripoli
- Air Algerie AH (736) · 1 route: Algier
- Air Baltic BT (73C) · 1 route: Riga
- Air Canada AC (A330-300) · 1 route: Toronto
- Air China CA (330) · 1 route: Beijing
- Air Europa UX (737-800) · 1 route: Madrid
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Air Moldova 9U (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Chisinau
- Air Serbia JU (A319, 737-300) · 1 route: Belgrade
- Austrian Airlines OS (Fokker 100, A319, A320) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Azerbaijan Airlines J2 (A319) · 1 route: Baku
- Belavia Belarusian Airlines B2 (735) · 1 route: Minsk 2
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, A320) · 1 route: Brussels
- Bulgaria Air FB (A319, A320, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Sofia
- Cathay Pacific CX (A340-300) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Airlines CI (A330-300) · 1 route: Delhi
- Cubana de Aviación CU (767) · 1 route: Havana
- Czech Airlines OK (A319, 737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Prague
- Egyptair MS (737-800) · 1 route: Cairo
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (737-800, 737-900, 767-300, 737-700) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Emirates EK (A380, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Eurolot K2 (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Rzeszow
- Excel Airways JN (A320) · 1 route: Alghero
- Hainan Airlines HU (A319) · 1 route: Brussels
- Iran Air IR (313) · 1 route: Tehran
- Israir 6H (A320) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Korean Air KE (747-400) · 1 route: Seoul
- Luxair LG (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Luxemburg
- Malaysia Airlines MH (A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Colombo
- Middle East Airlines ME (A319, A320, 32S) · 1 route: Beirut
- Montenegro Airlines YM (Fokker 100, Embraer 175) · 1 route: Podgorica
- Niki HG (A320, A321, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Vienna
- Olympic Airlines OA (A320) · 1 route: Athens*
- Pegasus Airlines PC (A320, 737-800) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Qatar Airways QR (A320, A330-300) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Casablanca
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A319, A320, A321) · 1 route: Amman
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (777-200) · 1 route: Singapore
- SriLankan Airlines UL (A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Colombo
- Thai Airways International TG (747-400) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Transavia Holland HV (737-700, 737-800) · 1 route: Rotterdam
- Travel Service QS (A319, A320, 737-800) · 1 route: Prague
- Tunisair TU (A319, A320, A320) · 1 route: Tunis
- Turkish Airlines TK (A319, A320, A321) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Ukraine International Airlines PS (734, 73R, 73N) · 1 route: Kiev
- Ural Airlines U6 (A320) · 1 route: Yekaterinburg
- Uzbekistan Airways HY (767-400) · 1 route: Tashkent
- Wizz Air Ukraine WU (A320) · 1 route: Lvov
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Rome-Ciampino G.B. Pastine International Airport (CIA) 14 km to the centre
Rome, 62, IT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 2 airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air) · direct flights to 50 destinations incl. Alghero, Barcelona, Bari, Beauvais, Billund… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 50 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 45 routes: Alghero, Barcelona, Bari, Beauvais, Billund, Bordeaux, Bratislava, Brindisi, Budapest, Cagliari, Chania, Charleroi, Comiso, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Gothenborg, Hahn, Ibiza, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Kerkyra/corfu, Krakow, London, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Marrakech, Marseille, Memmingen, Palma de Mallorca, Porto, Poznan, Prestwick, Rygge, Santander, Sevilla, Stockholm, Thessaloniki, Trapani … +5 more
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 5 routes: Bucharest, Chisinau, Cluj-napoca, Katowice, Timisoara
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Rome Urbe Airport 6.9 km to the centre
Rome, 62, IT — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Vall'Ornara Airfield 17 km to the centre
Roma (RM), 62, IT
Fonte di Papa 19 km to the centre
Roma, 62, IT
Getting there by ferry
Isola Tiberina
Ferry terminal · 1 km from the centre
Ponte Cavour
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre
Sant'Angelo
Ferry terminal · 2 km from the centre
Ponte Risorgimento
Ferry terminal · 3.5 km from the centre
Battelli di Roma
Ferry route · Compagnia di Navigazione Ponte Sant'Angelo S.r.l. Vicolo Margana, 11/b 00186 Roma
Where things are
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base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
April – June, September – October
The reason to come. Warm days, long light, and the shoulders of the crowd rather than its peak. Book Borghese and the Vatican ahead regardless.
Shoulder season
November – March
Cool, quiet and cheap, with short queues and clear winter light. Bring a coat and an umbrella; some outdoor sites keep shorter hours.
Worth avoiding
August
Fierce heat and a city half-shut — many Roman-run trattorie and shops close for ferie while tourism peaks. The worst of both worlds.
Getting there & around
Getting there. Fiumicino (FCO) is the main airport, 30 minutes to Termini on the Leonardo Express; Ciampino (CIA) handles low-cost flights. Termini is the rail hub, with high-speed trains to Florence (1h30), Naples (1h10) and Milan (3h). By water: 4 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Isola Tiberina, 1 km); routes include Battelli di Roma.
Getting around. The historic centre is walkable and best seen on foot — much of it is closed to traffic anyway. Two metro lines (A and B) cross at Termini and reach the Vatican, Colosseum and Spanish Steps; buses and trams fill the gaps. Buy tickets before boarding and validate them. Skip driving in the centre entirely — it is restricted (ZTL) and unforgiving.
Local transit
Metro, bus, tram · Rome's three metro lines, buses and trams. · Fares: Tap&Go contactless or BIT ticket · Airport: Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino to Termini
Bus · Rome, Lazio · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
About two and a half hours from Tiburtina. · Naples (Napoli), Italy guide →
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
Tours & experiences
Walking Tour · 3 hours · from €45/pp
Sightseeing