Best Things to Do in Rome
Rome rewards visitors who plan ahead. The city's headline attractions — the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Borghese Gallery — operate on strict timed entry, and the best tours sell out weeks in advance. Book the activities below before you travel, and you'll see more of Rome in less time, with significantly less queuing.
What is the single best Vatican experience to book in Rome?
The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Early Entry tour is the most consistently praised Vatican experience available, rated 4.8★ from over 31,000 reviews at $69 per person on GetYourGuide. Early entry access means you enter before the general public, giving you Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling in near-silence — a genuinely rare experience in one of the world's most visited spaces. The tour covers the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the full museum complex. Book Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Early Entry
Demand is extremely high year-round. Book at least two to three weeks ahead for peak season (April through October), and even further out during Easter week, when Vatican crowds are at their annual peak.
Which private art tour in Rome is worth the premium price?
The Borghese Gallery Private Tour on Viator is worth the higher price point for serious art travellers. At $89 per person and rated 4.9★ from 7,800 reviews, it consistently ranks as one of Rome's top-rated experiences. Book Borghese Gallery Private Tour
The Borghese Gallery caps daily visitors at 360 people across timed slots, making it one of Rome's most intimate major museums. A private guide makes a material difference here: Bernini's Apollo and Daphne and Caravaggio's violent, visceral canvases require context to fully land. The gallery sits inside the Villa Borghese park — arrive early and walk through the gardens before your slot for a quieter Rome that most visitors never find.
What are the best off-the-beaten-path tours in Rome?
The Rome Jewish Ghetto & Hidden Piazzas tour is the strongest option for travellers who want Rome beyond the tourist trail. Rated 4.8★ from 5,600 reviews and priced at $48 per person, it explores one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited Jewish communities, covering medieval architecture, WWII history, and the kind of neighbourhood piazzas that don't appear in most guidebooks. Book Rome Jewish Ghetto & Hidden Piazzas
The Jewish Ghetto sits between the Campo de' Fiori and the Tiber, and the surrounding streets — Via del Portico d'Ottavia, Largo Argentina — are historically significant but rarely explained well without a guide. This tour fills that gap at a competitive price point.
Is a day trip from Rome worth booking?
The Orvieto Wine & Underground Caves Day Trip is the most compelling single-day excursion from Rome, rated 4.7★ from 3,400 reviews at $75 per person. Orvieto sits 90 minutes north of Rome by train and delivers three distinct experiences: a UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral, a network of Etruscan underground caves carved beneath the city, and the Orvieto Classico wine region, one of central Italy's most respected white wine appellations.
It's a strong choice for travellers who want to break up a Rome itinerary with something completely different. The contrast between the volcanic tufa rock caves and the gilded cathedral facade above them is striking, and the included wine tasting gives the day a natural endpoint.
How do I plan a logical itinerary around these Rome activities?
A four-day Rome itinerary that incorporates all four experiences above would look roughly like this:
- Day 1 – Vatican: Book the earliest possible Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Early Entry slot. Spend the afternoon in Trastevere.
- Day 2 – Borghese & Villa Borghese: Morning walk through the park, midday Borghese Gallery private tour, afternoon at the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.
- Day 3 – Jewish Ghetto & Centro Storico: Morning Jewish Ghetto & Hidden Piazzas tour, afternoon at the Pantheon and Campo de' Fiori.
- Day 4 – Orvieto day trip: Full day. Return to Rome in the evening.
All four bookings can be made independently. Check cancellation policies before confirming — most tours listed here offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
How do I book flights to Rome?
Rome is served by two airports: Fiumicino (FCO), the main international hub 30km west of the city, and Ciampino (CIA), used by budget carriers including Ryanair and easyJet. FCO connects more conveniently to the city centre via the Leonardo Express train (32 minutes to Roma Termini).
For the best fares, search across carriers using Skyscanner: Book from the UK or Book from the US. Spring and autumn offer the best balance of price and weather. April in particular — the date of this guide — gives pleasant temperatures, manageable crowds outside of Easter week, and competitive airfares.
FAQ
How far in advance should I book Vatican Museums tickets? Book at least two to three weeks ahead during spring and summer. During Easter week and August, slots for early-entry tours can sell out a month or more in advance.
Is the Borghese Gallery really that hard to get into without a booking? Yes. The gallery enforces a strict 360-visitor-per-day cap, and walk-up tickets are rarely available. Same-day booking is almost never possible during peak season.
Are these Rome tours suitable for children? The Vatican Museums Early Entry and Jewish Ghetto tour are both manageable with older children (10+). The Borghese Gallery private tour works well for children who have some interest in art or sculpture. The Orvieto day trip is suitable for all ages.
What is the best time of year to visit Rome? April, May, September, and October offer the best conditions: temperatures between 18–26°C, longer daylight hours, and lower humidity than summer. July and August are the hottest and most crowded months; January and February are quietest but some attractions have reduced hours.
Keep Reading
