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Can't Miss Stops in Rome, Italy

  • Writer: Catherine Musgove
    Catherine Musgove
  • Jan 27
  • 3 min read

If you're making the trip to Italy and plan to stop in Rome (historian or not) there are a few stops you must make. Rome isn’t just a city you visit — it’s a city you recognize. The way we build roads, write laws, structure government, and even the words we use have fingerprints from here. And layered into it all is one of history’s biggest religious turning points, still centered in Rome today.


While most can't see them all, here's a great list to get you started.


Skip to the bottom to view our top tours.



Ancient Rome Sights List

CLASSIC ANCIENT ROME STOPS

  1. Colosseum – the icon, and still the best “wow” moment. 

  2. Roman Forum – the heart of political and daily life in ancient Rome. 

  3. Palatine Hill – ruins + views; pairs naturally with Forum/Colosseum. 

  4. Capitoline Hill & Capitoline Museums – classic Rome viewpoint + major museum collection. 

  5. Pantheon – one of the most astonishing surviving ancient buildings in the world. 

  6. Baths of Caracalla – massive imperial ruins that help you grasp Rome’s scale. 

  7. Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) – ancient road + countryside feel inside the city. 

  8. Catacombs (along the Appian Way) – a powerful, quieter side of Rome’s history. 

  9. Castel Sant’Angelo – fortress history + one of the best river-to-Vatican walks.





VATICAN CITY MUST-SEES

  1. St. Peter’s Basilica – breathtaking interior; climb the dome if you can. 

  2. St. Peter’s Square – Bernini’s masterpiece of “grand arrival.” 

  3. Vatican Museums – one of the world’s great museum complexes. 

  4. Sistine Chapel – the showstopper inside the Vatican Museums.


PIAZZAS, FOUNTAINS, AND ROME "MOVIE MOMENTS"

  1. Trevi Fountain – go early or late for the best experience and make a wish while you toss your coin.

  2. Piazza Navona – one of Rome’s liveliest squares, famous for its fountains. 

  3. Spanish Steps & Piazza di Spagna – classic stroll-and-people-watch spot. 

  4. Campo de’ Fiori – vibrant market by day, buzzing area by night. 

  5. Piazza Venezia & the Vittoriano – huge monument + central hub (great views). 

  6. Trastevere – the neighborhood you go to for atmosphere (especially evenings).


CHURCHES + ART LOVERS SHOULDN'T SKIP

  1. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – one of Rome’s major basilicas. 

  2. San Pietro in Vincoli – quick stop, famous for Michelangelo’s Moses. 

  3. Basilica di San Clemente – a layered, time-capsule church experience. 

  4. Galleria Borghese (Villa Borghese) – top-tier art in a gorgeous park setting (book ahead)


VIEWS AND SCENIC WALKS

  1. Pincio Terrace (Villa Borghese viewpoint) – a favorite panoramic overlook. 

  2. Gianicolo Hill (Janiculum) – one of the best skyline views over Rome. 

  3. Tiber River walk (especially toward Castel Sant’Angelo) – easy, scenic, very “Rome.”



Tours

Rome is not a ‘wing it and see it all’ kind of city. Between crowds, timed tickets, and the sheer number of can’t-miss spots, most travelers won’t cover even part of this list in one visit — and that’s okay. The easiest way to hit the biggest highlights without wasting hours is to book one or two smart tours. Here's a few to help get you started.


My personal favorite - a golf cart tour. Big sights, little steps.


A Roman Staple - Wine and Pasta


Rome’s must-see religious and artistic landmarks


Walk Through the Heart of Ancient Rome




Need help booking tours, hotels, itineraries, or interested in more help?



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