Rome does not reward a checklist. It rewards a slow walk, a wrong turn, and a willingness to stop mid-street because a fountain caught your eye. But if this is your first visit, you still need a starting point, so here is an honest guide to the things to do in Rome that actually earn their place on your itinerary.
Start where the city started: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
No list of things to do in Rome is complete without the ancient core of the city. The Colosseum still holds the shape of every roar it ever absorbed. Walk through its arches and it is not hard to picture eighty thousand people leaning forward at once.
From there, the Roman Forum unfolds like an open-air archive: broken columns, half-standing temples, and the Via Sacra, the road that senators, generals, and emperors once walked to reach the heart of political Rome. Climb Palatine Hill afterward for the view and for the quiet. This is where Rome is said to have been founded, and it is one of the few spots in the historic center where you can hear yourself think.
This entire route (Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill together) is dense with history and easy to rush through if you are on your own. A guided visit changes that. The Expat Tours’ Ancient Rome Uncovered: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill tour covers all three sites with skip-the-line access and a guide who fills in what the ruins alone cannot tell you. [Insert confirmed duration, group size, and price from Bokun/live site before publishing.]
Throw a coin, but come back at night: the Trevi Fountain
Everyone photographs the Trevi Fountain at noon, shoulder to shoulder with several hundred strangers. Come back after 10pm instead. The crowds thin, the marble catches the streetlight, and the sound of the water actually reaches you. Toss a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand if you want the legend to work in your favor: it is said to guarantee your return to Rome.
Climb the Spanish Steps, then wander off them
The Spanish Steps are worth the climb for the view down Via dei Condotti alone. But the real find is what surrounds them: narrow streets lined with small ateliers, old bookshops, and cafes that have not changed their menu in decades. Give yourself permission to get lost here. It is a small enough neighborhood that you will always find your way back.
Step inside the Pantheon
The Pantheon has stood, largely intact, for almost two thousand years, and its dome still holds the record for the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Stand directly under the oculus, the open circle at the top, and look up. On a clear day, it is one of the most striking things to do in Rome, and it costs nothing but a few minutes of your time.
Cross the river for a different pace: Trastevere
Most first-time visitors stay on one side of the Tiber. Trastevere rewards those who cross it. Cobblestone alleys, ivy-covered facades, and some of the best trattorias in the city make it the neighborhood locals actually go to for dinner. Skip the restaurants with laminated multilingual menus and follow the streets that smell like garlic and woodsmoke instead.
Watch the sunset from the Gianicolo
The Gianicolo Hill is not on most tourist maps, which is exactly why it belongs on yours. It offers one of the widest views in Rome, over the rooftops, the domes, and the river below, and at sunset it turns the entire skyline gold. Locals bring a bottle of wine. You should too.
A few honest tips before you go
- Rome is a walking city. Comfortable shoes matter more than any outfit.
- Many major sites (the Colosseum especially) require timed-entry tickets booked in advance. Do not assume you can walk up.
- August is hot and crowded. Late spring and early autumn are kinder.
- Tap water from Rome’s public fountains (the nasoni) is safe to drink and a genuinely nice detail of the city.
Ready to see it properly?
Rome is easy to visit and hard to actually see. The difference is usually a good guide and a plan that does not try to do everything in one day. If you would rather spend your first day in Rome with someone who knows exactly where to stand and when to arrive, explore The Expat Tours’ Rome experiences or browse our Italy travel packages for a fuller itinerary that includes Rome alongside the rest of the country.
