8 sections · tap a tile to explore
Museums
20+ with tickets
Secret Rome
Hidden gems
Free Sundays
Savings & passes
Day Builder
Your itinerary
Audio Guides
Self-guided tours
Districts
Neighbourhoods
Religious
All faiths
Tours
Experiences
Roma Artis — Museums & Galleries
20+ museums with official ticket links, organized by area
Near You — Testaccio / Ostiense
Centrale Montemartini Host pick
Ancient Roman sculptures among industrial machinery in a former power plant. Unique, uncrowded, and in our neighbourhood. Free with MIC Card (€5/year).
MACRO Testaccio
Contemporary art in a former slaughterhouse. Free entry, rotating exhibitions. In your neighbourhood — always worth a look.
Musei in Comune — Rome Civic Museums
MIC Card: Only €5/year for unlimited access to ALL civic museums below! Buy online → or at any museum. Free for Rome residents (since Feb 2026).
Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums)
World’s oldest public museums, founded 1471. Piazza del Campidoglio by Michelangelo. She-wolf statue, Marcus Aurelius, and the stunning Palazzo dei Conservatori.
Museo dell’Ara Pacis
Augustus’s Altar of Peace in a stunning Richard Meier building. Hosts major temporary exhibitions. The AR experience brings ancient colours to life.
Mercati di Traiano — Museum of the Imperial Fora
The world’s first shopping mall (2nd century AD). Walk through Trajan’s multi-level complex overlooking the Imperial Fora. Spectacular views.
Museo di Roma — Palazzo Braschi
Rome’s history from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Stunning frescoed palace overlooking Piazza Navona. Major exhibitions rotate regularly.
Galleria d’Arte Moderna
19th and 20th century Italian art in a beautiful Via Crispi palazzo. Impressionists, Futurists, and Roman School. Quieter alternative to national galleries.
Musei di Villa Torlonia
Three museums in a gorgeous park: Casino Nobile (neoclassical art), Casina delle Civette (stained glass), and Casino dei Principi. Beautiful gardens free to enter.
Museo di Roma in Trastevere
Photography exhibitions and Roman popular culture in a former convent. Walk through Trastevere after your visit — perfect combo.
Museo Civico di Zoologia
Natural history with dinosaur skeletons, marine life, and animal dioramas. Right next to the Bioparco (zoo). Great for families and kids!
Free civic museums: Museo Barracco (Greek sculpture), Museo Napoleonico, Museo Canonica, Museo delle Mura, Villa di Massenzio — all free entry, all covered by MIC Card.
State Museums — Ministero della Cultura
All free on the 1st Sunday of each month. See the Free Sundays card below for countdown & tips!
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The iconic amphitheatre + Forum + Palatine Hill on one ticket. Book 30 days ahead — sells out fast. Timed entry to the Colosseum, Forum valid same day.
Galleria Borghese
Bernini and Caravaggio masterpieces in a stunning villa. Timed 2-hour visits, max 360 people. Often sold out weeks ahead — book immediately!
Castel Sant’Angelo
Hadrian’s mausoleum turned papal fortress. Stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic views of St. Peter’s and the Tiber. Audio guide included.
Gallerie Nazionali — Palazzo Barberini + Corsini
Two palaces, one ticket (valid 20 days). Caravaggio’s Judith, Raphael’s Fornarina, and Bernini’s ceilings. Palazzo Barberini alone is worth the visit.
Museo Nazionale Romano (4 venues) Host pick
One ticket, 4 museums (valid 1 week): Palazzo Massimo (mosaics, frescoes — stunning!), Palazzo Altemps (Greek sculpture), Terme di Diocleziano (baths), Crypta Balbi. Palazzo Massimo alone is worth €15.
Terme di Caracalla
Massive 3rd-century bathing complex — once fit 1,600 bathers. Incredible scale. In summer, hosts outdoor opera performances (magical!).
Galleria Spada — Borromini’s Illusion
A corridor that looks impossibly long but is tiny — the statue appears life-size but is only 60cm. Borromini’s optical masterpiece. Often completely empty.
Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel
One of the world’s greatest art collections. Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps. Opens 60 days ahead. Summer sells out 3–4 weeks early. Free last Sunday of month (crowded!).
Contemporary & Hidden Gems
MAXXI — National Museum of 21st Century Arts
Zaha Hadid’s stunning building houses contemporary art and architecture. Rotating exhibitions. The building itself is a masterpiece.
Camere di Sant’Ignazio
Rooms with illusionistic frescoes that create 3D depth where none exists. More intense than any VR. Almost nobody knows this place exists.
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Private princely collection still in the family palace. Velazquez’s Pope Innocent X, Caravaggio, Titian. Stunning mirrored gallery. Audio guide narrated by a family member!
- MIC Card (€5/year) — unlimited access to ALL civic museums. Pays for itself at the first visit! Buy online or at any museum.
- Roma Pass — 48h (€33) or 72h (€53). Includes 1–2 free museums + unlimited public transport. Worth it if visiting 3+ paid museums.
- Omnia Vatican & Rome Card — Combines Roma Pass + Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel + hop-on bus. Best all-in-one if you want everything covered.
- Capitolini Card: €15.50 for Musei Capitolini + Centrale Montemartini (valid 7 days). Great combo!
- Museo Nazionale Romano: €15 for 4 museums in 1 week. Best value for ancient art lovers.
- Important: Even with a card, Galleria Borghese and Colosseum require a separate mandatory reservation. Book these first!
- All bookings: Call 060608 (daily 9–19) for help with any Rome museum ticket.
Secret Rome — Hidden Gems & Street Art
Places 99% of tourists never find, right in your neighbourhood
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Free Museum Sundays & Smart Savings
Countdown, Roma Pass calculator & MIC Card
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Your Culture Day Builder
Pick interests, pace & duration — get a personal itinerary
Audio Guides
Self-guided tours in your language
- Rick Steves Audio Europe: Free app with excellent walking tours of Rome — Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, Trastevere and more. Download before you go!
- Google Arts & Culture: Free app with virtual tours and detailed info about major museums and sites.
- Offline tip: Download audio guides on WiFi before heading out — saves mobile data and works in the metro.
Rome Districts & Neighbourhoods
Each area has its own character and vibe
Testaccio / Ostiense — You Are Here!
Authentic Rome. Industrial heritage turned vibrant food scene, street art capital (200+ murals!), craft cocktail bars, and the legendary Testaccio Market. This is where Romans live.
Centro Storico
The historic heart: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori. Baroque architecture, narrow alleys, and ancient ruins at every turn.
Trastevere
Cobblestone streets, ivy-covered buildings, and the best evening atmosphere. Cross Ponte Sublicio from Testaccio — it's a 15-minute walk!
Monti
Rome's bohemian quarter. Vintage shops, indie boutiques, wine bars, and artisan workshops. Metro B from Piramide, 1 stop to Colosseo.
Prati / Vatican Area
Elegant neighbourhood near the Vatican. Great shopping on Via Cola di Rienzo, excellent restaurants away from tourist traps.
EUR
Mussolini-era rationalist architecture, now home to museums, a lake, and major shopping centres (Euroma2). A different side of Rome.
Religious Rome
Churches, basilicas & sacred sites of all faiths
👕Covered shoulders
👖Covered knees
🧣Scarf/shawl
👞Comfortable shoes
📷Camera (no flash)
🪻Quiet voice
St. Peter's Basilica
The world's largest church. Free entry. Climb the dome (551 steps) for the best panoramic view of Rome. Go early (7am) to avoid queues.
San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome's actual cathedral — not St. Peter's! The oldest of the four papal basilicas. Stunning Baroque interior and the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa) nearby.
Santa Maria Maggiore
5th century basilica with stunning gold mosaics. According to legend, built where snow fell in August. The ceiling is gilded with the first gold from the Americas.
Santa Maria in Trastevere
Possibly the oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary (3rd century). Beautiful medieval mosaics. The piazza outside is perfect for evening aperitivo.
Rome Beyond Christianity
Rome has historically embraced diversity — home to sacred spaces of many traditions.
Great Synagogue of Rome
One of the largest synagogues in Europe, built in 1904. The attached Jewish Museum tells the story of Rome's 2,000-year-old Jewish community. The Ghetto quarter nearby has superb kosher restaurants.
Grand Mosque of Rome
The largest mosque in Europe, designed by architect Paolo Portoghesi. Inaugurated in 1995, its stunning interiors blend Islamic architectural tradition with modern Italian design.
Porta Alchemica (Porta Magica)
A mysterious 17th-century door covered in alchemical symbols. The only surviving gate of the Villa Palombara, linked to legends of turning lead into gold.
Tours & Experiences
Walking tours, cooking classes, wine tasting
Walking Tours
Free walking tours available daily (tip-based). Professional guided tours from €25-50pp cover Colosseum, Vatican, Trastevere, and food tours.
Cooking Classes Host recommends
Learn to make fresh pasta, pizza, and tiramisu with local chefs. Classes from €50-80pp, usually include meal and wine. Perfect rainy day activity!
Wine Tasting
Discover Italian wines from Lazio and beyond. Guided tastings from €30pp at enotecas in Monti, Trastevere, and the historic centre.
Vespa Tours
See Rome like a local! Guided Vespa tours through hidden streets and iconic sights. From €95pp including helmet. Memorable way to explore.
- Ask your hosts: We can recommend specific tour operators and sometimes get special rates. Just WhatsApp us!