8 Places to Visit in Rome

The ancient core — Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill — sits east of the river, while the Vatican, an independent sovereign state under the Holy See rather than Italian territory, occupies the west bank around St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Between them, the compact Renaissance and Baroque centre holds the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain within a roughly one-kilometre radius, making most of the city's headline sites reachable on foot without relying on the metro, which only runs two full lines (A and B) skirting the historic centre rather than crossing it directly.

Roma Termini functions as the city's rail and long-distance bus hub, connected to Fiumicino Airport by the direct Leonardo Express train (about 32 minutes) and to the smaller Ciampino Airport by bus. Fiumicino remains the primary international gateway; Ciampino serves mostly low-cost European carriers. Traffic-restricted zones (ZTL) cover much of the historic centre, so walking, metro, and buses are more practical than driving or even taxis for short hops between major sites.

April through June and September through October bring the most workable balance of mild temperatures and manageable crowds; July and August combine intense heat, often exceeding 35°C, with peak tourist volume, while some family-run restaurants close for several weeks around mid-August (Ferragosto). Winter is quieter and cooler but several major sites reduce opening hours, and the Vatican closes on ordinary Sundays outside the free last-Sunday-of-the-month window.