Free things to do in Rome

Free sights

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  Vittoriano (Altare della Patria) · Ancient Rome · Daily 09:30–19:30, last entry 18:45 (monument free; panoramic terrace with ticket)
  The white marble monument on Piazza Venezia; the panoramic terrace lift gives one of Rome’s best views.

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  Circus Maximus · Ancient Rome · Always open (park area)
  The long grassy valley where chariot races once drew 150,000 spectators; a good sunset spot.

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  Monti · Ancient Rome · Always open (neighbourhood)
  Rome’s village-like old quarter of vintage shops, wine bars and small trattorias, a step from the Forum.

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  Piazza Navona · Centro Storico · Always open (square)
  Baroque square on the shape of an ancient stadium, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers.

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  Trevi Fountain · Centro Storico · Always open (square); the walkway down to the basin needs a €2 ticket: daily 09:00–22:00, Mon and Fri from 11:30, last entry 21:00
  Rome’s largest Baroque fountain; toss a coin over your shoulder. Very busy, go early or late.

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  Campo de’ Fiori · Centro Storico · Market Mon–Sat 07:00–14:00; square always open
  Lively square with a produce market in the morning and bars in the evening.

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  Largo di Torre Argentina · Centro Storico · Always open (viewed from street level)
  Sunken ruins of four Republican temples where Caesar was killed, now home to a cat sanctuary.

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  Jewish Ghetto · Centro Storico · Always open (neighbourhood)
  Rome’s old Jewish quarter: Portico d’Ottavia, the Great Synagogue and the best carciofi alla giudia.

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  Spanish Steps & Piazza di Spagna · Tridente & Villa Borghese · Always open (steps)
  The 135-step stairway to Trinità dei Monti above Piazza di Spagna. Sitting on the steps is fined.

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  Piazza del Popolo & the Pincio · Tridente & Villa Borghese · Always open (square and Pincio terrace)
  A grand neoclassical square with an obelisk; climb to the Pincio terrace for a sunset view over Rome.

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  Villa Borghese · Tridente & Villa Borghese · Always open (park, daylight hours)
  Rome’s big central park: boat pond, Pincio views, bike and rickshaw hire, and its museums.

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  St. Peter’s Basilica & Square · Vatican & Prati · Daily 07:00–20:00 (dome daily 07:30–17:00 from 26 Oct; until 25 Oct 07:00–18:00)
  The world’s largest church, with Michelangelo’s Pietà; the dome climb needs its own ticket. Cover shoulders and knees.

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  Trastevere · Trastevere · Always open (neighbourhood)
  Cobbled lanes, ivy-covered houses and trattorias; liveliest in the evening.

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  Santa Maria in Trastevere · Trastevere · Daily 07:30–21:00 (indicative)
  One of Rome’s oldest churches, with a glittering 12th-century apse mosaic on the piazza.

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  Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) · Trastevere · Always open (park)
  Hilltop terrace with the best panorama over Rome’s rooftops; a cannon fires at noon.

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  Aventine Hill, Orange Garden & the Keyhole · Aventine & Testaccio · Orange Garden daily until sunset; keyhole always viewable
  The Orange Garden terrace and the Knights of Malta keyhole that frames St. Peter’s dome.

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  Bocca della Verità · Aventine & Testaccio · Daily 09:30–13:00 and 14:00–17:50 (follows the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church)
  The ancient marble mask in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; "tell a lie and it bites".

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  Mercato di Testaccio · Aventine & Testaccio · Mon–Sat 07:00–15:30 (closed Sun)
  Rome’s local food market: supplì, trapizzino, porchetta and produce stalls.

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  Santa Maria Maggiore · Termini & Esquilino · Daily 07:00–18:45 (indicative)
  One of Rome’s four papal basilicas, with gilded ceilings and 5th-century mosaics.

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  San Giovanni in Laterano · Termini & Esquilino · Daily 07:00–18:30 (indicative)
  Rome’s cathedral and the mother church of the world’s Catholics, with a huge nave and a 13th-century cloister.

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  Via del Governo Vecchio · Centro Storico · Always open (street); shops about 10:00–20:00
  Pedestrian-feeling lane near Piazza Navona with vintage shops, small designers, bakeries and trattorie.

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  Via del Corso · Tridente & Villa Borghese · Always open (street); shops about 10:00–20:00
  Rome's long main shopping street from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo: high street brands and department stores.

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  Via Condotti · Tridente & Villa Borghese · Always open (street); shops about 10:00–19:30
  Rome's luxury shopping street from the Spanish Steps: fashion houses, jewellers and the historic Caffè Greco.

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  Via dei Coronari · Centro Storico · Always open (street); shops about 10:00–19:30, many close at lunch
  Renaissance lane of antique dealers, art galleries and restorers between Piazza Navona and the Tiber.

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  Porta Portese Market · Trastevere · Sundays 07:00–14:00
  Rome's huge Sunday flea market: clothes, antiques, bric-a-brac and bargains along Via Portuense.

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  Piazza del Quirinale & Quirinal Palace · Centro Storico · Square always open; palace visits on booking only
  Hilltop square with the Dioscuri fountain, an obelisk and a view to St. Peter's, in front of the president's palace.

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  Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe) · Centro Storico · Always open
  Tiny Renaissance fountain in the Jewish Ghetto where four bronze youths lift turtles into the basin.

Markets to browse

Free to wander around; see the full guide for days and times.

• Campo de' Fiori market
• Mercato di Testaccio
• Mercato Trionfale
• Porta Portese flea market
• Nuovo Mercato Esquilino
• Mercato di Via Sannio
• Campagna Amica farmers' market (Circus Maximus)
• Mercato Monti Urban Market

All markets, days and times →