Quick verdict: Rome in 2026 brings the Vatican Holy Year (Jubilee) – the once-every-25-year pilgrimage with restored monuments + extended hours + huge crowds. This guide ranks 15 experiences with practical timing for navigating the Jubilee crowds. Built across 5 personal Rome trips.
The 15 best things to do in Rome
Colosseum + Roman Forum
Ancient amphitheatre + Roman ruins. Combined ticket includes Palatine Hill. Book 1-2 months ahead for skip-line. Underground access ($30) for sunset tour.
Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel
World’s smallest country + greatest museum. Book 8am opening or 6pm Friday opening (premium). 2026 Jubilee year = book 3+ months ahead.
St. Peter’s Basilica
World’s largest Catholic church. Free entry. Climb dome (EUR 8) for panoramic Vatican view. Arrive 7am to beat crowds + lines.
Pantheon
Best-preserved Roman building. Free entry until 2023 – now EUR 5 ticket. The 43m dome had no rival until 1436. Visit at noon for sun-beam through oculus.
Trevi Fountain
Toss coin over left shoulder. Best at dawn (6-7am) when nearly empty. Worst at sunset when 10,000+ tourists swarm. 3000 EUR thrown daily.
Spanish Steps + Piazza di Spagna
138 steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to Trinita dei Monti. No sitting allowed (fines). Photos + walking. Combine with luxury shopping on Via Condotti.
Trastevere Walking Tour
Cobblestone medieval neighborhood. Ivy-covered restaurants, Roman trattorias, Santa Maria in Trastevere church. Evening passegiatta + dinner. Best authentic Roman dining.
Galleria Borghese
Bernini sculptures (Apollo + Daphne is masterpiece), Caravaggio paintings, Titian. Timed entry only – book 2-4 weeks ahead. Visit the surrounding Villa Borghese gardens.
Castel Sant’Angelo
2nd-century mausoleum turned papal fortress. Ponte Sant’Angelo + sunset views from rooftop. Less crowded than Vatican across the river.
Day Trip to Pompeii + Vesuvius
2.5h train each way. Ancient city frozen by Vesuvius (79 AD). Combine with optional climb to Vesuvius crater (EUR 13). Book guided tour for context.
Catacombs of San Callisto
20km of 4th-century Christian burial tunnels. Most accessible catacombs (others smaller). Bus 218 from Termini. Avoid solo – guides only.
Piazza Navona + Campo de Fiori
Bernini’s Four Rivers fountain at Piazza Navona. Morning Campo de Fiori flower + food market. Eat lunch at Ristorante Pierluigi (book ahead).
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
Ancient Roman road still in use. Rent bikes (EUR 10/day) at the Park HQ. Pass tombs, catacombs, ruins. Best Sundays (closed to cars).
Aperitivo Hour in Monti
Rome’s hipster Roman neighborhood east of Colosseum. Aperitivo bars 6-9pm with included food. Try Ai Tre Scalini or Tribbie.
Gelato at Giolitti or Otaleg
Best gelato in Rome. Giolitti (1900-founded, Centro Storico) or Otaleg (modern + creative, Trastevere). Avoid pyramid-piled colorful gelato (fake).
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Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.