It was even better than I thought it would be. Listening to Rick Steves' audio guide ahead of time…read moretotally helped with navigating around the site. I also purchased a very thorough map (Ostia Antica Modern Passion) for a few euros that was recommended at the ticket office. It came in very handy because it's actually quite a long walk, and almost impossible to see everything in 3 hours. This map actually helped in prioritizing the must see sights. Our online ticket timed entry was 9:30am, but you can just purchase it there. There really wasn't a whole lot of people around on a weekday. There's a free public restroom and vending machines with water next to the ticket office. The only other restroom is near the café. Just start on the main road and work your way up. Everything is well marked with interesting facts and descriptions. It was amazing to see the well-preserved buildings and mosaics intact. It didn't seem like that in Pompeii. Then again, this ancient port city had been covered by sand dunes for centuries compared to a pyroclastic flow & ash. It's great that some of the dedication plaques and mosaics have not been unearthed and placed in a museum. Most of them are the originals. The statues and other artifacts are in the museum on site. Do not leave without visiting that museum. It's next door to the café. What I love is that they have steps leading up to viewing points. There was one at the Baths of Neptune and another near the Thermopolium of Via di Diana. Take advantage of these viewing areas. You'll be amazed at what you can see up there. There is one at the Theater overlooking the Plaza of the Guilds, but the theater is currently under renovation or construction. I didn't get that chance, but there is a lovely view of it from the corporate guild as you're walking around that square. It was interesting to look at all the mosaic merchant signs. You can get an idea of what they were selling by the picture & design. I'm not going to ruin it for you. There is so much more to see and write about. It's a must visit in my opinion. Especially if you're into seeing what Roman city life was like back in that time period. There are birds and flowers all over. Mainly just poppies that randomly pop up here and there. It's peaceful & quiet compared to Ancient Rome. I don't think many people know about it. There is a cute café, bookstore, and museum past the warehouses (Horrea) to the right towards the Tiber River. It was a very relaxing time. Check it out if you're staying anywhere near the airport.

Ostia Antica is often suggested as a convenient alternative to Pompeii and without the mass…read morecasualties. And it is both convenient and not tragic. This ancient Roman port city of approximately 50,000 residents has some must see elements, many of which are only found by extensive exploring: Necropolis as you enter Baths of Neptune and amazing mosaic Condo complex Communal toilets Granaries for storage of grain from Alexandria Millstones Tip: it is a huge site; use the bathroom at the entrance before you enter; the only other bathrooms were at the cafe and bookstore Tip: you navigate most of the site on an ancient road; it is very uneven; wear sneakers! Tip: rent the headsets, which provide helpful commentary

It's the Roman theater of Ancient Ostia. What's not to love?…read more It was built by Agrippa under the reign of Augustus back in the 1st century BC. It was rededicated after it was expanded to 4000 seats in 196 AD. It was the work of Septimius Severus and Caracalla that prompted the rededication per the inscription on the plaque on the theater that still exists today. We weren't able to step inside or step up to the viewing area due to construction and/or restoration. I'm assuming they are fixing the crumbling steps since it's currently used as an amphitheater-type concert venue. I think it would be cool to visit it in the evening as a spectator in a venue. The theater was built to be a part of a corporate complex called Piazzale delle Corporazione. The theater is prominently displayed as you're walking through the square. This is where you can get great photo opportunities during its restoration. We enjoyed our visit here. It's a great way to actually see ancient Roman city life and imagine what is was like in that century.

Rome's OG Netflix. This semi-circular masterpiece could once seat up to 4,000 people, all crammed…read morein to laugh, cry, and judge each other in togas. Now it mostly hosts echoes and pigeons, but if you're lucky, you might catch a confused tourist trying to re-enact Julius Caesar. It was built by Agrippa (yes, that Agrippa--Augustus' bestie) in the 1st century BCE. Still more structurally sound than some 21st-century buildings. She's undergoing a little restoration. Amazing!

You must see the winged horses; world masterpiece worth a visit by itself. Also some lovely…read moreceramics . Beautiful villa undergoing restoration. Horses are installed by themselves ( as deserved) as you would of seen them if you had approached the Etruscan temple to worship in 400 BC .

I didn't know that this museum is so popular and that you must purchase your tickets in advance…read more Luckily, I was able to purchase tickets before our trip to Rome, but they had only a limited number of tickets available for the time that we were going to be there. So if you are planning on going to Galleria Borghese, make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. We visited the Borghese in the afternoon during the week, and I think that was a great idea because it was pretty empty, and we had yet another chance to see everything with almost no one around. I'm not sure if it's always like that or if we got lucky. Either way, I was able to take my time to look at all the beautiful art pieces. Everything was so beautiful. I recommend going to this museum if you have the time; it's definitely worth it.

The Galleria Borghese or Borghese Gallery is an art gallery in Rome, Italy, housed in the former…read moreVilla Borghese Pinciana. At the outset, the gallery building was integrated with its gardens, but nowadays the Villa Borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction. Such beautiful art and sculptures. What a breathtaking selection. Another must see while visiting Rome. TIP- Need to buy tickets for the gallery in advance, or by a 3rd party company. They sell out fast.

There are a million things to do when you are in Rome & going to a museum is probably the last…read morething on your list given all the alternative awesome sightseeing options! Hubby & I always try to do three things in a new city: museum, sports event & something on the water. We figured that visiting the Colosseum was a good enough version of a sports event. We were returning from a 12-day cruise. So, next up on the list was checking out a museum. Thankfully, we were at a hotel that was around the corner from the Museo Nazionale Romano. It is a series of buildings around the Piazza della Repubblica. And as it turns out, on the first Sunday of the month, the Museo is free to the public (note: you must "purchase" tickets online in advance for a specific time to enter). This Museo feels like stepping straight into the heart of ancient Rome. The collection is extraordinary - from the iconic Discus Thrower to hauntingly lifelike statues that practically make eye contact with you. The level of detail is unreal & half the time it feels like the sculptures are standing at your height just waiting to start a conversation! The galleries are spacious, beautifully laid out & surprisingly calm compared to the big-name tourist spots. It's the perfect place to take your time, wander & really soak in the artistry. Frescoes, mosaics, portraits - every floor has something jaw-dropping (including -1 and -2!). What truly blew my mind were the tile mosaics displayed & then shown in their original settings. Seeing them arranged exactly as they would have appeared in ancient villas gives you this incredible, immersive peek into everyday Roman life. It's like stepping right into history rather than just looking at it behind glass. If you're in Rome & want an unforgettable museum experience without the crowds, do not skip this one. Palazzo Massimo is a treasure chest of ancient beauty! Highly recommend.

One of the great museums of the world. The only museum of Roman culture that even comes close is…read morethe Pompeii-archeological museum in Naples. This place is not to be missed, along with the Villa Borghese and pamphilij palace, for single places in Rome.

This is one of the Major Papal Basilicas in Rome, located a bit farther from the city center…read more English name is The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Accessible via train and Taxi or bus. The train is located about a few minutes walk behind the church. We were able to visit this Basilica 3x. For the Jubilee Year 2025, 2x. This Basilica is very huge and has paintings of all the Popes and the apostles. A must see Basilica! It also houses St. Paul the apostle's tomb where his remains lie. It also has the Holy Chains - in a reliquary, which bound St. Paul. On our 2nd visit to Rome, it was still covid time and this I consider by far probably the less crowded of the Basilicas. They have a museum which you give a donation of 1euro to explore. I also find their gift shop the biggest and have the most choices of religious souvenirs. Their cafe is also loaded with gelato and variety of snack items. Definitely a must see when in Rome. January 2026

The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Italian: Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is…read moredefinitely a must-see if ever in Rome because this basilica is special for so many reasons! My hubby and I visited during our 1st trip to Rome (on September 30, 2023) while celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary (yep, love was in the air! ;) I came across this basilica when researching attractions located near/around the Airbnb that we were staying at in the Ostiense neighborhood and after reading about it, I just had to add it to our Rome itinerary. See the many pics and videos included w/ this review from our visit on 09/30/2023 -- just know that despite my best efforts, they don't fully capture just how beautiful and impressive this basilica is in person. And these pics & videos definitely couldn't capture what I felt when I 1st walked inside and saw the beautiful, gold ceiling that looked like it was glowing! (Brief History) This basilica was built above the tomb of St. Paul in Rome and is one of the 4 major basilicas of Rome. It was consecrated AD 4th century. It's also the 2nd largest church in the Italian capital after St. Peter's. Located inside is the sarcophagus of St. Paul. (Special-ness Specs) -- Gallery of The Popes -- (see the pics & videos included w/ this review) Inside the basilica there are 5 rooms w/ the central one having 80 granite and marble columns and there you will see the portraits of every past pope since St. Peter -- 266 total (awesome display) -- Doors at St. Peter's -- (see pics & videos) 1. The Holy Door - one of the four holy doors is located here, holy doors are only opened every 25 yrs during Jubilee (2025 is the next Jubilee in Rome) 2. The Byzantine Door--the door dates back to the 11th century has 54 panels 3. Outdoor courtyard w/ the beautiful St. Paul monument (Additional helpful info) -- Free to visit but bring some cash so you can leave an offering -- There is a dress code - no knees, stomach, or shoulders can be shown. During our visit there were plastic, disposable shawls at the front door once you entered into the basilica that visitors were asked to use if they were wearing shorts that had their knees showing or if they had on a sleeveless top on. -- not as crowded/busy as St. Peter's basilica so you're able to take your time during your visit Rome has so many beautiful and historic basilica's and during our time in Rome, we did get to experience so many of them and yes, while each of them were special in their own way, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside The Walls was my favorite and I'm so very grateful that I was able to experience such historic beauty. Till next time, Rebecca visiting from Austin, Texas (United States) on 09/30/2023

Neoclassical exhibition hall, but beautiful to gaze upon. They hold temporary exhibitions.read more

Without doubt one of Rome's more interesting art galleries, with the benefit of usually offering…read moretwo or three simultaneous shows (usually from different centuries), so if you go with a fan of the Old Masters but you're more of an abstract art chick, everything is ok. It only gets three stars for a couple of reasons, however; I find the layout fairly frustrating - when the exhibition space is full, you never really escape from the noise in the main atrium. School parties also easily clog up the aisles. The biggest defect for me today when I visited was the approach and general demeanour of the front desk; while attempting to buy my ticket, the person behind the desk didn't once stop chatting to a fellow staff member, communicating with me only in gestures, which was a shame as the rest of the gallery staff seemed polite and ready to help. As usual, one of the toilets was out of order and a faint air of chaos reigned throughout the gallery. Noisy visitors don't really get shushed which can make the whole experience pretty frustrating at times.

Beautiful spot in Rome city centre...we passed it on the way to our restaurant for dinner on my…read morework trip

The Capitoline Museum exhibits medieval art to ancient statues, and you can discover ancient Rome…read morehistory here. There are quite a few statues shouldn't be missed, such as Statue of Capitoline Venus, Bust of Medusa, Colossus of Constantine, The Capitoline She-wolf etc. The regular admission ticket cost €13, and I think it's totally worth it.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj is one of Rome's most breathtaking hidden treasures--an aristocratic…read moresanctuary of art, history, and elegance tucked just steps away from the bustling Via del Corso. Visiting this gallery feels like stepping into a private world where centuries of beauty have been lovingly preserved. The moment you enter, the atmosphere shifts. The palace itself is a masterpiece--ornate ceilings, shimmering gold accents, and hallways lined with mirrors and marble. Each room carries the quiet grandeur of a family that collected art not for prestige, but out of genuine passion. That intimacy sets it apart from Rome's larger, more crowded museums. The collection is extraordinary. You'll find remarkable works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, Bernini, Raphael, and Titian, each displayed in lavish, beautifully lit rooms that feel more like a lived-in palace than a museum. Caravaggio's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" and the haunting "Magdalene" are highlights, while Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X is nothing short of astonishing--an encounter that lingers long after you leave. What makes the experience truly special is the ability to wander the gallery at your own pace, taking in masterpieces without the rush or crowds. The audio guide, narrated by a member of the Pamphilj family, adds a personal touch and deepens your appreciation for the collection and its history. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone seeking a quiet, immersive cultural experience, Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a must-visit. It's a rare blend of elegance, intimacy, and artistic brilliance--a place where Rome's noble past comes alive in the most captivating way.

Gorgeous gallery that is completely under the radar. For…read moresomething so beautiful, I thought it would be packed with people, but it wasn't. It was refreshing to be able to enjoy the details of each room without being swarmed by tourists. While at the gallery, stop by their restaurant located at the front of the entrance. Do note that you should make reservations at the restaurant or you likely won't get in. This gallery is definitely worth a visit.