There is no cost for walking around the premises of the Castel Sant'Angelo. It does take some time…read moreto walk around the entire building. There are lots of people that visit this landmark; however, it is not overly crowded. The atmosphere is chill, people are just walking around and taking pictures. The landmark is best for people wanting to see the sites of Rome, love history, and architecture. Overall it is a great experience in Rome. You do need to be cautious of people who are trying to engage you in conversation and give you a bracelet, They will start out by saying nice shoes or commenting on your skin color. My husband was a mark throughout all the cities in Rome. Unfortunately, we did engage in a conversation with the person and ultimately got robbed - yes robbed of 30 euros. The man literally grabbed the money out of my hand and began to run away.

Castel Sant' Angelo along the Tiber River, is one of Rome's most captivating landmarks. The…read morestructure is huge and daunting. It was originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum nearly 2,000 years ago, the castle later became a fortress, a papal refuge, a prison, and eventually a museum.. What makes Castel Sant'Angelo especially memorable is the atmosphere. The thick stone walls, hidden passageways, and spiral ramps. The angel statue atop the castle gives the entire site a dramatic, almost theatrical presence.

The Vatican Museums are vast and absolutely beautiful from the tapestries, to the sculptures, to…read morethe frescoes. Pictures do not capture the beauty of the art that has been collected over the years by the Vatican. This is an extraordinary experience for people who enjoy art, history, and religion. Highly recommend doing a tour that includes the Vatican, Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. The early morning tour is the best to avoid the crowds and the lines. The downside of the tour is that there is so much to see in the museums - so the tour is a great way to start and then to go back and spend time in each of the museums to fully enjoy the experience. For a full list and description you can visit the Vatican's website https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/galleria-arazzi.html

Incredible collection of art, mostly but not all Christian. Even if you're not of the faith, the…read morecollection is staggering in scope and it is well worth a visit. The standouts for me were the Sistine Chapel and the hall of maps. The Chapel is a master work of art that you've seen, at least in part, a thousand times. Still, looking up to see the frescos with your own eyes is an awe-inspiring experience. The hall of maps is an impressive seemingly purpose-built installation on its own. Coming across it midst endless sculptures makes it all the more impressive. You can hit the highlights in about an hour if you must but the wait can be long. Book skip the line tickets unless you're prepared to spend just as long waiting outside as you will in the museums no matter the weather!

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.

When we were in Vatican City in the afternoon, we skipped the plaza. We came back in the early…read moreevening and it was much less crowded. The square is directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Both are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider the first Pope. There is an obelisk in the center and 284 columns that create the elliptical shape of the square.

This is the area around the Vatican…read more It's gorgeous! I absolutely love the fountains and statues in this area. So much amazing architecture. When you step into this piazza, I feel like you get a sense of the Holy Spirit. I mean, how can you not when you are so close to the Vatican? There's a peaceful atmosphere here.

We stumbled upon this museum while wandering the area and decided to give it a shot. Two adult…read moretickets were about 25 euros with audio tour, but unfortunately neither of us felt that it was really worth the money. Maybe I should have expected this, but everything in the museum is a replica or slightly sad version to depict Leonardo's inventions. The tour itself probably took about 25 minutes, but there's really not a whole lot to see.

Space is on two levels with multiple gallery sized rooms. A lot of interesting and interactive…read moredisplays and models. I love the fact that you can actually touch and try almost everything on display to see the mechanics of it and how it works. They have a lot of interesting facts about daVinci and his works. I do recommend going if you are into his work. The whole space takes a good 40mins-1hr to walk through if you interact and read everything and about 25 minutes if you just want to walk through and a casually interact. I have to say it was really fascinating to find out all the thing she tried to make and the mechanics of how to do certain tasks before the machines, or tasks were wildly developed.

Fantastic bucket list location..when in rome.. Must…read moresee...note crowd is massive Must see

To visit the Capella Sistina, or Sistine Chapel, you would have to go to the Vatican Museum. My…read moreboyfriend and I purchased time entry tickets to the Vatican Museum at one of the earliest time slots in the day, and still the museum was unbearably crowded. Th Sistine Chapel is a central place of worship for the Roman Catholic Church. Is it the site where new popes are elected, making it a key location for the continuity of Catholicism. From an artistic point of view, this chapel is also famous for the ceiling painted by Michelangelo. This is one of the greatest piece of artworks in the world capturing the height of Renaissance art. This piece of art shows complex compositions, dramatic expressions, and the intricacies of the human anatomy. On the walls of the Sistine Chapel, you can see the works of Botticelli, Perugino, and Ghirlandaio. With its' religious and artistic significance, the museum saves it for last on their museum route, and you have to go through everything else to get to this insanely crowded room of tour groups and staff supervision. This was the room with the most museum staff supervision telling people to move along, or pull to the center of the room. It's really mixed feelings because it's stunning but while you're trying to look up and take in the sights, a bunch of people are bumping into you and being extremely inconsiderate. I don't feel like I fully absorbed its' elegance profound deep features. My rating is rounded up in respect for the artistic significance but the experience wasn't too enjoyable. I don't think taking a tour would help either because those folks are stuck with their groups, and stuck in the same crowded room. I prefer the freedom of moving on when I'm over it.

We were delighted to find out that by purchasing one ticket we gained entrance into four of the…read moreNational Museums of Rome. The museums are Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Altemps. This museum is probably not known to most visitors, but should be. The Crypta Balbi museum takes you on a historical trip through Rome's past by showcasing the excavations that were found here. It is located just around the corner from the Piazza Venezia, and there are three floors that can be explored. Starting in the basement is the best part - it has the archaeological remains of the Theatre of Balbus, which can be explored while walking down the damp and dark passageways. The other floors will give you a clear picture of how the Romans lived between the 5th and 10th century. We were especially taken with all the pottery. This is a museum that the kids will like.

Highly recommended! The museum offers a very good overview of the urban evolution of the area over…read more2000 years. If you have children: take them with you. The drawings make it really easy to comprehend. The museum is very well integrated in the architecture of the building that respects the archeological charachter of the site.

This was one of the most interesting museums I think I have ever seen in my life- no joke!! I…read moreGoogled weird things to do in Rome (no joke) and this was on it. I never heard of it but when I did I knew I had to go!! This was only 2 Euros. CHEAP!! I felt like they could have charged more LOL. I was here for hours even though your average person would probably be here for like 30-45 minutes lol. It's on a quiet side street in a less touristy part of the center of Rome and very easy to miss. I saw a couple tourists lost when I left who were clearly trying to find it. When you go in, you just pay and put your stuff in a locker (no added fee). This is much larger than you think it will be when you enter has it's 3 stories but compacted space. When you first enter, you see a lot of torture devices used mainly in Italy but some in other countries like Germany and Spain. I didn't know that many torture devices existed! You see pictures of things executioners wore which was creepy af! When you are done looking at the torture section, I believe right after that was the contraband section!!! You see stuff like shanks confiscated from prisoners, as well as smuggled objects into Italy like forged paintings and pornography (LOL!! This was retro porn too!). After that section you see things taken at scenes of crimes, pictures of murders and mafia members along with their stories. The only reason this wasn't given 5 stars from me is that the exhibit was all in Italian and maybe 60% of it was translated into English. I took pictures of stories that looked in interesting that were only in Italian so I could Google later. I also would have loved a gift shop but they didn't have one =( The toilet here was clean too!

The Borghese Museum houses an unmatched collection of Italian baroque and renaissance masterpieces…read more Artworks by Bernini and Caravaggio are among their popular pieces and a whole lot more including sculptures. Not to miss pieces are Bernini's marble sculptures - Apollo & Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina. Canova's neoclassical Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix and Carravaggio's painting - David with the Head of Goliath. We came in immediately after checking in to our hotel for a 4pm timed entry. Reservation is a must. Bought our tickets a month in advance back in 2023. This was still early on after covid so restrictions still apply. I love how we were able to savor every moment we spent here because it wasn't congested at all. From the outside, it was a beautiful building in a magnificent park. I would call this a hidden gem in Rome. Borghese museum is a must go to when in Rome. The time we spent was good enough. During that time, there weren't a lot of people as they control the number of people entering the museum. Definitely 5 thumbs up. August 2026

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.