Italy's capital city is often considered the "Birthplace of Western Civilization" dating back to 753 BC and its nicknames include "The Eternal City" and "The Capital of the World." Rome is one of the most visited tourist cities in the world welcoming as many as 10 million people per year with attractions like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps and the Catacombs. It also contains the city-state of Vatican City. Rome's historic center and the Holy See's buildings are together designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. The city's Cinecittà Studios is a major film and television production center producing many Italian as well as American favorites. In addition to its most famous Trevi Fountain, Rome has 38 other fountains sculpted in various architectural styles. Show All
Spend the warm days of summer exploring the many attractions of Rome. In truth, there isn’t enough time in most vacations to exhaust the city’s attractions but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. With people from all over the world descending on the city, summer schedules and activities go up several notches. There are festivals and events for every interest: food, art, history, wine, fashion, music, and more.
Stay with the classic tours of Rome and hit all the Roman spots on your list. Rome was once the Caput Mundi, the Capital of the World, for a reason. You can see traces of that once mighty empire through the majestic ruins on Palatine Hill and its surroundings easily by hopping on a Rome tour bus. The Roman Forum and the Colosseum are two other sights to see adjacent to Palatine Hill.
Speaking of the Colosseum, add twist in your visit to this iconic site; visit it after dark. The Rome Colosseum underground tour gives you a chance to see this incredible landmark from a different vantage point. A walk down to the arena floor will give you a rare perspective of one of Ancient Rome’s symbols of power. The tour goes all the way to the underground chambers letting you walk as if following the in footsteps of legendary gladiators.
If touring the ancient sites at night isn’t your thing, there are loads of Rome day tours to be had. You can go around the city by bus or if you feel the need to burn off the extra servings of authentic pizza and pasta, then maybe a Rome walking tour is what you need. These tours usually cover the Roman Empire’s “best of” sites including the Pantheon, Piazza di Spagna, and the Trevi Fountain; that should be good for several hundred calories worth of walking.
Rest from your very Roman holiday and go on a side trip. Pompeii tours from Rome is a popular choice to break away from the Classical-Renaissance-Baroque overload of art and architecture. An organized trip can take as little as half a day. If you sign up for a tour, you’ll take a high-speed train ride and arrive in Naples in an hour. After a short transfer, you’ll be in Pompeii for a two-hour guided tour. Select a good tour operator to ensure you have a professional guide who will get you properly acquainted with Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius circa AD 79.
Rome may be one of the greatest cities on earth but the rest of Italy and the continent have tempting offerings as well. Rome being one of the most sought-after spots makes it a perfect starting or ending point for multi-city tours. London-Paris-Rome Tour packages are a popular three-city combination.