There’s one phrase that tour guides in Rome have proudly repeated for decades: “The city is the world’s largest outdoor museum.” With more than 150 museums, it is impossible to explore all of Rome’s artistic treasures in just one week. Our recommendation is to choose the places you most want to visit while leaving some free time for adventure and spontaneity.
This guide will help you choose the best places to visit by providing useful information, up-to-date pricing, and practical recommendations organized in a logical order. It will help you create a day-by-day itinerary without leaving you exhausted throughout your trip.
THE GOLDEN RULE OF ROME
The Borghese Gallery often sells out during the summer, and long lines are common at the Vatican Museums throughout the year. We’re not telling you this to discourage you—in fact, these are two of the places you absolutely should visit. Knowing this in advance will simply help you plan accordingly.
In Rome, making reservations ahead of time can make the difference between entering at 9:00 a.m. and enjoying a relaxed visit or standing outside staring at a “Sold Out” sign.
Here are our top recommendations before you begin your trip:
- 🎟️ Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel: Reserve your tickets online, especially if you’re traveling between June and September. Standard admission starts at €25.
- 🎟️ Borghese Gallery: Reservations are mandatory. Entry is by timed admission, with visitors entering every two hours and a maximum visit length of two hours. Tickets start at €15, plus a €2 reservation fee.
- 🎟️ Capitoline Museums: General admission starts at €10.50. The museums are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- 💡Royal Holiday Tip: The Vatican Museums offer free admission on the last Sunday of every month. Many other museums also offer free admission on the first Sunday of the month between March and October.
DAY 1: THE VATICAN MUSEUMS AND THE SISTINE CHAPEL
Starting your trip here is the perfect introduction for any art enthusiast. These museums house masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio, making them one of the most visited museum complexes in the world. Beginning your vacation here gives you an inspiring start without the physical demands of spending your first day walking across the city.
The museums are open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We recommend arriving early in the morning, as the Sistine Chapel tends to be significantly less crowded during the first few hours of the day.
Highlights you shouldn’t miss
- 🖼️ The Sistine Chapel: Built under Pope Sixtus IV and decorated by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Perugino, the chapel is one of the greatest artistic achievements in history. Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco, including The Creation of Adam, is an unforgettable masterpiece. Please note that visitors are required to remain silent inside the chapel.
- 🗺️ Raphael Rooms: These four magnificent rooms contain some of Raphael’s greatest frescoes, including The School of Athens, showcasing the brilliance of the High Renaissance.
- 🗺️ Gallery of Maps: One of the largest and most spectacular halls in the Vatican Museums, featuring beautifully detailed sixteenth-century maps covering both the walls and ceiling.
- 🏛️ Vatican Pinacoteca: A remarkable collection featuring works by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Caravaggio. Many visitors overlook this gallery on their way to the Sistine Chapel, making it one of the museum’s hidden treasures.
We recommend spending at least three to four hours exploring the Vatican Museums. If you enjoy art and history, you’ll easily need that amount of time. In the afternoon, head to St. Peter’s Basilica, which offers free admission and is one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces.
DAY 2: BORGHESE GALLERY AND VILLA BORGHESE
The Borghese Gallery is one of Rome’s most celebrated museums. Although relatively small, it contains one of the finest art collections in the city.
Originally the private collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, the museum features Bernini’s masterpieces Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpina, and David, along with celebrated paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, and Canova. The richly decorated interiors, marble details, and frescoed ceilings make the building itself a work of art.
One fascinating detail many visitors don’t know is that Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne pushed marble sculpture to its limits. Daphne’s fingers transform into branches while both figures appear to move effortlessly through space—an extraordinary feat of craftsmanship that continues to amaze visitors today.
The Borghese Gallery is located within Villa Borghese, one of Rome’s most beloved public parks. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with visits limited to two hours. Afterward, spend time strolling through the beautiful gardens, which are open to everyone and offer a peaceful perspective of Rome’s historic center.
DAY 3: THE ART OF ANCIENT ROME
Founded in 1471 by Pope Sixtus IV, the Capitoline Museums are among the oldest public museums in the world. Located in Piazza del Campidoglio, a square designed by Michelangelo, the museum complex consists primarily of the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo.
The Capitoline Museums contain extraordinary collections spanning Ancient Rome through the Renaissance. Among the highlights are the bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, one of the few surviving ancient Roman bronze statues, and the famous Capitoline Wolf, one of the city’s most recognizable symbols.
The location itself is another highlight. Piazza del Campidoglio sits atop Capitoline Hill, offering magnificent views over the Roman Forum. After your museum visit, continue on foot to the Forum and the Colosseum for a full day immersed in more than 2,500 years of Roman history. Find answers to frequently asked questions about Royal Holiday here.
LESSER-KNOWN MUSEUMS ART ENTHUSIASTS SHOULDN’T MISS
Rome is home to many outstanding museums that most visitors overlook. If you love art, these may become some of the highlights of your trip.
- 🎨 Galleria Doria Pamphilj: The private collection of one of Rome’s oldest aristocratic families includes masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and Velázquez. Diego Velázquez’s Portrait of Innocent X has been described by many art historians as one of the greatest portraits ever painted.
- 🏛️ Palazzo Massimo alle Terme: This museum houses one of the world’s finest collections of ancient Roman sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes. Despite its importance, it remains far less crowded than the Vatican Museums or the Capitoline Museums.
- 🖼️ Palazzo Barberini: Home to the National Gallery of Ancient Art, Palazzo Barberini features works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Hans Holbein, and Raphael. Beyond its impressive collection, visitors should not miss Pietro da Cortona’s magnificent Baroque ceiling fresco in the main hall.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR ITINERARY
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
| 1 | Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (3–4 hours) | St. Peter’s Basilica |
| 2 | Borghese Gallery (reservation required) | Villa Borghese gardens |
| 3 | Capitoline Museums | Roman Forum & Colosseum |
| 4 | Palazzo Massimo alle Terme or Palazzo Barberini | Galleria Doria Pamphilj |
| 5 | San Luigi dei Francesi & Santa Maria del Popolo | Pantheon, Piazza Navona & Trevi Fountain |
ART IN THE STREETS
One of Rome’s greatest treasures is that some of its finest works of art can be admired free of charge while simply walking through the city.
- ⛪ Church of San Luigi dei Francesi: Home to three masterpieces by Caravaggio depicting the life of Saint Matthew. This is one of the world’s most important collections of the artist’s work.
- ⛪ Santa Maria del Popolo: Features two more paintings by Caravaggio along with remarkable chapels designed by Bernini and Bramante. Admission is free.
- 🏛️ The Pantheon: One of the best-preserved buildings from Ancient Rome, crowned by the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. Built around A.D. 125, it has required a modest admission fee of €5 since 2023.
- ⛲ Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona: Bernini created some of the greatest fountains in the history of art. Experiencing these masterpieces in their everyday urban setting is something no museum can replicate.
ROME WITH TRAVELXTRA
A memorable trip to Rome begins with choosing the right place to stay. Selecting accommodations in a convenient location can reduce transportation time and make it easier to visit the city’s museums and historic landmarks.
As a Royal Holiday Vacation Club member, you can choose from a variety of hotel options to find the perfect stay at exceptional rates. Use Royal Travel for additional assistance planning your itinerary, booking flights, arranging transportation, and adding unforgettable day trips to Pompeii, Florence, or Cinque Terre.
Rome is a destination where you’ll discover something new every day, and thoughtful planning will help you make the most of every moment.
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