10 Best Free Things to Do in Rome
How to Experience Rome on a Small Budget
A trip to Rome can be as extravagant or as wallet-friendly, as you please. We’ve rounded up some ideas that can help budget-conscious travelers make the most of the Eternal City. There are great things to do that will hardly break the bank. With some workarounds, you can even enjoy major sites for free where tickets usually apply.
There’s plenty on offer in Rome for budget travelers. This includes the city’s rich collection of civic museums where you can admire historical architecture and Renaissance masterpieces, as well as green oases in the city center where you can escape the bustle altogether. Make your trip on a budget possible with these free things to do in Rome.
1. Rome’s Civic Museums
Admire art and history for free at specific times
Good for: Budget, History
Enjoy free entry into Rome’s impressive collection of civic museums and several historical sites at certain times. On Rome’s birthday (21st April) the city’s government grants public access to over a dozen state museums throughout the city.
These range from the Napoleon Museum to Rome’s Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Significant sites such as the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum are usually free to visit on the first Sunday of the month. The Vatican Museums provide free access on the last Sunday of each month.
2. Pantheon
A well-preserved ancient landmark that’s open to the public
Good for: History, Photo, Budget
The Pantheon is known as the only ancient building (built between 25 and 27 BC) that’s intact, well-preserved, and still functions as a place of worship to this day. After admiring its impressive architecture and interior features, the centerpiece dome with the oculus in its center serves as its highlight.
The oculus serves as the primary source of natural lighting, but you can expect the best light show on Rome’s birthday on April 21. This is when the midday sun is perfectly vertical, and the sunlight beams straight down onto the checkered marble floor.
Location: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Rome, Italy
Open: Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Phone: +39 06 6830 0230
Pantheon
3. St. Peter’s Basilica
A chance to see the Pope
Good for: History, Photo, Budget
Right next door to the Vatican Museums is St. Peter’s Basilica, with its imposing dome and towering columns that are topped by 13 statues of Jesus and the apostles. You’ll need to get a ticket to enter the basilica, but which is interestingly at no cost. Lines can get rather long, though, so make sure you arrive early.
Extra costs apply for audio guides, which can be quite fun and helpful, as well as for the climb up to the impressive cupola. For the Papal Audiences (where the Pope addresses visitors and pilgrims), you can try visiting on a Wednesday, when a similar ticketing procedure applies.
Location: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7.10 pm
Phone: +39 06 6988 3462
4. Piazza Navona
Probably Rome’s most beautiful square
Good for: Budget, Couples, Photo
This busy public space in the heart of Rome is one of the most charming scenes you’ll enjoy in the city. There are people coming and going, day and night, and it’s pleasant to feel part of the crowd here. Visitors tend to gather around the Piazza Navona’s beautiful Baroque centerpiece, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, with buskers and street magicians performing all around.
The Church of Sant’Agnese serves as the piazza’s majestic backdrop for great photographs. Cafes with terraces around the piazza can provide wonderful views, but they tend to be a little pricey. Read more
Location: Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Piazza Navona
5. Spanish Steps
A vibrant public space in Rome
Good for: History, Photo, Budget
The Spanish Steps is a Baroque 18th-century staircase bordered by classical lampposts. It flows down from the Trinità dei Monti church, just a short walk north of the Trevi Fountain. At the foot of this wide staircase you can find a small sculpted fountain called the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Boat).
Many visitors like to gather around the steps and the fountain for some good views and photographs of the city. Why is it called the Spanish Steps, you may ask? The piazza that the steps lead down to was named after the adjacent Spanish Embassy to the Holy See.
Location: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Spanish Steps
6. Trevi Fountain
The world’s most gorgeous fountain
Good for: Couples, History, Photo
Spanning around 50 meters across and heavily adorned with elaborate sculptures of Roman gods, tritons, and horses, the Trevi Fountain is one of a kind and an iconic landmark of Rome. What’s more, the beautiful Palazzo Poli palace stands magnificently in the background, making for incredible photos.
Visiting the fountain is free, unless you’re joining in on the famous tradition.
Toss 3 coins (any will do) into the fountain over your shoulder. They say it grants you good luck, love, or promises you another trip to Rome, assuming you don’t miss. Read more
Location: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Trevi Fountain
7. Villa Borghese
Rome’s largest public park
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
Whenever you’re looking for a green space to escape from Rome’s bustling city scenes, consider a relaxing stroll through the city’s largest park, Villa Borghese. There are walking routes that wind through the verdant park, with beautiful spots where you can set up a picnic and watch the world go by.
The centerpiece of the park is the Borghese Gallery (Galleria Borghese), which houses some important works of Renaissance art. The gallery’s free to visit every first Sunday of the month. Read more
Location: 00197 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
Phone: +39 06 0608
Villa Borghese
8. Appian Way
Scenic walks through the Roman countryside
Good for: Photo, Budget
The Appian Way is a historical road that once connected Rome to Brindisi in the Apulia region. It was constructed with mainly stone and mortar, and much of it is well preserved. It’s now a free tourist attraction, with the surrounding countryside being a favorite destination among hikers and off-road cyclists.
You can reach the Parco Regionale Appia Antica (Appia Antica Regional Park) within about a 20-minute drive south of central Rome. Along the Appia, you can enjoy scenic walks with old ruins, several catacombs, mausoleums, and 12th-century stone towers along the way. Read more
Location: Parco Regionale dell’Appia Antica, Via Appia Antica, 42, 00178 Roma RM, Italy
Phone: +39 06 513 5316
Appian Way
9. Trastevere
One of Rome’s most quaint and charming neighborhoods
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
Enjoy wonderful walks through Trastevere, a lovely, cobblestoned neighborhood, just west of the River Tiber. Picturesque alleyways connect you to vibrant piazzas which, after dark, take on an atmospheric life of their own.
You can start your journey through the district by crossing the Ponte Sisto stone bridge. Your discoveries will then include mini piazzas within Aurelian walls, as well as ornate basilicas with bell towers. The neighborhood also has lovely botanical gardens where you can spend a sunny afternoon before enjoying the region’s evening charms. Read more
Location: Piazza Trilussa, 00153 Rome, Italy
Trastevere
10. Campo de’ Fiori
A bustling and popular farmers’ market
Good for: Budget, Food, Shoppers
This plaza is within easy walking distance of Piazza Novana, and is just before the Ponte Sisto bridge, which crosses over the Tiber to the neighborhood of Trastevere. Beautiful neo-classical buildings surround the plaza and it’s an attractive area for relaxing on a bench or snapping photos.
At the center of the square is the statue of the late Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno. He overlooks the many stalls of vendors at the Campo de’ Fiori market (literally, “the field of flowers”), which sells fresh farmers’ produce such as fruits, flowers, and vegetables. You can also find various snacks and knick-knacks, mostly at bargain prices. Read more
Location: Plaza Campo de’ Fiori, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Open: Monday–Saturday from 7.30 am to 3 pm
Campo de' Fiori
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