11 Essential Rome Monuments to Start Your Adventure: A Beginner’s Guide to the Colosseum, Vatican Museums & More

Rome is much more than a city; it’s a time machine. It is as if the city of millennia ago were immersed in the present city. Some of its charms are visible to the naked eye. Others are hidden, waiting for the attentive eye to discover them. Without a doubt, the more you search in this city, the more you will find, which is why we have prepared this list so you know where to begin.

We know what you’re thinking: there’s too much to see, and the risk of losing hours in lines is real. But what if we told you it’s possible to conquer the Eternal City, go straight to its giants, and fully immerse yourself in history without the stress of logistics?

The Touring Pandas brings you this time some of Rome’s unmissable spots and the options you have to visit them, along with the necessary information for you to plan your trip to the Eternal City in the best way. If you are looking for a guided tour led by an expert who will share the history and secrets that this city and its monuments hold, in your language, we will be delighted to be part of your adventure and make it the best one. Let’s get started!

The Pillars of the Empire

These are the monuments that defined a civilization. Given their immense popularity, we recommend buying tickets with priority access in advance.

Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill: The Political Heart of the Ancient World

This archaeological complex is the unmissable rendezvous of your trip. The Colosseum will transport you to the gladiatorial struggles, while the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are the political and foundational bedrock of the city. Together, they are not just a monument, but an experience of total immersion in imperial life. What are they? The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built; the Forum was the center of Roman life; the Palatine is the hill where, according to legend, Romulus founded Rome.

Visit Options and Tickets: Priority is the Key!

The Touring Pandas Guided Tour (Recommended): If you want to deeply understand the secrets of each monument, a guided tour in your language is the best option. Our tours include priority access with the company of an expert guide who brings emperors, senators, and gladiators back to life, ensuring you have the best experience traveling the old roads of the Roman Empire.

Visit on your own: If you are looking to explore on your own, you can purchase tickets from the official website. You have two main options:

• Basic Ticket (24h): Colosseum + Forum + Palatine. Valid for 24 hours. Important: Only allows one access to the Colosseum at the reserved time.

• FULL EXPERIENCE Ticket (Recommended): Valid for 2 days, allowing you to visit the Colosseum + Forum + Palatine, and grants access to restricted areas, such as the Gladiators’ Arena in the Colosseum and the House of Augustus on the Palatine.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica: The Unrivaled Treasure of Humanity

Located in the Vatican City, they house one of the planet’s largest art collections and culminate with Michelangelo’s painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Here, you will feel that the history of art and humanity surrounds you. What are they? The vast art collection of the Catholic Church, with pieces ranging from Ancient Egypt to the Renaissance.

Visit Options and Tickets (Avoid Hours of Queues):

The Touring Pandas Guided Tour (Recommended): For a fluid, efficient, and meaningful visit, our guided tour takes you directly to the key works, all explained in your language by an expert.

Ready to discover the Vatican without the endless queues? Our 3-hour guided visit offers you the key to entering the heart of Rome before the crowds, guaranteeing you an intimate and profound journey. Led by an expert guide, you will not only admire the magnificence of the Vatican Museums and the masterpieces by Raphael and Caravaggio, but you will feel history come alive. The jewel of the Renaissance, the Sistine Chapel, will be a moment you will cherish forever. And the best part: thanks to special access, you will avoid the long wait to enter the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica. Forget the stress of logistics and dedicate yourself only to enjoying this treasure. Do you accept the invitation to experience the Vatican City in the best way?

Visit on your own: If you are looking to tour the Vatican Museums on your own, book online in advance through the Vatican Museums’ official website; for an extra booking fee, your entrance will be secured. Keep in mind that the Vatican Museums house an immense quantity of artwork spread throughout the complex, so you must be well prepared to find the masterpieces and make the most of your day.

St. Peter’s Basilica: The Center of Faith

Located in the Vatican, it is the most important temple of Catholicism and a masterpiece of the Renaissance and Baroque. It is the papal seat and houses Michelangelo’s famous Pietà and Bernini’s spectacular Baldacchino. What is it? The largest church in the world and the center of the Catholic faith.

Visit Options and Tickets: Participate in a guided tour that includes St. Peter’s Basilica like our Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica or the Rome Day Tour: the Vatican and the Colosseum

To visit St. Peter’s Basilica on your own, you can book your ticket here; if you also wish to visit its dome, you can check it out here.

The Pantheon in Rome: Majesty that Defies Time

This wonder of Roman engineering, famous for its Roman concrete dome—the largest unreinforced dome in the world!—and its central oculus, is a stunning testament to classical architecture. Today it functions as a basilica and houses Raphael’s tomb. What is it? A Roman temple built for the adoration of the old gods that has now been converted into a church, with unparalleled architectural perfection—it is incredible to imagine it is 2000 years old. It is said that even today, the old gods continue to observe Rome through the oculus.

Visit Options and Tickets

The Touring Pandas Guided Tour: Our guided tour through Rome will take you to discover old Rome, walking its ancient streets; this guided tour offers you a deep understanding of its history, from pagan temple to Christian church.

Our guide will take you to the most emblematic places on a walking tour in your language, available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. From the Trevi Fountain to Piazza Navona, passing through the millennial streets of the Eternal City.

Visit on your own: If you are looking to visit the Pantheon in Rome by yourself without the tour through the streets of Ancient Rome, you can purchase your ticket at the ticket office or online through the official Musei Italiani portal.

Trevi Fountain: The Treasure of Your Wishes

No trip to Rome is complete without tossing a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain, guaranteeing your return to the Eternal City. This Baroque masterpiece is a colossus of marble and water.

Did you know that Rome is the city with the most water fountains in the world? It’s true! No one—not even an Italian—knows exactly how many exist, but let’s just leave it at that! The point is, there are so many that you could easily start your own photo collection of Rome’s fountains, beginning with the most famous one of all.

Visit Options and Tickets (Free with Capacity Control)

Free Visit: The Fountain is a public space, and the visit is completely free and open 24 hours a day. Crucial Tip: Visit it first thing in the morning (before 8:00 AM) or late at night to enjoy it without the crowd.

The Underground (Aqueduct): If you want to delve deeper, there are guided tours that take you to the archaeological area beneath the Fountain (Vicús Caprarius), a vestige of the ancient Acqua Virgo aqueduct. This visit does require a ticket and reservation; you can explore the options offered by our partner Tiqets:

Borghese Gallery and Gardens: The Luxury of Italian Art

Located within the vast Borghese Gardens, this gallery houses one of the most important private art collections, with masterpieces by Bernini (like Apollo and Daphne) and Caravaggio.

IMG VILLA

What is it? A historic villa that functions as a museum. You don’t want to miss the spectacle of frescoes decorating the ceilings of its rooms. After visiting the Sistine Chapel, you will definitely want to visit the frescoes of the Borghese Villa.

Visit Options and Tickets: You can buy tickets directly from their official site or from our partner Tiqets, which offers a simple and secure way to book.

Castel Sant’Angelo: From Mausoleum to Papal Fortress

Originally built as the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, over the centuries it was converted into a military fortress, then an emergency refuge for the Popes (connected to the Vatican by the secret Passetto di Borgo), and also served as a prison.

What is it? Today, it is a museum that summarizes almost 2000 years of the city’s history, crowned by the statue of the Archangel Michael, which gives the castle its name. A historic monument that summarizes the evolution of Rome, famous for the secret passage to the Vatican.

Visit Options and Tickets: We recommend purchasing your tickets through our partner Tiqets; you can find several options that will fit what you are looking for.

Capitoline Museums: The Cradle of Classical Art

Considered the world’s first public museum, the Capitoline Museums are located on Capitoline Hill, with its central Campidoglio square designed by Michelangelo, and house unparalleled collections of classical sculpture, including the famous Capitoline Wolf and the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.

What is it? The oldest public museum in the world with an immense collection of Roman sculpture. Its collection grew thanks to donations from the church, which considered these works of art too pagan to keep inside its walls.

Visit Options and Tickets: Tickets are purchased online through the official website of the Musei di Roma Capitale or at the ticket office. You can also book from Tiqets:

There’s Still More to Explore in Rome, and You’ll Soon Find Out

Now you have the range of possibilities to conquer Rome in your hands. Don’t stop at just this list; you are sure to find much more to see when you are already there.

The city holds over 2 millennia of history in its streets, walls, and monuments. At The Touring Pandas, we are ready to be your accomplice on this adventure. We want your trip to be easier, more fun, and absolutely unforgettable.

Explore our tours, and book now to secure your priority access to the giants of Rome!

The adventure awaits you! Don’t miss the opportunity to step into Rome and understand why it is called the Eternal City!