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The Colosseum rising behind trees near the Roman Forum

No. 4 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Rome

Italy

The Eternal City: nearly 3,000 years of history in its piazzas, ruins and churches.

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Photo: Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Rome is No. 4 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025, which credits new luxury hotels and airport expansion. Italy's capital was the centre of the Roman Empire and is still the seat of the Catholic Church. Vatican City, the world's smallest independent state, lies entirely within the city.

Rome's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ancient monuments stand side by side with Renaissance palaces, Baroque fountains and lively neighbourhoods such as Trastevere and Monti. It is a great city for eating well, from carbonara and cacio e pepe to pizza al taglio and gelato.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome
The Trevi Fountain in Rome. Photo: Wilfredor, CC0, source
The portico of the Pantheon with its Agrippa inscription
The portico of the Pantheon with its Agrippa inscription. Photo: Julian Lupyan, CC0, source

Best time to go

April to June and September to October are warm and pleasant.

July and August are hot and crowded, and some local businesses close around the Ferragosto holiday in mid-August. Winter is mild and quieter, though some days are rainy. Holy Week and Easter bring big crowds to the Vatican.

Top sights

  • 1

    Colosseum In our Top Landmarks

    The largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman world was inaugurated in AD 80 and held tens of thousands of spectators for gladiator games. Tickets usually include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

  • 2

    Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    The ruins of ancient Rome's political and religious centre lie below the Palatine. Emperors built their palaces on this hill, and legend says the city was founded here.

  • 3

    Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel In our Top 100 Museums

    The papal collections include the Raphael Rooms, and the route ends in the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgment. Book ahead to avoid long queues.

  • 4

    St Peter's Basilica

    The vast Renaissance basilica, with Michelangelo's dome and his Pietà, is free to enter. Shoulders and knees must be covered.

  • 5

    Pantheon

    Rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian around AD 125, it still has the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, open to the sky through the oculus at its centre. A small entry fee has applied since 2023.

  • 6

    Trevi Fountain

    Nicola Salvi's Baroque masterpiece was completed in 1762. Tradition says that tossing a coin over your shoulder means you will return to Rome. Access to the basin is managed at busy times, so check the current rules before you go.

  • 7

    Galleria Borghese

    Bernini sculptures and Caravaggio paintings fill a villa in the Villa Borghese park. Entry is by timed reservation only.

Getting there

Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport (FCO) is about 30 km south-west of the centre. The non-stop Leonardo Express train reaches Roma Termini in about 32 minutes. Ciampino (CIA), used mainly by low-cost airlines, is linked by buses and by a shuttle bus to the nearby rail station.

Roma Termini is the main rail hub, with high-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains to Florence, Naples, Milan and Venice.

Getting around

Rome's metro has three lines (A, B and C). It is useful for some trips, but most of the historic centre is best explored on foot. Buses and trams cover the rest, and you can tap a contactless bank card at metro gates and on many buses.

Only take taxis from official ranks or book them through an app. Avoid unofficial drivers at stations and airports.

Practical tips

Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for small cafés and markets.
Language
Italian. English is spoken at major sights, hotels and many restaurants.
Safety
Pickpockets work crowded buses and trams, the metro, Termini station and the big sights. Keep bags closed and in front of you. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Italy is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C, F and L.

Official information: Turismo Roma (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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