Looking for the best free things to do in Rome plus all the cheap attractions in Rome for budget travelers? Well, look no further, because this guide has it all.
The great thing about Rome is that many of the attractions are completely free. And if they are not free, they are at least state-run and have a low-cost entrance fee. Rome can be a surprisingly affordable place for a capital city and as there are so many free things to do in Rome, you could be busy for a week and still not see everything.
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Free Rome Attractions and Cheap Things to Do
Are you exploring Rome on a budget or want to keep your euros for fine Italian food? We’ve put together a list of 20 of the best free things to do in Rome to add to your itinerary.
You don’t have to break the bank to explore the ancient city. In fact, some of the best things to do in Rome are absolutely free! So, sit back and take notes, we’re about to explore all the cheap and free Rome attractions to make the most of our stay.
1. Trastevere
Stroll the streest of the Trastevere neighborhood one of Rome’s most traditional neighborhoods. Located to the west and just over the bridge from the city center, it’s a place where you can wander the narrow streets, listen to live performers, and generally take in the vibrant yet tranquil atmosphere of this unique part of the city.
Relax in a corner café, get lost amongst the streets and colored buildings, or arrive on an evening for a lively nightlife scene. Also, don’t miss the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. It is a must-see! Trastevere is an attraction in itself and won’t cost you a penny!
2. Appia Antica Regional Park
Often overlooked and unknown to many, Appia Antica Regional Park is an ancient collection of cobblestone streets, monuments and a sprawling nature park, only a 20-minute drive south of the city center.
One of the best things to do is to rent a bike for only €3 per hour and spend your afternoon touring the key attractions, stopping off for a picnic along the way. You’ll pass one of the most famous and oldest roads in the world, Appia Antica Way, which was built in 312 B.C., and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.
3. The Best of Rome for Free
The state government has an initiative in which all of the state-run sights in Rome are free to visit on the first Sunday of every month! If you time your trip to Italy right and you could save over a hundred euros during your visit.
On the first Sunday of every month, sights like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Castel Sant’Angelo, Borghese Gallery, and many more galleries, museums, and outdoor monument complexes.
4. The Vatican For Free
Visit one of Rome’s most iconic attractions for free! Contrary to the state-run attractions that are free in Rome on the first Sunday of every month a visit to the Vatican on the last Sunday of every month is completely free to enter before 13:30!
On the last Sunday of every month, you’ll have free-roam access to the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter’s Basilica and can save almost €30 per person. Arrive early though; it’s a popular day to visit!
The Vatican is a must-see location that’s home to the Pope and an ancient collection of art, architecture, monuments, and gifts to the Catholic church from the population of the past centuries.
5. St Peter’s Basilica
One of the best free things to do is to venture into the most prominent Catholic church in the world. Many people don’t realize that entry to St Peter’s Basicila is free if you’re not doing a guided tour. It is in fact the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel that you have to pay for.
Simply queue up near St Peter’s Square to gain entry, although arrive early as queues can get long fast! Once inside, you’ll encounter a beautiful 15th-century church with ornate gold furnishings, renaissance paintings, and beautiful decoration throughout.
Walk underneath the basilica dome and lookup for the best view! The is also one of the best pictures in Rome! For a relatively small fee of €7, you can also climb to the top of the dome to find some of the best views of Rome and St Peter’s Square.
6. Villa Borghese Park
With the famous Villa Borghese gallery at its center, this park is a much-needed escape from the busy streets and tourist sites of the city center. It’s only a short walk from the Spanish Steps and provides some of the best panoramic views you’ll encounter!
Go for a stroll amongst the gardens, rent a bike, and tour the whole perimeter or sit back on a park bench by the lake and enjoy the fresh air with a view.
7. Join a Free walking tour
Being such a historic location, you’ll probably wander up famous streets and iconic sites that you have no idea about. A free walking tour is a great way to get a detailed background on the history of the city from a knowledgeable local.
This is always our choice for free things to do in a city. Walking tours highlight the best of Rome and help you get acquainted with the geography of the city. Tours are available for many of the free city center sights.
8. Climb the Spanish Steps
Sitting beneath Trinità dei Monti church and in front of Piazza di Spagna sits one of the most talked-about sights in Rome. The ‘butterfly-shaped’ 18th-century Spanish Steps are a congregation point for local employees on their lunch break and tourists taking in the breathtaking square scenery.
Snap pictures from behind the fountain and then climb to the top of the steps and turn around for an excellent view of St Peter’s Basilica dome in the distance. Only have a short time in Rome? Make sure to check out our Ultimate One Day in Rome Itinerary: How To Maximize Your Visit.
9. Eat in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto
The Jewish Ghetto of Rome sits to the west of the city center and is a great place to base yourself. Established in the 1500s, this trendy yet historic area of the city has a distinctly different feel to the rest of Rome.
Walking through the streets you can envision what the area was like hundreds of years ago, and today it’s an eclectic melting pot of artists, tourists, and locals that have lived there for decades. Wander around an art studio, sample the delicious sweet treats from a Jewish bakery, or shop at a vintage market.
10. The City Center Backstreets
Part of the fun in visiting Rome is simply wandering around and marveling at impressive buildings, colorful alleyways, and monuments on every corner. Put away your map, take out your camera, and get lost exploring on foot. You never know what you’ll bump into!
It can be a therapeutic activity and a great way of seeing places off the main tourist trail. We have gotten quite lost in the back streets of Rome and it was quite an adventure.
11. Janiculum Terrace
For the Best Views of Rome go to Janiculum Terrace if you fancy escaping the busy tourist center in favor of peaceful parks and stunning cityscapes.
Cross the river to the west and hike up to the top of Janiculum Terrace. Parco del Gianicolo is a nice place to relax on a park bench with a picnic, before ascending to the terrace and taking pictures of the Rome skyline.
12. Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
Even though our list is called ‘Free and Cheap’ things to do in Rome, we thought the €12 entry fee for the ‘do not miss’ attractions in the city was an extremely good value for what you’ll see.
The attraction combination ticket permits you entry to the inside of the Colosseum, ancient Roman sites of the Roman Forum, and the majestic gardens and remnants of the Roman Emperor’s palace at Palatine Hill.
You’ll spend at least 3 hours here exploring one of our favorite locations in ancient Rome. But remember, the first Sunday of every month allows you to enter them for free!
13. Best Pizza in the City
Visiting Rome doesn’t have to be all about the sights! The food on offer is some of the best Italy has to offer and it doesn’t have to cost the earth. You’ll find cheap pizza-by-the-slice takeaway counters and delis on every street and they’re the lunch place of choice for the locals.
Our favorite of those is Pizza E Mozzarella, an unassuming hole-in-the-wall pizza joint where you pick a slice for only a few euros and accompany it with a freshly baked Cannoli. Stop by on your way to the Pantheon.
14. Tour the 2000-year-old Pantheon
The Pantheon should be on the top of your list of things to see and many people find it even more impressive than the Colosseum! This grand façade of a building was built as a temple in 125 AD and stands today as one of the eternal city’s most in-tact ancient sites.
Take pictures outside and enter for free, where you’ll discover a spectacular interior with a huge 27m diameter dome ceiling. This is our pick for one of the best free things to do in Rome. Who would have thought that you could enter this ancient landmark without a fee?
15. Santa Maria del Popolo Church
You don’t have to tour the Vatican to experience impressive Renaissance architecture and art; there’s a church on almost every corner in Rome and each of them is decorated beautifully. They’re completely free to enter and walk around when a service isn’t taking place.
One of the prettiest churches to see and a firm rival to the décor of the Vatican is Santa Maria del Popolo, a small and unassuming building with a majestic interior of decorated chapels, ornate paintings, and gold furnishings.
You’ll likely encounter much fewer crowds than the Vatican too so can appreciate the works of art in peace and quiet.
16. Castel Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant-Angelo is a 135 AD castle to visit on your way to or from Vatican City. This old Roman fortress sits at the base of St Angelo Bridge just above the river, promising a brilliant photo opportunity whilst walking across the bridge from the city center.
Whilst the highlight of the attraction is the grand exterior, you can also choose to venture inside. For an entrance fee of only €5, if arriving between 9 am and 11 am, you can tour the castle rooms, see the old weaponry and climb to the wall barracks for a nice view of the river. Arrive after 11 am and you’ll pay the full price of €14.
17. Shopping at Testaccio Market
City markets are always a treat to visit, especially when they contain food! Mercado Testaccio has over 100 fresh food and gift stalls that offer fine ingredients for great prices. It is one of the best markets in Rome. So get lost and wander. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth visiting.
Pick up some supplies to make food back at your apartment, sample cheap snacks on the go or simply wander around and take in the atmosphere. It’s colorful, bustling, and has a very ‘local’ vibe.
18. Take a break in a Piazza
Rome’s main squares are plentiful and each of them has its own distinct appearance. They’ve been congregation points of the local people for centuries, and today they’re an eclectic mix of Romans and tourists from across the globe.
Explore the wonderful architecture of the main Piazza and take the opportunity to people-watch in a corner café. It’s a welcome rest break after walking around all day.
Here are some of the main Roman Piazzas to check out. You’ll stumble upon many of them whilst visiting some of the key sights.
- Piazza Navona
- Piazza Santa Maria
- Piazza Campo De’ Fiori
- Piazza Del Popolo
- Piazza Di Venezia
- Piazza Di Spagna
19. Aventine Hill and Orange Garden
It may be a relaxing place to unwind just outside of the city center, but the key attraction to Aventine Hill is the magnificent views of Rome and the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica.
Take a photo of dome through the famous ‘keyhole’ photo spot or go for a romantic stroll in the orange garden. It’s a beautiful place to visit on a morning as the sun comes up, or at sunset.
20. The Trevi Fountain
One of the best sights in Rome is in fact free. The craftsmanship and Baroque design of the Trevi Fountain make it one of the most famous recognized on Earth.
Marvel at the sculptured backdrop and turquoise water of the monument at both night-time and daytime for completely different perspectives. Throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain is said to guarantee your return to Rome. So why not give that a try too!
It can get very crowded so arrive early in the morning for a better experience. We visited once at midnight and had it completely to ourselves. It was magical.
We hope we’ve inspired you to explore some of the best attractions in Rome whilst spending very little! The city is covered in impressive buildings on every corner, scenic viewpoints and historic streets that you can wander down with paying a penny.
Use these best free things to do in Rome ideas to supplement the top paid-for attractions and enjoy a budget-friendly trip.
More Information for your trip to Rome
- 3 Days in Rome: The Ultimate Rome Itinerary
- 22 of The Best Things to do in Rome
- Where to Stay in Rome: The Best Neighborhoods and Areas
- Places to Visit Near Rome: 10 Off the Beaten Path Destinations
- Gladiator School in Rome
- Ancient Rome in Photos
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Hello,
We intend to be in Rome on New Year’s Eve celebrations.
We would love your recommendation for New Year’s Eve dinner, restaurants located not far from the entertainment centers
We will prefer European and local food (up to 150 euros per person).
Thank you in advance
I wanted you to know that i had a great time in Rome .since it a full month trip we almost visited attractive places.First we had a ride through Appia Antica regional park,it was cool.anyway we had some good memory all over. so now i can recommend anyone who are planning to visit Europe that this is the right one.
It’s really interesting and very useful to know about these 20 free attractions in Rome. Thank you for sharing.
Well written content and good list of blogs for commenting. thanks for share with your hard working and save lots of people time too.
Thank you very much for letting us to know about the 20 free attractions in rome. it is so useful to visit those places while we visit rome.
I’m hoping to visit Rome later this year and I know how expensive Italy can be so these tips are so useful!
It is indeed interesting to see that there are interesting places where we can visit for free. Some cities or countries should also take this example. There are even countries that increase the rate of tourists. Yes, we travel, but not everyone brings huge amounts of money on their trip and can afford those places. Anyway, it is a very nice article.
Lovely Post! Really enjoyed the read! Thank you so much for sharing this!
I never knew there was even a “Jewish ghetto.” That’s something new, despie the fact that I was born and raised in “Flatbush Brooklyn,” living around many Jewish.
nice post. I did not know that St Peter’s Basicila, and Vatican museum, we can visit free. Thanks for providing such good info about these place.
There are many reasons to visit Roma, starting from its most diversified culture. I am planning a family tour for Rome in next few weeks. I came on your blog while browsing. Great information indeed.
I worked on a cruise ship for almost a year and was able to travel to Rome on several occasions. Beautiful city! I hope to go back someday to go into the Vatican and maybe also visit the Jewish ghetto you wrote about!
let me guess… You possibly travel to Rome for free because you receive a potential partnership through an online advertiser? Please fill free to share the good details with me 🙂