Things to do in Rome for Free – 17 Amazing Free Attractions

I started this as 10 things to do in Rome for free, but the list kept growing as I went through my photos. Now, it has 17 of my favorite places in Rome, all of them free to visit.

When I plan a trip, I always try to find a few things beyond the top 3 everybody does. Besides the major tourist attractions in Rome, there are so many things to see that you can easily spend a few weeks and still feel you’ve just begun.

So, here it is:

17 Things to do in Rome for free

1. Basilica di San Pietro – One of the most noteworthy things to do in in Rome for free

St. Peter’s Church is technically part of the Vatican. It is the largest church in the world and the burial site of St. Peter. He was one of the apostles and was also considered the first Pope. Many of the Popes have their graves in the same church along with stone representations.

The most beautiful features are Michelangelo’s Pietà and also the bronze canopy over the Altar designed by Bernini. The canopy was built above St. Peter’s tomb and directly under the main dome of the Cathedral. All the bronze for this work came from stripping The Pantheon’s entrance.

The truth is, even though the entrance to the Basilica is free, you’ll probably have to wait in line for an hour or so to get through security. Try to get there early in the morning, or you can buy skip-the-line access as I did.

2. The Trevi Fountain – One of the famous things to do in Rome for free

Probably the most famous fountain in the world, Fontana di Trevi gets its name from the three streets leading to it (in Italian tre vie=three streets). An ancient aqueduct, later rebuilt, still supplies fresh water to the fountain.

However, it’s pretty hard to take a decent photo of the fountain because it’s a busy spot all day long. Try to make it there early in the morning to escape some of the crowds. Lately, tourists are not allowed to sit or eat at Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps. It’s a good thing to protect these monuments, but the constant whistles sound is a bit annoying.

Legend says if you throw a coin in the fountain, your wish will come true. Therefore, many wishes are trying to come true every day, about 3000 euros a day worth.

3. Marcellus Theater – A free attraction in Rome

Emperor Augustus inaugurated this open-air theater more than 2000 years ago. In the middle ages, residences were built above the ancient theater.

Very close to this structure, you can exit by the Portico d’Ottavia to the Jewish Ghetto, a small area full of restaurants and small shops.

4. Villa Borghese Park

This is a large park in the center of Rome, an oasis in this busy city. As you enter the park from Piazza del Popolo, you will have a great panorama of the city. Also, inside the gardens, you will find the Water Clock, a Zoo, and the famous Borghese Gallery. It is open from sunrise to sunset.

5. The Aventine Keyhole – One of Rome’s secrets

This is one of the lesser-known wonders of Rome. A nice walk uphill from Circus Maximus, on the Aventine Hill, you will get a plain-looking property. In front of it, you’ll likely find some people queuing, as I did. If you look through this door’s keyhole (literally), you will have a picture-perfect view of St.Peter’s Church. The catch is that you can’t really take a photo, so you just have to see it, and it will become a very personal experience.

The building belongs to the Priory of the Knights of Malta, a religious order on Maltese territory. In short, you are looking from an Italian ground, through Malta to the Vatican, an interesting point of view.

6. The garden of the Orange Trees

On the same Aventine Hill, a few steps down from the “Keyhole” you’ll enter “Il Giardino Degli Aranci” – a garden with an amazing view over the city. This garden is a perfect place to rest for a while, between the orange trees and umbrella pines.

7. Aqueducts Park – One of the best things to do in Rome for free

This one makes it to my top 3 in #Rome. It’s part of the Regional Park of Appia Antica and easily accessible by metro line A to either Lucio Sestio or Giulio Agricola stops. You’ll find here aqueduct ruins from all ages of Roman history. The most spectacular is Aquedotto Claudio. Plan to spend the afternoon here to see the sun setting over the aqueducts.

Also, there’s a small area in this park where you’ll find a section of the ancient Via Aurelia. Romans built the road during the Republic, around 240 BC, and extended to modern-day Pisa.

8. Via Appia Antica – The first modern road

Another favorite of mine and a great choice for a Sunday in Rome. Click on the link to read all about it.

9. The racecourse on a weekday

A couple of hours watching a horse race? I loved it and wrote the details in my post about a perfect Sunday in Rome.

10. Testaccio Market

This is a very Italian market with a bit of everything, including an area of street food where you can have a good lunch for 10 to 12 €. The market is open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 15:30, but the food section closes around 14:30 usually. Find more info about this market here.

11. The Pantheon – One of the most impressive free things to do in Rome

The Pantheon was originally a temple to all gods. This 2000-year-old building is the best-preserved building of Ancient Rome. It also has the largest unsupported dome in the world-43.30 meters (142ft), which is also the exact distance from the dome’s top to the marble floor.

The round building has no windows, and the only light source is at the very top. The Oculus (the 7.8 meters hole on top of the dome) was probably intended as a direct link to the gods above.

You can find the opening times here. If you want to know more about this amazing structure, you can book a guided visit following this link.

12. Monte Testaccio

This one is so interesting! Take a stroll around it after visiting Mercato Testaccio. You’ll discover an artificial “mountain” made entirely of ancient broken pottery.

This spot is close to the riverbank of the Tiber, where imports of olive oil arrived. They transported the oil in large amphorae, which were then broken as the oil remains decayed quickly, and it wasn’t healthy to reuse them. The round pottery fragments were carefully placed on top of each other. Bit by bit, they formed what is now a 35 meters (115ft) high and almost 1km diameter mound. The oil fat sealed the shards together, so the mound lasted centuries, though it was probably higher at its peak.

The “Mount of Shards” is now surrounded by nightclubs, and climbing on the hill is not allowed. But, you can easily walk all around it and imagine how they used to carry and break the pottery containers, then place the shards together.

13. The Pyramid of Cestius

Remaining in the same neighborhood, walk to the Protestant Cemetery. This is a private cemetery hosting non-catholic residents of Rome, among them-poets Kelley and Shelley. To the far side of the cemetery, you’ll find the Cestius Pyramid. It was likely built around 15 BC by the Gaius Cestius, a Roman magistrate at the time when the conquest of Egypt inspired the wealthy class to follow the Egyptian fashion in everything, including burial sites. The tomb was built outside the city walls as Roman law required. Later, the pyramid was incorporated into the Aurelian Walls, which helped the monument survive.

Technically, the cemetery is free to visit. However, they recommend at least 3 € donations to help with the maintenance of the site. They also use the money to feed the cat community there. The site is open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and until 1 PM on Sundays and public holidays.

14. Caffarella Park

Caffarella Park is also part of the Appia Antica Regional Park. It is a large park outside the Aurelian Walls, between Via Appia Nuova and Via Appia Antica. Locals come here to walk, run, spend time with their families and walk their dogs. You can also rent a bike and explore the park and the ruins scattered around the area. Find out more about this park here.

15. Cat Sanctuary at Torre Argentina

This place is right in the middle of Rome, but you’ll probably pass by it without knowing its history. The ruins discovered in the square of Torre Argentina are those of the Theater of Pompey and also those of 4 temples. This theater was the place they stabbed Julius Caesar as he entered a Senate session.

One of the square’s sides is now occupied by a cat shelter where volunteers take care of about 150 cats. You can visit the sanctuary, donate, buy a souvenir, or adopt a cat. Find out everything about the cat sanctuary on their website.

16. The Tiber Island

Isola Tiberina is a small island shaped like a boat, connected to both river banks by two of the oldest bridges in Rome. The island was always used for healing purposes and to isolate the sick. A temple of Aesculap-the god of healing stood on the island, now a church. During the imperial age, the Romans covered the island’s side with marble sheets, making it look like a ship sailing the river. It even had a mast, an obelisk placed at the center of the island.

It’s a nice walk around the island and the gelateria there is not to be neglected either.

17. San Luigi dei Francesi Church

This church is very close to Piazza Navona, and it holds three Caravaggio masterpieces. Like most churches in Italy, it is free to enter. With a 1 € coin, you can turn the light on in the chapel to fully admire the paintings.

The church is open every day from 10:00 – 12:30 and 15:00 – 19:00, except for Thursdays when it is closed in the afternoon.

These were my 17 free (and amazing) things to do in Rome. I left a few out. The list could be longer, but I chose the places that impressed me the most. Please comment on your favorite things to do in Rome, free or not.

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