Rome experiences for free

Some of my favorite free experiences in Rome, Italy

Experiencing the Pantheon in the rain ★★★

Whenever it starts raining in central Rome, make a mad dash for the Pantheon. When it rains, the drops fall lightly through this hole to dance on the marble floor and slip through an ancient drain in the center. During the rare Roman snowfall, the effect is even more magical... » more

Gazing over the Forum at night from the Campidoglio ★★

Walk up Michelangelo's sloping carriage staircase to the top of the Capitoline Hill, around the Palazzo Senatorio, to a hidden, magnificent panorama across the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, with the Colosseum peeking out in the background... » more

Hanging with His Holiness— Attending a papal audience ★★

Unlike in the Middle Ages, when you had to have excellent connections to see the Bishop of Rome (that's the Pope's real title), these days papal audiences are pretty easy to come by—so long as you're willing to share the moment with several thousand other audience members... » more

Taking a passeggiata ★★

Join in the evening see-and-be-seen stroll to rub shoulders with the locals dressed their best and window-shopping their way up and down the major streets of Rome (best on and around Via del Corso), stopping to chat, have a quick snack, or sit at a bar and decide where to go for dinner... » more

Tips & links

How long does Rome take?

Planning your day: Rome wasn't built in a day, and you'd be hard-pressed to see it in that brief a time as well. Still, you can cram a lot into just a day or three.

To help you get the most out of your limited time in the Eternal City, here are some perfect itineraries, whether you have one, two, three, or four days to spend in Rome.

» Rome itineraries

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