Things to do in Rome

Things to do in Rome

Top 10 Things to do in Rome

Experiences for every interest

All Things to do in Rome

Explore Rome with a local of your choice

Learn about their personal stories, and find out how you can explore Rome together

What other travelers love about our local experts

Ana
About local
4 March 2025
Knowledgable and fun!

Francesca taught our group of 3 the pantheon, piazza navona, altare Della patria, Trajan column, and st Ignatious church. She was super flexible adapting to our eldest member pace and explaining everything from scratch so we can really understand concepts. she gave us practical tips and a good advice as to where to eat. We had fun and learned a lot!

Stephen
About local
21 February 2025
Great morning in rome

We had a great morning exploring Roma with Simone today. He is great company and a thoroughly knowledgeable guide to the city, particularly good with children. The many hidden open doors of Rome were revealed to us upon this tour. Thank you Simone for sharing your city with us.

Chris
About local
18 February 2025
The perfect start to our stay in Rome

Simone tailored the tour to our interests. We found and learned about some wonderful hidden gems all in a relaxed and easy tour. We also came away with some great restaurants off the beaten tourist track. We’d definitely recommend Simone - thanks for a great tour!

zoe.mohler
About local
16 February 2025
Excellent Tour! Highly Recommend

My family of four really enjoyed our Hidden Gem tour with Simone. It was the perfect tour to kick start our Rome visit. Simone had so many stories to share - we especially enjoyed hearing about Italian politics, life in Italy and the fun little stories about Rome.

What to see and do in Rome

Rome is one of the most amazing cities out there, so you decided to go there, good for you! It’s full of gorgeous sights, delicious food and cool things to do. Take a look at our top things to do list and enjoy your stay as a local would!

  • Visit the Lorenzo District

    Wanna go in a less known place? The Lorenzo District has been named as Rome’s up-and-coming districts, but still remains unknown to tourists. Its bohemian vibe and trendy underground bars make the locals love the place. They’ll help you take in the vivid street art and stroll around the hip area. Keep in mind that this district is not for everyone. It’s art has a more controversial side to it, but if you’re into more hipsterish type of places, then you’ll love it!

    It’s also home to one of Rome’s biggest churches, San Lorenzo fuori le mura, so visiting this area will help you have a taste of the modern Roman life, while still uncover its history! Definitely one of the best things to do in Rome!

  • Eat like a Roman

    Oh, the food in Italy! If you think you’ve tasted Italian food, but you haven’t been to Italy yet, believe us, you haven’t actually tasted it. Nothing compares to a meal prepared by locals in the comfort of their homes. Feel their love for fresh ingredients and good conversations. You’ll see that people actually put their hearts into the delicious dishes and get carried away by laugher.

    Enjoy a seasonal meal prepared with products grown in the host’s garden, a traditional pasta dinner, a typical homemade pizza or a delicious tiramisu dessert. All of these goods and the company of the warm and friendly hosts will make you want to stay in Rome forever! Have a magical night with incredible Italian wine, astounding music and beautiful people! If you rather enjoy great Italian food on a stunning walk, then a Rome Food Tour would be perfect thing to do for you!

  • Get a historical tour with a local

    One of the best things to do in Rome is exploring its well known history. There are lots of places to see, but a local host will make sure you get far more than simple views. Every scratch of a building has a story worth listening to! Don’t miss them!

    Two of the spots you should include in your tour, no matter what, are the Colosseum and Pantheon. Yes, it’s true that they are very touristy, but there’s a reason why they are so visited, they’re amazing!

    The Colosseum’s size itself is mind blowing. The queues can get long, but who cares about them when listening to all the fascinating gladiator tales? Now, go back in time through The Pantheon. Remember, you’re walking on the steps of Romans from 2000 years ago. Rome is full of amazing highlights, so let us share with you their true history!

  • Discover the dark side of Rome

    OK, so there are many beautiful places, delicious meals and gorgeous art elements in Rome, but what about its darker hidden side? A city becomes much more interesting when you get to see its mysteries next to the popular highlights. If you want to experience a different type of thing to do in Rome, far less known by most travelers, try out the Dark side of Rome tour!

    In the city’s history there have been crazy myths and rumors, known only by the curious Romans, including our hosts. Many of those were about famous people, country rulers or religious leaders turned bad. Some are more mystical, or even “di fantasmi”,
    as locals would say. Get carried away in the intriguing nighttime atmosphere of the mysterious city! See our night tours.

  • Learn to make authentic Pasta

    There are many local things to do in Rome, and the Pasta Making workshop is top notch. You get to enjoy the activity and the yummy food at the same time.

    Making the pasta is not a big fuss, you’ll only need a few fresh ingredients and a steady strong hand to help you out. Now the sauce part is another story! Train your senses to recognize different tastes. Learn different recipes and play with them! With our cooking classes, a host will help you in discovering what flavors you should combine, which herbs work best for certain dishes and how to cut your pasta in for the perfect shape.They'll share their own learning experience with you, just like any true teacher would!

    Have fun creating your unique pasta and chat along with your host!

  • Enjoy the Municipal Rose Garden

    Young Roman lovers head to the Municipal Rose Garden, which is by far one of the most romantic and peaceful spots in Rome. You can savor a more quiet time here because it is not packed with tourists. So escape the chaos and take in the stunning panoramic views.Your host can show you the most perfect photography shoots. Make sure your memory lasts forever!

    You’ll be able to walk around the park and take in the intoxicating aromas of the 1,100 different rose varieties. Take a moment to admire the views of Palatine Hill in the distance and listen to a story or two about the place. Ask your guide about other beautiful landscapes he can show you and lovely things to do in Rome!

    See in map (external link)

  • Get a look at the sailboat church

    Not your typical church in Rome, we must admit! Jubilee Church is a totally modern cathedral which only dates back to 2003. If you decide to visit it, you’ll see that it is completely unusual for a spiritual sanctuary. We would say that it looks more like a modern art museum. And believe it or not, it’s shaped like a sailboat made of a special white cement.

    Your host will tell you more about how it’s used as a community center and serves eight thousand residents of the Tor Tre Teste. Visit it to get a very different vibe than what you’ll normally experience in Roman churches.

  • Climb the Palatine Hill

    The Palatine Hill is strongly connected to the mythology of Rome. It is said to be the place where Romulus decided to build the famous city after killing his twin Remus in a terrible fight. Of course, this hasn’t ever been proven, but the area was populated at that time, so maybe some of it is true, right?

    The area used to also be one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of Rome in the Middle Age. It was the place of castles, churches and many striking legends. Hear all about them and other interesting facts in your visit! Your host will make you feel being part of history.

    We assure you that the area is one of the most beautiful sights of Rome. Let us bring Rome’s past to you!

  • Go on an off-the-beaten path tour

    Plan a unique, totally personalized tour with a local host, who can show you many parts of Rome that most tourists don’t ever see.

    You visit the Colosseum, The Pantheon, the hills, the churches, but what if Rome is more than that? You can always find unknown spots and unusual things to do in any city, so why should Rome be an exception?

    You’ll hear more about the real Roman lifestyle and the local history. The non-touristy Rome has many small streets, less chaos, the cool Monti district and small boutiques with everything you wish to shop for. Take a look at the places that inspired some of the most popular Italian movies. Get a cool ride with a Vespa! Let your imagination go wild and we’ll make sure to give you the experience you’re looking for!

  • Visit the Vatican city

    Your last item on the things to do in Rome list, should definitely be the famous Vatican City. Many travelers say that this is their favorite part of visiting Italy, just because the place has so much art and history that it’s impossible not to love.

    As you might already know, the papal residence includes 11 Museums and the beautiful Michelangelo Sistine Chapel. The question is “How do you get the true sense of the place?”. You’re gonna want to hear about the all the insights and the city’s rich history, otherwise you’ll just be another lost tourist in The Vatican.

    Make sure you book a private vatican tour with a guide whom you can enjoy each moment there. Let him share with you his vast knowledge of the place while you are wowed by its beauty.

Adventurous things to do in Rome

Explore Rome the local way to discover the best things to do in this wonderful city. From uncovering ancient history to eating homemade gelato with your local host, you’ll be wishing you could stay in Rome forever. There are so many amazing things to do in Rome! Foodies will be running for cured meats, Jewish ricotta cakes and the best pizza in town at Rome’s oldest bakery. History buffs can get their walking shoes on to discover the best things to see ancient Rome with a local historian. Stroll through the mighty Colosseum, discover Via del Piè di Marmo or pack in as much as possible on a Vespa! Simply let your local host what your interests and hobbies are, and they will show you the best things to do in Rome. When deciding on your activities in Rome, you’ll be glad to have a friendly local to show you where to go. There is no better way to discover Rome than with a genuine local who knows the city like the back of their hand. Whether you prefer to skip the line at the Vatican, eat your way through the street cafes or head for the countryside on a day trip to Castelli Romani, you’ll discover the best things to see like a true local Roman. Your local host will show you were to go and what to see in Rome and will only show you the very best! If you’re looking for the best things to do in Rome, a WithLocals tour is the ideal way to explore the best activities on a 100% private tour. Simply let your local host know what you most enjoy, and they will customize your tour locally for you.

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