Lazio is Italy's most historically rich region, home to Rome — the Eternal City — as well as ancient ruins, medieval hilltowns, volcanic lakes, and a stunning Tyrrhenian coastline. From the Colosseum to the vineyards of the Castelli Romani and the thermal baths of Viterbo, Lazio offers an unparalleled blend of art, history, nature, and cuisine.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Lazio.
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1
Colosseum
The iconic 2,000-year-old amphitheater is Rome's most visited monument and a symbol of Imperial Roman engineering genius. Built between 70-80 AD, it once held up to 80,000 spectators watching gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. The underground hypogeum and upper tiers are accessible with premium tickets.
Tip: Book tickets online to skip queues · Combined ticket includes Roman Forum and Palatine Hill · Underground tour requires separate booking
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2
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
One of the world's greatest museum complexes housing an incomparable collection of art accumulated by the Catholic Church over centuries. The highlight is Michelangelo's breathtaking ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel, while the galleries contain Egyptian antiquities, Greek sculptures, Renaissance masterpieces and the Raphael Rooms. Plan at least 3-4 hours.
Tip: Book tickets weeks in advance · Dress code: covered shoulders and knees required · Friday evenings offer extended hours
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3
St. Peter's Basilica
The world's largest church and the spiritual center of Roman Catholicism, topped by Michelangelo's magnificent dome offering panoramic views over Rome and Vatican City. The basilica contains Michelangelo's Pietà, Bernini's spectacular baldachin and the tombs of numerous popes. Entry to the basilica is free; a fee applies for the dome climb.
Tip: Arrive early to avoid queues · Dress code strictly enforced · Climb the dome for 360° views of Rome
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4
Trevi Fountain
Rome's most famous fountain, a dazzling Baroque masterpiece designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762. Neptune commands a shell-shaped chariot drawn by sea horses amid cascading water and rococo statues. Legend says tossing a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand ensures your return to Rome.
Tip: Visit at dawn for photos without crowds · Night views with illumination are spectacular · Surrounding streets have good gelaterias
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5
Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The political, commercial and religious heart of ancient Rome, stretching beside the Colosseum in a vast archaeological park. The Forum's temples, triumphal arches and basilicas recall the grandeur of the Republic and Empire, while Palatine Hill above holds the ruins of imperial palaces with sweeping views over the city.
Tip: Included in Colosseum combined ticket · Wear comfortable shoes on uneven ground · An audio guide helps bring ruins to life
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6
Pantheon
The best-preserved ancient Roman building in the world, built around 125 AD by Emperor Hadrian. Its unreinforced concrete dome, with a central oculus open to the sky, remains an engineering marvel over 1,900 years later. The interior houses tombs of Renaissance painter Raphael and Italian kings.
Tip: Book timed entry online to avoid queues · On rainy days the oculus creates a mesmerizing effect · Arrive early as it gets very crowded
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7
Borghese Gallery
Rome's most celebrated art gallery, set in a 17th-century villa within the lush Villa Borghese park. The collection includes breathtaking Bernini sculptures — including Apollo and Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina — and paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian and Rubens. Visits are strictly limited to 2 hours.
Tip: Advance booking mandatory — often sold out weeks ahead · Gardens surrounding the villa are free to enter · Take bus or taxi as parking is limited
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8
Castel Sant'Angelo
Originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum in 139 AD, this cylindrical fortress on the Tiber River served as a papal refuge, prison and military stronghold across the centuries. Climb to the top for sweeping views of Rome and the Tiber, and visit the small museum chronicling the castle's many incarnations.
Tip: Walk across the Ponte Sant'Angelo with its angel statues · The rooftop terrace offers great sunset views · Visit nearby Trastevere after
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9
Villa d'Este, Tivoli
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most spectacular Renaissance gardens, Villa d'Este features 500 fountains, nymphaea, grottoes and water organs set on terraced hillside gardens. Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este commissioned the villa in the 1550s; it remains a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance garden design.
Tip: Combine with nearby Hadrian's Villa · Go early to avoid tour groups · The Organ Fountain plays hourly at certain times
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10
Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana), Tivoli
This vast UNESCO World Heritage archaeological complex was Emperor Hadrian's private retreat built between 118-138 AD, covering more than 120 hectares. The site includes reconstructions of buildings Hadrian admired from across the empire — including Egyptian canals, Greek theatres and Roman baths — surrounded by cypress trees and olive groves.
Tip: Rent an audio guide or hire a guide to understand the ruins · Wear comfortable shoes — site is very large · Combine with Villa d'Este, 5km away
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Colosseum
Iconic 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater
Trevi Fountain
Rome's most famous Baroque fountain
Pantheon
Best-preserved ancient Roman temple
Castel Sant'Angelo
Hadrian's mausoleum turned papal fortress
Civita di Bagnoregio
Dying hilltop village on eroding volcanic rock
Roman Forum
Heart of ancient Rome's civic life
Villa d'Este
UNESCO Renaissance garden with 500 fountains
Museums
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
World's greatest art collection
Borghese Gallery
Bernini sculptures and Old Master paintings
National Museum of Rome (Palazzo Massimo)
Superb ancient Roman art and mosaics
Capitoline Museums
Oldest public museums in the world
National Archaeological Museum of Palestrina
Famous Nile Mosaic and Sanctuary of Fortuna
Tivoli's Tiberius Grotto Museum
Greek sculptures from Sperlonga
Nature
Circeo National Park
Coastal park with Monte Circeo limestone promontory
Lake Bracciano
Volcanic crater lake ideal for swimming
Ninfa Garden
Romantic garden through medieval ruins
Terme dei Papi
Ancient sulphurous thermal springs
Lake Bolsena
Italy's largest volcanic lake in northern Lazio
Monti Simbruini Regional Park
Hiking and wildlife near Subiaco
Cultural
Trastevere
Rome's medieval quarter with trattorias and wine bars
Campo de' Fiori
Lively morning market and evening piazza
Viterbo Medieval Center
Best-preserved medieval city in central Italy
Bomarzo Monster Park
Surreal 16th-century garden of stone monsters
Frascati Wine Country
Castelli Romani hilltown famous for DOC white wine
Anagni Cathedral
Frescoed crypt called the Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums open Tue-Sun 9AM-7PM; closed Mondays
- Fees
- State museum entry €5-15; some Rome sites up to €20
- Best Times
- Early morning or late afternoon; avoid midday in summer
- Booking
- Book Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Borghese Gallery weeks in advance online
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Many of Rome's greatest attractions — Pantheon piazza, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Trastevere — are free to visit
The Roma Pass (48h or 72h) includes free/reduced museum entry and free public transport
State museum sites are free on the first Sunday of every month
Validated church dress codes strictly — keep a scarf to cover bare shoulders
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season to visit attractions in Lazio?
April-June and September-October for pleasant temperatures and manageable crowds
Are guided tours available for Lazio's attractions?
Walking tours from €20-40; Colosseum guided tours €30-60; skip-the-line add-ons common
Can I take photos at attractions in Lazio?
Allowed at most outdoor sites; no flash inside museums and churches
How much time do I need for Lazio's main attractions?
Allow 4-5 days for Rome's highlights plus 2-3 days for wider Lazio