Rome’s world-famous sights, like the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, attract millions of visitors each year.
But once you’ve checked these must-sees off your list, put some distance between you and the tourist crowds by exploring the Eternal City’s many attractions that fly below the radar. From ornate palace museums full of artistic masterpieces to ancient Roman roadways lined with catacombs and ruins, here are a few of our favorite off-the-beaten-path gems just waiting to be discovered.
Crowds in the Vatican Museums can overwhelm even the most ardent art lover. The regal, 16th-century Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is an excellent alternative.
Peruse hundreds of works by masters like Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, and Velázquez in lavish halls that you’re likely to have all to yourself. This ornate palace was once the residence of the aristocratic Pamphilj family, and you can visit the ornate palace ballroom, chapel, and apartments in addition to the prestigious art collection.
If you want to avoid the crush at the Colosseum but still get your archeology fix, head to the Baths of Caracalla, one of the world’s largest and best-preserved thermal complexes.
Tour what remains of the ground floor with a guide to best appreciate the size and opulence of these 3rd-century ruins, formerly Emperor Caracalla’s public baths. The massive Circus Maximus, Rome’s ancient stadium venue for everything from chariot races to gladiator battles, is just a short walk away.
When the urban bustle of downtown Rome is too much, do as the ancient Romans did and escape from the city via the Appian Way. The first Roman road built during the Imperial Age, this paved route is lined with archaeological ruins and atmospheric catacombs.
Join an e-bike or Vespa tour to admire the scenic stretch from Porta San Sebastiano to the Roman aqueduct and visit the fascinating Catacombs of St. Callistus.
Rome has hundreds of churches, but most visitors only enter St. Peter’s Basilica. St. Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori le Mura), thought to be built over the tomb of Paul the Apostle, provides a quieter alternative to St. Peter’s. Plus, the church’s interior is particularly glorious, with 80 columns and extensive mosaic decorations.
St. Peter’s and St. Paul Outside the Walls are only two of Rome’s four Papal Basilicas. Be sure to pop into the other two—St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano) and Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore)—during a visit to the Eternal City.
A short walk from the Colosseum, the Basilica of San Clemente offers thousands of years of history. The street-level basilica, built in the 12th century and decorated with glittering Byzantine mosaics, sits above the ruins of the 4th-century church that once sat on this spot.
Head further below ground to marvel at an ancient Mithraeum temple, remains of a Roman villa dating from the 1st century AD, and the rushing water of one of the 11 original aqueducts that provided ancient Rome with fresh water.
Most art enthusiasts make a beeline to Rome’s great museums, but the city is also home to one of Europe’s buzziest street-art scenes.
Head out to residential neighborhoods like San Lorenzo, Pigneto, and Ostiense to catch works by the city’s contemporary open-air artists, like Alice Pasquini and Lucamaleonte, before they disappear. The street art cityscape changes daily, so set out with a local guide with up-to-date intel.
One of Rome’s most remarkable museums, Centrale Montemartini is an extraordinary pairing of the industrial and ancient ages. This former electrical power station is now a striking exhibition space for the Capitoline Museums. Unlike the crowded main museum galleries on Capitoline Hill, this outpost in Ostiense is refreshingly quiet.
Savor the spectacular collection of classic sculptures surrounded by the station’s original turbines, diesel engines, and steam boiler in perfect peace.
Rome’s ancient and Baroque masterpieces get most of the attention, but the city’s architectural evolution didn’t end in the 1700s. There are a number of modern buildings and entire neighborhoods built in art nouveau (known in Italy as Liberty) and modernist styles, which offer a fascinating glimpse of Rome in the 20th century.
Stroll the fairytale-like Coppedè residential district in the center of the city, or head to the outlying EUR neighborhood built during Italy’s Fascist years, home to the famed Square Colosseum and other modernist creations.
The third largest park in Rome, Villa Borghese offers a welcome respite from the relentless urban pace and crowds. You can get a culture fix at the park’s Borghese Gallery (book ahead) or simply explore its tree-lined paths, charming rowing pond, historic fountains, and outdoor cafés.
At sunset, head to the Terrazza del Pincio overlook for one of the best (and least crowded) views over Rome.