Sightseeing in Rome: Budget Travel Guide

For years many of Rome’s most famous sights were completely free to visit. While some notable ruins now charge admission, Rome’s major sights remain pretty affordable, especially if you follow the basic tips we outline in the articles below.

Our Rome articles and guides:

• Our reviews of the best cheap hotels in Rome
• Articles about saving on Rome hotels
• How to save on bars and restaurants in Rome
Practical ways to save when visiting

Rome Entertainment: Movies, music, and theater on a budget

Undeniably, Rome is a remarkable city with a thousand things to see and do. It’s not difficult to spend an entire day pounding the cobblestones taking in all that there is to experience. So when night falls, it’s often nice to just chill out and let yourself be entertained. Here are some of the best » Read more

Rome day trip: Ostia Antica, Italy’s best-kept secret

Ostia Antica, one of Italy’s most interesting and best-preserved archaeological sites, is also one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Well, that’s certainly the impression one gets when arriving there, due to the distinctly unusual tranquility of the place, and the conspicuous lack of tour groups, roving guides, and buses. Considering that Ostia Antica is only a 30-minute train » Read more

Rome Tip: Find the best (free!) people watching in town

By Sav D’Souza in Rome—Whether it’s dining al fresco, taking in the ancient sights, or paying a visit to one of the many piazzas, Rome offers lots of perfect places to indulge in the pleasure of people watching. The best part? Taking in a passerby or two is free and open to everyone. Just keep » Read more

Rome San Giovanni walking tour: church, cheap clothes, tiramisu

The distinctive Porta San Giovanni gate welcomes you to the Rome’s San Giovanni neighborhood. The area lies south of Termini station, near enough to Rome’s center, but ideally located away from the hustle and bustle, and most tourists. Among other delights, Rome’s San Giovanni neighborhood offers its share of interesting sights, cheap clothing opportunities, and sweet eats. Here’s » Read more

Rome: Free “Angels and Demons” walking tour

By Sav D’Souza in Rome— The release of the movie “Angels and Demons” is set to do for Rome what “The Da Vinci Code” did for Paris—bring a lot more Dan Brown fans to town! But while Rome is currently afire with pricey “Angels and Demons”-inspired guided tours, you can visit most of the sights featured in the film » Read more

Rome free afternoon: Our four favorite parks in Rome

By Sav D’Souza in Rome— Rome, like most European destinations, has some delightful parks. Whether you plan to relax after a day on the town, or spend a free afternoon strolling through gardens, sitting and public—park, the Villa Doria Pamphilj. Named after two noble Italian families, this marvel sits West of the Tiber and just South » Read more

Rome Neighborhood Spotlight: Trastevere

The scene at Porta Portese’s market in Trastevere; photo by Tara Bulba Today we bring you another neighborhood spotlight, this time we’re focusing the lens on Trastevere in Rome, Italy. Ciao down! Across the river… Trastevere, which literally means “Beyond the Tiber,” is an area directly west of the Tiber River in Rome. Not only » Read more

No bones about it, Rome’s Capuchin Crypt is an incredible (and intense) way to spend an hour. Located underneath the Church of Santa Maria della Immacolata Concezione on Via Veneto, this burial chamber is unique in its decorative technique—rooms are adorned extensively with human bones. More than 4,000 monks are buried within the crypt’s six rooms, all of whom died between 1528 » Read more

Rome tip: Michelangelo for free!

During his time in Rome, Michelangelo charged the ancient city with works of incredible beauty. His sculptures, frescoes, and architecture still inspire a city-wide love affair. And, his priceless work is on view at no cost to modern admirers. Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a very cheapo-friendly » Read more

Rome: A list of free tourist sights

  Alas, with Roman hotel rates higher than ever and the dollar at depressing lows against the euro, it can be difficult to find any budgetary relief for tourists in Italy’s capital city. Or is it? This morning we were doing a little research on the value of “all-in-one” tourist passes in Rome, when we » Read more

Rome tip: See Caravaggio for free

Caravaggio is best known for rendering biblical figures in a realistic light (and for his swaggering braggadocio). His work was all but forgotten until the early 20th century. Since then, Rome has essentially become Caravaggio central. In past years, there have been many illuminating Caravaggio exhibits in Rome, namely the one held at the Ala » Read more