Rome’s Unique Travel Attractions

Discover Rome’s greatest sights on a guided tour. Admire Renaissance paintings and religious art at the Vatican Museums; and venture beneath Rome to the ancient catacombs that lie dormant beneath.

Avoid long lines by purchasing skip-the-line tickets online, or visit the Spanish Steps early morning or late at night when less visitors are expected. Or simply visit whenever you want since options like Hong Kong to Rome are right now available from Cathay pacific. 

The Colosseum

The Colosseum stands as one of Rome’s most recognizable attractions and largest amphitheaters worldwide. Constructed between 72 AD and 80 AD, it could hold as many as 45,000 seated and 50,000 standing spectators simultaneously. Conceived and constructed by Flavian Emperors Vespasian and Titus between 72-80 AD and inaugurated with a 100-day long celebration featuring over 9,000 animals both domestic and wild during an extravagant opening ceremony that began with a spectacle lasting 100 days! There is even a guided tour available if needed or simply explore on your own!

Ancient Rome’s Colosseum was used for numerous events, from gladiator battles to mock naval war recreations, with its arena covered in sand to help absorb any blood from gladiators or animals killed on stage, to trap doors in its floor that allowed it to rise or lower for crowd-pleasing effects. Today, this incredible attraction still draws tourists.

Furthermore, by choosing this option you will also avoid long lines for entrance and get more out of your visit by bypassing lines altogether and saving time! The ticket includes entry to both Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as well as accessing both of them – providing an exceptional way of experiencing all that Rome has to offer!

The Vatican Museums

Pope Julius II established museums which showcase an immense collection of masterpieces. On his travels he collected art and antiques, building new structures for them as his collections expanded further. Additionally he commissioned pieces by some of the top artists of his day to complete them.

Over the centuries, different popes continued to expand the Vatican Museums by expanding existing galleries and opening new ones. Renaissance popes were particularly fond of filling their palatial residences with works from top Roman artists; many would commission these top artists to decorate rooms within their residences with their creations – these rooms now form part of the Vatican Museums and can be visited during a Vatican tour.

As there is so much to take in at the museum, allow plenty of time. A guided tour is the best way to visit the Vatican Museums; that way you’ll gain more insight into their history and their stories behind paintings – our guides are both academic and entertaining and will bring the museum alive for you!

For an optimal experience of the Vatican Museums, we suggest going early in the day. Museums tend to be busiest between 9am-3pm; to visit Sistine Chapel early and avoid crowds best time is morning before 9am; if visiting both on same day we suggest first taking your scavi tour at St Peter’s Basilica then visiting museums later because afternoons tend to be quieter.

Museums can be daunting places, and it can be easy to become disoriented if you don’t plan your route ahead of time. To help avoid getting lost in this complex environment, we recommend consulting a map or booking a tour guide who can show you around its highlights while helping navigate its complexity. Be sure to bring water with you for comfort during summer visits!

St Peter’s Basilica

From Renaissance splendor to hallowed grounds believed to encase St Peter’s gravesite, there’s much to explore and experience here.

One feature that stands out is the massive dome that stands taller than the Statue of Liberty. To support such an expansive structure, Donato Bramante and Michelangelo designed massive pillars – with astounding results.

Within the Basilica itself are many masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque art, including Michelangelo’s Pieta. You will also find tombs for Popes as well as part of the Veronica Veil with imprints of Jesus’ face – plus Bernini’s baldachin over the main altar and Saint Peter’s bronze cathedra in the apse!

Basilica’s Grottoes offer another highlight, featuring numerous ancient tombs and sarcophagi. Additionally, you can explore the Papal Crypts (known as Scavi) beneath basilica; while not recommended for those who suffer from claustrophobia, these offer an incredible opportunity to learn more about Vatican’s early days and history.

Arrive early at St Peter’s Basilica to make the most out of your visit and avoid crowds with this tour that allows you to bypass lines for entry and climb its dome before the masses of visitors arrive. Plus, enjoy an exclusive guided tour through its treasures including visiting its crypts!

Another option for visiting St Peter’s in Rome is on a combined tour that also visits the Colosseum and Vatican Museums. These tours enter the Vatican an hour early, offer all admissions tickets (including skip-the-line access for St Peter’s) as well as an experienced guide who can accompany them throughout their entire visit – perfect if time is short! This option can also provide access to St Peter’s Basilica without waiting in line, making this tour perfect for visitors with limited travel time in Rome.

The National Roman Museum

Visit Rome if you love ancient art, history and culture to visit the National Roman Museum! With an astonishing array of sculptures, statues, paintings and more sure to capture your attention, this remarkable museum will leave you speechless! Discover a vast array of statues created using various sculpture techniques as well as ceremonial items used throughout ancient civilisation. In addition there is also a magnificent bronze and ivory collection which was highly prized among wealthy individuals often being customized with carvings depicting specific people or animals carved upon its pieces.

The museum, situated near Termini train station, is best-known for its extensive collection of ancient marble statues from Ludovisi and Altemps collections. Additionally, this institution houses mosaics and coins collections. Walking through Diocletian’s Baths (part of this museum and once one of Rome’s largest ancient Roman thermal complexes) offers another memorable experience as you travel through caldarium, tepidarium, frigidarium, and even its swimming pool!

One of the highlights is the magnificent floor mosaics on display. Once found only in Roman aristocratic villas, visitors can now walk across these intricate designs to imagine life during this lavish time in history.

Plan ahead when visiting this incredible museum! To save yourself time on the day of your visit and to maximize the best experiences. Buy tickets in advance online to avoid queues on arrival; or sign up for one of their guided tours to make the most out of your visit; this offers more structured ways of experiencing this fascinating museum; it may even make for great family adventures!

If you want to make the most of your visit to the National Roman Museum, join a combo tour. These trips allow for maximum sightseeing while providing you with the option to bypass lines at places such as the Colosseum!