Sightseeing in Rome: The Vatican, The Coliseum & St. Peter’s Basilica

What’s that? You don’t really like art? Then why are you in Rome? Good thing there are plenty of monuments. From the ruins of the Empire to the church relics, Rome is pretty much a huge museum. Even people who aren’t interested in art will marvel at the sweeping perfection found in Renaissance mainstays such as the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Borghese Gallery. You can find good deals on Skip the Line tours of Rome, but these are without a guide, and I really think you’ll get more out of your trip if someone is telling what makes all that artwork important, in addition to what makes it beautiful.

Then there’s the aforementioned ruins. Seeing the Coliseum is one thing, but seeing the Coliseum in your mind’s eye while a guide details the violent spectacles and roaring crowds found within its walls is something different entirely. Again, guided tours are great, especially for first time visitors who are interested in sightseeing in Rome.

Like London, there are double-decker Hop-On Hop-Off tours in Rome where you can explore the city at your own pace, with audio guides available in six different languages. You can get these passes for 48 hours, too, in case you need a break from the sightseeing for dinner or a drink.

If you’re a fan of Dan Brown’s books, you can take an Angels and Demons tour. This will take you past the famous and beautiful plazas and chapels found in the movie, but it also takes you off the tourist path to show you where pagan and Christian symbols intermingle. You might not crack the Illuminati’s code, but you’ll have fun pretending to.
If you don’t like Dan Brown’s books but still want to see the catacombs, get a Skip the Line pass. Like the catacombs in Paris, this is a popular attraction, so it helps to save some precious vacation time and wander on your own.