16 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Rome
Rome beckons with its ancient wonders and timeless charm – yet exploring the Eternal City doesn’t need to drain your wallet.
Beyond the ticket-required attractions lie countless treasures that cost absolutely nothing to enjoy. This guide reveals free and budget-friendly activities that you can’t miss!
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1. Visit Sant’Ignazio Church
Hidden behind an unassuming façade, Sant’Ignazio Church houses one of Rome’s most jaw-dropping optical illusions.
Look up at the ceiling where Jesuit artist Andrea Pozzo painted a false dome so convincing you’ll swear it’s real.
Stand on the marble disk in the middle of the nave floor for the perfect vantage point – from anywhere else, the illusion warps and reveals itself.
Built between 1626 and 1650, this Baroque masterpiece delivers grand spectacle without the grand admission fee.
2. Explore Circus Maximus
Where ancient Romans once roared for their favorite charioteers, you can now sprawl out on grassy banks.
This massive ancient stadium once seated a whopping 250,000 spectators for high-speed, often bloody chariot races.
Today, the horseshoe-shaped valley between Palatine and Aventine hills offers a peaceful respite from Rome’s busier attractions.
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3. Explore Santa Maria del Popolo
This unassuming church by Piazza del Popolo packs an art-historical punch that would cost a fortune in any museum.
Push open the heavy wooden doors and discover two original Caravaggio masterpieces hanging casually in the Cerasi Chapel.
The church itself has a deliciously spooky origin story: it was built to exorcise Emperor Nero’s ghost after Pope Paschal II had his remains exhumed, burned, and tossed into the Tiber River in 1099.
4. Stroll Through Villa Borghese Gardens
Once the private playground of Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 17th century, these gardens now belong to everyone.
Rent a rowboat on the artificial lake and paddle past the Temple of Aesculapius, find a shady spot under centuries-old trees, or climb to the Pincio terrace for postcard-worthy views over Piazza del Popolo.
The gardens connect several museums, but simply wandering the tree-lined paths costs nothing.
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5. Explore Trastevere Neighborhood
Cross the Tiber River to discover Rome’s most characterful neighborhood, where laundry flutters from windows above streets barely wide enough for a Vespa.
During the day, Trastevere’s sun-dappled piazzas and ochre-colored buildings create a photographer’s dream.
By night, the district hums with energy as locals and visitors fill its countless trattorias and wine bars.
This former working-class area has maintained its authentic Roman soul despite growing popularity.
Wander without purpose, but make sure you peek into the stunning Basilica of Santa Maria (one of Rome’s oldest churches).
6. Admire the Ecstasy of St. Teresa
Tucked away in the Cornaro Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria church, Bernini’s breathtaking marble masterpiece will stop you in your tracks.
Created between 1645 and 1652, this sculptural altarpiece captures the Spanish Carmelite nun in a moment of divine rapture as an angel plunges a golden spear into her heart.
The chapel is illuminated by a hidden yellow-paned window that bathes the swooning saint in light, making her appear to float midair in her moment of ecstatic union with Christ.
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7. Visit the Vatican Museums on Last Sunday
Skip the steep admission fees and join locals at the Vatican Museums on the last Sunday of each month when entry is absolutely free from 9am to 2pm (last entry at 12:30pm).
This cultural treasure trove houses one of the world’s greatest art collections, including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling.
While you’ll need patience for the inevitable queues (no skip-the-line options on free days), the trade-off is worth every minute.
8. Walk Down Via Dei Fori Imperiali
Stroll down this magnificent boulevard connecting Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum and walk through layers of ancient Roman history.
Built between 1924 and 1932, this impressive thoroughfare passes directly over parts of the Imperial Forums, with spectacular archaeological remains visible on both sides.
You’ll pass the Forum of Trajan, Forum of Augustus, and Forum of Nerva, allowing you to witness the remnants of these grand Imperial Roman complexes.
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9. Attend the Pope’s Weekly Address
Join the faithful and curious alike for a chance to see Pope Francis in person without spending a single euro.
Every Wednesday morning at 9am, the Pope holds a General Audience in St. Peter’s Square or the Paul VI Audience Hall (Nervi Hall) during winter.
While tickets are free, they must be reserved through the Prefecture of the Papal Household via fax or collected directly at the Bronze Door.
10. Explore the Spanish Steps
The sweeping cascade of 135 travertine steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to the French church of Trinità dei Monti creates one of Rome’s most photogenic spots.
The steps quickly gained fame as a gathering place for artists and poets—even John Keats lived in a house at the bottom, where he died in 1821.
At the base, don’t miss the quirky Fontana della Barcaccia (“Fountain of the Ugly Boat”).
From the top near the Egyptian obelisk, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views over Rome’s terracotta rooftops.
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11. See Michelangelo’s Moses
Hidden in the unassuming basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, Michelangelo’s colossal Moses statue will leave you speechless.
Carved in 1513 for Pope Julius II’s tomb, this masterpiece depicts Moses with symbolic horns representing “the radiance of the Lord.”
The statue captures the moment after Moses received the Ten Commandments, his muscles tensed and veins bulging with anger at finding the Israelites worshiping a golden calf.
According to legend, Michelangelo was so pleased with the lifelike quality of his creation that he struck the knee and commanded it to speak.
12. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica, the crown jewel of Vatican City, is completely free to enter and open daily (7am-7pm April-September, 7am-6:30pm October-March).
While climbing the dome requires a ticket, wandering through the vast nave, marveling at Michelangelo’s Pietà, and standing beneath Bernini’s bronze baldachin costs nothing.
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13. Explore Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Just steps behind the Pantheon lies Rome’s only Gothic church, a hidden gem with a deceptively plain façade.
Built over an ancient temple once dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, this magnificent church houses Michelangelo’s “Christ the Redeemer” sculpture near the altar.
The elegant nave leads to chapels filled with masterpieces by renowned artists. Don’t miss the unusual elephant-topped Egyptian obelisk outside, designed by Bernini.
14. Marvel at Piazza Navona
Stroll through one of Rome’s most enchanting squares, built over Emperor Domitian’s ancient stadium from 86 AD.
This oval-shaped piazza, once hosting athletic contests and mock naval battles (hence the name “Navona” or “big ship”), now showcases three magnificent fountains.
The centerpiece is Bernini’s spectacular Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of Four Rivers), featuring an Egyptian obelisk surrounded by personifications of the Ganges, Nile, Danube, and Rio de la Plata.
At each end stand the Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Nettuno, completing this Baroque masterpiece.
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15. Visit Free Museums on First Sundays
Mark your calendar for the first Sunday of each month when state and municipal museums across Rome open their doors completely free of charge.
This “Domenica al Museo” initiative includes almost all museums and archaeological sites in the city, from the Capitoline Museums to the Circus Maximus.
Even the Pantheon, which now charges tourists an entry fee, participates in this monthly event (though advance booking is required).
16. Toss a Coin Into the Trevi Fountain
Rome’s most spectacular fountain stands 85 feet high and 160 feet wide, dominating the small piazza it occupies.
This Baroque masterpiece, designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762, depicts sea-god Oceanus in a shell-shaped chariot led by Tritons with seahorses.
The fountain marks the endpoint of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct, built in 19 BC to supply water to central Rome.
Follow tradition by tossing a coin over your right shoulder to ensure your return to the Eternal City!
