11 of the Best Things for Solo Travelers To Do in Rome

Vatican City may technically be its own country, but it’s also one of Rome’s main attractions, and it should be on every solo traveler’s bucket list. This area was originally built as the burial site of St. Peter in the fourth century, and has served as the headquarters of the Catholic Church since the 14th century.

During your visit, check out UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Vatican Museums, home to an extensive art collection and the Sistine Chapel (which you’ll want skip-the-line tickets for), St. Peter’s Square, and more. See the Vatican on a guided tour for convenient access and fascinating historical context.

As beautiful as Rome is, it’s still a major city, and that means traffic, tourists, and concrete (or in this case, stone) can get a little old after a while. So get a break from the city with a visit to its most beautiful oasis, Villa Borghese.

The grand villa, its meticulously manicured gardens, and the Galleria Borghese museum form one of the top cultural experiences in Rome. Wander the grounds, take a photo from the picturesque terrace, and see the works of some of Italy’s most famous sculptors and painters with skip-the-line admission into the gallery.

One of the most compelling aspects of Rome is that it’s both an ancient city and a modern metropolis, where the past and present coexist. As a solo traveler, you may want to join a guided group tour of some of the most impressive sites, such as the imposing Colosseum, often combined with visits to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

These are some of the top Rome photography spots, so make sure to ask someone to take your picture there! If you’re looking for more off-the-beaten-path attractions, visit the remains of the 2,000-year-old Appian Way on the outskirts of the city.

To escape the crowds in Rome, you’ll want to visit the city’s other interesting (and safe) neighborhoods. Testaccio is a great place to start, a residential neighborhood that’s ideal for foodies. If you’re on a budget, head to San Lorenzo, a popular gathering place for local students and home to the San Lorenzo Basilica.

Or if you’re hoping to join one of the Rome walking tours solo, the Jewish Ghetto along the Tiber River offers interesting insight into the lives of the city’s Jewish residents. Exploring Trastevere alone is another fun option, or heading to the sophisticated Monti district.

Escape the crowds aboveground and venture under the Eternal City to learn more about its past as the center of the powerful Roman Empire. There are hundreds of miles of catacombs thought to run underneath Rome, dating back as far as the first century.

A crypt and catacombs tour is also a great way to meet other travelers as you take in creepy sights such as the Capuchin Crypt, a collection of underground chapels decorated with the bones of Capuchin friars that’s thought to date back to the 17th century. Or head to Oppian Hill Park, from which you can enter the Domus Aurea, the former palace of Emperor Nero that’s now entirely underground.

One of the highlights of Rome for single travelers is the city’s bar and restaurant scene. To experience Rome’s nightlife like a local, start with an aperitivo of drinks and snacks around 7pm before heading to a leisurely dinner. Then, check out Rome’s nightclubs or join a more curated evening on the town, whether that’s a bar crawl, a wine tour, or wandering around the best neighborhoods for entertainment after dark, such as Trastevere, Monti, and Testaccio.

Later, gather in one of the city’s many squares, where locals come together to drink and chat. Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Trilussa are some of the most lively.

Wandering around a city on foot is fun, but when traveling solo you may want to switch things up and explore at a different pace. Try a bicycle tour in Rome, explore by e-bike to conserve your energy, or get adventurous and see Rome like a local on a Vespa. You can stop by all the city’s highlights during a guided excursion or pause to get your photo taken to come away with the perfect souvenir from your solo trip. Just make sure to keep your wits about you, as traffic in Rome can be chaotic.

Dining by yourself can be one of the most uncomfortable experiences for solo travelers. So instead of braving a restaurant alone, join a group food tour and get to know Rome’s most famous foodie neighborhood.

In Trastevere’s winding cobblestone streets, you can sample typical Roman street food, such as suppli (breaded fried pockets of rice filled with cheese), try some of the classic Roman pastas, sip on Italian wine, and finish up the night with your favorite combination of gelato flavors. Plus, you may just make some friends in the group along the way.

Visiting a museum is one of the most satisfying solo travel activities, and Rome happens to be an impressive cultural destination home to many museums and galleries. Check out the top museums in Rome during your visit, such as the Capitoline Museums where you’ll find a collection of Roman antiquities and art inside a grand building.

Take advantage of skip-the-line tickets to make the most of your time at the more popular museums, or visit lesser-known museums, such as the National Etruscan Museum full of artifacts from the Etruscan civilization, or Villa Farnesina, an elegant residence that doubles as a gallery of frescoes.

It can be daunting to try to make friends when traveling solo, but in a cooking class it comes naturally as you work together to make a meal. Since you’re in the capital of one of the most famous food destinations in the world, there are lots of great options for Italian cooking classes in Rome.

Many classes focus on the so-called “four Roman pastas”: cacio e pepe (pepper and cheese), gricia (pork cheek and pecorino romano cheese), amatriciana (tomato sauce with pork cheek), and carbonara (pork cheek with a creamy egg and pecorino romano sauce). Try your hand at making pasta and tiramisu, or even sample local wines as you cook.

It’s a great idea to plan a few days in Rome, because after seeing the city’s main attractions, you can easily access other amazing sights nearby. Take a trip to Tivoli, a small hilltop town with a long history, where you can visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Villa d’Este and the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa, which date back to the second century.

Whether you choose to go alone or join a group tour, other day trips from Rome include a visit to the small, artsy town of Orvieto, and a jaunt to the Amalfi Coast.