How To Beat the Crowds in Rome

Knowing how to avoid getting caught in long lines for the top attractions in Rome is essential. Purchasing skip-the-line admission tickets to the most crowded attractions sounds easy enough, but keep in mind that sometimes these are the first tickets to sell out. The details can vary, but these admission tickets typically allow you to bypass some ticket or admission lines, or all lines altogether. Skip-the-line bookings can include tours of top landmarks in Rome, or offer only priority admission to Rome's most crowded sites—either way, they can easily save you precious time.

Sometimes, finding crowd-free attractions in Rome means visiting lesser-known—but no less dazzling—places near the world-famous sites. You can have a much more relaxed experience at spots such as the Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea), an underground archaeological site just steps from the Colosseum; or the ruins of the Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) which were once among the largest public baths in Imperial Rome and are now part of the well-known National Roman Museum.

There are few more magical experiences in Rome—or Italy for that matter—than early morning tours of the Vatican. These intimate outings typically begin between 7–8am, before the Vatican Museums are open to the public, and explore the vast galleries, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica before the crowds have a chance to show up.

Insider tip: If you're not a morning person, some private tours of the Vatican visit after hours, instead.

If you prefer to explore Rome later in the day, there’s no downside to heading out after dark: During summer, the unbearable daytime heat dissipates (a little); the attraction-attendant crowds tend to thin; and Romans don’t typically dine until well after dusk, meaning you won’t have to skip a nice meal.

An evening walking tour allows you to stroll past many of Rome's top landmarks lit up in their evening best. Don't miss the opportunity to take a nighttime tour of the Colosseum, when you'll see this iconic site glowing in the moonlight.

There aren’t many quiet spots in clamorous Rome—unless you’re willing to get out of bed before most have sipped their morning espresso. For the athletically inclined, running tours are a great way to cover a lot of ground and see the most beautiful places in Rome nearly deserted. You can choose how you'd like to explore: Some of the experiences cut straight through the heart of the city—think the Colosseum, the Imperial Forum, and the Trevi Fountain—while others lead joggers through some of Rome’s loveliest green spaces.

Speaking of green spaces, Rome is full of them—and they’re often among the city’s loveliest crowd-free attractions. Within the urban core of the city, the Villa Borghese and Villa Doria Pamphili are first-rate attractions, and each offers their own art gallery. But outside the Aurelian Walls, the ancient Roman walls demarcating the Historic Center with the rest of the city, you’ll find larger open green spaces. The Via Appia Regional Park, for example, is home to the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) and near beautiful aqueduct ruins surrounded by fields and greenery.

Many travelers preach it, but few listen: Don’t visit Rome in summer. Not only is the city most crowded during July and August—but it’s also debilitatingly hot with a windless heat that can make even the best-planned trips go awry.

During the off seasons, however, crowds are few, prices are lower, mind-numbing lines at the Pantheon and Vatican can be much shorter, and the atmosphere is often festive. Even winter brings memorable occasions, such as the midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and the Piazza Navona Christmas market.

Wander off the beaten path to neighborhoods such as Testaccio, Prati, and Monti—three areas in the center of Rome and within walking distance to many top attractions. Monti, in particular, is worth a visit for its fashionable bar and restaurant scene and the Church of St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli), which is home to Michelangelo's Moses sculpture.

If you're looking to venture farther out, head to Ostia, technically Rome's most far-flung neighborhood. It's roughly 40 minutes from central Rome by train, and is home to Ancient Ostia (Ostia Antica), a little-known archaeological site that rivals Pompeii, at least in terms of size.

The six-island chain of the Pontine Islands, situated about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Rome, is part of Lazio, the same region as Rome, and offers beaches and tranquil towns within striking distance of the raucous capital. You can travel by train down the western Italian coast to the right port of service, or book an island visit to cruise and swim around Ponza, the most-frequented island, with the logistics handled for you. Ponza, and the nearly uninhabited Palmarola Island nearby, are easy day trips from Rome away from the crowds in the city center.