Free Things to Do in Rome (2026): What’s Still Free and What Isn’t

Most of Rome’s top sights are still free: St. Peter’s Basilica and most churches, the piazzas and the Spanish Steps, viewpoints like the Orange Garden, the Aventine Keyhole and the Janiculum, and the big parks. Two are not: the Pantheon costs €7, and since February 2, 2026 non-residents pay €2 to walk down to the Trevi Fountain.

Cover photo: Joseolgon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rome is not a cheap city, but some of its best moments cost nothing: standing in front of a Caravaggio in a side chapel, hearing the noon cannon on the Janiculum, or seeing St. Peter’s dome framed by a keyhole. In recent years, though, a few famous sights have started to charge, and many lists online are out of date. We are a local tour operator in Rome, and on November 2, 2026 we checked free entry, hours and prices on the official websites. You’ll find a quick table first, then the free sights by type, what is no longer free, and the days when museums are free.

Which sights in Rome are free? The quick table

Which churches in Rome are free to visit?

Almost every church in Rome is free to enter, and many hold art you would pay to see in a museum. Dress as you would for any church: St. Peter’s asks for covered shoulders and trousers or skirts below the knee, and it is wise to do the same everywhere. During Mass, stay at the back or come back later.

• St. Peter’s Basilica. Entry is free. Until March 28, 2027 the basilica is open every day from 7:00 to 19:00. Everyone goes through a security check run by the Italian State Police under the right-hand colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, as you face the basilica, and the line can be long, so come early. There is no cloakroom and bulky luggage is not allowed. The dome has its own ticket: our Vatican guide explains prices and booking, and the official opening hours change in spring.
• San Luigi dei Francesi. The French national church, a few steps from Piazza Navona, holds three paintings of St. Matthew by Caravaggio. Its website says it plainly: it’s a church, so it’s free, and no ticket is required. It is open Monday to Friday 9:30–12:45 and 14:30–18:15, Saturday 9:30–12:00 and 14:30–18:30, and Sunday 12:00–12:45 and 14:30–18:30.
• Santa Maria del Popolo. On Piazza del Popolo, this church has two Caravaggios in the Cerasi Chapel, the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul, and the Chigi Chapel designed by Raphael. It is open to visitors Monday to Saturday 8:30–9:45, 10:30–12:00 and 16:00–18:00, and on Sundays and holidays 16:30–18:00, with no visits during services.
• San Pietro in Vincoli. Near the Colosseum, this basilica keeps the chains of St. Peter and Michelangelo’s Moses, carved for the tomb of Pope Julius II. It is open Monday to Saturday 7:00–12:20 and 15:00–17:50, Sundays and holidays 9:00–12:00 and 15:00–17:50; in summer it closes at 18:50.
• Santa Maria in Trastevere. One of Rome’s oldest churches, with mosaics on the façade and in the apse, including the stories of the Virgin by Pietro Cavallini (1291). It is the heart of Trastevere.

For more churches with free masterpieces, see our guide to where to see Caravaggio in Rome.

Which squares, steps and fountains are free?

All of Rome’s piazzas are public, open day and night and free.

• Piazza Navona keeps the long oval shape of an ancient stadium, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers in the middle. Our Piazza Navona guide tells its story.
• Piazza del Popolo, the great oval square at the northern gate of the city, with the Pincio Terrace above it (see the viewpoints below).
• Campo de’ Fiori, a market square in the morning and a busy meeting place in the evening.
• The Spanish Steps are free to walk up and down at any time, but sitting on them, also to eat or drink, is banned under Rome’s Urban Police Regulation, which protects monuments, fountains and monumental stairways. Read more in our Spanish Steps guide.
• The Trevi Fountain is always free to see from outside the access area; only the area by the basin has a ticket (see below).
• The nasoni, Rome’s cast-iron drinking fountains, give free drinking water all over the city: carry a bottle and refill it. Our post on the nasoni tells their story.

Where are the best free viewpoints in Rome?

Rome’s best views are free, and three of them are on the Aventine and the Janiculum, two hills a short ride apart. For more, see our list of panoramic views of Rome.

• The Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci). A small park of orange trees on the Aventine Hill, laid out in 1932, that ends in a terrace over the Tiber with St. Peter’s dome on the skyline. Entry is free. It opens at 7:00 and closes at 18:00 from October to February, at 20:00 in March and September, and at 21:00 from April to August. More in our Orange Garden guide.
• The Aventine Keyhole. A few steps away, on Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, the keyhole in the portal designed by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1765 frames the dome of St. Peter’s. Looking through it costs nothing, but the line can take more than 40 minutes. Read about it in our post on the Aventine Keyhole.

• The Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo). The tree-lined Passeggiata del Gianicolo is always open and looks over the whole historic center. Every day at exactly 12:00, three soldiers fire a blank shot from a howitzer under the belvedere, a tradition started by Pope Pius IX in the 1840s, rain or shine. Our Janiculum guide has more on the hill and the cannon.
• The Pincio Terrace. At the top of the Passeggiata del Pincio, designed by Giuseppe Valadier and completed between 1811 and 1823, the terrace looks down on Piazza del Popolo and across the city to St. Peter’s. It is always open.
• The Vittoriano. The huge white monument on Piazza Venezia, also called the Altar of the Fatherland, is free to enter every day from 9:30 to 19:30 (last entry 18:45). The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier takes place every hour. The panoramic terrace at the top is not free: it is part of an €18 ticket that also covers Palazzo Venezia and the Central Museum of the Risorgimento.

Which parks in Rome are free?

Rome’s historic villas are now free public parks, run by the City of Rome. Our guide to parks in Rome covers them in detail.

• Villa Borghese is always open. Its 80 hectares (about 200 acres) of gardens, lawns and avenues connect to the Pincio Terrace. See our Villa Borghese guide.
• Villa Doria Pamphilj, once the country estate of the Pamphilj family, covers 181 hectares (about 450 acres) and is open from 7:00 to sunset.
• Villa Celimontana, on the Caelian Hill near the Colosseum, is open from 7:00 to sunset.
• Villa Torlonia is open from 7:00 to 19:30 from October to March and from 7:00 to 20:30 from April to September, and closes on January 1 and December 25. The park is free; its museums charge visitors who don’t live in Rome.
• The Circus Maximus, the long grassy valley where chariots once raced, is open to everyone. Our Circus Maximus guide explains what you see there.

Can you see ancient Rome for free?

Partly. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill need a ticket, except on the free days below. But a lot of ancient Rome stands along public streets: the outside of the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums along Via dei Fori Imperiali, the view over the Roman Forum from the Capitoline Hill, and the temples of Largo di Torre Argentina, seen from the street. For tickets and tips on the Colosseum itself, read our Colosseum guide.

Which museums in Rome are free?

Four small museums run by the City of Rome are free for everyone, according to the City museums’ ticket page:

• Museo delle Mura, in the Porta San Sebastiano gate, on the history of the Aurelian Walls; its walkway along the walls has been closed for works since June 15, 2026. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–16:00, last entry one hour before closing. Up to 20 visitors at a time, for a maximum of 50 minutes.
• Museo della Repubblica Romana e della Memoria Garibaldina, on the Janiculum, on the Roman Republic of 1849 and Garibaldi’s defense of the city. Open Tuesday to Friday 10:00–14:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00–18:00.
• Casal de’ Pazzi and Casa Museo Alberto Moravia, the writer’s home: both are free, but check their opening days before you go.

Both the Museo delle Mura and the Museo della Repubblica Romana are closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25. The big state and Vatican museums are free only on certain Sundays: see below.

What is no longer free in Rome?

• The Pantheon. Since July 1, 2026 the ticket costs €7 (it was €5 before); visitors aged 18 to 25 pay €2, and under-18s enter free. It is open every day from 9:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:30. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month, and during Mass (Saturdays and the day before holidays at 17:00, Sundays and holidays at 10:30) for those who come to worship. Our Pantheon guide has the details.
• The Trevi Fountain. Since February 2, 2026, visitors who don’t live in Rome pay €2 to enter the area by the basin. Entry stays free for residents of Rome and its Metropolitan City (with an ID card), children under 6, people with disabilities and one companion, licensed tour guides and Roma MIC Card holders. Ticket hours are 11:30–22:00 on Mondays and Fridays and 9:00–22:00 on the other days, with last entry at 21:00; on some Mondays entry starts at 14:00, and the official website lists the dates. The entrance is on Via della Stamperia, where you can pay only by card, and the exit is on Via dei Crociferi. You can also buy tickets online on the official Trevi Fountain website. From the square, the fountain is always free to see. Inside, you can’t eat, drink or sit on the edge of the basin, and stepping into the water means a fine of at least €450. More in our Trevi Fountain guide.
• Several small City museums. The Museo Barracco (ancient sculpture), the Museo Carlo Bilotti (modern art in Villa Borghese), the Museo Napoleonico, the Museo Pietro Canonica and the Villa di Massenzio on the Appian Way are free only for residents of Rome. Everyone else pays: for example €7.50 (€6 reduced) at the Museo Napoleonico and the Museo Canonica.

When are museums free in Rome?

• First Sunday of the month: state museums. The Italian Ministry of Culture opens its museums and archaeological sites for free, at the usual hours, with booking recommended or required where needed. In Rome this includes the Colosseum archaeological park, which is also free on April 25, June 2 and November 4, as well as the Pantheon and the Vittoriano’s paid areas. The next dates are December 6, 2026 and January 3, 2027.
• Last Sunday of the month: Vatican Museums. Entry, including the Sistine Chapel, is free from 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30, unless the day falls on Easter, June 29, or December 25, 26 or 31. The next dates are November 29 and December 27, 2026. On the other Sundays the Vatican Museums are closed; see the official hours.

Free Sundays are the busiest days of the month, so expect long lines and arrive early. For crowds, weather and holidays month by month, see our guide to the best time to visit Rome.

Is a papal audience free?

Yes. Tickets for the Pope’s General Audiences and for the liturgical celebrations he leads are always free of charge, according to the Vatican. You request them in advance from the Prefecture of the Papal Household, through the Vatican website.

See Rome’s free sights with us

You can see everything above on foot and for free. If you’d rather link many of these places in a few hours, without long walks between hills, some of our tours pass the free viewpoints and piazzas, and two of them include the Trevi Fountain ticket. On our rides you see the sights from the outside, and our drivers are not licensed tour guides.

• Private golf cart tour: the 3-hour version includes the Orange Garden and the Aventine Keyhole, together with the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. It costs €450 for 1–3 people, then €150 per person, with a Trevi Fountain ticket and a stop for gelato or coffee. Start times: 9:30, 10:00, 14:30, 18:00 or 18:30. The 2-hour version (November to mid-April) covers fewer stops and costs €350 for 1–3 people, then €115 per person; the 5-hour version adds Trastevere, the Janiculum and the Vatican area.
• Shared golf cart tour: a fixed route from our office at Via del Colosseo 11A, at 9:30 or 14:30, past the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Orange Garden, the Mouth of Truth, the Capitoline Hill, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, ending at the Trevi Fountain, for €59 per person (2 hours). The 3-hour tour, for €99 per person, adds the Spanish Steps, the Villa Borghese gardens and Piazza del Popolo and ends back at the office. Entrance tickets are not included.
• 90-minute golf cart tour with audio guide: a shared ride on a fixed route past the Colosseum, Trinità dei Monti, the Pincio Terrace, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Quirinal Palace, with an audio guide in 12 languages in the free Nemo app (bring your own headphones). €35 per person, with departures at 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00 and 19:00 from Via del Colosseo 11A, where the tour also ends.
• Dolce Vita Fiat 500 tour: 3 hours in a restored original Fiat 500 converted to electric (or a Fiat 850 Spiaggina, depending on group size), on a private route planned around your interests. A typical route includes the Orange Garden, Villa Borghese and Piazza del Popolo, with the Colosseum, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. A Trevi Fountain ticket and a short food stop are included. From €590 for 1–3 people, €1,180 for 4, then €240 per person from 5.

Good to know on these tours:

• Groups: the golf cart and Dolce Vita tours take up to 21 guests guaranteed (on the 2-hour private golf cart tour, the maximum depends on the start time), with larger groups on request. The 90-minute tour takes up to 7 per booking.
• Pickup: private tours pick you up in the historic center; if you stay further out, we meet at our office, Via del Colosseo 11A. Shared tours start only from the office.
• Children: golf carts take children of any age, except the 90-minute tour (from age 4). Child seats are available on private golf cart tours only. A folded stroller fits on board our private and shared golf carts (just tell us when you book), but not on the 90-minute tour. Fiat 500 tours take children aged 3 and over, with no child seats: the cars are restored originals, and some have no seat belts, because they were built before seat belts were required.
• Weather: the golf carts have rain covers and run in the rain. In rain or wet weather, the Fiat 500 tours run in golf carts; if none is available, we offer another date or time.
• Cancellation: full refund if you cancel at least 72 hours before the tour, 50% if you cancel at least 48 hours before; later cancellations and no-shows are not refunded.

Rome rewards people who walk, and most of the places in this guide cost nothing but time. When you want to see more of them in one morning or afternoon, Facile Tours can drive you there: see all our golf cart tours in Rome and our vintage Fiat 500 tours in Rome.

Facile Tours runs the three tours below, which pass many of the free sights in this guide:

Explore it with us

Private Golf Cart Tour of Rome3 hours with pickup in the center, including the Orange Garden, the Aventine Keyhole and a Trevi Fountain ticket · from €450 for 1–3 peopleBook nowShared Golf Cart Tour of the Highlights2 hours from Via del Colosseo 11A, past the Orange Garden, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, ending at the Trevi Fountain · €59 per personBook nowDolce Vita Tour in a Vintage Fiat 5003 hours on a private route, usually with the Orange Garden, plus a Trevi ticket and a food stop · from €590 for 1–3 peopleBook now

FAQ

What can you do in Rome for free?

A lot: visit St. Peter’s Basilica and almost any church, including two with Caravaggio paintings; walk the piazzas and the Spanish Steps; enjoy the views from the Orange Garden, the Aventine Keyhole, the Janiculum and the Pincio Terrace; relax in Villa Borghese; and enter the Vittoriano. State museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, the Vatican Museums on the last Sunday.

Is the Pantheon free to enter?

No. Since July 1, 2026 the ticket costs €7, or €2 for ages 18 to 25. It stays free for under-18s, for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, and for people who come to Mass on Saturdays at 17:00 or Sundays at 10:30. It is open every day from 9:00 to 19:00.

Do you have to pay to see the Trevi Fountain?

Not to see it: the fountain is always free to look at from the square. Since February 2, 2026, visitors who don’t live in Rome pay €2 to go down to the area by the basin, from 9:00 (11:30 on Mondays and Fridays) to 22:00. Children under 6 enter free.

Is St. Peter’s Basilica free?

Yes. Entry is free, and the basilica is open every day from 7:00 to 19:00 until March 28, 2027. You wait in line for the security check under the right-hand colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, and you need covered shoulders and knees. Climbing the dome costs extra.

When are museums free in Rome?

State museums and archaeological sites, including the Colosseum and the Pantheon, are free on the first Sunday of every month. The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month from 9:00 to 14:00, except on some holidays. Four small City museums, such as the Museo delle Mura, are free every day they are open.

Are there free tours in Rome?

Some companies offer so-called free walking tours, where you tip the guide at the end. Facile Tours doesn’t run tip-based tours. If you want an easy, low-cost ride past the free sights, our 90-minute golf cart tour with audio guide costs €35 per person and passes the Pincio Terrace, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain.