Free Highlights in Rome 🛵 🍕

1. Museums in Rome - Free entry

If you visit a city steeped in history like Rome, you most likely also have a few museums on your bucket list. One of the most famous and most visited museums is the Vatican Museums group. Admission is completely free on the last Sunday of every month.

On the first Sunday of the month, the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum can also be visited free of charge.

Make sure that the popular sights get particularly crowded on these days and that the time frame is kept tight. The sights and museums are only open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and queues are therefore inevitable. It is best to be there very early in the morning.

Other museums that are not only very interesting, but can also be visited free of charge include the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, the Museo Storico de la Liberazione, or a current insider tip for city trips to Rome: the Museo delle Mura.

Another non-profit museum is the Galleria Sala. Contemporary art is on display here and entry is free.

Those who like scary and horror can take a look at the Museo di Capri Cappuccini. In the catacombs of the old monastery of the Capuchin order lie the bones of around 4,000 monks from the most diverse historical epochs, sometimes neatly stacked, sometimes macabrely draped and put together in various forms. Definitely an experience.

2. Cultural Highlights in Rome

Rome is known for its theaters, musical performances, operas, festivals, and wide cultural programs. Some of these highlights can even be enjoyed free of charge. The summer months, when the Estate Romana takes place, are highly recommended. This festival, which translates as "Roman summer", takes place between June and September and fills the city with free concerts, films and performances of various kinds throughout the summer.

Not every event is free, but if you check the program online beforehand, you can find out which performances are free to enjoy.

The Isola del Cinema Festival is certainly interesting for film fans. It takes place on Tiber Island in August. Here you can enjoy one of the many interesting films of the festival on the open air screen on a mild summer evening.

Also in Rome throughout the summer is the theater company Miracle Players, formed in 1999. The English-language theater tells the story of Rome in a fresh and fun way. You can see the theater group for a whole series of performances in a historical setting free of charge. Here, too, it is best to find out about the program before your city trip.

3. Free Sightseeing

You can visit many sights in Rome completely free of charge. Below is the Trevi Fountain: it is said that anyone who throws a coin in there will return to Rome.

You can also visit the beautiful green oasis of Villa Borghese - the largest park in Rome - for free, whether for sports, a walk, or a romantic picnic.

For art buffs, the Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi is free to visit and contains three of Carvaggio's earliest works.

Those who prefer to be guided through the city by professionals can also take part in a free walking tour. Whether along the archaeological excavations, through the city center or on a magical evening/night tour - there are guided tours on very different topics and payment is based on donations.

There are also free guided tours through St. Peter's Basilica. The provider Sky Tours Rome runs them every morning at 9:00 am.

4. The Hill of Giancolo

Giancolo is a hill located in the Trastevere district and offers a beautiful view over Rome. A park has been created on this hill, which is more suitable than almost any other in the city for a picnic or just for rest and relaxation. There is also a puppet show every day up here, which is free, as is visiting the hill and the park itself. At midday an ancient cannon is fired from this hill to mark the middle of the day. The sound of this cannon can be heard across much of Rome on a calm day. In addition to the above-mentioned wonderful view of the city roofs, you will also find many locals looking for peace and quiet up here want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city for a few hours.

5. Nightlife in Rome

There are corners of Rome that turn into an open-air party from the early evening, which you can visit completely free of charge. One location you can enjoy an event like this is at the iconic landmark the Spanish Steps. Here you can always find a large number of street musicians in the evening hours, especially in summer. There are always a lot of people gathering here on the stairs and around, whether locals or tourists. Drinks are brought along, some take a small snack. You should not miss the folk festival atmosphere that comes here every evening in the summer months.