The magic of Rome resides in the history that characterizes it, the art that enriches it, and the culture that has inhabited it for centuries.
I like to think, however, that there is more to it than just that.
There are many more cool things to do in Rome besides tossing a coin in the Trevi fountain and taking pictures of the Colosseum.
If you already know the sights of the historic center or are a repeat visitor, you will want to know more unique activities to do. This article will help you plan your second trip to Rome.
I have collected things to do suitable for young adults, couples, mature people, and families.
Over time I have come to appreciate every corner of this city and have discovered activities and places that seem to be far removed from one’s traditional idea of Rome.
So get comfortable and take note of these alternative things to do in Rome throughout the year!
If you have extra time in Rome, have a look at my post about the Best towns to visit near Rome
Get around the city by rickshaw
Let’s start with a cult of yesteryear: the rickshaw (risciò in Italian). Although the origin of this particular vehicle is found overseas, it is still a big hit in Italy.
Get around the city by pedaling in comfort and enjoy a fun activity with your loved one or family.
You can rent your rickshaw by the hour. We recommend you do so from Bici Pincio, on Viale Goethe S/N, a great central area and easily accessible by transportation.
Here, for the lazy ones, there is also the possibility of renting pedal-assisted rickshaws! (Not a bad idea, considering the ups and downs that characterize the city).
Street art in the Quadraro neighborhood
And now we begin to explore Rome off the beaten path. One of the most attractive neighborhoods in the Italian capital is the Quadraro.
In this neighborhood the magic of historical monuments blends with the bright colors of street art, thus reserving a place in the hearts of art-loving visitors and beyond.
The 20th-century history of this neighborhood is closely linked to nearby Cinecittà neighborhood. Film workers were animating the streets of this area as early as the early 1920s.
With the rise of Fascism, the Duce thought well to settle there and set up several of his propagandas there. The inhabitants reacted by creating a proper city battalion of anti-fascist resistance, the only one, along with the Centocelle district, to resist during the occupation of the city.
Unfortunately, this courage cost the inhabitants dearly, and on April 17, ’44, a roundup put an end to thousands of lives.
We come, then, to the rebirth of this area. With the M. U. R. o. project – Rome’s Urban Art Murals – in 2010 the Quadraro changed color. Thanks to the contribution of artists from all over the world, it becomes the capital’s first open-air museum.
So to visit with your camera, mark these streets:
- Via dei Lentuli
- Via dei Pisoni
- Via dei Quintili
If you get hungry during your walk, one of the best maritozzo in Rome (a typical local dessert) awaits you at the legendary Angelo Azzurro bar.
How to get to Quadraro
This neighborhood, from the center of Rome, is easily reached by metro A stop Quadraro.
Make sure to also read my article: 22 Best Places to See Street Art in Rome
A couple of Creepy things to do in Rome
Participate in a haunted tour of Rome
Even though I was born and raised in Rome, I have participated in several guided tours that would usually be geared toward travelers. You never stop discovering the sights and history of this wonderful city!
Such is the case with the “haunted tour” of Rome’s historic center, which allowed me to learn information about Rome’s history that I had never heard of.
Imagine walking through monuments, beautiful squares, and bridges, and at the same time learning creepy details about the history of the places. And there are so many of them!
But the most chilling knowledge was of immoral and inhumane historical figures, none of whom I had learned about sitting at school desks and in history books.
These include popes, torturers, and unscrupulous ladies.
All this you discover through an evening tour of about 1 1/2 hours that I highly recommend, whether this is your first or second time in Rome.
There will be you, an experienced local guide and a small group of others thirsty to learn about Rome’s most reprehensible history.
You can find the haunted tour here, and it's affordable too!
The Capuchin Crypt
Moving now to the heart of the city, more precisely to Piazza Barberini, lovers of darkness and goth will be thrilled to visit the Capuchin Friars’ Crypt.
This somewhat spooky, but very fascinating place hides an equally curious story. It is believed that during the years of the French terror, Capuchin monks, in order to avoid the guillotine, took refuge in Rome.
Who knows if today, however, they would be happy with the fate of their remains… Over 3700 skulls of deceased monks “decorate” the rooms of this crypt.
Along with the skulls, various other body bones also fill the spaces and chapels of what has now become a museum.
Consider reserving a spot for the visit and tour of the Capuchin Crypt
How to get to the Capuchin Crypt
Take subway line A and get off at Barberini; the stop is about 50 meters from the museum.
Looking for adventurous things to do in Rome?
Visit (and enjoy!) the skate park
If you love reckless sports, or just want to enjoy the tricks of skateboarding wizards, the Skate Park under the bridge “Ponte della Musica” is the place to be. Here is a perfect thing to do in Rome with teenagers.
Let’s start with the location. The pedestrian bridge was created in 2000 by one of London’s most prestigious architectural firms, joined later by several Italian firms.
It can be crossed either by bike or on foot and connects, overlapping the Tiber, the area’s most innovative centers, such as the Auditorium della Musica and the MAXXI museum.
Just under the bridge, it is possible to see, during the day and in the evening, a lot of young people grappling with their acrobatics.
If you want to have fun trying to imitate them, I recommend that you equip yourself with a helmet and knee pads.
How to get there
From Roma Termini take the metro A direction Battistini and get off at Ottaviano. From there get on bus 32 direction Saxa Rubra and get off at Cadorna/Giardino. Then a very short walk to Skate Park.
Go hiking in the Parco del Pineto Regional Park
One of the most extraordinary features of Rome is that the urban area alternates with unique natural areas. This is the case with the many public parks such as Villa Borghese and Villa Ada but there is more.
The Parco del Pineto stretches in the northwest part of the city between Via Trionfale and Via Pineta Sacchetti.
It is a wilderness area that features creeks, ravines, ancient ruins, and ancient fountains. The valley where the park develops has the evocative name “Valle dell’Inferno” or Hell’s Valley.
To explore the park equip yourself with shoes with a good grip (or a mountain bike!) and head to the starting point of the hike, the Fornaciari Park along Via delle Ceramiche.
From here head into the forest in the direction of the ancient fountain. Enjoy the discovery until you reach the majestic pine forest bordering Via della Pineta Sacchetti.
From here you can enjoy a panorama that includes an unprecedented view of St. Peter’s Dome.
Close to the pine forest, you will find two old farmhouses. The renovated one is home to the Municipal Library “Casa del Parco.” Here you will find restrooms.
Crossing Via Pineta Sacchetti you will also find a supermarket.
About a 20-minute walk away is the Cornelia Metro A stop. You can take it to return to the historic center.
How to get to the starting point of the walk
Take metro line A towards Battistini and get off at Valle Aurelia, then walk a short distance to the Parco dei Fornaciari public park.
Read also: 7 best hikes near Rome
Escape game on a lake!
The success that escape rooms have experienced in recent years is truly remarkable, and Rome seems to be the real capital of this game as well, which is now driving everyone crazy.
Have you ever wondered what could happen if the room became a lake? Well, there are those who have thought about it and created an escape game in the wonderful setting of Villa Borghese!
That’s right, you will get to discover every nook and cranny, even the most hidden ones, of the wonderful green lung of Rome, while playing and having fun.
Villa Borghese was built in the early 17th century at the behest of the family of the same name, then enriched to this day with ever-improving structural and floral details.
This is definitely the coolest thing to do in Rome with kids!
To check the availability and book the tour, look here.
How to get to Villa Borghese
Villa Borghese is located in the historical center, so it too is connected by the Metro A, which you will take to either the Spagna or Flaminio stops.
What about live music in Rome?
One of the most romantic things to do in Rome for couples is a dinner topped with great live music.
You may think the city is full of such activities, but you’ll have to think again. In years past there was no shortage of restaurants with live music in Rome, but now they can be counted on the fingers of one hand!
Pandemic containment policies have forced many businesses to close for good. So mark down these few places where you can still enjoy concerts over a glass of wine in the Eternal City.
Alexanderplatz
This venue found in a basement of the elegant Prati district is considered one of the top 100 jazz music clubs in the world.
The cuisine is refined. You can also order a cheese and charcuterie board and a bottle of wine.
Concerts are held here every night.
Reservations are required to attend. Find info on the venue’s page or email [email protected] or call +39 06 8678 1296.
Address: Via Ostia, 9
How to get there
Take the subway line A to Ottaviano and then it’s a short walk to the club.
Riverside
The venue is located near the banks of the Aniene River, which bathes the Montesacro neighborhood.
The name was inspired by a song by Louis Armstrong. The designers who conceived the venue were inspired by American music halls.
In addition to an appealing atmosphere, the founders wanted to focus on three excellences: food, drinks, and music.
The motto of the place is “food sounds good…”
Reservations by phone at +390686890760 are mandatory.
Address: Viale Gottardo, 12
Getting there
From Termini take bus 90 towards Libia and get off at Sempione.
Or take Metro B to the Conca d’Oro stop and then walk about 1km.
L’Asino che Vola
The name of the club is friendly and attractive, meaning “the flying donkey.” It expresses well the casual and imaginative character of the place.
The club has earned many loyal customers because of the quality of the food and its affordability.
Here the chefs specialize on Calabrian dishes such as tonnarelli alla ‘nduja and straccetti alla tropeana.
Also definitely worth trying is the “pitta,” a typical Calabrian pizza bread that comes with delicious toppings of your choice.
To reserve a table and learn about the concert schedule call +393382751028
Address: Via Antonio Coppi, 12
How to get there:
Take subway line A and get off at the Furio Camillo stop. Then it’s a short walk to the club.
Ride around the city on the tramjazz
Live music can make a dinner truly unique, and if we add to it an out-of-the-ordinary location, the experience to be drawn from it will be truly unforgettable.
Such is the case with Tramjazz, which will take you on a discovery of Rome, giving you an evening enhanced by fine Roman cuisine and world-famous jazz artists.
Hosting it all is a vehicle of the type Stanga 1947 -, the first historic registered streetcar in the eternal city.
All along the way, the city’s most beautiful sights and main monuments can be admired. For example:
- the aqueducts of Ancient Rome
- Villa Borghese
- Cathedrals
- Colosseum
Neighborhoods such as Salario, Parioli, Trieste and San Lorenzo
The tour begins at Piazza di Porta Maggiore, whose underground hides a Neo-Pythagorean basilica dating back to the 1st century BC.
The tour starts at 9 p.m. and ends at midnight at with a return to the starting point.
Reservations are required (I recommend making them well in advance) by phone at +393420720089
How to find the Tramjazz
Piazza di Porta Maggiore is easily reached by regular city streetcars, the 14 or 5.
Immerse yourself in the scent gallery
Everyone knows, though, how important it is for such a dinner to select the right scent. Not to worry, Rome has the right answer for every need.
At the Tonatto scent gallery, you can create the perfect scent for you by testing dozens of fragrances.
A fragrance expert will guide you in this unique experience, wrapped in the aura of this very exclusive world.
Profumeria Essenzialmente Laura by Laura Bosetti Tonatto is known all over the world as the excellence of Italian perfumeries, so rest assured that it will truly be an incredible experience.
No dyes or mineral oils are used in the creation of the fragrances and no animal testing is done.
Address | The gallery is located at Via dei Coronari 57, in the heart of the historic center.
Yoga in the park
The gardens of Villa Borghese are, of course, not the only ones in Rome. Several can be found all over the area of the metropolis, and all of them offer very evocative landscapes.
To best experience the energies that come from them in the mild seasons, the Yoga al Parco Association organizes meetings in the capital’s major gardens. We are talking about:
- Villa Doria Pamphilj,
- Parco della Caffarella
- Villa Ada
To stay informed about locations and dates you can follow the association’s Facebook page or contact the email or mobile number found on google.
Shop vintage
This alternative guide to Rome cannot fail to include a visit to the Pifebo shop!
This vintage project, branded with the cute snout of a French bulldog, began as a stall on the banks of the Tiber.
Over the years it has gained such credibility and visibility that it has been able to open two shops in the capital: one in the Monti neighborhood and the other in San Giovanni.
The Monti neighborhood is adjacent to the Colosseum full of clubs, stores, and trattorias. Its main street, Via del Boschetto, is known for being the street in Rome with the highest number of restaurants per square meter.
The second is, on the other hand, an area rich in greenery and appreciated, by Romans and visitors alike, for its modern and ancient architectural wonders.
At Pifebo’s you can play with colors, with unique garments that come from a refined and careful selection through what fashion has been in the last 40 years.
There really is something for everyone, and if you are looking for the perfect gift to take to friends as a souvenir, this is the place to be.
You certainly won’t be judged for lack of originality!
Make sure to read my guide to flea markets in Rome as well.
If you are in the center of Rome, you can reach the Monti shop comfortably on foot; it is located on Via dei Serpenti, one of the historic streets of the neighborhood.
The subway stop of reference is Cavour, line B.
S. Giovanni, on the other hand, is located in the southernmost part of the historic center.
The store is located at 10 Via dei Valeri. You can get there from the city center by metro A, San Giovanni stop, and then a 10-minute walk.
We have compiled this small list hoping to please a little bit of all tastes, remaining well aware that the majesty of Rome can truly amaze anyone!
Let me know how many of these cool things to do in Rome are already on your bucket list.
