Rome is definitely not a free city. Most of the most famous sights - the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum, the Castel Sant'Angelo, or the museums - are paid for, and the prices aren't exactly low. (Though definitely lower than Istanbul, which I visited just a few weeks before Rome).

On the other hand, I was surprised at how many great places I saw without paying an entrance fee.

And it wasn't just the "extra" stuff - it was often the experiences I enjoyed more than some of the paid sights.

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What have I personally reviewed - and what do I think makes sense to include if you want to save money in Rome but not miss out on the experience? Here are my picks.

Free admissions: when it really pays to plan

If you want to save the most, the first Sunday of the month is key.

That's the first day of the year, the most important day of the year:

• Colosseum
• Forum Romanum and Palatine
• Caracalla Baths
• Castle of the Angels
• Pantheon
• most state museums

Plus the city museums(Capitoline Museums, Trajan's Market, Ara Pacis...).

Reality on the ground:

• queues are significantly longer than normal
• at the most popular places, 2-4 hours.
• it is often necessary to book a ticket for 0 € for the exact time

💬 If you have experience of this, please write down in the comments - I'm interested to know if it was worth it for you, or if you'd rather pay to enter outside of this Sunday.

Colosseum tours without waiting

Basilicas and churches for free

This is where you have the most choice, because in Rome (and probably all of Italy) there's a simple rule - all active churches are free to everyone.

And that includes the most famous ones:

• St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican
• St. Paul's Basilica outside the walls
• Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows

At St Peter's Basilica in particular, I definitely recommend arriving as early in the morning as possible - see my other article Rome without the crowds: my tried and tested tips.

Ancient Rome without a ticket

Rome is all about ancient monuments - that's why it's one of the most famous cities in the world.

And you can see some of them for free!

• Via Appia Antica - an ancient road that's easy to walk along (it works like a regular country road, partly pedestrian only)
• Circus Maximus - now a free open space
  • you can also get a great view of the walls of the Palatine Peak
• Pyramid of Cestia - visible for free from the ordinary street
• Forum Romanum - if you want in, you pay. But you can see the excavations for free from the top of the Capitol

💬 Have you seen any other ancient remains without having to pay? Let us know your tips in the comments, thanks!

Squares, fountains and iconic places for free

This is classic Rome - and all without an entrance fee.

• Piazza Navona - in my opinion Rome's most beautiful square, with two fountains and beautiful buildings
• Fontana di Trevi - the most famous fountain in the world. Part of the gallery is chargeable, but you can still see the whole thing for free from the street, even if you can't get right up to the water
• Spanish Steps - crowded, but the iconic staircase is completely free of charge
• Campo de' Fiori - originally a local market, now a bit of a tourist market, no entrance fee

These are just the most famous squares and fountains, but I'd love to read your tips. Where was your favourite place in Rome?

Free sights that make sense

Rome has beautiful viewpoints and most of them are completely free to access.

I liked this one the best:

• Altare della Patria - a monumental white monument, one of the most famous buildings in the world, is completely free to access in its lower half. And the view is beautiful, no need to pay for a rooftop vantage point at all.
• Janiculus Hill - this is my favourite place in Rome with views to the west and east.
• Piazza de Campidoglio - a little known viewpoint right in the centre on the Capitoline Hill
• Giardino degli Aranci - a nice quiet viewpoint on the Aventine hill

Small details that would be a shame to miss

These are exactly the little things that make Rome more interesting.

• The keyhole of the Order of the Knights of Malta - a small detail, but a lot of people
• Bocca della Verita - a tourist classic
• Isola Tiberina - a quiet place in the middle of the city

And a practical thing that saved me a lot of money:

• "nasoni" drinking water fountains are really everywhere!
• The maps.com website, for example, displays them perfectly, where you can download maps of the whole world in an offline version

Neighbourhoods and walks that cost nothing

I've often felt that the best experience in Rome is just walking around.

• Trastevere - a completely different atmosphere in the evening than during the day
• EUR district - a modern contrast to the old town
• the backstreets of the centre - just get off the main route

💬 What surprised you most in Rome just outside the main sights?

Choose a hotel in Rome by location

How I planned my days so I wouldn't spend too much

In retrospect, a simple day breakdown worked for me:

• morning: basilicas, Trevi Fountain or Spanish Steps (less crowded)
• morning: transfers and lesser-known places
• afternoon: rest / parks
• evening: sightseeing and dinner

My other articles with personal tips will help you plan your stay:

• 🏨 Tips for hotels in Rome
• 📅 What to see in Rome in 3 days - my itinerary

At the end of it all, I came to the conclusion that Rome could easily cost you a lot of money. But at the same time, it's a city where you still feel like you're discovering something - even if you're not exactly paying anything.