Rome 'MUST' sights to see

Do you have a good guidebook, say, maybe the Rick Steves Rome book? He's great at laying out scores of interesting things about Rome and gives you enough information to figure out what most closely matches your interests.

The Trevi Fountain early in the morning before the crowds appear! The Pantheon especially if you have the good fortune of seeing it during a rain storm! Aventine Hill and the Keyhole view! Just walk and walk and walk...enjoy!

Michael is absolutely correct! Best to buy a guide book (R.S. is the best in my opinion, have used it in Europe for 20 years now) and ACTUALLY read it. I find that most people pick up a guide book and read it on the plane on the trip over when it's way too late to make reservations at sites they want to see!

Now, my advice re Rome for a first timer! Absolutely see the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. That's my opinion. If you're Christian of any "sect" this is the heart of all of it. The Museum surprised me my first visit, as they didn't get rid of the pre=Christian Relics. They're fabulous.

The Pantheon! Absolutely beautiful, built on top of a former "pagan" temple. Fantastic! Have a nice lunch/dinner in this neighborhood.If you're coming on a direct flight from the U.S., this is a great first night site, as you can see as little or as much as you like, and spend as little or as much at this site, and there are lots of near-by restaurants/cafes which will get you through the first day.

The Piazzas that are SO Rome: Trevi, Navonal, Campo di Fiiore (best in the morning before the vendors leave).

Get the guide book or rent the video and make plans.

The Collosseum. No explanation necessary!

Rick Steves was SO helpful on my first trip to Italy. Definitely buy his guide book and follow the "Night Walk Across Rome" suggestion. I didn't see the Trevi in the daytime which would probably be amazing in the early morning. At night it's super crowded but stunning. Last time I was there I threw a penny in the fountain and it worked because I'm returning in May too with my mom this time. :-) One more suggestion would be the Vatican! Dont miss out on this. This time I'm taking the Pristine Sistine tour which starts early and you see the Sistine Chapel before all the crowds. Totally worth the money. Reviews on trip advisor are great! And with RS you get a discount. http://www.walksofitaly.com/tour_bookings/tour_all_listing/6/43

Take the elevator at the Vittorio Emmanuele II monument for great views of Rome, and photo boards that tell you shat you're looking at. Have a drink or light lunch at the rooftop cafe.

@Donna, the Pantheon is the Roman temple to all the gods, converted to a Christian church; Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (just down the street) is one of the Christian churches constructed over a temple.

Like everyone else said- get a guidebook. See what YOU think looks interesting, even if that means skipping a "must see" for someone else. And don't apologize for it. Everyone has different tastes.

Besides the obvious advice, don't miss the "free" sites.

Rick steves has an excellent old rome walk...Campo di fiori, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish steps, walk by of Trajan column, the forum, the coloseum, all not costing a dime, unless you want to enter the Forum and Coloseum (which I would recommend).

St Peters is also Free, as are many churches, which I love to just pop into and soak in for a few moments.

From there...the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel would rank up there as must do, but to be honest, unless you have a passion for something...you have pretty much hit the highlights. (Yes, I will likely take heat for this)

Yes, there are many wonderful, world-class sites and areas in Rome, many already mentioned here by others, and you have to select your own most important from among these and others. But there is one real MUST SEE not to be missed. Somewhere near Piazza Navona I believe, others here can probably provide the exact name and address, there is a famous gelateria with a counter snaking through the shop with 150 flavors of gelato, about 14 or 15 of those being different nuances of chocolate. Can you believe that? 150 flavors! There are exquisite churches, Roman ruins, catacombs and wonderful museums also in other Italian and world cities, but where else could you see and enjoy 150 flavors of tasty gelato in one shop? I can't guarantee that this is the best gelato anywhere, but it must be the most. You could just spend your whole stay in Rome, going through one flavor after another. Or, you could also take in some of the lesser sights, I suppose. Enjoy!

This feedback is wonderful! @Larry we will DEFINITELY find that shop because I agree, 150 flavors is something we won't see anywhere else and we sure do love some gelato (I assume, since i've never had it real before!) We did buy the RS book and have been combing through it. Thanks for all the advice, sometimes it's nice to hear from different people with different opinions. Much appreciated, and keep em coming!

I'm not sure there is anything that I'd call "so, so" in Rome, but I'm going to add something really off the beaten path with very few visitors. It is the Basilica San Clemente: http://www.basilicasanclemente.com/. We would never have known about it if we hadn't been taken to it by Ron of Ron in Rome. Unfortunately, he isn't there doing tours anymore but this is his website: http://www.roninrome.com/. Be sure to take a look at his Dining and Shopping section, especially the part about Gelato. But I digress...

The wonderful thing about San Clemente is that it is a 12th century Basilica built over a 4th century Basilica which was built over a 1st century temple to Mithras. You can visit all the levels and each one is fascinating. To get an idea of what it is like, you can go to Tour and click on one of the "century" listings, for example: http://www.basilicasanclemente.com/index.php/tour/iv-century-basilica. These are interactive building plans with links for the pictures shown.

About the Vatican. I am an art history/museum person and it is exhausting. The treasures are magnificent, but unless you go on a very special tour at a very special time, you are herded through with way too many other people. If there is any way you can avoid the museum and just see St. Peter's Basilica itself, the Pieta, the plaza in front and the Sistine Chapel, do it. You can see the first three without feeling too squished, but it will likely be very crowded in the last, so be prepared for that. There are a few places to sit, but it doesn't matter how gray your hair is, after the long walk through (and all the visual input from) the Vatican Museum, people get stuck here and if they get a seat, they don't budge no matter how young they are.

We did enjoy going through the Forum, but I'd recommend getting a good guide for it. The scale is massive and good information along with someone to answer questions really helped us to understand what we were seeing and imagine what it must have been like.

Whatever you choose to do, you will have a good time. Enjoy everything every day you are there. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back!

That gelateria by Piazza Navona sounds like either Giolitti or Gelateria della Palma. Both are northeast of Navona. Personally I prefer Fatamorgana and Grom for gelato. They focus on doing a smaller number of flavors really well. There's a Grom right in Piazza Navona.

One thing that I do think Giolitti has going for it is the ambience. It looks like gelaterias used to. But you'll get better tasting gelato elsewhere.

So much to see in Rome! Going to the top of the Victor Emmanuel monument via the elevator is a must. And walk around that area- the Forum, the church- Santa Maria aracoeli, Capitoline Hill, Colosseo all bundled together. You dont have to go inside the Colosseo or the Forum either if you choose not to. Both are visible from the street. Cheaper souvenir shops along Via Cavour closeby. St Peters is another must see, and if you feel up to the challenge go to the top of the Basilica. You pay to take the elevator to the rooftop and you can stop there but if you're up to it, climb the 300 or so steps to the cupola. My friend dragged me up there but it was so worth it for the experience and the view. Its a different perspective from Victor Emmanuel since theyre on opposite sides of the city.

Get the RS book and follow his walks, see the fountains, and the piazzas. People watch. Eat! Have gelato. And even though Giollitti wasn't the best gelato, you have to go once for the experience. They ask if you want a dollop of whipped cream on top of your gelato and its the only place I've seen that does that. Aaah, Roma! I can't wait to return. I've been twice so throwing a coin into the Trevi fountain must work. To do it properly, you must have your back to the fountain and you must throw it over your left shoulder. Enjoy!