Museums in Rome

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the museums of the city. Discover history, art and culture as you visit the Vatican Museums, the National Roman Museums, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, the Borghese Gallery, Musei Capitolini, and much more.

Certainly, the Vatican Museums are the most popular choice, other places include the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, the National Roma Museums, the Borghese Gallery, Musei Capitolini, and much more.

In a city where residents and visitors alike thrive on art and history, you know you're going to have your plate full with these museums. Here are some museums not to miss out on:

The best museums to visit with kids are:

Yes, book tickets online to get skip-the-line entry to popular museums in Rome. With these tickets, avoid the long waiting lines and get priority entry to museums such as the Vatican Museums, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, and the Musei Capitolini. If you opt for guided tours of these landmarks, you would also enjoy skip-the-line entry benefits. You can find skip-the-line entry with Vatican tickets, Colosseum tickets, Borghese Gallery tickets, St Peters Basilica tickets, Castel Sant’Angelo tickets, Palazzo Barberini tickets, Sistine Chapel tickets, Musei Capitolini tickets, and Baths of Diocletian tickets.

Guided tours in Rome offer both private and shared guided tours for most museums. A lot of these tours can be accessed only on specific days of the week, depending on where you want to go, so it's advised to book these and plan your schedules well in advance. With your tour guide, you'll learn about the history of the museum, different collections and exhibits, artists to look out for, and notable pieces. Additionally, opting for guided tours also offers skip-the-line entry to most museums in Rome.

Some museums like the Vatican museums, in particular, offer night tours with expert guides to help you with the same. Not all museums may offer nights tours in Rome. The Colosseum at night is one of the popular experiences that you can visit all year long.

Children, senior citizens, and students with valid ID proof can enjoy discounted tickets in selected museums. Additionally, Headout offers discounts up to 16% and cashback up to 10% on selected museum tickets in Rome.

The city pass usually allows you to choose to visit between 2 to 7 attractions, from a choice of over 17. This includes everything from museums like the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, the Borghese Gallery, and the Capitolini Museum, with additional landmarks, food tours, more. The two most popular passes are OMNIA and Rome Explorer Pass.

The cancelation policy varies depending on the type of ticket you purchase. While some museum tickets in Rome allow you to cancel up to 24/48/72 hours before your scheduled visit, some of them cannot be canceled or rescheduled.

Some of the largest museums in Rome are National Roman Museum, Capitoline Museums, and the Borghese Gallery. You will discover the early history of Rome, with a focus on archaeological findings from the period of Ancient Rome, a collection of important ancient bronzes, antiquities, early Renaissance art, and the beginnings of Baroque art in these museums.

Some museums that have free entry on the first Sundays of each month are:

The following museums in Rome have free visitation:

While most museums allow photography, the only requirement they really have is that you avoid flash, at all costs. Moreover, the use of professional cameras and tripods isn't allowed as well. More specifically, each museum will have boards that suggest their requirements and permissions for the same.

The best time to beat the crowds during the course of a day is to either visit the museums early in the morning or after 16:00. It's also helpful to know that weekday are better for visits to avoid the weekend crowds. During the year, the best time to visit Rome is between October to April since the colder months bring smaller crowds at the doorstep of famous museums. However, it's best to avoid December since the festive season brings in twice the crowds, as well as the summer months.

Most of the museums in Rome are closed on Christmas and New Year's. Check the website or call the museum's contact number if you want to purchase the tickets on the site.