Top 20 best museums in Rome2026 ranking

Visiting the Villa is really interesting and fully immerses you in Italian art. You will be able to admire many paintings, sculptures, and beautiful ceilings. The Villa is located in a very beautiful park where it is pleasant to take a walk. It is mandatory to book your tickets in advance. I booked mine several months ahead.

The Borghese Gallery is a must-see in Rome. The works of art on display (paintings, frescoes, sculptures) are really worth a look. If you especially love the Renaissance period (which I do!), you cannot miss going there during your trip to Rome. I was lucky enough to go off-season during a relatively quiet time, but I hear the experience can be unpleasant when it is too crowded.

If you enjoyed visiting the forum, you can continue with this museum. That said, it is not the most grandiose in Rome. In fact, it is rather small. The information provides some interesting context on the history of the site, but it is not essential. Worth a look if you are interested in ancient history and archaeology!

Another magnificent museum! If you are interested in art, you might have seen some of these works (like Apollo and Daphne) online. And this is where you can see them up close. The whole place is filled with so much elegance. Visiting this museum, you understand why Italian art is so renowned! I also recommend taking a break at the cafeteria in the gardens, it is the perfect spot to catch your breath!

For me, this museum is associated with the statue of Romulus and Remus with the she-wolf. Of course, that is not all! It is truly a superb collection of sculptures. Everything is housed in a very elegant setting that feels like a palace. The ceilings, the frescoes... If you are a fan of history or mythology like I am, you will be delighted!

The Villa Borghese park is the true green lung of Rome. Access is free and the park offers a thousand possibilities: renting a bike, enjoying some gelato, taking a boat ride... From its heights, the view of Rome and the Piazza del Popolo below is splendid. A peaceful and essential place to discover during a stay in Rome. A walk that I enjoyed at the end of May when it was over 85 degrees. Unfortunately, I was not able to visit the Villa Borghese, it was too crowded. It would have been better to book in advance.

Right next to the forum, I decided to give the Palatine Museum a try. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. While the pieces on display are interesting, the collections are pretty limited. You will finish touring the museum quickly since it is quite small. It is far from a must-see. You can skip it and focus on other more important monuments.

Initially, I hadn't planned on visiting the Capitoline Museums. But, on a rainy day, I let myself be tempted. I was pleasantly surprised. The museums are huge and packed with sculptures and paintings. You could easily stay there for several hours without seeing the time pass. Avoid the museum restaurant though, which is very expensive and not good at all.