Last Updated: May 2, 2022
Best Views of Rome: Fall In Love With The Eternal City
Rome is one of the most beautiful cities on our planet, but where exactly should you go to admire some wonderful city views? That’s exactly what I’ll talk about in this detailed guide to the best views in Rome, also known as the city of seven hills!
I’ve included the best places to get a great look at the city’s fascinating skyline, but also some spots in the city center that offer a different perspective on some of Rome’s most famous attractions. Keep reading to see the top fifteen places that offer the best views in Rome!
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Belvedere del Gianicolo (Gianicolo Hill)
Belvedere del Gianicolo is a hilltop terrace known for scenic Rome views with the mountains in the background. It’s also known as Gianicolo Hill and is part of Gianicolo Park, which also boasts cafes, botanical gardens, and a fountain.
Because it’s on such a high elevation, the terrace offers perhaps the best panoramic view of Rome’s skyline. You can see such sights in the historic center as the St Peter’s Basilica, Castle of Sant’Angelo Castle and the Pantheon.
But it’s worth noting that the view might be obstructed by tall trees in some places, so you should walk around until you find that perfect panoramic spot. Come here early in the day if you want to have an unobstructed view of Rome to yourself since this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden)
Giardino degli Aranci is a public garden with orange trees and a popular viewpoint in Rome. It is also known as the Orange Garden and features a scenic terrace with panoramic city views, as well as stunning Tiber river views.
The entire place is located on Aventine Hill. It is very clean and well-maintained, plus it’s a vast park so even when it gets crowded, there are rarely so many people that you can’t approach the viewpoint to get a good look at the city. If that were to happen, you could always use the oranges to recreate some scenes from the Godfather, in true Italian fashion!
Monte Mario
Monte Mario is located just north of the Vatican and is a great place to get an awesome view of Rome. It is also home to the University of Rome’s astronomical observatory which you can climb up to for an even better view.
Villa Borghese
Villa Borghese is a vast public park featuring landscaped gardens, a lavish villa, and even a small lake. The villa grounds are quite big and there are lots of things to do and see here, apart from the incredible views of the Rome skyline.
There are several museums, landmarks, fountains, and even a zoo. But the main reason people visit Villa Borghese is for the stunning views of St. Peter’s Basilica and Piazza del Popolo with the city’s oldest obelisk!
Piazza di Trevi
Not all of the best views in Rome feature a panoramic sight of the city skyline. Piazza di Trevi offers a spectacular view of the iconic Trevi Fountain with Palazzo Poli in the background, and it is one of the most famous attractions in all of Rome. The 18th-century fountain is crowded nearly all the time, so it’s best to visit the area early in the morning if you want to enjoy unobstructed views of one of Rome’s best-known landmarks.
Via dei Fori Imperiali
Via dei Fori Imperiali is a notable street in Rome that offers an amazing view of the Roman Forum. The street stretched from the Colosseum to Piazza Venezia, separating the Roman Forum from the Forum of Augustus. It’s packed with beautiful sights and it’s one of those attractions you simply can’t miss if you want to explore some of Rome’s famous historic attractions.
Terrazza Caffarelli
Terrazza Caffarelli is an observation deck on Capitoline Hill, featuring nature, great food and drinks, and panoramic views. The hilltop area also has museums, ruins, and a few viewpoints on different parts of the hill. That means you can experience a 360-degree Rome view from here, making it one of the top viewpoints in the city.
It’s also worth noting that Capitoline Hill is right next to the Roman Forum, so you can get impressive views of Rome’s iconic ruins. Plus, this place isn’t that famous and popular with tourists, so the crowds are usually not that big.
Quirinal Palace
Quirinal Palace is a presidential palace and museum with a sprawling public square in front. The interior of the palace is rather interesting and you should definitely tour the place once you arrive. But head to the balconies at the top of the palace, to experience stunning panoramic views of the city of Rome.
The presidential palace also features a vast public garden, which is another charming sight in this part of the city.
Castle Sant’Angelo
Castle Sant’Angelo is a 2nd-century castle on the bank of river Tiber. The cylindrical castle offers some of the best views of Rome and you can even see St. Peter’s Basilica from the castle walls. The castle is also home to Passetto di Borgo, which is an elevated passageway that serves as an escape route from the Vatican. The passage is not open to the public in its entirety, but it is possible to walk a few steps with a tourist guide.
Villa Mazzanti
Villa Mazzanti is a wildlife park north of Vatican City. It boasts beautiful nature and one of the best panoramic views of Rome you can experience in the city. This park isn’t that popular with tourists, so it’s one of the best places to go for a fabulous view of Rome if you want to avoid the crowds. Even though it’s not very popular, Villa Mazzanti has the potential to be one of the best viewpoints in the entire city.
St. Peter’s Basilica
Although it’s technically not in Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica offers spectacular city views and it definitely deserves to be on this list. Climb to the top of the cupola to experience panoramic 360-degree views of the Eternal City!
There are hundreds of steps to climb, but the good news is that you can take an elevator and skip about 200 steps or so. Just take your time and don’t forget to bring some water – once you make it to the observation deck, you’ll forget all about the exhausting stairs.
Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II is one of Rome’s most famous bridges. The triple-arched bridge is iconic for the amazing sculptures, but also for the spectacular views it offers of the river Tiber and landmarks in the area. The view of Castle Sant’Angelo from the bridge is particularly charming, especially in the evenings when everything in the area lights up.
Altare della Patria
Altare della Patria is a huge temple built in honor of Italy’s first king and WWI soldiers. The marble landmark is situated in the heart of Rome, and you can climb to the rooftop to get some absolutely mesmerizing views of Rome’s historic center.
The observation deck offers 360-degree views of Rome and you’ll even get a really good look at the Roman Forum from above. The entrance fee is around 10 Euros and there are a lot of stairs to climb, but it all becomes worth it once you experience the view from the top.
Trinità dei Monti
Trinità dei Monti is a 16th-century Renaissance church in the historical center of Rome. It’s just across the street from the Sallustiano obelisk and the Spanish Steps, and you must climb quite a few steps to get to the church.
But that’s a good thing – Trinità dei Monti sits pretty high above Rome, offering a mesmerizing view of the Eternal City’s skyline with the inevitable dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the background. You’ll gain a new perspective on the famous Spanish Steps and Rome’s rooftops, so it’s definitely worth the mini-workout
Via Nicola Salvi
Via Nicola Salvi is a simple street in Rome. There’s nothing too special about it, apart from the fact that it offers the best view of the Colosseum in the entire city. The street is on a higher elevation than the famous landmark, and it’s far enough that you can get a great look at the entire amphitheater.
Perhaps the best thing about Via Nicola Salvi is that it’s one of Rome’s best-kept secrets – the street is not exactly a tourist attraction, so you’ll likely have the fabulous view all to yourself.
Any Rooftop Bar
Head to one of Rome’s many rooftop bars if you’re looking for a place to hang out that has great views of the city. The Up Sunset Bar is one of the best and most popular rooftop bars in the city, both because of its central location and delicious food. It’s situated in the heart of Rome, close to Basilica di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte and it offers spectacular views of the most iconic domes and rooftops in the city of Rome.
The Roof Garden & Bar at Via Giovanni Vitelleschi is also worth a shoutout. It’s not exactly a great locale in terms of service, but it is a rooftop bar that’s closest to the Vatican. It offers breathtaking views of Rome’s skyline and an even better view of St. Peter’s Basilica. The view from this rooftop bar is best experienced at night when the world’s largest basilica shines bright against the dark sky.
You should also know that RoofTop Lounge Trevi is worthwhile. It’s situated in a building right across from the iconic Trevi fountain, and it boasts amazing views of one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks.
If the square in front of the fountain is so crowded you can’t get a good view, you should definitely come here instead. Just know that the view is the best thing about the place – the food is not that good and the drinks are way overpriced.
Palantine Hill is another hill we have not mentioned yet, and many people recommend it. It is actually accessed with the ticket you use for the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and is open from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm.
Lastly, Pincio Terrace which overlooks the Piazza del Popolo is another popular spot to get a great view from.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
