Thereās nowhere like the Eternal City for seeking out epic views–and because of that, narrowing down the best views of Rome can be a bit of a challenge!
Famously built on seven hills over the course of a couple of millennia, the best Rome viewpoints range from monuments built by emperors to peaceful spots to quirky corners.
And, unlike in many cities where the vistas can be similar regardless of where you stand, each of these views of Rome varies dramatically.
Weāve rounded up the highlights here, starting with our personal favorite, but thereās no doubt that there are plenty of beautiful viewpoints in Rome to choose from.
Best Panoramic Views of Rome
Altar of the Fatherland
The view from the top of the Altar of the Fatherland is, hands down, my favorite of all of the views we’ve included in this blog post.
Despite the fact that the (massive) monument overlooks Piazza Venezia and most visitors to Rome pass it at least a few times when theyāre near the Colosseum and Roman Forum, only a small percentage of visitors visit the top–and thatās a shame.
From the roof of the Altar of the Fatherland, Ancient Rome stretches out on one side, with the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and several forums visible.
From the other side, you can view the (relatively speaking) more modern section of Rome, including gorgeous views of Piazza Venezia.
You can climb to the 5th floor of the monument for free, however, itās definitely worth the 10 Euro (cash only) fee to take the elevator all the way to the top when youāre seeking out the best views in Rome.
(Note that this is one ticket in Rome you don’t want to purchase in advance: the prices online are very inflated, and the lines generally aren’t long if they exist at all.)
Dome of St. Peterās Basilica
The dome crowning the top of St. Peterās Basilica is home to one of the most iconic views of Rome and is well worth the several hundred steps (551, to be exact) that it takes to reach the top.
While there is a lovely panoramic view of Rome in the distance, the best part of visiting the dome of St. Peterās is the stunning view of St. Peterās Square below.
While the basilica itself is free to enter, there is a price to climb to the top–8 Euro for those willing to climb all 551 stairs, and 10 Euro for those who want to shave off 320 of those steps by taking the elevator.
Unfortunately, thereās no way to avoid all stairs when seeking out this viewpoint in Rome.
Also, fair warning: if you tend to dislike crowded, cramped, hot, or narrow spaces, this probably isnāt the best view of Rome for you.
Castel SantāAngelo
The terrace of Castel SantāAngelo overlooks Vatican City, the gentle curve of the Tiber, beautiful bridges like the Ponte SantāAngelo and Ponte Umberto, and Centro Storico as a whole.
Itās an absolutely gorgeous spot and doesnāt cost anything additional beyond your entrance to the castle.
Thereās a cafe on one side of the terrace, and the coffee prices are decent considering the location, so if you can, snag a table overlooking St. Peterās Basilica and enjoy the view!
Pincio Terrace
Set high above Piazza del Popolo, Pincio Terrace is one of the best views of Rome that doesnāt cost a penny to enjoy.
Between its lack of a price tag and convenient location that youāll almost certainly be passing by during your trip to Rome, itās definitely not a spot worth missing when seeking out the prettiest viewpoints in Rome!
When visiting the Pincio Terrace, you’ll find yourself perched on the edge of the Villa Borghese Gardens.
A lovely, 20-minute stroll through the gardens will deliver you to the Galleria Borghese, making this a great viewpoint to combine with a visit to one of Italy’s most iconic art museums.
(Note that you absolutely want to book your visit to the Galleria Borghese in advance–this isn’t a museum you can easily walk into without planning ahead!)
Orange Garden
Peaceful and lovely, Romeās Orange Garden is an excellent place to retreat to when you want a Rome view thatās quiet and encourages you to pull up a seat and stay awhile.
Head to this shady corner of the Eternal City when you want to rest and relax for a bit.
Located a bit outside the more crowded tourism spots in Rome, you can enjoy a beautiful view of St. Peter’s Basilica from here.
And, as a bonus, the garden itself is gorgeous too!
Janiculum Terrace
Set high above the most popular corners of Trastevere, Janiculum Terrace boasts an incredible view of Rome, with most of its most famous monuments visible.
Itās a bit of a workout to get up thereā¦ especially right after binging on some epic food in Trastevere (ask us how we know).
That being said, it’s worth the climb: Janiculum Terrace is among the most popular of all these Rome viewpoints, and for good reason!
If you’re heading up from the base of Trastevere on foot, keep an eye out for the striking Paola Fountain on Via Garibaldi as you ascend–it’s a bit reminiscent of the Trevi Fountain, but uncrowded and a century older.
Palatine Hill
Perhaps the most iconic and well-known with tourists of all these Rome viewpoints, Palatine Hill overlooks the Roman Forum and the Colosseum to one side and Circus Maximus on the other.
Entrance to Palatine Hill is included with your visit to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, so if youāre headed there already, itās definitely worth the climb.
Plus, the view is far from the only interesting thing at the top: youāll find the remains of the homes of emperors and other wealthy Ancient Romans here.
Palatine Hill is also the legendary location of Romeās formation, where the story of Remus and Romulus is said to have taken place.
Piazza TrinitĆ dei Monti
Nearly every visitor to Rome stares up at the Piazza TrinitĆ dei Monti, but not everyone ascends to the top of the Spanish Steps to see the view from the topā¦ and they should!
This small piazza boasts lovely views of the Roman skyline, and its location near the Spanish Steps makes it one of the easiest to access of all these viewpoints in Rome.
It’s also a great way to enjoy the Spanish Steps from a bit outside the fray.
Belvedere Terrace
Located a quick walk away from Pincio Terrace on the edge of the Borghese Gardens, Belvedere Terrace offers beautiful panoramic views of Rome at a bit of a different angle than its neighbor, making it well worth a visit when youāre already visiting Pincio Terrace or the Galleria Borghese!
Other Cool Viewpoints in Rome
While panoramic views of Rome are stunning to admire, more niche views of the city–that offer a view of a specific place or monument–are also incredible and well worth adding to any list of the best views of Rome.
Here are some to consider visiting!
The Wall Overlooking the Colosseum
This famous Rome viewpoint is absolutely worth visiting, and in our opinion is home to one of the two best exterior views of the Colosseum (the other being from the Roman Forum, facing the Colosseum directly).
To find this spot, exit the Colosseo metro stop, turn left, and then climb the steps that will be on your left as you stroll along the north side of the Colosseum (but the steps are on the opposite side of the street, of course).
Due to the shifting barriers that have been in place the past several of years due to construction on the new metro line, you may have to do a bit of searching to find your way up–but it’s worth the effort.
Campidoglio Hill
If you stand in the center of the (beautiful) Piazza del Campidoglio and walk in the direction of the Roman Forum, past the piazza itself, youāll come to a gorgeous view of the Roman Forum.
The view from here is remarkably similar to the one visible from Palatine Hillā¦ but this one is both far less crowded and free to access.
Aventine Keyhole
Take a peek through the tiny Aventine Keyhole (yes, an actual keyhole!), and youāll come face-to-face with one of the best views in Rome: the dome of St. Peterās Basilica, framed perfectly by a series of hedges.
This is easily one of the most famous views of Rome, but relatively few visitors see it due to the fact that you have to seek it out specifically.
Know you’re in the right area but not sure how you’ll find the right keyhole?
Don’t worry: just look for the line of people waiting their turn to check out this unique angle on the basilica.
Keats-Shelley Memorial House
Want to enjoy a view of the Spanish Steps from an angle that you havenāt seen 1000 times?
The windows in the library at the Keats-Shelley Memorial House boast an incredible and unique view of the steps (and the windows in Keatsā bedroom have a fabulous view overlooking Piazza di Spagna).
It’s also a lovely small museum to the Romantic poets and a fun hidden gem to visit in Rome.
Ponte Sant’Angelo
While not the most iconic view over the Tiber–that would be the next view on this list–the view from Ponte Sant’Angelo is one of my personal favorites.
A busy, bustling bridge lined with dramatic stone angels that dead-ends into Castel Sant’Angelo and leads the way from Centro Storico to Vatican City for many travelers, the Ponte Sant’Angelo is undeniably a bit touristy these days.
However, the view of Castel Sant’Angelo and the river, paired with the constant music provided by very talented buskers, makes for a fantastic atmosphere.
Sunset, in particular, is a magical experience right around here, and we find ourselves stopping by regularly every time we are in Rome, often with a scoop of gelato in hand.
(Note that like in many popular, crowded spots featuring buskers, hawkers, and crowds of tourists, be sure to watch your pockets here.)
Ponte Umberto
Located just one bridge over from the famous Ponte SantāAngelo that leads directly to Castel SantāAngelo, the Ponte Umberto is the perfect place to capture one of Romeās most iconic photos.
From here, you can admire the dome of St. Peterās Basilica, Castel SantāAngelo, and the Ponte SantāAngelo as a group.
If youāre looking for one of the best views of Rome to enjoy a sunset from, you canāt go wrong with this one!
Read More About Visiting Rome
Heading to Rome soon and want to keep reading?
You can browse our 100+ Italy blog posts here, or check out these guides:
- 2 Days in Rome: An Epic + Easy Rome Itinerary
- How to Take a Day Trip to Florence from Rome
- What to Buy in Rome: 15+ Best Souvenirs From the Eternal City
- 33 Most Instagrammable Places in Rome
- 15 Prettiest Piazzas in Rome For Savoring La Dolce Vita (+ Map!)
Another helpful article, thanks Kate.
If you wish to take a photo through the Aventine Hill keyhole I recommend using a standard camera with a good zoom lens. An SLR would work but a simple compact “point-and-shoot” camera will be fine provided that it magnifies without distortion.
The day we were there, most of the 100 or so people in the queue had smartphones and unfortunately their photos just focused on the internal barrels of the keyhole and blurred out St Pauls.
Definitely a bit tricky to photograph–and 100 people, wow! We visited in November and must have gotten lucky–only a couple of people were there at that time.