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Top Archaeological museums in Rome, Italy

Top Rated Archaeological museums in Rome

Top Reviewed Archaeological museums in Rome

Reviews

One of the most beautiful ancient temple sites I’ve ever visited. It’s truly breathtaking, I could spend all day here, I’ve been twice now and it never gets old. The ruins are very well preserved and taken care of, it got lots to explore. It’s definitely worth going with a tour guide, I would definitely recommend checking out this temple, you will certainly enjoy your time here.
Super nice and competent tour guide who really loved his job. The tour was more than twice the 30 minutes it says on the website and it was so interesting. Thank you for a great hour under the surface of Rome. I was in the last tour of the day, maybe that was what made the xxl version possible :-) if there hadn’t been the local football derby the guide wanted to see, we might still be underground ;-)
A must see when you visit the Via Appia Antica. Need to take a good guiding tour. Very interesting. App. 40minutes
We had a good tour experience. The guide was helpful, the tour was a good value for the money.
Very beautiful and worthy visiting, dispite the fact that our tour guide (we couldn't get on line tickets without one🤨) he knew epidermally the history and he spoke inside of his teeth ...we barely listened to him...the access is very easy with the bus 118 from Colosseo and reaches also the St Kallisto Catacombs. We reached one hour earlier and we could get in with the previous group so we gained time. If you go in the morning there is no queue at all. Same as Castel Sant'Angelo, we pre-paid 4times up the ticket and in 9 'o'clock in the morning there was no one there..We could take our tickets from there. Any way, catacombs was worthy.
We enjoyed our visit to the catacombs as part of the bike Appian Way tour. We stopped for a snack and coffee at the cafe before the tour began. Our guide was a lovely lady who was very knowledgeable and informative about the catacombs and how it began life as a quarry and then evolved over the centuries.
Our guide was very informative and didn’t bore you with an overload of information. We purchased our tickets in advance for the English speaking tour. We also took our own flashlight as it is dark and dank underground! Would not recommend for people who don’t like closed in spaces or those who have trouble navigating uneven pavement. The pathways are low lit so be attentive of steps and uneven paths. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and especially that it was a huge mob of people. Interesting fact: no photos as the Vatican owns the Catacombs! Do pay a visit. The staff is helpful and the restrooms are clean!
Die Tour durch die Katakomben ist sehr zu empfehlen. Während der Tour kann man die ältesten christlichen Zeichnungen der Welt sehen und bekommt einen guten Eindruck davon, wie die Katakomben als Gräber genutzt wurden. Außerdem ist es dort unten schön kühl, im Gegensatz zu den sonstigen Temperaturen in Italien.
Take the day tour. Our night tour seemed abbreviated. But do visit. This was one of the highlights of my trip. Very cool underground experience. Photos were not allowed. Guide was very very knowledgeable.
A nice museum, dont forget to see film and History of this "ara" from its creation, its Moving out until what it is today, what Caesar could Say with such a "ara" today ?
Loic Mulaire
at 2023 Oct 09
Loic Mulaire
at 2023 Oct 09
A must see for anyone who loves history. The collection of artifacts is amazing to see and the video/audio tour gives great information about the various rooms and important artifacts. I would absolutely love to go back and spend even more time here.
Sahand Saba
at 2023 Sep 28
Sahand Saba
at 2023 Sep 28
Absolutely incredible for anyone interested in the history of Rome. I spent 5 hours here and would go back in a heartbeat to explore more and see some items again. One of the best museums I've ever visited.
Ella Peters
at 2023 Sep 26
Ella Peters
at 2023 Sep 26
Such a beautiful and interesting museum. It was very empty and not as hot as outside which was very nice.
Amazing museum. What a wonderful array of sculpture and paintings. Every room is fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the ceilings in each room, so decorative and beautiful.
A must see for all tourists and those seeking inspiration! A well preserved monument from antiquity is here at the Museo dell’Ara Pacis. It is perfect for those seeking a break from the heat and humidity. The A/C is on high and feels great during the summer.
Jim Leonard
at 2023 Sep 17
Jim Leonard
at 2023 Sep 17
Palantine hills is our favorite spot for ancient Roman ruins. Buy tickets ahead of time, you can get a combination ticket for the Colosseum, Palantine Hills and the Roman Forum. All are excellent, but we can spend hours roaming the area of the Palantine Hills.
It's insane to charge a 15 euro entry fee just to see the Ara Pacis (actually 10.5 + 4.5 for the temporary exhibition, which should be included in the Museum fee and not charged as an extra). For comparison, that's about the price of a ticket for the Capitoline Museum and its thousands of ancient sculptures. There's little to see besides the (mostly reconstructed) monument, looking rather abandoned in an otherwise empty room with uninspired design. The temporary exhibition in the lower floor was interesting but short.

If you have a limited time in Rome I recommend skipping this one. Apart from the absurd entry fee there's not much to see in this part of town (the Mausoleum of Augustus is currently inacessible) and it's not worth the detour.
DR77
at 2023 Sep 13
DR77
at 2023 Sep 13
Had a great tour here first thing on a Sunday, we we’re the only people that chose to take the earliest tour, so pretty much got a personal one!
A very interesting place to visit, steeped in some fascinating history. Our guide was very informative, spoke very good English, and answered any questions we had with ease. A bonus for us was that it was lovely and cool in the catacombs, despite it being 30+ degrees outside!
Would recommend a visit here if you’re looking for interesting places to see when in Rome. It’s a little bit out of the main city but, luckily for us, was about a 10 minute walk from where we were staying.
Matty D
at 2023 Sep 11
Matty D
at 2023 Sep 11
The iPad rental is very confusing and no easy way to chronologically guide your way through the exhibit without tapping all around through the app, wish it was a lot more directed. Aside from that the collection of art was amazing as expected
Wonderful experience but on the tour I feel like your rushed through I didn’t enjoy that part but it was such a cool experience!
vartan bilawejian
at 2023 Sep 03
vartan bilawejian
at 2023 Sep 03
I visited this area as part of a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Visually, this was my least favorite of the three, but the history behind the Palatine was incredible.

Gigantic area to walk around and take a look at, but likely can be completed in a fraction of an hour if walked through quickly.
Jen Gordon
at 2023 Sep 02
Jen Gordon
at 2023 Sep 02
Palatine Hill was amazing to see. Such rich history layered throughout the site! Be aware, the bathrooms are few and far between, so use them when they're available. Also, bring a waterbottle to fill at the many fountains that provide drinking water, especially on hot days.

I found that a hat, sunglasses, and supportive shoes made my trip much more enjoyable on a hot day.

Purchase skip the line, it's worth it.
Pohan Tsao
at 2023 Aug 31
Pohan Tsao
at 2023 Aug 31
Wonderful walk. Breathtaking archeological site. Taking a walk here after lunch is a good choice, you really get to see the Roman culture here. As you set foot on top of the hill, you could even overlook part of Rome and the colosseum.
Unterirdischer Friedhof wo 250000 Menschen auf ca 21 Fußballfeldern in mehreren Ebenen bestattet wurden. Sehenswert!
Sono venuta a vedere la mostra di Letizia Battaglia e devo fare i complimenti per l'allestimento della mostra. Originale l'esposizione in modo da poter vedere sia le Terme che la mostra e far conoscere l'artista anche ai turisti. Le foto scelte e la modalità di esposizione sono spettacolari! Grazie! Inoltre ho scoperto che esiste la possibilità di vedere tutto gratis per chi ha una disabilità.
We didn’t pay to enter the museum but we walked slowly around the perimeter of the outdoors area and checked out what we could see from the street. Even this was mind blowing, and if you get some information up on Google you can delve in to some of the history too. It’s very close to the colosseum, so can just wander past in the way.
Eli Beltran
at 2023 Aug 14
Eli Beltran
at 2023 Aug 14
One of the not to be missed museums in Rome probably second only to the Vatican Museum. As it has a lot of wings and galleries, you need to allocate maybe half a day to see & appreciate them all. We went on a Saturday and just bought the tickets at the entrance. Museum wasn’t packed unlike the Vatican Museum so it was a wonderful experience being able to view the exhibits minus the huge crowds. Make sure you get a map brochure so you don’t miss shy of the exhibits.
Illan
at 2023 Aug 04
Illan
at 2023 Aug 04
Excellent museum spread over two building connected below.
Not crowded which was great as it sure worth the time.
We had a private tour as it turn out we were the only one so it was fantastic and so was our guide.
Eli Hancock
at 2023 Aug 04
Eli Hancock
at 2023 Aug 04
A fantastic museum with a lot of interesting history for those Classical History buffs!!
The place was nice and cool (temperature-wise), with a great supportive staff and friendly museum goers!!!
Super open and relatively empty museum, which was super nice, considering we'd just come from the packed Vatican Museums!!
Бывший монастырь Санта-Мария-Нова, который находится внутри Римского форума, превратился в интересный музей. Выставка скульптур, а также древних находок и раскопок палеолитических гробниц, представлена в красиво оформленных залах. Вход в музей справа от арки Тита или через дверь, проходящую из храма богини Ромы, за храмом Венеры. Обязательно посетите его, чтобы насладиться историческими сокровищами. Не путайте с Палатинским музеем, расположенным над холмом. Давайте поднимем ему рейтинг, жмите кнопку "Полезно"
Bryan Jacobs
at 2023 Jul 26
Bryan Jacobs
at 2023 Jul 26
Far more vast and impressive than the Forum area with some real "hidden" gems if you venture far enough. Great ruins and experience of what the emperors of Rome experienced.
Una esperienza unica anche con il caldo estivo. Entri nella Storia di questa città, capisci la grandezza dell'Impero romano e ne entro a far parte.
Tom Hejl
at 2023 Jul 19
Tom Hejl
at 2023 Jul 19
Great selection of arts. If you want to see statues from the ancient Rome, this is the one place to go. Nice views of Roman Forum included!
No need to buy tickets in advance.
The guide was great, and the experience was amazing. It was a smaller area of explorable space compared to others, but because only one group at a time could go, the experience was actually much more personal and self paced.

FYI, you do not need to wear pants, but your knees can not be visible. I wore pants even though it was 97⁰ out, but it's a cool 65⁰ down in the catacombs.
Jan van Breen
at 2023 Jul 15
Jan van Breen
at 2023 Jul 15
A must see! Far more interesting than the Colosseum. Gives an idea of the splendour that the emperors lived in. Also great to see when it’s hot as there are lot of trees that protects against the summer sun. You can also have a great view on the Roman Forum. You can easily spend a couple hours here. Sever places have tap water and toilets. Also some vending machines for soft drinks and coffee.
Must see. Saw it with a guide and last time without a guide. You can easily spend hours at Palatine Hill. To be honest, Patine hill is far more interesting than the Colosseum. The Forum is also nice to get an idea how the political centre of Rome used to look like. Palatine hill is nice when it’s hot as it has lots of trees to shelter from the hot summer sun. See the Colosseum early morning and Palatine hill when it’s hot.
A catacomb with a religious connection. This is where st Sebastian, St Peter and Paul were initially buried. And you can found also the alleged footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A wonderful self guided tour through history with amazing views of the Foro Imperiali, Foro Romano and the Palatine Hill from the terrace. Highly recommend.
Bývalý klášter, zajímavé museum, nachází se uvnitř Forum Romanum.
I was a little confused when I was looking up information for the place. So basically, during busy period, you can just turn up (note the opening hours tho!), get a ticket on the spot and wait for a group to form in the language you preferred. For English, and arriving when the site opens in the morning, it was less than 15min wait, basically for everyone present to pay for their tickets. Then a guide (included in the ticket price) will take the whole group on a guided tour through part of the catacomb. It is not possible to visit the catacomb on your own, and I can see so many reasons why. The risk of getting lost is real! Tour groups with their own guides also visit and they will just go straight through. The experience is really quite a unique and amazing one. The guide was very informative and the group size was not too big. There are not too many visitors so you don’t really see or hear too many people around unlike another catacomb I visited where you see a big group at every turn. Emerging in a pretty church after the catacomb was a pleasant surprise.
Short but quite underrated, they do a good job (if you can read) at explaining the various buildings in the forum. Overall if you want insight into the Roman’s I wouldn’t skip
We visited with a tour guide. Thank goodness we did. In school, we get a very high level education on Rome and it’s glory. The tour guide had so many stories about each spot. Apparently, materials in those days were in short supply and extremely expensive. So it was not unusual for materials to be repurposed (stolen) and taken to a new location. The doors below are bronze and were set in a cement to prevent theft. They are one of the few original doors still in place. They even found the key to the door and it still works!!! This place is full of stories like that. Our tour was two hours. It could have been four. It was truly fascinating.
Michael Fitzgerald
at 2023 Jul 01
Michael Fitzgerald
at 2023 Jul 01
This this the location of the Roman forum, get an audioguide or a tour. There is so much here that needs an explanation. It's so beautiful and soaked in history. Be aware there is little shade on sunny days, but there are water fountains located around the area. Bring water bottles.
Absolutely breathtaking! A must see if you're in Italy. Tons of history and you feel like you were there. Individual tickets weren't available so I did a last minute group tour for 60 euros. Totally worth it.
Ksenia Svitai
at 2023 Jun 19
Ksenia Svitai
at 2023 Jun 19
Not much information provided in the museum for the tickets’ price. Would be nice to organize exhibitions in chronological order so that it would be easier to understand. Otherwise great place to visit, a lot of artifacts from the Roman Empire, they even have ancient board games! And some exhibits are just breathtaking.
One of the most tango events in the Roman Summer
My wife and I enjoyed visiting the museum. I recommend visiting this location, then walking the boardwalk along Via dei Fori Imperiali to get the best perspective of the Imperial Fora. I also recommend you NOT purchase the Super Pass for the purpose of walking the grounds of the Imperial Fora only because, when on the ground level, you can't visualize which of the forums (see photos) you are actually in. Visualization is best accomplished from atop Trajan's Market museum and the aforementioned boardwalk. The boardwalk has placards that show which of the forums is in front of you (again, see pictures) - I didn't notice any such placards on the Imperial Fora ground level. Just my recommendation...food for thought.
This is by far the highlight visit of a trip to Rome. Visiting this park is an absolute must. The park is huge and you can spend the whole day walking around seeing the historical site. I would highly recommend a visit to this park. The best and quickest way to enter this park is buying the Full Experience Ticket with access to the Arena. It is 24 Euros and you skip the ques and gain access very quickly. I would highly recommend a visit to this park.
Edd Chappell
at 2023 May 22
Edd Chappell
at 2023 May 22
Well worth the entry with LOADS to see. Wasn't very busy when we visited, but was really good.
Really has something for everyone and can highly recommend!
In the main building on the first (not ground) floor, there's a great projector presentation that interacts with some of the monuments, really worth a watch
Make sure to head underground and view the forum and some of the ancient wonders that are buried beneath these iconic structure!
There's a spot to store backpacks and umbrellas which are not allowed.
We had a very excellent guide who seemed to be a scolar . Seemed ok to just drive up park and buy tickets. There are lots of tours in different languages. Like 5 or 6 languages. Each tour about 45 minutes. Walk is not too hard. 50 or so steps down and up each side. Clean bathrooms and beautiful roses 🌹. No skulls and well lit. Its cool down there but not cold. Felt nice actually. No photos or videos allowed in the actual Catacombs
Amazing how little attention this museum and archaeological site receives. I'd add it to my unofficial list of places in Rome to avoid crowds. You get beautiful views from the top terrace towards the Forum and the Vittorio Emanuele memorial. When outside, watch out for the seagulls, they tend to bombard visitors with goo. 🙂 If you want to avoid massive crowds, feel free to skip the usual Forum altogether and just come to the Mercati di Traiano. Similar experience, much less people.
One of my favorites in the city. This place is a must-see as there are many artifacts within. It also has a beautiful terrace that overlooks Rome and another terrace with arguably the best views of the Forum.

For this, I would highly recommend picking up an audio guide as it explains a lot and can help you navigate the murine as the layout can be a bit confusing.
D Kovacova
at 2023 May 10
D Kovacova
at 2023 May 10
Absolutely stunning (even though it's facing the wrong direction after moving and reassembly). Love the glass wall facing the Mausoleum, which gives the altar a lot more context. Info boards give a lot of information. Staff are great at being present while tucked away from visitors' cameras. I was here on a day when entry was free and I was very surprised that the place wasn't too busy as so many people in comments are moaning about the entry fee
Enric P
at 2023 May 04
Enric P
at 2023 May 04
Amazing museum in the heart of Rome.
Make sure to book in advance online so you can save time on the line. I did it 24hrs in advance and it was a good 40min saver.
There is a nice cafeteria on the 3rd floor with excellent views.
The collection of the museum is huge and it includes AMAZING views of the Roman forum and Palentine Hill.
As other reviewers mentioned, there is a great selection of busts and a really interesting marble selection.
Definitely with your time, I was pleasantly surprised.
Very small musuem for a somewhat high pricepoint.

It is somewhat interesting but would be a small corner piece in a larger musuem it feels like.

The building and space are wonderful but one of the worst bathrooms of any museum i've ever been to.

It has a great view of the river and on a nice day the space is very well lit.

english audio options as well which was nice
Small but beautiful museum
PT
at 2023 Apr 22
PT
at 2023 Apr 22
Really enjoyed our tour to the Catacombs. The tour guide told us many interesting facts and explained things clearly and showed us around the Catacombs all in 30 mins. It holds the oldest picture of the Virgin Mary. You can't take pictures inside. A trip well spent!
nice park inside place to dance tango argentino
Very impressive. Good for a hood view of the forum. Nice history. Good descriptions. Very nice ceilings! Not the most impressive museum, but very nice potential and not crowded.
Mark Harrison
at 2023 Apr 06
Mark Harrison
at 2023 Apr 06
We could have spent all day there. We were just three hours! Such an amazing place. In my opinion so much better than the Colosseum. Note that this comes as part of the deal with the Colosseum tickets if you select the correct option.
Trajan's Market is an archaeological complex considered to be Rome’s first shopping mall.
The complex, with six levels, is huge and lends a sense of wonder, yet again, at ancient Roman ingenuity.
Find it on Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Incredible history and the oldest ruins I’ve personally ever been in front of. We booked this tour connected with our tour of the Coliseum which was more cost effective. Not recommended to experience this without a tour guide or it’s hard to know what you’re looking at. Many of the features are so decayed without an explanation they are not recognizable. It’s a lot of walking so dress accordingly and very few places to use the bathroom or get refreshments
Esperienza unica nel Mitreo delle terme di Caracalla. Visitato durante la mostra Mysterion... Da non perdere..
Amazing place to visit and enjoy walking around just spend many hours to know about the history. I really loved it
Lots of walking on uneven surfaces so be prepared but this place is amazing and an absolute must see in Rome. Bring a drink as there is no where to get one once Inside. Also make sure you get the super ticket not standard or you can not enter all the buildings.
Top 5 Site To Visit In Rome

No kidding. At the end, I'll specify which well-known site I'd recommend skipping in favor of Trajan’s Market & Museum of the Imperial Fora.

The so-called market complex is vast, multi-level, full of passageways and staircases...just walking through it is like being a kid again and being an archaeologist--"where does this go?" and "how do I get over there or down there or up there?" and "what's in this room?"

The museum is as inspiring and well-presented as that of the Capitoline Museums, though with fewer items. It's a great archaeological treasure chest of finds and information about the five Imperial Fora and the Market of Trajan, with rooms laid out starting with an overview of the Fora and then dedicated rooms to a specific Forum or the Market itself.

As with the Capitoline Museums, the A/V guide is world-class and worth the extra cost. I highly recommend visitors avail themselves of the option. It's easy to use, is in multiple languages, is chock-a-block with interesting information about the museum and its holdings, provides choices of curated visits of different lengths and interests, and is physically comfortable to sling across your body. (Also, if like me you have or had a crush on Jeremy Irons and/or just love listening to his resonant voice, you can listen to him throughout your visit as he provides the voice for Emperor Trajan in the English narration.)

So skip the Colosseum: it's jam-packed with people and its outside is far more appealing and provides better photos than its inside.

Visit instead Mercati di Traiano & Museo dei Fori Imperali.
Very interesting place with a very extensive range of architecture pieces. One of the best and most important places to visit! The history of this place is very interesting and you can really imagine how this used to be in the 8th century. Besides the architecture there are beautiful sculptures and beautiful gardens.
Interesting place.
Great museum to spend half a day in rome. Has check in boxes for your baggage. We could fit a normal sized check in bag in the lockers and an xl check in as well. Keys remain with you and the service is free of cost.
A thoroughly great day out for the peace , I would recommend this to anyone as a place to visit. So many highlights of the day, that I can’t pick a favourite.
This is a somewhat small space, but if you know the history of Augustus and his reign and family, it will be a great experience.

Most busts are copies from museums elsewhere but the Ara Pacis and the history is splendid.

The museum is full of great descriptions and stories about this Roman era, and it is worth a visit. The video exhibition is great too.

Also included 3D reconstructions of the area.

Not very crowded.
L'Antiquarium Forense è uno spazio museale del Foro Romano collocato in alcune sale dell'ex convento di Santa Francesca Romana, riapre al pubblico a dicembre 2021, dopo circa 30 anni di chiusura, in occasione della mostra dedicata a Giacomo Boni.
Fabiola G.
at 2022 Apr 28
Fabiola G.
at 2022 Apr 28
Ex convento situato all'interno del foro romano, raccoglie testimonianze preziose sulla zona del Palatino e dei suoi abitanti sin dall'epoca preromulea. È possibile ammirare statue e ricostruzioni accurate delle sepolture del X secolo a.C. (scavi eseguiti da Giacomo Boni a cui è dedicata una bellissima mostra nel Parco del Colosseo).
Ho aggiunto questo luogo perché ritengo che meriti attenzione e interesse al pari delle rovine. Si trova nelle sale del convento di Santa Maria Nova, entrando sulla destra rispetto l'arco di Tito e vi si accede anche dallo splendido tempio della dea Roma, alle spalle del tempio di Venere, passando per una porta. È una bellissima esposizione di sculture ma soprattutto di reperti antichissimi e degli scavi dei sepolcri paleolitici. Bello e curato l'allestimento e ricche le informazioni didascaliche grazie a pannelli ben realizzati (il parco archeologico sta facendo un ottimo lavoro). Non dovete assolutamente perderlo e non confondetelo con il museo Palatino che si trova sopra il colle. Guardate le foto e i video che ho postato e le altre recensioni sui fori e su Roma e le sue meraviglie che ho fatto e se sono stato utile cliccate su utile.
Jose Pappachan
at 2021 May 25
Jose Pappachan
at 2021 May 25
Good place to visit and get an idea about ancient roman makings.. They keep the rest ofgreat roman empire bulids, as they can. Also its a great place to work out. You get a lot of people to workout together. Also there is a walking line around the park, normally in evwnings, full people walk and work out there.. Also a nice place to get relaxed and speep on top of grass... 👍👍👍nice place to visit and maintain your health with walk and workout.
Munir Ahmed
at 2021 Apr 15
Munir Ahmed
at 2021 Apr 15
Small but beautiful park. Good place to relax, jog and hangout and also good spot to bring kids
Mat
at 2021 Jan 14
Mat
at 2021 Jan 14
It should be take care more it's a bit left to the nature. There some nice old Roman building though.
Great spot for some calisthenics workout as there are various types of bars
Arthur Muliro
at 2020 Sep 09
Arthur Muliro
at 2020 Sep 09
Busy neighborhood park. Unfortunately many the benches and the kids equipment are in sorry state of repair. Lawn is mostly non existent, having been burnt up by the hot summer sun. Shame as it a park with great potential.. Just needs a little bit more of care.
Ido Gal-Turcan
at 2019 May 21
Ido Gal-Turcan
at 2019 May 21
Very nice garden to visit and for walks
Beautiful park. An oasis of green in the city. With this street basket dedicated area where young guys always go and play street basketball there. Really good spot, encouraging people playing such sport.
Fascinating walk around surprisingly intact ruins. Lots of little well preserved details to ooh and aah at and enjoy, with quite a few info panels along the way.