The 7 Best Museums in Rome: Tips for Tickets and Opening Hours Travel Blog VIEL UNTERWEGS

Rome has over 150 museums - from world-renowned art collections to alternative exhibitions in former industrial buildings. Some museums are a must-visit for every travel itinerary, while others are true hidden gems. In this article, I'm sharing my recommendations for the best museums in Rome.

Key Points: My Tips for Museums in Rome

Rome offers much more than ancient ruins - there are true highlights waiting for you in the museums. These three points should be considered when planning your trip:

In the list below, I show you the best museums in Rome - for art lovers, history buffs, and families.

My favorites: Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, MAAM, and MAXXI
Save with city passes: Omnia Card or Turbo Pass Rome are worth it if you plan to visit multiple museums.
Reserve tickets in advance: This is especially important for the Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Colosseum.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Papal Car in the Vatican Museums in Rome photo by viel-unterwegs.de

Sistine Chapel Michelangelo Ceiling Vatican Museums photo by viel-unterwegs.de

Vatican Museums Courtyard with Globe in Rome photo by viel-unterwegs.de

The Vatican Museums are among the most famous attractions in Rome - and rightly so. Spanning over 7 km of exhibition space, you can expect about 1,300 rooms filled with masterpieces from antiquity, the Renaissance, and Baroque periods.

Highlights include the Raphael Rooms and Michelangelo's world-famous ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel. Just these two stations alone make the visit worthwhile. However, you should also not miss lesser-known halls and collections such as the Gallery of Maps, the Papal Car, or the Egyptian Collection.

I recommend planning at least 3 hours for your visit (we spent 4 hours without a guide). Without ticket reservations, you have little chance of getting a ticket (or you might have to wait in line for hours). Therefore, be sure to book your time slot online in advance.

Another tip is to book a guided tour to ensure you don't miss anything. The area is truly vast, and even on our first visit, we missed the Papal Car exhibition.

Reserve a ticket for the Vatican Museums

This is the most popular ticket for the Vatican:

Admission: starting from €21
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM), Fridays: open until 9 PM, Sundays closed
Address: Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome
Visit the website
My Tips for Visiting the Vatican (Highlight Order)

Galleria Borghese

The Galleria Borghese is one of the most significant art museums in Rome. The collection includes works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Rubens, and Titian. The museum is housed in a magnificent villa - a complete work of art combining architecture and art.

I recommend taking a stroll through the surrounding gardens of the Villa Borghese afterward. The green park landscape is one of my favorite spots in Rome.

Is a guided tour of the Galleria Borghese worth it?

I recommend taking a guided tour of the Galleria Borghese if you want to delve deeper into the artworks and their stories. The collection is small but historically significant. Many works only reveal their meanings with the right background knowledge.

During a tour, you'll learn why Caravaggio's paintings were so provocative, what symbolism Bernini incorporated into his sculptures, or which political intrigues are hidden behind certain portraits. A good tour saves you time and helps you make the most of your two-hour window.

I recommend this ticket for the Galleria Borghese with a guided tour:

My tip: Book a guided tour right with your ticket - especially during peak season, these tours get fully booked quickly.
Admission: €15 plus reservation fee; Note: No entry without an online reservation
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry: 5:45 PM). Closed on Mondays
Visit the website

MAAM - Museo dell'Altro e dell'Altrove

Photography is encouraged and explicitly allowed, says the sign at the entrance. The MAAM is located in a former slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Rome (Via Prenestina). It showcases contemporary art and street art across multiple floors - indoors and outdoors. The site is freely accessible, and guided tours can be arranged by appointment. For me, it's one of the most exciting examples of social art projects in Europe.

Note: The museum is currently being restructured. New social housing and a new museum are being created after the city fortunately acquired the site. It is set to reopen at the end of September!

Opening hours: currently closed
Admission: free (donation encouraged)
Address: Via Prenestina 913, 00155 Rome
Visit the website (currently inactive)

MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Arts

MAXXI is Rome's leading museum for contemporary art and architecture. It opened in 2010 and is located in the Flaminio district in the north of the city. Designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, the building itself is considered an architectural masterpiece of deconstructivism.

Unlike many classical museums in Rome, MAXXI showcases modern works in art, design, photography, and architecture. The architecture itself is particularly impressive: the spacious, light-filled rooms with floating staircases and curved walls.

The permanent exhibition 'MAXXI Art' presents works by artists such as Gerhard Richter or Francesco Clemente. In the 'MAXXI Architecture' section, you'll find over 75,000 photographs and plans from prominent Italian architects.

In addition to changing exhibitions, there's an archive, a library, an auditorium, as well as a café and a museum shop. A must-visit for art lovers - also as a contrast to the ancient highlights of the city.

Admission: €12
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM, closed on Mondays
Address: Via Guido Reni 4A, 00196 Rome
Tip: Admission possible with the Roma Pass
Visit the website

Gladiator Museum (Museo dei Gladiatori)

Gladiator Museum Rome, interior with many armors and information — The Gladiator Museum in Rome: many armors and information await you photo by viel-unterwegs.de

currently closed

The Gladiator Museum in Rome offers a compact, interactive exhibition on the life, equipment, and history of gladiators. For those who have seen the blockbuster Gladiator (and its sequel), it's incredibly interesting.

Across two floors, you'll see reconstructed helmets, armors, and weapons, supplemented by information panels, digital content, and faithful replicas. There's even a walk-in gladiator cell. This gives you insight into how people were 'held' back then.

The museum is located near Piazza Navona and makes for a good short stop - especially for families with children or anyone interested in ancient Rome and gladiators.

Tip: If you visit the Colosseum or the Stadium of Domitian, the Gladiator Museum is a fitting addition. Plan about 30-45 minutes for the visit.

Opening hours: Monday - Sunday: 10 AM to 7:30 PM
Admission: €8 (on-site or online)
Discounts for children, groups, and in combination with city passes possible
Visit the website

MURO - Museo di Urban Art di Roma

MURO is not a museum in the traditional sense, but a publicly accessible street art project in two Roman neighborhoods: Quadraro and Tor Marancia. In Tor Marancia, 22 large murals have been created on the residential buildings of a social housing area. In Quadraro, you can find over 30 works distributed throughout the neighborhood. The artist Diavù Vecchiato initiated the project.

Tip: Guided tours (by foot or bike) can be booked online.

Opening hours: accessible at all times
Admission: free
Address (Tor Marancia): Via di Tor Marancia 63, 00147 Rome

GAMM - Game Museum of Rome

The GAMM (VIGAMUS for Video Game Museum) is Rome's first interactive video game museum - and a real change of pace from the classic art museums. In the exhibition, you can expect over 600 objects: from retro consoles and arcade classics to the latest VR experiences. You can also play yourself - ideal if you're traveling with children or if you love gaming.

Especially cool: the historical collection of rare devices and game modules as well as the opportunity to bring back the good old days with over 1,500 playable titles.

My tip: Plan at least 1.5 hours - especially if you want to reminisce about Tetris, Pac-Man, or Zelda.
Admission: €15 (discounted €12)
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM, Friday & Saturday until 11:30 PM
Visit the website

My Rome Map for Google Maps

NEW: My guide for Rome with the most beautiful places, attractions, viewpoints, markets, and food guide (+ bars) with all locations for your phone, desktop, or tablet in Google Maps. With just one click, you have saved all the places I visited & recommended in Rome. I also add notes with tips so you can see where all the places are located. Check out the Rome Guide for mobile here.

I hope my tips make your stay an unforgettable trip!

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