What to do in Rome when it rains
Rome's museums, galleries and breathtaking church interiors are best savoured slowly — a rainy day is the perfect excuse.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Vatican Museums 00120, Vatican City
- Castel Sant'Angelo Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
- Roman Forum 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
- Circus Maximus 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
- Galleria Borghese Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
- Sistine Chapel 00120, Vatican City
- Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Palazzo Barberini Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
- Capitoline Museums Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Galleria Borghese Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
- Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Palazzo Barberini Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
- Galleria Doria Pamphilj V. del Córso, 305, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
- Gran Cafè Marcel Via dei Canestrari, 9, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
- Palazzo Merulana Via Merulana, 121, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
- Il Margutta Via Margutta, 118, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
- Antigallery P.za degli Zingari, 3, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
- Ex Galleria Via Baccina, 66, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Colosseum P.za del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
- Trevi Fountain Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
- Pantheon Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
- Castel Sant'Angelo Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
- Piazza Navona Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
- Piazza del Popolo Piazza del Popolo, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
- Monument to Victor Emmanuel II Piazza Venezia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
- Sistine Chapel 00120, Vatican City
Churches & interiors
Step inside the great churches; the art and quiet are worth the detour.
- Saint Peter’s Basilica Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
- Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major P.za di Santa Maria Maggiore, 00100 Roma RM, Italy
- Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano P.za. San Giovanni In Laterano, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
- Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls Piazzale San Paolo, 1, 00146 Roma RM, Italy
- Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola Piazza S. Ignazio, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
- Sistine Chapel 00120, Vatican City
- Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli, 4/A, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
- Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Food halls
Settle into a food hall and work your way around the stalls while the rain blows over.
- Testaccio Market Via Aldo Manuzio, 66b, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
- Città dell'Altra Economia Largo Dino Frisullo, snc, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
- Mercato Trionfale Via Andrea Doria, 41, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
- Nuovo Mercato Esquilino V. Principe Amedeo, 184, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
- Alcazar Live Via Cardinale Merry del Val, 14, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
- Mercatino Usato Roma Garbatella Franchising Via Manfredo Camperio, 25, 00154 Roma RM, Italy
- Esselunga Viale Liegi Viale Liegi, 18, 00198 Roma RM, Italy
- Campagna Amica Market Via di S. Teodoro, 74, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 40 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.