The Most Tourist-Crowded Places in Rome

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi fountain has been featured in several movies and series over the decades, including La Dolce Vita and most recently in the show “Emily in Paris”, as she was in Rome, including the fictional Solitano.

Therefore, it is no surprise that this incredible baroque fountain has been attracting visitors from all over the world.

A popular belief has been fuelling people's imagination, which is that you have to turn your back to the fountain to throw a coin into the fountain. This superstition favors a retune to Rome in the future.

People stand in various positions for the best possible picture-perfect positions, and private Instagram photoshoots are not uncommon. The tiny square in general and the narrow road leading to the fountain are jam-packed as well.

This was hands down the craziest place affected by overtourism that we have come across so far. The Taj Mahal in India didn't even compare to that!

Colosseum & Via dei Fori Imperiali

The colosseum is a must-see when in Rome, and, naturally, this breathtakingly stunning sight attracts visitors in masses.

People hangout around the colosseum, and others queue up to see the arena. Even if you have a so-called “cut the line ticket" (i.e., a ticket purchased for a specific time slot), you still have to queue up for the compulsory security check.

The basic colosseum ticket provides you with access to the main inner area of the Colosseum. I recommend getting the extended ticket for the arena floor, which is informative and also less crowded.

The large car-free road leading up to the colosseum, along the Roman forum, is known as the Via dei Fori Imperiali, and it's definitely bustling with Tourists all day long.

Pay attention to your belongings here. We saw a number of scammers here, including the ball and cup “game” scammer gangs.

Tip: Common scams to avoid when visiting Tourist places in Europe.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish steps are located at the Spagna square, not all too far from the Trevi fountain in Rome. They are also known as the Trinita dei Monti steps, which, after a steep incline, take you to the Trinita dei Monti church.

Flowers adorn the steps that have been part of a controversy for centuries. The church is one of the French state-owned buildings in Rome, and the French state has been lately claiming the Spanish steps as well.

That, and the fact that this landmark has been used as a fashion model runway and a popular filming location, is reason enough for thousands of visitors to flock to the dazzling sight.

Besides, the Spagna metro station is a few steps away and therefore the square serves as a busy transit zone.

People accumulate, spellbound by the flower decorations in spring and summer. It's a hotspot for pickpockets.

Tip: How to avoid Pickpockets in Europe.

Pantheon

The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple in pristine conditions that was turned into a catholic basilica over the centuries, which is known as the Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres.

Visitors can see the inner sanctum by purchasing a €5 ticket (it used to be free). This can be done online or on site.

The lack of a crystal clear, functioning, official Roman Pantheon online website to purchase tickets makes it difficult for visitors to skip the first purchasing queues.

This is why long visitor lines are common at the Pantheon, and the piazza gets filled up with tourists fast.

The first queue is to purchase the tickets, the second is to get through the security check to get into the Pantheon.

You can line up in two major purchasing queues, the cash only and the card queue. Pick the shorter of the two, to save time.

Vatican City

The Vatican City is located a bit away from all the other sights, on the other end of the old town.

It's called as such because the Vatican is a micronation, in fact, it's the smallest country in the world, which was formed as an independent state in 1929.

Catholic pilgrims, art history aficionados and curious souls flock to the Vatican. The outcome is truly one of the most frequently visited places in Rome.

The tourist flow starts at the Castel Sant'Angelo bridge and goes on until the Vatican.

Most people come to see the St. Peter's Basilica, which is full of visitors by 9:30 am, and many visitors to Rome try to get a precious ticket to the Sistine chapel and the Vatican museum.

Tickets to the Sistine chapel and the Vatican museum are limited, and you can only purchase them in advance because of the high demand.

Unfortunately, special circumstances, such as the pope's passing and the conclave, are a reason for the Vatican administration to close down the Sistine chapel and the Vatican museum.

Trastevere

Trastevere is a popular quarter in Rome with small alleys, delicious food places and charming churches.

We didn't realize how busy this place was and reflecting back, I understand why bus drivers would call this quarter the Tourist zone.

Instagram and the Internet made Trastevere popular, and yes, you will find some delicious food here but also crazy long queues at all hours of the day for a table.

The small alleys don't make it any easier and the many Bangladeshi vendors selling cheap tourist merchandise, create bottlenecks. Shoulder to shoulder situations with other visitors were not uncommon due to this.

We basically escaped the neighborhood because even the smallest alleys were full of crowds (mind you in April!), and we came across other corners in Rome that were much more inviting, minus the Tourist crowds.

Other Popular Busy Squares

Several other squares are designated all-year-round flooded Tourist hotspots in Rome. If you don't like crowds, avoid these spots!

• Piazza Venezia — A major transition point between sights and construction works are going on as well, making this space congestion-prone.
• Piazza Navona — A larger, busy, square with fountains and street performers.
• Campo de' Fiori Square — Beloved for the morning market.