How to avoid the crowds at Rome’s top sites

Who doesn't love Rome? But elbowing your way through hordes of tourists just to get a glimpse of the Trevi Fountain can put a serious damper on your trip. Trust me, I’ve been there.

I used to live in Rome and still get back every chance I get. I always recommend visiting during the shoulder season months of April (except Easter week), May, September, and October, when it's less crowded, the temps are cooler, and the hotels are more affordable.

But regardless of when you go, there are steps you can take to make it less of a shoulder-to-shoulder experience. Here are my best hacks, plus some alternative—but equally spectacular—sites for when you simply can't avoid the crowds.

A few years back, the Colosseum was named one of the new seven wonders of the world, which means crowds—massive ones.

To make sure you actually enjoy your trip to the Colosseum, buy tickets online in advance: You’ll get to skip the entry line. The downside: You’ll only have access to the first and second floors of the amphitheateror. A better bet: Spring for a guided tour with a company like Touriks. In addition to skipping the line, you’ll also get to see the underground chambers that once housed gladiators, prisoners, and animals.

Another thing to keep in mind: On the first Sunday of each month, the Colosseum (along with the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill) are free to enter, so it’s best to avoid visiting on those days if you’re looking to escape the masses.

If it all feels like a bit much, walk 15 minutes south to the lesser-known Terme di Caracalla. Commonly called the Baths of Caracalla, this used to be the center of ancient Roman life, with libraries, gardens, and exercise facilities for up to 1,600 people. The engineering—especially the aqueducts that carried water to the baths—is on par with the Colosseum, and there are fascinating, Roman-era mosaics throughout the ruins.

With the world’s largest unsupported concrete dome, the Pantheon is truly incredible—if you can see past all the tourists.

When you're visiting the Pantheon, timing is everything. Go right when it opens at 9 a.m. or around closing (the last entry is at 6:45 p.m.), as it tends to be slightly less crowded in the early morning and evening.

Beyond the impressive architecture, one of the main reasons to visit the Pantheon is to see the tombs of everyone from Raphael to several 19th-century Roman kings. Instead, go to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, located just outside the city walls along the Appian Way. The largest catacomb in Rome, it contains around 500,000 tombs dating from the 2nd to the 4th centuries, the most famous of which is the Crypt of the Popes, where some of the first popes were buried. A guided tour with hotel pickup (like the one offered by Rome Tour srls) is the easiest way to explore this extensive network of underground tunnels.

Over time, it has become a tourist tradition to throw coins into the Trevi Fountain for good luck—and the crowds that gather here to do so are staggering. The fountain collects about 1.5 million euro every year.

The best time to visit the Trevi Fountain is on weekdays before 8 a.m. (when cleaning starts) or after 10 p.m. (when most tourists have gone to bed). Personally, I prefer going at night when the fountain is all lit up—it looks especially beautiful.

I know, I know—it’s hard to imagine going to Rome and not seeing the Trevi Fountain. But the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola is equally impressive, with its towering granite columns and sweeping city views. Located on the Janiculum Hill in Trastevere, it was built in 1612 to commemorate the restoration of the Aqua Traiana aqueduct and actually served as inspiration for the Trevi Fountain.

Visiting the Vatican Museums, from the Sistine Chapel to the Raphael Rooms, can either be a religious experience or a congested nightmare.

To avoid the masses, visit the Vatican Museums on a weekday and buy skip-the-line tickets online up to 60 days in advance (same-day tickets are no longer available).

For a truly unique experience, book the Vatican Breakfast tour (an early morning excursion that includes an on-site breakfast buffet) or the Vatican Museums by Night tour (which takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from April to October). Both are offered through one of my favorite tour operators, City Wonders.

Unlike the Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese has strict measures to control crowds—only 360 people can be inside the villa at once and you can only stay for two hours at a time. These rules make for a much more intimate, immersive experience with incredible works by some of the same renowned artists featured in the Vatican Museums, including Raphael, Caravaggio, and Bernini.