Heading to Rome but unsure which of the 60-plus museums to visit or what to see beyond the Sistine Chapel? This guide breaks down the best museums to visit in Rome and the famous artworks each one displays.
Private Tours in Rome: If you’d rather skip the guesswork and experience Rome with expert local guides, explore Private Tours in Rome for flexible, private itineraries that blend iconic landmarks with lesser-known corners of the city. Options range from Ancient Rome experiences at the Colosseum and Roman Forum to Vatican highlights, city center walks, food experiences, and special activities—ideal for couples, families, and friends looking for a personalized way to discover the Eternal City.
Rome Golf Cart Tours: Prefer a comfortable way to cover more sights in less time? Check out Rome Golf Cart Tours for private, guided rides that combine major attractions and hidden gems with a smooth, convenient pace. These tours are designed to reduce long walks while still delivering a high-impact overview of Rome, perfect when you want panoramic viewpoints, neighborhood atmosphere, and a tailored route that fits your day.
The Top Museums in Rome
Rome has been around for just over 2,600 years, and in that time, some of the world’s greatest art collections have found homes in the city’s museums and galleries. With over 60 museums, you won’t be able to see them all in one trip to the Eternal City.
So, we’ve created this shortlist of the best museums to get you started, including a quick rundown of the iconic masterpieces each one holds. Whether you have specific art interests or simply want to visit museums with fewer crowds, here are the best museums in Rome.
7. MAXXI Museum
The MAXXI museum is Rome’s main modern art gallery. It features rotating exhibits, which makes it popular with locals. The name MAXXI stands for Museo Nazionale delle Arte dei XXI secolo. Pretty creative.
The building was designed by Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-British architect, and it’s a modern masterpiece in its own right. Through its contemporary design, it elevates the museum as a reference point in both modern art and architecture. You’ll also find larger interior and exterior works to explore here.
6. Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (Museo Nazionale Romano)
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is an excellent museum that would probably be the top attraction on a list like this in any other city. But this is Rome, and there’s a lot vying for your attention. Still—don’t pass up the chance to see it.
While this museum is similar to many of the galleries on this list, it has one important advantage: you simply won’t find crowds here. You can stroll into Palazzo Massimo with a reservation, buy a ticket, and enjoy an incredible collection with relatively few people (especially compared to the Vatican).
Famous Works of Art Inside:
- Frescoes of Villa Farnesina
- Portonaccio Sarcophagus
- Collection of Ancient Coins (massive and impressive collection)
- Sleeping Hermaphroditus
- Via Cassia Mummy
- Ludovisi Hermes
- Tiber Apollo
- Discobolus of Castelporziano
5. Palazzo Altemps (Museo Nazionale Romano)
Most Rome experts wouldn’t place this museum so high on a list like this. But it earns the spot—especially if you’re the kind of traveler who likes to return to a museum for one or two unforgettable pieces.
Two statues are the stars here. The first is the Galata Ludovisi, known in English as the Ludovisi Gaul (or the Galatian Suicide). It’s intensely moving, deeply human, and unforgettable. The second is the Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, with relief work so detailed it’s difficult to describe.
Like many museums in Rome, this was a private collection that eventually passed into state hands either as a gift or due to a lack of heirs.
Famous Works of Art Inside:
- Throne with the Birth of Venus
- Ludovisi Dionysus
- Ludovisi Throne
- The Galatian Suicide
- Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus
- The Courtyard
Pro Tip: If you plan to visit both Palazzo Massimo and Palazzo Altemps, you can buy a combined ticket that gives you access to these two (plus two additional Museo Nazionale Romano sites) for €12. The combined ticket is valid for one week from the day of purchase.
4. Palazzo Barberini
Rome is a rare city where a museum like Palazzo Barberini could be the main attraction—if it were located almost anywhere else. Fortunately for you, Rome’s sheer abundance of world-class sights often leaves these “hidden gems” surprisingly uncrowded.
Palazzo Barberini houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art, featuring works by Tintoretto, El Greco, Caravaggio, and others. Built in the 17th century, it was owned and occupied by the Barberini family, one of the most influential dynasties in Rome.
The man who would later become Pope Urban VIII purchased this plot from the Sforza family (from Milan), who were using it as a vineyard. He planned an impressive palace with the architect Carlo Maderno. After Maderno’s death, the commission went to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and the project was finished in 1633.
It’s also worth noting that Borromini, another iconic architect and sculptor, had been working with Maderno and likely expected to take over. Instead, the commission went to Bernini. Borromini continued working on the project, and while there’s no official record of drama, the rivalry is part of Roman art history, and it may explain why Borromini’s Helicoidal Staircase is such a showstopper.
Famous Works of Art Inside:
- Exterior Facade and Gardens
- Allegory of Divine Providence and Barberini Power by Pietro Cortona (incredible)
- Helicoidal Staircase by Borromini (most notable attraction)
- Judith Beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio (very powerful)
- La Fornarina by Raphael (his famed mistress)
- Annunciation by Filippo Lippi
- The Last Judgement by Fra Angelico
- Et in Arcadia Ego by Guercino
3. The Capitoline Museum
The Capitoline Museum (Musei Capitolini) is the full package. Its focus is primarily on ancient history, which feels perfectly placed, as it sits on the outer edge of the Roman Forum and offers one of the best viewpoints in the area.
The museum spans three buildings: the Palazzo Senatorio (built in the 12th century, updated by Michelangelo, overlooking the Forum), the Palazzo dei Conservatori (built in the 16th century and also redesigned by Michelangelo), and the Palazzo Nuovo (built in the 17th century and mirroring the Palazzo dei Conservatori).
Michelangelo had a massive impact on the museum complex. He designed the overall layout and also created the monumental staircase up to Piazza Campidoglio, known as La Cordonata.
Famous Works of Art Inside:
- La Cordonata
- Piazza Campidoglio
- View of the Roman Forum from the back of Palazzo Senatorio
- The Dying Gaul
- Head of the Colossal Statue of Constantine I
- Eros Thanatos
- Bust of Augustus
- Commodus as Hercules
- Heracles Fighting
- Triton
- The Pinario
- Baby Hercules Strangling a Snake
- Capitoline Wolf
- Bernini’s Medusa
- Statue of Horti Lamiani
- Cupid and Psyche
- Statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (most notable attraction)
2. The Borghese Gallery (Galleria Borghese)
The Borghese Gallery is small and unassuming from the outside, but it’s one of Rome’s most rewarding museum experiences. One of its biggest advantages is the visitor cap: entry is limited to 360 people at a time, and visits are limited to two hours. That’s the perfect amount of time to take it all in without museum fatigue.
The gallery is home to at least ten high-profile works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, plus paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, and more. Baroque art is emotional, theatrical, and full of movement, exactly the kind of art that pulls you into a story.
1. The Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani) contain one of the best collections of art on Earth, and yes, they’re home to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
Countless visitors pass through the chapel without realizing that Sandro Botticelli, one of the greatest artists to ever live, painted multiple wall panels. A trip to Rome wouldn’t feel complete without seeing the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel at least once.
Famous Works of Art Inside:
- Sistine Chapel
- The Gallery of the Maps
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- Lacoön Group
- Apollo Belvedere
- Great Torso
- The Transfiguration by Raphael
- St. Matthew by Guido Reni
- The Raphael Rooms
- The Borgia Apartments
- Garden of Eden by Wenzel Peter
