*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links (at no additional cost to you) I will earn a small commission. Click here for the full disclosure*
Rome is a beautiful city to visit at any time, be it high season in the summertime, the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, or even in low season winter. We visited Rome using Groupon Getaways which can be a great way to score deals on travel. No matter when you visit though, definitely take some time to explore the city after the sun goes down. Here are some of the beautiful sights you could be missing out on if you just spend your evening in your hotel.
The Colosseum
One of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the Colosseum is a spectacular sight no matter the conditions. During our visit to Rome we were lucky enough to see it under blue skies, moody clouds, and even with a layer of snow! Seeing it lit up at night was probably my favorite though, especially when the moon peeked out of the clouds.
Trevi Fountain
While we threw our coins into the fountain during the day, I found the Trevi Fountain even more enchanting at night when the lights bathed everyone there in a soft beautiful glow.
Fontana de Quattro Fuimi
Located in popular Piazza Navona, the Fontana dei Quattro Fuimi is usually surrounded by crowds of people who are just wandering by, stopping to admire it, or enjoying the many restaurants that ring the piazza. When we visited late at night though, there was hardly anyone around besides my husband and I. He was able to set up the tripod and adjust the angle and framing several times since there weren’t a lot of people in the way.
Palantine Hill & Circus Maximus
Capturing the ruins of the ancient imperial villas on Palantine Hill overlooking the Circus Maximus with the moon shining above was among the more challenging shots we took while exploring Rome at night, but I think it was worth it in the end.
Emanuele II Monument
An impressive sight, the controversial Emanuele II Monument, or the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), stands as a symbol of Rome’s unification and historical power. During the day visitors can take the panoramic lift to the top of the building for 360 degree views of the city, and visit the museum of Italian Unification housed inside. From Piazza Venezia you can enjoy this view at all hours, but there are definitely less crowds at night. We had fun playing with the length of exposure here as the traffic driving along the Piazza added an interesting element to some of our photos.
Temple of Hercules Victor
Even if you don’t visit the big sights in Rome at night, the less famous sights like the Temple of Hercules Victor are beautiful to see as you wander the Eternal City after the sun has set.
Ponte Sant’Angelo
Strolling along the shores of the Tiber River provides beautiful views of Rome including the Ponte Sant’Angelo which leads you to the doors of Castel Sant’Angelo. The pedestrian bridge is lined with statues of angels holding the instruments of the Passion which were designed by famed renaissance sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Castel Sant’Angelo
As you cross over the Ponte Sant’Angelo, you’re treated to a beautiful head-on view Castel Sant’Angelo. The circular fortification was once the tallest building in Rome and has served many functions over the years from its original purpose as a mausoleum for emperor Hadrian and subsequent emperors before being fortified by the Papal State into a castle and prison, and finally to its current reincarnation as the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo.
Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
During that same stroll along the Tiber, you’ll also see the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II just down from the Ponte Sant’Angelo. We loved the views of the bridge spanning the Tiber with St. Peter’s Basilica in the background glowing like a beacon over the city.
St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica in St. Peter’s Square is awe-inspiring sight at all times. As the heart and soul of the Catholic Church, both pilgrims and tourists flock there in droves to worship and admire the architecture and art found there. The lights make the travertine of the columns and facade of the basilica glow against the night sky.
Natural Beauty
My husband was fascinated with the Italian stone pine trees found throughout the city and had fun capturing them silhouetted by the glow of the moon.
The Pantheon
The Pantheon was the building that most surprised my husband & I as we were completely unprepared for the sheer size and history of it. It left us in awe. We both loved visiting it during the day, but seeing the empty piazza at night was magical.
Roam Rome at Night
Many people only explore a destination during the day, choosing to spend the evenings at restaurants, bars, or their hotels. I hope these photos have inspired you to get out and roam the places you visit when the stars are shining overhead. This is especially true if you’re in Rome.
The magic of Rome at night is something special, and we spent hours wandering around the city soaking it in while attempting to capture it. I think these photographs show a lot of improvement since I realized I’m a terrible photographer. All of these photos were taken on our Nikon D5600 camera using our Joby Gorillapod tripod. As a bonus walking around taking these photos helped us walk off all the pizza and pasta we ate while there!
Have you ever visited a destination that was even more enchanting at night?
Find Local Stays:
I love Rome! I never got to explore it at night so this was a fab article!
Aw I’m sorry you didn’t get to see Rome at night for yourself, but I’m glad you enjoyed my photos of it!
These pictures are just stunning. I haven’t been to Rome since right after college graduation. We go to Italy frequently, but I would love for my husband to see Rome. We need to creep up to Milan too. Rome at night is also like Athens lit up; it’s just beautiful. Old history under the stars makes me woozy. Love walking the piazzas too.
Thank you so much! We loved wandering around soaking it all in, can’t wait to do more of the same in more cities!
Beautiful photos. I’ve never been to Rome but have explored Barcelona at night. We stayed opposite the sagrada famillia so visited early morning and late at night when there were no crowds. It made such a difference
It absolutely does, there are far less people out at night! Ooh Barcelona is on our list to visit, we’ll no doubt be out exploring at night there too.
Beautiful photographs. It looks as though it is best to go see some of the sights at night time. Rome is on my list of places to visit, I had a trip booked but was very ill and unable to go.
Grace x
Thank you! I hope you get to visit soon, it’s a really lovely city!
Wow, Rome is breathtaking. Now I really want to see those amazing places at night. Great photos! 🙂
Thank you so much, I hope you get to see them!
These truly are some awesome photos – I never have much luck getting great night time photos. Thanks for making me want to return to this great city once again!
Thank you so much! It was definitely a challenge, but I love how they came out!
These pictures just make me want to go back to Rome ASAP!
Me too! Thank you for taking the time to visit!
Great pictures and post! Thanks 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Love the bridge shots!
Thank you! We loved walking by the Tiber as there were beautiful views all along it.
I love the feel of these photos being at night. Really tremendous shots!
Oh man do I resonate with this post. My husband and I were in Rome last November, and wow did I fall in love with the city. We toured the colosseum at night, too! It was magical. We honestly spent a lot of time adventuring at night around the area, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way! Great post!
xx, Morgs*
Oooh we only went inside the Colosseum during the day, a night tour sounds amazing. Thank you so much!
Thank! Nightfall really transforms the city.
Wow, these photos are beautiful! I’m planning to visit Rome in December and this post has been very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Peace, love & happiness,
Norma Linnet
How wonderful! I hope you enjoy Rome as much as we did!
Loved the photos! Very neat to see such high quality night shots. We were there this past December, but still
amazing to see.
Thank you so much! 😊
These are beautiful photos. I went to Rome in November and these photos have made me want to go back already.
Thank you! I think I wanted to go back as soon as we got home… 😂
Wow fab pictures! I have never been to Rome but these pics are difinately inspiring!
Thank you so much! You should definitely visit if you get the chance, it’s a city worth exploring.
I visited Rome back in June and absolutely fell in love! Your pictures are beautiful
Rome is popular for good reasons & we loved it too, thanks!
Great post…. this has made me want to go back so much…. especially now we have a decent camera…. your pics here are fab
We did Venice at Christmas time if you fancy checking that out
Ooh Venice is high on our list of places to visit! I can only imagine how wonderful it would be at Christmastime. We were only in Rome on this trip to Italy, but we got to really enjoy the city.
I want to go. I love the night angles!
I would definitely recommend a visit, it was magical at night!
Great post! We LOVED Rome at night – the Pantheon is my husband’s favorite place in the world, so we just kept going back!
Thank you! Yesss, Pantheon was definitely #1 for my husband (he’s an engineer & found its construction amazing), I was torn between the Pantheon which blew me away & Colosseum since it’s so iconic and I’d dreamed of seeing it for so long!
Roman history is wonderful and your nighttime crawl pics of the iconic site make it seem all the more magical. Thanks for the share!
It was mind boggling how ancient these sites are! Thank you for reading!
Beautiful photos! I can’t wait to go!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy Rome as much as we did!
These pictures are great! Rome definitely looks better at night and the crowd during the day…. It just kills me. I can’t wait to visit Rome again!
Thanks! There were definitely less people out & about at night although there were still some (like us) soaking it in.
Rome is such a beautiful city and your photos really captured that. Nice post!
I agree, Rome was wonderful! Thanks for stopping by!
So beautiful! Wow, you have quite an eye!!
Great shots! I’ve never visited Rome but its definitely on my list. Pula in Croatia is another great city to see at night. The architecture is very Italian in style.
Thanks, I’ll have to add Pula to my list for Croatia!
We spent a lot of time taking all these trying to get the best angles and lighting we could manage, so thank you for the kind words!
Absolutely stunning photos definitely on my wish list to visit. Thanks for sharing xx
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Amazing! You’ve definitely inspired me to explore Rome at night. I never got to the river or the castle, must do that next time. Love the Bernini statues on the bridge.
Yay! I’m so happy my post is succeeding in its mission to inspire! I feel like Rome is a city you can always return to and see new things!
Beautiful photos of a beautiful city.
Thank you, we loved Rome!
Beautiful photos. Plus the benefit of doing this at night – less people around. Trying to get a good photo of the Trevi fountain during the day for me was the hardest thing. Looks like a fantastic trip
Thank you so very much! Being out late definitely helped thin the crowds, it was fabulous!