Rooftops in Rome: the best terraces with a view

Rome is best seen from above: domes, bell towers and tiled roofs across seven hills, with St Peter's rising above everything else. You can enjoy the view in three ways: from the free viewpoints on the hills, from the terraces of monuments you can visit, or from a hotel rooftop, where you mostly pay for the drink. This guide ranks the best options by budget and says when to go. Private venues change menus, prices and hours from one season to the next: we therefore do not give their prices, and suggest you check and book before you come.

Rooftop, viewpoint or monument terrace: which to choose

Free: the Pincio, the Janiculum and the Orange Garden on the Aventine offer a panoramic view at no cost. They are the best choice for sunset.
With a monument ticket: the terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo and the terrace of the Vittoriano give a 360° view over the historic centre.
At a restaurant or bar: hotel and museum rooftops serve a drink or dinner with a view. Expect to pay more for a drink than elsewhere, and book for sunset.

The time matters more than the place. The sun sets around 4:45pm in December and around 8:45pm in June: arrive 45 minutes before. In summer the afternoon is hot and the light harsh; in winter the late afternoon is often the best.

The free viewpoints

The Pincio

Sunset over Rome from the Pincio

Above Piazza del Popolo, the Pincio terrace, in the park of Villa Borghese, faces west: you see the rooftops of Rome and the dome of St Peter's in the distance. Sunset draws a crowd, but the space is large. The terrace is a 10-minute walk from the Spanish Steps.

The Janiculum

The Janiculum, on the right bank of the Tiber, overlooks Trastevere and the centre. The Gianicolo terrace offers a wide view of the city, and children enjoy the puppet show held there. See our page on the Janiculum for access.

The Orange Garden on the Aventine

The Orange Garden looks over the Tiber, Trastevere and the dome of St Peter's. It closes in the evening, at a time that varies with the season: arrive before sunset. It is a short walk from the keyhole of the Order of Malta, which frames the dome of St Peter's.

Monument terraces

Castel Sant'Angelo

At the top of Castel Sant'Angelo, the angel's terrace looks over the Tiber, the Ponte Sant'Angelo and the dome of St Peter's Basilica. A café serves drinks there: it is one of the most pleasant views in the centre for the price of the ticket.

The Vittoriano

The Quadriga terrace, at the top of the Vittoriano, is reached by a panoramic lift. From there you see the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Trajan's Column and the rooftops of the centre. The monument itself cannot be seen from its terrace: for those who find it too massive, that is one of its assets.

The Caffarelli terrace

The Caffarelli terrace, at the Capitoline Museums, overlooks the rooftops of Rome; see the page on the Capitoline Museums for access conditions and café hours.

Hotel rooftops

Several hotels in the historic centre have a terrace bar or restaurant open to non-residents, with a view of the Spanish Steps or of the Pantheon: the Hotel Hassler at the top of the Spanish Steps, the Hotel Raphael near Piazza Navona and the Minerva Roof Garden, facing the Pantheon. These are expensive addresses, with an implicit dress code: avoid shorts and flip-flops in the evening.

Book a table for sunset, especially Thursday to Saturday.
Check that the terrace is open: many close in winter or in bad weather.
Order a drink rather than dinner if you want to limit the bill.

Summary table

Where	Type	Price	Best time
Pincio	Viewpoint	Free	Sunset
Janiculum	Viewpoint	Free	Late afternoon
Orange Garden	Garden	Free	Before closing at sunset
Castel Sant'Angelo	Monument terrace	Entrance ticket	Late afternoon
Vittoriano	Terrace and lift	Lift ticket	Daytime, clear sky
Hotel rooftops	Bar, restaurant	Drinks	Sunset, by reservation

Going further

For a dinner with a cheaper view, read Rome at night. To plan a full day, see what to do in Rome in one day. If you are staying in the Tridente, our district guide suggests addresses near the Spanish Steps and Villa Medici.