The best self-guided tours of Rome in 2025

Rome is all set to welcome visitors in 2025. While the Jubilee event will attract many, there’s so much more for travelers to explore in Rome. With SmartGuide’s digital audio guide platform and app, you can enjoy tours that go beyond the famous landmarks, revealing quiet streets, local stories, and cultural highlights, through self-guided walking or biking tours, catering to diverse interests and travel styles.

For destinations and tourism businesses, the SmartGuide platform provides an opportunity to design tailored tours that align with specific events and audiences, ensuring every visitor’s needs are met.

In this article, we will explore the best Rome tours on SmartGuide for 2025 - whether you’re interested in historical tours, art, or even relaxing escapes.

Rome tours offered by SmartGuide app

Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches 1

Funded by the EU Digitour programs, this historic tour takes you on a journey through some of Rome’s most significant basilicas and sites. Starting at St. Jerome’s Basilica, the route includes St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, St. Sebastian’s, St. John Lateran, Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, and concludes at St. Mary Major.

Created by Roberto Carpano, the founder of WalkItaly Tours, this itinerary offers insight from an experienced guide who brings charm and wit to the experience. Known for his enthusiasm for walking and his knack for storytelling, Roberto adds a personal touch to uncovering the traditions and mysteries of this 16th-century pilgrimage (Rome’s oldest pilgrimages), “Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches”, which was first introduced by San Filippo Neri. Ideal for your Jubilee visit.

             Pilgrimage of the seven churches tour in SmartGuide app

Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches 2

This tour guides you from the historic Via delle Sette Chiese to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and is also supported by the EU Digitour programs.

Roberto Carpano (the founder of WalkItaly Tours) crafted this tour as well.

At the conclusion of this two-day pilgrimage, participants receive a certificate and a special ticket granting access to a public festival held on select days at Villa Mattei—a site whose importance was captured by Goethe in his 1788 Italian journey diaries.

You will see among other things: an eco-mural, the Appian Way – also called Queen of the Roads – where St Peter asked Jesus: Quo vadis domine? (Where are you going, my Lord?); the alleyway where a pop gave birth; and the national gathering place for witches in the Basilica of St John.

The Jubilee of 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

This special tour (funded by EU Digitour programs) underlines the Jubilee of 2025, a significant event offering spiritual renewal and reflection. It is also designed by Roberto Carpano.

The ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ Jubilee is a year of grace in the Catholic Church, providing an opportunity for the faithful to receive a plenary indulgence for themselves or their loved ones. This tradition, rooted in Jewish customs, initially aimed to promote social harmony and agricultural abundance. During this tour, you’ll visit the Holy Doors of four major basilicas – St. Peter’s, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Saint John in Lateran, and St. Mary Major – each offering a philosophical connection to Rome’s spiritual heritage.

              The Jubilee Of 2025 tour in SmartGuide app

Behind the Scenes of Hollywood Classics

Rome has long been a favorite backdrop for some of the most famous films ever made. From the charm of Roman Holiday to the poetic beauty of La Dolce Vita and the soul-searching journey of Eat Pray Love, the Eternal City has captured the hearts of filmmakers and audiences alike. Stroll through the iconic spots featured in Angels and Demons or relive moments from The Lizzie McGuire Movie, where dreams come to life.

This tour offers a chance for movie lovers and curious explorers to see Rome through the lens of Hollywood. Whether you’re a cinema enthusiast or simply want a fresh perspective on this timeless city, this tour brings the magic of the movies to life.

The tour includes Villa Borghese Park, Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, Capitoline Museums, Capitoline Hill, and 12 other places.

                                                                                Behind the scenes of Hollywood classic tour in SmartGuide app

The Rome Bike Tour

If you’ve already explored Rome’s most famous locations and are eager to uncover a different side of its history, architecture, and city planning, this tour is an excellent choice. Supported by the EU Digitour programs, this tour takes you through must-see stops, comprising of Circus Maximus, the National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II, Piazza Venezia, Mausoleum of Augustus, Ara Pacis, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, and Via della Conciliazione/Spina di Borgo.

On September 20, 1870, the Royal Italian Army breached Porta Pia, marking the end of Papal rule and uniting Italy under one State. This event changed Rome into Italy’s capital, but the city faced immense challenges in adapting to its new role. Urban renewal initiatives led to the demolition of more than a third of its structures and half of its green spaces to create what is referred to as the "Third Rome."

Today’s Rome reflects not just the legacy of 30 centuries of history but also the deliberate efforts to establish it as a grand modern capital. While these changes aimed to honor Rome’s past and prepare it for a thriving future, they sparked controversy. Scholars like Antonio Cederna have criticized these urban transformations, describing them as significant historical and cultural losses.

As you pedal through the Eternal City, you can ponder this debate and decide for yourself whether these changes were necessary to progress or a heavy cost for modernization.

Trastevere: The district of bohemians

Situated across the Tiber River, Trastevere was once a humble working-class neighborhood and has evolved into one of Rome’s most vibrant districts. Its cobblestone streets are lined with some of the city’s finest restaurants, pizzerias, and bars, housed within medieval buildings that exude fascination. The tour includes locations such as Tiber Island, Via della Lungaretta, Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Church of San Francesco a Ripa, Piazzi di Santa Maria in Trastevere, Museo di Roma in Trastevere and much more.

Steeped in history, Trastevere dates back to the Etruscan era and ancient Rome, with notable figures like Julius Caesar having villas in the area. The district today is alive with cultural and social activities. Visitors can relax at Piazza Santa Maria, enjoy coffee with a view of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, or admire the architectural beauty of the Santa Cecilia church.

Known for its lively nightlife, Trastevere offers plenty of pubs, bars, and restaurants to unwind after a day of exploring. Its reputation as a haven for artists and bohemians adds to its allure, and despite its popularity among tourists, the area has retained its local character.

Taking a stroll through the quieter side streets reveals tranquil, picturesque corners, offering you a perfect escape from the crowds.

Must-See Gardens

Financed by the EU Digitour programs and curated by Roberto Carpano, this tour offers a refreshing perspective on Rome’s often-overlooked green spaces.

As Stendhal observed, beauty becomes a habit in Rome, and its gardens are no exception. Despite their abundance, few take the time to truly appreciate the city’s parks and gardens. For those who do, these spaces evoke a sense of tranquility and connection to history, often sparking memories and emotions that are deeply rooted in childhood.

This walking tour takes you to a handpicked selection of Rome’s gardens—some lesser-known yet equally fascinating—away from the typical tourist routes. With a remarkable 67% of its territory devoted to greenery, Rome boasts more hectares of green space than any other municipality in Europe, much of it owed to the legacy of the papacy. However, the most recent architectural transformations of many public gardens occurred between 1927 and 1932, reflecting the Fascist era’s urban planning.

Highlights of the tour include visits to the Botanical Garden of Rome, Piazza Cairoli Garden, Garden di Palazzo Venezia, Parco Savello (the Orange Garden), the Rose Garden, Palatine’s green spaces and other scenic spots. These gardens showcase Rome’s ability to complement its rich history with natural beauty, offering visitors a serene escape within the city’s vibrant life.

                                                                                        Must-see gardens tour in SmartGuide app

Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

“All roads lead to Rome, and all Roman roads once led to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill”. 

These historic sites were the epicenter of Ancient Roman civilization, with their Latin names, Forum Romanum and Collis Palatium, symbolizing grandeur and influence. According to legend, Palatine Hill, near the Tiber River, was where King Romulus founded the great city.

This tour takes you through the archaeological zone, spotlighting the basilicas, temples, and other attractions that trace important moments in Ancient Rome’s history.

During the two-and-a-half-hour guided experience, you’ll visit places like the Basilica Aemilia, Curia Julia, Forum Square, Temple of Caesar, and Temple of Castor and Pollux, as well as other notable sites. In total, this tour features over 35 remarkable structures and points of interest.

For your comfort, drinking water fountains and restrooms are also visible on the map.

Views of the Appian Way

Step back into history with a self-guided tour of Via Appia Antica on bike, the world’s first highway, established in 312 BC. This ancient road serves as a reminder of Rome’s enduring legacy and engineering marvels.

The journey begins at Circus Maximus, the grandest stadium ever built, which hosted chariot races for 300,000 spectators. From there, you’ll head towards the Appian Way, passing venues such as the Garden of Oranges, Cavalieri di Malta Square, and the imposing Caracalla Baths, offering insight into the Roman water system.

The bike tour also takes you to the Aqueducts Park, proof of Rome’s advanced water systems, which supplied the city with more water 2,000 years ago than it receives today.

The journey concludes at the Nymphaeum of Egeria, an enchanting site believed to be part of Herodes Atticus’s Villa.

The Piazzas of Rome

Rome is renowned for its stunning piazzas, which have been the heart of city life for centuries. These iconic squares show the evolution of Rome through its architectural, artistic, religious, and political milestones.

During the Monarchic era, piazzas served as venues for religious gatherings, with the Forum Romanum being the most prominent. The Roman Republic utilized these spaces for political meetings and assemblies. Under the Roman Empire, piazzas were elevated to new grandeur with the construction of impressive public buildings and monuments.

In the Middle Ages, many piazzas fell into neglect, but the Renaissance revived their importance, giving rise to masterpieces like Piazza Navona with its magnificent fountains and baroque architecture.

This bike tour includes 18 spots, including Forum Romanum, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Barberini, Santa Maria della Vittoria, and Fontana delle Naiadi, among others. Pedal through the city and stop at these historic locations to experience their beauty and significance firsthand.

Are you ready to enjoy the best Rome tours 2025?

Rome in 2025 offers an abundance of opportunities for exploration, and the tours highlighted above are just a glimpse of what awaits you. With SmartGuide's digital audio guide, you can go beyond the well-trodden paths to discover lesser-explored corners of the city. From guided tours of hidden neighborhoods to insights into Rome's unique local heritage, SmartGuide ensures there’s something for every traveler.

In addition, SmartGuide provides AI-powered personalized recommendations based on visitors’ preferences and past behaviors. This not only enhances their visit by directing them toward hidden gems but also helps alleviate overcrowding at hot spots, contributing to more sustainable tourism practices.

For destinations and tourism businesses, SmartGuide offers a powerful platform to create customized content for theme-based tours and special events, ensuring tailored experiences for every visitor.

Make the most of your Roman adventure in 2025. Download the SmartGuide app now and discover a new way to explore the city.