Rome’s Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon deserve their fame, but some of the city’s most memorable places are found away from the standard sightseeing checklist.
Look beyond the headline attractions and you’ll discover a crypt decorated with human bones, an ancient Roman pyramid, underground catacombs, a mysterious keyhole and a hill constructed from millions of broken pottery vessels.
These unusual things to do in Rome reveal a stranger and less familiar side of the Eternal City.
You don’t need to skip Rome’s famous landmarks. Instead, mix a few lesser-known experiences into your itinerary alongside the classics.
Here are 11 unusual things to do in Rome worth seeking out.
1. Look Through the Aventine Keyhole
A tiny keyhole provides one of Rome’s most distinctive views.
Head to Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta on the Aventine Hill and you’ll find the entrance to the Priory of the Knights of Malta.
Look through its famous keyhole and the dome of St Peter’s Basilica appears framed at the end of a tree-lined avenue.
Seeing this remarkably precise view is one of the simplest unusual things to do in Rome.
Explore the Aventine Hill
Don’t visit the keyhole and immediately leave.
The surrounding Aventine area is ideal for a quieter walk away from Rome’s busiest tourist streets.
Nearby you’ll find the Orange Garden, officially known as Parco Savello.
The garden was created in 1932 to a design by architect Raffaele De Vico and offers panoramic views across Rome towards St Peter’s Basilica.
Combining the Aventine Keyhole with the Orange Garden is one of the easiest unusual things to do in Rome without buying an attraction ticket.
You can find more information in the official Rome tourism guide to the Aventine.
2. Enter the Capuchin Crypt
If you’re comfortable with macabre history, visiting the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars is one of the most memorable unusual things to do in Rome.
Beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini is a remarkable crypt decorated with human bones.
The remains of approximately 3,700 Capuchin friars are incorporated into elaborate arrangements throughout the crypt.
Skulls, leg bones and other remains have been arranged into decorative patterns and structures.
More Than a Macabre Attraction
It’s easy to describe the crypt simply as creepy, but that misses its purpose.
The displays are connected to the Christian concept of memento mori — a reminder of mortality and the temporary nature of human life.
The adjoining museum provides more context about the Capuchin order before you enter the crypt.
For travellers interested in Rome’s darker history, this is undoubtedly one of the most unusual things to do in Rome.
Check the official Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars for current opening times and admission arrangements.
Treat the site respectfully. These are human remains rather than props created for a modern tourist attraction.
3. See the Pyramid of Cestius
An ancient Egyptian-style pyramid isn’t what most people expect to find beside a busy road in Rome.
Yet close to Porta San Paolo stands the Pyramid of Cestius.
It was constructed as the tomb of Gaius Cestius between approximately 18 and 12 BC, during a period when Egyptian culture had become fashionable in Rome following the Roman conquest of Egypt.
The structure rises more than 36 metres.
Several centuries after its construction, the pyramid was incorporated into the Aurelian Walls, which helped preserve it.
Can You Go Inside?
Access to the interior isn’t available like an ordinary daily tourist attraction.
Special openings and events may provide opportunities to visit, so check current arrangements before travelling.
Even seeing the exterior makes this one of the worthwhile unusual things to do in Rome.
Finding an approximately 2,000-year-old pyramid surrounded by Roman walls and modern traffic makes this one of the strangest unusual things to do in Rome.
The official Rome tourism guide to the Pyramid of Cestius provides historical and visitor information.
4. Explore the Catacombs of San Callisto
A very different Rome exists beneath the ground.
The Catacombs of San Callisto, or Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, contain an extensive network of underground burial galleries along the historic Appian Way.
Parts of the complex date from the late 2nd century AD.
The network extends for around 20 kilometres across multiple underground levels, although visitors naturally only explore designated sections.
What Will You See?
One of the most important areas is the Crypt of the Popes, where several 3rd-century popes were buried.
Other areas contain early Christian inscriptions, frescoes and burial chambers.
You aren’t simply walking through tunnels.
The catacombs provide insight into early Christianity, burial traditions and a side of ancient Rome that looks completely different from the monuments above ground.
Visits are guided, and opening arrangements can change.
Check the official information before travelling.
Exploring an ancient underground cemetery is easily one of the most unusual things to do in Rome for visitors interested in archaeology and history.
5. Discover Quartiere Coppedè
For something completely different, head to Quartiere Coppedè.
Exploring this small architectural area is one of the unusual things to do in Rome if you want something completely different from ancient ruins and Renaissance streets.
Instead, you’ll find an eccentric combination of architectural influences associated with architect Gino Coppedè.
Decorative towers, arches, frescoes, sculptures and unusual details create an almost theatrical appearance.
Look for the Fountain of the Frogs
One of the area’s best-known features is the Fontana delle Rane, or Fountain of the Frogs, in Piazza Mincio.
The neighbourhood is relatively compact, so you don’t need to dedicate an entire day to it.
It’s better incorporated into a wider exploration of Rome.
Walking around Quartiere Coppedè is one of the more unusual things to do in Rome for travellers interested in architecture or photography.
It also provides a refreshing change after several days surrounded by ancient Roman monuments.
6. Visit the Non-Catholic Cemetery
Visiting a cemetery might sound like one of the stranger unusual things to do in Rome, but the Non-Catholic Cemetery is exceptionally atmospheric.
Located beside the Pyramid of Cestius, it has long provided a burial place for non-Catholics and foreigners in Rome.
Among the famous people buried here are English poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
The cemetery contains elaborate graves and monuments surrounded by greenery.
Combine It With the Pyramid
Its location makes it easy to combine the cemetery with the Pyramid of Cestius.
You can then continue into Testaccio for food or further exploration.
The atmosphere here is very different from Rome’s crowded central attractions.
Remember that it remains an active cemetery.
Visit quietly and respectfully.
For literary travellers in particular, the cemetery deserves a place among the unusual things to do in Rome.
7. Explore Testaccio and Monte Testaccio
Exploring Monte Testaccio is one of the most surprising unusual things to do in Rome because, at first glance, it looks like an ordinary hill.
It isn’t.
The ancient mound was created from an enormous accumulation of broken Roman pottery, particularly fragments of amphorae used for transporting goods such as olive oil.
Millions of pottery fragments gradually created an artificial hill.
It’s one of the more extraordinary surviving traces of ancient Rome’s enormous trading and consumption network.
Explore the Testaccio Neighbourhood
Even if you don’t access the archaeological mound itself, Testaccio is worth exploring.
The neighbourhood has strong connections with Roman food culture and contains markets, restaurants and reminders of the area’s industrial and ancient history.
Rome’s official tourism site describes Monte Testaccio as having been formed by millions of discarded amphorae.
Discovering that an entire Roman hill is effectively an ancient pottery dump makes Testaccio one of the most unusual things to do in Rome.
It’s also a good neighbourhood for seeing a different side of everyday Rome away from the area immediately surrounding the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
8. Visit the Mouth of Truth
You’ve probably seen photographs of visitors putting a hand inside an enormous stone face.
This is the Bocca della Verità, or Mouth of Truth.
The ancient marble disc stands in the portico of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
Its original purpose isn’t known with complete certainty, although it may once have been associated with drainage.
What made it famous is the later legend attached to it.
According to tradition, the Mouth of Truth would bite or sever the hand of somebody who told a lie.
Don’t worry — today’s visitors generally leave with all their fingers.
The legend and unusual appearance make this one of the most entertaining unusual things to do in Rome, particularly if you’re already exploring the area around the Circus Maximus.
The attraction became internationally famous through its appearance in the 1953 film Roman Holiday.
9. Explore the Appian Way
The Via Appia Antica, or Appian Way, offers an opportunity to walk through a landscape where ancient roads, ruins and countryside coexist.
Originally begun in 312 BC, the road became one of the most important routes of ancient Rome.
Today, parts of the historic route can be explored on foot or by bicycle.
Along and around the Appian Way you’ll find:
- Ancient tombs
- Catacombs
- Roman ruins
- Archaeological sites
- Countryside
- Sections of ancient paving
Go Beneath the Appian Way
The area has an extensive underground history as well.
Roman quarries and subterranean spaces exist beneath parts of the landscape, although specialist underground visits should only be undertaken through appropriate organised access.
Combining an ancient Roman road with underground archaeology makes the Appian Way one of the most fascinating unusual things to do in Rome.
Give yourself several hours if you want to explore beyond a single landmark.
10. Visit Romeow Cat Bistrot
Ancient tombs and crypts aren’t the only unusual attractions in Rome.
Romeow Cat Bistrot provides something considerably lighter.
The café combines plant-based food with resident cats in a setting far removed from Rome’s ancient monuments.
For cat lovers, it can provide an unusual break between sightseeing days.
Remember the Cats Come First
A cat café isn’t a petting zoo.
Follow the venue’s rules and allow the animals to decide whether they want to interact.
Don’t disturb sleeping cats or repeatedly pick them up for photographs.
Opening arrangements, reservations and the café’s policies can change, so check directly before making a special journey.
Stopping at a cat café might seem an unlikely addition to a Roman itinerary, which is precisely why it belongs on a list of unusual things to do in Rome.
11. Find Rome’s Strange Legends and Hidden Details
Rome has accumulated thousands of stories during its long history.
Some are documented history.
Others are folklore.
That distinction matters.
The original version of this article presented a supposed ghostly carriage crossing Ponte Sisto almost as though visitors might genuinely encounter it.
It’s better treated as what it is: one of Rome’s many legends.
The Ghost of Donna Olimpia
Roman folklore contains stories associated with Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, a powerful figure in 17th-century Rome.
Later legends claimed that her ghost travelled through the city in a carriage carrying treasure.
Whether you enjoy ghost stories or not, looking into Rome’s folklore can make familiar streets more interesting.
Other strange details and legends can be found around churches, fountains, bridges and historic buildings throughout the city.
Take a guided history or ghost walk, research individual legends or simply look more carefully at the symbols carved into buildings.
Searching for these stories is one of the unusual things to do in Rome that can transform an ordinary evening walk into something much more memorable.
Just remember to distinguish folklore from established historical fact.
More Unusual Things to Do in Rome
These eleven unusual things to do in Rome barely scratch the surface of what the city has to offer.
Rome has had more than two millennia to accumulate unusual buildings, traditions, archaeological discoveries and stories.
If you have additional time, consider investigating:
- Basilica di San Clemente and its underground levels
- Centrale Montemartini
- Palazzo Zuccari
- The Protestant Cemetery
- Tiber Island
- Historic aqueducts
- Lesser-known catacombs
- Street art neighbourhoods
- Hidden churches
- Archaeological sites away from the historic centre
Some require tickets or advance reservations.
Others can simply be encountered while walking.
Searching beyond the obvious attractions is one of the best ways to find unusual things to do in Rome without abandoning the city’s history.
The Orange Garden
The original article included the Orange Garden as its first unusual attraction.
It’s still worth visiting, although I wouldn’t count it separately from the nearby Aventine Keyhole.
Officially known as Parco Savello, the garden occupies part of the Aventine Hill.
The current layout was designed by Raffaele De Vico in 1932.
Its belvedere provides a beautiful view across Rome towards St Peter’s Basilica.
Visit around sunset and you’ll understand why it’s become popular with photographers and couples.
Combining it with the keyhole creates one of the most relaxing unusual things to do in Rome and costs nothing.
What About the Colosseum and Pantheon?
You should absolutely visit them.
They’re just not unusual.
The Colosseum is one of the world’s most famous ancient monuments, while the Pantheon is another essential first-time Rome attraction.
The Pantheon seen today largely dates from the reign of Emperor Hadrian, although an earlier Pantheon existed on the site.
It later became a Christian church.
If this is your first trip, don’t avoid famous attractions merely because you’re looking for hidden places.
A good itinerary combines classics with unusual things to do in Rome.
You might spend one morning at the Colosseum and Roman Forum before exploring Testaccio later in the day.
Likewise, visit the Pantheon and Piazza Navona before heading somewhere less familiar.
What About St Peter’s Basilica?
St Peter’s Basilica is another essential attraction for many visitors, but it isn’t an unusual one.
It’s located within Vatican City, an independent state surrounded by Rome.
Whether you’re interested in religion, history, art or architecture, the basilica is extraordinary.
Combine it with the Vatican Museums if those are priorities for your trip.
Then dedicate another part of your itinerary to unusual things to do in Rome that take you beyond the major sights.
How Many Days Do You Need in Rome?
Three full days gives you enough time for several major attractions, but four or five days provides much more freedom to explore lesser-known places.
A possible four-day trip could look like this:
Day 1: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Day 2: Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica and central Rome
Day 3: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
Day 4: Aventine Hill, Pyramid of Cestius, Testaccio and other unusual attractions
With five days or longer, add the Appian Way, catacombs or neighbourhoods farther from the centre.
The more time you have, the easier it becomes to include unusual things to do in Rome without sacrificing the famous landmarks you’ve travelled to see.
Free Unusual Things to Do in Rome
Not every unusual attraction requires an admission ticket.
Possible free experiences include:
- Looking through the Aventine Keyhole
- Visiting the Orange Garden
- Seeing the exterior of the Pyramid of Cestius
- Exploring Quartiere Coppedè
- Walking around Testaccio
- Exploring neighbourhoods
- Walking sections of the Appian Way where publicly accessible
- Searching for unusual architectural details
Opening arrangements and access can change, particularly at archaeological sites.
Always check before travelling across the city specifically for one attraction.
Mixing free unusual things to do in Rome with major ticketed attractions can also help keep your sightseeing budget under control.
Getting Around Rome
Central Rome is highly walkable, and walking is often the best way to discover places you weren’t specifically searching for.
Public transport can help with attractions farther from the centre.
Plan geographically.
For example, the Aventine Keyhole, Orange Garden, Circus Maximus, Pyramid of Cestius and Testaccio can potentially be grouped into the same wider part of your itinerary rather than visited on separate days.
The Appian Way and catacombs require more planning because they’re farther from the historic centre.
A hire car generally isn’t necessary for a standard Rome city break.
If Rome forms part of a wider Italian road trip, however, you can compare car hire for the portions of your journey where driving makes sense.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Rome?
Rome is a year-round destination, but each season provides a different experience.
Spring and autumn can be particularly attractive for extensive walking.
Summer brings long days but can also mean high temperatures and busy attractions.
Winter generally brings cooler conditions and shorter daylight hours but can suit travellers more interested in museums, churches and food than long days outdoors.
There isn’t one perfect season for unusual things to do in Rome.
Instead, think about how much walking you’ll be doing and whether particular attractions require advance reservations.
Book Popular Attractions in Advance
Lesser-known doesn’t always mean empty.
Some underground sites and specialist tours have limited capacity.
If a particular attraction is important to you, check its official website before travelling.
The same applies to Rome’s headline sights.
Buying appropriate tickets in advance can prevent you from wasting valuable holiday time in queues or discovering that your preferred entry slot has sold out.
Don’t buy tickets from an unofficial website simply because it appears above the attraction’s official site in a search result.
Respect Religious and Historic Sites
Several unusual things to do in Rome involve churches, cemeteries, crypts or human remains.
They’re not theme-park attractions.
Dress appropriately where required, follow photography rules and behave respectfully.
This is particularly important at the Capuchin Crypt, catacombs, cemeteries and active religious buildings.
A place can be fascinating, strange or macabre while still deserving respect.
Unusual Things to Do in Rome: Final Thoughts
Rome rewards curiosity.
The Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Vatican deserve their places on a first-time itinerary, but they represent only one layer of the city.
Look through the Aventine Keyhole and you’ll see St Peter’s dome perfectly framed in the distance.
Go underground and you’ll discover ancient catacombs.
Walk through Testaccio and you’ll find a hill created from millions of pieces of Roman pottery.
Then there’s a 2,000-year-old pyramid, a crypt decorated with human bones and an architectural neighbourhood that looks unlike almost anywhere else in the city.
These unusual things to do in Rome reveal how much exists beyond the famous postcard attractions.
The best approach isn’t to choose between famous and unusual Rome.
Do both.
Combine the major archaeological sites with neighbourhood walks, strange monuments, underground history and places you hadn’t heard of before planning your trip.
That’s when the Eternal City starts to become much more interesting.
When you’re ready to plan your visit, you can find flights and search for hotels through TravelHype.
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