There are many reasons travellers want to visit Rome. Still, one of the main reasons many land here is to find the best photo spots in Rome, and thankfully, they don’t have to work very hard because the city is beautiful, with its beauty pretty much around every corner.
Whether it’s history, architecture, or food, the reason that moves you, there are so many beautiful places for pictures in Rome that you are sure to use your camera and lenses A LOT.
While the city center is, without a doubt, a bottomless treasure trove of picturesque corners, Rome is full of beautiful places for photography, also outside the immediate Centro Storico.
Neighborhoods like Prati, Ostiense and Testaccio might not be as famous as the Spanish Steps but they offer a glimpse into a more local lifestyle than the most tourist spots and great spots for photography in Rome.
This is by no means a complete list, actually, it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what Rome can offer to photography enthusiast. But it’s a great start to get to know the city especially if it’s your first trip.
👉 If you are traveling to Rome and are not sure how to organise your time among the huge choice of places to see, I can help you by crafting a custom Rome itinerary entirely tailored to your interests, passions, and travel style.
Best photo spots in Rome for architecture fans
Via del Corso
Via del Corso is the large and long street connecting Piazza del Popolo with Piazza Venezia. It’s the central road of the three streets forming the so-called Tridente and walking along it it’s already a great way to take some great photos of Roman architecture.
Once you are done with Via del Corso, I also suggest getting in the backstreets where you can find more noble palaces, the back entrance of those opening in the main street, and also hidden gems such as the Liberty-style Sciarra Gallery.
Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone
This is the church located in the center of Piazza Navona facing the Four Rivers’ Fountain. From outside, it might look a bit unassuming, but if you are an architecture enthusiast, you will quickly spot the fascinating style of Francesco Borromini.
Once inside, wonderful and sophisticated Baroque decorations will unfold before your eyes, becoming a great photography subject for both art and architecture lovers.
👉 If you want to know more about Piazza Navona, check out our video.
Prati neighborhood
Not much for its landmarks and monuments, Prati is a great area to take photos in Rome for its Liberty houses and villas. I live three years in Prati and I like to go there to eat because it’s packed with great restaurants and because an evening walk here is peaceful and relaxing, unlike most streets in the Centro Storico.
I suggest to start from Piazza Cavour and sneak in the alleys and backstreets towards Piazza and Via Cola di Rienzo to see a maze of colourful Liberty-style villas, some of which are private houses and some others offices. This neighborhood is a great destination for street photography in Rome.
Click here to see a selection of hotels in Prati
Quartiere Coppedè
Are you in for some unusual photo ops? Then the bizarre Liberty architecture of the Coppedè Quarter is your cup of tea.
Mythological figures, monsters, and animal-shaped sculptures are the features of this quirky and fascinating residential neighborhood of Rome near Piazza Fiume.
Check out our video about Quartiere Coppedè
Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are probably the world’s most famous staircase, and for a reason. It’s a beautiful winding, monumental staircase. I love it as a photo spot in Rome and I go as often as I can but I always try to avoid the times when I know I’ll find a big crowd. Because at the Spanish Steps, the crowds can reach a point where you can barely walk.
This is why I suggest going very early morning when tourists are still sleeping and you can enjoy this architectural wonder (almost) by yourself. The easiest way to reach here early in the morning is to book your hotel in the area.
👉 Click here to see a selection of accommodation options near the Spanish Steps.
Best photo spots in Rome for history buffs
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
This is probably one of the most famous photo spots in Rome, both inside and outside the Colosseum. Panoramic photos, close-ups, details, whatever you are thinking, the whole Archaeological Park of the Colosseum is a great place to take pictures in Rome.
If you are a passionate about both history and photography, and especially if you are travelling in the high season, I suggest getting there early before the crowds. Start before opening hours when the streets and the outside areas are still quiet and try to be among the first to enter for great shots inside.
Similar to other crowded landmarks, the best way to be there before the crowds is to have your hotel nearby.
👉 Click here to see the best hotels near the Colosseum
Tarpeo Belvedere
We are still in the Roman Forum atmosphere, but above the ruins. This is one of the best places to take pictures in Rome for history lovers because you get a hard-to-beat view of the Roman Forum, its arches and temples.
The Tarpeo Belvedere is easy to reach because it’s basically behind the Capitoline Museums on the Capitoline Hill.
Baths of Caracalla
This is hands-down one of my favorite archaeological sites in Rome. It’s huge and shows very well how majestic these public baths from ancient Roman times were.
Still visible are the different areas of the baths, the mosaic floors, some of the decorating statues, and a large pool with water and steam plays.
Check out our video that shows the beauty of the Baths of Caracalla
Best photo spots in Rome for foodies
A food tour
In Rome, they run food tours in many areas, from Trastevere to the historic center to the traditional neighborhood of Testaccio. This is a fantastic opportunity for food-related photos in Rome because you will be shown and invited to try different local, regional and national specialties.
In one of the many food tours in Rome I have joined, I tried dishes like pasta amatriciana, tonnarelli cacio e pepe, supplì, and pizza bianca, among other local delicacies.
Click here to find the best food tours in Rome
A cooking class
Similar to the food tours, the cooking classes are also naturally perfect photo spots in Rome for foodies. The difference with the food tours, however, is that here you can also take pictures of the process that leads to the final dish.
This is great if you want to memorize the recipe, if you want to take a photo of all the ingredients, or if you are travelling with a partner who will take pictures of you while you cook. Obviously, at the end of the class, you will also be able to snap a photo of the dish you have prepared, be it spaghetti carbonara or artisan gelato.
Click here to find the best cooking classes in Rome
A local deli
A food market
From picturesque stalls of seasonal produce to freshly baked bread and pastries, Roman food markets are a joy for photographers.
Shapes, colours, ingredients, fruits, veggies, residents grocery shopping, vendors, and producers are all great windows into the local way of living and perfect subjects for your pictures. (Always ask for permission if you want to take a picture of a person!)
HEspresso restaurant
Inside this restaurant in the Monti district near Via Nazionale and the Termini Station, you will feel as if inside an old train. I suggest this place for food photography in Rome more if you are into “restaurant photography”, even though also the dishes we ordered were somehow picturesque.
Best photo spots in Rome for art lovers
Trevi Fountain
This is a fountain, but Rome being Rome, it’s an outstanding art masterpiece. Majestic, beautiful, finely decorated to the smallest detail, the Trevi Fountain attracts tourists from the world over.
Unfortunately, the tiny square facing the Trevi Fountain becomes so crowded that often it’s even hard to walk. This doesn’t make the experience pleasant for visiting and even less for taking pictures, task that becomes extremely hard.
Like for the other popular landmarks, my piece of advice is to get there very early in the morning because also in the evening, you will still find many people and you will hardly see the fountain properly.
Discover the best hotels near the Trevi Fountain
Mausoleum of Santa Costanza
The funerary mausoleum of the daughter of Emperor Constantine the Great is located along Via Nomentana so not exactly in the city center. I included it among the best places to take pictures in Rome because it features wonderful ancient mosaics dating back to the 4th century BCE.
The Trieste Nomentano neighborhood is one of my favorites because I find it very elegant and obviously less crowded than the strict historic center. It’s close to the beautiful park of Villa Torlonia, Porta Pia Gate, and Villa Borghese.
This is why it’s also a nice area to book your hotel or to have a walk when the crowds around the tourist spots become unbearable.
Discover the best areas to stay in Rome
Vatican City
I included the Vatican in the best spots to take photos for art lovers, but really this is one of those places in Rome where anyone can snap incredible pictures.
From the wonderful Renaissance Basilica of Saint Peter to the Vatican Museums to the spectacular Saint Peter’s Square designed by Bernini, the Vatican is one of the best photo spots in Rome for art lovers as well as history and architecture enthusiasts.
Discover the best hotels near the Vatican
Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria
I know that all the churches in Rome are gorgeous and packed with masterpieces, but I love this one located in Largo di Santa Susanna not far from the Termini Station.
It’s a Baroque church featuring sophisticated decoration all around, typical of this artistic movement and the amazing sculpture of the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Ostiense
Many travellers are interested in contemporary art and modern neighborhoods. If you are one of them, you will find the Ostiense district very fascinating.
One of the best places for street art photography in Rome, this is also the neighborhood for the sites of industrial archaeology with the bygone relics of the not-so-distant industrial endeavour of the Italian capital.
Need help planning your trip to Rome? Check out my custom itinerary services!
