What's new in Rome this summer: higher fees, new spaces, and a city in transformation.Tourists arriving in Rome this summer will find that the Eternal City looks – and costs – slightly different from what they may remember. Meanwhile several ambitious long-term projects are also well underway, quietly reshaping how Rome will be experienced in summers still to come.The Pantheon: a higher price for an ancient wonder The most immediate change for visitors arriving after 1 July will be at the Pantheon, where the tourist entry fee rises from €5 to €7. The increase follows a new agreement between the Italian culture ministry and the diocese of Rome. Visitors aged 18 to 25 will continue to pay a discounted rate of €2, while Roman residents retain free admission on presentation of identification. All other existing exemptions – for visitors with disabilities, and for under-18s – remain unchanged.The €2 increase for each ticket will go towards the Olivetti Plan for Culture, specifically to support libraries in disadvantaged areas. Under the arrangement, the culture ministry receives 70 per cent of ticket revenues, with the diocese of Rome receiving the remaining 30 per cent. The charging regime itself dates only to July 2023, when entry fees were introduced for the first time at a building that had previously been freely accessible to all. The Pantheon attracted around 4.5 million visitors in 2025 and remains open daily from 09.00 to 19.00. Trevi Fountain: first summer under the new system Visitors to the Trevi Fountain this summer will be navigating a new ticketed entry system. Launched in February, the system requires tourists and non-residents to pay a €2 fee to access the internal perimeter of the fountain. This summer marks the first full peak season under the new regime.The system operates every day from 09.00 to 22.00, with the exception of Mondays and Fridays when public access begins at 11.30, to allow for the twice-weekly collection of coins from the Baroque fountain. Residents of Rome and the greater metropolitan area can gain access for free by showing an identification document, while those exempt from paying include people with disabilities plus one companion, children under six, and tour guides.Tickets can be purchased online at fontanaditrevi.roma.it, directly at the fountain by card only, or at the city's municipal museums and tourist information points. For those content to admire the fountain from a slight distance, the surrounding piazza and upper viewing areas remain free and open to the public. The measure was introduced to manage crowd pressure and protect the monument, with the city reporting that 230,000 people visited in the first month alone.Despite the new queuing system and paid entry, there are still incidences of people jumping into the waters of the Trevi Fountain, a crime punishable with a €450 fine and a temporary ban from the area. The piazza around the landmark also remains a high-risk area for pickpockets, including those posing as tourists, taking advantage of distracted visitors in the crowds. The Colosseum: a new place to sit down Anyone who has queued in the blazing heat outside the Colosseum will appreciate perhaps the most human-scaled of this summer's changes. In March, the Colosseum Archaeological Park inaugurated a major redevelopment of the area outside the southern side of the ancient amphitheatre, designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri.The project reclaimed a 1,300-square-metre space between two 19th-century brick buttresses built to stabilise the structure, and has given the southern exterior a new coherence. The southern outer ring of the Colosseum has been missing for centuries, predominantly due to an earthquake in 1349 and subsequent pillaging, leaving the monument lopsided.Over the last two years, the area was paved with travertine sourced from the quarries of Tivoli – the same origin as the Colosseum's original masonry – following years of excavations that brought to light original 2,000-year-old travertine foundation blocks. Most practically for weary tourists, the new paving is accompanied by large blocks placed where the arches of the outer wall once stood, allowing visitors to perceive the full scale of the amphitheatre as it existed in the first century AD, as well as giving them a place to sit and even lie down. New Colosseum subway and viewpoint When the new Metro C subway station finally opened just before Christmas, it made international news, not just because of its location but also due to its spectacular design and underground display of ancient artefacts discovered during its construction. Such is the interest in the new metro station among tourists that some tour guides have incorporated it into their itinerary. Also new this summer is a nearby terrace with panoramic views of the Colosseum, which has reopened to the public after 12 years. Projects nearing completion A number of long-term urban and archaeological projects are advancing simultaneously, several of which will begin to make a real impact on visitors over the next year or two. Mausoleum of Augustus Last June saw the opening of the redesigned Piazza Augusto Imperatore, the square surrounding the ancient imperial tomb. After five years of construction work in a project dating back two decades, the new pedestrian area in the shadow of the Mausoleum of Augustus – the largest circular tomb of the ancient world – was inaugurated by mayor Roberto Gualtieri. The opening of the new square coincides with the beginning of the third and final phase of works to complete the restoration of the Mausoleum of Augustus, which is set to open as a museum at the end of next year. The interior design and display areas have been entrusted to Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and funded with €700,000 from luxury jeweller Bulgari. When the museum opens – expected in 2027 – it will represent a complete transformation of a site that spent decades as a concert hall, was cleared of surrounding mediaeval buildings by Mussolini in the 1930s, and subsequently became a symbol of stalled ambition. New Archaeological Walkway One of the most significant infrastructure projects underway concerns a walkway through the ancient heart of the city. The winning design for the Nuova Passeggiata Archeologica was unveiled in 2024, when Rome-based studio Labics was named as winner of an international competition. The project will incorporate new pedestrian spaces, green areas, terraces, raised walkways and cycle-pedestrian paths, with an estimated cost of €18.8 million.The Labics plan reimagines the public spaces and walkways linking Rome's ancient sites in a large pedestrian ring around the Roman Forum, Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla and the Circus Maximus, also incorporating the Caelian, Palatine and Capitoline hills. The project is an ambitious attempt to unify Rome's central archaeological zone into a coherent, legible experience for visitors on foot. Construction began in 2024 and is expected to reshape this part of the city considerably in the years ahead, with summer 2027 likely to be the first season where its effects become properly visible. The Caelian Hill Hidden in plain sight between the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, the Caelian Hill (Celio) is undergoing its own gradual transformation. Under a €2.4 million project, the city is creating a new green space by removing paving and planting a 4,000-sqm area, much of it along tram tracks. The project will also provide new panoramic views, including a belvedere overlooking the Colosseum and a new walkway along the hill on the side of Via di San Gregorio, as well as the reconstruction of Rome’s long abandoned former Antiquarium building.The scheme is part of the broader CArMe redevelopment programme of Rome's central archaeological area, an ambitious project financed with €282 million in funds from the Jubilee, the PNRR and the city's budget. The Caelian Hill already houses the Forma Urbis museum and a restored 19th-century coffee house with study rooms, the Casina del Salvi. A direct pedestrian connection between the Colosseum and the Celio is also being restored. More cycle paths and free water points Visitors choosing to explore Rome on two wheels will find an expanding network of cycle lanes. The city recently completed a new pedestrian path and cycle lane on Via di San Gregorio, the street running between the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, as part of the GRAB cycling project. A new cycle path is under construction on Via dei Cerchi (on the Palatine Hill side of the Circus Maximus), with new routes also opening up along the Aurelian Walls and near the Pyramid of Cestius. Further expansion of the cycle network across the city is ongoing, though significant gaps remain.Rome's nasoni - the small iron drinking fountains that dot the streets - have long been a practical lifeline for walkers in summer. The city has been supplementing these with additional free water points as part of efforts to discourage single-use plastic and make the city more hospitable for pedestrians on hot days. These Case dell'Acqua dispense both natural and sparkling water and also provide charging points. Visitors are advised to carry a refillable bottle and make use of the ubiquitous nasoni, and never buy water from hawkers on the street. Another word of warning: tourists should never jump into the city's historic fountains - or even dip their feet in them - no matter how hot it gets in the summer. Work in progress Rome has been undergoing a transformation for several years now, the results of which are clearly visible, particularly in the Colosseum area. This spur of activity has been driven largely by Italy’s post-pandemic PNRR funds from the EU, along with other major projects linked to the Vatican’s recent Jubilee Year. Those returning to Rome in summer 2027 may find the transformation even more striking.Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com

Tourists arriving in Rome this summer will find that the Eternal City looks – and costs – slightly different from what they may remember. Meanwhile several ambitious long-term projects are also well underway, quietly reshaping how Rome will be experienced in summers still to come. The most immediate change for visitors arriving after 1 July will be at the Pantheon, where the . The increase follows a new agreement between the Italian culture ministry and the diocese of Rome. Visitors aged 18 to 25 will continue to pay a discounted rate of €2, while Roman residents retain free admission on presentation of identification. All other existing exemptions – for visitors with disabilities, and for under-18s – remain unchanged.

The €2 increase for each ticket will go towards the Olivetti Plan for Culture, specifically to support libraries in disadvantaged areas. Under the arrangement, the culture ministry receives 70 per cent of ticket revenues, with the diocese of Rome receiving the remaining 30 per cent. The charging regime itself dates only to July 2023, when entry fees were introduced for the first time at a building that had previously been freely accessible to all. The Pantheon attracted around 4.5 million visitors in 2025 and remains open daily from 09.00 to 19.00. Visitors to the Trevi Fountain this summer will be navigating a . Launched in February, the system requires tourists and non-residents to pay a €2 fee to access the internal perimeter of the fountain. This summer marks the first full peak season under the new regime.

The system operates every day from 09.00 to 22.00, with the exception of Mondays and Fridays when public access begins at 11.30, to allow for the twice-weekly  from the Baroque fountain. Residents of Rome and the greater metropolitan area can gain access for free by showing an identification document, while those exempt from paying include people with disabilities plus one companion, children under six, and tour guides.

Tickets can be purchased online at , directly at the fountain by card only, or at the city's municipal museums and tourist information points. For those content to admire the fountain from a slight distance, the surrounding piazza and upper viewing areas remain free and open to the public. The measure was introduced to manage crowd pressure and protect the monument, with the city reporting that 230,000 people visited in the first month alone.

Despite the new queuing system and paid entry, there are still incidences of people jumping into the waters of the Trevi Fountain, a crime punishable with a €450 fine and a temporary ban from the area. The piazza around the landmark also remains a high-risk area for pickpockets, including those posing as tourists, taking advantage of distracted visitors in the crowds. Anyone who has queued in the blazing heat outside the Colosseum will appreciate perhaps the most human-scaled of this summer's changes. In March, the Colosseum Archaeological Park inaugurated  of the area outside the southern side of the ancient amphitheatre, designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri.

The project reclaimed a 1,300-square-metre space between two 19th-century brick buttresses built to stabilise the structure, and has given the southern exterior a new coherence. The southern outer ring of the Colosseum has been missing for centuries, predominantly due to an earthquake in 1349 and subsequent pillaging, leaving the monument lopsided.

Over the last two years, the area was paved with travertine sourced from the quarries of Tivoli – the same origin as the Colosseum's original masonry – following years of excavations that brought to light original 2,000-year-old travertine foundation blocks. Most practically for weary tourists, the new paving is accompanied by large blocks placed where the arches of the outer wall once stood, allowing visitors to perceive the full scale of the amphitheatre as it existed in the first century AD, as well as giving them a place to sit and even lie down. When the  finally opened just before Christmas, it made international news, not just because of its location but also due to its spectacular design and underground display of ancient artefacts discovered during its construction. Such is the interest in the new metro station among tourists that some tour guides have incorporated it into their itinerary. Also new this summer is a nearby  of the Colosseum, which has reopened to the public after 12 years. A number of long-term urban and archaeological projects are advancing simultaneously, several of which will begin to make a real impact on visitors over the next year or two. Last June saw the opening of the , the square surrounding the ancient imperial tomb. After five years of construction work in a project dating back two decades, the new pedestrian area in the shadow of the Mausoleum of Augustus – the largest circular tomb of the ancient world – was inaugurated by mayor Roberto Gualtieri. 

The opening of the new square coincides with the beginning of the third and final phase of works to complete the restoration of the Mausoleum of Augustus, which is set to open as a museum at the end of next year. The interior design and display areas have been entrusted to Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and funded with €700,000 from luxury jeweller Bulgari. When the museum opens – expected in 2027 – it will represent a complete transformation of a site that spent decades as a concert hall, was cleared of surrounding mediaeval buildings by Mussolini in the 1930s, and subsequently became a symbol of stalled ambition. One of the most significant infrastructure projects underway concerns a walkway through the ancient heart of the city. The winning design for the  was unveiled in 2024, when Rome-based studio Labics was named as winner of an international competition. The project will incorporate new pedestrian spaces, green areas, terraces, raised walkways and cycle-pedestrian paths, with an estimated cost of €18.8 million.

The Labics plan reimagines the public spaces and walkways linking Rome's ancient sites in a large pedestrian ring around the Roman Forum, Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla and the Circus Maximus, also incorporating the Caelian, Palatine and Capitoline hills. The project is an ambitious attempt to unify Rome's central archaeological zone into a coherent, legible experience for visitors on foot. Construction began in 2024 and is expected to reshape this part of the city considerably in the years ahead, with summer 2027 likely to be the first season where its effects become properly visible. Hidden in plain sight between the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, the Caelian Hill (Celio) is undergoing its own gradual transformation. Under a €2.4 million project, the city is  by removing paving and planting a 4,000-sqm area, much of it along tram tracks. The project will also provide new panoramic views, including a belvedere overlooking the Colosseum and a new walkway along the hill on the side of Via di San Gregorio, as well as the reconstruction of Rome’s long abandoned former Antiquarium building.

The scheme is part of the broader CArMe redevelopment programme of Rome's central archaeological area, an ambitious project financed with €282 million in funds from the Jubilee, the PNRR and the city's budget. The Caelian Hill already houses  and a restored 19th-century , the Casina del Salvi. A direct pedestrian connection between the Colosseum and the Celio is also being restored. Visitors choosing to explore Rome on two wheels will find an expanding network of cycle lanes. The city recently completed a  on Via di San Gregorio, the street running between the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, as part of the . A new cycle path is under construction on Via dei Cerchi (on the Palatine Hill side of the Circus Maximus), with new routes also opening up along the  and near the Pyramid of Cestius. Further expansion of the cycle network across the city is ongoing, though significant gaps remain.

Rome's - the small iron drinking fountains that dot the streets - have long been a practical lifeline for walkers in summer. The city has been supplementing these with additional free water points as part of efforts to discourage single-use plastic and make the city more hospitable for pedestrians on hot days. These Case dell'Acqua dispense both natural and sparkling water and also provide charging points. Visitors are advised to carry a refillable bottle and make use of the ubiquitous nasoni, and  on the street. Another word of warning: tourists should never jump into the city's historic fountains - or even dip their feet in them - no matter how hot it gets in the summer. Rome has been undergoing a transformation for several years now, the results of which are clearly visible, particularly in the Colosseum area. This spur of activity has been driven largely by Italy’s post-pandemic  from the EU, along with other major projects linked to the Vatican’s recent . Those returning to Rome in summer 2027 may find the transformation even more striking.

Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com