National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano)

The Basics

The 19th-century neo-Renaissance Palazzo Massimo is known as Palazzo Massimo alle Terme due to its close proximity to the Baths of Diocletian. The palazzo was used as a Jesuit college until the 1960s and became the main branch of the National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano) in the 1980s. Today, it is home to important works like theBoxer at Rest,Sleeping Hermaphrodite,Discus Thrower, andAugustus as Pontifex Maximus sculptures; portrait busts from the Republican and Imperial Ages; frescoes and mosaics from the Villa of Livia; and an extensive coin collection.

A visit to the National Roman Museum is a must for ancient history buffs, and you can join a private or small-group tour with skip-the-line tickets for both the museum and the nearby Baths of Diocletian.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The museum covers four full floors and there is a lot to take in, so wear shoes that are comfortable for walking and standing.

• The museum is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

• Visitors are assigned a time to enter the hall where the Villa di Livia frescoes are displayed. Reserve your ticket in advance so you can time your arrival at the museum according to your assigned entry time.

How to Get There

Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is located just opposite the main Termini train station in central Rome, and can be reached on foot by crossing Piazza dei Cinquecento. Both of the city's metro lines and numerous bus lines stop at Termini.

When to Get There

The museum is closed on Mondays, but open all day the rest of the week. Stop in around midday when most visitors are taking break for lunch to enjoy the collection with fewer crowds.

The Baths of Diocletian

Ancient Rome's largest thermal complex, the Terme di Diocleziano could once accommodate up to 3,000 bathers. The ruins of this vast complex are just next to Palazzo Massimo alle Terme and today house a branch of the Museo Nazionale Romano; the collection includes memorial inscriptions, bas-reliefs, sarcophagi, statuary, and monumental animal-head sculptures, thought to have come from the Trajan’s Forum.

Ways to explore

Set aside at least an hour or two per museum, as there’s a lot to take in. Luckily, visitors don’t need to try to rush through all four sites of the National Roman Museum in a single day. Combined tickets provide access to each museum and are valid for a full week from the date of purchase. There’s no obligation to visit them all; opt for a single ticket if you’re only interested in seeing one museum. The National Roman Museum is also included in the Roma Pass.

Accessibility

All four museums are wheelchair-accessible with wheelchairs available on loan.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera, book of Roman history, refillable water bottle

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, brimmed hat in summer, layers in winter

Not allowed

Touching any of the works on display, writing “[Your Name] was here” on the walls

Amenities

Terme di Diocleziano and Palazzo Altemps have baby changing tables, and Palazzo Massimo has a café.

Address

The four museums of the National Roman Museum are in different locations throughout the capital. However, each is centrally located and reachable by car or public transportation.

Driving

While it’s possible to reach the museums by driving, navigating Rome by road is challenging for even the hardiest of drivers. It is better to come with a rideshare or taxi.

Public transportation

Palazzo Massimo and Terme di Diocleziano can be reached by subway, line A or B. The nearest stop is Termini (Rome’s biggest train station). Take buses 70, 81, 87, 186, 492, 628 for Palazzo Altemps, located near Piazza Navona. Crypta Balbi, near Largo di Argentina, is reachable with the same bus lines, and 116.

Best times to visit

Arrive just after opening time for a quieter experience. Museums in Rome tend to fill up around midday.

Best days to visit

Each museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Visit on a weekday for the least crowded experience. The first Sunday of every month is free, but expect long lines.

Best months to visit

Rome is best in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, roughly mid-March through June and September through November.

Special events

Visit on April 25, known as Liberation Day or Festa della Liberazione, when Italy celebrates its liberation from fascist rule, and all four museums are free. On International Women’s Day on March 8, women enter free of charge.