Explore the Palatine Hill in Rome

In the centre of Rome’s seven hills

Found in the historic heart of ancient Rome, Palatine Hill is the centremost of the seven hills of Rome, Italy. These hills are commonly known to be the original birthplace of the Roman Empire. Formerly the site of many imperial palaces, Palatine Hill today is a large open-air museum for the public to visit.

Getting transportation to visit Palatine Hill

It is very convenient to reach Palatine Hill using the Rome Metro, the city’s most popular public transit system. Several bus lines make stops at San Gregorio, directly in front of the entrance to Palatine Hill, and at stops in front of the nearby Colosseum. The Metro Line B (blue line) makes stops at Colosseo station to the north, and at Circo Massimo station to the south. Both stations are approximately a 10-minute walk from Palatine Hill. There are also tram lines, 3 and 8, that make stops at nearby Parco Celio. This is only a short walk across the street from Palatine Hill. A single ticket for the Rome Metro can be purchased for EUR 1.50 and will provide access to all of these services, including unlimited transfers for the first 100 minutes.

Popular landmarks in the historic centre of ancient Rome

Within the historic heart of ancient Rome, where Palatine Hill can be found, there are many tourist attractions that you can explore. To the northeast is the famous Colosseum, and to the west, Roman Forum and the Victor Emmanuel II Monument. You will also find Musei Capitolini located here, as well as House of Augustus, Flavian Palace, and across the street, Forum of Augustus.

Located nearby to Palatine Hill and beyond the historic centre of ancient Rome, are the districts of Centro Storico, and Monti. Centro Storico is known for being home to a lot of popular tourist attractions. Here, you will find Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and the Spanish Steps, among several other historical landmarks. The district of Monti is more well known for its boutique shops, bars, and trattorias. However, you can also find Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore here, one of the four major papal basilicas.

If you travel to Monti and go to the north, you will find Roma Termini. This is the main railway station serving Rome and offers routes to major cities in Italy and across Europe.

Find great places to stay near central Rome

There are many hotels located in the nearby area of Palatine Hill. These include Kolbe Hotel Rome, Palazzo Velabro, and Rhinoceros Roma to the west side of the site location. As well, Hotel Capo d’Africa and Palazzo Manfredi can be found located behind the Colosseum, along with Maison Colosseo, and Hotel Valeri further to the east of Celio.

However, as Palatine Hill is centrally located and easy to reach, you can visit it no matter where you choose to stay in central Rome.