National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano)–Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Tours

The National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano) has four branches in Rome, but the main seat is Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, where one of the world's most important collections of classical art covers four floors, including sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, coins, and jewels dating from the late Republican period to the end of the Roman empire.
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 the Boxer at Rest, Sleeping Hermaphrodite, Discus Thrower, and Augustus 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.
Address: Piazza del Cinquecento 67, Rome, Italy
Admission: Varies
9 Tours and Activities to Experience National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano)–Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
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Skip the Line: National Roman Museum and Diocletian Thermal Baths Walking Tour
Playing host to one of the world’s most important collections of classic, the National Roman Museum–Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is best explored alongside an expert. On this private or small-group 2-hour tour, you’ll enjoy skip-the-line entry to the National Roman Museum and admire collection highlights including the ‘Boxer at Rest’, the ‘Discus Thrower’, and the ‘Sleeping Hermaphrodite’. Upgrade your tour to include a 1-hour visit to the Baths of Diocletian, once the most luxurious public bath in Rome.
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From
$86.46
From
$86.46
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Skip-the-line Private Tour of Palazzo Massimo National Roman Museum in Rome
Over this 2-hour private tour, you’ll enjoy skip-the-line entry to the National Roman Museum, one of the world’s most important collections of classic and admire collection highlights including the ‘Boxer at Rest’, the ‘Discus Thrower’, and the ‘Sleeping Hermaphrodite’. Explore the extraordinary painted rooms from the Villa of Empress Livia, colourful original mosaics, ancient coins and jewels.
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From
$123.51
Price varies by group size
From
$123.51
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Palazzo Massimo and Diocletian's Baths Private Tour Lead by Phd Guide Donato
Explore two branches of the National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano)—the classical art-packed Palazzo Massimo and the Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano)—on a private guided tour. Gain a greater understanding of ancient art and the role of public baths in Imperial Rome by visiting with a guide who can help you interpret the collections and ruins.
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From
$270.50
Price varies by group size
From
$270.50
Price varies by group size

Rome: Private Guided Tour of Palazzo Massimo & the Diocletian's Baths
If you're looking to see ancient Roman art, then Palazzo Massimo is for you! On this 3-hour private tour you'll discover many treasures from the past and you'll visit the ancient Baths of Diocletian too.
Meet your local guide at the entrance of Palazzo Massimo and enter in to visit the spectacular collections of classical art. Gain insight into the individual pieces, the palace and its history as you take in the many highlights on display. From crowns and jewels on the basement level, to Greek and Roman statues on the first floor and magnificent frescoes and mosaics on the second floor. Some of the artworks you won't want to miss are the Boxer at Rest and the famous Discus Thrower that illustrates historical Olympic games.
Visit the Diocletian Baths, named after Emperor Diocletian, the largest public baths in Ancient Rome, which held up to 3000 people at one time. See how the baths have been converted into the Santa Maria degli Angeli church built by Michelangelo.
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From
$270.50
Price varies by group size
From
$270.50
Price varies by group size

Private Tour - National Museum of Palazzo Massimo
An incredible Museum that will give you the opportunity to discover the ancient Roman habits, traditions and institutions. We will understand the way they used calendars, the way they used to portrait their heroes and the way they decorated their houses, admiring amazing frescoes and mosaics of the past. We will understand how they could venerate their deceased ancestors and we will indagate the religious aspect of the ancient Romans. Walking in the city of Rome you can see the ruins of the buildings of the past: it's time to understand the way these buildings where used, decorated and experienced by the the ancient ones.
Some of the masterpieces of the Museum:
- Roman calendar
- Boxer at Rest
- Portrait of Octavian Augustus
- The painted Villa of Livia (wife of Octavian Augustus)
- Portonaccio Sarcophagus
- Heroic Nudity
- Marble statues of Roman and Greek Gods
…More
From
$111.16
Price varies by group size
From
$111.16
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Rome Uncovered: Private Tour of Historic Rome
See Rome’s beautiful piazzas and landmarks on this walking tour through the historical center. With an insider guide, explore the Eternal City on a route that takes you along Via Veneto, past Villa Borghese, down Via Nazionale and by the Roman Forum area. Soak up the sights and atmosphere of five city piazzas: Repubblica, Quirinale, Barberini, Spagna and Popolo.
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From
$159.33
From
$159.33
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Once Upon a time the Romans Half day Private Tour
A half day tour in the oustanding Museo Nazionale Romano, where Roman artistic treasures are kept, and Michelangelo became architect. Ancient Rome and the Colosseum are huge and overwhelming, but where is all the precious art gone? That's kept in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo and Terme di Diocleziano.
*The entrance to the Basilca requires appropriate clothing: shorts, miniskirts and uncovered shoulders are not allowed
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From
$212.30
Price varies by group size
From
$212.30
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Once Upon a time the Romans Half day Small group tour
A half day tour in the oustanding Museo Nazionale Romano, where Roman artistic treasures are kept, and Michelangelo became architect. Ancient Rome and the Colosseum are huge and overwhelming, but where is all the precious art gone? That's kept in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo and Terme di Diocleziano.
*The entrance to the Basilca requires appropriate clothing: shorts, miniskirts and uncovered shoulders are not allowed
…More
From
$113.63
Price varies by group size
From
$113.63
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Small Group Tour - Skip the line: ONCE UPON A TIME THE ROMANS
Visit the Museo Nazionale Romano - Palazzo Massimo alle Terme on this Rome tour. You'll have the chance to see and learn about the art and archaeology of ancient Rome with a guide to make sure you don't miss the most important details. This is a great way to understand more about the city's long history than you would with just a visit to the Colosseum or similar attractions.
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From
$113.63
Price varies by group size
From
$113.63
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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