Search for 'Free Walking Tour Rome' and meet near the Colosseum metro stop. Tours run daily and cover Piazza Venezia, the Pantheon exterior, and Campo de' Fiori. Tip your guide 10-15 EUR at the end.

Book your ticket online at least 3 days ahead to skip the main queue. Focus on the arena floor and the third tier for the best views of the hypogeum underground chambers.

Enter through the Arch of Titus and walk down the Via Sacra to see the Temple of Saturn and the Senate House. Your Colosseum ticket includes entry so keep it handy.

Climb to the Farnese Gardens terrace for the best panoramic view of the Forum and Colosseum. The Stadium of Domitian and the House of Augustus are worth seeking out.

Find a trattoria in the Monti neighborhood (Via dei Serpenti area) and order Roman classics. Try the Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper pasta) and a glass of local house wine.

Go in the late afternoon to avoid the worst crowds. Toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder into the fountain. The best photo spot is from the side steps rather than directly in front.

Walk up the 135 steps for a view over the Piazza di Spagna and the rooftops of Rome. The Fontana della Barcaccia at the bottom is the fountain to see.

Head to Via dei Condotti near the Spanish Steps for artisanal gelato. Look for shops where the gelato is stored in covered metal tins (not piled high and colorful) as that indicates higher quality. Order two small flavors like pistachio and stracciatella.

Arrive by 8:30 AM to beat the crowds. Book tickets online in advance and head straight for the Sistine Chapel first before the galleries fill up.

Enter through the right colonnade for faster security. Dress code requires covered shoulders and knees. Climb the dome for a panoramic view of the city.

Walk from St. Peter's along the Via della Conciliazione. The terrace at the top offers great photo opportunities of the Tiber River and Vatican.

Cross the bridge just outside Castel Sant'Angelo to see Bernini's ten angel sculptures. Each angel carries an instrument of the crucifixion.

Located in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. The 12th century gold mosaics inside are stunning. Sit in the piazza fountain square afterward.

Wander the narrow streets behind Piazza Santa Maria. Search for hidden courtyards on Via della Pelliccia and Via dell'Arco di San Calisto. Ivy covered doorways and quiet residential squares.

Take tram 8 from Trastevere to Piazza dell'Emporio. The market has fresh pasta stalls and local deli counters. Try a trapizzino (pizza pocket with fillings).

Look for an opera or classical concert at a small church in Trastevere. San Crisogono or Sant'Agostino often host evening performances.

Enter from the Pincio Terrace near Piazza del Popolo. Stroll toward the Temple of Aesculapius lake and the Borghese Gallery entrance.

Prebook your 2-hour timed slot in advance as entry is strictly limited. Marvel at Bernini's Apollo and Daphne and Caravaggio's Boy with a Basket of Fruit.

Walk from the gallery through Via del Corso and across the bridge. Admire Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers and grab a quick espresso nearby.

Short walk from Piazza Navona on Via della Dogana. Enter free of charge to see the oculus and the tombs of Raphael and Italian kings.

Walk south from the Pantheon through Via dei Giubbonari. Browse the produce and flower stalls before they close around 2pm. Search for a porchetta sandwich from a food cart.

Climb the ramp from Via Garibaldi near Trastevere for the best sunset panorama of Rome's domes and rooftops. The cannon fires at noon daily.

Walk downhill from Janiculum toward Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Look through the keyhole at the Knights of Malta gate for a perfect view of St. Peter's dome.

Cross into Trastevere and wander the narrow streets around Piazza di Santa Maria. Look for a trattoria with handwritten menus outdoors and order Cacio e Pepe.

A 12th-century basilica built atop a 4th-century church and a Roman Mithraic temple. Climb downstairs through three distinct layers of history. Entry is around 10 EUR and audioguides are available.

Rome's official cathedral and the oldest basilica in the West. Walk through the massive bronze doors and see the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa) across the street. Free entry.

Rent a bike at the Appia Antica info point near Porta San Sebastiano and cycle the ancient Roman road. The paved section is 7 km of cobblestones lined with ruins and pine trees.

A massive cylindrical tomb from the 1st century BC along the Appian Way. Climb to the top for views over the Roman countryside. Combined ticket with the Catacombs is available.

The largest catacomb complex in Rome with 20 km of tunnels and the tombs of early popes. Guided tours run every 30 minutes and cost 10 EUR. No photos allowed inside.

Head to Caffè Sant'Eustachio near Piazza Navona for Rome's most famous coffee. Order an espresso or caffè d'orzo at the bar for about 1.50 EUR. Cash only.

Browse the Mercato Monti in the Monti district, open evenings in summer with vintage clothes and handmade crafts. Search for 'Mercato Monti' near Via Leonina. Cash is useful for small vendors.