Visit to Vatican Museum
The one place in the Vatican Museum you can be assured none of the four million annual visitors want to miss is the Sistene Chapel. This 15th-century chapel is where the papal conclave is locked to elect the pope.

Take a tour at St Peter’s Basilica
In a city of more than 900 churches, none can hold a candle to St Peter’s Basilica. Put simply, it’s the biggest, richest, most spectacular church in Italy, and a monument to centuries of artistic genius – as well as a mecca for millions of tourists.

Feel the history at The Colosseum
No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Colosseum. A monument to raw, merciless power, it was here that gladiators met in mortal combat and condemned prisoners faced wild beasts in front of baying, bloodthirsty crowds. Grab an audio or video guide to beat the queues.

Horse-riding excursion
What could be better than a horse-riding excursion along and around Rome’s Via Appia Antica? Cavalieri dell’Appia Antica will arrange trips from around €25 per hour, are child-friendly and can even arrange moonlight rides. Open Tuesday to Sunday every week.

Auditorium Parco Della Musica
Three great grey pods, resembling landed spaceships, have remodeled Rome’s musical landscape, both classical and contemporary. The €140m Auditorium Parco Della Musica has proved a critical success since it opened in 2002 and comprises three concert halls set around a 3000-capacity open-air arena.

Every style Opera at Teatro Valle
The perfectly proportioned 18th-century Teatro Valle in the Centro Storico (Historical Centre) is like a pocket opera house, with three levels of red and gold private boxes. There are occasional English-language works performed in English with Italian subtitles, as well as concerts from rock opera to recitals.

Roman pizza experience
Once a meeting point for ‘60s radicals, no-frills Da Baffetto offers the full-on wham-bam Roman pizza experience, complete with loud locals, lovingly worn furniture and bubbling hot thin-crust pizzas that you’ll love. Open until 1am and very affordable.

Best fish restaurant ever
La Rosetta is so excellent that it simply doesn’t have to be overly formal. Some say this is Rome’s best fish restaurant; others say it is the best in Italy. Chef Massimo Riccioli’s dishes are startlingly simple, but prepared with genius. Bookings are essential.

Between traditional & modern
Spirito Divino is in a medieval building that once housed Rome’s oldest synagogue – the walls date to 980. The menu is not just traditional; some of the recipes are ancient, such as pork Mazio-style, which dates back around 2000 years. More modern dishes, all delicious, include a sublime crème brûlée.