The best things to do in Rome

1.The Colosseum

The 2,000-year-old amphitheatre that held 50,000 spectators for gladiator fights and public spectacles.

Tip: Tickets are timed and released about a month ahead; the underground and arena-floor tours sell out first.

2.The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

The ruins of ancient Rome's political centre, and the hill above it where the emperors built their palaces.

Tip: Your Colosseum ticket covers both; go in the late afternoon when it's cooler, with water and a hat in summer.

3.Trajan's Market and the Imperial ForumsFree

A multi-storey Roman shopping centre and the forums of the emperors, seen from Via dei Fori Imperiali.

4.Santa Maria MaggioreFree

One of Rome's four major basilicas, with 5th-century mosaics and a gilded ceiling, near Termini.

5.Capitoline Museums

The world's oldest public museum, with the bronze she-wolf and a view over the Forum from the Tabularium.

6.The Pantheon

A Roman temple with the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built, still in use as a church.

Tip: There's a small entry fee; book online in summer and on weekends.

7.Trevi FountainFree

Rome's grandest Baroque fountain. Throw a coin over your shoulder to make sure you come back.

Tip: Go before 8am or after 11pm. Access to the basin edge may be ticketed and limited at busy times.

8.Piazza NavonaFree

Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in the oval of an ancient stadium.

9.Campo de' Fiori and the Jewish GhettoFree

A morning market square, then fried artichokes and Roman-Jewish cooking in the streets around the Portico d'Ottavia.

10.The Spanish StepsFree

The 135 steps up to Trinità dei Monti, at the end of Via Condotti's designer shops.

Tip: Sitting on the steps is banned and fined; enjoy them early in the morning.

11.Galleria Borghese

Bernini's sculptures and Caravaggio's paintings in a cardinal's villa, with strict two-hour visits.

Tip: Tickets only by reservation, often weeks ahead.

12.Villa Borghese and the Pincio terraceFree

Rome's central park, with a terrace looking over Piazza del Popolo to St Peter's dome.

13.Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

Raphael's rooms, the Map Gallery and Michelangelo's ceiling, at the end of a long walk through papal collections.

Tip: Book the first entry slot of the day. The museums are closed on most Sundays and on church holidays.

14.St Peter's BasilicaFree

The largest church in the world, with Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's bronze canopy.

Tip: Entry is free but the security queue is long; climb the dome early, before it gets hot.

15.Castel Sant'Angelo

Hadrian's tomb turned papal fortress, with a rooftop terrace looking over the Tiber to St Peter's.

16.An evening in TrastevereFree

Ivy-covered lanes, trattorias and bars around Piazza di Santa Maria, at their best after dark.

17.The Gianicolo hillFree

The best free view of Rome's domes, with a cannon fired at noon every day.

18.Monti's wine bars

Rome's most local central neighbourhood, with small wine bars around Piazza della Madonna dei Monti.

19.The Appian Way and the catacombs

The ancient Roman road south of the city, lined with tombs and early Christian catacombs, best by bike.

Tip: Go on a Sunday, when the road is closed to most traffic.

20.Gelato and supplì

Rome's street food: fried rice balls with mozzarella, and gelato from places that keep their tubs covered.

Tip: Skip gelato piled high in bright colours; the best shops keep it flat in metal tins.