Rome, Italy

Melanie Nayer, Cheapflights US Senior Site Editor

Where? Rome, Italy

Why? Rome exudes class. From inside the thick walls of the Colosseum to outside dining at any one of the city’s restaurants/cafes, Rome has a certain sexiness that appeals to all visitors. Rome is not precocious or stuck-up, it’s just classy. It’s hard to imagine that thousands of years ago, Rome was a staging ground for some of the most remarkable man-made creations of our time. Just standing in Rome makes you humble.

Where would you stay? Hotel Homs

Best meal? Eggplant parmesan at Trattoria Otello

Best way to spend an hour? Sitting outside at one of the cafes in the Piazza Navona. During the day there is a street market. Vendors arrive early with their artwork and musical instruments and begin to set up. Throughout the day, tour groups saunter through the Piazza, tourists come and go and artists paint original watercolors, charcoal drawings and oil paintings to sell to passersby. Grab a cup of coffee, a sandwich or aperitif and just watch the world go by for an hour.

Top tips:

· Walk everywhere – you’re bound to miss something if you take a bus, cab or train. The beauty of Rome is in its buildings. Stand close to them as you walk and you’re sure to find to spot something historic.

· You’ll pay more for coffee if you sit at the tables instead of order it yourself at the bar.

· Wine is often cheaper than water at many of the Italian restaurants. Dinner starts much later (after 9pm) so if you’re hungry, find a bar or café and order a cocktail early in the evening. Cocktails/wine come with aperitifs including mini-pizzas, olives, chips and bread. For the price of a glass of wine, you can dine for hours on mini-finger foods.

· If you have a desire to tour the Vatican (and you really should) be sure to book a certified tour before you go. The Vatican museums are massive and it’s hard to take it all in on your own. When you have someone explaining the history the artwork comes alive!