Compare Rome city breaks

Then there's the food and drink, an essential element of la dolce vita. Sip espresso in a corner cafe and lunch on delicious pizza and pasta. Leave space for an afternoon gelato and spend your evenings savouring al-fresco dinners in Rome’s finest neighbourhood trattorias.

Almost every street has something beautiful to see – one of the joys of a trip to Rome is simply wandering around, and you’ll want to slow down to take it all in. Take time to mooch about boho Trastevere, cross the Tiber River into the warren-like Centro Storico to people watch in a piazza and to laze in the lush Villa Borghese gardens. And then, of course, there are the big-name, must-see mega-attractions, from the Sistine Chapel to the Trevi Fountain.

A little further afield are hillside towns and beach resorts – ideal for a leisurely day trip if you have the time. Though a stay in Rome typically means a city break, it’s remarkably easy to throw a trip to the coast into the mix, with good public transport links and roads making it accessible in under an hour by car.

After exploring the sights in and around the city, you’ll want to retreat to a great hotel, and Rome has all manner of places to stay: think trendy boutiques and decades-old classics, impressive palazzos near the Colosseum and fun-filled cheap hostels.