Travel to Rome

There are direct flights to Rome from several UK airports including London Gatwick, Birmingham and Glasgow International. Airlines offering flights include easyJet and British Airways, and your destination will be Leonard da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. Alternatively, Ryanair have flights to the other major airports in the region, Ciampino International Airport, with departure points including London Stansted, Liverpool and Edinburgh.

The Leonardo Express train service connects Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport with Romeit's a speedy and cost-effective service. There are also plenty of bus services to choose from. If you choose to arrive at Ciampino International Airport, you can get a quick busy journey to the nearest Metro station, or opt for a direct bus route to Rome.

Unless you're really looking to get out of the city and explore the wider area, it's probably not worth your while to hire a car in Rome. The roads can be chaotic, and there's an excellent public transport system. By purchasing a Roma Pass, you can travel for up to three days across the whole system, and also get free admission to two museums of your choice.

There are many hotels in Rome to choose from, as you'd expect from a capital city. Of course, there's no shortage of costly accommodation, but you can find a place to suit a tight budget if you book well in advance, look around online and are flexible about where you stay during your Rome holiday.

There are high-end restaurants galore in Rome, but you don't have to spend all your money that way. Avoid the obvious tourist hotspots that litter the piazzas and explore where the locals golike the area of Monteverde Vecchio, where you can dine at neighbourhood restaurants and not have to pay tourist-trap prices. And remember that this is a city full of beautiful parks and eye candy: so why not prepare a picnic with some simple Italian ingredients from a shop, and just bask in the outdoors?