It is one of Rome’s most popular areas to visit and you will almost certainly have to queue to enter the Vatican Museum and the St Peter’s Basilica. Here you can also see the impressive Vatican Palace and admire the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

It is also possible to explore the excavations, ancient narrow alley ways and a pre-Christian necropolis beneath St Peters Basilica but with only 120 places available each day, you will need to email the Excavations Office at the Vatican to secure a booking as far in advance as possible.

There is no hotel accommodation within the Vatican City itself but plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets can be found within the vicinity of Rome. Expect to pay a lot for a mid-range hotel in central Rome but cheaper options exist near the main rail station.

There are direct flights to Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA) and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) from most major airports worldwide. It is also possible to take a train from Paris, Munich and Vienna or arrive overland by car or bus. Once in Rome, the best ways to get to the Vatican is either by taxi or take metro line A to Ottaviano-San Pietro or use buses 40 and 64, which operate out of the Stazione Termini.

The Italian capital city of Rome is one of the country’s top travel destinations, and attractions here feature the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, the Arch of Septimus Severus, the House of the Vestals, the Temple of Saturn and the Colosseum. Florence, dominated by the spectacular Duomo, is a gorgeous Renaissance city and quite overwhelming as well.

Rightfully nicknamed ‘Europe’s fashion capital’, Milan is home to a range of trendy boutiques and is also Italy’s opera centre. The stunning Cathedral is Milan’s historical centre. Naples is another appealing city, which houses a variety of lively markets, atmospheric winding streets and ancient churches. Duomo is the city’s star attraction. Naples provides an ideal base from which where to explore the pretty Amalfi coast and visit the ancient city of Pompeii, located below Mount Vesuvius.

Being such an incredibly popular tourist destination, Italy boasts an extensive range of lodging. An endless variety of budgets and styles are available, though the tourist destinations might be overcrowded during high seasons and therefore it is always wise to pre-book your accommodation. The nightlife scene is most vibrant in the cosmopolitan cities where the entertainment venues remain open until the crack of dawn.

Most visitors to Italy arrive by air at Rome’s two main aviation hubs, Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino Airport) and Ciampino Airport, and at Milan’s Malpensa International Airport. However, all major cities in Italy have their own air hubs, numerous of which receive frequent flight services from all over Europe.