Rome is a top travel destination in Italy with many top attractions. Today's Rome, Roma, is a vibrant and lively city with reminders of its past everywhere. In Rome you will encounter ancient monuments, medieval and Renaissance buildings and fountains, and great museums. Rome is the capital of modern Italy and boasts many fine restaurants and cafes, good nightlife, and lively streets and squares. Although its a huge city, the historic centre is fairly compact.

Just walking around in Rome can by entertaining and you will can something interesting almost anywhere. Here are some of Rome's top attractions.

• The Colosseum - Colosseo is the largest monument in existence from Imperial Rome. It is a huge amphitheatre that housed the fierce gladiator and wild animal fights. A good approach is along the Via dei Fori Imperiali. Ticket lines may be long.
• The Roman Forum - Foro Romano is one of the city's most important archaeological sites. It was the focal point of Republican Rome and has monuments from 900 years of history. You can buy a combination ticket for the Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill.
• The Pantheon is Italy's best-preserved ancient building, It started out as a pagan temple and then became a church. There is a nice piazza in front of it that makes a nice place for an evening drink (although pricey).
• The Capitoline Hill is a great place to get a view of the Roman Forum. The focal point of the hill is the grand Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo. There are two important museums housing an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings, frescoes, and mosaics.
• Piazza Navona is a lively piazza ringed by upscale cafes. At its center are three lavish fountains.
• The Villa Borghese houses the Galleria Borghese, with a large collection of famous sculptures and paintings.
• Saint Peter's Basilica - Basilica di San Pietro is the largest Roman Catholic building in the world. It houses important works by Michelangelo and Bernini. Although not really in Rome, Vatican City is a popular destination for travellers in Rome.
• Vatican Museums - Musei Vaticani, the largest museum complex in the world, houses art spanning 3000 years from the Classical and modern world. Here you can see the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's frescoes.

The best way to arrive in Rome is by train. The main station, Stazione Termini is close to the historic center of Rome. There are several outlying stations, too. You can also arrive by bus near Termini station or in Piazzale Tiburtina in front of the Tiburtina train station. Rome's airport Fiumicino is a major international airport and visitors from the United States often arrive here. You can take a train into Rome from the airport. You'll probably want to avoid driving in Rome. Rome has an extensive bus and metro system (Metripolitana) so you can easily get almost anywhere on public transportation. Be aware of pickpockets when riding in crowded subway cars. There is a good transportation map, Roma that's worth buying if you plan to use public transportation. Look for it in tourist offices, newspaper stands, or souvenir shops. If you plan to take a taxi in Rome, check these Rome Taxi Tips to avoid being overcharged.

There is a tourist office in the train station that can help you find a hotel and gives out maps and information. Most staff at tourist offices speak English. The main office is on Via Parigi near the Piazza della Republica.