Rome

Few cities layer their history as openly as Rome. You can round a corner and come face to face with the Colosseum, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, then eat lunch on a piazza that has been in use for two thousand years. The ancient world sits right alongside daily life here, and the whole compact center is best explored slowly on foot.

The Vatican and its museums warrant at least half a day on their own, but Rome is just as much about the small pleasures: an espresso taken standing at the bar, a plate of cacio e pepe in a Trastevere trattoria, an evening stroll when the monuments glow under the lights. Neighborhoods like Monti and Testaccio reward anyone who ventures beyond the headline sights.

Spring and fall offer the best balance of pleasant temperatures and manageable crowds. July and August turn hot and packed with tour groups, so plan early mornings and long midday breaks if you visit in high summer.