Book a skip-the-line ticket weeks ahead or suffer through three-hour waits in the brutal sun. The Gallery of Maps is the highlight, but the Sistine Chapel feels like a mosh pit; ignore the shouting guards and just move through. Skip the overpriced museum cafeteria—grab pasta in Borgo Pio instead. The 551-step climb up St. Peter’s Dome is a total leg burner but delivers the only decent skyline photo. Budget four hours and wear real sneakers.
Get lost in the vibrant, narrow alleys of the UNESCO-listed city center. · Learn the secrets of the perfect Neapolitan pie from a local pizzaiolo.
