The Colosseum - Anticipate a long line. You can hop the queue if you choose to take a tour, but if you are not interested in a tour, there is still a way to skip the queue. Walk across the road to the Roman Forum, you can purchase a day pass for €10, or a 7-day one for €20 or a normal Colosseum + Palatine voucher at €11. This will get you in to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Baths of Caracalla, and the catacombs. If you don't want to do everything in one day, get the pass. There are plenty of people offering tours in English at the way in to the Colosseum. Once there you can take a tour (English, Spanish, or German) every half an hour or so for an extra price of €3.50. The tours guides are interesting but you can visit all the areas on your own if you wish.

The Pantheon - A wonder of early architecture, this ancient temple to all the gods is renowned for its big dome, imitated during Greek and Roman revival periods by such designers as Thomas Jefferson, who styled his Monticello and the Rotunda at the college of Virginia on it. Built during the period in office of the emperor Hadrian (AD 125-128), the Pantheon carries a devotion to Marcus Agrippa, who built the unique structure in this area in 27 BC. As it is still a running church, peace is requested during your stay. From within the Pantheon, you'll see an opening in the dome; during the time in power of Pope Urban VIII, the Pope demanded that the bronze ceiling of the Pantheon's portico be melted down.

The bronze was used to create bombards for the reinforcement of the Castel Sant' Angelo. Free Entry.

Roman Forum - If stones could speak: these sacred ruins were the most commanding seats of govt in the whole world. The Forum is far less busy than the Colosseum and, from a historical view, much more appealing. Free entry, except for a sound guide, which is highly suggested. To set foot in the political, legal and religious centre of the entire Roman Empire is a huge thrill. It is the finest way of imagining the magnificence and beauty of ancient Rome.

Palatine Hill - Adjacent to the Roman Forum, contains the shell of many large villas that belonged to rich Roman families. You can purchase a pooled ticket for the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum here, avoiding the long queues at the Colosseum

Fori Imperiali, – Entrance €7 (discount for EU nationals, free admission for EU history students). The inside of the fort is very alike to a museum, with many rooms containing objects in glass cases. It can be a little bit of a jumble so take a moment to orientate yourself. it is worth hiking to the very top to inspect the city and the Vatican.

Museums in Rome

The Capitoline Museums - (each day 9.00-19.30) Tu-Su 9.00am-8.00pm; Dec 24th, 31st 9.00am-2.00pm (the ticket office closes an hour in advance) not open on Mondays, 25th Dec, 1st Jan, 1st May. The museum holds an excellent set of classical art, as well as early sculpture. The Capitoline piazza, sandwiched between the 2 museum buildings - planned by Michelangelo, is stunning. Discover these museums, and then head out the rear of the square to the Forum, where you'll see the leftovers of the Temple of the Vestal Virgins, among plenty of other buildings approaching the Colosseum. Reserve tickets online Regular €6,50 (+ €1,50 for exhibitions), Discounts €4,50 (+ €1,50 for exhibitions). The majority of tourist attractions in Rome are easily reachable by road.

Palazzo Massimo – There is a wonderful group of ancient Roman sculptures, mosaics and wall paintings, together with the well-known paintings from the Imperial-era villa revealed under the Villa Farnesina. Also on view is the bedroom from the Empress Livia's country house at Prima Porta. Positioned across the piazza from Termini, parallel to the Baths of Diocetian. €7.00.

Galleria Borghese - +39 06 8555952, booking: +39 06 32810 Tu - Su 9.00 - 19.00 (note: obligatory exit at the end of selected 2 hour slot). There are a number of very distinguished works by Antonio Canova and Gian Lorenzo Bernini here. The amount of people admitted is restricted to 200 every 2 hours, so make an e-booking well in advance for the time you would like. No cameras are permitted Regular €8.50, Discounts €2.00.

Villa Giulia Museum +39 06 3201951, Each day 8.30 - 19.30. Closed Jan 1st, Dec 25th. The most wide-ranging compilation of Etruscan art and artifacts anyplace, well worth the entry charge. Cameras are strictly prohibited. The museum is a little off the beaten track but is well worth a visit. Regular: €4.00 Discounts: €2.00.

About the Author

Fiona Hilliard is a travel writer for argus and Car Hire Italy

1. Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, is the ultimate destination for the golf enthusiast. There are over 200 courses located here that vary from the traditional to desert golf designs. There are plenty of options available for a golf holiday and numerous golf package deals are available. The weather is such here in the Arizona desert that the game can be played comfortably year-round.

2. Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

Myrtle Beach is a golf enthusiast’s paradise. An association there called Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, appropriately enough, represents 78 golf courses, numerous golf holiday agencies, and several of the golf schools that are all located in the immediate area. Myrtle Beach is the ultimate destination for a golfing holiday and a good place to start to plan one out is golfholiday.com.

3. Palm Springs, CA, USA

Palm Springs, California is yet another golfing paradise in the United States. Located about 100 miles east of Los Angeles it is a common destination for California golfers and celebrity sightings on any of the 111 area courses are common. Palm Springs gets most of it’s tourist dollars from golfers and it’s no wonder why given the quality of courses and the perfect weather for the sport no matter what time of the year it is.

4. St. Andrews & Fife, Scotland

Any list of the world’s top golf holiday destinations would not be complete without mentioning the birthplace of golf – the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland. This area is home to the hallowed ground of St. Andrews as well as several other courses that are hundreds of years old. If you wish to make your tee time on the granddaddy of them all – the St. Andrews Old Course – be sure to make your reservation 8 months in advance.

5. Hawaii, USA

Hawaii is a golf paradise located in a paradise in every other way. The weather here is permanently stuck in the 80s with mild winds year round. Among the six main islands there are over 80 world-class courses to choose from, including several that are universally ranked among the highest on the planet. Many are quite exotic and feature lava fields contrasting with the Pacific Ocean.

6. New Zealand

It might not be known to the rest of the world just how popular the game of golf is in New Zealand. Golf is the most popular sport in New Zealand for men, and among women it ranks second. Given this popularity, New Zealand can boast that it has the highest number, per-capita, of golf courses in the world. There are many excellent courses here, for all skill levels, located among some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet.

7. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

This up and comer golf resort on the southern tip of Baja California easily makes this list of top golf holiday destinations. With 6 championship-quality courses all along the coastline and three that have holes that play right along the sea, the beauty of these are tough to match anywhere in the world.

8. Bermuda

Oftentimes thought of as a single island, Bermuda is actually a chain of some 150 islands interconnected by bridges. Located in the sun-drenched Caribbean, golf can be played here 365 days a year and there are plenty of courses here designed by the world’s best golf architects.

9. Orlando, FL, USA

Orlando, Florida - the world capital of amusement parks and a top-notch family destination, has also catered itself towards the golf enthusiast. There are dozens and dozens of golf courses here designed for all skill levels. Other travelers in the group that may not be golfers will find plenty to do here.

10. Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

The Miami/Fort Lauderdale area is home to several top-notch courses and many others designed to meet the challenges of every skill level. The weather in southern Florida allows the game to be played all year which makes the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area a top choice for a golf holiday.

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