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Walk the Forum, queue early for the Vatican Museums, get reserved tickets for the Borghese Galleries. These and a host of other museums are all mind blowing. Stroll Trastevere, with Its vibrant local culture. Take a boat trip down the Tiber to Ostia Antica, Ancient Rome’s port city.Rome has cornered the contemporary arts scene for quite some time and now has two massive institutions to show for it, the Macro and the Zaha Hadid designed Maxxi.

This secluded public square is off the beaten path, but should be on every serious travelers list. Far, far away from tourist attractions like the Trevi fountain and the vatican sits a small park lined with fragrant Orange Trees. This park has a beautiful terrace that has a direct view across to Trastevere (my favorite roman neighborhood) and has St. Peter’s Basilica squared on the horizon. This spot is a locals favorite and quite the romantic spot. You’re bound to see Italian couples of all ages lounging and picnicking at all hours of the day and night in this scenic Roman park.

The St. George, opened in 2007, was recently purchased and renovated by Indigo, an international luxury hotel chain. The new owners have taken care to preserve the unique elements of the original structure, including an exterior of roughly hewn travertine. These white limestone blocks were laid in the 16^th century by Bramante; Pope Julius II commissioned the architect to build the Palace of Justice on his newly laid Via Giulia. Bramante never completed the project, but part of the building has been adapted into the current structure. Inside, the surfaces are smooth-polished limestone punctuated with contemporary art. Throughout, the decor blends modern design with classic details, often in the form of art pieces inspired by the very Renaissance masters who once strolled the cobblestones outside, so many centuries ago.

After a day traversing the city, unwind Roman-style, in the St. George’s subterranean spa. Never mind that they call the spa facilities a Turkish bath; the hot and cold bathing ritual was perfected by the ancient Romans not far from the hotel itself. After indulging in spa treatments, head to the rooftop bar for drinks and views of the river to Trastevere.

Many believe the Basilica di Santa Maria was the first church built in Rome. While archaeologists can’t definitively corroborate this claim, this landmark remains of supreme importance to locals who come to worship beneath its gilded ceiling. The church was continuously updated over the course of centuries, which means you’ll get to see an accumulation of embellishments stretching back to the 12th century. Among the most impressive are Pietro Cavallini’s gold and glass mosaic behind the altar and the ancient stone floor laid out in a dizzying geometric design.

Routinely named among the best pubs in Europe, this quasi-dive bar in Trastevere has around 15 draught beers from the US, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Denmark as well as a wide assortment of bottles. The staff is unbelievably passionate and knowledgable and can guide you to the right choice for your palate.

If you want to meet the kindest cheesemonger in Rome, visit Roberto at Antica Caciara in the ‘you-must-cross-the-Tiber’ Trastevere section of town. Stock up on Pecorino Romano (that amazing hard grating cheese used in the standard Roman fare Cacio/Pepe pasta) and sliced cured meats. And if you are still hungry, you can grab a bag of handmade pasta before Roberto kisses you ‘buonasera’.

No one is really sure where Carbonara comes from. Some say the pasta dish made with eggs, pancetta (or guanciale) and cheese was created by the carbonai, or coal workers, because it’s a simple, cheap dish. Other say it was created after World War II for American soldiers who yearned for their bacon and eggs. Whatever the case, if you’re in Rome, you must order it at least once. On a recent visit, I tried to eat carbonara at every restaurant I visited. The best I had was at Da Enzo. Located in Trastevere, Da Enzo is popular with locals and off the radar for tourists. Which is always a good sign.

The D.O.M., which opened in late 2013, is a five-star boutique hotel in the heart of Rome’s historic center. Originally built as a 17^th-century noble palace, the property was subsequently converted into a monastery, then Ministry of Justice offices. Its current design, which blends architectural elements from its previous uses, was entrusted to architect Antonio Girardi, who has seamlessly married Renaissance reverence and modern design.

Thanks to the previous ecclesiastical incarnation, rooms are intimate and many have low ceilings. Dark gray and brown hues mingle with velveteen, brick, and wood, creating a cavernous feel in the ground-floor common areas, which contrast with the bright and open rooftop terrace and its views over Rome’s Renaissance quarter and across the river to Trastevere. On the ground floor, a small reception area precedes the hotel bar and restaurant, as well as a small enclosed terrace.

When in Rome, they say, do as the Romans do. So that’s why I made my priority in Rome to EAT.

To eat gourmet cheeses, drink fine wines, plenty of pasta and of course gelato. But Rome is a big city so finding the best places to eat on my short trip was going to be a challenge.

Luckily I discovered the walking tour called “A Taste of Rome Food Tour” and scheduled it in for my first day of the trip.

The culinary food tour— http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com — took us on a 3-hour guided food tour through a local neighborhood in Rome: Testaccio.

We visited a local food market where we sampled mozzarella di buffala (amazing!) and fresh Italian tomatoes, tried gourmet cheeses at a famous Rome shop and enjoyed a meal of wine and Roman pasta dishes at a local restaurant. The tour ended with a lesson on the differences between real, authentic gelato and the fake variety. Very valuable information!

But my favorite part of the food tour was the fact that we got a sneak peak into the history of Testaccio as well. We visited Rome’s non-catholic cemetery and learned a little about the mafia history of the neighborhood. All in all, it was an afternoon filled with amazing food and interesting history in Rome. It was one of the best things I did on my short stay and with the directory of restaurants they provided after the tour, I felt like my culinary tour through Rome never ended!

A Trastevere institution since 1933, Ai Marmi (the official name is Panattoni, but no one calls it that) is exactly what you’d expect in an Italian neighborhood pizzeria—zero frills, lots of character, and authentic, thin-crust Roman pizza. This is the kind of place to hit for a quintessential Roman vibe, thanks to the requisite lineup of city favorites like fritti, fried cod, fried zucchini flowers, and supplì—mozzarella-filled fried rice balls. The shop gets its nickname from the long marble slabs that top the family-style tables (ai marmi means “marble” in Italian).

A local landmark, Taverna Trilussa has been a Trastevere hangout for nearly a century. The ivy-covered entrance opens to a lively family-run trattoria where prosciutto and dried herbs decorate the walls alongside the usual trappings of vintage photos, books, and paintings. Taverna Trilussa is most famous for its tableside serving of typical Roman dishes like bucatini all’Amatriciana and cacio e pepe, theatrically tossed about in a frying pan or even a Parmesan wheel. Reservations are a must, or else expect to queue up alongside all the tourists waiting for a plate of mozzarella in carrozza.