It’s one of the most fascinating historical cities in the world, but there are a few things you might need to know in order to do as Romans do on a visit.

1. Cross the road with a nun. Or an old person. But preferably an elderly nun. Drivers in Rome show little care for pedestrians but they make exceptions for the elderly and women of the cloth, so if you’re crossing the road with one of them, you’re a little safer.

2. Do not ask for a cappuccino or a latte after midday. You will not only be laughed at but they’ll probably refuse to serve you, too. Milky coffees are for breakfast. Espressos or machiatos are for later in the day.

3. Ice creams, however, are for any time, any day. And you should have at least one gelato a day. But aim for three. Go for a gelateria with the steel tubs, never white plastic ones. Steel tubs probably means they made it themselves.

4. Beware Romans bearing gifts. A common scam is to ‘give’ you something on the street… and then charge you a fortune for it. Simply say ‘non, grazie’.

5. Only make a wish at the Trevi Fountain. There are many fountains around the city where you will be encouraged to hurl your Euros into the water, but the Trevi Fountain is the ‘proper’ one and the only one Romans bother with where wishes are concerned.

6. Go for the rectangular pizza, not the stuff cut up like a pie. It’s called Pizza al Taglio and you can buy it on most streets in Rome. Trastevere is the best district to buy food in.

7. Don’t buy water - fill your reusable bottle from one of the 2,500 free drinking fountains around the city. They knew what they were doing when they built those aqueducts - it’s fresh, clean and cold.

8. If you’re dining on a budget, have ‘aperitivo’ rather than dinner. For around 6-8 euros you can have a drink and a good, cheap plate of something (often a buffet) and leave full but not broke. Sometimes, aperitivo plates are actually free!

9. The best coffee is at Saint Eustachio cafe. It’s a fraction of the price if you have it standing at the bar rather than taking up a table.

10. Don’t look like a tourist by standing in a queue for hours. Buy your Vatican tickets online to skip the queue. And if you’re visiting the Colosseum, first visit the less popular Palatino and buy your Colosseum tickets there so you can just saunter through the door at the Colosseum later.

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