I always advise Rome/Florence together but 2x or 3x more days in Rome depending on time you have. I see a lot of people pencil in equal time for them and Florence is so much smaller.
Trip to Italy
- Thread starter dahliaclone
- Start date
Venice would be ok for a several hour to 1 day visit. Just to experience something different.
Ha we just missed you, we were there in July 2019, stayed just outside of Minori. Rovello was super cool, we also had day trips to Sorrento and Pompeii to see the ruins. But the beaches sucked but we at least had a pool.
We debated about Pompeii, but we had to much stuff and so little time. I was more about relaxing and enjoying, it took the wife a couple days to get on that boat but she was fully on board once on.
I've only been to Rome and you could spend a few weeks there and not be bored. There is just so much to see.
We spent time in Turin, but I honestly don't remember a ton about it. Of the cities we stayed at over our 11 day tour in 2019, it was the city that was the least interesting (imo). We also stayed in Bologna, Verona, and Rapallo (small resort city just east of Genoa on the coast). Bologna was interesting with a TON of very old architecture in the heart of the city (where we stayed). The Basillica di San Petronio is pretty amazing. Rapallo was a cute sea-side resort area. Lots of shops, restaurants, some beach areas. We felt like we were walking through a Disney set - it seemed so perfect and picturesque. It was also ungodly hot while we were there. People really hit the streets once the sun went down and it "cooled" off a bit. Be aware that European AC isn't what we Americans have come to expect. Some hotels were better than others, let's say. Verona was the one city we visited in Italy on our tour that was the most like what we'd expected Italian cities to be like in our minds. It's very Romeo and Juliet (where the story takes place). The architecture is lovely. Everything is very walkable. Shops galore. A 2nd century (I believe) coliseum that is still used today for concerts and theater. I would recommend Verona in a heartbeat over the others if you have limited time. Maybe Bologna since it's nearby. Definitely try to find some wineries and small local restaurants when out and about, especially in the countryside. I have a friend who spends three to four weeks in Italy every year. They visit the small places and have made many friends there over the years just from not being afraid to venture out on their own (knowing some Italian helps, too).
The wife and I actually just finished (re)booking our honeymoon that has been delayed for 2 years. We are flying into Venice, staying for a night and then hitting up the following places over the course of 2.5 weeks:
- Lake Como
- Cinque Terre
- Florence
- San Gimignano
- Sorrento
- Rome
If you are flying Delta then you have SkyTeam connections. ITA is SkyTeam but it's still ramping up; still, that's the main Italian carrier so you could have plenty of options. KLM and Air France would be the next best options, probably - if you can get from America to Amsterdam or Paris, those two can connect you from there to plenty of Italian destinations. You could start in Genoa or Bologna and work your way south through Florence/Rome/Naples, for example.
Keep in mind that Turin is relatively close to Nice and Monte Carlo, if you're looking for alternative airports.
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Been to Italy twice. it actually depends on what you'd like to do, what's your style (whether you'd like exploring or just ticking off the boxes). How many days will you want to spend?
Roma is amazing - been there twice and never got bored. Visiting different churches are always amazing. If you're a Catholic, trying to see the Pope on Sunday and/or Wednesday during general audience is an experience. My son was able to shake hands with the Pope - purely due to luck. If you're interested, feel free to PM me.
Milan - didn't spend too much time there but it's fascinating. Spent a day to Lake Como: magical.
Firenze - we only spent half day and the atmosphere was wonderful. Would love to go once more and spend the night.
Venice - the best part is actually spending the evening there when the day tourists are gone. I took a vaporeto in the evening and it was very different.
Verona is underrated - very relaxing and soothing.
Cinque Terre was wonderful. I am not sure how it is now with the influx of tourists.
I don't want to sound patronizing but if this is your first time going to Italy, beware of the pickpockets. They have tons of tricks and every fellow Americans I spoke during my trips - they experienced being pickpocketed or they knew someone in their groups being pickpocketed. Mom actually overheard a chinese couple in vaporeto in Venice talking between themselves (she understands the language) that they just realized that they got pickpocketed and they lost probably 2.5k of cash....
Roma is amazing - been there twice and never got bored. Visiting different churches are always amazing. If you're a Catholic, trying to see the Pope on Sunday and/or Wednesday during general audience is an experience. My son was able to shake hands with the Pope - purely due to luck. If you're interested, feel free to PM me.
Milan - didn't spend too much time there but it's fascinating. Spent a day to Lake Como: magical.
Firenze - we only spent half day and the atmosphere was wonderful. Would love to go once more and spend the night.
Venice - the best part is actually spending the evening there when the day tourists are gone. I took a vaporeto in the evening and it was very different.
Verona is underrated - very relaxing and soothing.
Cinque Terre was wonderful. I am not sure how it is now with the influx of tourists.
I don't want to sound patronizing but if this is your first time going to Italy, beware of the pickpockets. They have tons of tricks and every fellow Americans I spoke during my trips - they experienced being pickpocketed or they knew someone in their groups being pickpocketed. Mom actually overheard a chinese couple in vaporeto in Venice talking between themselves (she understands the language) that they just realized that they got pickpocketed and they lost probably 2.5k of cash....
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I will go to bat for Venice. It's a beautiful, confusing dump. The "streets" are just a labyrinth of tiny alleyways winding through pizza shops and art galleries. Street directions are absurd. When I first arrived the directions to my hostel were like "find the third courtyard past the arch and knock on the door opposite the old well." There is a **** load of tourists everywhere but if you stay out of the major areas and try to get lost you end up discovering some really cool ****.
I flew Delta to Amsterdam a few years back. The normal cabin was fine, more leg room than most flights in the states. I wouldn't worry about it unless the price is right.
Went to Rome for 2 days on that trip, it was really cool but also a ton of tourist traps. One of my cousins on the trip had been there for a study abroad in her ISU days so was basically our tour guide. We hit 30,000+ steps both days trying to hit so many things. She said The Coliseum wasn't worth the wait in line so we just walked around the outside. Vatican City is cool and pretty quick even if the line looks huge.
We flew from Paris, Ryan airline, to Venice and just spent a day there. That was enough for the wife and me. We took a train to Rimini the next day.
If you're flying to Milan (it's about 1.5 hr train ride to Turin), Milan has 2 airports: Malpensa and Linate (smaller). We flew from Linate to AMS during our trip to Milan (flew in to Rome). It was cheaper ticket-wise and it's also in the city - about 5 miles from the city center, unlike Malpensa.
There are some great videos on Youtube about the do's and don'ts of Italy, I showed my students this video about traveling around Italy by train. No prices are given.
Italy by Train | The Grand Tour | 2 weeks, 8+ Destinations ❤ - YouTube
Have to say, Italy and a cruise on the Med, are my main bucket list items to do after we retire in another year.
Italy by Train | The Grand Tour | 2 weeks, 8+ Destinations ❤ - YouTube
Have to say, Italy and a cruise on the Med, are my main bucket list items to do after we retire in another year.
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First three are Cinque Terre which As I’m sure you know, are five villages hanging on the coastline and connected both by hiking trails and a train line.
Last three are rural Tuscany near Sienna. We based there and traveled to see Hill towns including San Gimignana (sp ?). Our lodging was the Agriturismo Il Pellagio.
Italy is wonderful.
Last three are rural Tuscany near Sienna. We based there and traveled to see Hill towns including San Gimignana (sp ?). Our lodging was the Agriturismo Il Pellagio.
Italy is wonderful.
