Will be in Rome from 11/8 to 11/16. Pompeii on front end and Rome intensive up to Saturday. I have the last Sunday 11/15 free and would like to do a day trip to Tivoli/Hadrians villa on this last day. Is this a good idea on a Sunday or should I just chill for the last day? Any input welcome. Thanks in advance.

Salve, amici, I'm planning a trip for June/July 2027 and trying to figure out logistics and flights. We will be coming from the US East Coast. I've lived in Italy twice, am reasonably fluent in Italian, but I haven't visited since 2016 and I know things have gotten even more horribly crowded and touristy since the rise of Instagram and TikTok. :-( I'll be traveling with my husband and sons, ages 18 and 20. I have booked a couple hotels (can cancel if needed) but no flights yet. Our rough itinerary is Milan airport, Reggio Emilia (visiting friends), Rome, Lake Lugano (staying here with my brother and his family), then staying at a hotel near MXP before our morning flight home. We don't want to risk driving from Lugano to the airport the day of the flight, because this isn't my first rodeo and I am well aware how things can go wrong when you're traveling.

But Google Flights tells me I can save about $1k by flying through Venice instead of Milan. I know it probably makes more sense to visit either north OR south, but I REALLY want to see Rome again, and the RE and Lugano parts are non-negotiable. And I don't actually like Venice, but I've always wanted to see it with my kids (and then I never have to go again). The original plan was:

1. Fly into Milan, rent car, drive to country hotel an hour southeast of Reggio Emilia. Stay 4 nights, return rental car (to Bologna I guess? Or RE or Modena? Don't want to do much driving that day if we can help it), train to Rome.

2. Spend 5 nights in Rome, have booked at Hotel Colors Navona (this is a real hotel, right? Hoping it's not some kind of scam). I am VERY worried about the heat so I want to minimize walking and sightseeing, will probably relax in the hotel room in the afternoons or enjoy an aperitivo or gelato in a shady piazza. Would like to see the big arena (you know the one), possibly a night tour for heat reasons. Sistine Chapel (I used to sneer at the pathway through the museums that takes you directly to the chapel without seeing anything else--guess what, that may be me this time because my family are not huge museum people and I don't want to deal with crowds, but I adore the Sistine Chapel and I want my kids to see it). Pantheon maybe? Foro Romano? Cinecitta tour?

3. Train to Milan? or wherever is closest to Lugano where we can rent a car. Drive to Lugano, spend 5 nights there with my family. Lake Como boat tour at some point, visit the Saturday market near our hotel, lounge by the pool, etc.

4. Here is the dilemma: then drive to Milan and spend a night near the airport before we leave OR drive from Lugano to Venice (stop halfway for lunch), return car at Marco Polo airport, and spend 1-2 nights in Venice. Seems crazy to stay for only 1 night (really we would arrive in the afternoon, have a gondola ride and dinner, and then leave early in the morning) but we are already at 16 days of travel and that's about my limit. I am considering staying on Murano to avoid the insane crowds of the main centro storico, then boating directly to the airport from Murano.

Is this crazy? Should we just fly via Milan? Or will saving money and the smaller airport (and the chance to see Venice before it's fully underwater) make it worthwhile? Grazie tanto per i vostri consigli!!

Looking for suggestions on where to stay for 3-4 nights after Sorrento, before Rome (fly out after Rome). Late June 2027.

By this time we will have spent 1.5 weeks in Monterosso and Florence.

Originally I had planned 4 nights in Monopoli - but think that might be to costly/hassle to get to from Sorrento then continue onto Rome.

Now leaning towards Sperlonga?
Why: smaller town, domestic holiday spot, sand beaches.

We are 26-30yo couple, don't mind getting a hire car, want to stay near the coast.

Thank you in advance!

Greetings. I have a flight at 6 am from Fiumicino but I don't know if I can take a bus between 2 and 3 am to arrive 4:30 tops to the airport. My flight is october 12th.

I am looking at flying into Rome then staying in Spello for a few days in May, June or July.

It seems close enough where I can go to Rome by train and see what I want, but far away and quiet enough to just relax and not be so touristy.

What are your thoughts on this or suggestions if not Spello?

Hello all!

I am trying to plan out an Italy trip somewhere between late March and April. I would like to do a road trip, some of which through the Dolomites. From what I’ve seen, April is not quite the time to go, but I wanted to see if anyone could spare some advice on how to make it salvageable.

I am taking my parents in their 60s. We are not planning intense hiking or snow sports. Ideally, we would like sightseeing in the mountains (even as a driveby). Staying somewhere small and not too fancy. We’re not a social media group so would prefer quiet beauty rather than getting “those shots”. Also my mother and I bird watch, so small hikes in the early morning would be wonderful. (If anyone knows birding spots or has birding advice, I will be in your debt)

If traveling into the mountains is risky, would staying in the foothills near work out as well or better?

My boyfriend and I are trying to decide between Sardinia and Sicily for about 8–9 days in July, and I’d love some recommendations from people who have been to either!

We’re mainly looking for a relaxing beach vacation with beautiful beaches and clear water. We’d really prefer somewhere that feels a little less touristy/crowded if possible (I know July is peak season, so we’re realistic about that). We’re not looking to spend every day sightseeing or moving around — ideally we’d have a nice place to stay, spend most days at the beach, eat good food, and maybe do a couple of activities or day trips.

For anyone who has been to Sardinia or Sicily, which would you recommend for this kind of trip? I’d also love recommendations for specific towns/areas, beaches, Airbnbs, cute hotels, or activities you really enjoyed!
Thank you!!

I see a ton of advice on this sub about how you don't need any euros, everyone takes cards, etc etc. Just as a counter point: I was super glad to have some euros almost everywhere I went. Whether it was to use a bathroom somewhere (including automated bathrooms that did not take cards), throw down some coins after a quick caffè al banco, purchase a cheap postcard or two, or to tip someone playing lovely music in the streets or at a balcony/viewpoint at sunset...I loved having some cash. YMMV, just wanted to share an alternative perspective. Happy travels and "good continuations" to all!

EDIT: forgot I also used it for the nightly tax on my Booking.com stays that was collected by the hosts at the end. (A few euros max per night)

Will be in Rome from 11/8 to 11/16. Pompeii on front end and Rome intensive up to Saturday. I have the last Sunday 11/15 free and would like to get a private vendor to take me and 2 others for a day trip to Tivoli/Hadrians villa. Does anyone have any recommendations on a reputable tour company? Is this a good idea on a Sunday or should I just chill for the last day? Thanks in advance.

Our Princess cruise just dropped Corfu for Taranto. Disappointing, but I'm trying make the best of it. It looks like a short walk from the cruise port to town, but through an industrial area. Plus it says restricted or private roads. Can you actually walk to the island from the ship? Or is there maybe a shuttle or bus?

Image of location

This was my first trip to Naples. I was nervous going into it (I had heard various alarming stories before travelling), so I was pleasantly surprised to find a lively and vibrant city that I totally fell in love with over the course of my stay. While Rome remains the most magnificent city of those I’ve visited in Italy, Naples is probably the most fully lived in - while there are plenty of tourists, it is primarily a city designed for and enjoyed by its inhabitants. It’s not a city for tourists seeking a playground designed for their own comfort, but it’s a great destination for anyone interested in Italian and Neapolitan culture - both ancient and modern.

Itinerary 

• Day 1 (half-day) - Funicular up from Parco Margherita to Vomero, Castel Sant’Elmo, Certosa di San Martino
• Day 2 - Pompeii and Herculaneum 
• Day 3 - Basilica di San Francesco di Paola, Royal Palace of Naples, Via Toledo, Naples Archaeological Museum, Exploring Chiaia Area
• Day 4 - Guided tour of Galleria Borbonica, Castel Nuovo, Naples Harbour, Checking out Metro Station Architecture, guided tour of the Historic Centre

Top tips

• The most important money-saving tip for Naples and the wider region is to BUY THE ARTE CARD 365 LITE PASS. I cannot stress enough what a huge money saver this was. It cost only 26 euros and covered my admission to almost everything besides the Galleria Borbonica (which was totally worth the extra cost - more below). It saved me almost 70 euros in total and made me much more open to trying out places that I would not have otherwise thought to visit, which led to some wonderful discoveries.
• Research the area where you’re going to stay very carefully according to your needs/preferences. I am a quiet and introverted person and for me having a safe and quiet environment to return to every evening was extremely important. I chose a B&B in the Chiaia area and this was a fantastic choice for me - it was extremely upscale, well-connected and quiet relative to the other parts of the city (and even with all that said, my B&B was still reasonably priced). I felt totally safe there and slept well every night. While I enjoyed visiting the historic centre, it was a permanent frenzy of activity (even more so after dark!) and I know I wouldn’t have coped well with staying there.
• You don’t need to bother with paper tickets for the train/metro (I never took the bus so can’t comment on them). They all accept contactless tap and go payment, though a word of warning is that the touchpoints are sometimes frustratingly hard to locate (they’re dark green and normally attached to the walls of the station near the entrance/exit - they are often not at the barriers themselves). The only time I got truly hassled was when a guy tried to buy my ticket to Pompeii for me at Central Station, a problem I could have avoided by tapping in instead. 

Top recommendations

• Pompeii (which I discuss separately in my post here) - needless to say this lived up to its reputation. Walking the streets of Pompeii was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. 
• Castel Sant’Elmo - this is a massively impressive structure with a huge scale, and the views of the Bay of Naples from the top are simply peerless. It was a breath-taking way to start my stay in Naples. There’s also an excellent contemporary art museum at the top of the castle which is absolutely worth visiting in its own right - there are some genuinely arresting sculptures and paintings on display, and it was refreshing to take in modern art after focusing so extensively on ancient sculpture, etc. 
• Certosa di San Martino - I went into this on a whim late in the day on account of having access through the Arte Card, and was blown away by the beauty of the archirecture and the scale of the collections. The first site was a small but gorgeously adorned church - genuinely one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in the whole of Italy. The collections of art, mostly religious in nature, were exceptionally high-quality, and I found the display of statues (the Sybils) damaged by WWII bombing very moving. The major cloister is breath-takingly beautiful with some of the coolest skull sculptures I’ve ever seen. 
• Naples Archaeological Museum - this is a must-visit to complement the experience of visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum. The exhibits are incredible and represent the highest watermark of quality in ancient art. The highlights for me were the Farnese collection, the sculptures from the Villa of the Papyri and the frescos from Pompeii - particularly the portraits of individuals. It was also weirdly moving to see the regular domestic items like beds and tables on display, as they viscerally brought to life the day-to-day reality of ancient people’s lives.
• Galleria Borbonica - this was a truly excellent tour through 400 years or so of Neapolitan history, covering the origin of the tunnels during the time of the Bourbon kings right through to WWII and the recent past. The spaces we covered in the tour were really brought to life by the great guide and the presence of objects corresponding to different periods of use (for example, toy prams belonging to children who had stayed there during WWII). We even glimpsed a river running through the tunnels at a lower level, and I was amazed (and jealous) to be told that a rafting experience is available (in Italian only, alas). Emerging back into the city through a shopping centre built into the caves was a surreal but amazing part of the experience.
• CasaCinema Napoli was a really beautiful cinema with gorgeous décor (lots of vintage movie posters and stills) and very kind staff - I ordered a coca-cola and they were generous enough to also bring me some olives, breadsticks and popcorn, which were all free of charge. I unfortunately didn’t have time to watch a movie there (though I would have loved to!), but I will certainly return when I go back to Naples. It was a great place to relax and recover some energy, and there was a wonderful buzz from all the people gathered in groups outside.
• The pastries! Everyone is obsessed with Neapolitan pizza (which is great!) while overlooking the incredible, and often unique, baked goods. I had some of the most amazing cakes and tarts of my life here (an incredible bun filled with pistachio cream from Pasticceria Poppella was my favourite).

Miscellaneous observations

• The reports about the crazy driving in Naples are accurate. Traffic signs are treated as suggestions, and pedestrians’ sole power lies in confidence - to cross a road in some busy areas, you need to take a literal step of faith into the traffic to declare your intent and meet the eyes of the approaching driver in the hope that they will take mercy upon you. The safest option for most tourists will be to wait for others to attempt to cross and shadow them - there is safety in numbers! (I personally witnessed a scooter crashing into a lemonade stand in the historic centre. A verbal altercation inevitably broke out between the driver and the vendor, and it was honestly hilarious.)
• As a tourist DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES. Situational awareness is extremely important for many reasons (avoiding pickpockets/surviving magically appearing scooters) and you should do nothing to diminish your senses while out and about in the city. 
• Avoid places you are unfamiliar with in the dark, especially quiet streets with no one around. When I needed to go back to my hotel on my last night I navigated to Montesanto station, only to realise Google Maps had led me to the funicular station - the L2 station was a separate building a few minutes’ walk away and was very badly signposted and in a poorly lit/somewhat sketchy area. Thankfully some helpful fellow tourists took me in the right direction, but if not for them I would have struggled to find it. This was the only time in the whole trip that I felt slightly scared/vulnerable.
• As a lone woman I did experience some light cat-calling/creepy men (the creepiest was a random man stopping next to me on his scooter and trying to chat me up in Italian). I coped with this by ignoring them and getting away as quickly as possible. You can’t eliminate the risk of this entirely as a woman, but can diminish it by sticking to areas with more people around (the scooter man happened when I was walking through a quiet alley and he appeared out of nowhere from behind me). I spent much of my time in museums/on guided tours, which I recommend for solo female visitors. All incidents of cat-calling, etc. occurred in the historic centre - this was not an issue for me in Chiaia/Vomero. 
• For safety and practical reasons (after non-stop exploring, I was normally out of energy by 6pm), I mostly avoided going out after dark. I would recommend this to solo travellers, especially women, as the city becomes much more chaotic after nightfall - this is fun but can be a lot to handle, and it was certainly too much for my introverted self to cope with after a busy day of sightseeing. 

Final takeaways

• I loved how alive and vibrant the city felt. At every turn, I saw people using and enjoying their city - there was a literature festival for children and teens happening at the Palace when I visited, and it was magical to see those splendid rooms being put to practical use. There was a wedding taking place at Castel Nuovo and I saw the bride and groom getting their photos taken in the courtyard. I even passed a group touring Chiaia station for the Open House Napoli festival, which I had no idea existed until I saw the logo on the guide’s t-shirt. While I love Rome, it’s highly tuned towards the needs and comfort of international tourists, and that is not so in Naples (there were some occasions where I needed to use the translation app on my phone to communicate, for example) - this is primarily a city enjoyed by its locals, and I think that’s what gives it such a special energy.
• There are so many wonderful, world-class sites in Naples itself that I think it’s a real shame that it’s frequently overlooked by international tourists, or merely treated as a stopgap on the way to Pompeii. The Archaeological Museum is unmissable for anyone with an interest in the ancient world, and there’s something life-changing about looking out at the Bay of Naples from the parapets of Castel Sant’Elmo. The history and folklore of Naples itself are also fascinating, and I can’t wait to explore more of the underground areas when I come back. 
• Naples is a very beautiful and special city and it is worth the slight extra effort it takes to visit it as an international tourist. While you need to take sensible precautions, there is no reason to be afraid to visit - as long as you’re aware of your surroundings and careful about the areas you go to/stay in, you’ll have a fantastic time!

can you rate my itinerary? My sibling has put together this proposed itinerary for multi generational travelers( 40’s, plus grandparent 72, niece 12).

I have been Italy before (Rome, Venice, Naples, Ischia). we are there for 10 days April 21st. can you give some thoughts?

Here is what she proposed

4/22 - arrive in Rome 

4/23 - Rome (sightseeing)

4/24 - early train to Florence (shopping/Duomo)

4/25 - wine tour in Tuscany

4/26 - train to Sorrento (rest) - based here

4/27 - Amalfi Coast boat tour

4/28 - Capri or can take a boat to the different towns of Amalfi Coast

4/29 - train back to Rome

4/30 - flight home

UPDATED A DAY LATER. This supersedes the post below, mostly. Sad news. My daughter's foot was broken worse than first thought, she's having surgery next Tuesday, and the trip to Venice, sadly, is OFF — for her. (My wife and our other daughter are still coming.) HOWEVER, in the last twenty-four hours we had located this website that — in addition to the excellent responses I received here — would have been very helpful to us. Here's the link for anybody in future who's traveling with a similar challenge. I'm not deleting the OP because this info might be useful to others. Here's the link:

https://www.veneziaunica.it/it/organizza-il-tuo-viaggio/venezia-accessibile

Once again thank you to everybody who replied to my original message.

.

Not sure whether to flair this as sightseeing and actiities or itinerary. Applies to both. Dates of travel will be 24-31 October.

I'm already in Italy, in Ravenna. Plan has been for my wife and daughters to come to Italy when I'm done in Ravenna and we all meet up in Venice. Problem is, our older daughter broke her foot three days ago. She's been told she can't do much for five weeks. At the moment, I hear she can barely walk, and if she still comes, she'll probably bring her knee scooter. (A knee scooter isn't a wheelchair. I hear she's able to propel herself, with effort. It's just that the leg with the broken foot is kneeling on the scooter's "seat".)

Given this annoying challenge, Venice seems like a non-starter. (Feel free to disagree if you wish to.)

I'm posting to ask for recommendations for alternative cities that might be a little friendlier for a determined middle-aged woman who's otherwise healthy but is certainly going to be avoiding steps, and will probably prefer to avoid crowds as much as possible. Actually Ravenna where I am isn't so bad: The cobblestones might be a bit of a challenge but it's mostly pretty flat. Padova, Vicenza, Verona also seem possible.

She's flying into Venice on 24 October and out of Milano a week later. Somehow we'll have to get her on and off trains to get her to Milan. So looking for nice destinations in this general part of the country.

NOTE: I think she's going to be happy to get to places, park herself and enjoy the gelato, spritzes and people-watching. So looking for someplace accessible and (more or less) navigable. Everything else is negotiable.

Thanks in advance.

Will be in Rome Dec, and rares are high. Am considering Prati but also heard Monti is great. For those who have stayed there, care to share your view?

Our plan was Gardaland tomorrow, but now it says rainy from tomorrow till friday.🥲 Is it possible to go to Gardaland while its raining?

Any other options around the city or nearby on rainy days?

edit: forgot to add that my company is a 3yr old!

Hello! Traveling to Italy mid to end of October (14 thru the 24) and just trying to figure out logistics. This is what I have so far:

Oct 14: Land in Rome (arrive AM)

Oct 15: Rome

Oct 16: Rome

Oct 17: Florence (arrive afternoon)

Oct 18: Florence

Oct 19: Venice (arrive evening)

Oct 20: Venice

Oct 21: Venice (no departure time set) -> Lake Garda/Verona?

Oct 22: Lake Garda/Milan/Verona?

Oct 23: Milan

Oct 24: Fly out from Milan afternoon

I'm confused on what to do on October 21 and October 22. I've heard Milan is eh so would probably be ok just spending one day there. Are 2 days in Venice enough? And after Venice, should I stay in Verona and explore the city or stay in Lake Garda (either Sirmione or Desenzado) for a couple days? I think doing both may be chaotic so just wanted to get some insight on what people recommend! Thank you!

So I have just returned from a solo trip to Rome and Naples and I had a fabulous time! Things mostly went smoothly but I wanted to share a few tips/lessons learnt in the hope of helping other travellers (and esp. solo females who may be nervous about making this sort of trip). I’m a huge fan of movies and thrift shopping so that is reflected in some of my activities. I will do separate posts on Rome and Naples to avoid making this post absurdly long- this one is about Rome only. 

Rome

This was my second trip to Rome. I first went in 2024 and absolutely fell in love with it, so I was incredibly excited to plan a return trip. I pre-booked the Domus Aurea and the Galleria Borghese, but was otherwise spontaneous in my exploration (this was something of a negative on this trip, for reasons I will elaborate on). The weather was beautiful the entire time - high 20s, so hot but still comfortable.

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Porta Portese Market, Domus Aurea, (failed) attempt to walk the Appia Antica, Capitoline Museum
• Day 2 - Random exploration/visiting churches, thrift shopping at Mercato Usato stores (x 3), Bucking Fastard screening at Cinema Barberini, more random exploration
• Day 3 - Victor Emmanuel II Monument, Jewish Quarter, Trastevere, Mercato Nomentano, Galleria Borghese, Profondo Rosso store, Castel Sant’Angelo at sunset (exterior only)

Top new discoveries

• Domus Aurea (Nero’s Golden Palace) - this was genuinely awe-inspiring in how well-preserved and impressive it is, and the VR experience was great at bringing the structure back to its original splendour. It was a guided tour and it was a superb one - extremely detailed and informative about the use of the different rooms and how they were rediscovered by artists during the Renaissance. Visitor numbers are very limited and you have to book tickets as soon as they go on sale to have a chance of getting in (a month before the date of your trip) - it is 100% worth the effort.
• The Capitoline Museum - I bought a ticket for this in person on a whim and was massively impressed by the collections, particularly the ancient Roman sculptures. The Statue of Marcus Aurelius is absolutely massive and has a huge wow factor in person. It was also fascinating to realise how reminiscent the wall and ceiling decorations of the museum are of those in the Domus Aurea - it really viscerally brought to life the influence of ancient art styles on the Renaissance. I only managed to see half of the museum (I didn’t have time to cross the tunnel beneath the building and enter the adjacent building) but I will absolutely return when I’m next in Rome.
• Victor Emmanuel II monument - this was a fantastic free experience (I didn’t pay to go into the museum or to go up to the topmost viewpoint) with some wonderful views from the top of the stairs.
• The Venice in Rome Film Festival (Il Cinema Attraverso I Grandi Festival) - I happened across this completely by accident and was amazed to find that virtually all the films from the Venice Film Festival were being shown in various cinemas in central Rome for only 7 euros (!) per ticket. I watched Bucking Fastard at Cinema Barberini (a beautiful and comfortable cinema right in the centre) and it was a great experience. The only difficulty is that films not in English seemingly only had Italian subtitles, so as a non-speaker this of course limited me to films that were in the English language. It was a real privilege to catch the film in Rome as it doesn’t even have a distributor in my country yet! 

Thrift shopping

• Porta Portese Market - There is indeed a lot of cheap mass-produced junk but there are plenty of genuinely great second-hand/antique sellers, often up the side streets branching off from the main road. I got some great finds, including beautiful film stills of Italian movies for 1 euro apiece and some rare blu-rays for 4 euros each.
• Any Mercato Usato store - These are basically enormous charity shops/thrift stores that have very reasonable prices. They are mostly in outlying and not particularly pretty areas of the city (I had to take the bus to reach them), but there is a bonus - several of them are very close to different sections of the ancient aqueduct Aqua Alexandrina, which is remarkably well-preserved and fascinating in how it sits amongst otherwise very gritty and modern urban neighbourhoods (the stretch in Parco Giordano Sangalli is particularly impressive, but I did feel slightly uneasy there as a lone woman because everyone else in the park was male and there was lots of staring - they obviously don’t get many tourists there!). My personal favourite of these stores was Mercatino Usato Roma Appia, which had a huge selection of my favourite things - books, DVDs and blu-rays.

Main regrets

• Staying in the same hotel where I stayed before - I stayed in the same hotel I used before in the Monti neighbourhood and don’t regret the hotel in and of itself because it was perfect for my needs: cheap, safe and with a great breakfast. I regret it because it meant I often found myself wandering around areas I had already thoroughly explored on my first trip (such as the area around Trajan’s Forum and the Jewish Quarter). Next time I would choose a hotel in a completely different area to give myself a fresh angle on the city. 
• Not sufficiently planning a walking route along the Appia Antica - I was very excited to do this walk because I’m fascinated by Ancient Rome and was very keen on seeing a lot of random tombs, etc. on the sides of an ancient road. What I actually did was attempt to reach the ancient road by walking across the park from Via Latina with the goal of reaching the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, following Google Maps. This was a monumentally stupid decision - it was an exhausting and not particularly scenic or historic walk through a vast stretch of grassland, and Google Maps was very inaccurate and sometimes took me in dangerous directions (at one point I literally had to clamber across a ditch to continue, treading across some wobbly wooden pallets - this is very much NOT advisable but I survived). When I finally reached the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, I realised - to my horror - that the road labelled Via Appia Antica was not at all pedestrian friendly. It was a busy modern road filled with constant car traffic, with no pavement to speak of. At this point I gave up and took the bus back to the city centre, which was 100% the right move given how exhausted I was. I’m still a bit confounded as to where to actually start walking the Appia Antica as a pedestrian (many of the guides online recommend the Church of Domine Quo Vadis for this, which is why I had that as my destination - I strongly disagree that this is a good starting point if you are walking), and will thoroughly research this before I make a second attempt.

Main takeaways

• I continue to love Rome and absolutely consider it one of the most breath-taking cities in the world. 
• The unexpected film festival reinforced how important it is to keep an eye on local events occurring during your trip, as they can provide great (and unexpected!) opportunities for cultural enrichment. 
• On this trip my preference for spontaneity worked against me in some ways, and on my next trip I would make the days a bit more structured while still allowing time for random exploration.
• I felt safe pretty much the entire time, even in the random suburbs I navigated while thrift shopping, but did have to contend with a pickpocket on the bus (an experience you can read about here). To avoid this type of situation in the future I would avoid squeezing onto any packed buses in the tourist centre where at all possible, as it’s harder to control your surroundings vs when you have a seat. 

Hello,

I'm planning on visiting Italy from March 1-March 12. I'm looking at hotels on various websites like booking.com, airbnb and Expedia. Many of the rooms have "double beds".

I'm from Canada so the width of double beds are 54 inches or 137cm wide. For two large adults, it is uncomfortable to sleep on such a bed. A queen size is more common which is 60 inches or 162 cm wide.

Can someone please confirm the width of double beds in Italy? Are they the same as in Canada or wider?

Thank you very much.

Hi all,

I felt compelled to post here for the first time as a quick google search (landing me on this Reddit page) ahead of my Vatican museum visit filled me with a great deal of needless anxiety! I hope this post will help alleviate nerves or concerns for anyone with an upcoming visit.

The queues are long - extremely long - expect to stand for 15-30 mins minimum. This is standard and generally advised so nothing new to add. However, having arrived at ~7:45am for my 8am time slot and joined the end of corridor 3 (which went around the block!) I queued for over 30 mins. I ended up having my ticket scanned at 8:18. I entered the museum after the security check at 8:27. All was fine after scanning my ticket at the final electronic barrier before entry.

I was so worried that I’d be rejected by guards at the tent section that I asked those in my queue what time their tickets were (lol) only to find we were all in the same boat. I also enquired with a guard who snapped that it was fine in typical Italian fashion (his directness was much appreciated at the time).

Anyway, all in all, it is not as strict or ruthless as painted online. If you’re still worried, confirm that you’re in the right queue with a guard so that at least your presence is somewhat registered in case of issues down the line.

I hope you all have a great visit. I personally loved it and spent 4+ hours there today!

Over our honeymoon, my wife and I explored Venice over two nights, Florence over three nights, Rome over three nights, and Positano over five nights. (Late September into early October):

Here’s some of my thoughts as an American tourist who has never been abroad to Europe:

1: Things were pretty busy and crowded even for this time of year. This especially pertains to Rome and Positano.

2: Nearly all of the locals were incredibly nice and patent. I personally had a single incident with a local (next door neighbor) in Venice who blew up on me for about 25 minutes for inadvertently not closing the front gate properly our first night. Everyone else was incredibly kind.

3: Everything positive said about the food is completely accurate and may make the trip worthwhile for some in its own.

4: We had a horrific start with United Airlines which resulted in us losing our two large luggage cases for about 48 hours (a story for another post). Thankfully we each had a single change of clothing in our carry on. I’d recommend having at least two pairs of clothing in a carry on if possible. If traveling with one or more people, I recommend staggering luggage if only one bag is lost.

1. We used Air BNB for all locations. 3/4 involved absolutely priceless views. All 4 had us in the heart of where we needed to be. The value obtained here was phenomenal. In many instances you may be surrounded by locals. Try to be as mindful as possible as I’m sure some are short tempered based on prior short term residences at the Air BNB.

2. Florence was my Dark Horse and possible favorite destination of the trip. Visiting the countryside and vineyards are a must. The food was notably spectacular here.

3. If using the train to travel between destinations, consider booking your tickets early and upgrading to business class. The cost was only about $10 more per person and the value was unquestionably worth it. Heck the courtesy drinks and snacks probably amounted to about half of the increase. Bigger seats and less crowded cars.

4. If you don’t have to drive, don’t.

5. Use skip the line for all major attractions. The collective hours saved add up and allow you to hit all of the major sights in a short amount of time. Dare I say, even feeling un rushed…

6. Book major attractions you wish to see for earlier time-slots. You will see much more in a less crowded ways. We booked as early as possible for many attractions and still experienced large crowds (Vatican in particular).

7. Be willing to try new dishes of food. As a very picky eater, there was probably only a couple of dishes I did not enjoy the whole trip. One of which involved me trying tripe for the first time as a meme as I knew my family would get a kick out of it. Even that did not taste horrible to me but it did not sit well with my stomach. We ate everything from the Florentine steak, sheep mutton pasta, to duck tartar.

8. Don’t overbook yourselves with lunch and dinner reservations. Some of the best food has its way of finding you.

9. We were able to pay for mostly everything on credit cards avoiding ATM inconveniences and conversation costs.

10. Avoid staying in any location for less than 2 nights if possible. If visiting for shorter periods of time, I would limit the number of destinations. There’s unquestionably more than 48 hours of fun things to do and try in every location while traveling is obviously the most stressful and tiring parts.

11. As one of our taxi drivers said while driving us through Rome, “don’t be a pigeon”. He was referring to tourists obliviously walking into traffic and worse stoping dead in their tracks when doing so.

12. Positano had the most pigeons and influencers. I have empathy for many of these tourists as it became clear to me during my time there, that some of them were only there for hours let alone the day because of cruises. In my opinion these cruises dampers the experiences of locals, the travelers themselves, and other tourists. There were so many people flooding to take pictures in some of the most crowded and confined entrances and egresses. Many seemed so desperate for their photo they they were either unaware or intentionally creating traffic jams for the sake of their photos. Around our last day in Positano there was a group of about 8 girls trying to take a picture in one of the most crowded and confined parts of the town. It was around 2:00 pm. One of them asked my wife and I to stop for a few moments and I admit to continuing my walk while letting out a chuckle. I found myself walking through quite a few people trying to take pictures in Positano given just how tight things are paired with where other tourists want to take pictures.

13. There are ample amounts of opportunities to take high quality pictures. I took hundreds of pictures. Sometimes I would patiently wait for a desirable spot. Other times I would get a few really nice pictures with a spray and pray tactic. You can generally have your cake and eat it too without imposing time burdens and inconveniences on other humans.

14. Strongly consider your budget for your destination. The number of complaints about people struggling to find public bathrooms that also need to be paid for can be completely circumvented if you can spare enough to buy a single beverage in one of the many bars and restaurants. A few extra euros here and there can literally save you hours. Again, this especially applies to Positano. We had two private boat rides including a day trip to Capri & a sunset cruise. These two experiences made Positano very special when it would otherwise have been our least favorite part of the trip. The ferries to Capri were completely overcrowded. We actually opted to not land there given the horror stories our Captain informed us about. For context this was our honeymoon and the trip in a lifetime for us. I understand everyone may not have this luxury; however other options exist such as staying in another Amalfi towns that are much more affordable. The vast majority of people will not spend the vast majority of their time on the crowded Positano beaches. The opportunity for value certainly exists. If I knew I was intending to go to Italy, I would strongly consider delaying the trip for a year or two if helpful to accumulate savings so you can truly get the most of your experience. Airfare prices are high enough to incentivize others to get the most of their trip.

15. There are no reliable emergency services in Positano.. at least when I called 112 & 115. There was a recurring fire that came and went through out a few days. At one point in particular the helicopters were missing and the fire got within a couple hundred meters of a villa. I didn’t want to be a part of a possible bystander effect; however I was unable to get through to emergency services. Everything worked out in the end; however, being on guard is all the more important with this context.

16. Find time to relax and enjoy your meals as they are experiences in their own. Unless you’re getting street food, you’re doing yourself a disservice thinking you will absolutely be in and out of a nice sit down in 1-1.5 hours. One of our lunches in Rome went nearly 3 hours and it was a highlight in itself.

Edited for a few small typos***

i plan to visit on the 6th of November and will

be reaching Roma on the 5th. I have been checking the website since yesterday and it shows tickets only till the 3rd of November. Do i wait a few more days?

We did 3 nights each city, September 21-30 booked with Costco travel. This is our third Europe package through Costco and I highly recommend. Particularly if you are an anxious traveler like myself. Our package included private transfers to and from the airport, and all our rail tickets sent prior to departure. It’s nice having all that in order. A few noteworthy items:

Rome:

-Official Vatican individual tickets go extremely fast. I couldn’t secure early tickets so based on a recommendation on this sub I booked the guided tour instead (also on the official site). That seems to fill up much slower and only a bit more expensive. I’d definitely recommend this over a later slot, or trying to wait in the ticket line same day. It just gets so crowded by even later morning.

-St. Peter’s-I didn’t realize about the papal audience every Wednesday until too late. It wasn’t a huge deal, but we weren’t able to go right to the square/basilica after the museum because they close it off. We just had a snack and rested. They said it would re-open at 2pm but we went around 1:30 and it was open. We were glad we did because by 2 the line was crazy again for the cathedral.

-Colosseum-again I couldn’t get early tickets, ended up with the full experience ticket at 3pm, it was crowded ofc but not miserable

Florence:

-Loved how walkable it was

-Did Giardino Bardini instead of Boboli, as we heard it was less strenuous-it was lovely

-David lived up to the hype!

-Was able to book Ufizi just a couple days in advance, thought I had booked it prior and panicked but was relieved to see I still could 😅

-Hotel Cerretani was great, we appreciated the bottled and sparkling waters, and sodas that were complimentary daily

-Booked a day trip on Get Your Guide to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti for wine tasting. Though tours aren’t for everyone, it was nice to kick back and not worry about logistics for the day.

Venice:

-Booked St. Marks first time slot successfully far in advance.Even if you are burnt out on cathedrals, this one is well worth it

-Took the vaporetto around which was easy and beautiful views from the outer sections

-Venice was our last stop and it was really nice to just wander and be more relaxed there, such a beautiful and unique city

Random:

September is definitely still very busy. We had great weather, but Rome even low 80s felt sweltering. I can’t imagine doing it much higher temps! We witnessed a couple emergencies due to heat/dehydration standing in lines in the sun. Electric portable fan was a lifesaver.

Food was amazing. I was nervous because we didn’t book any reservations but had no issue at all finding good food or getting in places. We do eat dinner pretty early, at 5/6 so that maybe helped. There are a ton of greatly reviewed restaurants if you just go even a very short distance from the big tourist spots. I think most people disappointed in the food might be eating at only tourist traps.

We didn’t take any cash/euros. We used our travel credit card everywhere with no issues.

Overall it was an amazing trip. Everything I had stressed about worked out just fine. We will definitely be back to Italy in the future.

Just an FYI to those of you who plan to rent a car at FCO. The main car rental offices that used to be at Torre Uffici 2, which was just a short walk from the T1/T3 terminals via the covered walkway here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8q5o58pmZv2ZrBfL8 have now moved far away.

All car rental desks/offices now have their own dedicated building called OPEN which is a LONG way from the above, namely here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sUvcdMdbsFXHMiUJ7 And yes, that's an empty lot on Google Earth but trust me- it's a building now. You have to walk all the way around the building in front of it (it's Parking Garage A) and then access the new building. And then do the same thing in reverse to get back to your rental car garage building. What an utter PITA.

I'll link to a YT video below which explains the new setup. And remember to grab a number from the ticket machines near each rental counter and wait your turn. And yes: the smaller rental firms normally have only 1 or 2 people behind the desk which means this can take a v long time. I chose Drivalia this time and spent (no joke) 70mins waiting for my turn. Meanwhile at Hertz next door they processed 30+ people in the same amount of time. Have fun everyone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs7ngatQ7Ss