OT: Italy travel recommendations

[Leonard23]

Interested in an Italy trip and this board always has great info. Any recommendations/tips for locations, hotels, sights/tours, restaurants, etc. and what to avoid. Leaning towards Rome, Venice, and Positano with visits to Capri, Sorrento, Naples, and maybe Pompeii over 8-10 days. Thanks.

 

[yesrutgers01]

We did Rome and Venice along with Paris.

In Rome- if you want to also tour the Vatican- make sure to hire a guide- well worth it and they are not that expensive. While they can not officially get you to the front of the line- they do get you near the front and save at least an hour there- also, you do not have to be with a group of 50 or so doing the normal run around- a guide will get you past those groups and and make it much more private. Wish I could remember the name of the restaurant we went to but our hotel gave us a great place to eat- small little family run place, we made a reservation and led to a table that already had plates of antipasti on it- we didn't know what to do at first- the waitress, who was the daughter- just says mangia - we are just eating non stop- got a jug of wine and they keep bringing food out- the Dad was in the kitchen and you are seeing him slicing the meats etc...We are so full and figured that was it- and then are asked what we are in the mood for- fish, pasta, meat, heavy, light...I got osso bucco and the wife got this very light pasta dish that literally melted in your mouth- another jug of wine and dessert. Came out to the equivalent of $50...

Venice- First thing to consider- get a hotel that is on a canal or close to the water. There are no cars, bikes or anything in Venice- so, if you are in the middle of the city, you are lugging your bags through the streets to your hotel.
We were there before smart phones- I think it was 2005...So- when getting directions in Venice- there are the smallest alley's that they call streets. Easiest city in the world to get lost.
But- Venice should be a bucket list.

 

[HPNJRUfan]

Did Venice, Florence (friends wedding), and Rome, followed by Santorini-Naxos-Athens this past fall... No specific recommendations right now (everything was great!) but I'm sure others will...

 

[cshelley]

I might be coming from a different perspective but I would 100% go to Napoli and the surrounding areas of Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii.

Venice is packed with tourists but it's so unique, the city is something that I have never seen before and would recommend going. Florence is nice but small and probably won't need to spend too much time there. Just my opinion based on my experience but I'm sure you could find lots to do. I cant speak on Rome as I was only there for less than a day.

I never made it out there but the northern part of the country is beautiful and would recommend visiting. Everyone I know that's been to that area has loved it. Como and a day trip to Lugano Switzerland is what I was planning with my mom when she came to visit me in London but we ended up not going, but it looks amazing.

Lastly just a personal tip, but avoid restaurants that sell Spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken parm etc... Italian cuisine is very different to American Italian cuisine and I found that out the hard way when I visited haha, but I was pleasantly surprised I did!

 

[DowntownT_Brown]

If you have even the slightest interest in history then I expect you would find Pompeii fascinating, the level of detail there is incredible.

I would also recommend Florence - The Duomo di Firenze, the Baptistry, the David and you can do all that in one day. If you can get reservations at the Accademia I would do that as I recall a couple hour wait without.

 

[RU from Jersey]

If you are basing yourself in Rome and want to see Pompeii(highly recommend it) you can do it in one day by taking the high speed train to Naples and short local train ride to Pompeii. It will give you enough time in Pompeii and if you go early enough you will have time to see some parts of Naples(although Naples is not my favorite city) before you head back to Rome.

 

[RUScrew85]

Interested in an Italy trip and this board always has great info. Any recommendations/tips for locations, hotels, sights/tours, restaurants, etc. and what to avoid. Leaning towards Rome, Venice, and Positano with visits to Capri, Sorrento, Naples, and maybe Pompeii over 8-10 days. Thanks.

@MrsScrew has private tour folks. Top shelf.

 

[HPNJRUfan]

Venice was certainly interesting and unique, and who knows how much longer it'll be around... The Accademia in Florence was great. Duomo was beautiful but only saw it from the outside. Did a wine tour in Chianti which was a lot of fun... Rome was certainly the biggest "city" - didn't do the Vatican as that would have taken up a whole day but it was cool to sit in the "nosebleeds" of the Colosseum, had a terrific meat and cheese sandwich from a mom/pop shop, and also got Alfredo at the place it was invented, Trevi Fountain...

Definitely take the train between cities. Easy, on time, and great scenery.

Greece was great too.

 

[ClassOf02]

For me, Sicily and the Amalfi Coast are unbeatable.

Florence is great, but hard to do for more than maybe 2-3 days…would recommend a couple days in Florence and then renting a villa in Tuscany if you’re into that sort of thing.

Personally, not a huge fan of Rome compared to other major European cities. But if you’ve never been, you have to go and do the must-visits. Agree with the poster above who said to get a tour guide to help you through the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s, etc. Not expensive at all and helps to cut down on the lines/wait times quite a bit.

Haven’t really done northern Italy yet, but I’m considering it (combined with Switzerland) for Christmas/New Years this year.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Interested in an Italy trip and this board always has great info. Any recommendations/tips for locations, hotels, sights/tours, restaurants, etc. and what to avoid. Leaning towards Rome, Venice, and Positano with visits to Capri, Sorrento, Naples, and maybe Pompeii over 8-10 days. Thanks.

8-10 days is a good amount of time but if you visit 5 places you will spend most of your time on trains, planes and automobiles. I would recommend 3 places at most. My favorites were Sorrento/Almafi Coast for beach/coast and Florence for Art/Culture. Tuscany for wine.

 

[brgRC90]

I was just in Rome last September. 1000000% see Pompeii. It's better than anything in Rome and one of the most amazing things I've ever seen--a giant time machine to ancient Rome. You really get a sense of what living there was like. They have a museum attached to it with relics from the city, though most are in Naples. Set aside time for it. You can take the high speed rail there and back in a day from Rome but that's kind of pushing it if you really want to see the city.

Reserve all museums in advance. They get very, very crowded. The Vatican museums were literally wall to wall people. The Colosseum gets swamped and the area around it is so crowded that cell phones towers are jammed to the point of uselessness. Plan accordingly. The Capitoline museums are huge and surprisingly uncrowded and have some of the most famous relics from ancient Rome; definitely worth seeing. A Roma pass gives you access to many museums--look into it.

They dine outside in a big way in Rome. Trastavere is the biggest restaurant district. It is probably very touristy in the summer, like everywhere else, but worth seeing. Lots of restaurants woth good portions and prices. However, like elsewhere in Rome the menus are mostly Roman and Neapolitan food. If you want other regional Italian cuisines you'll have to do research.

Finally, Rome is a great city but I don't find it charming. It's filthy like no place you've ever seen in the US and graffiti is everywhere. There is a good chance buses or trains will be broken down or something closed. It's not a myth about Italy. It's not well-run like other western European countries. Plan for it.

 

[ashokan]

I did Rome, Venice, Florence with short stops in Sienna and Ravena (winter trip so not crazed).
Some towns are good for "along the way" stops and not a whole day or overnight
Venice is like the Grand Canyon - worth seeing but not for long compared to other sites imo.
Venetian summers are tourist hell with separate menus for tourists.

If you like art there is a lot to see in Rome (Vatican Museums) and Florence (Uffizi). Some great works are located in churches. Michelangelo's statue of Moses is in San Pietro in Vincoli (Rome). Pontormo's Deposition from the Cross in Church of Santa Felicita in Florence. Rome of course has the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Forum, Castel Sant'Angelo and such.

I was with a university art history tour so everyone knew what to see and where. The group went to Pisa but I skipped it to stay in Florence. I'm sorry I never got to Pompeii and would have skipped the 2 days in Venice. A week for Rome and Florence is ok for the art.

 

[Zak57]

Do the Uffizi and Academia(The David) in Florence. Get tix in advance for both. Florence > Rome. Remember meat in Florence and pasta in Rome. The Trastevere district in Rome is the new hotspot so try and hit that up.

Sorrento and Capri my favorite. If you want great views go to Anacapri and take the ride up to the top via the ski lift. Blue Grotto is a big must for most.

Pompeii is very cool and Naples is gritty but I liked it. Don't need much time there. Can try some of the famous Neapolitan pizza spots.

 

[yesrutgers01]

A couple of things that are also super important- as my wife refused to believe me prior to the trip but is now a believer. Pack only bare minimum of clothes. You will buying clothes while you are there. If you can- even if you only have a single suitcase of clothes you are bringing- take 2 each and just spread your stuff out- when you buy on the trip- make sure all tags are off new stuff and pack into that extra room to avoid taxes on it.
My wife over packed going- she had 3 suitcases...we have to buy 3 suitcases while we were there just to get everything home.

Super comfy sneakers or shoes are a must. Again- the wife didn't listen and went with fashion- only sneakers she brought were LV and not made for walking those cities.

 

[NotInRHouse]

I think you can do Rome in 2-3 days and Florence and Naples in 1-2.

Rome and Florence are very touristy. Naples is the opposite. Depends on what you're looking for.

In Rome the Vatican Museum is an absolute must and IMO a top 10 globally. Even if you don't like religion it has everything. Even Nero's orgy tub lol.

Highly recommend fried artichokes in the Jewish quarter and carbonara everywhere. Great food at the Mercato Centrale by Termini.

In Naples...it's all about the food. Yes it makes Rome look clean but the street scenes are worth it. Pizza, fried pizza, sfogliatelle, baba, zeppoli, struffoli...and everything is much cheaper and less overwhelmed by tourists.

Underrated in Italy for me is Milan. Feels like northern Europe, but Italian food and culture. Not touristy. Reasonable prices. Aperitivo everywhere. Could be worth a day or two if you fly in there, I believe United goes from EWR and then you can take the train down.

The intercity trains in Italy do run late sometimes but they're pretty efficient. I wouldn't hesitate to use. It's like an hour from Rome to Naples or Florence and 3 to Milan.

 

[knightfan7]

If you are basing yourself in Rome and want to see Pompeii(highly recommend it) you can do it in one day by taking the high speed train to Naples and short local train ride to Pompeii. It will give you enough time in Pompeii and if you go early enough you will have time to see some parts of Naples(although Naples is not my favorite city) before you head back to Rome.

Never been there but from what I've been told by 2 different people, you don't want to be in Pompeii on a hot day.

 

[MadRU]

Rome and the Vatican are great, and pretty much any restaurant has great food. The area around the Trevi Fountain has some great little restaurants down alleys. As previously mentioned tour guides are worth it.

If you do go to Pompeii, a tour guide is a must, got to hear some great stories and facts. Be prepared to walk on very uneven ground though. But was very fascinating and highly recommend it.

 

[Zak57]

We always use Viator for tours and never had problems with them. There will be a million offerings for Vatican, Pompeii and anywhere else you might want to visit. It's a Trip Advisor company I believe. Can run a little bit of money depending but worth it. just make sure to look at reviews/ratings for each tour.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Also- if you are booking a train - when they say first class- it is not a private car like you would expect- it just means you have a reserved seat.
We had used a travel agent when we did our trip- I had asked her to book 5 star hotels- Told her to think (St. Regis) and first class on the train from Venice to Rome. We got on that train expecting a little private area and just had a reserve seat.
Dining car meals were better than anything you see here in the states though.

BTW- I changed 2 of the 3 hotels she booked for us- only one she got right was the Gritti Palace in Venice.

 

[Mike from MD]

I found Italy to be the easiest country for travel by all modes of transportation. I worked and lived in Milan for a period. It’s an easy city to navigate with many points of interest (Duomo, Forteleza Castle, museums). I had lots of time to walk the streets and meet the locals. Lake Como is about a 45 minute drive north. You can ride the lake ferries from town to town at a low cost. You can also take a train from Milan to Garda Lake, Verona and Venice.

You can book a private food tour in the Parma region and try cheese, balsamic vinegars and hams (including culatello).

The coast between Genoa and France has many beautiful beaches, but you will likely need to pay for access to beach clubs for day use.

Spent a week in Livorno to attend a surf music festival (Surfer Joe’s). Florence is nearby, but is quite crowded in the summer. Pisa is nearby as well.

Basic advice - don’t create a complex itinerary, relax and enjoy all you can see and do. Perhaps focus on one region for a week before moving to the next.

Forgot to add - all of Europe goes on vacation in late July/early August. Many businesses and restaurants close down.

 

[mosito]

I did 2 trips.

1) Flew into Milan, rented a car. Spent night in Genoa - visited house where Chris Columbus was born. Drove to Nice, FR for 2 nights... went to Monaco for the casinos, caught a Nice Soccer game with my dad. Drove to Florence with a stop at Pisa. 4 nights in Florence for a ton of touristy stuff using the HopOn/Off buses. Drove to Milan for 3 nights - Saw an AC milan game and also the last supper from Leo.

2)Flew into Milan. Took train South to Naples. Took a 1hr taxi to Positano for 3 nights (did a boat ride to Capri and public transportation to nearby towns). I believe we took a train from Salerno(maybe Naples) to Rome for 3 nights - did the colosseum and Vatican as well as other touristy stuff. Took a train to Florence for 4 more nights (during our stay here we took a train to Cinque Terre, did a Vespa trip to a vineyard where we handmade a 3-course meal, as well as touristy Florence stuff - also took public transportation to nearby towns). Took the train back to Milan and left.

Comments

• I liked driving in Italy. It got a little hectic in Florence and it could be confusing. But I also like driving in NYC and 3rd World Countries........ so if NYC intimidates you, then you can still drive, just do Hop On Hop Off buses at the major cities.
• I liked the Hop On Hop Off buses in Florence, Milan and Rome. Lets you hit major parts, they are typically 3 day passes if i recall correctly. And you don't have to drive within the city
• Never drivin a motorcycle, i thought i would bust my face with a Vespa, but it was fun. My friend almost fell and she got scared and went in a vehicle that was provided with the Vespa/Meal to the Tuscan hill vineyard. You can probably google Vespa Tuscany Tour.
• My 2nd trip was entirely on public transportation.... everything seemed straightforward. Don't recall ever getting lost. We did a lot of walking in this trip as well.
• Loved Cinque Terre. Wish we would have spent the night here. but we only had a day planned.
• Did a train trip to Lucca from Florence stopping at a couple of towns. Rented bikes and rode around the wall/road that surrounds the town. That was fun.
• Loved Rome
• Many places to get good food, but get used to the 3-P's - Pasta/Pizza/Panini's. Don't get the lone Chicken or Steak item on a menu with many 3-P offerings. By the end of our trip my dad was tired of the food and wanted steak/rice/beans. I took him to a steakhouse (food was good). I did have a steak at a pasta place (the lone item) and it sucked really bad even though the place had good reviews. The pasta dishes were excellent.
• If you go to the Colosseum, hit "Ristoro Della Salute" across the street(4.4 on google at the moment). this was 7 years ago, but it is still the same restaurant. If you followed them on facebook, you got a 50% off coupon when you reserved through facebook or their website(i forgot exactly). I had a Steak (probably top5 in my life), my sis and friend had pasta. All the meals per top notch as we shared a few bites. It was worth full price, but the 50% was sweet. I was disappointed that i didn't get a chance to go again.
• It was cool to hit Monaco for an evening and see all the $200K+ vehicles and get great pictures. My mom was impressed.
• During my driving trip we stayed at hotels. During my public transportation trip we stayed at AIRBNBs.

My driving trip was with my parents. Since they are older i needed to consider doing stuff that didn't require too much walking. So the Hop off buses were helpful.

My public transportation trip was with a friend and sister. Lots of walking... long days trying to hit as many spots as we could.


I probably forgot a ton of stuff since i did this 7 and 9 years ago.

 

[brgRC90]

8-10 days is a good amount of time but if you visit 5 places you will spend most of your time on trains, planes and automobiles.

I agree. I'm always baffled by people taking these overly ambitious trips trying to see too many places in a short period of time. You won't actually see much except a few headline monuments and bridges and you'll be exhausted by traveling. Youll just be able to say "I went to city a, b and c. Didn't do much though..." It takes much more time to get around and cover distances than people think.

 

[MadRU]

We also did the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs. Very spiritual place. My knees were bloody by the end, would do it again but wear different pants.

 

[RC1991]

I still have family in the Naples area (Ercolano and Portici). Would definitely recommend Pompeii but also Herculaneum if you want to experience even more well preserved tile work, etc. it’s a smaller excavation since most is still under the city that was built on top of it. Ischia is another island in the Bay of Naples you may want to consider as it’s frequented less by tourists and more by Italians but Capri is probably more upscale with shopping and of course beautiful as well. If you go to Sorrento check out Gelateria Primavera. It’s a gelato and pastry shop that is run by a friend of my cousin. In addition to gelato they have amazing Neopolitan pastries, but caveat is I haven’t been there in over 20 years. If time allows would also suggest if you could, to make your way to the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily.

 

[batts]

Been to Rome, Venice, Lake Como, Florence and Milan about 6 years ago. Get yourself a good Travel Agent who can place you in 3 and 4 star hotels at significant discounts. Most top hotels offer a free buffet breakfast which are outstanding. Remember: No need tip the wait staff at restaurants as they are paid a pretty good salary. (Admittedly, I succumbed to the strong tempation to tip because that's who I am.) I echo the tempation to get a good tour guide for the Coliseum, the Vatican. Venice and a Tuscany wine tour but do not book a tour for more than a few hours because it becomes a very long tour. One of the highlites was taking a tour in the wine country of Tuscany because they offer a free lunch of great Italian delicacies, along with the wine. We had a driver takes us to two wineries. The drive through the countryside of Tuscany was breathtaking. All the hotel accommodations and tours were set up in advance by our travel agent. We travelled from different cities by car service and train, which was also set up in advance. I would be more than happy to recommend my travel agent upon request.

 

[RobertG]

Naples is an interesting place to visit, lots of history and a lot of things to see, but, it can be rough in places just like any city. If you do go to Naples get tickets to view the Veiled Christ

The Veiled Christ | Sansevero Chapel Museum

The Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino is one of the most famous and impressive sculptures in the world. It is located in the heart of the Sansevero Chapel in Naples.

www.museosansevero.it

Pompeii is fascinating and Positano is beautiful.

In Positano eat at Lo Guarracino great food and magnificent view.

 

[29PAS]

I did 2 trips.

1) Flew into Milan, rented a car. Spent night in Genoa - visited house where Chris Columbus was born. Drove to Nice, FR for 2 nights... went to Monaco for the casinos, caught a Nice Soccer game with my dad. Drove to Florence with a stop at Pisa. 4 nights in Florence for a ton of touristy stuff using the HopOn/Off buses. Drove to Milan for 3 nights - Saw an AC milan game and also the last supper from Leo.

2)Flew into Milan. Took train South to Naples. Took a 1hr taxi to Positano for 3 nights (did a boat ride to Capri and public transportation to nearby towns). I believe we took a train from Salerno(maybe Naples) to Rome for 3 nights - did the colosseum and Vatican as well as other touristy stuff. Took a train to Florence for 4 more nights (during our stay here we took a train to Cinque Terre, did a Vespa trip to a vineyard where we handmade a 3-course meal, as well as touristy Florence stuff - also took public transportation to nearby towns). Took the train back to Milan and left.

Comments

• I liked driving in Italy. It got a little hectic in Florence and it could be confusing. But I also like driving in NYC and 3rd World Countries........ so if NYC intimidates you, then you can still drive, just do Hop On Hop Off buses at the major cities.
• I liked the Hop On Hop Off buses in Florence, Milan and Rome. Lets you hit major parts, they are typically 3 day passes if i recall correctly. And you don't have to drive within the city
• Never driving a motorcycle, i thought i would bust my face with a Vespa, but it was fun. My friend almost fell and she got scared and went in a vehicle that was provided with the Vespa/Meal to the Tuscan hill vineyard. You can probably google Vespa Tuscany Tour.
• My 2nd trip was entirely on public transportation.... everything seemed straightforward. Don't recall ever getting lost. We did a lot of walking in this trip as well.
• Loved Cinque Terre. Wish we would have spent the night here. but we only had a day planned.
• Did a train trip to Lucca from Florence stopping at a couple of towns. Rented bikes and rode around the wall/road that surrounds the town. That was fun.
• Loved Rome
• Many places to get good food, but get used to the 3-P's - Pasta/Pizza/Panini's. Don't get the lone Chicken or Steak item on a menu with many 3-P offerings. By the end of our trip my dad was tired of the food and wanted steak/rice/beans. I took him to a steakhouse (food was good). I did have a steak at a pasta place (the lone item) and it sucked really bad even though the place had good reviews. The pasta dishes were excellent.
• If you go to the Colosseum, hit "Ristoro Della Salute" across the street(4.4 on google at the moment). this was 7 years ago, but it is still the same restaurant. If you followed them on facebook, you got a 50% off coupon when you reserved through facebook or their website(i forgot exactly). I had a Steak (probably top5 in my life), my sis and friend had pasta. All the meals per top notch as we shared a few bites. It was worth full price, but the 50% was sweet. I was disappointed that i didn't get a chance to go again.
• It was cool to hit Monaco for an evening and see all the $200K+ vehicles and get great pictures. My mom was impressed.
• During my driving trip we stayed at hotels. During my public transportation trip we stayed at AIRBNBs.

My driving trip was with my parents. Since they are older i needed to consider doing stuff that didn't require too much walking. So the Hop off buses were helpful.

My public transportation trip was with a friend and sister. Lots of walking... long days trying to hit as many spots as we could.


I probably forgot a ton of stuff since i did this 7 and 9 years ago.

I totally agree with you on driving in Italy. This was a while ago but we flew to Munich then drove all over with Rome, Florence and Venice being the main destinations. Drivers were a little aggressive but understand the value of position and momentum. We had an under powered Fiat Panda and it was fine in town and on the autostrada. Food was great everywhere, wine was even better and I became so infatuated with the country and culture that I bought a Celeste green Bianchi racing bike when I got back. Still have it.

 

[Leonard23]

Thinking, Rome 2 nights, Venice 3 nights, and Positano 3 nights so I have time in each place and can make some other stops down the Amalfi Coast.

 

[Armor and Sword]

Underrated in Italy for me is Milan. Feels like northern Europe, but Italian food and culture. Not touristy. Reasonable prices. Aperitivo everywhere. Could be worth a day or two if you fly in there, I believe United goes from EWR and then you can take the train down.

I was in Milan last year for a brief trip. I would go back again. The Duomo is the big tourist attraction and they get the Winter Olympics in 2026, but there was no Olympics swag that I could find (Got Paris 2024 stuff when I was there in 2022).

One big tip is bring Euros. Italy is more into cash payment than other European countries. There are restaurants and other places that are cash only.

One thing I learned is that it is true about getting away from tourist zones for food. You can wander in all the blocks between the Duomo and Central Station and find all kinds of big and small places to eat at a decent price.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Thinking, Rome 2 nights, Venice 3 nights, and Positano 3 nights so I have time in each place and can make some other stops down the Amalfi Coast.

For your trip to capri I would recommend a guide. If you do the Vatican don’t plan to do too much else the same day. Same for the coliseum. Get a guide.

 

[Caliknight]

Venice was certainly interesting and unique, and who knows how much longer it'll be around... The Accademia in Florence was great. Duomo was beautiful but only saw it from the outside. Did a wine tour in Chianti which was a lot of fun... Rome was certainly the biggest "city" - didn't do the Vatican as that would have taken up a whole day but it was cool to sit in the "nosebleeds" of the Colosseum, had a terrific meat and cheese sandwich from a mom/pop shop, and also got Alfredo at the place it was invented, Trevi Fountain...

Definitely take the train between cities. Easy, on time, and great scenery.

Greece was great too.

Driving in Italy is really fun too. Great way to get around and see the country. Except in Naples. Craziest drivers I've ever seen, and that includes Manila.

Big spots are covered. You didn't hear it from me OP but hit Ischia. Stay away from everywhere else in the Amalfi.

 

[B0ski]

Positano, along with the rest of the Amalfi Coast, is absolutely beautiful. The amount of steps to climb in Positano is crazy but that depends on where you are staying. Agree on tours for the Vatican and Colosseum in Rome. High speed trains are clean, fast and on time. Trains allow you to see the countryside and less stressful than driving.

Some great deals on leather if Florence if that’s your thing. Had some phenomenal meals in Rome and Positano but did find that many of the restaurants/cafes all offered the same type foods.

TBH as beautiful as parts of the country were, was a little disappointed in how gritty it was overall. I guess the image of it I had didn’t quite match up to the reality. Glad I went, would probably try elsewhere next trip I take.

 

[Mike from MD]

Another point about driving - be aware that speed cameras are everywhere and honor the signs (red circle on white background) that restrict non-resident traffic. Driving apps may not pick that up. Otherwise, you’ll be receiving fines by mail 6 months later.

 

[gmay8]

Thinking, Rome 2 nights, Venice 3 nights, and Positano 3 nights so I have time in each place and can make some other stops down the Amalfi Coast.

I really enjoyed Ravello near Positano. It's a sleepy, very historic town way way up in the cliffs. It has a church that's like 1,000 year old and some other cool little shops. It's worth the trip from Positano, probably 20 mins away.
Capri was very cool as well.

 

[RUevolution36]

Food recommends:

Culinary City Guides | Katie Parla

Travel with Katie! Her culinary guides are based on personal experience eating and drinking her way across the globe.

katieparla.com

Katie has local NJ and NB ties and knows her food.

Tasting Rome by Katie Parla

Jersey girl made good, real good When I met up with Katie Parla at a Princeton coffeehouse, she was finishing up the first round of a U.S. tour for the cookbook she recently wrote with coauthor Kristina Gill, Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City (Clarkson...

ediblejersey.ediblecommunities.com

 

[ClassOf02]

I really enjoyed Ravello near Positano. It's a sleepy, very historic town way way up in the cliffs. It has a church that's like 1,000 year old and some other cool little shops. It's worth the trip from Positano, probably 20 mins away.
Capri was very cool as well.

YES! Ravello was incredible. Close to Positano, right up the cliffs from the town of Amalfi itself. Small, charming, historic, and apparently known for hand-painted pottery/ceramics. Got my mom a hand-painted platter from there.

 

[Njbound1]

Did Northern Italy last year. Lake Como was beautiful, but we actually like Lake Garda better. Absolutely gorgeous place. I would do Venice, because it is so unique, but be vigilant. We didn’t have any issues, but there are pickpocket warning signs all over the place.

 

[RUevolution36]

Other random things...

- The Capuchin Crypt in Rome is very cool.
- Don't try to cram too much sightseeing in a day. Sitting at a cafe or outdoor restaurant and relaxing, taking the environment in is a lot of the charm of Italy.
- Reserve a time for your Vatican tour.
- Rome is pretty walkable if you're in decent shape. Just beware of the vespas zipping all over.
- The walk from the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo and then across the Ponte Sant'Angelo bridge is a great experience
- Depending on the time of year you go, Pompeii can be really really hot. There is no shade and tree cover there.
- Have lunch at one of the restaurants on the water in Positano
- Capri is really nice, but only worthwhile if you stay at least a night or two
- Town of Amalfi isn't worth the day trip visit. Just hang out in Positano.

And it should bear repeating. Don't try to do too much. I've been to Italy 5x and still have a lot to see/do.

 

[RUevolution36]

Interested in an Italy trip and this board always has great info. Any recommendations/tips for locations, hotels, sights/tours, restaurants, etc. and what to avoid. Leaning towards Rome, Venice, and Positano with visits to Capri, Sorrento, Naples, and maybe Pompeii over 8-10 days. Thanks.

8-10 days is not enough to hit up all of these, IMO. the last trip, i brough my wife and in-laws. We did 12 days. Rome-Sorrento with Pompeii-Amalfi Coast day trips. Traveled by train.

 

[oldtimer67]

Prior to Covid and my health problems I visited Italy 2 to 3 times a year. All to Piemonte. I note that Piemonte is not mentioned once in this thread, probably because it has no art or churches worth seeing. However, if you are seriously into wine or northern Italian food, and are not fond of tourist packed locales, it is a great place to visit.

If anyone has any questions about Piemonte just ask me.