I’m visiting Italy in a few months, and while I’ve mapped out a rough itinerary, I’m not sure if it’s realistic:
- Saturday: Fly
Rome:
- Sunday: Pantheon, 4 Rivers Fountain, Santa Maria in Vallicella, Trevi Fountain, San Luigi dei Francesi, The Church Of S. M. Sopra Minerva, Santa Maria sopra Minerva
- Monday: Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. John Lateran, San Pietro in Vincoli, Victor Emmanuel II Monument, Capitoline Museum, Basilica San Clemente, San Giuseppe dei Falegnami, Saint Mary Major
- Tuesday: Vatican — St. Peter’s (climb dome), Vatican Museums
- Wednesday: Galleria Borghese, Santa Maria del Popolo, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Spanish Steps, Twin Churches
Pompeii & Naples:
- Thursday: Pompeii, Vesuvius Hike, Piazza Plebiscito (Basillica and Royal Palace), Capella Sansevero
Florence:
- Friday: Galleria dell'Accademia, Duomo (w/ dome), Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi, Santa Croce (Would also like to see Donatello’s David but probably not practical…)
Venice:
- Saturday: St. Mark’s Square, St. Marks Basilica, Doge’s Palace
- Sunday: Fly
Should I do 2 days in Florence and shove days 1 and 4 together in Rome? Any other suggestions for places to visit (or to not visit) or just general tips? Thanks
I'd skip Naples and Pompei and do a day in Verona. It's on the way by train from Florence and Venice. Skipping naples will save you a lot of wasted time on the train too. Verona was my favorite city in Italy.
Not OP but what is there to do in Verona?
I'm looking for the same kind of trip (without Rome because i already know Rome), and i can't decide which city is worth it between Luca, Bologna, Milan... and now Verona.
not that guy but i also like verona
one problem with italian tourist destinations is that the tourists attract people trying to make money off the tourists - not just cheap companies that dont care about their reputation but also gypsies and illegal immigrants wanting to sell you something for a euro(if you're lucky), but verona compared to the most famous cities in italy, is a little more chill in this regard but there is still the presence. infront of the main sights and shopping streets is obviously where it is most occuring, so side streets or non tourist spots are cool.
very comfy walkable city great architecture - every city has core streets that accumulate the most tourists but it is quite easy to find nice places to wander that are not overly crowded - i went in peak august holidays so maybe local italians were more inclined to be outside the city at the lakes/mountains/beaches.
there are not really famous museums compared to other cities. the core of the city has remnants of roman to medieval to renaissance to Napoleonic structures. surrounding the city are city walls with comfy grass/park areas aorund. but its also a medium sized city so it has young people who are trying modern service businesses in addition to the classic stuff - but also like every region in italy there are local specialties that are nice.
there is the roman amphitheatre in the middle of town
the old castle you can walk through but it has a museum
the large gardens on the hill above the river
Juliet's Balcony is the only tourist trap (there is no historical juliet..), but if you have a girl to impress it can be useful
but just like getting a gelato next to the river or chilling at a restaurant on the river bank are what i liked about it.
>there is no historical juliet
You got that slightly twisted, there's no historical balcony cause it got build in the '30s, but Romeo and Juliet were real
She was from the Montecchi family of Verona, he was from the Cappelletti family from Cremona (Capuleti in Shakespeare's work)
t. I live in Verona
You wont have time for Naples and Pompei, especially not if you're taking the train and visiting those sites and then taking the train back in the same day.
Seeing as you are headed to Venice by train anyway it would make more sense to have two days for Firenze (absolutely worth it, best museums and art anywhere in the world). That way you see Rome, take the train to Firenze, and then the train to Venice, instead of taking a bunch of 3 hour train journeys back and forth several days in a row. You wont see everything you want to no matter how hard you try, so keep your schedule realistic.
It has a very nice roman amphitheater, and you're on the edge of the alps so you can see the mountains. Cittadella on the path to Venice is also great, tiny walled city.
Bologna is shit.
But the airport is small and easy to get through.
Because you’re Italian which means you’re a lazy fuck…of course you don’t understand diligence or effort.
Rushing thru every single activity like the demented superficial american moron that you are is not at all about diligence. Why come here if you don't even care.
Saying that Bologna isn't interesting really highlights how silly you are
Just because you’re Italian doesn’t mean you have to be lazy and greasy. Do better. You’re embarrassing the rest of us. And Bologna is a shit hole.
Purtroppo sei un pezzente
What's your transport between the cities? (train, bus, taxi?)
Also, do you travel alone or as a couple?
We’re flying into Rome and out of Venice. Will be taking the train between cities. And traveling as a couple.
Ok. I think your 4 days in Rome are good, but i'd personally do 3 days in Florence.
Donatello's David is at the Bargello, it's in the center of the city.
As a couple, i guess you can't skip Venice.
Bologna is on your route and it would be a real pity to miss it
recommend only waiting in line for 2 major touristy things a day which i guess the list kind of looks like that already except for florence
if you can visit something by strolling around town or there is almost no queueueue then so be it, but you don't want to get tourist attraction fatigue.
the museums and monuments and cathedrals are amazing sure but being enjoying an italian vibe is more what its about
i mean if you waited in line for nothing that would still be a cool time too.
however i say this as someone who has been to many euro tourist attractions and i liked them all but ive seen a lot of stuff now, im not sacrificing a lot to go unless im with someone its new for them
Anybody here been to Ostia or Bari? I'm flying into Italy because the flight was way cheaper but I'm planning to take a ferry across the Adriatic to Greece rather than take a second flight to Greece out of FCO.
>Ostia or Bari
Do you want to get mugged or...?
I've been to Bari twice, the old town is nice, the rest of the city is nothing special. however, there are a number of really beautiful towns nearby that you can easily check out by train in the course of several day trips, such as Polignano a Mare, Matera, and Monopoli.
I am flying from Prague to Italy on the 17th of April, need to fly out of Bologna on the 26th.
Have thought of two different itineraries:
Fly into Pisa and train to Cinque Terre for a couple of nights, before making my way to Florence, spending 4-5 nights there or potentially a couple in Siena, and finishing in Bologna. This requires backtracking between Cinque Terre and Pisa.
or
Flying to Venice and spending a night or two there, take the train to Verona and spend 1-2 nights there, and then to Florence with a day trip or two to Tuscan countryside. End in Bologna. This does require backtracking as Bologna is between Verona and Florence but it's only an extra 40 minutes on high speed rail.
Travelling with my girlfriend, decent budget for daily expenses and hotels.
Basically tossing up between Cinque Terre and more time in Florence/Tuscany vs Venice/Verona and a bit less time in Florence.
I'll just say that Bologna is really expensive as far as Italy goes and the city isn't all that interesting, I spent 3-4 days there and would have removed it from my itinerary if I were to do the trip again. Try to do a daytrip to Ravenna if you have time to see the churches and orthodox mosaics, some of the best you'll find in Italy.
3 nights in Firenze (two full days) should be considered an absolute minimum, and you should consider visiting Lucca instead of Pisa. Haven't been to Cinque Terre so I can't vouch for it in either direction, but Amalfi-coast and Positano which is similar was super touristy and I felt uncomfortable the entire time I was there. I think humanoids of the female gender tend to enjoy these places though. Maybe you could fly into Genoa to reduce the detours.
Im italian and honestly reading these bizarre spreadsheet style itineraries where every second Is accounted for kind of makes me nauseous: isnt it better to do a couple cities at a time and maybe come back another time? Why travel at all when everything is on a timetable? Very low brow imo and superficiale, Imagine dropping and taking time to appreciate the sights or the ambiance, even It means not seeing everything a city has to offer in half a day. Crazy i know
Yes, but these "people" are cattle. They need to tick off all the boxes before they report back to Mr Noseberg and show Bessie who occupies the next stall all the photos for updoots. It's going to need a vacation to recover from this schedule.
yea its better to go off grid in the italian hinterlands and live with the local indigenous peoples
Because travelling is expensive and not something you can do whenever you want. It is natural that people want to see and experience as much as possible when they do get to travel, and having a timetable ensures you have a rough plan of what you want to do, but still allows you to alter it at any time you want.
Op for example is from Brazil (mentioned in another thread). Imagine you get one major trip to europe and don't know if you will ever come back. Yes, I'd do as much as possible with the days I'm paying for instead of "chilling and doing nothing" just because some lazy retard on sighsee says you can't make plans.
One stop I will recommend you add for your Roman Sunday is the church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola which is a few steps east of the Pantheon. The dome inside is actually a fake, painted onto the roof to appear 3D, as is the entire roof of the church which is basically an enormous painting of heaven that naturally looks as if it's popping out of the ceiling towards you. It's a must visit.
Sounds awesome, I’ve added it. Thanks brother
I agree with the others saying that Napoli is too far out of the way to make sense, which is tough to say because I loved it there.
For Rome, I highly recommend a bit in the southern end of the city. Before the Colosseum, take the metro down to the Piramide station, right outside theres an awesome Roman early Imperial era pyramid that was incorporated into the city walls. Then a short walk away is Caracalla's baths which really shows massive Roman imperial architecture and life. Then a short walk past the circus maximus you get to the Colosseum area. Far more impressive than the overrated spanish steps and the like, but a fraction of the crowds.
If you have a bit more time in Rome, the Park of the Aqueducts is scenic and a bit awe inspiring, it's right near the Lucio Sestio metro station. That neighborhood is also a chill and modern area to see the new city.
Elsewhere in Rome, Ponte Palatino and the nearby transtiberium neighborhood is cool.
One busy day in Florence was enough for me personally. I planned on spending longer, but wanted to get out so took day trips out. Siena was one of my favorites.
Sounds like a good trip, enjoy!
if you're going to Naples make sure to book a slot for Sansevero in advance, otherwise you're fucked
That's an insane iternerary, cut out 1/2 to 3/4th of all that out. You won't get to enjoy yourself if you are constantly running around trying to check things off your list. You should make a second trip later.
I will say of all the things I loved during my Italy trip:
>Colosseum (go to the gardens next to it too)
>St. Peter's Basilica
These are must sees imo. Get a guided tour for both of them to learn more. Just insane how big that church is in the Vatican.
I meant to say, get a guided tour for the Colosseum. I'm not sure if you can get into the Basilica without a guided tour/pass, but if you can go there I would recommend going.
Also the train and taxis/rides are your best bet for transportation. I wouldn't recommend driving unless you are familiar with the roads and driving around Italy.
Excellent itinerary. I'd recommend flying into Venice if you can, spend a couple of days there, and then start moving southernly, so you're not bouncing back and forth. I used the water taxi as a cheap boat tour of the Venice, which was pretty cool. Also a great thing to do at night is this ceviche tour where you get taken to various trattorias and pubs for a specialized appetizer and a matched wine. It was a unique experience and a lot of fun.
The Catacombs in Rome are a must-see imo
Toward the end of my trip, in Naples, I took the ferry for Ischia for a day and a night. On Ischia they have this centuries-old water park of about 50 volcanically-heated mineral pools, all of different temperatures, with a nice cafe at the top of the mountain and a private beach at the bottom. That was a nice way to unwind after a pretty hectic few weeks of sightseeing.
>samefag
oh shit, I just reread and realized you're planning to do all of this in a week
This is more like a 2-week itinerary. You should trim some stuff if you've only got a week. And definitely fly into one place and fly out of another place, save yourself some travel time
the allure of the famous cities is understandable
it is not the only aspect of italy
there are secondary cities that are less crowded that also have cool stuff you've not seen if you havent been to italy.
then small towns and villages and outside the city areas are also great.
every region of italy has its own draws.
at the same time if you do only go to the cities - don't feel obligated to see all of the most famous tourist attractions. obviously if something is really important to you then go for it, but having something come up spontaneously that changes your schedule can be quite fun on a trip, or some of the lesser known/crowded tourist attractions also.
nothing wrong with walking around a city to search out the landmarks as you plan to, but the main streets are annoying to spend a lot of time on
I am also planning a trip with my wife and 1yr old to Italy. I am not a fan of cities or crowds, but I love the architecture of Italy. I was thinking of doing Venice (2) Cinque Terre (2) Sienna (2) and Rome (4) in March. I wouldn't mind going into smaller towns, but I would have no idea what to do there.
Also, how much Italian should I learn? I was thinking of just thank you, no thanks, I don't speak Italian do you speak English, ect.?
I'm assuming you've already seen Florence? Your train both in and out of Siena will go through there, and if you like architecture you at least have to see the duomo, don't have to spend the night. Siena was incredible though. I believe the Florence to Siena train also goes through Arezzo, so could spend a bit of time there if you wanted.
You dont need to spend much time learning. "Non parlo italiano", good morning, good afternoon, please, thank you. Unironically if you know any Spanish and you need to communicate in not English, just try the spanish and itll probably be close enough for them to understand.
Thanks, I haven't been to Florence, but I've read that they are equal, so I was planning on going to the less "busy" place. I'm basing the city ranks off of picrel. I am hoping to see the Duomo though
Cities are ranked red --> green --> blue
Yes, and Firenze and SIena are both red. Do you have a point other than to demonstrate your lack of reading comprehension?
To me, the heavy hitters of Florence were more impressive than anything in Siena, but overall Siena had a better atmosphere and was more charming, while still having plenty that was interesting. I agree with your division of nights, I'd just schedule your trains either in or out to spend several hours in Florence as a layover, dont need too long there. Uffizi is overrated, Vatican and Capitoline museums in Rome are better anyhow.
I said it earlier here somewhere, but in Rome I highly recommend the Caracalla's baths, aqueducts park, and piramide station pyramid.
>Both Me
I just wanted everyone to know what the colors meant
Thanks, I'll make sure to stop in Florence as well, and that tip for Rome
Caserta. Amazing city that have an awesome castle with a enormous garden/bio park connected where you can rent electrical bikes and ride around
Caserta is actually a shithole, but nearby Capua is great, it was an incredibly important town during the Roman-Carthaginian wars and has an amphitheater that is far better than the one in Rome (not in size, but in being able to walk everywhere in, on and under it) which is also where Spartacus started his revolt.
Interesting, both are probably out of the question for my trip though. They seem too far south
>Not even a full day for Pompeii/Naples, Florence, or Venice
Cut out two of these destinations, retard. You don't have the time