My friend and I are going to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) in February. any other places we should go?

Question

I want to get the full experience of Italy, but I am not sure where to go. My friend and I are on a limited budget, so nothing too expensive.

Also, where are fun places to go that tourists might not know about in these towns?

And, how much should I expect to pay for a good but reasonably priced lunch and dinner?

Answer 1

You'll have enough to see in Rome, but with Florence I would recommend a day trip to Sienna (Pisa is a wasted side trip, countryside on the way to Sienna is beautiful as is the town. The only thing in Pisa is the tower and it's not that exciting.)

In Venice, I would suggest taking a boat trip to Murano to see the glass works.  Stick to the waterbus rather than a gondola or taxi - when on foot, just enjoy getting lost; there are new discoveries around every corner.  

Meals: pick up food that you can eat on the go or in your room during the day and save your money for nice dinners.  Ask the waiters for either the house red or white (either 1/2 or full bottle), it's not always listed on the menu but cheaper and just as good as anything on the menu.

Look for cheap but central hotels - you'll be close to everything good and save money for extras.  Bring flip flops for the showers (cheap ones you can leave behind)

Wait to buy you train tickets till you get there.  Easily done in any station.

OH - get Rick Steves Italy and study it, he maps out great walking tours and then you don't have to pay a guide for insider tips.  well worth the money.

Answer 2

Not sure about cost but the Bay of Naples area and isle of Capri are popular.

Answer 3

Genova- the biggest historic centre in europe, and Lucca!

Answer 4

Monte Cassino, Pompeii and any wine producing region.

Answer 5

go to florence and to chianti----and milano

Answer 6

Go to Milan.

*high fashion

*clean air

*litle/less crime

*priced resonably

enjoy your trip!

Answer 7

While you're in Florence, make sure to get in at least one day trip into the Tuscan countryside . . . several other respondants recommend Sienna, and to that I would add Lucca and Pisa.  

In between the cities on your list, you definitely should visit the ruins at Pompeii. . . it's one of those Italian experiences you can't have anywhere else.

As for cost, traveling in Italy is like many other world cities:  You can easily spend a fortune on dining, but look for little hole-in-the-wall trattorias to save money.  Most of them are excellent.  And my favorite "cheap eats" in Italy is the pizza.  It's the best in the world and will leave you with money in your wallet.

Enjoy your trip!

Kango Traveler

Answer 8

Modena, if you can get a tour of the Ferrari factory.

And it's pronounced MO-deh-nah.

NOT mo DEE na.

Answer 9

Visit it all! you'll be without words!!  Art, history, culture, good food (careful line), beautiful cities, beautiful people, the sun, sea ....... and Berlusconi! :))))

Answer 10

About the city you can go:

Genova (there's the acquarium!)

Pisa  (with the pending tower)

Verona (with the arena)

Perugia (chocolate!)

Caserta (near Naples, there's a "reggia" like that in Versailles)

Bari (with the "trulli")

Calabria and Sicilia (region, for their wonderful landscapes and weather!)

Milan

Answer 11

Firstly, when in Florence, take a day trip to Siena - it's unmissable and the Duomo is stunning (both outside and inside).

Secondly I recommend you stay at the Ostello Gallo d'Oro - it's only 5 minutes walk up the road from the Duomo and 2 minutes from the Acedemia (where you can gaze in awestruck wonder at  Michaelangelo's incomparable masterwork 'David') plus it's clean, sociable, and only costs about £15 a night!

Take a walking tour in all the cities you visit, especially Florence (Firenze) - you will get so much more out of your trip if you know the history of what you're looking at and how it fits in...

HTH

Philip

Answer 12

Hi,I live  in Italy,near Venice.You should go also to Verona (Romeo & Giulietta) that's 100 km far away from venice, and after to Milan.Near Florence you can visit Piza (the famous tower) and Elba Island.Near Rome there's the Naples bay and Capri island.There are many beautiful places..the only problem is the time to visit all!The medium price for a lunch can oscillates from a minimum of 15€ to a max of 30€,but all is relative..Here in Italy we have a lot of Club,and the people are very sociable..Have a nice trip

Answer 13

Capri

Answer 14

if you go to rome visit things like piazza di spagna,colosseo...but all rome is wonderful...

Answer 15

Here is a sample 10 day itinerary of Italy:  http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5...

The cost depends upon where you are.  Just as in the US larger cities are more expensive.  

In Rome go to the Catacombs, but don't over look Fosse Ardeantine (http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1...  We like to go to Ostia Antica, much better than Pompeii.  You see great archeological ruins of places where regular people lived.

If you have time on the way to or from Venice go to Ravenna.  The mosaics are amazing.  An easy train ride from Venice are Padua and Vicenza.  Many people stay in Padua rather than Venice.  

You can do well with priced fixed meals, but don't ever let the waiter open the bottle of wine on the table.  Insist on the house wine.  Wander away from the tourist areas and eat were the locals do.  One time my husband and I were in the area of Florence where the auto body shops were located.  We had a marvelous meal for $10 each.  It was a place where all the mechanics ate.  

We often go into the supermercato get chesses, cold cuts, bread, and fruit for dinner.  This cuts down on expenses and allows us to relax in our room at the end of the day.

Answer 16

From Florence make a day trip to Piza and another one to San Gimiano and Siena.

Vatican is in the Rome (kind off). San-Marino is far away

Answer 17

Lucca - it is an easy train ride train ride from Florence.  The trip is about an hour or so from Florence, so it is an easy day trip.  

The train station is right outside the medieval walls so you are basically where you want to be when you get off the train, unlike Sienna which is a trek from the train to the city and Pisa which is quite a walk from the train to the tower.

And...... I had one of the best Pizza's I have ever had there.  Pizza and pasta are fairly inexpensive meals in Italy and the pizza's are big enough to share.  The price depends on where you are.  

If you are exchanging US$ to Euro's the exchange rate is very bad right now so prices will seem high.

Answer 18

a lot of persons say this: Siracuse is better than Florence, Rome ecc.

why?

because in Siracuse there are roman, greek, arab, spanish and normans monuments (I don't know if normans is correct, the people of the nord, Sveden for exemple)

I have a lot of friends that come from other countries and they say that Siracuse is the best place of the world (like culture) but unfortunatly here we have a lot of problem, but you are tourist so come here, the city is wonderful ^^

P.S. and all the Italian knows that the mediterranean diet is the best, I've visited a lot of places but our food is the best

only french food is like the our (for me)

Answer 19

hmmm come to Modena... we have the best food here!!!... and we have very nice city...  and Rimini for close to the beach- very nice.....also Torino is for very nice to see the mountains.. I think it is nice to see the cities that you have mentioned... as they are touristic... but in my opinion is also very nice to see some less - touristic places as well, but where ever you go I hope that you will have a great trip