What should I do while I am in Italy? How much money do I need? (Not including pre-paids such as hotels, etc.)

Question

I will be visiting Venice, Turin, Milan, Rome, and Naples. I want to take tours of the cities, but I also would like some tips on non-tourist attractions to visit; local restaurants, small shops, parks, etc. And is there anything that is a must-do while I am in any of these towns that a travel source wouldn't list?

Answer 1

Every Museum you go in will cost you about 11 Euro... but every one of them is worth it.  Also, in some cathedrals, there is a small fee to see special things... like in Venice, the cathedral there, San Marco, has a fee to get into the back and see .... geez, I don't even remember what was back there, but it was worth it!  Not visiting Florence?  Too bad!   Italy is not cheap.  Plan to spend at least $20 for dinner, if not more.

Answer 2

In Venice take a tour of the Palazzo Ducale (Dodge's Palace) and check out the dungeons, they're very cool.  Don't bother with a gondola ride unless you want to spend $100.  If you befriend a gondolier you may get it for free.  ;)

I highly recommend checking an art mosaic workshop in Venice.  If you're there long enough, you can even take classes.

Have fun!

Answer 3

I'm a Turin expert, as I lived there from Jan 2005 to April 2006!

If you've got more than a day don't miss Castello di Rivoli.  It's an amazing contemporary art museum located outside the city center (take the metro to the penultimate stop and then bus #36 to the end of the line) in a restored castle (old + new) with beautiful mountain views.  If you're trying to save money in Torino I recommend a little bar near the city center for lunch.  For $4 you can get a "monopiatto" which is more like a bowl of pasta plus two side dishes, plus bread.  I forget the name of the bar, but it's the only one at the corner of Via San Secondo and Via Pastrengo (six blocks from Porta Nuova station).  There's a nice bar called Chocowine at Via Botero 8 (just off Via Garibaldi).  The owner's girlfriend is an English teacher from the UK (but he's Italian) and they dish up free munchies and good wine at great prices.  Unlike other wine bars this one is full of people in their late-20s (rather than their late-50s!).  To get a feel for Turin you should consider renting a Dario Argento movie ("Do You Like Hitchcock" is a newer one, "Deep Red" is an older one).  Turin is considered to be the point at which black and white magic triangles meet, so there are lots of spooky ghost stories about the city and many horror movies have been filmed in the city and the surrounding areas.  Turin has some AMAZING gelato- if you like dark chocolate you CANNOT miss Testa (just a bit north of the corner of Corso Re Umberto and Corso Einaudi) and their famous "Testa Nero" flavour.  If dark chocolate isn't your thing then go to Siculo (Via San Quentino 31, just past Corso Galileo Ferraris) for an amazing selection of CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP homemade gelato and Sicilian granite.  If you go to the Cinema Museum, backtrack a few meters to Via Verdi 33 for Tre da Tre's super-cheap but very classy pizza lunches (EUR 5 gets you pizza and pop in a posh restaurant).  The cities cheapest (and nicest) internet cafe is across the street if you need to send home some emails.  

See my personal site below for more info on Turin.

PS - PIZZERIA TRIANON in Naples is the world's best pizzeria.  Mozzarella DOC is the best pizza they make. Don't miss it.  Seriously.  I used to book stopovers in Naples just to have their pizza!  They like, actually won the "World's Best Pizza" award, and DO NOT listen to any nay-sayers who say that the nearby Da Michele is better.  IT IS NOT.  They're open lunch and dinner, but not in-between.

Answer 4

Sounds like a great trip you have planned! Take lots of money!!

no....seriously though, I found Italy to be rather expensive as far as restaurants and hotels were concerned....HOWEVER. I was there in July, the heart of the tourist season ,and that makes a Hugh difference. I went to Rome, Florence, and Naples/Capri. My favorite was Florence, because of the art exhibits. I actually enjoyed it more so than the Vatican.....Rome has tons and tons of stuff to see. Actually, EVERYWHERE in Italy Does....

I have not been to Venice, but hope to go next year....

If your going to splurge, I recommend that you do it on your Hotel Room. Your comfort is extremely important if you are to have a good time. That's not to say that  the smaller, cheaper hotels are not nice. Just make sure you do your homework...

If you are a coffee drinker and like American coffee,  TAKE YOUR OWN!!!!!   My only real complaint about Italy was that damed Espresso stuff! Seems that's all everyone over there drinks. I finally got some American coffee at McDonald's, but it was 3rd rate!!!!

Anyway, have a great trip!