Here are a few tips from my trip to Italy in May 2010.
General
If you’re just going to Italy, you don’t really need a Eurail pass
If you have a Eurail pass, make sure you get it stamped at the train station, and dated the date you are leaving, before you get on the train (the inspector will nab you 80 euros if you haven’t filled it in). If you can prebook your dates online, that will save you 100 euro for a travel agent to do it
Have espresso standing at the bar – 1 euro compared to 4+ euros sitting at a table
At 6-8 pm, most restaurants have a happy hour when you can order a drink and you get tapas and nibblies included – good value for 8 euros
If you have a Eurail pass, make sure you get it stamped at the train station, and dated the date you are leaving, before you get on the train (the inspector will nab you 80 euros if you haven’t filled it in). If you can prebook your dates online, that will save you 100 euro for a travel agent to do it
Have espresso standing at the bar – 1 euro compared to 4+ euros sitting at a table
At 6-8 pm, most restaurants have a happy hour when you can order a drink and you get tapas and nibblies included – good value for 8 euros
Venice
Ghost tour of Venice is good – get to see some out of the way places you can revisit
Visit the historical Ghetto area and the synagogues
Murano glass factory is a waste of time unless you view it as a museum (but you can see everything they create in the shops anyway)
Get a gondola ride at 12 noon when everyone else is at lunch
Queue up to see St Mark’s Basilica even if it means a long wait
Go to Lido beach
Get water taxis
Visit the historical Ghetto area and the synagogues
Murano glass factory is a waste of time unless you view it as a museum (but you can see everything they create in the shops anyway)
Get a gondola ride at 12 noon when everyone else is at lunch
Queue up to see St Mark’s Basilica even if it means a long wait
Go to Lido beach
Get water taxis
Pisa
See the Pisa cathedral (inside)
Florence
See the statue of David in his gallery (not the one in the piazza – you can see that too)
Lots of Chinese ripoff handbags/jackets – look for doublestitching for authenticity. Generally not at the markets unless you don’t mind the lesser quality
Don’t buy from the West Indian street vendors – you get the same stuff cheaper at the market stalls
Go to mass at Il Duomo
Lots of Chinese ripoff handbags/jackets – look for doublestitching for authenticity. Generally not at the markets unless you don’t mind the lesser quality
Don’t buy from the West Indian street vendors – you get the same stuff cheaper at the market stalls
Go to mass at Il Duomo
Walk across the Ponte Vecchio
Rome
Book a Sistine Chapel tour in Rome – you get to see the brilliant museum next door with an art expert’s commentary on the beautiful ceiling
If you want to see the Pope, go to St Peter’s on a Wednesday morning
If you want to see inside St Peter’s, don’t go on a Wednesday morning, go another day and be prepared to wait a long time
Do a night tour on vespas
Go to Trevi fountain at night
Do the open top bus tour around the city
Don’t buy paintings in Piazza Navona (they are just painted over photographs) but if you like them, that’s ok!
Go to the Borghese gardens – it’s a whole day – go for a ride on the cyclo – prebook if you want to see the Borghese gallery as it’s always booked out
Coliseum – there’s a new museum inside which is ok. A guide is very useful for 10 euros (you usually then don’t have to wait in the queue as the guides get preferential treatment – a huge bonus!)
If you want to see the Pope, go to St Peter’s on a Wednesday morning
If you want to see inside St Peter’s, don’t go on a Wednesday morning, go another day and be prepared to wait a long time
Do a night tour on vespas
Go to Trevi fountain at night
Do the open top bus tour around the city
Don’t buy paintings in Piazza Navona (they are just painted over photographs) but if you like them, that’s ok!
Go to the Borghese gardens – it’s a whole day – go for a ride on the cyclo – prebook if you want to see the Borghese gallery as it’s always booked out
Coliseum – there’s a new museum inside which is ok. A guide is very useful for 10 euros (you usually then don’t have to wait in the queue as the guides get preferential treatment – a huge bonus!)
Sorrento
Little bus tour up the hill is quite fun (didn’t go on the train but that’s probably ok too)
Caruso’s for dinner is really nice (expensive but good)
Try lemoncello
Caruso’s for dinner is really nice (expensive but good)
Try lemoncello
Capri
Don’t get the tour from the guy on the wharf. It’s easy enough to get the public bus and you have more time to do what you want
Do go to the Alex Munthe museum at the top of Anacapri – buy his book
Walk around the back of the island to the cliffs
See the blue grotto
Take the funicular railway (you have to if you’re at the top of the hill anyway)
Don’t try to get money from a bank on Capri – ATMs don’t work
Stay overnight if you have time
Do go to the Alex Munthe museum at the top of Anacapri – buy his book
Walk around the back of the island to the cliffs
See the blue grotto
Take the funicular railway (you have to if you’re at the top of the hill anyway)
Don’t try to get money from a bank on Capri – ATMs don’t work
Stay overnight if you have time
Pompeii
Organise a tour for this as it is very expensive if you get someone to show you around at the gate. You can do it yourself with an audio headset too which is probably alright. Trouble is if you have a guide, they can only show you a tiny bit. You need at least two or three days to really see this
Amalfi Coast
We just did a bus tour around the coast but I think I’d stay a few days in Positano/Revello to get the best from it. Lovely little towns in which to while away a few hours
Buy some porcelain pots in Revello (just behind the church) – the biggest selection ever and not bad prices
Buy some porcelain pots in Revello (just behind the church) – the biggest selection ever and not bad prices
