We travelled through Italy for three weeks and used trains and the public transport, there is no need for a car.
You are going for a week, how many small towns are you going to visit realistically?
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- Thread starter Candystore
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You are going for a week, how many small towns are you going to visit realistically?
Tman*
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You need nerves of steel dealing with narrow, winding roads and impatient and aggressive Italian drivers.
I drove a left hand drive stick Sandero through Italy. In certain sections I left the car at the hotel, case and point driving in the Amalfi was too much for me. I rather took the bus.
If you can, avoid driving.
I prefer traveling with a car because the wife and kids don't travel lite and they are never on time for public transport. Also a car gives you a little more freedom to explore other places, stay cheaper and travel the more scenic routes.
The negatives are finding parking in the big cities, the stress of driving, toll roads that freak me out because you never know where or how to pay. In Italy you need to be careful because a lot of the old towns have restrictions on where cars can go and you don't want fine in the post 3 months after your holiday.
But with GPS it easy once you get used to it.
The negatives are finding parking in the big cities, the stress of driving, toll roads that freak me out because you never know where or how to pay. In Italy you need to be careful because a lot of the old towns have restrictions on where cars can go and you don't want fine in the post 3 months after your holiday.
But with GPS it easy once you get used to it.
Tman*
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What you can consider is, perform research up front for parking restrictions and parking availability etc. I planned out my entire trip parking upfront. Left my rental in a long term parking garage in Naples when I traveled to Capri etc.
At the big cities we normal park at a train station in a suburb and take the metro to the city center. For our Italy trip I could get a Audi Q5 for the same price as a A3 but went with A3 because some of the roads are really narrow and a smaller car helps. Yes the Italians are aggressive drivers but go around you very safely.
Why only a week? Seems like a waste spending that much on tickets for such a short stay?
Rome needs at least 2 days, maybe 3. Lake Como is a full day and it would be good to have flexibility in case of bad weather and needing to move it a day earlier or later. Milan could probably also be 2 - 3 days.
Florence without the countryside could technically be done in a day, but that depends on how much of that day is lost whilst travelling.
We decided not to stop in Pisa for the leaning tower - was too far out of our way from Florence to Rome to justify the time and expense.
L-Dog
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Heading to Paris for the SA vs Ireland game so decided I would do a week in Italy with the wife before we head to the world cup. Basically have a week in Italy (Friday-Friday then off to Paris for 3 days and back to SA). Always difficult to balance places to see with time required, don't want to spend all my time traveling and rushing from place to place but want to see as much as possible.
Ok, that makes sense.
If it were me, assuming you need to get to Milan for your flight to Paris. And assuming you have not been to Venice.
I'd probably spend 3 days / 2 nights in Rome. Take the overnight train to Venice (leaves around 23:00 and gets in around 7:00 and saves one night accommodation. Costs less than $100 per person in a 4 bed unit and you may get lucky and not have anyone sharing).
Spend 3 days / 2 nights in Venice. Then either spend 1 night in Verona (on the way to Milan - short trip, so day doesn't feel wasted) and 1 night in Milan or 2 nights in Milan with the plan being to spend a day on Lake Como.
Alternatively you can fly from Venice if the Milan flights have not already been booked.
L-Dog
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Haven't booked any flights / trains to Paris yet but assume Milan will robably be the best / cheapest option. I was in Venice 10 years ago and found it extremly underwhellminig and a massive tourist trap so trying to avoid the most common tourist hotspots.
Fair enough.
In 2017 we took the night train from Vienna to Venice, stayed 2 nights and the flew to Geneva with EasyJet. There should be low cost flight options from most airports.
Keep us posted on what you decide - always good to get other perspectives and ideas.
I have used EasyJet and everything was fine, these are short flights so how bad can it be? Just check the extra costs for luggage.
We bought some snacks and wine on our flight from Amsterdam to Prague and it was very reasonably priced.
Becomes pricey when traveling with luggage keep that in mind
I don't know how relevant it will be as it was many years ago but took 3 days but that was over December not exactly prime travel time
L-Dog
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When I try reschedule an appointment it only gives me PTA as an option which has later dates. There are earlier dates in JHB but I can't change my appointment so I assume I will have to cancel and rebook, any idea if the fee is refunded ?
SeRpEnT
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What about bullet train from Milan to France? (TGV., Freciarossa... Might be others too).
Cheaper than planes and more comfortable.
Loved the Italo bullet train when we visited Italy last year. Used it between Rome, Florence and Amalfi Coast (via Salerno). Even still have the app on my phone, lol.
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SeRpEnT
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Went for 12 days (11 nights) last year and spent 4 nights Rome, 4 Florence and 3 Amalfi coast. Rome was great but Florence was just awesome and totally fell in love with it. Should have spent one night more there and one less in Rome. Did a day trip to Tuscanny (Sienna, Chianti wine farm etc) from Florence which was money well spent and loved the stunning scenery. Recommended to hire car here at least if possible.
L-Dog
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Thanks will look into the trains
Currently I have two options
1. North (Rome, Florence/cinque terre, Milan & Lake Como)
2. South (Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast)
SeRpEnT
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Both options are great.
Read mixed reviews on Milan (some people say it's worth skipping) and Naples (you either love it or hate it (apparently dirty, smelly and overpopulated city areas). Then also read several opinions that Venice is a pass and so too is Pisa.
For us it was a decision between Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast. We decided on the Amalfi Coast. Positano was the must-see here as this was a place on my bucket list.
Rome is a given. All roads SHOULD lead to Rome.
One need to do Rome at least once in your life and experience it. Great tourist attractions and vibey city life. Good metro trains which we used often and several hop-on-hop-off buses that also cover a big part of the city at a bit more but comes with an audio tour.
Must visit: Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain (early morning to avoid crowds!), Pantheon, Colosseum & Roman forum next door, Piazza Navona and Vatican city if that's your cup of tea.
Before we left I did a lot of reading up on the region and city specific foods to try out in each city/region.
For Rome it's definitely: Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara, Suppli, Amatriciana. And of course caffe (espresso) all over Italy. Best coffee in the world!
Florence was the one big surprise. We knew the city was going to be great but boy oh boy did we fall in love. Much more relaxed than Rome and more stylish (renaissance) and clean. Everything in easy walking distance. All tourist attractions easily within walking distance.
Amazing food, markets and views. Just loved it. Want to go back.
Must visit: Everything. It's all within close walking distance. Includes things like Ponte Vechio bridge, Uffizi gallery, Pallazo Pitti and behind it the Boboli gardens, Duomo cathedral , Piazza della republica, galleria del academia and stunning views off the city at sunset from nearby hill at piazalle Michelangelo.
Food to try in Florence: Pannini (especially at world famous Al Antico Vinnaio) (they also have other branches in Rome and Milan should you skip Florence - but it all started in this city and they have a wide selection here and several branches (4!) within the city centre. Lasagne al forno. Bistecca Fiorentina (huge t-bone steak). Chianti, Vernaccia or Brunello wines from the nearby Tuscanny area. Visit the Mercato Centrale (central food market) for a great experience of all the food the city and area has to offer.
Amalfi coast. Totally difference experience. Much more laid back. More touristy in places but still well worth the amazing scenery. It's another place I want to go back to. We only spent 3 nights there off which much of the day time was lost due to travelling (on the way there and back). We stayed in Salerno (technically not part of Amalfi coast - but about 1km from the first little town on the east (Vietri-sul Mare) and probably the best place to stay to avoid the high costs of staying in any of the Amalfi coast towns.
There's lots of little towns (13!) on the Amalfi coast to see and explore. Not too many large tourist attractions as the towns and their stunning views and scenery in itself is the attraction there. And the ocean and mountainscape of course.
Must see towns: Positano, Amalfi. Also worth a visit: Vietri sul Mare, Majori.
Food to experience in the Amalfi/Campania region: Polpette (meatballs), Pizza (Naples is just next door), anything with ragu, anything with lemons - this is the lemon capital of the world - such as limoncello, limoncello crema, delizia al limone (lemon-cream pastry).
Not recommended to drive here. The coastal road is on the side of the mountainscape (ala Chapmeans peak drive) and narrow with lots of traffic and restricted private vehicle travel on certain days. The Sita Sud bus service covers all the little towns and is an experience in itself!
Geez. This was going to be a quick reply and see how much I wrote. I friggen love Italy. Must go back.