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Where to travel in Italy: The ultimate city guide 2
Traveling to Rome
You simply cannot come to Italy and not travel to Rome. Being able to visit one of the epicenters of ancient civilization by day and enjoy the hip metropolitan capital at night is phenomenal. Rome is packed with sights you’ve no doubt seen in history books and movies countless times. But it’s also the capital city of Rome which means there are plenty of opportunities to get off the tourist route and see what local life is like in this bustling metropolis.
What to see in Rome
Although the famous sights are usually packed with people, being able to see wonders like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon in person is totally worth the crowds. Spots like the Spanish steps or Trevi Fountain may not be quite as photogenic as seen in postcards, but they’re are also worth a look.
Get lost in Rome’s beautiful neighborhoods like Trastavere and Monti. Honestly, there are so many amazing thing to see in Rome that we could write a whole book (many have).
What to do in Rome
Embrace your inner tourist and throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain to ensure you’ll return to Rome someday. Just be a tourist. If you only have a few days you’ll never get to have a true locals experience, so just see the awesome things that bring millions of tourists to Rome every year. You won’t be able to avoid them anyway!
If you’re headed to the Vatican we highly recommend going on a Friday night when they open in the evening to the public (summers only). This gives you a chance to see the Vatican at sunset and avoid the mass hordes of tourists. The Vatican, the world’s smallest country, is home to Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel, which is even more beautiful in real like then you could ever imagine! For a more in-depth guide on what to do in Rome, check out this article from our Italian blogger buddy Claudia.
Where to eat in Rome
Rome has no shortage of restaurants, but they’re pretty hit and miss. When you head to the Vatican, do not miss Bonci’s Pizzarium or their nearby bakery. The pizza is the best we had in all of Italy and their black cherry tart is incredible. Serious, it’s the best pizza we’ve ever had!
Where to stay in Rome
Once again we found ourselves are Plus Hostels, taking advantage of a killer pool and nice travel feel in between exploring the streets. Plus Rome was quite a bit out of the center, but honestly it was a welcome relief from the chaos of the city. The pool is huge and a beautiful area to relax on a day off from sightseeing. The location is very family friendly and has a fun caravan feel. Just don’t stay in a room by the basketball courts unless you like to be lulled to sleep by the sound of bouncing balls.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive list of the best neighborhoods and best places to stay in Rome, this article from our buddies at Goats on the Road will get the job done.
Traveling to Naples and Pompeii
If you do a bit of research on Naples, you’ll find very mixed reviews of this city online. Naples may be grittier than the other tourist cities of Italy, but don’t erase it from your destination list just yet. Sure, there are sketchy areas of the city, but if you stay in the Old Town, you’ll be fine. There is some truly beautiful architecture around Naples and, perhaps more importantly, home to some truly delicious pizza. They say the classic Margherita pizza was named after Margherita of Savoy visited Naples and fell in love with the deliciously simple ingredients.
What to see in Naples
The Naples National Archaeological Museum is a good primer for visiting Pompeii. It will give you a good background you may not necessarily get when visiting the actual site, plus it holds the majority of artifacts in the museum. The Castel dell’Ovo by the water is definitely worth a visit, as sit the Cappela Sansevero chapel. If you don’t mind something a bit creepy, check out the Catacombs of San Gennaro.
What to do in Naples
While there’s plenty to do in the city of Naples, it’s an especially good jumping off point for day or weekend trips. The ancient city of Pompeii, which was “frozen” in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, is only a 30 minute train ride away. You can also use Naples as a jumping off point for the Amalfi Coast.
Where to stay in Naples
We didn’t love our accommodation in Naples that we found on booking.com. It was listed as a hotel, but ended up being more of an AirBnB/some lady’s basement room. So we don’t have any specific recommendations, except this: book ahead! Many travelers use Naples as a base for seeing other cities, so it gets booked out. Save yourself the headache and book in advance.
How to get to Naples
The train from Rome to Naples is just over an hour (so quick, right?!). The Napoli Centrale station is also where you’ll catch the train down to Pompeii or Sorrento if you’re heading South. The station itself is fine, but in a bit of a sketchy area. We wouldn’t recommend staying in this area, but opt for further into the Old Town.
Traveling to the Amalfi Coast
When we were first creating our Italy travel itinerary there was one question we kept circling back to: Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre? Although similar destinations (seaside towns built on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean), there was something about the Amalfi region that drew us in.
What to see on the Amalfi Coast
The Mediterranean Sea is the true highlight of this destination, with absolutely incredible views from above. It doesn’t get any more picturesque than these stacked Italian houses overlooking the blue turquoise water.
Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast
If you’re okay with a long day of driving you can probably do the coast as a day trip from Naples. Otherwise you can stay in Sorrento (or the tiny town of Piano de Sorrento, like we did) or on the coast in Positano or Amalfi!
What to do on the Amalfi Coast
Besides soaking up on the sun on the rocky beaches, the Amalfi coast is all about leisure activities. Walk around the maze like streets, do some shopping, grab lunch with a view. If you want a more sweat-breaking activity than lying in the sun, there are hikes you can do in the area.
How to get there
You can rent a car and drive the coast, although parking can be difficult and the drive is a bit nerve-wracking. There is also the SITA bus that goes back and forth between Sorrento and Salerno, stopping at the popular towns like Positano and Amalfi. The tickets only coast 8 Euro for a 24 hour pass and you can buy them at Sorrento train station where the buses leave from. Buses ran regularlyand if you can, grab a seat on the right side on the way up, it has the best views!
Best method of transport in Italy
There are many different ways to travel through Italy. From renting your own car and flying between spots, to bussing it and taking the train. For us we opted for train travel in Italy.
We found the trains in Italy fast, comfortable, on time and one of our favorite ways to get around. On board the Trenitalia fast trains your trips are so quick you barely get time to relax. Taking the train to Rome from Florence was only an hour and a half, with a complimentary glass of Prosecco and a Kinder chocolate, we couldn’t have asked for more! This beautiful Italy is worth a visit.
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