r/ItalyTourism

Hi, my girlfriend and I (late 30s) will be travelling from Riva Del Garda to somewhere in the Dolomites for two days (2nd week in June). Then heading to Venice to finish up our trip. We will plan on having a car, so I don't think this is a critical decision, but I'd like to learn if there is a city/area in the Dolomites you'd recommend that would closely or best fit some of this criteria:

• Not too overcrowded but still has some bars/restaurants to enjoy at night (we do enjoy some nightlife and walkable options once we're done exploring during the day)
• Instinctually, I am thinking somewhere on the "south" side might be best since we'll be driving from Garda and then driving to Venice. We can take the care to explore some sights, but I think we'd prefer shorter drives to & from our hotels/AirBnbs.

Guess that's really it. Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

I have booked a Campania Express Train on 18 May at 1727 from Naples to Meta. Will it be cancelled or delayed due to the 18 May General Train Strikes in Italy? How will I know if my train is affected?

Hi there,

I'm a 30s average American who has traveled to Italy a number of times and have learned a lot of quick tips to help me make the most out of my time whenever I go back! Again from an American POV..

1. Do not force everything into one day. You may think with train travel and the sheer number of attractions and sites that it is totally sane to try and do 10 things each day. Don't do this. Italy is about taking it slow, enjoy the journey as much as the destination. ​If you think your itinerary is too packed, it probably is. Add more time, take things as they come, and leave space for unplanned time.

2. Learn local social etiquette. Understand the typical norms for dining or eating/drinking out, using public transport, shopping, etc. Tourists already stand out, but trying your hardest to do as the locals do will go a long way. This also goes for using Italian as a beginner. Just try your hardest, pay attention when corrected and be polite. The locals really like it when you give the honest effort in using their language even for basic communication. But don't go so far as to just routinely butcher it either. English works in all major metro areas just fine.

3. For accommodations, don't try to stay in a different place every other night. You will tire out and spend a lot more time commuting with luggage than you will want to. Use a city or two as a base and train between places. Florence, Rome, Milan, Venice, Torino, etc. are all great base city options with plenty of places only an hour or 2 train ride away. You could rent a car if you were bold enough, but city and country roads can be quite difficult and crazy to navigate and likely not worth it. Rented a car through Tuscany and wasn't worth the hassle...

4. ​Drink the wine, eat the food. Don't eat as Dominoes or Starbucks. Just eat and drink local. Always. That's all.

5. When making dinning and room/hotel reservations, be sure to research research research. Many restaurants and museums require timed reservations so plan ahead for the nicer dinning and museum experiences. Also, be sure your B&B or hotel has amenities that actually work that may be important for you, like A/C in the hot summer, in-unit laundry for those longer stays, and self check-in for a quick start to your trip and on your time.

Just a few thoughts but not a whole laundry list. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Hi. I need to catch my flight at 1:30pm on 30th May from Rome.

I was planning to leave from naples in an early morning train at around 5am on 30th May.

Is this plan fine ? I am assuming trains should run on 30th may morning despite the strike on 29th may.

Also in case, the train is delayed or cancelled, will i be able to catch a taxi at 6am in naples for rome. I know costs will be high, but thats the last option.

Any other travel suggestions are also appreciated.

Is Assisi worth a day trip from Tuscany?

Hi - my husband and I will be travelling to Italy this summer and are planning on renting a car from Florence and driving around in the Tuscany region.

We are currently conflicted between the two itineraries -

Option 1 -

16th June - Rent a car in Florence and drive to Montepulciano (stop in Pienza on the way). Stay in Montepulciano.

17th June - Drive to Siena. Do a wine tasting at Azienda Agricola La Lastra. Explore Sienna for a few hours and stay the night there.

18th June - Drive back to Florence

Option 2 -

16th June - Rent a car in Florence and drive to A Solatio in Certaldo - do a wine tasting there and then hang out in Certaldo until 5 pm. Drive to San Gimignano and stay the night there.

17th June - Drive to Siena - do half a day there and drive to Montepulciano post lunch. Spend the evening and night in Montepulciano.

18th June - Drive back to Florence

Which itinerary makes the most sense? We would like to stay in two different spots across the two days. Any other recommendations on route/wine tastings are also welcome!

Thanks :))

Flying into Lamezia Terme in June, heading to the Tropea/Calabria area for a week. Planning to rent a car at the airport.

I've been reading reviews and honestly terrified now people getting forced to buy insurance twice, getting charged for fake damage after dropping keys in a box, bookings cancelled because of flight delays…

Has anyone rented a car in southern Italy recently? What actually worked for you? Specifically:

• Which company/platform did you use and would you recommend it?
• Is it safer to book directly vs aggregators like Discovercars or Rentalcars?
• Any tips for the handover what to document, what to watch out for?
• Credit card insurance does it actually work in Italy or do rental companies make it difficult?

Any advice appreciated, first time renting in Italy.

Ciao gruppo!

Volevo organizzare qualche giorno a Trieste, indicativamente 30-05/2-06, avete consigli su dove alloggiare? Qualcosa di particolare, ma che non costi un rene? Vanno bene ostelli, hotel, appartamenti etc.

Se avete anche da consigliare qualche attività o qualche posto in particolare da non perdere, vi leggo!🌻

Hi everyone! I plan to go to Puglia for the first time with my boyfriend, I recently posted in this sub about this. I was planning to leave on the 14th so I can meet my family in Lazio in time for Ferragosto. This would be my first time in Puglia.

I have also never driven in Italy before, but I've heard the trains are less reliable in this region. Do you think renting a car will make everything easier given what I have below?How is this itinerary?

Aug 5	Flight
Aug 6	ARRIVE in Bari, Go to Matera
Aug 7	Matera -> Monopoli
Aug 8	Monopoli (Relax by the beach)
Aug 9	Monopoli (Day trip to Alberobello and Grottaglie)
Aug 10	Monopoli (Train to Polignano for beach day)
Aug 11	Otranto (Go to Otranto early)
Aug 12	Otranto (Spend all day swimming in the nearby coves and beaches)
Aug 13	Otranto --> Bari (stay in Bari one night)
Aug 14	Fly out of Bari

Listen, I sort of already know the answer here. With Ferragosto, as well as the heat, August is the worst time to visit.

I'm an American and have lived in Rome before for half a year, and have returned to Italy every year since. I am fluent in Italian (I don't sound native, but am between B2/C1 level). Getting around is much easier for me for this reason.

I am taking two and a half weeks off work later this summer, starting the beginning of August. For the first 7 or 8 days of trip, I was thinking of bringing my boyfriend (he doesn't speak Italian) to Puglia, a place we both have never been to.

My main goal is to experience all of the wonderful beaches around the region for a relaxed summer, and to eat all of the wonderful food I know Puglia has to offer! I also would love to see the important historical wonders (such as Matera, for example).

With all of this in mind, will the region truly be so unbearable this time of year? Italians, past tourists, please weigh in! Also, do you have any recommendations on a loose itinerary? Thanks so much!

[supprimé]

The official Italy strike website has been showing a nationwide 48 hour strike on May 15th and 16th for public/private rail and maritime (CSLE union). Today, it disappeared. Does that mean it’s not happening? I can’t find any news articles about it. We are traveling those days and would like to confirm. Thanks!

My boyfriend and I have booked flights from UK to Pisa 02/08 and returning from Pisa on 10/08. We mostly chose Pisa because flights are affordable but we would like to explore more of Italy.

My boyfriend is most interested in visiting Florence and it seems fairly easy to get to from Pisa so we are planning on staying there for a few nights. I would love to have a couple of days by the beach but I don’t want to try and cram too much into our holiday.

I am aware it will be a very busy time to visit. Options I’ve considered so far are flying from Pisa to Sardinia , getting the train to Viareggio or to Marina di Pisa.

Any recommendations of coastal areas to visit that are accessible from Pisa or Florence would be really appreciated - or just travel tips in general!

taking the train and I have 5 free days. I love small towns, nature, hikes (up to 15km), possible bike ride (rental bike) and of course good food. would like to stay within about a 2 hour train ride from Bologna. recommendations? Grazie!