Where to stay, eat, and explore in Italy this fall
Well here goes nothing, my first blog post. I have so much that I want to share, but my most recent trip to Italy is what I want to start with. In the beginning of October my mom, grandma, sister, and I went all around Italy for a week and it was one of the best weeks of my life. We were able to fit so much in and I am so excited to share what all we did because I can’t even think of a better itinerary than the one that we had…maybe a little biased 😉 We walked over 100,000 steps and around 40 miles during this trip so buckle up, this is going to be a long post!
Rome
Transportation
We flew out of Newark Liberty International Airport, EWR, straight into Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, FCO, on United. I am a United gal so this was a no brainer, but they also have the best options out of Newark which is one of the closest airports for us. The flight was about 8.5 hours, but I was able to sleep for most of it, making me ready for the day when we landed. We landed in Rome around 9 in the morning and had a full day planned…we were not messing around.
As far as transportation around the city goes it was very easy. We were able to walk 95% of the time and only took a few cabs, which were not overpriced surprisingly.
Where to Stay
We stayed in The Rose Garden Hotel and it was beautiful. The rooms were very spacious and the location was terrific. We split up into 2 rooms and although they were both slightly different, they were both very nice. The staff was wonderful, which is always good.
What to do
Rome has so much to do and see and I am sure we did not see even close to all of it, but I loved everything that we saw and every second that I spent in the city.
Trevi Fountain
After we dropped our luggage off at our hotel, we went straight to Trevi Fountain. I got goosebumps seeing this amazing sight in person. Absolutely breathtaking…and don’t forget to throw a coin in if you are lucky enough to go!
Colosseum
The Colosseum is a must when in Rome and it did not disappoint. We booked our tour through Viator and our tour guide was exceptional. It was a thorough tour that kept us all engaged.
Arch of Constantine and The Roman Forum
Right next to the Colosseum you can wander to the Arch of Constantine and the Roman Forum. The Arch of Constantine was an incredible sight and just a must see, it is right on a road so it isn’t really something “to do”. There are great tour options available to learn and see more of The Roman Forum, but we decided just to walk around and see what we could and that was plenty for us. I definitely recommend seeing it and walking around the area!
Spanish Steps
After our long first day we decided to call it a night rather early to get a good night’s sleep. The next day we got up and made our way to The Spanish Steps and it was such a fun experience. Seeing all of the locals hanging out on these steps mixed with the tourists taking pictures (I was one of them as you can see below), was so neat. It is also such an incredible sight to see and I definitely recommend going to the top of the steps as well for an amazing view!
Pantheon
The Pantheon was our next must-do and it was astonishing. We did not buy tickets in advance (BUY THEM IN ADVANCE!), but we got lucky enough to walk up to a group tour and were able to get added! Everything about The Pantheon was breathtaking and words can’t even describe the experience.
Church of St. Ignatius
We did not even know that this church was in Rome or how remarkable it was until we stumbled upon it. It was so pretty and I definitely recommend making a stop in if you are near The Spanish Steps and/or Trevi, it is kind of right between the two.
Where to Eat
I unfortunately did not write down any of the places that we ate, but there is no shortage of food in Rome and everything that we ate was amazing.
Vatican City
Transportation
We went to Vatican City from Rome by taxi. We grabbed a taxi at a stand right near The Spanish Steps and it was about a half hour or so to get to the center of Vatican City. This price was also not bad either!
What to do
Vatican City is a city-state surrounded by Rome, and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The whole city is only 109 acres so it is very easy to walk everywhere. One day in Vatican City is all you need to see all of its beauty, but I would love to experience it all again someday.
The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
We booked an express entrance ticket into The Vatican Museum on Viator and it was a great way to get into the museum without having to wait in the long line, and it was not a large difference in price. There is SO much to see in this museum and there is even a place to send a postcard from Vatican City to loved ones around the world- and they really do get mailed out fast. I sent 2 to different locations and both arrived in just around 2 weeks.
The Sistine Chapel is part of the same complex as The Vatican Museum, meaning the price to see The Sistine Chapel was included in our museum ticket price. There is a long weave/walk to get to the famous chapel, but it was well worth it. Michelangelo’s incredible ceiling did not disappoint. No photography was allowed inside the chapel, but just trust me when I say it was mind blowing.
St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Square is the plaza directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. There are beautiful fountains and scenery all while looking at the stunning basilica. We did not buy tickets in advance to go into St. Peter’s Basilica, but the line did not take long, it did look like it would take HOURS though. Once we finally made it inside St. Peter’s Basilica we went to the gift shop. I had a few things that I was looking for and they had them, and everything in the gift shop has been blessed by Pope Francis! Michelangelo’s “La Pieta” sculpture is inside of St. Peter’s Basilica and it was jaw dropping.
When we exited the basilica we got so lucky with our timing, we happened to get to see a changing of the Swiss Guards ceremony. The Pontifical Swiss Guard protects The Vatican and The Pope and has been doing so since 1506. I did not get a good video of this because I was trying to take it all in, but it was so so special and I am so happy that we got to be there at that time.
Where to Eat
We were really bad and only ate snacks, gelato, and street food the whole time while we were in Vatican City…oops, but we were back in Rome by dinner time and there is no restaurant shortage in Rome.
Naples/Pompeii
Pompeii had been a HUGE bucket list item for my sister, so we made sure to add it to our itinerary and I ended up loving it. My mom and grandmother had been before, but they still loved it the second time around.
Transportation
We knew that Pompeii was a “go and see, but don’t stay” place. What I mean by this is that it was a wonderful half day trip, but we did not need longer than what we had there. We booked a private driver through Viator and he came and picked us up at our hotel in Rome and drove us to Pompeii. He watched our stuff in his vehicle while we got our private tour (booked on the same reservation with Viator for one fixed price) and it made for a headache-free trip to Pompeii. Naples has a high crime rate, so having someone stay with our stuff all day was a must for us.
What to do
As far as “what to do in Pompeii” you really just go to the ruins and walk around. It was an incredible tour and our tour guide was wonderful, but there isn’t much besides the ruins for tourists. There are wonderful views of Mt. Vesuvius from all sorts of different points around Pompeii which was really cool to see, kind of freaky to be standing on ruins that the volcano destroyed while it is still an active volcano, but we are going to ignore that part haha.
Where to eat
We were not in Pompeii for long, but we did get some pizza at one of the little shops right near the exit of the ruins…and it was super yummy.
Sorrento
Transportation
Our same driver from Pompeii picked us up after our tour and drove us to Sorrento. This was all done through Viator, but is not listed as a typical tour. Viator is not sponsoring this, but we had a great experience with their services and they were so accommodating so it is only fair for me to recommend them. Sorrento was a little over 30 minutes from Pompeii, but the drive was enjoyable…lots of beautiful views along the way.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Grand Hotel La Favorita and there are no words to describe how incredible this experience was. This hotel was a splurge, but it was where my grandmother dreamed of staying and it did not disappoint. The staff was exceptional, especially Antonino and Angelo (pictured below with my grandmother!) It was the prettiest hotel I have ever seen and the location was right on the Amalfi Coast so the views were incredible.
What to Do
We had no set plans for 1.5 days in Sorrento and it was a nice change of pace after a lot of set plans the prior days. Sorrento is known for its lemons and lemon soap, so of course we bought a lot of lemon soap. We shopped a lot, wandered what had to have been every street, and took in the beauty of everything in this city. I am itching to get back and spend more time here!
Where to Eat
We loved our hotel so much that we decided to eat all of our meals at the hotel restaurants. There was a rooftop restaurant, as well as a breakfast room. The rooftop view was breathtaking AND the food was amazing, so it was a win-win. My grandmother and I are the troublemakers out of the group and we were in the same room, so naturally we ordered late night gelato room service to enjoy on our balcony in our bathrobes.
We did think about going to some restaurants that were recommended to us for dinner, but we were in Sorrento on a Tuesday, and apparently that is their “day off” so there were very few restaurants that were open during our time here.
Venice, Murano, Burano
Venice is a floating city, no cars, just water taxis and walking. It is one of the most unique cities I have ever been to and I would love, love, love, to get back again.
Transportation
We took a taxi from Sorrento to the Naples Train Station to start our journey to Venice. As I mentioned above, Naples is not the safest spot, especially the train station. We were warned by every local we met to be extra careful while in the train station. Because of this, we ended up getting the “club seats” on the train because having these tickets gets you access to a locked lounge inside of the train station while you wait. This made us feel safer, cleaner, and there were free drinks and snacks in here as well.
Transportation in Venice is different from other cities because there are no cars. You take water taxis around, and if you are arriving late at night like we did, you need to arrange for a water taxi through your hotel. The main ones do not run late into the night.
Where to Stay
There are so many unique hotels in Venice, but we chose to stay at Hotel Kette. It was in such a nice location for exploring the city, but I think everything is pretty close so any hotel probably would be just as convenient. There was breakfast included with the reservation and it was tasty with lots of options. One really unique thing I noticed about this hotel was that our keys were physical keys, not a key card, which was cool. Both rooms that we had were overlooking the canals and we woke up to the singing of the gondoliers, which was actually a fun way to wake up haha.
What to Do
St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is the main plaza and social gathering spot of Venice. We happened to be there during a graduation ceremony so it was especially busy! It was beautiful to see and the entire area surrounding it is filled with great food and amazing shopping. St. Mark’s Square is also home to St. Mark’s Basilica and it was beautiful. It was under a lot of construction when we were there so we opted to skip going inside, but I definitely want to do that sometime!
Gondola Ride
The most wanted thing to do in Venice is by far riding in a gondola. This was probably what I was looking forward to the most on the entire trip! We booked our 30 minute gondola ride on Viator and it was slightly cheaper than if we had waited and booked it when we got there. Our gondolier was so nice and the ride was beautiful every single second. The main canal is breathtaking and that was my favorite part of the ride.
Murano and Burano
Murano and Burano are two Venetian Islands that are super easy to get to from Venice proper. We booked a day trip through Viator that included stops in both cities with walking tours. Murano is the glass blowing capital of the world and Burano is home to all things lace. We got to go to the Murano Glass Factory and watch the art take place and it was truly incredible. Same fo the lace making, we were able to see a nice older lady hard at work.
The streets of both of these cities were so cute and I highly recommend making a point to go to these other islands when in Venice if you are able.
I personally loved Burano more, but I love all things colorful and the streets were VIBRANT!
Where to Eat
I was bad about writing down exact locations of restaurants during our trip, but I do have some actual recommendations for Venice!
Ristorante Al Colombo de l’Opera: We enjoyed a beautiful candle-lit dinner here. The staff was very friendly and the overall restaurant vibe and feel was very authentically Italian. I got a wonderful potato carbonara dish and it was to die for.
al Todaro: This is one of the oldest restaurants in all of Venice. It started out as an ice cream shop in 1948 and has since expanded. We enjoyed a delicious lunch here with a view of the Grand Canal and lots and lots of gondolas. The outdoor setting was perfect for lunch and it was such a fun area and great for people watching. After I learned that this place was known for its ice cream I had to test that out for myself. It did not disappoint….it was probably the best ice cream I have ever had.
Milan
Transportation
We took a train from Venice to Milan on Italo. This ride is about 2.5 hours, but it was a comfortable ride. Bring a book and you’ll be set!
Once we were in Milan we took taxis and walked. The taxi prices weren’t bad like in Rome, but were much harder to find.
Where to Stay
The Westin Palace Hotel was a great choice for us because it wasn’t far from the train station or the airport, but it was not the most convenient option for exploring the city. We had just ¾ of the day in Milan before our flight home out of the Milan airport, so staying closer to the airport made the most sense for us.
All that being said, the hotel was incredible. Stunning lobby and rooms were incredibly spacious. The staff was also wonderful and were very helpful with making sure we got to the airport on time when we checked out.
What to Do
Milan Cathedral
The Milan Cathedral, more commonly referred to as The Duomo, is a must see. I had been to Milan prior to this trip and seeing The Duomo again was just as amazing as the first time. I highly recommend going into the cathedral and going to the top, there is an incredible view of the Swiss Alps!
Via Monte Napoleone
This is the best shopping street, and probably the most famous, in Milan. There is every designer store you could ever think of and it is also such a beautiful site in itself. It is right next to The Duomo and is worth your time wondering up and down. There are also AMAZING gelato places on this street!
What to Eat
We ended up grabbing lunch at a restaurant directly across from The Duomo and it was delicious and the view was amazing. We called it a day after the sunset in the city center and went back to our hotel restaurant for dinner. It was very tasty and made it easier for us to get a good night of sleep before our early morning flight home.
Italy will always hold such a special place in my heart. Being able to take this trip of a lifetime with some of the best women in my life is something I will never forget. My heart is full and I hope that this travel guide/wrap up was helpful, entertaining, or both!
Xoxo, Anna