Italy

Top 10 Highlights in Rome for first timers

Top 10 places to visit outside of Rome

For one thing, Italy has so much to offer that it is impossible to cover everything in a single trip. And to illustrate this, I have never visited any country as many times as Italy. In fact, I have been to Italy a total of seven times!

Whether you are in Italy for the historical sites (Italy has the most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world), cathedrals (Italy has the most beautiful catherals), food (Italy has the fourth most Michelin restaurants in the world) or hikes (there are over 14,000 registered hiking trails in Italy on AllTrails), you are likely to feel that you’ve not had enough!

The popular cities with tourists

Rome

Italy’s most visited city is not surprisingly the capital of Rome, also the heart of the Roman Empire about 2,000 years ago. It is hence no wonder why the city is famous for its Roman ruins. The Colosseum (an ancient Roman amphitheatre used in the past to host gladiator fights) in particular, receives over 7 million visitors a year, making it the most visited attraction in Italy.

In addition to the Colosseum, the nearby Palatine Hill and Roman Forum feature impressive ruins of the ancient Roman settlements, telling the story of their day-to-day life at that time. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to find Roman ruins in the basements of shops or restaurants anywhere in the capital!

Vatican City

Strictly speaking, the Vatican City is a country of its own, though no passports or custom checks are in place for people crossing the borders.

When in the Vatican City, make sure to visit the St Peter’s Square where the Pope normally delivers his speeches (normally on Wednesday mornings). You should also visit the impressive St Peter’s Basilica – the largest church in the world. It’s interior is one of the best I’ve seen! Entry to the church is free although there are normally long queues for security checks.

Not to mention too, that the Vatican Museum including Sistine Chapel is the second most-visited museum in the world after the Louvre. Here, you can view over 70,000 Roman sculptures as well as Renaissance paintings collected by the Catholic church over the centuries. The Sistine Chapel is the chapel in the Pope’s residence, famous for it’s ceiling frescoes, particularly the Creation of Man by Michelangelo.

Other key sights

Of course, Rome is not only about ruins. A number of key notable sights within walking distance from each other, are the Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II.

Florence

Compared to Rome, Florence is much smaller, compact and walkable. But that doesn’t mean it pales in any way. At just 1.5 hours north of Rome by train, Florence boasts an impressive cathedral not just on the exterior, but also the interior of its dome. The interior of the dome features a beautiful fresco painting – The Last Judgment by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari and you should certainly climb the 463 steps to get a close look at it. Together with the Baptistry and the Bell Tower, the Florence Cathedral makes up part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Be sure to also explore the lovely city of Renaissance architecture. From the Florence Cathedral, head southwards to the Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria and then to Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno.

If you are a fan of art, then be sure not to miss the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries. In particular, the Accademia Gallery houses the sculptures of Florence-born Michelangelo and various other Florentine artists. This includes the original of the well-known sculpture David by Michelangelo.

Venice

Venice is evidently one of the top three most visited place in Italy. So much so that in recent years, a number of measures have been implemented to tackle overtourism. However, that shouldn’t deter you from visiting. That’s because Venice has a very unique charm that is different compared to the rest of Italy. The photogenic network of canals and rustic buildings make Venice an excellent place to roam and explore.

St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

Located at the southern end of the Grand Canal is St Mark’s Square, the largest open space in Venice. This is also where most tourists come to visit the main three attractions – St Mark’s Basilica, Doges Palace and the Campanile (Bell Tower).

Even though it is very expensive and very touristy, do not miss taking a gondola ride along the canals. If you are on a tight budget, by all means skip it as it can cost on average around €40 per person a ride (cheaper if you book online in advance). But enjoying the rustic charm of Venice from a gondola offers an entirely different experience and perspective. If you are lucky, your gondolier (the paddler or rower) may sing a tune or two for you too.

Murano and Burano

If you have the time, then you should definitely take a day to explore the islands of Murano and Burano. Both islands are easily accessible from Venice by the water buses and the journeys take around an hour or so.

While in Murano, do not miss taking a glass-blowing factory tour. I was particularly impressed by their craft and how they could glass-blow and ‘carve’ out a glass galloping horse in a matter of minutes! Enjoy a leisurely stroll on the island and also take the opportunity to shop for any glassware that you have in mind. They range from anything like glass kitchenware to glass earrings but just make sure that they are certified Murano glass and not some cheap imitation. Go for the tour before you start buying anything so that you are well informed of how to spot a fake Murano glass.

On the other hand, Burano is famous for its handcrafted lace-making as well as the highly-Instagramable colourful houses all around the small island. Enjoy a slow walk around, take pretty pictures and have a gelato while on the island.

Milan

Milan is Italy’s main industrial and commercial city and is also known to be the fashion capital. So, unless you are here for business or for fashion and design, most tourists don’t often stay here for long. Even then, Milan is not without its highlights. If you are here in Milan for a day or two, be sure not to miss the Duomo di Milano (or Milan Cathedral), the neighbouring Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and of course view the original painting of The Last Supper.

Even though Milan is not the most exciting of Italian cities, it is commonly a gateway into Italy and nearby places such as Lake Como, Cinque Terre and the Dolomites (more on these places later).

Day trips and the other cities

Most first-time travellers to Italy will normally include Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan as the core backbone of their itineraries, and then add on a couple of side trips along the way depending on time. For example, Verona, Bologna and Pisa are three of the more commonly visited ones. Or if you are a repeat visitor, then Naples, Pompeii and Sicily further in the south are also of consideration.

Pisa

Pisa is a popular destination for travellers because of the most well-known icon – the Leaning Tower. This is the bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral and is currently leaning at an angle of close to four degrees due to unstable and soft ground. Together with the Pisa Cathedral and the Baptistry, they make up one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy. Purchasing the complete ticket with tower will allow you access to all the museums and sites in the square.

Bologna

Due to its proximity and relatively short train ride (40 minutes), Bologna can easily be visited on a day trip from Florence. If you wish to spend more time in this medieval city, you can also stay the night while on the way between Venice and Florence.

Arguably the most iconic structures in Bologna are the Two Towers (Garisenda and Asinelli), both built during the 12th century. In December 2023, both towers were deemed to be leaning too dangerously and thought to be close to a collapse. They have since been sealed off from public while restoration takes place. Unfortunately, the restoration is expected to take about 10 years so you won’t be able to climb it anytime soon.

Walking is the best way to explore this city, from Piazza Maggiore and the San Petrino Church, to the Two Towers and the Complex of the Seven Churches. The main thing that Bologna is famous for however, is the food! Make sure to try the Bolognese sauce pasta because Bologna was precisely where it came from.

Verona

This small town is located along the way between Milan and Venice and is popular with tourists because of two reasons. Firstly, it is one of the historically-richest places in Italy with numerous Roman ruins sprawling across the town. In particular, it has the third largest surviving Roman amphitheatre in the world. It is thus unsurprising that the town is another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Italy.

Secondly, fans of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet flock to this town to visit what is marketed as Juliet’s House and Balcony. In addition, the underground crypt of the church of San Francesco al Corso is said to be the setting of the tragic ending of the story, and hence described as Juliet’s Tomb.

Naples and Pompeii

Both Naples and Pompeii are located south of Rome and can be covered on a day trip from there. The main highlight has to be the ruins of Pompeii – the city that was buried under the ashes from the violent volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius during 79 AD. No surprise, this is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy!

Due to the layers of ashes, the city of Pompeii was very well-preserved all the way to its discovery and excavation. For this reason, visiting Pompeii can actually give you a very good idea of the day to day life back then.

Don’t forget to have a pizza in Naples, because that was where pizzas originated from!

Sicily

Sicily is not a city, but a large island south of the Italy mainland. It’s largest city is Palermo located along the northern coast. Even though it is an island, touring Sicily can take you a full two weeks on a road trip. Most notably is Mount Etna, one of Europe’s most active and closely monitored volcanoes.

I have only been to Palermo and Trapani, located on the western side of the island and I have already been impressed by its unique landscapes. Especially so with the pink reflections of the Trapani salt plains, the medieval mountain-top town of Erice, the Greek archaeological site and ancient amphitheatre at Segesta as well as the historical district of Palermo.

The scenic places and towns

If like me, you love a good view, love a good hike or love a good time out of the bustling cities, then Italy is also no short of them. In fact, there are a number of them but I will highlight a few key ones.

The Alps and the Dolomites

Most locals or websites call the mountains in the northwestern range The Alps, while those in the northeastern range the Dolomites. The mountains in the Dolomites form part of the Southern Limestone Alps but technically speaking, they are all part of the Italian Alps. For the purpose of this article, I will refer to the Alps and Dolomites separately.

Generally, the Dolomites receive more visitors and hence is slightly more expensive. Their landscapes are also much more unique, dramatic and rugged. The types of rocks are also different. Some of the views are absolutely incredible, especially when you go on some of the hikes or ride on some of the cable cars!

Things to do at the Dolomites

Some of the best hikes in the Dolomites include the Cinque Torri plus Rifugio Averau and Nuvolau, the hike to Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the Puez-Odle Altopiano.

Otherwise, if you are not a keen hiker, you can also get to see some of the best views by taking the Marmolada, Cima Tofana or Seceda cable cars. What’s more, the Dolomites has got some of the most scenic lakes as well, particularly Lago di Braies.

Lake Como

This is a scenic lake that is located under 2 hours north of Milan by train. In short, it can be described as an inverted-‘Y’ shape with a collection of pretty small towns along its banks. The most popular towns in particular, are those in the middle portion of the lake – namely Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna. This is an ideal location for a weekend getaway, allowing you to town-hop via short boat trips, enjoy the scenery, have some good meals and take things slow.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre (or ‘Five Lands’) refers to the five villages along the northwestern coast of Italy near Genoa, specifically in linear order, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. If you love scenic hikes, then there are several hiking trails that connect the five villages for you to take on. Take note though, that due to landslides, some of the hiking trails may be closed. You can refer to Current situation of the Cinque Terre hiking trails to check for the latest updates.

Although Riomaggiore is the southernmost of the five villages, further south is Porto Venere and also worth a visit. It is a historic fishing port that is significantly less crowded than the other five villages but offers no less.

Amalfi Coast and Capri

This stretch of coastline towards the south side of Italy near Naples is characterised by very steep hills and cliffs with small towns packed tightly into them. Many visitors go town-hopping by boat, especially to the towns of Amalfi and Positano.

The area is famous for its production for limoncello (an Italian lemon liquor) and so has a number of lemon farms. The lemons here are characterised by its larger size, wrinkled skins and sweeter taste and many farms offer tours for visitors to the coast.

Do also consider visiting the island of Capri, located off the Amalfi Coast. It is a mountainous island with a pretty town lined with ancient streets and modern boutiques. Ferries operate between Positano and Capri and can take between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the operator. Numerous boat trips also operate around the island for visitors to explore the beautiful sea caves and coastlines.

Getting to Italy

As I have shown above, there are a few key cities in Italy. Cities in the north and central Italy are mostly well connected by rail and are served by regional or international airports. Connections to the south are however, more limited.

By air

ITA Airways is the national carrier of Italy and although they offer all-year and seasonal flights from many major cities in Europe, flights from Asia, the Americas and Africa are however, quite limited. Therefore if you are flying from anywhere outside of Europe, you probably have to look to your respective country’s national carrier for direct flights.

Many of these international flights from outside of Europe land mainly in the capital of Rome, or the commercial and business hub of Milan. Generally this is fine if you are a first-time visitor and looking to visit the main cities of Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome. Chances are, you’d have to take a connecting flight or a train if you are visiting other parts of the country.

On the other hand, if you are visiting from anywhere within Europe, there is a good likelihood that budget regional airlines such as EasyJet or RyanAir can fly you directly to your Italian destination. Many of the airports in cities within Italy are well-connected with the rest of Europe and so should pose no difficulty.

By rail

As I have noted above, large parts of the northern borders are occupied naturally by the Alps while the south are bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, the points of entry by rail are limited mostly via Milan, Domodossola, or a few other smaller towns in the north. Unless you are entering Italy from Switzerland, I do think it is easier to fly into Italy instead. To search for trains from Switzerland into Italy, check sbb.ch.

By road

As has been noted, the land borders are mainly in the north and large parts of them are occupied by the Alps. Thus, even though there are bus services connecting neighbouring countries into Italy, many of these routes can be fairly long, winding and mountainous. This is similarly the case if you are driving.

By sea

It is possible to reach Italy by ferries from countries around the Mediterranean Sea such as Greece, Albania and Tunisia. However, journeys can often be long. To search for ferries to and within Italy, and a list of ports that have connections to an Italian port, refer to Ferry to Italy by Direct Ferries or Italy Ferries by Ferry Hopper.

I’d urge you to read the above links for information only, then book the ferries directly with the respective operators. This is because I have not used either services before, and online reviews about them are mixed. So exercise caution.

Getting around Italy

Inter cities and towns

The train network is generally good and adequate in connecting various towns and cities in the north and central parts of Italy. They are also reliable most of the time and so getting between towns and cities should normally not be a problem. The main rail operator is Trenitalia and you can book your train tickets directly from their website, the mobile app, as well as at the train station.

Always check the schedule in advance and refer to the train schedules and platform information at the stations. Make sure to also check the information board at the platform before boarding so as not to board the wrong train.

However, in the southern parts (in particular southwards of Naples and in Sicily), I find the train networks are either not as connected as in the north or have long journeys. Although there are also bus services connecting the different towns in the south, you may find that it can be easier with driving.

Lakes and coasts

When touring Lake Como or the Amalfi Coast, it can be much easier and quicker to travel by boat. To look for timetables and tickets, refer to their respective websites: Lake Como, Amalfi Coast (Salerno to Positano) and Positano to Capri.

Dolomites and the south

It may get a little more difficult to move around if you are planning to travel to the Dolomites as well as the southern areas including Sicily. Whenever you are planning to travel these areas, I’d recommend to consider renting a car and self-drive.

Within cities

Within the major cities such as Rome, Milan and Florence, you can easily get around by the comprehensive bus and/or metro network. In Venice, the water bus (vaporetto) network is incredibly useful although expensive.

While most public transport in major cities such as Rome, Milan and Florence are already equipped with contactless credit card payment, there are some smaller cities that are still transitioning and require you to purchase bus tickets from newsstands. Be sure to check online to confirm before travelling.

Tickets for the vaporetto in Venice can be purchased at the station before you board, using your credit or debit card.

How can I manage costs?

I have generally found that attractions in Italy are quite reasonably priced, and many of the churches and cathedrals are free to visit. The main problem I found, is the queues and crowds.

Queue or skip-the-line?

A number of attractions offer skip-the-line tickets but at a price. For example, the Vatican Museums allow you to skip the queues if you pre-book your tickets in a specific timeslot. However, this comes at a price of €5 per person. Other attractions such as the St Mark’s Basilica in Venice also has similar practice. Hence, it is up to you to decide if you wish to pay for less time-waiting.

I’d say, if you do not mind queuing early in the morning before their opening hours, you can probably get the best of both worlds of not having to queue for too long and not having to pay for skipping the lines. This is the best option if you are on a tight budget.

First Sunday of the month

If you are tight on budget and are happy to go shoulder-to-shoulder with a huge crowd, then you’d be happy to know that there are hundreds of museums and palaces in Italy that have free entry on the first Sunday of the month. That includes popular attractions such as the Colosseum in Rome and Uffizi Gallery in Florence. While planning your itinerary, be sure to check if this applies to the attractions you are visiting.

Note though, that the Vatican Museum has free entry on the last Sunday of the month instead of the first.

City passes

All the 4 main cities discussed above offer passes with many attractions included:

• Milan Pass Light or Milan Pass Full
• Venice Pass
• Firenzecard
• Roma Pass

I personally think that if you are planning to visit the popular attractions that most tourists do, or if you are following a typical first-timer itinerary, then you are likely better off without the passes above. This is because these passes tend to focus on museums than experiences such as gondola rides. Nonetheless, if you are a huge museum fan or are passionate about art, you might find the passes useful because they do offer entry to a huge range of different museums.

So, browse through the attractions from the list above and do the math before deciding whether to get the passes or not.

Rail passes

If you are planning to travel around different cities in Italy, then most likely you are planning to do a few train trips. The inter-city trains in Italy are mostly run by Trenitalia.

Trenitalia Pass

Trenitalia offers a Trenitalia Pass that allows you to make (a) 3 journeys in 7 days, (b) 4 journeys in 7 days, (c) 7 journeys in 15 days or (d) 10 journeys in 30 days. If you are following the typical first-timer route of Milan-Venice-Florence-Rome or a variation of it, you most likely pay less by buying individual tickets instead.

Pros and Cons of the Trenitalia Pass

However, the Trenitalia Pass can actually be the cheaper and better option if:

1. You do not want to book tickets early. Prices of train tickets can increase significantly nearer the date of travel. So if you are still unsure of the time of your travel, or prefer the flexibility of deciding on the day itself, the Trenitalia Pass may work well.
2. You are not in a rush for time on the day. If you have the Trenitalia Pass, you need to queue at the ticketing office or last-minute ticket booth with your pass to book/reserve your train. You will need to factor in time for queuing and getting tickets before your travel because you can’t do so at the ticketing machines with the pass. Based on my experience, there can be quite a queue.
3. You are taking multiple long trips, which you are unlikely to do so. That is to say, if for any reason at all you are planning to go from Rome to Milan and then Milan to Naples. i.e., heading from the south to the north, and then the north to the south again, the pass may work well. As the longer trips are more expensive, you are more likely to make the most out of your pass.

Cheapest option

So if you are on a tight budget, try to book your train tickets early so you can save what can be a significant amount. To illustrate, I initially did not plan to purchase the Trenitalia Pass as the individual tickets cost lower. However, the day before my first train travel, I realised that train prices have doubled, making the Trenitalia Pass more worth the while.

Note that the Trenitalia Pass will not cover other rail travel that are not operated by them, for example transport to and from the airports. All booking/reservation costs are included in the pass.

Eurail Pass (Italy one-country pass)

The Eurail (Italy one-country) Pass works similar to the Trenitalia Pass, except for the following differences:

1. The pass is valid for a month, which is longer than the Trenitalia Pass
2. It is for non-European visitors only
3. If you are travelling multiple countries in Europe, you can combine multiple countries into one single pass. You can build your pass at the Eurail website.
4. Reservation fees (typically €10 or so per trip) are NOT included

If you are travelling Italy only, then forget about the Eurail Pass as the Trenitalia Pass is cheaper. I am highlighting the Eurail pass in case you are planning to travel multiple European countries, in which case you should work the sums and decide between budget and flexibility.

Interrail Pass

The Interrail Pass works in the same way as the Eurail Pass, except that this is for the citizens of the EU and the UK.

Travelling within the cities

In the main cities of Rome, Milan and Florence, the metro and buses are equipped with the ability for contactless card payments. Particularly in Rome and Milan, there is a daily cap so you do not pay more than a certain amount per day. Thus you should always use the same card to tap for your payment to allow the system to compute this accurately for you.

For the most part of your stay in Florence, you are not likely to need any form of public transport. Especially if you are on a budget. This is because Florence is a very small and walkable city, and most attractions are within the pedestrianised area anyway.

Therefore for the three cities above, you do not need to purchase anything for public transport. The case for Venice is however, different.

Consider the vaporetto pass in Venice

The water bus (known as vaporetto) is the main form of public transport in Venice. A single trip on the vaporetto is very expensively priced though, at €9.50 per trip. For this reason, it is likely that a vaporetto pass can help you save cost. This will allow you to make multiple and unlimited trips, especially if you are visiting Murano and Burano. The three trips needed for Murano and Burano will already make the 24 hours pass worth the while. You can choose from 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours as well as 7 days. Check the price and purchase your pass in the widget below*:

Cinque Terre

It is difficult to give any general advice on budget in Cinque Terre due to the many varying factors. For example, the passes and trains cost different in three different periods, public holidays and weekdays vs weekends. Also, hiking trails are one-way on certain days (which means you have to take the train the other way), and they close on certain days too. But I can help to summarise as simply as possible.

First thing to note, there are multiple variations of the Cinque Terre Card.

1. Hiking – Most hiking routes are free, except for the stretch between Monterosso and Vernazza, and Vernazza to Corniglia. When hiking these stretches, you need to purchase at least the Cinque Terre Trekking Card.
2. Transport – Trenitalia trains connect the towns in Cinque Terre and cost €5 to €10 depending on season and days. You can have transport included by purchasing the Cinque Terre Train (Treno MS) Card. This card also allows you to hike the routes highlighted in point one above.
3. Path of Love (Via dell’Amore) – This is the most popular section and costs an additional €10 to hike this 1km path

Therefore, decide which routes you want to hike and how many train trips you need to take before deciding on which pass to get, or whether or not you need one.

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