With just a week or so of vacation time to visit Italy, it can be tough to decide where exactly to go! Two of our favorite cities year-round are Rome and Naples, but it’s even hard to just pick one. If you only have a week to ten days in Italy, you won’t want to […]
How to Use Rome’s Public Transportation System
Your complete guide to how to use and buy tickets for the metro, buses and trams in Rome. Between strikes, buses breaking down, and the never-ending project of building the third metro line, Rome’s public transportation system is not the most user friendly. And with its concentrated historic center and a monument around every corner, […]
A Primer on Tap Water in Rome
We’re not kidding—water is a cultural object in Rome, and there’s a whole etiquette on how to drink it. When one drives into Rome from the surrounding countryside, one is greeted by a series of still-standing aqueducts. Their iconic shape—linked, multi-level arches—serves as a reminder of how important they were, and still are, to the […]
Solo Travel in Rome: 5 Rules for an Unforgettable Trip
In Italy, we say meglio solo che male accompagnato—“better to be alone than in bad company.” And while we’re sure your friends are nice, solo travel in Rome is something you shouldn’t shy away from. A lot of people, especially when it comes to foreign vacations, seem to have a fear of traveling alone. Which […]
A Love Letter to Christmas in Italy (and the Family Meal that Starts the Season)
The Christmas season in Rome is the stuff of legends. I’ve always loved the holidays back at home, but the Italians manage to take it to a whole new level, with seven giorni di festa throughout the months of December and January. Every single Catholic holiday is celebrated with enormous quantities of pasta, roasted meats, […]
A Love Letter to Rome: Its Food & People
This post is part of our Love Letter series: first-person accounts of what we love about Rome. Rome is a city that lives and breathes its food culture. When you visit, you can’t help but fall in love with espresso, handmade pasta, bitter greens… and if you stay long enough, you might even develop a […]
8 Must-Visit Wineries Near Rome for Wine Lovers & Novices Alike
If you know anything about Italy, you might be aware that we’re pretty big on wine here. And while Tuscany and Piedmont may get all the credit as far as rolling green vineyards go, Rome’s home region of Lazio is sure to delight even the most die-hard enophile. And even if you’re not quite at […]
6 Tips & Tricks You Need to Beat the Lines in Rome
Rome is one of the most-visited cities in the world. 4.2 million people come every year—4 million of them just to the Colosseum! During the summer, the wait to get inside the most popular sites can last hours. Oh, and don’t forget—there’s no shade. But don’t stress. We’ve got this. Follow our advice with these six […]
How to be a Good Tourist: Rome Edition
Don’t miss the rest of our responsible tourism guides: MADRID | BARCELONA | SAN SEBASTIAN | SEVILLE | LISBON | PARIS Call us biased, but we think Rome is one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in the world. We must not be alone: with some 10 million visitors a year, Rome is the […]
10 Ways to Know You’re Completely Obsessed with Rome
Roma. Caput Mundi. Romanitas. Modern day Romanitas requires and reflects the same kind of virtues that Romans valued a few thousand years ago, and we’re guessing you’ve made them a part of your life, too. You probably find yourself having to explain to your less Rome-obsessed pals what it means to be Roman. Things like […]
A Love Letter to Rome, My Home
Traveling, experiencing the world, understanding different cultures—they’re some of the most beautiful things in life. But the thrill of traveling always seems to overshadow the less acknowledged beauty of going home. After growing up and living in seven cities across the globe, I know this to be true. When we were just children, my grandfather […]
The 9 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Rome
Like any strong-willed city with a rich history, Rome is complicated, and can feel overwhelming. But also like any city worth its salt, Rome is eternally worth it (you just have to get to know her a bit). Whenever we’re going to a new place, it’s always marvelous if we happen to know someone who […]
5 Best Day Trips from Rome: Lake Bolsena, Orvieto & More
There are so many options for easy day trips from Rome. That includes Florence and Naples! When you have had your fill of cacio e pepe and Baroque in Rome you can hop on a train and in less than two hours you can be somewhere completely different and still be back in time for an after dinner gelato. Start your trip planning with our picks for five day trips from Rome.
Naples
Make sure you come hungry for a day spent in Naples. This southern city has some of Italy’s best coffee, pastries and of course it is the spiritual home of pizza.
After a strong sweet cup of coffee from Caffe Mexico and a hot sfogliatelle near the train station begin your day with some art. Giuseppe Sanmartino’s Veiled Christ at at the Museo Capello San Severo is astonishing. The entire chapel is pretty spectacular and if you spend a long time it will take about 20 minutes. Don’t miss the creepy-cool skeletons downstairs. There are three works by bad boy artist Caravaggio in Naples. If you can only see one we recommend the Seven Works of Mercy in Pio Monte della Misericordi. For the history lover go to the Archeology museum and if contemporary is more your scene hit the Madre.
You can sample at least three different kinds of pizza in Naples. Start with a pizza a portafoglio, a soft slice folded over and eaten on the go. Next, try a pizza fritta, a calzone shaped pie that is deep fried, usually stuffed with ricotta and ciccioli, crispy pork. For your last pizza experience sit down and order a classic Pizza Margherita which uses tomatoes, olive oil, fresh mozzarella di bufala and basil.
It is Christmas every day in Naples along the Via San Gregorio Armeno. Shop for handcrafted nativity statues that range from traditional biblical figures to modern celebrities.
Insiders Tip: Many of the newer Naples Metro stations have contemporary art installations. At the Toledo stop, while everyone is getting their Instagram shot of the multitudes of blue tiles, head upstairs and admire the magnificent frieze detailing the history of Naples by South African artist Willian Kentridge.
Florence
This Renaissance jewel is an orderly contrast to Rome’s chaos and curves. Don’t be fooled by Florence’s compact size. There is more history and art treasure here than is imaginable. The Arno river cuts the city into two distinct neighborhoods with eight bridges to connect them making it is easy to cross back and forth.
Start you day by climbing Giotto’s bell tower and map out the rest of your stops from the birds eye view over the city and out into the Tuscan countryside. One combined ticket allows you access to six different sites that include the famous Brunelleschi Dome and the very lovely Museo de Opera. This recently renovated museum displays more than 750 works of art spanning 700 years of Florentine history. If you have already tackled the Ufiizzi and the Academia you can make a stop the Museo Nazionale del Bargello.
Cross over to the Oltrarno and try a favorite Florentine snack, a lampredotto (beef tripe) sandwich at the stand in San Frediano. Trust us on this. This side of the river is packed with artisans workshops. You can see craft that dates back centuries like inlaid stone work and more contemporary art by popular street artist Clet Abraham. If you have not had you fill of art admire the exquisite collection at The Museo Bardini.
Tuscan food is hearty fare featuring beans and the famous T-bone Fiorentina steak. Have lunch at a traditional trattoria or if you are looking for something quick try the top floor of the Mercato Centrale that has all kinds of options to choose from. Shop for leather goods, perfumes and creams that are created from 16th century recipes and bold statement jewelry.
Orvieto
This dramatic Umbrian hill town sits on top of an massive hulk of tuff stone. Long on history starting with its Etruscan roots the height of Orvieto’s power was in the Middle ages when Popes ruled until unification.
From the train station or main parking lot take the funicular up to the historic part of town. The showy striped Duomo with its glittering facade is the star of the town. Don’t miss Luca Signorelli’s stunning fresco cycle inside. If you are looking for somewhere to cool off on a hot day roam in the subterranean tunnels and grottos that lie beneath the town.
The region is famous for its crisp white wine called Orvieto Classico that is perfect with plate of truffle dusted umbricelli pasta or wild pigeon in salmi, a rich dark sauce with juniper, rosemary and vinegar. Shop for painted ceramics and items like cutting boards and cheese knives that are carved from local olive wood.
Ostia
It is easy to combine some ancient Roman history and lunch at the beach with only a metro ticket. Don’t forget to bring a towel and a bikini!
Start at the Piramide/Porto San Paolo station and your first stop will be seven stops away. Ostia Antica is an archeological site to rival Pompeii. It once served the Roman empire as the main port city. You can wander amongst the ancient ruins that were once shops, taverns, baths and amphitheaters. Hop back on the train for a few more stops and pick one of the private beach clubs for a shy lunch and a snooze in the sand before you head back to the city.
Lake Bolsena
Bolsena is in Tuscia a little-known region of Lazio that borders Tuscany and Umbria. Deep Etruscan roots, Medieval history and unspoiled landscapes are just the beginning of its charms.
This volcanic lake was created a few thousand years ago probably by the eruption of the Vulsini volcano. After your visit, you can boast to your pals that you swam in the largest volcanic lake in Europe.
Update notice: This article was updated on July 14, 2023.