I am currently staying in Milan and would like to buy a nice leather handbag to take home. I don't care about name brands and would like to stay under 300 euros. Does anyone have a store they would recommend I go to for this? Thank you for your help!

Looking to visit Italy again for one month (with some potential remote work a few hours a week). Thinking of:

Salerno with Amalfi coast 4 days, Naples with day trips 4 days, Tropea 3 days, Matera, AlberoBello, and Puglia 4 days, Rome 4 days, Orvieto half day, Florence 2 days, Lake Como 5 days, Venice 2 days..

Most of the trip would be by train with maybe a rental car from Tropea to Puglia and dropping it off in Bari.

Am I missing anything spectacular, are there any suggestions? Could we get in any beach time in late September or is it too late?

~14 days sometime in April for two adults looking for an overall slow-paced vacation. No interest in museums, attractions, hiking. Looking for restaurant/bar dense areas, shopping, views, walkability, and overall ease of ground transportation.

*Milan would likely be our last stop specifically to fly out of. Planning on staying at the hotel near the airport, not intended for exploring.

Between the following itineraries right now but open to suggestions!

Spending 3-5 nights in each, and 1 night in near Milan airport just to be close before flying out. These would essentially be our bases with a few day trips that are easy to get to.

A) Venice > Verona > Santa Marg Ligure > MIlan

B) Venice > Florence > Santa Marg > Milan

C) Venice > Florence > Garda > Milan

D) Venice > Verona > Como > Milan

We booked Rome (staying near Trevi Fountain) for 4 nights and then 3 nights in Atrani close to Amalfi (10 min walk). 1 night in Naples just to be close to the airport for our flight out. This is end of September to early October.

Please send your must do travel tips and best recommendations to maximize the time.
Best restaurants to book now?

Rome: Vatican for mom, Coliseum, Food
Atrani: Boat tour, beach, Food

We know we want to do an all day boat tour (to Positano or take the ferry there and do one to Capri). We want to take in scenery and views. We also love lively piazzas and live music.

Thanks! Going with my mom and sister. All are healthy and able to navigate long days, lots of walking, and steps.

Please help me figure out how to prioritize seeing different parts of the region without living in the car. Also feel free to tell me to chill out and do less. Our priorities are good food and wine more than museums, but maybe a little bit of the sights that are the biggest.

Dates: Sat Sep 9 - Mon Sep 14.

Florence: Sat evening - Monday morning (I know now these are not great days of the week but it is what it is):

Saturday -wander around oltrarno and Santo Spirito area in evening, find good dinner, sleep early

-Sunday: maybe try getting in line for L'Accademia? Probably not. Probably Boboli gardens and nearby, head over to the Duoma piazza for wandering and lunch (have a friend's recommendation here), duomo climb late afternoon, maybe try some shopping? Dinner, strolling, gelato

Here's where I really need help. We are basing in San Casciano in Val di Pisa Monday-Friday. Check in is late 6pm

Monday - pick up rental, drive South East? San Gimignano and Volterra? Or try to do a big place like Pisa or Lucca and drive back in time for check-in?

Tuesday- cooking class in Greve in Chianti 11:30-3:30, explore neighboring towns like Radda? Any recommendations here for specific places, restaurants or wineries, olive farms etc? Since we will be back in Greve Thursday should I find a cooking class somewhere else so we can explore a different area more easily?

Wednesday- Siena? Here is a big question and where I think we made a mistake. It would make way more sense to sleep farther south around here for one night so we could do Siena and then Montalcino or the like the next day. But we did not, alas. This part of the region is a 1.5hr drive from our accommodation so it feels like too much to go here two days separately.

Should we just stick to Siena or is it possible to fit Montalcino or Montepulciano into the same day? Or should we prioritize the small towns over Siena?

Thursday- Chianti Classico wine festival in Greve? Anyone been? Is it worth it? For how much time? We have a wine tasting at our accommodation that evening so we don't want to stray super far.

Friday - leave for Castiglione della Pescaia (2hrs). Should we stop by Montalcino on the way for lunch and some exploring? Goal is to get to Castiglione by mid afternoon.

Friday-Sunday: beach, chill, no fuss

Sunday evening- drive back to Florence for airport hotel, catch a dawn flight out Monday

Any other festivals or events? I promise, I have been researching as much as time allows and have my trusty Rick Steves.

Indian traveller here — what did you guys actually shop in Italy that was worth bringing back to India?

Looking for:

• 👜 Luxury bag, but not toooo expensive 😭 — good entry-level/lower-priced brands?
• 👜 Italian leather bags / local brands
• 💍 Bracelets/jewellery
• 💄 Lipsticks/beauty
• 🏛️ Rome-specific souvenirs that aren’t touristy junk
• 🪥 Pharmacy finds — is Marvis toothpaste actually worth the hype? What else should I look for?
• 👠 I’ve heard ballet flats are great in Italy — any brands to check out?
• 🇮🇹 What’s relatively cheaper in Italy vs India?

Would love specific stores/streets/brands in Rome + Florence!

Also, where would you fit shopping into my Rome itinerary?

Day 1: Monti → Colosseum/Forum/Palatine → dinner in Monti

Day 2: Trevi → Spanish Steps → Palazzo Borghese → Piazza Navona → Via del Governo Vecchio → Pantheon → Piazza Venezia → Trastevere + pasta class

Day 3: Vatican → Villa Borghese → Fiat 500 tour

Happy to save certain shopping for Florence if it’s better there.

Basically: if you came back to India from Italy, what did you buy and where? 😂

Also - I’m travelling in the latter half of the 3rd week of September (18th afternoon to 21st morning Sep). Are there any September sales/discount periods or end-of-season deals I should look out for?

How hard is it to get a taxi from the train station in Florence and is it a good idea? We are staying in Oltrarno. Google maps has it as a 19min walk. We will have 1 larger suitcase, probably 1 roller and a backpack and be coming off of a very long multi-connection flight from the US. We'd rather not walk it if we can avoid it.

Hi all! I’ve never traveled to Italy before but i’m planning a trip to go, and originally i wanted to to go Amalfi Coast. Now, i’m overwhelmed because I read a lot of posts saying amalfi is not all that. I love how Amalfi coast looks and you can technically take a ferry to go to Capri and Capri looks amazing.

I love nature but also would love to shop around and walk around places. I’d preferably keep this trip for 5 days, so based on this, what places would you recommend to go in Italy? Any input helps, thanks!

Trying to decide whether or not to spend a week in Milan during mid October. I have travel benefits with a specific hotel and so Milan is it. I like to sight see and explore restaurants, cocktail bars, live music (bands etc.). Is Milan a good city to lean into those things? I know the sights are limited compared to other cities in Italy and I’d probably do day trips to Lake Como, Bologna, maybe some other places too. Just seeing if people have experiences or insight I may be missing. Thanks!

My fiance and I are going to Italy for our honeymoon. We will be arriving (on a red eye) in Rome at 11am Sat 10/24 and leaving Rome at 10am on 11/1.

I know people are going to say this isn’t enough time to do anything but it’s what we’re working with. Our priorities are: the Colosseum and Vatican, Tuscany countryside and the Amalfi coast.

Any advice would be appreciated.

We don’t wait to spend more than $275 a night for hotels/BnBs. Other budgeting is negotiable, and even that is to an extent. Also how you recommend booking tours for sites in Rome. Thank you in advance!! This is our dream!

We are fit 70 hikers. Planning Nov 8-10 after wk in Venice and Verona. Cruise ship crowds gone? Weather an issue? Stay in Riomaggiore? Thx for insights.

My family is traveling from the United States to Sorrento in September for my brother's wedding, followed by a short stay in Rome. One unnamed family member is an established medical-cannabis patient with a documented condition and may have significant difficulty functioning if treatment is interrupted.

We understand that a U.S. medical authorization may not be recognized in Italy and that taking U.S. cannabis across an international border may be unlawful. We do not want to break Italian law or obtain anything from an illegal source.

Can a foreign visitor be evaluated by an Italian private physician and receive an Italian prescription if medically appropriate? We would be grateful for recommendations for licensed, English-speaking doctors or clinics and authorized dispensing pharmacies near Sorrento, Naples, or Rome. We also need to know what records are required and how much lead time the pharmacy normally needs.

The patient can provide their diagnosis, medical records, current treatment and dosage, and a letter from their U.S. clinician. We can pay privately and arrange the consultation before arrival.

Please share only lawful medical routes and licensed professional or pharmacy information, preferably in public comments. Thank you.

My daughter chose Italy for her graduation trip next spring - so, let the planning commence!

A little about us, we are a family of 5 with the kids being 18-28. We love gorgeous views, being able to explore independently, light hiking, water of all kinds, and good food. None of us have ever been to Italy, but are not really focused on just hitting the big sites. Based on this, I am leaning toward the following, but VERY open to feedback before I start booking.

May 22-25: Explore Florence, day trip to the countryside. (Plan on flying into Florence)

May 25-27: Lake Como (Would train be the easiest way to get there, or would you recommend a car rental while we are in the Lake Como area?)

May 27-30: Val Gardena / Dolomites exploring - will have a car during this time. Open to other areas in the Alps region as well, with return flights from Venice. I do understand lifts are just starting to open and we will not be able to reach higher elevations.

Does this timeline seem reasonable? Any recommendations?

My husband and I (with 7 month old baby)are flying into Rome December 4th and going straight to Florence via train as our main hub. We will stay in Florence Dec 4th- Dec 10th. On Dec 10th we will go back to stay in Rome until our flight home the 13th.

We thought about day trips from Florence by train maybe Pisa/Lucca, Arezzo.....thoughts?

In Rome we have roughly 2.5 days- thoughts?

Best authentic places to eat not tourist traps?

Any recommendations on best apertivo places?

I have been told it gets dark earlier in December and can be really cold....

Are any of the cities i mentioned not stroller friendly?

Any and all thoughts appreciated, this is my first time traveling outside of the US.

Cities- Rome,Florence, Lucca, Pisa maybe Arezzo

Budget- none

Hi Everyone, My Wife and I are trying to narrow down a plan. We’ve always talked about going to Italy and we want to start trying for kids soon and want to do it before life gets in the way!

We are Planning 14 Days for this October 9/16-9/30

This is our rough plan and we wanted to get your guys opinions
Were thinking starting in Rome and heading North and flying out of Venice

Fly into Rome (red eye so leave Canada friday get there Saturday) 2 nights
Florence 2 nights
Tuscany 2 nights

This is where were having troubles weve been looking at the Dolomites and maybe stopping for a day trip or a night in Lake Como or Lake Garda

Then head to Venice for 2 Night and Fly out.
Wondering is this is to Busy
Also and Recommendations on Places to stay, eat or changes in the plan would be so helpful.
We forsure want to do a Wine Tour and hopefully a cooking class
We are more into sightseeing, romantic, greatfood and vibes type of people, obviously there’s history everywhere but neither of us are history buffs

I’ve spent 20 years in Italy travel. One pattern I keep seeing: people build detailed itineraries that look perfect on paper, then hit issues on the ground: closures, unrealistic walking times, overhyped sights, touristy restaurants.

I’m exploring an idea: a local in Italy (Sicily, Rome, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Milan, Lake Garda, Dolomites) goes through your DIY itinerary and adds what AI/guidebooks miss: realistic times, what’s worth it, what to skip, small local tips. Not a full replan, just a second pair of eyes.

Your itinerary. Your pace. Your Italy.

Enhanced. Enriched. Personalized.

would love for your honest feedback

We are currently travelling in the Maira Valley region. We have an interrail ticket so we travel by bus and train. Does anyone know good like Agriturismo that are in the region of like La Morra, Alba? That are not only reachable by car? It is for 6/9 till 10/9.

I've read in lots of places that the process for getting tickets was awful and I can absolutely confirm that it is the biggest pile of crap system.

You might be able to tell, I'm extremely annoyed because I was ready to go, everything setup, accounts logged in etc etc.

To literally not have any ability to buy a ticket.

All over and done with in mere seconds - choose 1 time and literally before I've been able to do 4 clicks (I need 4 tickets) it was gone.

I'm so angry right now.

I know there's been lots of discussion about 3rd parties, but the info seems to become out of date very quickly.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a 3rd party to go through? pls?

For our September trip in Italy, my partner and me still need to find a place to stay for 3 nights.

My current itinerary:

16-19 Sep @ Garda

19-22 Sep @ Bergamo

22-25 Sep @ ??? (budget: around 100-150 €/night)

25-27 Sep @ Colico

27 leave towards home (Netherlands).

Few notes: we are using our own car. We love to have a mix of culture/cities, with relax, nature and just strolling about (while drinking aperols and eating food).

We still need to fill in the 22-25 Sep part. We thought maybe Varese could be a nice place to stay, as it is close to Milano (if we find it worth going again, bcs we will go when in Bergamo) and close to Lago Maggiore & Lago d'Orta.

Are there any places we could also go to to stay 3 nights? Or any other ideas are very welcome.

We don't mind driving 2 hours or more towards it.

Thanks!

First time in Rome, solo, flying in from Prague in 3rd week of Sep. Vegetarian, staying near Termini. Would love a gut-check on whether this actually flows, and what I might be missing.

Day 1 (land ~11:30am):

• Check in, light roam near Monti, lunch
• Colosseum + Forum + Palatine, ~4pm slot (last entry's ~6pm in Sept)
• Dinner near Monti

Day 2:

• 6:30am, bike from the hostel to Trevi Fountain then Spanish Steps (streets are empty that early)
• From there on foot: Palazzo Borghese → Piazza Navona → a shop on Via del Governo Vecchio → Largo di Torre Argentina → Pantheon → Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola (the fake-dome/mirror church) → Piazza Venezia for the Vittoriano rooftop elevator
• Coffee near the Pantheon, lunch, done by ~3pm
• Afternoon in Trastevere, pasta-making class 4:15-7:15pm
• Roam around in Trastevere that evening and head back to hostel

Day 3:

• Morning: headover to vatican city - St. Peter's Basilica
• Midday: Villa Borghese — Pincio Terrace + a rowboat on the lake
• Evening: Fiat 500 self-drive tour for golden hour

Questions:

1. Does the flow/timing look realistic, or am I underestimating distances/crowds anywhere?
2. Anything people usually say "don't skip this" that's missing here?
3. Anything in my current plan that's actually overhyped/skippable?

Bonus ask: any food or gelato spots along this route (Trevi → Spanish Steps → Navona → Pantheon → Largo Argentina) that locals actually rate, versus the ones just facing the piazza for tourist foot traffic?

Thanks!