All roads lead to Rome!
Italy is the country with largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is rich in architecture, food, culture landscapes and has something to offer for everyone. Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa are the most prominent places to visit in Italy. Italy is home to largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can easily spend a month across cities with different ruins here
Best time to visit
Spring and Autumn between Mar- May, Sep- Nov are best months to visit. The temperature will be pleasant with minimal rains and snow. The beaches are the best in summer, but hot and humid at the same time
Visa
Schengen visa is valid here
Currency- Euro
Cards are accepted at most places
Getting in and around
Milan, Rome, Florence are well connected to other European cities. Most cities are quite large, so it is better to take 24 hour public transport card
Places to visit in Italy
The capital city of Rome, the holy Vatican city, leaning tower at Pisa, the canals of Venice, architecture towns of Florence, fashion city of Milan, beaches of Amalfi, Naples are the most prominent places to visit.
It is impossible to list down places and attractions within a city exhaustively since there are so many that you will definitely miss some. You can pick any city or town and be assured to have a good time
Rome
Colosseum: Built 2000+ years ago, this fighting arena has survived testing times to be one of the most visited places in the country. Be prepared to wait in long lines or buy a guided tour to skip the queue
Trevi fountain: Wish fulfilling fountain made famous by movies like La Dolce Vita, Roman Holiday, Three Coins in the Fountain, Sabrina Goes to Rome, The Lizzie McGuire
Pantheon: Well preserved temple with a hole on the roof
Vatican City: The holiest place for Christians, home to St. Peter’s Basilica is a country in itself. We were amazed by the paintings inside the basilica and in Sistine Chapel. We definitley recommend going inside the Vatican Museum
Venice
The canal city where water is the road to reach any place. Padova is the connection station for most trains. You will have to take a water taxi from the train station to reach other islands
St. Mark’s square with the basilica and bell tower, is the centre of city and starting point for tours and water taxis
The gondola ride takes you to prominent places here, like under Rialto bridge
If you have the time, head out to see Murano which is famous for glass making, Burano for its colorful houses, other islands like Lido, Torcello
Florence
Nice town that has maintained its ancient architecture and feel, with roof tiled houses and buildings all over the city
There are overnight trains from Munich, Vienna, Paris- quite comfortable and helpful in saving time and accommodation money
Uffizi Gallery: Good collection of renaissance art
Santa Maria del Fiore/ Duomo of Firenze: Beautiful red domed cathedral that is the icon of the city
Ponte Vecchio: The famous bridge across the river Arno. There are many more bridges in the town, with their own character
Pisa
Famous for the leaning tower. Do not miss the wonderful cathedral within the complex- it has a vibrant design as well
There are regular connections from cities like Florence. Pisa is one of the places to buy cheap souvenirs
Milan
A hub for transport and a most likely stops if you are travelling from other countries to Italy by train. Visit the stunning Duomo and shop from the luxury outlets if you have the money
How much does it cost
- Flights: $600-700 Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Emirates have best connections
- Accommodation: Hostels cost $10-20 per night and mid-range can be around $50
- Travelling around: Budget $10-30 per day for mix of public transport and 1-2 Uber rides
- Food: $10-20 for simple takeaways. Try out the famous Viennese coffee