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re: Just booked 22 days to Italy/Greece - any and all advice/tips appreciated
Posted on 6/30/21 at 6:52 am to hungryone
Posted on 6/30/21 at 6:52 am to hungryone
quote:
my Amalfi antipathy in August: there is really nothing to "do" besides shop, eat, look at lovely people during the passegiata, etc. So once you get over the lovely novelty of the towns clinging to the steep hillsides and all of the lemon terraces, it's not exactly the most stimulating place
I always find these comments to be funny. This way of viewing things is why a lot of Americans wind up with itineraries like the OP, or wind up not really enjoying their European (and other) trips. They must always be “doing” something.
This post was edited on 6/30/21 at 6:53 am
1
Posted on 6/30/21 at 7:21 am to Mo Jeaux
quote:
I always find these comments to be funny. This way of viewing things is why a lot of Americans wind up with itineraries like the OP, or wind up not really enjoying their European (and other) trips. They must always be “doing” something.
I hear ya, but I’m absolutely the last sort of traveler who needs to be “doing” all the time, but I find the Italian beach culture to be stupefying. They go to the seashore and sit in the same spot all day, often on a rented sun lounger in rows five deep. They bake, then go off for a long lunch. Then repeat the next day. Boring in the extreme, to me. Esp if you’re solo, in high season.
OP has clarified that he’s using Sorrento as a base for his explorations….this is good. He can day trip into Naples, to Herculaneum and Pompeii, and take the hydrofoil ferry to Amalfi, Posi, etc. He won’t be buried in a luxury hotel in Amalfi for four days straight. Sorrento is large enough to offer options….cooking classes, visiting a limoncello maker and lemon groves, climb Vesuvius (you can take a bus most of the way up), or even squeeze in a day trip to Capri.
Or just sit on the terrace at one of the big hotels overlooking the Porto and drink while admiring Vesuvius. Bonus points if he sketches while gazing….
Posted on 6/30/21 at 8:13 am to Volt
Lots of good advise in this thread. My 2 cents. To be there that long and skip Venice would be a mistake.. While it may be the most touristy of all your stops it’s still a unique treasure to the world that deserves at least one day. Have a great time.
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 4:08 pm
Posted on 7/1/21 at 8:09 pm to Volt
Posted on 7/3/21 at 8:51 am to Volt
Lots of great advice, but I'm surprised at all of the "skip Venice" responses. I haven't been in a while, but it's one of my favorite cities in Italy to explore. I dont think you need more than 2 days, but its truly the most unique place in Italy.
Skip Milan though.
Skip Milan though.
Posted on 7/3/21 at 9:22 am to Volt
i would spend 1-2 days in athens 3 in santorini and some in paros depending on how many islands and places you want to go, but Cyclades islands are my favorite santorini, Paros and Naxos ( could stop by Mykonos but way overhyped and priced )
also if you like hiking head back early to athens and take a train to meteora in the mountains about a 4-5 hour train ride to monasteries in the moutians of central greece ,s imply amazing
Paros, the last stop in the Greek Cyclades, is an island in the central Aegean Sea. The island is a much more tranquil and laid back pace of life with unique villages connected by ancient Byzantine pathways. Paros is historically known for its famous white marble quarries but today is a famous tourist destination.
Paros offers four distinct villages and towns that each offer their own unique twist. The capital which is Parikía has beautiful whitewashed architecture and impressive classical mansions. It has an ancient 13th century Venetian castle and has a 6th century church called Panayia Ekatontapyliani. Legend holds it is the Church of 100 doors and only 99 can be found with the final being a secret one.
Náoussa is a colorful village where the ruins of a Venetian castle and fortress stand at the entrance to the harbor. Léfkes is located at the highest point of the Páros mountains tucked away from pirate attacks and enjoys impressive views of the lush green island landscape. It has very well preserved classic Greek architecture. The last village and maybe most surprising and photogenic was Márpissa, founded in the 15th century and is a traditional village with a distinctive medieval character.
Páros has a hint of everything you expect from an island in the Greek Cyclades. It has the whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, impeccable blonde-sand beaches, fishing harbours overlooked by Greek taverns , plus entertaining discotecas and cafés.
athens is accomplished history, Santorini is the WOW island and touristy, Paros is the cheaper more laid back island but offers great beaches and historical towns , and meterora is monasteries in the mountains perfect for hiking
also if you like hiking head back early to athens and take a train to meteora in the mountains about a 4-5 hour train ride to monasteries in the moutians of central greece ,s imply amazing
Paros, the last stop in the Greek Cyclades, is an island in the central Aegean Sea. The island is a much more tranquil and laid back pace of life with unique villages connected by ancient Byzantine pathways. Paros is historically known for its famous white marble quarries but today is a famous tourist destination.
Paros offers four distinct villages and towns that each offer their own unique twist. The capital which is Parikía has beautiful whitewashed architecture and impressive classical mansions. It has an ancient 13th century Venetian castle and has a 6th century church called Panayia Ekatontapyliani. Legend holds it is the Church of 100 doors and only 99 can be found with the final being a secret one.
Náoussa is a colorful village where the ruins of a Venetian castle and fortress stand at the entrance to the harbor. Léfkes is located at the highest point of the Páros mountains tucked away from pirate attacks and enjoys impressive views of the lush green island landscape. It has very well preserved classic Greek architecture. The last village and maybe most surprising and photogenic was Márpissa, founded in the 15th century and is a traditional village with a distinctive medieval character.
Páros has a hint of everything you expect from an island in the Greek Cyclades. It has the whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, impeccable blonde-sand beaches, fishing harbours overlooked by Greek taverns , plus entertaining discotecas and cafés.
athens is accomplished history, Santorini is the WOW island and touristy, Paros is the cheaper more laid back island but offers great beaches and historical towns , and meterora is monasteries in the mountains perfect for hiking
Posted on 7/3/21 at 9:33 am to Volt
Here is my itinerary and notes from Italy , hope it helps ??
Milan (1 day good for Milan)
Land in Milan September 10 get to cinque terre via train by 2:00 pm ( could see last supper mural in Milan ) take train direct route from Milano Centrale to Monterosso of cinque terre about 3 hours
17 Best Things to Do in Milan (Italy):
• Milan Cathedral
• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
• Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Castello Sforzesco
• Pinacoteca di Brera
• Sant Ambrogio
• Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology
• Piazza dei Mercanti
• Milan Archaeology Museum
• Piazza del Duomo
• La Scala Opera
• AC Milan San Siro Stadium
• Parco Sempione
• Brera district
• Walk down the Naviglio Grande
• Basilica di San Lorenzo
• Torre Branca
Cinque Terre
Options for cinque terre hotel , classic cinque terre fishing town with iconic architecture called veranazza or monterosso which is center of cinque terre ( city of five villages ) monterosso has more restaurants, shopping restaurants and beaches but more touristy not iconic (current hotel)
Train can be taken here and between villages or trail walked about 1.5-2 miles between each of the 5 villages very long trail in all for all five villages ( some of it may be closed)
Cliff jumping Riomaggiore,Doria castle in veranazza , trail between monterosso and veranazza ,
Two hotels to choose In Cinque terre
Monterosso al mare
LINK
Veranazza
LINK
Siena
From cinque terre to Siena take train from Corniglia to emboli to Siena about 3 hours and get to Airbnb tour wineries and ole medieval Siena center , rent car upon arrival in Siena and check train to Salerno on Almafi coast
15 Best Things to Do in Siena (Italy):
• Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
• Piazza del Campo
• Palazzo Pubblico
• Torre del Mangia
• Biblioteca Piccolomini
• Siena National Gallery
• Church of San Domenico
• Piazza Salimbeni
• Porta Pispini
• Santuario di Santa Caterina
• Fortezza Medicea
• Baptistery of Santa Maria Assunta
• Siena Civic Museum
• Enjoy a sublime meal at the Ristorante Tar Tufo
• Enjoy a drink and some Jazz Music at Un Tubo
Train from Siena to Salerno
Almafi Coast (positano?)
Train from siena to Salerno on amalfi coast about 5 hours from Siena , from Salerno about 30-45 min drive to positano we take Uber or cab , two options for hotel and location is Amalfi town which is a centralized location on coast in between Salerno and sorrento ( two towns that encompass each end of Almafi coast) more historic place and less glitzy and less expensive in Almafi , positano is glitzy picturesque (photos you see online are from there ) lots of nightlife and restaurants and iconic village, can rent Moto scooteron the Almafi coast ( ravello, sorrento, Salerno, Almafi , positano , ) could visit Naples or Pompeii and mt vesuvius and isle of Capri ,
Possible positano hotel
LINK
15 Best Things to Do in the Amalfi Coast (Italy):
• Visit the town of Sorrento
• Admire the pastel coloured houses of Positano
• Take in the gorgeous views from Praiano
• Visit the town of Amalfi
• Head up to the heights of Ravello
• Enjoy the beaches of Maiori
• Watch the fishing fleets at Cetara
• Take a boat tour into the Grotta dello Smeraldo Cave
• Walk through the Centro Storico of Salerno
• Take in the gorgeous waterfalls of the Valle delle Ferriere
• Visit the Island of Capri
• Take the scenic train journey
• Enjoy a boat ride from Amalfi
• Travel to the Sirenuse Islands
• Visit the charming town of Furore
Rome
From Almafi coast head to Rome (train via Salerno to Rome about 2.5 hours ) and I liked trastevere area of town to stay in. Coliseum, trevi fountain , ancient rome, Vatican City , pantheon , St. Peter’s basilica
25 Best Things to Do in Rome (Italy):
• Colosseum
• St Peter’s Square
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• The Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Roman Forum
• Sistine Chapel
• Vatican Museums
• Piazza Navona
• Castle Saint Angelo
• Palatine Hill
• Galleria Borghese
• Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
• Villa Borghese Gardens
• Trastevere
• Altar of the Fatherland
• Ponte Sant Angelo
• Quirinale Palace
• Piazza del Popolo
• Arch of Constantine
• Basilica di San Clemente
• Piazza Venezia
• Villa Farnesina
• Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
What is needed to enter Italy ???? Via us embassy and Italy consulate
LINK /
Milan (1 day good for Milan)
Land in Milan September 10 get to cinque terre via train by 2:00 pm ( could see last supper mural in Milan ) take train direct route from Milano Centrale to Monterosso of cinque terre about 3 hours
17 Best Things to Do in Milan (Italy):
• Milan Cathedral
• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
• Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Castello Sforzesco
• Pinacoteca di Brera
• Sant Ambrogio
• Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology
• Piazza dei Mercanti
• Milan Archaeology Museum
• Piazza del Duomo
• La Scala Opera
• AC Milan San Siro Stadium
• Parco Sempione
• Brera district
• Walk down the Naviglio Grande
• Basilica di San Lorenzo
• Torre Branca
Cinque Terre
Options for cinque terre hotel , classic cinque terre fishing town with iconic architecture called veranazza or monterosso which is center of cinque terre ( city of five villages ) monterosso has more restaurants, shopping restaurants and beaches but more touristy not iconic (current hotel)
Train can be taken here and between villages or trail walked about 1.5-2 miles between each of the 5 villages very long trail in all for all five villages ( some of it may be closed)
Cliff jumping Riomaggiore,Doria castle in veranazza , trail between monterosso and veranazza ,
Two hotels to choose In Cinque terre
Monterosso al mare
LINK
Veranazza
LINK
Siena
From cinque terre to Siena take train from Corniglia to emboli to Siena about 3 hours and get to Airbnb tour wineries and ole medieval Siena center , rent car upon arrival in Siena and check train to Salerno on Almafi coast
15 Best Things to Do in Siena (Italy):
• Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
• Piazza del Campo
• Palazzo Pubblico
• Torre del Mangia
• Biblioteca Piccolomini
• Siena National Gallery
• Church of San Domenico
• Piazza Salimbeni
• Porta Pispini
• Santuario di Santa Caterina
• Fortezza Medicea
• Baptistery of Santa Maria Assunta
• Siena Civic Museum
• Enjoy a sublime meal at the Ristorante Tar Tufo
• Enjoy a drink and some Jazz Music at Un Tubo
Train from Siena to Salerno
Almafi Coast (positano?)
Train from siena to Salerno on amalfi coast about 5 hours from Siena , from Salerno about 30-45 min drive to positano we take Uber or cab , two options for hotel and location is Amalfi town which is a centralized location on coast in between Salerno and sorrento ( two towns that encompass each end of Almafi coast) more historic place and less glitzy and less expensive in Almafi , positano is glitzy picturesque (photos you see online are from there ) lots of nightlife and restaurants and iconic village, can rent Moto scooteron the Almafi coast ( ravello, sorrento, Salerno, Almafi , positano , ) could visit Naples or Pompeii and mt vesuvius and isle of Capri ,
Possible positano hotel
LINK
15 Best Things to Do in the Amalfi Coast (Italy):
• Visit the town of Sorrento
• Admire the pastel coloured houses of Positano
• Take in the gorgeous views from Praiano
• Visit the town of Amalfi
• Head up to the heights of Ravello
• Enjoy the beaches of Maiori
• Watch the fishing fleets at Cetara
• Take a boat tour into the Grotta dello Smeraldo Cave
• Walk through the Centro Storico of Salerno
• Take in the gorgeous waterfalls of the Valle delle Ferriere
• Visit the Island of Capri
• Take the scenic train journey
• Enjoy a boat ride from Amalfi
• Travel to the Sirenuse Islands
• Visit the charming town of Furore
Rome
From Almafi coast head to Rome (train via Salerno to Rome about 2.5 hours ) and I liked trastevere area of town to stay in. Coliseum, trevi fountain , ancient rome, Vatican City , pantheon , St. Peter’s basilica
25 Best Things to Do in Rome (Italy):
• Colosseum
• St Peter’s Square
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• The Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Roman Forum
• Sistine Chapel
• Vatican Museums
• Piazza Navona
• Castle Saint Angelo
• Palatine Hill
• Galleria Borghese
• Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
• Villa Borghese Gardens
• Trastevere
• Altar of the Fatherland
• Ponte Sant Angelo
• Quirinale Palace
• Piazza del Popolo
• Arch of Constantine
• Basilica di San Clemente
• Piazza Venezia
• Villa Farnesina
• Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
What is needed to enter Italy ???? Via us embassy and Italy consulate
LINK /
Posted on 7/3/21 at 10:30 am to BigVoodoo
Voodoo how many days would be good to stay in Rome? My wife and I did Paris a few years back and stayed there for 3 days. Is Rome worth that many days? Everyone in here has good things to say about Florence so I may end up staying there longer now.
This post was edited on 7/3/21 at 3:36 pm
Posted on 7/3/21 at 10:48 am to FLBooGoTigs1
Rome I thoroughly enjoyed especially if your a history buff, I liked Rome much more than Paris, I would spend at least 3 days in Rome especially if you go to Vatican City
Florence is in Tuscany and is nice however I prefer Siena as it’s a closer hub to the wineries plus it’s more of an ancient medieval town but if you never been to Florence it’s worth going
Florence is in Tuscany and is nice however I prefer Siena as it’s a closer hub to the wineries plus it’s more of an ancient medieval town but if you never been to Florence it’s worth going
This post was edited on 7/3/21 at 10:51 am
Posted on 7/3/21 at 1:45 pm to BigVoodoo
thanks 
Posted on 7/3/21 at 1:46 pm to Volt
If you go to Naples, say Hi at Naples and take a boat over to the island of Capri. Everything else is lagniappe.
Posted on 7/3/21 at 8:40 pm to FLBooGoTigs1
No problem
Posted on 7/4/21 at 9:44 pm to Volt
I did a similar trip a few years ago. I would personally spend a little less time in Rome and spend more time in Florence and the Greek islands. If you do Athens, you should really only need one full day there to see everything and experience it. All of those places are tourist traps, so make sure you buy pants with zippered pockets so put your wallets. Pack light because you will be moving around a lot. There are several articles online with tips on how to pack and the types of clothes to pack and stay lightweight at the same time
Posted on 7/6/21 at 2:34 pm to hungryone
quote:
I hear ya, but I’m absolutely the last sort of traveler who needs to be “doing” all the time, but I find the Italian beach culture to be stupefying. They go to the seashore and sit in the same spot all day, often on a rented sun lounger in rows five deep. They bake, then go off for a long lunch
Not thrilled about the 5 deep part, but what else do you go to the beach for? I go to sit on the beach and look at the beautiful water and chill. I enjoy having someone bring me a drink here and there. I actually could sit there for a couple of days just relaxing, reading, and enjoying the view. It's not like I'm in a small minority with this thinking either!
What is your beach vacation, hungryone, or do you really not do the beach?
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