traveling in italy solo
 

Hi, i am planning to travel italy by train, on a one country pass. i have 6 days and would like to see as much of italy as possible and as cheaply as possible. has anyone done this that has some good ideas and tips. this is the first time in italy and the first time traveling solo. scared but very excited

Where do you plan to go in 6 days? Unless you plan to go from Sicily to Venice and back, a pass will probably not be cheaper than buying point-to-point tickets as you go. The prices and train options in Italy are relatively inexpensive compared to other countries in Europe. You can verify by entering your complete itinerary at Railsaver.com and click "only if it saves me money."

See more by seeing less. With six days in Italy, I would go to either Venice and Florience or Rome and Sorrento. Actually what I would really do is spend them all in one place and make day trips. aif you go to many places, you'll have great pictures but few memories.

Hi Tina,
I just did the very same thing a month ago. I went for a couple of shows and that dictated my itinery a bit, but I traveled alone and didn't have any problems. I was in Rome first, then Turin, and ended my stay in Milan. I found public transportation to very invaluable and very easy to use. There are soooo many things I could mention. When and where are you going?
Amy

cmstraf has it perfectly. Go to Rome. Take a day trip to Orvieto, a one hour train trip, for variety. Rome is worth all the other days by itself.

You won't need a train pass.

What are your interests?

Where are you coming from?

Do you want to stay in hotels/B&B's, hostels or an apartment?

Do you have an actual per day budget?

Can you do more than 6 days?

Traveling solo in Italy is fun and very easy.

If i had 6 days i would do Venice and Verona. There is a small island near Venice called Brano great day trip very pretty.

Don't buy a pass which won't include the price of seat reservations that are required(15-20€ per train for the faster trains). You want to buy point-to-point tickets after you arrive in Italy.

How many nights will you have in Italy, tina? And where do you plan on flying into and departing from? And what are your interest regarding visiting Italy? It is difficult to make suggestions without some idea as to what interest you. What, per your budget can you spend (euro wise) for your nightly lodging? And what at this point area(s) are you thinking of visiting. Scared and excited..that can be a fun emotion! And no doubt you will return to Italy many times in the future.

Hi tin,

>i have 6 days and would like to see as much of italy as possible and as cheaply as possible. <

You have made 2 standard newbie mistakes.
1. You won;t want a railpass - too expensive.
2. If you try to see as much as possible you will be on trains all of the time and won't see Italy.

The usual tour for 1st timers is Venice, Florence and Rome. You only have 5 nights. Choose 2 of the three.

Assuming that you are a young person, I suggest Florence and Rome.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Agree with all the others that you don't need a train pass. Just buy tickets in the station when you need to travel. If you happen to be going on a very busy time, and a long distance you might want to get the tickets the day before.

I've been to Italy numerous times but two of them were solo for 6 days each. Once I based in Florence and did day trips to Lucca and Siena. The other trip I based in Padua and did day trips to Venice, Verona, Bologna and a few other towns in the Veneto. Both trips were wonderful.

But if this is your first trip and you want to see "as much as possible" I would probably base in Florence and do day trips to Siena (taste of Tuscany), the Cinque Terre (for coast) and Venice. The CT and Venice both "deserve" several days and nights each but if you don't have that time and want a sample to know if you want to go back (you will) then it is doable. Even though Venice is a long day trip from Florence it is still easier than checking in and out of hotels and carrying luggage, etc. You can take very early and very late trains and catch a nap and have most of the day there.

Are the six days part of a longer trip? If so can you steal a few days from other places. Then you could do two locations more easily. Is it possible to lengthen the trip some other way? Are you coming all the way from the US? If so I would definitely find a way to add a few days. If you are coming from within Europe then I'd stick to one area and assume you can get back again in the near future to do others.

Tina,
I, too, will be going solo in Italy in the fall as an early birthday (40th, OMG!) present to myself. You're absolutely right - it's both scary and exciting. Every time I think I'm losing my nerve, I get on the internet and look at various blogs and sites for women who travel alone. I am also reading a book called "Wanderlust and Lipstick" that's pretty good. I'm sure we will both have some minor obstacles to tackle when we get there, but I think the experience will be exhilarating. Hope you have the time of your life!

Agree with most of the prior posts. 6 nights is not enough to do Italy justice. Would concentrate on 2 cities at most which will be dependent on where you are flying into and out of. Italy train and bus travel is convenient and reasonably priced. By point to point tickets only. Pass will be too expensive. If I had my druthers for a 1st timer, I would do 3 nights in Florence (with a day trip to either Sienna or San Giamiano) and 3 night in Rome (Assisi would be one recommended side trip).

You need to provide more details on your flight plans. Look on Venere.com for hotels. They will show you a great selection consistent with your price range.

You don't need a rail pass, just purchase point-to-point tickets. I went to Italy once solo (I was already in Switzerland) but I just stayed in Venice for 5 days. It was fantastic!!

As far as your trip, I think you need a map or guidebook and just pick out 2-3 places you want to see. If you haven't booked a plane ticket yet, get one that is "open jaw" (i.e. fly into Rome and out of Venice for example) to avoid having to backtrack on the ground at the end of your trip.

Can't you get more than 6 days? That's really not enough to to see very much.

I've traveled solo a lot, and really enjoy it. There is only one thing I have never managed to figure out how to enjoy solo, eating out. Don't know how you feel about eating in a restaurant solo, but be prepared to be a bit uncomfortable. Also, once in a great while I feel sad thinking, - wouldn't so and so love to see this, or so and so would love to do that. Other than that, it's great.

I guess people react to traveling alone differently. I never have any of the negative feelings mentioned above (sadness or being uncomfortable). That said, I do pick fairly casual places to eat, not fancy restaurants, or even take a picnic dinner to my hotel room if I'm not in the mood to be out solo.

Had to add my 2 cents! Don't worry about traveling solo--I have traveled solo on quite a few places within Europe and I'm going to Lake Como by myself at the end of the month. I always pick at least one or two "nice" places to enjoy a wonderful dinner outside of the casual atmosphere, and I have never had any big issues. If you smile and are friendly then people around you may open up and the servers are more friendly as well. My advice is to visit the places you would like to see, participate in the activities you want to, and enjoy your trip the fullest extent possible. You may not visit the same area again and it would be a shame to say "I wish I would have" at the end of it! Jump in with both feet and enjoy your trip!!!

There's a wonderful book on women traveling solo called A Journey of one's own. I don't remember the author.

A Journey of One's Own:Uncommon Advice for the Independent Woman Traveler by Thalia Zepatos

There's LOTS of books and short stories on this topic, if you're looking for support from women who have gone before you
;-)

Hi Tina,
I went to Italy solo last May. It was my first trip alone and I felt safe at all times. I also traveled for six nights. Hindsight being 20/20, I would have stayed a bit longer as Rome alone justifies six days. If you plan on seeing Rome, give it at least three days and choose one other destination. I went to Florence and did a day trip to Venice. I wish I could have given Venice the time it deserves, but I am glad I saw it. It is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Also, if you go to Rome, plan well and go with the knowledge that you will not see everything in one trip. Rome can be exhausting, but well worth your time. I loved Florence, the food is great and the shopping, art and architecture are great. I agree that you don't need a rail pass. The trains I took were all clean and well maintained. Train stations in all three cities were well organized and safe. Italy is beautiful and I can't wait to go back! Eat a lot of gelato and take time to sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. Enjoy your trip!!!

thank you so much for these comments. it seems as if it will be cheaper to fly ryan air to pisa then get tickets for rome, sienna, venice, pomp and vienna. any one have any tips on accomodation in these areas ???

pdawn1969
goodluck on your trip. i am going last week of october, what about you ?

You might look at Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum: www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree. It specializes in backpackers, staying in hostels and trying to get the most out of their money.

From one Tina to another, I have made dozens of trips alone both to the Orient and Europe. I have never had any regrets and even though I am a very senior citizen I am now planning a trip to Canada and next years trip to Italy and France.
I feel that part of the fun of traveling is dining in nice restaurants so I always eat out and have never regreted doing so,
I too would limit the cities to go to. I would stay in Rome and do ONE OR TWO day trips. Definitely Florence and perhaps one other. However there is so much to see and enjoy in Rome you may not want to spend too much time away from this city.
I also would definitely not buy any railroad pass. Easier and cheaper to buy a ticket when you need it.d
Have a great trip and hopefully this will be the first of many more trips.

Where ever you end up going make sure you have COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES! I cannot stress this enough!!
And have a wonderful time!

With only six days, I think that limiting youirself to just two places makes sense.

If you stay at the Youth Hostel in Venice, remember that it is on Guidecca, and so it is a ferry ride to get to "Downtown".
In Venice, the student population hangs out in Campo Margherita. They drink spritzes - which cost about two or three Euro. White wine, soda water and a slug of Campari or Aperol.

Have a great trip.