Hi guys, i'll be going to Italy with my mom and sister on Jan 3rd - Jan 13th . I've just started my research on Venice, will do Florence and Rome right after this. I know sometimes reading up on travel books and even fodor's choice would not be as informational as getting a traveller's greatest tip and advice. So can anyone tell me what's the must-see and can-miss things to do in Italy?
I'll be in each of the 3 cities for exactly 3 days each. What must I see in 3 days? And shopping, yes, I'm a BIG SHOPPER, where can I find good bargains or even expensive but good italian quality/brand?
This is what I have planned out for venice so far:
Day 1 arrival at 9:30am, will head to hotel Ca Formenta to check in. should i take a bus and transfer at Piazza Roma to Arsenale Station? or should i just spend the EUR10 on the alilaguna? After check in, we'll probably grab some lunch and then take teh free water taxi to Murano from the hotel. Then head over to Burano to check out some lace-making. After that, grab dinner, where do u think i should go? that night is my mom's birthday and I want to take her somewhere nice. suggestions?
Day 2 in Venice, rise and shine early, walk over to St. Mark's Square, see the Palazzo Ducale, Basilica di San Marco, squeeze in some shopping. lunch. Check out the Ponte di Rialto, Scuola di San Giorgio and Gallerie del Accademia.
Day 3. Head to San Toma and Scuola Grande di San Rocco and Basilica dei Frari. Then I have to catch a train to Florence at either 4:30 or 6:30. Does anyone know where the station is?
Do you guys think this itinerary for Venice is doable? Did I miss anything?
Suggestions on Florence and Rome? is pasta there really genuinely good? I'm a big italian cuisine and love a good juicy pasta. any suggestions?
Thanks much!

Hi Kalunchi, this is going to be a great trip! 3 days each in Rome, Venice, and Florence is a great choice.

For Venice that gives you 2 full days. Plan 1 of those days, and leave the other for wandering about, getting lost, discovering hidden away places...Buy a 3-day vaporetto pass for 22 euros as soon as you arrive...it's good for unlimited on and off privileges on the vaporettos, including the ones that go to the little islands. It's fun and then you are never too lost, because if you get lost inthe maze of canals, you're never far from the Grand Canal...just head for the Grand Canal, hop on a vaporetto, and get off at the next familiar stop...You'll love it.

For rome try to stay in a hotel that's centrally located. Makes a big difference. Staying near the Pantheon is a great location.

Good luck in florence. My least favorite city because it was so incredibly crowded and full of traffic when we were there...but you have to see Michelangelo's David of course!

Take lists of recommended restaurants with you...otherwise you will end up paying high prices for bad food. Having a list of recommended restaurants makes A BIG difference.

Buon viaggio! I recommend reading your favorite guidebook cover to cover...really gives you a good base of info...then use other guidebooks and the internet for extra reference.

Gotta go christmas shopping now or else I could spend all day talking about Italy! I love Rome...

Too much! Too much! I would strongly suggest dropping one of the cities!

oh... but i already booked the hotels and flight. flying into venice and out of rome. this is much anticipated, please help!

"...is pasta there really genuinely good? I'm a big italian cuisine and love a good juicy pasta..."

Nope, pasta in Italy are so bad that you wouldn't want to get near them while you're there.

Do NOT listen to any of the "naysayers" who will flock in to tell you that

A) You aren't spending enough time in each place

B) You're going to go too fast to be able to "appreciate" these cities

C) You will not be able to see anything "in depth."

Totally irrelevant especially if you have made the flight arrangements.

You won;t be able to "see everything" so don't try: simply concentrate on a few main interests and try your best to do those. OK, so you have "long days" but at least you are GOING there and that's what's important.

In terms of Venice, by all means spend at least some time in San Marco AFTER dark and after the other visitors have departed. It is truly magic.

ENJOY your trip!

Hi kalunchi,

I think it will be cheaper and faster for you to spend the 10E on the Alilaguna.

I take it that you are scheduled to arrive at Marco Polo airport at 9:30 AM. You must then get your luggage, go through Immigration, get the boat (one hour ride), get to your hotel.

Figure that this will be about 12:30 and you won't be disappointed.

We liked Cantinone Storico, which was recommended by more than one person on this forum. It is on a canal near the Accademia Bridge, within sound of the bells of one of the churches. Lovely atmosphere. Excellent cooking. Very good presentation. Superior service. Highly recommended. about 50E pp with wine.

Unless you cannot do without a visit to a glass factory and its accompanying sales rooms, I suggest that you leave Murano and Burano for another visit.

There are terrific pasta dishes in Rome and Florence especially, and good Italian food in Italy will leave you salivating for more when you get home...but you won't be able to find quite the same thing here in the USA, if that's where you're from... Sigh, the whole family misses real Italian food now!

Make lists of recommended restaurants from guidebooks and from people on-line. We discovered that bad Italian food costs the same as good Italian food...in fact, sometimes the bad food costs more!!! Makes a big difference if you get good recommendations.

You will be absolutely fine in all 3 cities. For Florence, check out Hotel Casci www.hotelcasci.it

Have a great time!

Over the past few months, whenever I find a suggestion concerning shopping in Italy on this forum, I copy the information into a word document. To date, I have several suggestions copies from various posters on this board. I was really saving it for future reference for my wife and other relatives and friends who travel to Italy (while I love going there, I am not a shopper myself). So, with thanks to all those who unknowingly contributed to this list, here it is. Oh, and folks, PLEASE add to the list. Thanks!! --Marv

******************

Shopping in Italy

(General rule: when you see it, buy it, as you may not see that same thing or style again)


ROME:

Great little shops near the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) on Via Condotti (especially shoes and boots along here), Via Frattina, Via del Corso

Rinascente, which is near Piazza Colonna (along Via del Corso and is between Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain), a large department store with good choice of leather, scarves, perfumes, clothes.

Shops along Via Babbuino, between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo

Along Via Cola di Rienzo (starting at Piazza Risorgimento near the Vatican), is an excellent shopping area, especially for women's clothing and leather products

Store called Santa Maria Novella located in Rome and Florence

Via delle Carozze (between the Spanish Steps and via del Corso), has some nice jewelry stores, and Mondo Cattolico along there has very nice hand-made jewelry as well as many other things

Discount Dell'Alta Moda (on Via di Gesu' e Maria 16A) near the Spanish Steps. Discount but designer name fashions


FLORENCE (and Tuscany):

VERY good link for info on shopping in Florence: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/florence/ck_shopping.htm

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/...shops_list.htm


Leather market on Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, near Palazzo Vecchio, where you can find lots of leather things from wallets to purses etc.


VENICE:

Great link for shopping in Venice: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/...nice_shops.htm


GENERAL:

Great links for shopping in several places in Italy:

http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/TripReport.asp?tripid=92

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/..._shopslist.htm

Have just read the wonderful reviews on tripadvisor about your Venice hotel. Based on the location, I agree the alilaguna will be MUCH easier for you as it's evidently 5 minutes from the alilaguna stop there. Make sure you know how to walk there from the stop. Nothing worse than roaming around aimlessly with luggage. But people mention seeing it from the boat.

Taking the bus and then the vaparetto might be a more dramatic entrance to Venice (riding down the Grand Canal) but then you'd have to take luggage on the vaparetto.

Unless you have some special reason to go to Murano and Burano, I agree with Ira, for a first trip of just 2/3 days, I'd skip the outer island trip. If the thought is shopping, you'll find prices not particularly better than in Venice proper. In fact, if you do a text search here, you'll see lots of info on how a lot of the glass sold in both Venice and Murano is not actually made there etc.

Venice is such an amazingly fascinating and unreal place, you'll want to just explore. There are many threads here on people's favorite things about Venice and "getting lost" seems to appear on everyone's list.

If you want to do the Secret Itineraries tour at the Doge's Palace, you should have your hotel book it for you and you may be able to do it online now. Since your hotel is near Arsenale, I think Al Covo which many people on this board recommend is nearby.

Have a great time and bring layers. I was there at around the same time 2 years ago (sigh) and it was relatively mild except for one day. We did have a fair amount of rain and mist (a rain hat is good since umbrellas can be difficult on narrow calles).

WOW! THANK YOU GUYS for the great tips. My mouth is salivating from the pasta talk. I can't believe someone said italian food there is BAD. i just couldn't believe it, and i'm glad others disagreed and brought my hopes back up for good italian cuisine. I'll definitely try the italian restaurant that ira recommended. I can't wait. and thanks so much for the links to shopping. I will be looking into it very soon.
It's my first time using fodors' forum. I love it! if anyone need any advice on New York, I'm able to help!

Click on my name to find my trip report "If You Don't Like Reading About Food, Don't Read This Italy Trip Report." It has ideas for short visits to Rome and Florence, especially some good restaurant recommendations.

You were probably refering to me when I ironically stated that pasta is bad in Italy.

The reason I wrote that is because you posted that you are a "big Italian cusisine fan and you love a good juicy pasta...". I'm not sure what a "juicy" pasta is, but, if you really claim to be a big fan of Italian cuisine, you should already know without asking that the best pasta dishes in the world should be in, surprise, Italy!

I also agree that on a short trip to Venice, time on Murano or Burano is not necessary, even though you are a dedicated shopper. Not all the lace sold on Burano is made there; ditto the glass on Murano.
If you feel strongly about one of them, choose one,though Murano is much the closer. The little shops on the main street of Murano don't have anything unique or even necessarily locally-made.
But, if you are in the market for a significant item, perhaps a table centerpiece or large vase or a set of wine goblets, then you can find some special (pricey) things in one of the factory showrooms on Murano.

Yes, and take the Alilaguna.

Venice train station is easy to get to by vaporetto--it's a nice way to say goodbye to Venice, riding one last time on the Grand Canal.

One more suggestion, but it's up to you: with your short time in Venice, I'd drop one of the art venues that you've included. The art is beautiful, but perhaps save the Accademia or San Rocco for next time. You'll love Venice more if you allow for some aimless strolling, or relaxing with an overpriced drink or snack at one of the cafes around the Piazza.

Good shopping to be had on Strada Nuova.
Leave San Marco, walk to Rialto Bridge, detour onto Strada Nuova.

I have a long file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

I'm not an Italy expert like some of the extremely knowledgeable posters on this site, but I know a bit about trying to see a whole lot in too little time! For such a short stay in Venice, I'd leave off Murano. Better to spend the time just meandering around Venice by foot, exploring alleyways, churches, and shops and savoring the amazing atmosphere of the place. The Doge's Palace Secret Itinerary Tour is excellent, and then afterwards you can see the rest of the Palace that is open to the public. See the basilica at San Marco, of course. The Accademia museum is wonderful! Shop at the little kiosks and stores on and near Rialto bridge. Ride up and down the Grand Canal on the vaporettos--also fun to do at night when the buildings are lit up and sometimes you can see inside. We loved Florence. You can see the David at the Accademia pretty quickly (small museum), and do not miss the Uffizi gallery if you like art. Make reservations and give it lots of time! The duomo and baptistry are amazing, and if you climb to the top of the bell tower you will deserve a large pasta reward. But if you are faint of heart, do not bother. The admission charge alone will probably do you in. WAlk across the Ponte Vecchio, but you probably won't do much shopping there if you are on a budget! Rome is a bit daunting. I recommend taking a tour of at least some of the historical sites, unless you are already very well-informed on the subject. St. Peters and the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel can pretty much fill an entire day! So can the colosseum and forums and Pantheon. We were totally awed by the Borghese Gallery (get reservations!). We also loved the pizza and gelato everywhere we went in Italy. Overall, we found the food better in Rome and Florence than in Venice, but we weren't doing really "high end" eating. We traveled in summer and I don't know anything about the weather in Italy in winter, but someone on this site will know about that! Have a great trip.

Hi kalunchi, Venice in January can be very cold and damp. You will be right there by the Adriatic Sea. You can also get rain of course and theatrical booming electrical storms (which are a quite a show put on by Mother Nature).
Dress like the natives including a scarf, gloves etc. Hopefully Rome will be warmer. Like everwhere the weather patterns are changing in Italy so just expect the unexpected. Have a beautiful trip. And enjoy that pasta!