Where to go in Italy?

[Saxza]

People who have explored Italy before what cities do you prefer? I can't decide between Rome and Milan. A few friends and colleagues have visited Bologna and Tuscany.

I'm going to Italy in late September. I have been to many parts but haven't been to Rome yet. Big to do item! I am aware it's Jubilee Year, so this is what I'm planning to do -

Stay in Ostia Lido on the coast, train is half an hour into Rome and do a few day trips together with a private golf cart tour for the fun of it. I can also take the bus or train in 15 minutes to Ostia Antica, with the famous Roman ruins, some say as good if not better (fewer crowds) than other famous spots like Pompeii and Herculaneum. So that's a few boxes ticked for my interests! I have zero intention of queuing for hours in the heat to see the Vatican museum and the underground Collosseum, the Pantheon etc. or anywhere that has a queue to be honest. I can see them from the outside and be a Philistine and just take a pic! I can see all the art on the internet. Oh dear me, but that's being practical.

I can hear the screams from here, "but, but you HAVE to see the Sistine Chapel and this and that. No I don't, I can see most things from the street, and wandering around finding hidden gems is probably more rewarding than sweating in a line.

Venice is my favourite place on earth, spend a few days then, from there, take the train to Padua, or Verona.

Based on what you’ve said your preferences , Florence for sure. It’s walkable and obviously famous as the home of renaissance art so plenty of galleries. You can easily do day trips on the train too to places like Sienna and Pisa if you wanted.

Also would be hard pressed - and actually pretty unlucky - to go anywhere in Italy and not find decent gelato!

Definitely Rome

We stayed slap bang inbetween Florence and Pisa - family wedding - San Miniato - and both cities were within very easy train journeys - 30 mins either way

Best of all worlds. a Tuscany Vineyard in an ancient village, and all the beauty of Florence and Pisa not a million miles away

I've only ever been to Italy in May or June. I would NOT want to be a tourist in July and August in most of the Italian cities - far far too hot.

Depends on how long you've got. I did a trip to Florence, Milan, Verona, Padua and Venice. April so not stupidly busy. Easy to travel between them by train. I'd love to see Rome but the crowds put me off.

Well I did. This is all I did. But more coffee and water then leads to more weeing. Plus theres only so many coffees you can have in a day (without going mad)

I didn’t like Milan at all - went last October. We did Venice, Florence, Pisa (briefly) and then Castiglioncello on the coast in August. Lovely trip.
We’re saving Rome for an autumn or spring trip next year.

I’ve been to Venice (several times), Rome, Milan, Florence and one of the villages on Lake Garda. Lake Garda was stunning, but city wise Rome was my favourite just for the sheer number of sights and the cultural and historical significance. I felt like I was in a history book. Although all of these cities have plenty to offer. Florence is really pretty, as is the whole of Tuscany really. Venice is awesome but possibly too busy/touristy. I’ve heard people complain it smells but I’ve been three times all in the height of summer and I can’t say it was that noticeable! Milan I was a bit meh about.

Rome over Milan any day! However Milan is a great way to get to Lake Como which is one of my favourite places in Italy. Depends if you want history/sightseeing or relaxing

Fly to Pisa, then have a few days in Florence and a few days in Lucca. Florence is beautiful as many PPs have described. One tip: climb up above the city and sit on the steps overlooking the river to watch the sun go down over the bridges one by one.
Lucca is a charming small city surrounded by walls you can stroll or hire a bike to cycle round. The birthplace of Puccini, there are often concerts in local churches. We did a cookery day which started with a tour of the local fruit market and delis. Loads of nice places to eat. Try to stay in the medieval centre if you can.

Florence and Lucca

Completely agree. There is so much to see in Rome, it's everywhere. When we went a couple of years ago at Easter we walked along the Via Appia Antica, through the Porta San Sebastiano in the ancient city walls and under a triumphal arch and it was completely deserted. We then went to San Clemente, which was not at all crowded. Then we walked to the Colosseum, hit a wall of milling people, took a quick photo and ran away sharpish 😆

Our wanderings next day took us to the Piazza Navona- ouch, packed!- so we crossed the original Roman Ponte Fabrizio to the Isola Tiberina, with only Roman sunbathers and hospital visitors for company.

If you avoid the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican Museums, Piazza Navona, Pantheon (I would actually brave the crowds for that one) and Spanish Steps you can have a happily crowd free time even in the summer, and there is still so, so, SO much to see!

Will the weather be that bad in August?

Southern European countries are regularly seeing summer heatwaves of over 40 degrees nowadays #climatechange

I went to Rome in June and it was 41 degrees, unbearable, I went back in March and it was 22

I spent most of July in Rome one year and yes, it was hot, but rarely what I would describe as unbearable. In any event, I would spend most of daytime in museums, art galleries and churches, and then we had lovely evenings eating al fresco.

Go to Rome. Don't go in the height of summer it's too hot. April and early May are good. Book to go in the Vatican before you go. Make sure you buy water in a shop, the street hawkers charge a fortune.

Also book well ahead for Villa Borghese.

And Palazzo Farnese (assuming they still allow people in...)

Second this and I would add spending a day in Udine, an easy train ride from Trieste. Part of the Venetian empire so spectacular architecture and little known to people from the UK. San Daniele, famous for proscuitto, the Lombard town Cividale del Friuli, and the Roman Aquilea (close to Grado) also merit a day each and are far less crowded than the major tourist centres.

Sicily… so much to do
and see. Valley of the temples is mind blowing. Mt Etna, Taormina, Catania, beaches. Omg, the foooooooood

I flew into Pisa, did a day there and then got the train to Florence for a few days and then the train to Venice.

All extremely easy and cheap!

Don't buy water at all- Rome is full of free drinking water fountains.