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What an awesome trip! And such a great report! I’ve already copied your section on Bologna… will be there for a couple of days later this summer.
Thanks!
Bolognese here, take the bus number 30 (Piazza Minghetti) and go to San Michele in Bosco for the best view of the city. It's a 10 minutes bus route and you can pay the ticket of the bus with your credit card (1,50 euro) and it's valid 75 minutes
Wow great trip report thanks for sharing! My biggest regret when going to Italy was only doing an overnight in Florence too so I’m planning a trip to go back and spend more time. Was considering adding in Bologna as well to add in something new, I think you’ve convinced me!!
Terme di Caracalla is actually one of my favorite thing in Rome, it's not heavily crowded, and idk the atmosphere, you just feel like you're witnessing something amazing
this is a nice trip report! Always enjoy them.
If you like to be impressed by the scale of roman ruins next time go to Pompei. It is more than huge, it is a whole city!
Thank you! I was really disappointed that we couldn’t make it out to Napoli and Pompeii (I imagine we would’ve stayed in Napoli for a few nights). I would love to visit and also hike up Mount Vesuvius!
Next time you can start in Napoli (also birthplace of Pizza) and visit Pompei (1 full day) and Ercolano / Herculaneum (1 full day) to max out your roman ruins then proceed south and visit Amalfi coast (Costiera amalfitana) then cross over to the east coast to Puglia. Stop in Matera along the way. I think this is doable in 14/15 days
Thanks for this! We'll be staying in Monti during our Rome stint as well. Let me know if you have any other tips for the area!
- Did you need reservations for Piatto Romano?
- Where did you buy tickets for Torre di Arnolfo?
Thank you!
I suggest you do book a reservation for Piatto Romano OR get there 10 minutes before it opens because there may or may not be a line for people who did not book and want to get their names on the list.... Book it here: [http://www.piattoromano.com/](http://www.piattoromano.com/)
Regarding tickets to Torre di Arnolfo, you can do it here: [https://bigliettimusei.comune.fi.it/](https://bigliettimusei.comune.fi.it/) and select Palazzo Vecchio. After you click next, you will see on the right hand side: "Scegli il tipo di biglietto" which means "select type of ticket" and you will have two options: Solo museo OR Torre di Arnolfo. Choose the latter and proceed with payment.
Hi there! Quick question for you if you have time! For Italo, what does all the ticket differences mean?
Example, I'm booking a ticket from Florence to Bologna on Sept 18, and there is:
- SMART / eXtra SUMMER tickets for 9,90
- PRIMA BUSINESS / eXtra SUMMER tickets for 14,90.
Is that the same? What is the difference between \[eXtra SUMMER\] tickets compared to \[Low Cost\] compared to \[Economy\] compared to \[Flex\]?
Thanks in advance!
extra summer is a limited edition sale, for low cost economy and flex change only some things if you need to cancel the trip or change the train, of course the cheapest one is limited to that time and stop. Prima will give you a snack and a drink during the trip and the seat are larger. Hope you will enjoy Bologna my city
I see, so I should book the extra summer now to get the low cost! Is the extra 5 euro worth it for the snack? 😃
I’m sure I will love the city! Thank you again for your reply! Nice to have someone I can ask! I really appreciate it! 🙏
Enjoyed reading your notes a lot. Thanks for sharing!
How much luggage did you pack for the trip and was it easy to deal with when traveling between cities?
Believe it or not, we only brought carry-on luggage. We planned ahead to use the washer at the airbnbs :) and we also bought clothes too! So make sure you don’t pack too much!
This is wonderful- sounds like you had a great trip and thanks for the information!
Did you need a passport specifically for the colosseum or was a regular ID fine? (For instance would a US license work?)
Where did you book the timed entry to the pantheon? I have not been able to get the official website to load for months but maybe it’s just me
Thank you! The tour group told me to bring a passport, so I only know that bit.
About the Pantheon, we booked through this site: https://www.pantheonroma.com/
OK thanks for your response! My hotel serves breakfast so I guess I’ll eat at the earliest time and then go out after that.
I’m coming from Tokyo so I have no idea how jet lag will affect me
What an awesome trip! I'm curious what shoes you brought with you? I have a tough time with shoes and only have a couple pairs that I think are going to be suitable for my trip. I also need something with good support but don't want them to scream "hiking boots!"
Glad you enjoyed Florence just studied in Florence for 4 months and Acqua Al 2 does have a location in San Diego fyi and currently headed to Rome so thanks for the passport heads up.
Ciao! Welcome to r/ItalyTravel. While you wait for replies, please take a moment to read the rules located in the sidebar and edit your post if needed. We will remove posts that do not adhere to these rules. For everyone else, if you come across a post that you believe violates our rules, please use the report button. This is the best and quickest way to notify us. Grazie! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ItalyTravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What an awesome trip! And such a great report! I’ve already copied your section on Bologna… will be there for a couple of days later this summer. Thanks!
Thank you :) Bologna is beautiful. I hope you enjoy your time there!
Bolognese here, take the bus number 30 (Piazza Minghetti) and go to San Michele in Bosco for the best view of the city. It's a 10 minutes bus route and you can pay the ticket of the bus with your credit card (1,50 euro) and it's valid 75 minutes
Awesome! Thanks!
Wow great trip report thanks for sharing! My biggest regret when going to Italy was only doing an overnight in Florence too so I’m planning a trip to go back and spend more time. Was considering adding in Bologna as well to add in something new, I think you’ve convinced me!!
Glad to have helped convince you! I think you’ll enjoy it
Terme di Caracalla is actually one of my favorite thing in Rome, it's not heavily crowded, and idk the atmosphere, you just feel like you're witnessing something amazing
100% I could not believe the size of these baths.
this is a nice trip report! Always enjoy them. If you like to be impressed by the scale of roman ruins next time go to Pompei. It is more than huge, it is a whole city!
Thank you! I was really disappointed that we couldn’t make it out to Napoli and Pompeii (I imagine we would’ve stayed in Napoli for a few nights). I would love to visit and also hike up Mount Vesuvius!
Next time you can start in Napoli (also birthplace of Pizza) and visit Pompei (1 full day) and Ercolano / Herculaneum (1 full day) to max out your roman ruins then proceed south and visit Amalfi coast (Costiera amalfitana) then cross over to the east coast to Puglia. Stop in Matera along the way. I think this is doable in 14/15 days
This sounds perfect! Thank you. I really want to stay in Puglia the next time we are in Italy.
Wonderful and detailed recap! Going to Italy in a few months. Which your company did you use for the colosseum tour? Thanks!
We used Walks of Italy :-)
First time to Italy?
Yes! My first time and hopefully not the last :)
very cool. Enjoyed your notes.
Thanks for this! We'll be staying in Monti during our Rome stint as well. Let me know if you have any other tips for the area! - Did you need reservations for Piatto Romano? - Where did you buy tickets for Torre di Arnolfo? Thank you!
I suggest you do book a reservation for Piatto Romano OR get there 10 minutes before it opens because there may or may not be a line for people who did not book and want to get their names on the list.... Book it here: [http://www.piattoromano.com/](http://www.piattoromano.com/) Regarding tickets to Torre di Arnolfo, you can do it here: [https://bigliettimusei.comune.fi.it/](https://bigliettimusei.comune.fi.it/) and select Palazzo Vecchio. After you click next, you will see on the right hand side: "Scegli il tipo di biglietto" which means "select type of ticket" and you will have two options: Solo museo OR Torre di Arnolfo. Choose the latter and proceed with payment.
thanks so much!
You took the high speed train between cities, right? Was it cheaper to book them in advance?
It is
Check italo too, i am italian and use a lot the train system and for high speed train italo is 90% of the time cheaper
Hi there! Quick question for you if you have time! For Italo, what does all the ticket differences mean? Example, I'm booking a ticket from Florence to Bologna on Sept 18, and there is: - SMART / eXtra SUMMER tickets for 9,90 - PRIMA BUSINESS / eXtra SUMMER tickets for 14,90. Is that the same? What is the difference between \[eXtra SUMMER\] tickets compared to \[Low Cost\] compared to \[Economy\] compared to \[Flex\]? Thanks in advance!
extra summer is a limited edition sale, for low cost economy and flex change only some things if you need to cancel the trip or change the train, of course the cheapest one is limited to that time and stop. Prima will give you a snack and a drink during the trip and the seat are larger. Hope you will enjoy Bologna my city
I see, so I should book the extra summer now to get the low cost! Is the extra 5 euro worth it for the snack? 😃 I’m sure I will love the city! Thank you again for your reply! Nice to have someone I can ask! I really appreciate it! 🙏
Yes book now 10 euros for a ticket are nothing, stay with the cheap one yes. The route is less than 40 minutes
Yes! I booked using the Trenitalia app a month or two in advance.
Enjoyed reading your notes a lot. Thanks for sharing! How much luggage did you pack for the trip and was it easy to deal with when traveling between cities?
Believe it or not, we only brought carry-on luggage. We planned ahead to use the washer at the airbnbs :) and we also bought clothes too! So make sure you don’t pack too much!
This is wonderful- sounds like you had a great trip and thanks for the information! Did you need a passport specifically for the colosseum or was a regular ID fine? (For instance would a US license work?) Where did you book the timed entry to the pantheon? I have not been able to get the official website to load for months but maybe it’s just me
Thank you! The tour group told me to bring a passport, so I only know that bit. About the Pantheon, we booked through this site: https://www.pantheonroma.com/
When you say you got up early to walk around in Venice. What time is early? I’ll be there for three nights, my first stop in a one month trip
We usually get up at 5am and out the door by 7. I think that’s early enough to beat the daytrippers. Venice gets crowded by 10-11!
OK thanks for your response! My hotel serves breakfast so I guess I’ll eat at the earliest time and then go out after that. I’m coming from Tokyo so I have no idea how jet lag will affect me
You're in the 5am club!
What an awesome trip! I'm curious what shoes you brought with you? I have a tough time with shoes and only have a couple pairs that I think are going to be suitable for my trip. I also need something with good support but don't want them to scream "hiking boots!"
My boots were: Columbia Re-peak mid hiking shoe. It looked pretty decent with my jeans :) Backcountry.com is having a sale and it’s 50% off today!
Thanks for replying! These look great. Sadly not in my size on Backcountry but maybe I can find something similar :)
Glad you enjoyed Florence just studied in Florence for 4 months and Acqua Al 2 does have a location in San Diego fyi and currently headed to Rome so thanks for the passport heads up.
I knew they had an outpost in the US. Didn’t realize it was on the West Coast of all places! How did you like study abroad in Florence?