Trip ideas and itineraries
Itineraries, reader questions, trip ideas and site news.
Italy Roundtable: Tracing Your Italian Roots
As Spring is, well, close to springing in the Northern Hemisphere, we've got the earth on our minds. That's why this month the Italy Roundtable has chosen ROOTS as our blogging topic.
The 5 Best Theme Parks in Italy
I always love hearing about an aspect of traveling in Italy that I'm not aware of - so when I got an email from Nick Sim in which he offered to write about the best theme parks in the country, I…
Italy Roundtable: Italy's Active Volcanoes
This month, the Italy Roundtable bloggers decided to get elemental - we each chose one of the Greek classical elements to apply to Italy in some way.
Should you plan your own Italy trip or book a tour?
The topic of whether to plan and book your own Italy trip vs. going with a package tour has come up a few times recently, both on the WhyGo Italy Facebook page and in the comments of some of the…
Italy Roundtable: The Guide to Crafts in Italy (That You Really Need Before You Go Shopping)
This month, the Italy Blogging Roundtable topic is CRAFT. Naturally, that has me thinking about shopping in Italy .
Yoga in Italy: What You Need to Know
There are a million things that can lead someone to travel to Italy, from a love of history or food to a search for family or a desire to learn a new language.
3-Week Italy Itinerary: Italy's Greatest Hits
If you've got more than two weeks to spend on your vacation in Italy, you might have found lots of great suggestions for a 2-week Italy trip and be wondering what to do with your third week.
DOs and DON'Ts in Italy
Writing an Italy travel guide means being the recipient of lots of Italy travel questions. Most of them can be boiled down to one simple thing, regardless of topic: What should I do ?
Skipping the Lines in Italy with Context Travel Walks
I love finding ways for Italy travelers to get around potential hassles - like waiting in long lines for popular museums.
Italy Roundtable: 3 Dream Drives in Italy
I'll confess at the outset that the topic for this month's Italy Blogging Roundtable - driving in Italy - initially had me stumped.
Things You Should Know About Italy
Italy is such a popular tourist destination that it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know the basics about Italy before you get there.
How to Visit a Balsamic Vinegar Maker in Italy
Italy offers all kinds of food-related adventures to travelers, from the unique dishes available on menus throughout the country to festivals dedicated to particular food products to tours of the…
When is Italy not in Italy? When it's in Switzerland.
The Italians were never very good at colonization. One practical outcome of this fact is how few places on earth have had Italian among their "official" languages.
Study Abroad in Italy
Participating in a study abroad program can be one of the defining moments of one's life - and if you choose to study abroad in Italy, that could be even more true.
Five Favorite Places to Hike in Italy
Those who know me well know that while I appreciate the great outdoors, I'm not exactly a nature girl.
Planning a Low Season Trip to Italy
Whether you're the kind of person who hunts down travel bargains like a bloodhound or you just like to find a good deal, one of the best ways to save money when you travel is to visit a location when…
How to Create the Perfect Italy Itinerary
As you might imagine, there are themes that come up repeatedly with the questions I get via email , on my Twitter account , on the WhyGo Italy Facebook page , and as comments on various posts on the…
Things You Should Know About Italian Cities
I've been slowly working my way through the biggest tourist destinations in Italy for my " things you should know about " series, and I thought it was time to collect them all in one place.
Famous Bridges Article Features 2 Italy Bridges
Whatever noble reasons you think you have for traveling, at some level travel is about checking things off a to-do list.
7 Best Destinations for a Honeymoon in Italy
When I was planning my first trip to Italy, my then-fiance and I toyed briefly with the idea of eloping while we were there.
Free Things to Do in Italy
Italy can be one of the more expensive European countries in which to travel - but that doesn't mean that you can't have a grand time in Italy on a budget, or that all of the country's top sights…
Italy First Time Visitor Guide
Italy may not be a massive country, but there's enough to see and do that it's a little on the ambitious (if not a bit crazy) side to just say "I'm going to take a trip to Italy" without narrowing it…
Taxi Drivers in Italy Say the Darnedest Things
I'm beginning to think I could write a book - and not a short one, either - solely about taxi drivers in Italy.
Trip of the Italian Boyfriends
You may remember my gushing over being able to attend the final home game of Paolo Maldini , the legendary longtime captain of my beloved A.C. Milan .
Alternatives to Italy's Top 3 Tourist Cities
Italy is a massively popular tourist destination. There can be no getting around this fact.
A Scavenger Hunt in Italian Cities: whaiwhai
I'll admit I'm not much of a games person. I have an insatiable desire to win , so simply playing isn't enough fun for me. But I do like puzzles, and I like games that are collaborative.
Why You Shouldn't Say "Ciao" in Italy
Even if you don't plan on learning Italian before a trip to Italy, you probably know plenty of Italian words already.
Top 10 Lists for Italy
There are some places that set themselves up well for "top 10" lists. Italy is not one of them. Not by a long shot.
Cooking Schools in Italy
Some people who visit Italy are content to enjoy the country's famous cuisine in restaurants, trattorie, and crowded bars.
History of Cappuccino: What's in a name?
When you're thumbing through your Italian-English dictionary as you madly try to internalize as much of the Italian language as you can before your Italy vacation, there are some words that will…
Italy Q&A: Itinerary Help, Please!
Carmen left this question on my Perfect 2 Week Italy Itinerary post, and I thought I'd turn it into a new post in the Italy Q&A series to answer her.
Italy Q&A: What to do with a 5-hour layover at Malpensa?
This question came in via a comment on my post about taking the Malpensa Express into Milan , so I thought I'd answer it in the Italy Q&A series.
Google Street View Comes to Italy
Ever since I first heard that Google's ultra-cool (and, if I'm being totally honest, slightly creepy in its Big Brother-ish-ness) Street View was available for a few cities in France , I was jealous.
20 Things Everyone Should Do in Italy
When it comes to travel, I'm not one of those people who says stuff like, "You can't visit Italy without seeing ." I know that everyone's "must-see" lists are going to be a little different depending…
Italy Q&A: A February Honeymoon in Italy
I got an email from John and Ana recently, who are currently planning their European honeymoon, so I'm adding this to my Italy Q&A series.
Italy Itinerary: The Perfect Two Weeks
NOTE TO READERS WHO ARE INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS: If you'd like to simply be pointed in the right direction but craft your own Italy itinerary, then I recommend looking at my article about how to create…
Nude Beaches in Italy: Yes, They Exist
Because Italy seems to be so dominated by the Catholic church, you might not automatically think that there would be a ton of nude beaches in Italy .
Italy Q&A: 3 Weeks in September
Here's another in my Italy Q&A series of posts. I got a note from Milton which read: i am going to italy in september for about 3 weeks and was thinking about taking an apartment in rome, or maybe…
Why I Love Moleskine City Notebooks
When I was planning my last trip to Italy, I'd already heard about the Moleskine City Notebooks - and in fact I already had the one for Milan, the city where I was going to be based.
Concerts in Italy
During my last trip to Italy I saw posters advertising upcoming concerts in various cities, many of which were already out of date or sold out.
Italy Q&A: Battlefields of the Liri Valley
This addition to the Italy Q&A posts is an interesting one. In it, James wrote: I am a high school teacher in Canada. I have been taking students to Italy every second year since 1997.
Italy Q&A: Renting a Van in Italy
It's time for another Italy Q&A reply. Theresa asks: We are planning a trip to Italy for the month of June and will need to rent a vehicle for about 4 weeks.
Italy Q&A: Entertaining Teenagers in Italy
Here's another in the Italy Q&A series . It's from Mac, who says: I will be traveling with my husband, 16 year old son and 14 year old daughter in June.
Becoming a Regular
I originally wrote this as a journal entry, and in the end decided to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it.
Italy Q&A: Biking Trip Through Italy
Here's another in the Italy Q&A series. This one comes from Cindy, who is about to go traveling with her friend Tracy. She asks: I am about to leave for Italy on March 23rd.
Creepy Wax Bodies at "La Specola"
In Florence's Oltrarno neighborhood, probably the biggest attractions are centered around the Pitti Palace, the former residence of the ruling Medici family.
My Favorite Italy City Maps
When I travel, I try as hard as humanly possible to not stand out like a tourist. I'm well aware that I'm usually instantly recognizable as an outsider, but if I can pass for at least…
Moleskine City Notebooks for Italy
More and more travelers are abandoning traditional guidebooks in favor of online research these days, and while I'm a huge fan of the internet I still like to have a good old-fashioned paper tome on…
Weird & Wonderful Italy
Throughout Italy there are fabulous sights which are famous the world over, but not every attraction on your "must-see" list has to be of the caliber of the Sistine Chapel or Michelangelo's David.
Stocking Up on Italian Media
Every time I come to Italy I end up bringing home more Italian CDs and books - and this time is no exception.
Registering With Italian Authorities for Trips Over Eight Days
One of the things that can drive expats in Italy to the point of insanity is all the paperwork required to stay in the country legally.
Buying Fakes in Italy: Is a fake Gucci bag worth a €7,000 fine?
Anyone who has walked through the touristy sections of Italy's major cities has seen them - the peddlers of designer knock-offs who carry enormous black duffel bags and set up "shop" on any vacant…
Obligations of a Travel Writer
The last time I was in the Cinque Terre , that divine collection of five tiny fishing villages clinging to the Ligurian cliffs, I overheard an American tour leader speaking with the owner of the…
Rick Steves Blogs About Italy
I'll admit to being a Rick Steves fan - that might lose me some "travel cred" with the backpacking crowd, but I find Rick's approach to travel really refreshing.
Where in Italy would you spend one week?
Not too long ago on the BootsnAll Community , someone posted a question about having a whopping three days to spend in Venice and Florence, and wanted advice from members about which city to spend…
Please... Visit... Italy...
Thanks to Shelley of At Home in Rome for the pointer to this video, wherein Italy's Vice Premier and Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Francesco Rutelli attempts to lure English-speaking…
600 Years of Glassmaking in Murano in One Family
When I hear about family businesses in their 3rd or 6th generation, I'm impressed.
Calcata: Not Your Average Italian Hill Town
The dream of nearly everyone who read "Under the Tuscan Sun" is to find that quintessential Tuscan village - you know, the one no one has discovered yet - and have their Tuscan moment.