Costiera Amalfitana

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places on Earth. Get ready to walk up and down steps all day. There is a decent amount of elevation, but no elevators anywhere. The views make it totally worth the effort! Below is a list of recommendations for the various towns in the Amalfi coast. I stayed in Positano, the most Instagram-worthy of the towns, but any of the towns will do. Getting around by boat is fun, but the public buses work just fine. If you’re coming from Naples, I recommend taking a ferry. The views from the sea are spectacular. Capri is fantastic. You can go on a day trip, but if you have time, stay one or two nights on the island. There is so much to explore!

Must See:

Positano

• Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta – the main church in Positano… Take a quick look at the beautiful ceilings inside. Maps Location

• Fiordo di Furore – a beach in a narrow cove surrounded by dramatic cliffs. Maps Location

• Arienzo Beach Club Positano – Maps Location

• Grotto dello Smeraldo – Maps Location

• Grotta Suppraiano – Maps Location

Amalfi & Ravello

• Duomo di Amalfi – Maps Location

• Villa Rufolo – Picturesque villa with magnificent terraces overlooking the sea.  Maps Location

• Villa Cimbrone – Cliff-side villa with amazing views and stunning gardens.  Maps Location

• Ceramiche Cosmolena – Ravello – Famous ceramic shop. Take a look and buy some nice dishes to take home with you. Maps Location  

Capri – take a stroll down Via Tragara. The views are impressive.

• Blue Grotto – Maps Location

• Giardini di Augusto – The gardens of Augutus with incredible views.  Maps Location

• Via Krupp – amazing viewpoint Maps Location

• Belvedere di Punta Cannone – Maps Location

• Belvedere Tragara – Maps Location

• Villa San Michele – Maps Location

• Villa Lysis - Maps Location

• Monte Solare Chair Lift – Maps Location

• Spiaggia di Marina Piccola – Maps Location

Aperitivo:

Positano

• Franco’s Bar – One of the best aperitivo spots in Positano, with iconic views of the town. Seating is first-come, first-serve. As you can imagine, it gets very busy during the sunset hour. Franco's Bar Website, Maps Location

• Positano Paradise Lounge Bar – Maps Location

Restaurants:

Positano

• Aldo’s at La Sirenuse – A highly recommended restaurant in probably the most iconic hotel in Positano. The views from here are incredible. Reservations are required, and they are usually booked days or weeks in advance. I couldn’t go because I did not make reservations in time. Restaurant Website, Maps Location

• Ristorante Bruno - Nice restaurant with great views. Get a seat outside by the railing. Maps Location

• Casa e Bottega – Good breakfast spot. Maps Location

• Chez Black – Go for dinner. They play music and party.  Maps Location

• La Tagliata – Family farm & restaurant. I’ve heard they offer great cooking classes. I didn’t get the chance to try it, but I will the next time I’m in town. Maps Location

• Ristorante Lo Guarracino - Lunch with a view! Maps Location

Amalfi & Ravello

• Pasticceria Pansa Amalfi – Excellent bakery. Try the traditional lemon cake! Maps Location

• De Gemma - Maps Location

Capri

• La Fontelina – famous beach club Maps Location

• Godò Capri – Maps Location

• Restaurant Il Riccio - Maps Location

Sorrento

• O'Parrucchiano La Favorita – Maps Location

Gelato:

Positano

• Collina Positano Bakery – good spot for coffee in the morning or gelato at any time. Maps Location

Amalfi & Ravello

• Baffone Gelateria Artigianale – Maps Location

Capri

• Buonocore Gelateria Pasticceria Gastronomia e Tavola Calda – the best gelato I’ve ever had with hand-rolled cones. The bakery has great deserts, too! Maps Location

Roma

Rome, the eternal city… The entire city is a museum with Roman history around every corner. You might walk by what looks to be just a normal building, then walk inside only to find the most beautiful Catholic church you’ve ever seen. It’s incredible. For most of the famous landmarks, you should find a tour with skip-the-line access. I highly recommend Walks of Italy tours. I’ve used them several times and have always been satisfied.

Must See:

• The Vatican & St. Peter’s Basilica – This is the most incredible place I’ve ever seen. You must do a tour through the Vatican museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, including the dome climb. Check Walks of Italy. You can do all of this in half of day… I recommend a morning tour to avoid the huge afternoon crowds.

• Colosseum – It’s incredible to see even just walking around the outside. Take a tour of the arena floor and underground areas.

• Roman Forum – You can see most of this for free and without a tour… A tour would be nice, though, so your guide can tell you about what you’re actually looking at.

• Trevi Fountain – You don’t need a tour, it’s totally free. Go in the early morning (before 9am) if you want to beat the crowds.

• Pantheon – One of the oldest and best preserved structures in Rome, it was eventually turned into one of the first Catholic churches in Rome and holds the record as the largest unreinforced concrete dome on Earth. You can simply enjoy the view from outside, or you can get cheap tickets to go inside.

• Piazza Navona – A large & beautiful piazza and home to some of Bernini’s most famous fountains.

• Borghese Gallery & Gardens – Home to some of the most famous works of Bernini, Raphael, and countless others. I have yet to visit, but I will the next time I’m in Rome. This is likely better with a skip-the-line tour. Walks of Italy offers some.

• Piazza di Spagna – A beautiful piazza with iconic the Spanish steps, incredible fountains, and great high-end shopping around.

• Famous/Beautiful churches:

  • Chiesa del Gesù – Beautiful Catholic church, very popular Instagram spot. Map Location

  • Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena – Map Location

  • Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli – Home of Michelangelo’s statute of Moses. Map Location

  • Cappella Chigi – Map Location

  • Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli – Map Location

• Ponte Umberto – Majestic view of St. Peter’s Basilica. Map Location

Aperitivo:

• The Court Bar – Palazzo Manfredi – evening drinks with a view of the Colosseum. Map Location

• Oro Bistrot – rooftop bar with views of the city Map Location

• Antica Enoteca – A wine bar, perfect for a quick, pre-dinner drink after a long day of sight seeing. Map Location

• Zuma at the Palazzo Fendi – Go to the rooftop bar for afternoon drinks with great views of the city. Map Location 

Restaurants:

• Dal Bolognese Roma – Great for lunch. The Lasagna is a must. Reservations highly recommended. Map Location

• Armando Al Pantheon – Great for lunch or dinner, one of the best restaurants in Rome. Reservations needed (they rarely take walk-ins and are usually book 1-2 weeks in advanced). Map Location

• Emma – The best pizza in Rome. Map Location

• Ristorante Il Falchetto – Nice dinner spot, make reservations. Map Location

• Saltimbocca Ristorante – Nice restaurant on a fun street with live music. Great for dinner. Map Location

• Hostaria del Moro – Nice lunch spot Map Location

  Cucina del Teatro – popular Instagram influencer spot. Map Location

Gelato:

• Giolitti – Considered the best Gelato in the world… I certainly loved it. The lines can be long at certain times of the day, but the gelato is worth it. Map Location

• Gelateria dei Gracchi – Great spot for a little gelato after dinner at Dal Bolognese. Map Location

Firenze

Firenze is a fantastic city with rich history and excellent food. Everything of importance is within walking distance. Home of the Renaissance, there is beautiful and iconic art around every corner. The city has lots of rentable scooters and e-bikes, which are great to get around quickly if you’re in a rush. Trust me, they are way faster than calling a taxi or uber.

Must See:

• Michelangelo’s David – The original is in the Academia. I highly recommend a guided tour with early access to avoid huge crowds. Below is a link to the tour I took.
  Walks of Italy Link (this also includes a tour of the Duomo below)

• Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo) – You should find a tour that takes you up to the roof of the Duomo. It’s incredible to see the parts of the Duomo that are normally not seen, plus the views from the top are incredible.

• Piazzale Michelangelo – Go at sunset. The view of the Duomo and the entire city is bellissimo!

• Ufizzi Gallery – Many important Renaissance paintings here.

• Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens – This is essentially an extension of the Ufizzi gallery/museum. There tickets that include both. I have not made it to Pitti Palace yet, but I’ve heard from many that it is incredible.

• Palazzo Vecchio – Check online to see if they’re offering the “Secrets of the Palazzo” tour. I did this in 2018. They take you through all the secret passageways built by the Medici family to escape in case of emergency. The Hall of 500 features some of the most beautiful paintings from the Renaissance.

• Piazza della Signoria – This is just outsize of the Palazzo Vecchio and central in the city. It’s a beautiful piazza with many replicas of famous statues.

• Ponte Vecchio – Try to get a tour called “Secrets of the Palazzo”. I did this back in 2018 and it was incredible. They take you through secret passages that are not open to the general public.

• Piazza della Repubblica - Large piazza with many leather markets around.

• Gucci Gardens – Museum dedicated to the iconic Italian fashion brand… They also have some exclusive Gucci merch on sale. Google Maps Location

• Basilica of Santa Croce – Beautilful bacilica and the burial place of some of the most famous Italians in history including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.

Aperitivo:

• View on Art Rooftop Cocktail Bar – Google Maps Location

• SE·STO on Arno Rooftop Bar (in the Westin Excelsior Hotel) – Google Maps Location

• La Terrazza – Google Maps Location

• Colle Bereto – Google Maps Location

• Serre Torrigiani in Piazzetta – Google Maps Location

Restaurants:

• San Paolino – Google Maps Location

  • Try the beef cheeks

• Osteria Belguardo – Google Maps Location

• All’Antico Vinaio – Google Maps Location

• Yellow Bar – Google Maps Location

• Il Grande Nuti Trattoria – Google Maps Location

• La Giostra – Restaurant Website

  • Make sure to reserve 2 weeks in advance if you can. I wasn’t able to go because they were completely booked, but it’s been highly recommended to me by folks who know Firenze very well.

• Trattoria Mario – Google Maps Location

  • Highly recommended, though I haven’t been able to visit. I hear the pork chops & French fries are amazing.

• Trattoria Sostanza – Google Maps Location

• Ciro & Sons – Restaurant Website

Gelato – There is gelato everywhere… these are the ones I would go back to over & over:

• La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Artigianale – Google Maps Location

• Gelateria La Carraia – Google Maps Location

• Gelateria dei Medici – Google Maps Location