Traveling to Italy for the first time? Your initial excitement may be followed by a wave of anxiety as you think about putting together an itinerary. Who knows when you’ll visit again? You’ve got to make it count! But jamming your dream trip with too many bucket list items is the reason some visitors return exhausted and with mixed feelings. Overtourism is also a factor—thousands of visitors descending upon the same iconic sites can make for an elbow-to-elbow experience in which you’re soaking up the ambience…of standing in line with a crowd of other tourists.
Visiting one or more of Italy’s cities should be prefaced by a bit of serious, albeit enjoyable, research, starting as soon as you’ve set your dates. Avoid the hot, overrun months of June through August From a flight standpoint, starting and ending your trip in Rome, with Florence and the hill towns of Tuscany in between, makes logistical sense. Plan for the must-sees, but leave room for the smaller “vignettes” that offer the chance to connect with the culture of the city.
Rome
Centro Storico, the city’s historic center, is less crowded late in the evening, making this an ideal time to visit the Trevi Fountain, Neptune Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, all dramatically lit and ideal for photos.
If the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica are on your list, don’t skimp on the tickets. Springing for a well-reviewed, early morning small-group tour can make a big difference, allowing you to skip the long lines, which only grow as the day progresses. Lunch tip: Afterward, make a beeline through the massive crowd in St. Peter’s Square to Pizzarium Bonci in the Trionfale district for takeout pizza al taglio.
The Eternal City rewards the tourist who leans into curiosity and devotes time to places outside of the main tourist areas, explains Katie Parla, a Rome-based food and beverage writer, culinary guide and author. Food markets like those in the neighborhoods of Testaccio and Trionfale offer a slice of daily Roman life, where you can talk to vendors, grab coffee, and get to know the seasonal food culture.
She suggests seeking out restaurants tucked away from tourist spots, with local patrons and a menu of Roman cuisine. Viral TikTok posts are not an accurate gauge of quality.
“Some of the most heavily promoted places online have deeply mediocre food,” says Parla.
Reservations for dinner should be made weeks—or even months—before leaving home.
Florence
As in Rome, early risers will experience thinner crowds and shorter lines. An 8:15 a.m. entry time at the Galleria dell’Accademia will give you a close-up view of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the David sculpture. Early entry tickets at the Uffizi Gallery are also advisable. Avoid “museum fatigue” by knowing which artists and works are of greatest interest to you before you arrive and heading there first. Museum tip: La Specola Natural History Museum offers much faster entry and a remarkable collection of human wax anatomical models.
Cross the Ponte Vecchio and explore the hilly streets of the Oltrarno to find parks, churches, museums, shops, restaurants and bars, along with a calmer, less touristy vibe. Order a Florentine panino and wind your way to Piazza Santo Spirito for the organic market held the third Sunday of each month. Learn more about the foods of Florence at the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, where you can mingle with locals and fill your shopping bag with cured meats, cheeses, seafood, bread and produce.
A Side Trip to the Hill Towns of Tuscany
Rent a car in Florence, and take the scenic route through the stunning Val d’Orcia region to visit a few of Tuscany’s ancient hilltop towns, such as Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino. Soak in the storybook vistas from atop medieval city walls, and explore the cobblestone streets. With the exception of making your dinner reservations in advance, nothing else need be done, save to enjoy the unexpected discoveries that turn a trip into a treasured memory.