Europe Travel Answers

Rome Day 2: It would be foolish not to visit the Forum at the same time as you visit the Colosseum. They are next door to each other. If you do not wish to waste much time queueing then you will need to buy your Vatican Museums ticket online. This is the only way to see the Sistine Chapel. Official site: mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_... Do you not want to visit St Peter's Basilica? It is free, and next door to the Vatican Museums. It seems odd to visit Rome without doing so. Day 4. You will travel from Rome to Naples and from Naples to Sorrento. You will find train times, details and fares for the first segment on: trenitalia.com/homepage_en.h... But for Naples>Sorrento you must look at: http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en you will not have a huge amount of time to explore either Naples or Sorrento. Naples is chaotic and noisy but absolutely fascinating. It would be a pity not to give it the attention it deserves (several hours exploring the historical centre and a visit to the magnificent archaeological museum). What about Herculaneum? It is nothing like Pompeii; an entirely different experience. Easy to get there by Circumvesuviana...it's on the same line as Pompeii and Sorrento, station is Ercolano. Day 4: bus timetable Sorrento>Positano & Amalfi: sitasudtrasporti.it/public/t... Depending on when you visit the coastal ferries *may* be running. www.metrodelmare.net Day 5: Capri ferry/hydrofoil times and info here: http://www.capri.net/en/ferry-schedule Day 6: There is a direct, reliable and excellent bus service from Sorrento to Naples airport. You might consider this as an alternative to humping your bags onto the Circumvesuviana, having to store them at Pompeii, humping them back onto the Circumvesuviana, getting to Napoli Garibaldi and then having to take taxi or bus to the airport. http://www.curreriviaggi.it/ Day 7: A gondola will cost you around 80 euro (or more) for around 40 minutes (or less). If the budget won't stretch that far, you can cross the Grand Canal by gondola ferry (traghetto) for 50 cents. You won't have much problem finding vegetarian food, imo. Most restaurants will have one or two suitable dishes and, of course, there are lots of pizza etc which contain no meat or seafood. As for gelato, you cannot go wrong anywhere. But in Florence do seek out Vivoli: Vivoli: "Still the best ice-cream in Florence" - Florence Restaurant Tip by leics I have info and tips about all the Italian places you intend to visit on my pages, and there are many other Vt pages and tips written by members. Click people's usernames to find their travel pages or just put the place name into the searchbox top right of this page.

Hi there cant offer much help, but 2years ago i had a stopover in zurich, and dined in a restauranr called the Hiltl restaurant, where i can only say that its food rates as one of the best vegetarian restaurants, ive had the pleasure of eating in. the address is Sihlstr 28 Zurich 8001 TEL 044-227-7000 id book a table as it gets busy and it costs about between20-$50 good luck and happy anniversary.

Question: what time do you get into Rome on your first day?

The only main question is why are you flying from Naples to Venice? Why not take a train ride and end up in Venice center to start with?

IceAngel, welcome toEurope. I can only support the recommendation for Naples/Sorrento region, one of Italy's jewel regions, where real Italy still exists. In Switzerland, try to get the boat from Thun to Interlaken and have lunch on board, then I suggst you go to the lovely village of Mürren for overnight stay, get the cable car from Mürren onto the Schilthorn the next morning and enjoy the breathtaking view. As for vegetarian food: I usually recommend Indian restaurants, of which there are many in Europe now. But I hope you like cheese: the large array of cheeses in Itasly and Switzerland seduce viustors from around the globe (not rare are Chinese visitors leaving with a pack of cheese in their luggage...next to their new Rolex). Ice cream is "usually" excellent in Italy as well as in Switzerland, albeit more expensive than in Germany. I personally like the Mövenpck ice cream, even though it is a mayor brand in Switzerland and other European countries. It certainly beats Hagen Dasz ,-D. Enjoy, Richard

Hmmm, I think 'real' Italy exists many, many places yet. the Italians might have something to say about that. :O)

"Real Italy" exists anywhere outside the famous and most visited cities :-) My experience. And surely also in the famous cities, but then elsewhere and not where the tourists flock.

Ingrid is absolutely right. Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast settlements are certainly no more or less 'real' than any other tourist-oriented Italian settlement. 'Rwal' to me means 'ordinary life' and every Italian location has that, even if you have to go a little further from the historical sights/sites to find it. Of all the Italian locations I have visited I consider only Venice to an oddity, for it now exists almost entirely because of, and for, its visitors. It is much more difficult to find 'ordinary' life in Venice, although it of course still exists, albeit in small pockets. I too was somewhat bemused by a late afternoon flight Naples>Venice and then a 'transfer' the following day. Are you staying somewhere else on the night you fly into Venice Marco Polo airport? Naples>Venice by train takes around the same time as flying will, once you have factored in getting to/from airports, meeting check-in deadlines and collecting bags. You might consider it as an option. Train times, details and fares in English: trenitalia.com/homepage_en.h... Journeys involve a change in,mostly, Rome. Venezia SL is the station in Venice itself, Venezia Mestre is the station on the mainland.

Just done Rome. Colosseum, Palantine Hill, Roman Forum are in one ticket (please book online; the lines are horrendously long and the summer sun fries you nicely!). You'll need at least 3 hours to do all three with a coffee break in between. Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Chiesa SS Vineenzo e Anastasio Padricister Cenci Church there itself, Spanish Steps, Trinita Dei Monti Church on top and then Piazza Navona, could be attempted next. This should take you another 2.5 hours (walking time included). You will then have to run for your Sistine Chapel appointment. Better to be there 1 hour in advance owing to security concerns. If you carry large bags, you have to deposit them in the cloakroom. The worst part is going ALL the way back along that tall wall to reclaim your bags. The cloak room closes at 6 pm solution? Don't take large bags.

Kate, you are right of course. I was refering to an Italy that is in my imagination, a Fellini Italy: Pasta, pizza, music, blue sea, family, street life, colorful villages, traditions, well...it does exist allover Italy, but - in my opinion - still more in the south. I I were Italian, I would most likely favour my home town.

Have a great trip , its a beautiful part of Europe!