Hi everyone! I’m planning to visit Alba at the start of November and would love to go truffle hunting. Does anyone have recommendations for specific tours or local guides that offer a genuine truffle-hunting experience, ideally with a chance to see the dogs find and dig up truffles? Bonus points if the tour includes a food tasting! Thanks 😊

Curious everyone’s experience doing both cities. I’m a foodie and love walking and exploring . Last Italy visit 2 years go I visited Rome, Florence and Venice. Flew in and out of Rome.
This time I’m flying into Rome and heading to Bologna by train. I spent 3 nights last time in Rome and realized there was so much more to see in Rome.
I’m thinking 4-5 nights in Bologna and a couple of nights in Rome before flying home. A couple of day trips from Bologna

Anyone else do similar trip ?
Definitely would like to hotel, restaurant and culture related things to do.

This group was so helpful on my last trip

Thanks

Next week I'm visiting Prato for shopping for textiles. I noticed that TIPO festival is at the same time when I'm there. Are there tips/suggestions of events you guys recommend outside of the official TIPO program?

Travel dates: 21-24 October.

Many thanks!

Hello,

My wife and I are traveling from Rome to Milan, and then to Varenna tomorrow. I just checked on our tickets and realized we booked them under her married name, while her passport has her maiden name (this is a mistake we forgot to rectify before the trip).

She is carrying her USA ID that has her married name, and we also have a certified marriage license to prove her relationship to me.

Will this be sufficient if we’re asked for ID?

Is there any way to expedite first time through EES when arriving at Linate? Is it worth doing Meet & Greet or fast track?

My original plan was a day trip to Pisa and Lucca. Siena is beautiful - I went 20 years ago, wouldn’t mind going again.
This time going w teens (18,15). We are active so I don’t mind a busy day but also don’t want to rush from place to place. Any other suggestions aside from what I mentioned above? Maybe something less touristy? Would need access by train as we don’t have a car. Or a bus tour but we saw Siena that way 20 years ago and kind of felt like cattle. Visit is end of December/Jan

¿Qué excursión me recomiendas? Vi una en Civitatis que incluye Pienza, Montepulciano y Monteriggioni, pero no tengo referencias al respecto; también vi otra en TripAdvisor. Voy a finales de octubre: ¿tienes alguna opinión, experiencia o recomendación?

I’m thinking about going to Italy next year with my husband, and we have six main places we’d like to see. Our current itinerary is as follows:

-Rome: 6 nights (7 days)
-Florence: 6 nights (7 days)
-Lucca: 4 nights (5 days)
-Bologna: 6 nights (7 days)
-Lake Garda: 4 nights (5 days)
-Venice: 3 nights (4 days)
-Back to Rome: 1 or 2 nights, then fly home

We’re HUGE italian food lovers, as well as love ancient architecture and history, so we’re opting to spend a bit more time in each city than may be needed (i.e. Lucca). We’re open to taking a few day trips somewhere in there too, especially in a place like Bologna that is so well connected.

My question is, does this seem like a good split between the cities? Is there anywhere along that route that is a can’t-be-missed day trip, or somewhere we should stay also? Our trip may be able to be extended by a few days to fit one more location if need be, but a minimum of three nights is the ideal.

TIA!

Edit: This is our general updated itinerary so far:

-Rome: September 22-28 (6 nights)
•Day trip to Tivoli

-Naples: Sept 28-Oct 2 (4 nights)
•Day trip to Pompeii?

-Florence: October 2-7 (5 nights)

-Siena: October 7-10 (3 nights)

-Lucca: October 10-12 (2 nights)

-Bologna: October 12-19 (7 nights)
•Day trip to Ravenna & Modena

-Lake Garda (Sirmione/Limone): October 19-23 (3 nights)

-Venice: October 23-26 (3 nights)

Heyy,

I am only being able to find the combo stairs option for the Duomo terrace:

https://ticket.duomomilano.it/en/eventi/duomo-terraces-museum-stairs/

I can’t find the COMBO lift option online

There’s a lift option but without the combo: https://ticket.duomomilano.it/en/eventi/duomo-e-terrazze-lift/

This is not the one I want tho

Hey all,

Heading to Sicily for the first time, and we’ll be in the Catania/Taormina area around early February 2027 (06/02 - 09/02). Toying with the idea of a side trip across to Palermo for a couple of days.

A few questions for anyone who’s done it:

1. What’s Palermo actually like in the first week of February? Weather-wise, crowd-wise, and just generally — is it worth visiting that time of year, or does it feel a bit dead/shut down off-season?

2. How’s the drive from Catania to Palermo? Roughly how long does it take, and is it an easy drive (motorway the whole way?) or are there stretches that are slow-going/mountainous? Trying to work out whether it’s a comfortable day trip or better as an overnight stay.

Any tips on things not to miss in Palermo, or reasons to skip it and stay put in the Catania/Taormina area instead, also welcome!

We were waiting at the Venice station when a beggar with a dog approached us and asked us for money. I’ve usually been warned off about scammers and pick pockets so i immediately said “No sorry”
The beggar gave me a death stare and called us “bitches” and passed by us. He returned again and called us “shits” while passing by us again.
Is this common? Or did we actually do wrong by not giving him money? How much does someone usually give a beggar?

Hi folks,

I’m flying into Milan on October 24 and out on November 2, 2026 (MXP both ways).

Thinking of doing 3 nights in Milan, 1 in Venice, and 5 in Rome. All travel by train, including returning from Rome to Milan on November 2 for my flight home.

Does this sound reasonable or am I squeezing in too much? I’m aiming for a fairly relaxed trip, not rushing between attractions. Also, is taking the train from Rome to MXP on departure day too risky?

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: I decided to just stay 1 day in Milan then I am going to Venice for 3 days and Rome for 4 days. Thanks everyone!

Hello. Any tips for a car rental agency at Milan Malpensa Airport that accepts debit cards and won't cost a fortune?

I’m Italian and live in Tuscany, and I’ve seen many questions here about ZTL fines, so I thought a short practical note might help people planning a driving trip.

At the entrance of most historic centers there’s a round white sign with a red border and, under it, an electronic panel. Since 2019 the panels should read “ZTL ATTIVA” (red: the zone is active and cameras record your plate) or “ZTL NON ATTIVA” (green: you may enter), sometimes also in English. Some towns still have older panels saying “varco attivo”, which also means active. Navigation apps often ignore all this, so trust the sign, not the GPS.

If your hotel is inside the zone, write to them before arriving and ask whether they can register your license plate. Otherwise, the simplest plan is to park outside the walls and walk in.

I’m glad to help with specific towns if anyone has questions.