Venice
Rome
Amalfi Coast
A two week adventure travelling to three unique and spectacular destinations.
Trip Information
Italy has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters with the majority of the rainfall in the
Autumn and Spring. As Italy is a long country with mountain ranges weather patterns can vary across regions.
We travelled in August where temperatures can get very hot and averaged 35c / 95f most days and in the built up cities such as Rome this can make for some uncomfortable travelling so book any excursions or do your wandering about in the morning or evening leaving the hottest parts of the day (1-4pm) to relax.
If you’re travelling Italy in the summer months we highly recommend taking hand held fans just to help take the edge off such as these from John Lewis.
April, May, September or October are generally the best times to visit Italy with pleasant temperatures averaging 23-26c / 73-78f.
January is the coldest time of the year with highs of 8c / 46f with October and November the wettest.
Before you go
No visa is required for EU / UK / US citizens travelling as a tourist.
The EU has a common set of visa rules which apply to short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) and for transit through international transit areas of airports in the Schengen area. The Schengen area applies to 29 European countries including Italy.
Schengen (pronounced Sheng-gan) is named after the small wine making village in Luxemborg where the agreement to abolish border controls was signed in 1985.
Please note;
It is expected in the second half of 2025 all non-EU citizens (UK, US etc) will need an ETIAS authorisation from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This will be required if entering any country in the EU.
It’s just a pre-screening check and can be obtained via the official site EU Travel Europe .
The cost is expected to be £6 / €7 / $8 but will be free to those under 18 or over 70 and will be valid for three years. This info is subject to change so please check for updates via the ETIAS website.
Departing Flight Information
For those familiar with our travels we always do a meet and greet at airports. Yes they do cost a little more
than off-site parking but you don’t have the hassle of waiting for a transfer bus, they are reliable and so much easier pulling right up to the terminal or when you depart and your car is waiting there for you.
This trips’ parking was via Compare Parking Deals for £10 per day. We generally never use the same meet and greet company as prices vary so use a few different search sites such as Holiday Extras, Compare Airport Parking or Purple Parking. If you travel a bit it pays to register an account as they provide discount codes for future use. Shop around for the parking and be mindful the official Bristol Airport Meet and Greet can be more expensive than other options.
Bristol Airport is a great airport due to its smaller size and parking is close to the terminal so you can be parked and inside within minutes. The airport is going through some major upgrades at the moment but disruption is minimal.
If you’re into your airport lounges you can book online at Bristol Airport Lounge.
We generally use Amex for our travel bookings as any spend means points which provide good discounts on travel and accommodation.
Some Amex cards also provide Priority Pass lounge membership starting which give you from four free passes per year which you can use at Bristol Airport.
Flight Arrival Information
Our flight from Bristol to Marco Polo Airport in Venice was with Ryanair but as we were finishing our
trip on the Amalfi Coast we had a returning flight from Naples to Bristol with Easyjet.
Flights were originally sourced via Skyscanner and then booked directly with each airline. Skyscanner is our preferred flight search engine due to the ease of searching different airports, flight dates, times and airlines.
Flight costs were £275pp return including seat selection and two pieces of larger checked in/hold luggage with small backpacks as a carry on which were free.
Be mindful of weight requirements for checked in/hold luggage when booking with two different airlines. Ryanair Bag Rules max weight is 20kg and Easyjet Bag Rules is 23kg. Excess weight is charged £12 per kg at the airport.
If you can be flexible on your airport, dates and times there are some excellent deals especially if you’re prepared to take early morning or late night flights (which we chose to avoid).
Other UK airports that fly to Venice include Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bournemouth.
Flight time to most destinations in Italy is between 2-2.5hrs from most UK airports. To Sicily its 3hrs.
Trip Information
Venice has two airports; Treviso which is 25 miles north of Venice and 30 minutes by Taxi or 1hr on the Bus to Venice and; Marco Polo which is a small but modern airport and the closest to Venice. Be mindful of this when booking flights as to the arrival airport as they vary in the ease of getting to Venice.
If you can, try and book your flight into Marco Polo as you can start your Venetian adventure with a water taxi (Vaporetto) with the public transport company Alilaguna.
Tickets are available in the arrivals hall by the baggage carousals and the machines are easy to use with an English option. There is an info counter there if you need any assistance. It’s an 8 minute walk to the water taxi area and you then will be instructed to follow either the Blue, Orange or Red Line by the boat pick up point.
The timetable is on the Alilaguna website but they generally run every 30 minutes and it’s a circa
80 minute ride depending on where you hop off in Venice.
A one way Vaporetto water taxi from the airport to Venice is £13 / €15 / $17 per person or a round trip is £22 / €27 / $28.
There is a bus option from Marco Polo with two bus services from ACTV the terminal that go to the Piazzale Roma. Bus No.5 and ATVO. Take the ATVO bus as its quicker (30mins) but the same price £7 / €8 / $9.
Another option is a private water taxi available with costs for a one way trip from Marco Polo airport into Venice starting from £100 / €120 / $135. More details can be found here Venice Water Taxi but there are many other providers. The private water taxis are often the beautiful wooden type iconic to Venetian waters but are costly to use.
Please note:
The Alilaguna water taxi to and from the airport is different to the main water taxi’s you’ll use to get around Venice and out to Lido, Murano and Burano. This is through ACTV and multiday tickets can be purchased online here at VeneziaUnica City Pass or from the ticket machines at the airport, ticket booths at the docks or from authorised sellers in tobacconists or newspaper stores.
The cost for multiday passes per person are:
– 24hr for £20 / €25 / $26
– 48hr for £29 / €35 / $37
– 72hr for £37 / €45 / $47
These provide you unlimited hop on/hop off to all the water taxis that operate throughout Venice and include trips to Lido, Murano and Burano and you can carry your luggage on them. The prices are per person and it may seem expensive but this is Venice!
You can purchase single price tickets which are valid for 75 minutes and cost £7.90 / €9.50 / $9.95 but are not efficient as you’ll likely mix a lot of walking with many trips on the water taxi’s. Children aged 6 and under can travel for free on the ACTV water taxis.
Euro at the time: €1 = £0.83 / $1.05. Check out Xe Currency for the latest conversion rates.
Coffee costs around €2-€3 and as Italy is the largest producer of wine in the world you can pick up a pretty decent bottle from a local shop from €4!
Tipping in restaurants of circa 10% is common but not necessary in smaller cafes where rounding up and leaving change is deemed as polite.
We recommend the use of a Revolut card for your travels which you can use as an App as well as a physical card. It can be used all over the world, is free to apply, can be linked to your accounts for easy online transfers and has low exchange rate fees. Kids can have a Revolut card too which is great for their independence when travelling.
Revolut also provide monthly plan options which give midweek no-fee exchanges in over 30 currencies as well as access to airport lounges, travel insurance and airline miles.
Interesting fact; the symbol € is based on the Greek letter epsilon (Є) with the first letter in the word ‘Europe’ and with 2 parallel lines signifying stability.
Practical Advice & Tips
As our Italian adventure took us to three main destinations via plane, boat, train and car we’ll spend time on this section hopefully helping with some useful details if you’re planning a similar trip, or even just visiting one of the destinations.
Venice
Walking and water taxi are your only two options for getting around Venice.
When you first arrive by train it will be at the Santa Lucia railway station in Venice or if via bus at the Piazzale Roma which is on the ‘mainland’ but by the main bridge that you walk to get into Venice.
If you’re driving the cheapest place to park is on the mainland at Venice City Park. It’s only 5 minutes via bus from the stop near the park. There are options near Venice but they are at least £33 / €40 / $42 per day.
If you are coming via water taxi from Marco Polo airport check the location of your accommodation and the nearest stop. Bear in mind the side of the canal the water taxi stop is on as you may end up on the wrong side!
Purchase an unlimited hop on/hop for the water taxis, as we mention above in the Arriving section, which you just need to scan on the ticket machine by each water taxi terminal.
The water taxis are frequent, generally on time and are a fantastic way to see the city and visit the outlying islands such as Murano and Burano. Water taxi timetables can be found here at AVM Timetables.
Check out our Highlights section for more details on trips and activities in Venice including the ‘must do’ gondola’s!
As far as dining goes we could write forever about food and restaurant options as you have an abundance of choices (and this is the case throughout Italy) although for better cuisine in Venice we recommend restaurants slightly off the main tourist thoroughfares. Two particular favourites of ours in Venice were Osteria Da Alex and Osteria Al Cantinon both of which are in quieter areas with great service and a good range of traditional foods. Finish off any meal with a gelato from one of the many little ice cream shops all over Venice.
For the best seafood you can go to any restaurant in Burano but we have to recommend Trattoria Al Gatto Nero. Amazing food, next to the picturesque canal and the best place to try the famous Venetian risotto da go but you will have to book well in advance to get a table. Trust us when we say you can wine and dine the day away there!
Rome
After a few days in Venice catch the high speed train right from the Santa Lucia railway station into either the
Rome Tiburtina or Termini stations. Tiburtina is located much further away from the city and sights so it’s best to travel to Termini. It’s the main station in Rome and is Italy’s largest and busiest but is easy to navigate.
The train journey is 4 hours and is a great way to see the Italian countryside whilst travelling comfortably at 155 mph. The trains are modern and there are multiple ticket options and booking online in advance is strongly recommended via the official site ItaliaRail. Tickets for the four of us were £138 / €167 / $175 in total for second class tickets but these are comfortable and are all seated together with a table. There are basic snacks and coffee available on board so we recommend bringing your own. There are options to make a stop along the way, such as in Florence to see the beautiful art and architecture.
From the Rome Termini station you have various modes of transport options to your accommodation. Via bus from the new terminal which is just outside the main station, their website ATAC Termini gives you route options, bus timetables, prices and how to pay. Buses in Rome are mainly used for short routes and there are multiple options for passes which we list below and, they are valid for the Metro also.
There is a taxi stand just outside the main terminal entrance and you can pay by card although check with the driver first that their machine is working! Uber is available in Italy although they don’t offer a ‘standard’ service so you will pay extra for a top of the range Uber. We recommend Freenow for your Uber equivalent for availability, reliability and transparency on pricing.
The Metro is the best way to travel around Rome. Although
it’s not as extensive as the Paris Metro, London Underground or the New York Subway they are located by most popular tourist destinations so is a great way to get around if you’re short on time or need to rest your feet! You’ll find this map with the Metro’s and attractions handy but of course check online via Atac as Rome is going through upgrades of its infrastructure and there may be some changes.
We highly recommend you buy multi-passes which are valid on buses and the Metro and can be purchased from tobacconists, bars and Metro stations.
If you’re short on time a great way to see the sites is via a hop on and off bus and there are a variety of options and costs for bookings to suit via Get Your Guide – Hop On Hop Off Bus.
Check out our Highlights section for details on Rome attractions, the best way to get tickets, access and prices.
Amalfi Coast
The final destination on our (and hopefully soon yours!) little Italian adventure finishes on the Amalfi Coast. With the most stunning landscapes, cliff side villages, turquoise water, cosy pebbly beaches and breath-taking views there is nothing not to love about the Amalfi Coast.
Getting to and around Amalfi can be a little tricky so we’ll cover off a number of options.
We hired a car from Rome Ciampino Airport as we’re familiar with the Amalfi area and wanted the freedom to trip around at our own pace and have the kids experience the tight windy roads and crazy Italian driving, along with the stunning views that we can stop and admire at our own leisure.
The Amalfi Coast is also made up of a number of different towns so having your own car is useful to be able to explore but a few critical points to be mindful of if you are hiring your own car:
limited and very restricted and parking could cost £41 / €50 / $52 per day in some areasLeaving our accommodation in Rome, which was right near the Colosseum, we took the Metro (Colosseo) using our multi passes to Termini station which takes 10 minutes, and from there to Ciampino Airport is circa 40mins. A Freenow taxi will take circa 30 mins depending on the time of day and cost around £37 / €45 / $47.
The car was hired through Holiday Autos with Budget and was pre-booked in the UK with a pick up from Rome Ciampino Airport. The car hire for five days cost £214 which included unlimited mileage and a one way fee as we were dropping the car at Naples airport (our departure airport). It also included £40 for Damage Refund Insurance. This is an add on but is strongly recommended. The driving in Italy can be a little hazardous but its the very narrow windy roads on the Amalfi Coast with cars, motorbikes and buses that get pretty close as well any damage that could occur just from it being parked up.
The drive from Rome Ciampino to Amalfi is about 170 miles / 274 km and takes around 4hrs including stops travelling on the E821 and the A1 and E45 Autostrada via Naples. This route takes you past the spectacular Mount Vesuvius and a short detour off the E45 will take you to Pompeii where you can visit the historic city destroyed after the 79CE eruption. See our Highlights for more information on visiting Pompeii. Once you turn onto the SS163 this is the road that connects to the main coastal towns and where the driving gets a little bit more exciting!
If travelling by train you can go from Rome to Sorrento with a high speed train from Roma Termini to Naples with either Trenitalia or Italo
The trip takes circa 1.5hrs and costs range from £12.50 / €15 / $15.60 to £37 / €45 / $47 depending on whether you travel standard or VIP. From Naples you then change to a regional train of which you have two choices, either the Circumvesuviana which you can’t buy tickets for online, can only pay in cash at the station and the train is a bit naff. The ideal option is the Campania Express which uses the same line as the Circumvesuviana but is in better condition, is for tourists and is more reliable and you can purchase tickets online here; Campania Express.
Via Campania Express the journey from Naples to Sorrento takes just over an hour and
costs £12.50 / €15 / $15.60 one way or £21 / €25 / $26 return. Children up to 6 can travel for free without a reserved seat.
Even if you’re travelling with your own car to the Amalfi Coast using the public bus to get around is still a good option and takes the pressure off trying to find parks in the small towns such as Positano, Ravello, Amalfi or Praiano. Buses are frequent, reliable and are how most tourists travel around. Details on routes and prices can be found here SITA Bus.
If you fancy travelling in style and comfort with someone else doing the driving check out Sorrento Private Tours. They offer airport transfers as well as tours around the Amalfi Coast and can arrange excursions from wine tastings to shopping trips.
Where to stay
There is a vast array of accommodation choices across the three main destinations. We have provided a few recommendations based on trusted and reliable sources or places we have stayed at on our trips to Italy.
Venice
Almost anywhere in Venice is a good location to stay however we’ve provided a brief list below outlining the main areas:
£££££ The Gritti Palace is a spectacular hotel on the Grand Canal that dates back to 1475 and was once home to the Doge (leader) of Venice. The epitome of history and luxury in an amazing location with phenomenal cuisine and service
££££ H10 Palazzo Canova close to the Rialto Bridge and also located on the Grand Canal this hotel has very well appointed rooms and features a rooftop bar overlooking the canal
£££ Marcos Place is an AirBnB in a great location, reasonably priced for the size and space, very quiet with good sized rooms and a private garden which is a rarity in Venice
££ Maggior Consiglio not far from Santa Lucia station but still easily accessible to all the attractions in Venice. Very well priced and includes breakfast
£ FloVe’ Rooms a great budget option, basic but clean, in a good location but quiet and with all the necessary amenities.
Please note; The city of Venice has introduced an Access Tax for tourists who come to Venice 
without staying there. If you are just visiting Venice for the day the amount of tax to enter the city has been set at €5 for everyone over the age of 14, as long as it is paid four days before arrival. If you book within the four days of the date of your arrival the tax is €10.
The tourist and entry Access Tax for Venice is payable here Cda.ve and after payment is made it will issue a QR code which is to be presented in the event of a check by uniformed personnel. An administrative fine ranging from €25 to €150 will be imposed for failure to present, upon request by municipal authorities, the ticket proving payment of the Access Fee.
Check the website Cda.ve for more details including when the Access Tax applies each year. As this is a new scheme they make changes to when it applies on certain days throughout the year.
If you are staying overnight (1 night or more) you don’t have to pay the Access Tax as you will already be paying a holiday tax linked to your accommodation. For hotels this will likely be charged to your account, for other types of accommodation such as Airbnb the hosts/owners may request you to leave the cash on your departure. Check the details when making your booking.
The holiday tax during high season is €5 per person per night, and in the low season (January) it is €3.50 per person per night. Children 10 years and below are exempt and children 11 – 16 years pay 50% of the adult rate.
Rome
The city of Rome has a population of nearly 3 million and is divided by
15 different districts and 155 different urban zones so detailing all the possible areas to stay is tricky so we’ll focus on one main neighbourhood Centro Storico which is along the River Tiber and is home to the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum. The area is full of charming cafes, boutique stores, bars and restaurants with markets and public squares and there are plenty of accommodation options.
We chose to stay at the Big House Colosseum due to its location near the Metro and supermarkets and you can look out the window and see the Colosseum! Its a basic apartment but with great sized rooms and kitchen if you fancy some home cooking washed down with a delicious vino di Montepulciano.
£££££ Six Senses Rome is a five star hotel converted from three historic buildings one of which was once the Bank of Rome so has amazing roman architecture with 600 year old columns in the entrance. It is pure luxury featuring a concierge, spa, fitness centre and all the major tourist attractions are within a 15 minute walk including the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. No two rooms are the same and the design and attention to detail is exquisite.
££££ Martius Private Suites Hotel is a boutique hotel located just by the Parliament and the Panthéon and has been recently meticulously renovated. There are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants by the hotel but despite its location is quiet. It has a cosy but cool bar and a limited number of rooms with the service and location being highly rated.
£££ Residenza Leutari this property has a range of room options including with a sauna
or terrace and is located meters from Piazza Navona. It’s location is perfect for exploring the city.
££ Hotel Primavera considering it’s location in the heart of tourist Rome this is a well priced hotel with all the basic amenities, clean and simple it’s a great option if you’re on a budget and just want a place to rest after a hectic day of sightseeing.
£ The RomeHello hostel has a wide range of rooms from dorms to double, twin or bunk rooms with private bathrooms. This place is definitely worth a stay if you’re on a budget and it’s location, good sized rooms and cleanliness makes it a great choice.
Check out our Highlights section for details on just a few of the many sites and attractions you can see on your visit to Rome.
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO listed site on a stretch of coastline in southern Italy overlooking the stunning Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. As the terrain is steep it has little rural or agricultural land but aside from its amazing views it is also famous for its production of limoncello liqueur made between February and October from lemons grown in terraced gardens along the entire coastline.
Sourcing the right accommodation can be challenging on the Amalfi Coast especially if you are wanting to stay outside of the main towns such as Amalfi, Positano or Sorrento. There is a plethora of choices from seaside resorts, B&B’s and apartments and we recommend narrowing down the town you would like to be in and check options either through Airbnb or Booking.com.
Properties with sea views and that are closer to the water are more expensive than those set back among the cliffs or outside of the towns with no sea views. Be sure to thoroughly filter through the reviews especially around access to the property and distances from shops, restaurants etc as whilst the cliffside location and stunning views is what gives the Amalfi Coast it’s beauty it also can make for tricky travelling around.
Check out this handy website Positano.com which gives great insight into the 13 towns along the Amalfi Coast to help your search on where to stay.
£££££ Torre Silja on the Seas of Positano Located just minutes from Positano this sea front
property with large terraces and amazing views offers three bedrooms, beach access, housekeeping and your personal cook to make breakfast every morning. What is not to love about this place!
££££ Palazzo Don Salvatore this fantastic property is located in Amalfi with superb sea views, a number of room options and close to all amenities.
£££ Palazzo Marziale in the beautiful town of Sorrento this hotel in a 15th century building is tastefully renovated and is just a few minutes walk from the main square, many shops, bars and restaurants.
££ Casa Cuccaro B&B perched on the cliffs above Positano is a little BnB with spectacular views and fantastic hospitality. They have their own homemade wine at €3 a bottle and there’s a restaurant just 50 metres away that apparently serves the best stuffed ravioli in the world!
£ Holidays Baia D’Amalfi despite the generally pricey cost of hotels and apartments there are budget options and Baia D’Amalfi is a fantastic choice. Located on the seafront with amazing views and located in the heart of Amalfi it gives you immediate access to all the area has to offer and it even has parking!
Feel free to send us a message with any accommodation queries as for anyone visiting the Amalfi Coast for the first time it can be a little overwhelming the amount of choices you have but try and get a place with a terrace or balcony that has sea views and you’ll never tire of the stunning scenery and amazing sunrises and sunsets over the Mediterranean.
Ahhh Amo l’Italia!
We don’t often return to the same country taking the opportunity to explore new places, but we have re-visited Italy many times and there’s a reason for that.
The scenery, the people, the history. the culture, the food, the wine, the weather, the experiences.
Every part of Italy is unique in its own way and this trip we loved being able to introduce just a small piece of it to the kids. Whether you’re travelling alone, as a couple or as a family Italy has everything for everyone and we know we will be returning there again soon.
Italy is one of our favourite destinations in the world and we hope we have inspired you to go or, return and explore on some new adventures.
