What to do in Italy...

Definitely you can spend hours in Taormina, there are local buses from Nexos.

Are you thinking of giving up Amalfi and Capri for Ostia?

No, Ostia is offered in Rome. Amalfi and Capri would be my choices in Sorrento. I don't know yet if my first day is completely free...if it isn't, I will have to choose between Amalfi and Capri.

 

I certainly enjoyed being able to go along the Amafi coast and explore Capri. However, if I had to choose I would opt for Capri as I really enjoyed that day. Especially liked going up to Anacapri to visit the Doctor's house whuch was fascinating and the views were fabulous!

No. I'll have a full day for each if my first day works out. I have yet to get confirmation that I can get the extra pre-day in Sorrento. If they can't get me there, I'll have to stay at another hotel (likely a Naples one) and that will shorten my first day - likely too short to do anything.

If that works out, I'll have three full free days before the tour starts. One for Capri, one for Amalfi and one for Pompeii. I can't see getting back to Sorrento, but I might get back to Tuscany area, so I may leave Pisa for now and go see Siena and San Gimignano since that day is five hours shorter than including all three.

Bit of juggling. Hopefully Viator will come through with the stuff I book myself. The reviews on the site for Italy doesn't indicate anyone missing pick-ups like I've seen in other nations.

 

Hi Chech, based on my two trips to Italy, this is what I would suggest:

Sorrento: Sorrento itself is beautiful, and you can easily spend a day just walking around. I wish I had more time to spend in Sorrento when I was there. I loved both Capri and the Amalfi coast, and I really can’t tell you what to pick. We went to Positano on our Amalfi optional, and the breach was beautiful. The views were also beautiful during the drive there. Unfortunately, we did not get to do the Blue Grotto optional while in Capri, due to the weather, so instead we went on a tour of the Villa San Michele in Anacapri, which was the home of the Swedish physician, Axel Munthe. If you have to choose between these two places, I really can’t give you any advice and I loved them both!

Sicily: I did the optional tour to Savoca (where the first Godfather movie was filmed) and Etna, and really enjoyed it. One of my favourite pictures is from Etna (see below).

Florence: There’s a lot to do in Florence, and you could easily spend a full day there. Pisa is a waste of time, but if you want to see the leaning tower, then I would suggest the Viator tour that includes Pisa, San Gimignano and Siena. I’ve never been to Siena, but I have been to San Gimignano and loved it.

Venice: You can easily spend a day just walking around Venice, and touring Dodges Palace as well as St. Marks. If you have time, you should take a boat ride to Burano, an island in the lagoon of Venice. The homes are painted different colours so the fishermen could find their homes at night when it was dark. It was very picturesque.

Rome: I went to Ostia during my first trip to Rome and enjoyed it. It’s not as big or as crowded as Pompeii, and it’s well preserved.

I loved Italy both times I was there, and will definitely go back again someday. I’m sure you will love t as well, regardless of what you tours you decide to take.


Etna


Burano

I didn’t use Viator in Italy. I just booked the optional tours offered by Trafalgar. I didn’t have any extra time in any cities during either of my Italy trips. When I go back to Italy again, I hope to fly into Florence early in order to have time to see some of the museums and walk the city. We didn’t spend enough time there on either of my Italy tours.

I booked Viator tours in Lisbon, Zurich, London and Athens, and didn’t have any issues except for in Zurich. For some reason, I decided to call to confirm my second Viator tour while in Zurich, and I’m glad I did, as they told me they were canceling the tour because they didn’t have enough people signed up for it. If I hadn’t called ahead of time, I would have went to the meeting point for nothing. None of my other tours have been cancelled.

Chech, there’s so much to see and do in Italy, you can’t do it all in one trip. Just pick what interests you the most, and you’ll just have to go back again someday to see the rest!

If you’re a pasta lover, like I am, they make this pasta dish with eggplant in Sicily that’s really good. You’ll have to try it when you’re there. Also ,the best pizza I had was while in Capri. One thing to note, pasta in Italy is not like it is in North America. It’s usually just pasta with tomato sauces that’s flavored with garlic, onions and spices. There’s no green peppers, mushrooms, or other veggies added, and there’s no spaghetti and meatballs (Italians eat their meat balls as a separate course). On both of my tours, North Americans kept asking for the spaghetti and meatballs, and were disappointed when they were told they weren’t going to get any. Some people were disappointed with the spaghetti sauce, and found is plain, but I loved it. We only had pasta with a cream sauce once, and I can’t remember the region. I do remember that I really liked it though, and that it was very tasty.

When we were in Italy a few years ago we took every opportunity to be in or near the water because it was so hot.  It was just a chance to cool off a bit.

I love the Italian sauce.  Having married into an Italian family I quickly learned to make fresh sauce. It's just lovely and, it's so easy to make.  No more Prego sauce for me!

Chech, sooo excited for you!!

Agreed with S & T, would definitely skip Pisa and rather go to San Gimignano (awesome gelato) and Siena.

Sorrento I would love to go back to, lots to see and walk around town.  Difficult choice between Capri (wonderful ferry ride from Sorrento) and Amalfi (Positano is beautiful), hope you can do both!!

Florence, my fav city in Italy, could stay there for a week!!

Yes, do a boat trip to Burano, have a wonderful seafood lunch (Ai Pescatori or Al Gatto Nero da Ruggero _ best voted Trip advisor)!!

Also do not miss the Rialto Market!!

Enjoy, much jealous, BUT will be doing Tuscany (Rome, Montecatini, Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, Pisa, Florence)  in July whohoo!!

No not at all, we are used to 41 Degrees Celsius (experiencing that now), would always love to go in June/July, as I can travel light, love the summer, not a winter's person, longer days ... and I know its more expensive and very busy in Europe that time... but that time of year is also my best time to travel workwise, as we have winter holidays and our season coming to a halt (apples and pears exporting) for 2-3 weeks.

I hope we can expect lots of pics and a great tale

chech, what tour are you doing? I'm sure you have most probably posted it somewhere and I have missed seeing it. 

Taormina, at night, is just the best place to watch the Etna, hope you have a good show when you go.