Traveling to Italy from September 25th through October 5th 2026. We are going with a group and will stay 3 nights in each city. Free time available one day in each city. Anything that is must see as far as restaurants and places to visit while we are there? Appreciate it.

I'll assume you have the big stuff taken care of.

If you're into religious art, there are several Caravaggio paintings in Rome. Most of them are in churches which are free to enter, I loved seeing those.

I think the Scavi tour in Rome is a must do.

Frascati vineyard, called Minardi, just outside of Rome is one of the oldest wine growing regions in Italy. They're a family owned multi gen winery that does unbelievable cooking classes with wine tastings.

Outside of Vesuvius and Pompeii there isn't a ton to do in Naples, but you're close enough to Sorrento to consider a day trip.


The best Gelato I had was in Assisi, Gelateria Leccapaletta Assisi. This is a great restaurant in Assisi: Le Terrazze di Properzio

play this when you get to Pompeii

Rome: I assume the big stuff is already on your list, but I highly recommend visiting Galleria Borghese if it's not on there. It's not real close Vatican City or the historical center of Rome so I think it often gets left off people's itineraries. It contains artwork from many of the masters including Bellini, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canova, Titian, Correggio, Bellini, Bernini, etc, including some very famous sculptures and paintings. it's been a few years since I've been, but last time I was there you had to get tickets for a specific hour, so you may need plan in advance.

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Outside of Vesuvius and Pompeii there isn't a ton to do in Naples, but you're close enough to Sorrento to consider a day trip.

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This advice is so wrong that the man giving it must be a Genoese!

Sorry, which part do you take exception to?

I should have used a winky face. I am pulling your leg. I am ethnically Neapolitan.

1. Naples is where you go to see Italian history before the birth of Christ.

2. Gino Sorbillo is incredible.

3. My favorite gelato shop in the world is Il Gelato Menella on the Piazza Dante.

I took my children to Rome and Florence to see great art. I took my children to Naples to teach them to be Italians.

I am a big fan of Naples, because it is a little more real and raw than most of what is going on in Rome or Florence. For similar reasons, in a different country, I prefer Ghent over Bruges.

That was my initial read and then I saw the thumbs down emoji and thought you were serious. Then you changed where I was supposed to be from a couple times and I was back to thinking you were joking but I'd already sent the reply.

Thanks for the Gelato rec. I have clients doing a day trip into town and will for sure add that to their itinerary!

Sorry. I am actually a little exhausted in Munich after taking my wife and kids down to Ehrwald today. We are hiking the Kofel tomorrow.

The Museo e Cripta dei Cappuccini in Rome is well worth a quick tour if you happen to be in the area. This crypt where the bones of the monks are kept is located under a famous church located on a nice tree-lines street not far from Rome's main train station. Do a quick online search for more info.

Don't go if anyone in your party easily gets the heebie-jeebies....

C

Any recommendations for a Vatican tour guide? Thanks!

Good time of year - cooler weather and smaller crowds!

Assisi is a great town, even if you're not a Catholic (I'm not) wowed by all the St. Francis stuff. Plenty of nearby Tuscan hill towns for day trips, too. I accidentally stumbled onto Texas A&M's campus in Castiliogne Fiorentino (sp?) on a random stop a few decades ago.

Easy day trips from Naples to Capri, Amalfi coast (Ravello being our favorite, but Positano, Amalfi also nice).

You just barely scratch the surface of Rome with 3 days, but don't overlook my favorite building in the world, the Pantheon - awesome history and engineering.

Juno said:

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Any recommendations for a Vatican tour guide? Thanks!

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We did the all day private guided tour in Rome

Througheternity.com

Best money I could have ever spent.

This is my favorite!

https://livtours.com/tours/semi-private-early-morning-vatican-tour/?_gl=1*800pcq*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQUSzrXiixCT34urKgO8CQ5oVH-7C8nB11daGddQgu68TKrGJ-WQtBGIaApJREALw_wcB

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Outside of Vesuvius and Pompeii there isn't a ton to do in Naples, but you're close enough to Sorrento to consider a day trip.

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I actually liked Naples. While dirty and chaotic compared to Rome/Florence I found it to be very interesting. The winding alleyways at which around any corner you could encounter some type of historic site was fun to explore. There's the underground and several castels to visit. Quartieri Spagnoli is lively, all the shops, and of course pizza which we had every day there.

Herculaneum is a town like Pompeii a bit closer to the coast. It is smaller but better preserved than Pompeii and is worth a couple of hours if you're already down there.

Out of my trip to Italy, Sorrento was the only place I wish I hadn't spent the time going to. A couple of hours of walking around, looking at shops selling lemon themed junk. Just waiting for our return ferry. One small museum there and a tiny beach. Would have picked somewhere else on the coast if I had a do over.

Just going to say that Pompeii was amazing and has to be a must see for any history fan.

In Rome, go see Mamertine Prison. Highly likely that both the apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned there. Very unique.

Easy to get tickets and not nearly as crowded as most historical sites.