Spending New Years in Rome
An Italian Holiday
Classically, New Year is not a favorite holiday of mine for several reasons. Perhaps it’s the expectation of expensive party dresses and heels during a time of year that I would rather be wearing flannel and snow boots, or maybe it’s the complications of transportation, drunk drivers, or what to do with your coat when you arrive at some overpriced booze fest?
A couple of years ago, my husband and I spent New Year in Austria (you can see more about that trip HERE) and we had an amazing experience without any of the aforementioned complications. For Christmas 2023 and New Year 23/24, we needed to distance ourselves from our normal lives (but that’s for a different kind of blog) and we decided to lean on our past experience by spending New Year once again in Europe.
What You Need To Know About Spending New Year in Rome
I don’t care what anyone else has said, if Rome isn’t the most tourist dense city in the world, it certainly felt that way. What I mean by that, is while other cities may actually receive more tourists per year, if the infrastructure of the city is prepared for those people, it may actually feel like less people, does that make sense? Not so with Rome. We were here from December 28th to January 3rd and were repeatedly told by various locals and tour guides that we had come at the right time of year because the crowds were so much smaller. If what I experienced during our time there was truly “low season,” I’m horrified to think what it must be like at any other time of year.
Most of these tips should be applicable for any time of year that you decide to visit Rome, but two are specific to New Year:
Book Everything in Advance
Any skip the line, “pre-opening” or “after hours” tour you can get your hands on is a must. You will spend SO MUCH TIME standing in lines if you don’t take the time to make these arrangements beforehand.
If you want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, go mid-day on New Years Eve (be sure to check the schedule online first) and attend a Vespers service officiated by the Pope himself (you can see more about our experience at this service and our tour of the Vatican HERE).
The fireworks show at Midnight in Rome is the most spectacular display I’ve seen anywhere in the world. Do yourself a favor, book an AirBnB or Hotel that has a rooftop from which you can watch the display, because being at street level is to rob yourself of something truly magical.
There’s a parade on New Years Day which starts mid/late afternoon. We went because we knew someone in the parade, but it’s not the kind of parade that has floats or showy displays, it’s was almost exclusively made of American high-school marching bands.
If you want to see a video about our New Year experience, you can see it HERE.
Other questions or Concerns? Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email!
Six Days in Rome - Vlog
How We Spent a Week in Rome
To read more details about how we spent our time in Rome, you can find my whole post HERE.
Spend A Week in Rome
Touring A Bucket List City
There are typically two kinds of kinds of people; those that travel and those that do not. Regardless of which travel camp you fall into, certain destinations will pass through the lips and land on some cosmic list of places worth seeing. It’s not that these places are necessarily better or more significant than other places it’s just simply that some places adopt an aura of importance in the minds of those who aren’t from those places, but I digress.
Rome is a “bucket list” city that (like many others) made its way onto my list. Serving as a pivotal place in human history, Rome (and Roman cultural history) is still commonly referenced in our modern society by way of sports teams, pizza restaurants, and feature films. It stands to reason that visiting Rome is akin to a right of passage for those who consider themselves as “travelers.”
St Peter’s Basilica
How Many Days Should Be Spent in Rome?
If you’ve been here long, you’ll probably know that I’m the queen of cramming places into our trips, repacking our bags every 2-3 days to move on to another location. I would like to say that the pace of travel is linked to your energy level (in some respects, it is), but the more I travel, the more I realize that to see anything, you must SLOW DOWN. What I mean by that is not do less, but move less. As I travel more, I am beginning to embrace the merits of doing day trips or a single organized activity per day. After all, it’s not the quantity of plans that makes for a good trip; it’s the quality of the experience that makes for a great trip.
Spending six days in any city may sound like enough, but days and cities are not all created equal. Having just returned from spending New Year in Rome, I almost have to laugh when I try to conceptualize “seeing Rome in 3 days,” which is a roughly average allotment of time for us in the past. Do yourself a favor and follow a general rule of thumb, I recommend that you make a list of what you want to see and if the number of places matches the number of days (assuming one per day) you plan to be there, you’ll be on the right track, if not, good luck.
When in Rome…
To say that Rome is a “big city” is an understatement, it may be nicknamed the Eternal City for more lofty reasons, but it also feels appropriate for its sheer size. Like a bowl of spaghetti, the streets twist and tangle in a seemingly endless maze that eventually runs you into a church, historical monument, or piazza. I can’t stress enough the importance of wearing supportive shoes.
During of six-day stay in Rome, we toured the following sites which I’m ranking from Most Enjoyable to Least. My score is a combination of my enjoyment of the site itself and the experience of the tour itself (getting tickets, the crowds, etc.):
Castel Sant'Angelo (Also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian)
Inexpensive “skip the line” tickets, low crowds, fascinating architecture, rewarding views of Rome from the top.
The Pantheon
Inexpensive timed entry tickets, impressive architecture, and the quick nature of which it can be visited and seen in the entirety.
The Vatican Museums
Regardless of how you might feel about religion or the Pope, the Vatican museums are a breathtaking 'Must-see.' However, do yourself a favor and book a skip-the-line tour (make sure it includes access to St. Peter’s Basilica) either first thing when they open or late at night, when the crowds will take your breath away for a different reason.
Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, & The Roman Forum
All three of these sites are close together and are outside, so you’ll enjoy the park-like setting where you can reach out and touch history. The crowds are also minimal, so it’s someplace where you can take your time and enjoy some personal space.
The Colosseum
Probably the most iconic ruin in the world, no trip to Rome would be complete without seeing the Colosseum. However, seeing it and touring it are very different beats. We purchased Skip the Line tickets for touring both the basement and upper decks. One would like to believe that skip-the-line tickets mean that you skip the line, but the sheer number of tourists at this time meant that our skip-the-line tour was twenty minutes late by the time we navigated the line for such groups. The trouble with our delay is that groups entering the basement of the Colosseum have set times and are only sent down one group at a time. Fortunately, we were still allowed in, but we were rushed through every stage of our tour to get back on track, a reality which my husband can attest that I was NOT a fan of. Not to put too fine a point on it, but our tour guide told us that 80 million tourists visited the Colosseum that year (2023). As a reminder, we were there during the low season.
Other Activities and Places
As with any big city, there is much more than just museums and tours. While not exhaustive, here are a few things I enjoyed (in no particular order):
Visit the Jewish Quarter
The history here is heartbreaking but the resilience of the community that lives here is beautiful. There are charming shops, bakeries, and restaurants that serve Jewish Style Artichoke Hearts (trying one these should be on your “Not To Miss” list.
Take a break from the city and visit one of the many outlying vineyards, neighboring cities, or historical sites. Thanks to the speedy trains, there’s no shortage of reachable destinations within a day. We took a day trip to a family owned winery located just outside of Rome.
Pompeii
Florence
In Summary
Rome belongs on the bucket lists, but it’s a place to see thoroughly once and then not again. I feel privileged to have seen the sites, but in the way that certain places touch a places in your heart or capture your imagination, Rome did not yield this result for me. Glad I went but equally glad to cross it off the list.
To see some video footage of our time in Rome, please click HERE.
Top 10 Reasons To Visit Northern Italy
Ten Quick Tips
Italy is not short on things to do, places to see, and things to try, but here’s my top ten favorite things about my time in Northern Italy.
Lake Como, Italy
(Click image for more about my time spent around Lake Como)
#1. Lake Como
Romance.
Milan, Italy
#2. Duomo di Milano
Massive, majestic, and worth a viewing, the floors of this cathedral are some of my favorite of any of the cathedrals I’ve toured in Europe.
Everywhere in Italy
#3. Cappuccino
My husband was proud of NOT being a coffee drinker prior to our visit to Italy, however, the cappuccino’s in Italy brought him over to the dark side ;)
Everywhere in Italy
#4. High-speed Trains
Train travel in Italy is a breeze and help make visiting multiple cities a snap!
Burano, Italy
#5. Burano Italy
A small island off the coast of Venice, Burano is known as the “lace” island, but should be known for it’s picture perfect color pallet. Spend a day visiting both Burano and Murano, and don’t forget your camera!
Everywhere in Italy
#6. The Cannoli
While available in lots of places at home, there’s something validating about having one in Italy.
Venice, Italy
(Click the image for more about my time in Venice)
#7. The Doge’s Palace
Infinitely easier to get into than St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s palace is history rich, and well worth a half-day.
Venice, Italy
#8. Cafe Lavena
Venice is packed with tourists during the day due to the cruise ship passengers, but sitting out in from of Cafe Lavena in the evening while listening to live music and sipping a beverage or eating a sweet treat as the sun sets… it doesn’t get much better.
Bologna, Italy
(Click image for more information about my time in Bologna)
#9. Le due Torri (The Two Towers)
Bologna is a hidden gem in Italy. Largely overlooked by tourists, Bologna is a slice of authentic Italian life, mixed with the energy of being a college town, and some of the best food we ate in all of Italy!
Everywhere in Italy
#10. Caprese Salad
Unlike the pasta heavy way that Americans approach Italian food, pasta was not the center of attention at any of the restaurants we visited. Consistently available was personal pizza, caprese salad, cured meats, and other delightful things. Given the heat, I practically lived on caprese salad while we were there, because it was refreshing and light.
Questions of Comments? Leave me a note below!
Milan Italy Vlog
A lightning fast trip to Milan Italy
Serving as both our starting and ending location for our tour of Northern Italy, Milan deserves more time than we had to spend there. Take a look at what we were able to do while there, and tour the Duomo di Milano with us!
Questions or Comments? Leave them below!!
Three days in Venice
There’s a lot of reasons the make Venice a special place to visit, and there’s a lot of reasons why you’ll probably only go once. Love it or hate it, it’s a very special city that is in rapidly escalating danger of disappearing due to climate change, so better go see it before it’s gone.
Like a right of passage, a visit to Venice should be on your to-do list.
There are a lot of reasons why Venice is a special place to visit, and there are also a lot of reasons why you’ll probably only go once. Love it or hate it, it’s a very special city that is in rapidly escalating danger of disappearing due to climate change, so better go see it before it’s gone.
The final train stop on our tour around northern Italy, Venice was one of my most favorite arrivals in all of my European travels. Arriving via high-speed train, we emerged from the Venezia-Santa Lucia station, and were met with immediate views of the magic that is Venice. As campy as that may sound, it’s how I felt. There’s no place like Venice, and it’s evident from the very first glimpse at it.
Venice, feels “reality adjacent.”
The island of Venice, is plagued by tourists arriving on large cruise ships, which drop anchor just off shore each day. Throngs of tour groups invade each morning, creating multi hour long lines to get into attractions like St Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile bell tower, and the Rialto Bridge. If you hope to see either of those attractions, which are also both located in the heavily congested St. Marks Square, I recommend that you reserve tickets in advance.
That said, around five o’clock, the sea of tourists begins to recede, as they return to the massive ships from which they arrived, as well the tourists that chose to stay on the mainland side of Venice, in the chain hotels. The world quiets down considerably, and the city takes on an heir of romance.
Speaking of the mainland vs. the island, there are pluses and minuses to each option, in terms of where you choose to stay during your time in Venice. Staying on the island itself is much more expensive than on the mainland, and the possibility of your stay turning soggy, is very high. Additionally, the island is NOT for night owls, as everything shuts down around 10pm.
However, the mainland is just a short water taxi ride away from the island, and there are more entertainment and accommodation options available at more affordable prices.
We were of the mindset that we were there to experience the famous floating city, and set aside the more familiar amenities for the few days that we would have the option of doing so. Always on the hunt for ways to stretch our dollars while still achieving our authenticity goals, however, we found a charming little (and I stress “little”) hotel just a short distance from St. Mark’s Square, called Hotel Lisbona that fit the brief.
It’s packed with tourists, the lines are super long, and everything shuts down early, so what do you do?
The good news, is that there’s still a ton of stuff to do, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot. Navigating the island of Venice is like being a marble in one of those puzzle games that you roll around, and you just have to be comfortable with being “lost” most of the time. However, wandering around the tiny winding paths is where you’ll discover the shops, craftsmen, and galleries that you’ll remember about your time spent there.
So try not to over plan your days.
If a tour is still on your to-do list, I recommend visiting the Doge’s Palace, which despite being located immediately next to St Mark’s Basilica, is not nearly the tourist destination that its neighbor is, and is also fascinating and beautiful. In fact, we were able to get tickets and enter within fifteen minutes of arriving at the entrance.
But wait, there’s more!?
Did you know that there are other islands neighboring Venice? I know I sure didn’t, but just a short water taxi ride away are the islands of Murano and Burano. *Tip: Water taxi drivers frequently go on strike, which can have a crippling affect on your plans while in Venice. However, the strikes are usually semi-scheduled. Be sure to ask the staff at your hotel or a local shop about any known dates regarding strikes so that you can plan your visit to these islands accordingly.
Unfortunately for us, the day we had set aside to visit both of these islands, the water taxi’s were on strike, which was a real kink in our slinky. But we were able to visit one of them the following day, prior to another previously scheduled event.
With only the option to visit one island, we chose Burano due to the transportation time it takes to get from Venice. Burano is a quaint little place with brightly painted homes, and is known for it's fishermen and lace makers. It won’t take you much time at all to see the entirety of Burano and while it was great, I would recommend visiting Murano to anyone that has the extra time.
If you still need something more, consider the Opera.
On our final night in Venice, we attended a performance of La Traviata, at Teatro la Fenice (Venice Opera House). The theater is stunning, tickets were reasonable due to having booked well in advance, and was truly one of the highlights of our time in Italy as a whole. I would encourage you to plan a special activity on every trip.
It was great while it lasted, but now it’s time to head home and start wedding planning!
Do you have questions or need advice? Comment below!
Italy - Part 4 of 4
Bologna, Not Just For Sandwiches
Bologna feels like a “slice” of authentic Italy
Ham or cheese, anything else is simply not Italian
What a bunch of Bologna
Neighbor to Florence, Bologna was a thoroughly delightful surprise and unexpected foodie haven. In many respects a college town, Bologna felt like a slice of authentic Italian life (pun intended), away from the tourist-centric stores and hoards of sightseers.
It was here that we rented a tiny Airbnb, which was located on one of the many streets restricted to foot traffic by day, but at night, transformed by cafes and shops. So surprising was the transformation, that we had difficulty finding our way back again on the first evening of our stay.
That said, this is a city that enjoys food, and was the natural place to have my first authentic cannoli, which did not disappoint.
Here’s a medium funny, “lost in translation” food story for you. One afternoon, we stopped at a random sidewalk cafe for lunch, and I ordered a ham sandwich (a staple item that I knew how to order). However, when the stated sandwich arrived (as shown below), I immediately had serious questions that I didn’t know how to ask in Italian. Turns out, we were at a vegan restaurant, and this was their version of a ham sandwich.
Friends that travel together, climb stairs together.
At least that’s the case when you visit Bologna. Among the things which this city is known for, are the leaning towers, and no, they aren’t like another famous leaning tower in Italy.
The “Two Towers,” or Le due Torri, are but two of multiple medieval towers of their kind, the Garisenda and Asinelli towers (named by the rival families that built them) are simply the most famous.
Not for the faint of heart, a climb to the top of the Asinelli Tower, will involve 498, narrow wooden stairs, which lead you to the rooftop. The views are truly memorable, but unbeknownst to us at the time we decided to make the climb, one of our friends was extremely afraid of heights and enclosed spaces. With that in mind, this activity is NOT for everybody.
What goes up, must come down.
Much to the relief of our elevation phobic friend, with feet firmly planted on the ground, celebratory drinks were in order.
On a train headed to Venice, accompanied by none other than a ham and cheese sandwich.
Do you have questions or need advice? Comment below!
Italy - Part 3 of 4
Lake Como Is Engaging
Did you ever watch that show, “Life Styles of The Rich and Famous?” Places and spaces so glamorous that they couldn’t possibly be real, or accessible to a regular person like myself. At least that’s what I used to think.
If it’s good enough for George Clooney, it’s good enough for me.
Did you ever watch that show, “Life Styles of The Rich and Famous?” Places and spaces so glamorous that they couldn’t possibly be real, or accessible to a regular person like me. At least that’s what I used to think.
Located in the northwest Lombardy region of Italy, just a couple of hours by train from Milan (and a very short bus ride). Lake Como is an upscale lake community, known for dramatic scenery, glamorous villas, and set against the foothills of the Alps.
Scattered along the banks of this stunning lake, are tiny villages which are largely UN-accessible by car, but are connected by a series of water-taxis. It won't take you long before you’ll notice the absence of car noise, and start feeling your entire body start to say, “I could get used to this.”
Travel by bus to Bellagio on Lake Como
Arrival in Bellagio, our home on Lake Como for the next few days.
Heaven on earth, or the home of James Bond villains?
The beauty of this place just doesn’t stop. We stayed in the aptly named “Hotel Bellagio” (try not to think about the hotel in Las Vegas), and spent our days eating gelato and boating around the lake to neighboring towns… you should checkout Varenna if you plan to visit the area. P.S. it is possible to see George Clooney’s house while crossing the lake.
Some things to know:
This isn’t the least expensive place to visit, due to its isolation. You’ll not find chain hotels to use your points at, and if you want to stay near the water, expect to pay a premium. That said, there is a range of prices, and you’ll spend very little time in whatever room you do decide to book, so follow your heart, but try to remember that you’re here for the lake and prioritize location over hotel amenities.
There aren’t cars in the lake communities for a reason. Hills. You will rarely have a flat piece of ground to walk on, so footwear needs to be chosen for practical use. Leave the cute shoes at home ladies, and opt for strappy sandals and ballet flats.
“I villa be back!”
Terrible puns aside, there’s no shortage of amazing homes along the shores, which are open to the public for tours. One of these homes (while we didn’t get a chance to go ourselves), is Villa del Balbianello, which was used as a backdrop in Star Wars episode ll, Attack of The Clones.
However, we spent an afternoon gazing in amazement at the Villa Carlotta, and surrounding gardens and didn’t feel like we missed out on anything.
My life changed forever…
During one of our outings around the lake, my partner of four years, finally popped the big question. I can’t imagine a more perfect place to have experienced that beautiful moment.
The ring is a family heirloom, which I’ll proudly be the third woman in the family to wear.
Cruising on our water taxi back to Bellagio, as a newly engaged couple!
Next stop, Bologna!
Do you have questions or need advise? Comment below!
Italy - Part 2 of 4
Milan, The Gateway to Italian Gelato
Flight deals and hotel points, just add romantic destination and you’ll have a recipe for vacation success!
Tiny cappuccinos, Caprese salads, and all the wine you could want
just some of what Italy has to offer
For some, the process of deciding where to go, once you know that you’re ready to go “abroad,” can feel daunting. On the flip side, there can be SO many places that you want to go, it can feel impossible to narrow it down to a single country. However, Italy is one of those places that even a seasoned traveler, would have a difficult time passing up an opportunity to visit, and when a really good flight deal presents itself, one needs only to say “Si!”
Our Italy story begins early in the year, when Emirates Airlines, runs their Valentine's Day specials. *Tip, for those of us that don’t live near to a major international airport, it can often be much more cost-effective, to fly to another city, and then jump across the pond from there. Emirates sometimes offers 2 for 1 flight deals, and while you may be able to find more traditional flight deals for the same or even less cost, I GUARANTEE that the flight experience won't be as nice as the coach experience on an Emirates flight.
For the price of $850, for two people (you heard me right, $425 pp), we flew round-trip from New York to Milan Italy, and we redeemed Southwest points to fly from Kansas City to New York, so it was a win-win for us. I would encourage you to sign-up for their email, so you can take advantage of this, and their other promotions.
I don’t have any photos from our flight, but it was the most elegant flight experience I’ve ever had! The flight crew was amazing, the seats were roomy and comfortable (even in coach), and the food was served with linen napkins and chilled silverware…better than some restaurant experiences.
There are a few train options to get from the airport to center of Milan, we chose the slower and cheaper option which took around an hour, but helped ease the chaos of arrival and allowed us to collect ourselves and game plan for next steps.
Milan is GORGEOUS! Also, if you’re not a coffee drinker when you arrive, you’ll be one by the time you leave.
Points are a travelers best friend.
The most expensive part of traveling isn’t the flights, it’s the accommodations. Despite the variety of affordable options available that can significantly reduce this particular pain point, there is still a benefit to nice hotels, which is priceless when travel weary.
Loyalty points are a lifesaver where hotels are concerned. To this end, I recommend putting all of your eggs in one basket where hotel chains are concerned and take advantage of available multipliers that may be offered. For us, Marriott is where it’s at, and point redemption has allowed us to stay in hotels MUCH nicer than what we could otherwise afford.
With that in mind, stumbling off of an overnight flight, groggy, in need of a shower, and luggage in tow, a nice hotel that can easily be found and has a staff that’s ready to assist you when you’re not thinking clearly, is the best way to arrive in a new place. Arriving at the Boscolo Milano was like having someone give you a glass of cold water on a hot summer day, and then offer to think for you. I struggle with decision making, until after I’ve been able to shower and change my clothes, so the fewer hoops I have to jump through after my flight lands, the better.
UPDATE: The Boscolo Milano is now the Palazzo Matteotti Milan
What trip to Milan would be complete without a visit to the Duomo?
Our time in Milan was very limited, but it would be remiss to visit such a city and not pay homage to at least one of the jewels in its crown. Fortunately for us, the Duomo di Milano was just a short walk from our hotel. Unfortunately, it was pouring down rain, and the line to get inside was more than an hour-long, but the floor by itself, was more than worth the wait!
View of the Duomo from our hotel rooftop.
With our feet firmly planted on the Italian soil, and a lovely day and a half in Milan under our belts, we’re ready for our next destination, Lake Como.
Do you have questions or need advice? Comment below!
Italy - Part 1 of 4