Italy Early July

Hi Anna, I am not sure most posters on here will be much use in terms of night life tips for a person in their mid 20s. We run a little older on this site. If you want to head south have a look at Tropea. Ticks the good beach, good food box. I can't vouch for the nightlife though! I would also suggest you consider Sicily.

The Amalfi Coast is also an option and i am sure you would enjoy the night life. It is very spectacular, although I don't rate the beaches very highly (we have much better in Australia!).

You may want to spend your days in Rome at the end of your trip rather than at the beginning. I would spend the time in Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Salerno or Paestum (not much nightlife as I recall but there's a beach), maybe continue down the coast as far as you like (I love Tropea but it's a long trip). Keep in mind the time it will take you to get back to Rome if you travel by train/bus. Another alternative to going further down the coast is to spend some time in Matera, it's a fascinating place with good opportunities for hiking as well as visiting the Sassi, the old center of town. I have a B&B recommendation near the Sassi if you are interested. You would have to go from Salerno or Naples to Bari and then take the regionale train or a bus to Matera (same for return to Naples or Rome).

Nightlife recommendations are probably better in Lonely Planet.

Hi Anna!

I am a mid 20-something traveler who did Italy a few years ago (and for what it's worth I LOVE Rick's site). I had a similar agenda except I went to language school for 3 weeks. But when I wasn't studying Italian I was into relaxing, drinking, wine tasting, going to the beach, etc... I also flew to Sicily and took a train up the coast.

One thing I can say is that you must adapt to the Italian dinner schedule. To do this, when your American stomach starts growling at 4 or 5 hit the bar for an apertivo. You can order a cocktail and they will bring you little sandwiches, cheese and crackers, olives etc for the price of the drink... It will make it very easy to wait until 8 or 9 to eat dinner.

The wine is cheap. My first day I forgot how to use the metric system and ordered like a carafe of wine for myself for like the equivalent of 5 American dollars. Whoops... I guess paying attention in math class is overrated after all.

My favorite cocktail is a spritz (Aperol or Campari...Aperol is more popular). It's an orange flavored liquor (not too sugary sweet, a little tangy) with prosecco and ice cubes. Great for summer!

If you are looking for a Roman neighborhood before you depart for the beach, Trastevere is awesome. It's a great university town and a place for 20-something renters. It's full of charm and night life and away from the intensity of the Roman tourist center.

Otherwise, enjoy the train ride. It's stunning. Don't forget to validate your ticket (or pay a hefty fine.... unless you're me and cry and apologize profusely in Italian).

Buon viaggio!!!

Lots of people come to this site asking for suggestions and say they would like to visit places in Italy where they could enjoy wine, good food and commingle with locals.

What are we supposed to say?

Is there a corner in Italy where you cannot find wine? They make it even in the Alps where it's too high up to grow grapes! Likewise with food. Is there a region in Italy where food is nasty? I can't think of any. I'm glad at least you didn't ask where to find the locals.

Beaches. Italy has 8,000 km of coastline (5000 miles). I can't think of a coastal region that doesn't have some beautiful coastal spot. Maybe the coast of Veneto or the Romagna are not the top of my list. But the former has Venice and the latter the best nightlife. The best beaches, IMO, are in the islands, particularly Sardinia, but also all others, including the smaller ones. To the south of Rome, the Amalfi coast has some beautiful spots, beaches are small and pebbly there. The Cilento has great spots too. Calabria or Maratea in Basilicata are great, but far. Same with Apulia (Gargano, Tremiti islands, Salento coast), great but far.

Every seaside location will have nightlife in summer. But obviously the bigger the place the larger the crowd. Cities like Rome, Naples, Florence, etc. have plenty of nightlife too, even though not necessarily beach locations.

Salerno would be GREAT for nightlife if you wanted to visit all the area surrounding the Amalfi Coast.....not the prettiest beaches, but maybe Cetara or Vietri (a short bus ride from the historic center of Salerno)......its not as touristy, but it is a city....they have a gorgeous seawalk that is about a mile to just sit and enjoy people watching....

I'd love to recommend a place to eat at in Rome. It was right near our hotel, exactly over the metro station Cornelia, it's called Gustosando, pretty cheap and they have great cuisine and house wine. And please, don't forget to at least check out the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, they are worth the time.

I'd love to recommend a place to eat at in Rome. It was right near our hotel, exactly over the metro station Cornelia, it's called Gustosando, pretty cheap and they have great cuisine and house wine. And please, don't forget to at least check out the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, they are worth the time.