Best of Italy in 17 days - tips needed on freetime

Posted by norcalwind on 09/02/26 01:50 AM

Greetings Fellow Travelers!

We're getting really excited as we will be starting our Rick Steve's Best of Italy Tour in 17 days in 2 weeks (Sept 18 - Oct 5). As I read through the itinerary, and was trying to plan out our freetime, I found there were a few questions that popped up, so am looking for advice from anyone who may have taken this tour before. I've tried to list out the specific questions I have based upon the location, but it there's anything you'd like to add that you feel would be helpful, I'd appreciate any advice.

Venice - Does RS provide tickets for the Vaparetto's? or will be need to purchase online or when we arrive?

Dolomites - Staying in Castlerotto/Kastleruth. We were thinking of using our free day and hoping on a local bus (#172) and heading to Ortesie, taking the tram and gondola to the top then doing a 5-7mile moderate hike around Seceda.
Alternatively we were think of going south to Suisi and taking the cable car up to Alpe di Suisi and hiking up there.

We're wondering if RS provides any tickets for bus/cable/tram, or if we should purchase ahead of time?

I've read that the group does everything together here. Is this true or do we truely have time on our own?

Florence - Anything tickets we should consider purchasing ahead of time? Does RS provide entry to the Cathedral & Accademia Gallery? I'm assuming since we'll be emerced in the Uffuzi that these tickets are included in the RS tour.
Any thoughts about good non-touristy restaurants near hotel Villa Steno? What about the central market vs Sant' Ambrogio Market for dinner or a picnic?

Cinque Terre - Staying in Monterosso. Does RS provide tickets for both days on the trains? What about the hiking trails? Ferries?
It's out 40th anniversary so any help with a nice restaurant with great fresh fish and a view would be appreciated. Doesn't necessarily need to be in Monterosso, but closer than further out would be better for getting home :)

Siena - I haven't done much exploring in Siena, so any helpful tips for sites, and views, that is not on the tour would be good.

Rome - Will be here for 3 days. Staying in Trastevere. Will RS provide tickets to Palentine Hill/Roman Forum/Colosseum? Sounds like we'll just be seeing the outside of the Colosseum on tour, but thougth I'd check.

We'll be there on Oct 4 (first Sunday) when many sites are free, but I'm wondering if there is anything not on the tour that we should go super early and stand in line for or stay away and take an easy non major site walk around? I'm 2 days away from possibly getting tix for the Colosseum/Domus Aurea so I'm going to see how that works out.

Thanks in advanced for any helpful tips.

Posted by Roberta

Washington state

09/26/26 10:18 PM

20 posts

It has been 9 years since we went on that tour but these are some of the things we did on our free time:
Venice: went to the Correr Museum first and bought tickets for it and the more crowded Doge's Palace.
Went to the terrace (free) of the former German Exchange for a great view.
Florence: Went to the Bargello museum. It isn't open every day so check when you can fit it in. Well worth it.
Went to Pitti Palace and the gardens (great views of Florence from the gardens).
Don't miss Santa Croce. Many famous tombs inside (Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo.... Great paintings and frescoes and information on the various floods.
Cinque Terre We took the train to the farthest town and gradually came back via train towards our town (Monterosso). We had bought the combo rail pass/national park pass for the day. By the time we got back to Vernazza (the next town from us) the day trip crowd had flooded the rails. We could barely move to leave the train station. We ended up walking back to Monterosso on a very pleasant path which was officially closed due to recent rains but everyone was walking on it. It took 2 1/2 leisurely hours.
Orvieto We were there for the day. Does the tour still go there? You can only get into the underground area on a tour but the only tours from the booth we went to were in Italian. We went anyway. There was an English tour that we lurked near to glean some information.
Rome Highly recommend going to Castel Sant'Angelo. We had the Roma Pass of which this was covered.
We stayed after the tour and had arranged from home to attend a Wednesday Papal Audience where the Pope arrives in St. Peter's Square and gives a homily. Well worth it. We arrived early and managed to get 2nd row seats
We also got tickets from home for the Borghese Gallery. Don't miss that one. All tickets are timed so it wasn't very crowded.
We went to the National Museum of Rome as well as it's branch at the Palazzo Massimo. Well worth it and doesn't require advance reservations. Ditto for Musei Capitolini and Diocletian Baths. The Basilica di santa Maria degli Angeli dei Martiri was designed by Michelangelo and built inside the walls of the Baths.
Finally, the Capuchin Crypts. All the rooms were decorated with various bones.
We stayed extra days in Rome as there is so much to see.
We went to Pompeii on our own after the tour (took the train from Rome for the day).

Like others said, check with the Rick Steves' office if you have questions in particular about what is covered. They are very responsive to emails.

Have a wonderful time!