rick steves travel tips italy

• Smaller Text Larger Text
• Home / 

Destination: Italy

The tour du mont blanc: some tips i learned along the way.

At 66, I felt a bit like the father of the hiking community when I hiked around Mont Blanc earlier this fall. But the Tour du Mont Blanc is doable for any reasonably fit hiker, and there were plenty of people on the trail who were older than me.

For total novices like Shelley and me, it’s wise to be proactive about health and safety. Here are some tips I learned along the way:

Good boots, liner socks, slippery powder, and moleskin for tender skin are essential. We kind of became gear geeks — investing in good day bags (Osprey), woolen clothes (socks, underwear, shirts), and great hiking shoes. I was never so thankful for a wool cap in Europe.

I was skeptical about a lot of “good ideas,” but two things I eventually appreciated were a daily baggie of trail mix and my metal water bottle. (I complained about its steep $40 price tag…but soon came to recognize it was a great value).

I must say, if the weather turned bad and it rained hard, I think much of the trail would become no fun at all. In fact, it would be dangerous. Hiking poles are essential, and even in perfect weather, I would have been worried about a stumble without my own trusty set.

Eat a solid breakfast. The one day we had breakfast with no protein, climbing was tougher.

Put on sunscreen, even if the weather’s bad.

After learning my lesson on other long hikes, I decided to be religious about stretching on the Tour du Mont Blanc from the start. I had a routine of six stretches and spent time throughout the day making sure I didn’t tighten up. Very important!

Don’t be a hero. If skin is getting hot, wrap it up. I did the entire TMB hike without a blister — and then just got one on purpose in the last two hours.

Good gear, smart and proactive ways to stay healthy, stretching, and taking it easy… it all worked just great.

I’ll be sharing more photos, stories, and tips from Mont Blanc on the Nov. 29 edition of Monday Night Travel. Want to come along?  Register now  for this fun — and free! — event.

Taking it Easy on the Tour du Mont Blanc

While the Tour du Mont Blanc is demanding, it’s not a particularly difficult hike. It’s just long, with lots of altitude gain and loss, and always scenic. On my recent trek around the mountain with three friends, it seemed each of us had a weak spot: knees, toes, or lungs. For some, the challenge was the uphill part, and for others (with weak knees), it was going downhill. We just took it easy, with lots of little breaks.

For long climbs, steady, smaller steps are best. The trail could be really rocky, and I can’t imagine doing it without hiking poles. The trail signs were great, and apps made staying on the trail easy: Just follow the blue dot. And I got good use out of a top-quality printed map. (I’d spend time the night before reading up on the hike and familiarizing myself with the trail on the map.)

While the weather forecast looked threatening, we hiked six days (in September, during the last week of the season) and, thankfully, had only one hour of rain. Still, each day we’d pack rain gear, and we’d add on and take off layers as we gained and lost altitude. After four days, we had it sorted out, and it occurred to us rank beginners, “We’re getting good at this.”

As we were hiking in a big circle around a big clump of mountains and sleeping in charming towns each night, every day seemed to be up and over a daunting mountain pass. A nightly treat was a stroll under a milky blanket of stars.

I’ll be sharing more photos, stories, and tips from Mont Blanc on the Nov. 29 edition of Monday Night Travel. Want to come along? Register now for this fun — and free! — event. 

The Mont Blanc Esprit de Corps

Hiking Europe’s Tour du Mont Blanc was a totally different slice of European culture for me: Coming upon a remote farmhouse-turned-thriving-cafe serving wonderful lunches…flowers and cows (with classic bells) scenically sprinkled throughout…and an esprit de corps where everyone is like family.

As nearly everyone hikes in the same direction (counter-clockwise), you become friends with fellow hikers. It seemed like half the people on the trail were from the US, and I met lots of Seattleites.

And in the interest of hiking light, lunches were very simple — just a sandwich from the hotel, maybe a carrot, a piece of fruit, and water. But upon reaching the mid-day summit, lunch was a marmot’s banquet. (Speaking of marmots, we saw no wildlife except a couple of mice that had been squished under hiking boots on the trail.)

The Best Hike of my Life: The Tour du Mont Blanc

Earlier this fall, four of us — total novices at long-distance treks — hiked around Europe’s highest mountain. (On the first day, big birds of prey circled high overhead. My hunch: They were vultures just waiting for one of us to drop.)

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 100-mile, ten-day hike — but we cheated a bit, hiking the best 60 miles in six days from mountain lodge to mountain lodge, catching local buses through the less exciting parts, and letting a “sherpa service” shuttle our bags each day through France, Italy, and Switzerland, from Chamonix to Chamonix.

This was the first time I’d enjoyed a slice of Europe with my girlfriend Shelley, and we were joined by Sue and David from Minnesota. (I’ve worked with David Preston for 20 years at TPT – Twin Cities PBS . In the public television world, he’s considered the “pledge drive guru.”)

Each day, we’d hike what the trail signs said would be a five-hour hike — that took us six or seven.  Our mantra: “Take our time. This is why we’re here.” Generally, the day would start at a 3,000-foot climb to a pass (or “col”) 8,000 feet above sea level. Each col was a little triumph, with its cairn of rocks arranged in a pile, dramatic weather blowing across, commanding views, and congratulatory selfies.

Part of our pre-trip training was taking steep hikes closer to home. As a typical day’s climb on the TMB is a thousand meters (or roughly 3,000 feet), I’d recommend choosing a practice hike with a 3,000-foot elevation gain so you can use it as a reference point. Ours in Washington State was the Mount Si trail. We even had a term for a 3,000-foot altitude gain: “a Mount Si.”

Siena: Italy’s Medieval Soul

I believe a regular dose of travel dreaming can be good for the soul. Stow away with me to Siena, Italy, in this excerpt from my book For the Love of Europe , a collection of 100 of my favorite places, people, and stories from a lifetime of European travels.  

Stretched across a Tuscan hill, Siena offers perhaps Italy’s best medieval experience. Courtyards sport flower-decked wells, churches modestly share their art, and alleys dead-end into red-tiled rooftop panoramas. This is a city made for strolling. With its stony skyline and rustic brick lanes tumbling every which way, the town is an architectural time warp, where pedestrians rule and the present feels like the past.   

Today, the self-assured Sienese remember their centuries-old accomplishments with pride. In the 1300s, Siena was one of Europe’s largest cities and a major military force, in a class with Florence, Venice, and Genoa. But weakened by a disastrous plague and conquered by its Florentine rivals, Siena became a backwater — and it’s been one ever since. Siena’s loss became the traveler’s gain as its political and economic irrelevance preserved its Gothic identity.   

This is most notable in Il Campo, where I begin my stroll. At the center of town, this great shell-shaped piazza, featuring a sloped red-brick floor fanning out from the City Hall tower, is designed for people, offering the perfect invitation to loiter. Il Campo immerses you in a world where troubadours stroke guitars, lovers stroke one another’s hair, and bellies become pillows. It gets my vote for the finest piazza in all of Europe.   

Most Italian cities have a church on their main square, but Il Campo gathers Siena’s citizenry around its City Hall with its skyscraping municipal tower. Catching my breath after climbing to the dizzy top of the 100-yard-tall bell tower, I survey the view and think of the statement this campanile made. In Siena, kings and popes took a back seat to the people, as it was all about secular government, civic society, and humanism.  

The public is welcome inside the City Hall where, for seven centuries, instructive frescoes have reminded all of the effects of good and bad government. One fresco shows a utopian republic, blissfully at peace; the other fresco depicts a city in ruins, overrun by greed and tyranny.  

But the Church still has its place. If Il Campo is the heart of Siena, the Duomo is its soul — and my next destination. A few blocks off the main square, sitting atop Siena’s highest point and visible for miles around, this white- and dark-green-striped cathedral is as ornate as Gothic gets. Inside and out, it’s lavished with statues and mosaics. The stony heads of nearly 2,000 years of popes — that’s over 170 so far — ring the interior, peering down from high above on all those who enter.  

Great art, including statues carved by Michelangelo and Bernini, fills the church interior. Nicola Pisano carved the exquisite marble pulpit in 1268. It’s crowded with delicate Gothic storytelling. I get up close to study the scenes from the life of Christ and the Last Judgment.  

Trying to escape the crowds in the cathedral and on the main square, I venture away from the city center. I get lost on purpose in Siena’s intriguing back streets, studded with iron rings for tethering horses and lined with colorful flags. Those flags represent the city’s contrade (neighborhoods), whose fierce loyalties are on vivid display twice each summer during the Palio, a wild bareback horse race that turns Il Campo into a thrilling and people-packed racetrack.  

Wandering further into the far reaches of the city, I’m tempted by Sienese specialties in the shops along the way: gourmet pasta, vintage Chianti, boar prosciutto, and the city’s favorite treat: panforte.  

Panforte is Siena’s claim to caloric fame. This rich, chewy concoction of nuts, honey, and candied fruits impresses even fruitcake haters. Local bakeries claim their recipe dates back to the 13th century. Some even force employees to sign nondisclosure agreements to ensure they won’t reveal the special spice blend that flavors their version of this beloved — and very dense — cake.  

A key to enjoying Siena is to imagine it in its 14th-century heyday while taking advantage of today’s modern scene. After chewing on a chunk of that panforte, I decide to linger here into the evening, after the tour groups have boarded their buses and left town. I duck into a bar for aperitivo (happy hour), which includes a free buffet and now I’m primed and ready to join the passeggiata — an evening stroll. I time my arrival back at Il Campo to savor that beautiful twilight moment when the sky is a rich blue dome, no brighter than the proud Siena towers that seem to hold it high.  

How to avoid eating like a tourist in Italy, according to Rick Steves

Why you should skip the mounds of colorful gelato and more from the europe travel expert.

Our bookshelves are filling up with Italian vacation inspiration . This year, author Katie Parla debuted the “ Food of the Italian Islands ” cookbook, which will tempt you to book a trip to Sardinia and Sicily, and Maria Pasquale released “ The Eternal City ,” on Rome ’s culinary traditions. Not to mention the godfather of European travel, Rick Steves , published his first food book, “ Italy for Food Lovers .”

Part travel guidebook, part food encyclopedia, Steves’s latest dives into Italy’s eating and drinking culture by region. Steves partnered with longtime friend and author Fred Plotkin, who is a Cavaliere della Stella d’Italia (essentially Italy’s version of a knight) for his career educating people on Italian culture.

How to eat on vacation without feeling terrible

The book covers it all, such as the history of Italian wine, the intricacies of antipasti in Florence and the units of measurement you’ll need at a market. It also has an extensive glossary in the back, so you don’t get your nocino (walnut liqueur) and nodino (knuckle) confused.

We talked to Steves about what he has learned about Italian culinary culture through his lifetime of eating and drinking through Italy and gathered some key tips for your next trip.

Skip towering, bright-colored gelato

If you Google “gelato in Italy,” you’ll get images of heaping mounds of vibrant ice cream. But Steves says “over-the-top displays where you’ve got … colors you don’t find in nature with a literal cherry on top — that’s all wrong.”

The reason? “A good gelateria doesn’t want to have their gelato exposed to the air by being a mountain like that,” Steves said.

Rick Steves: Don’t skip Europe’s second cities

Instead, look for places away from tourist hot spots with modestly packed gelato with lids. “Look where the locals are going,” he added. “Most towns have a go-to gelateria for the locals.”

Steves also suggests learning some gelateria phrases to improve your experience. “It’s okay to ask for a taste,” he said. “So you want to have that word for ‘taste.’” Other words and phrases to memorize: ordering a cup or a cone, how many flavors you’d like and what flavors are seasonal or that the staff enjoys.

Never eat on a high-rent street

When that pang of hunger or thirst strikes, pause to assess your surroundings. Are you on a major thoroughfare? On the corner of a popular piazza? Keep walking. Steves’s rule of thumb is to steer clear of establishments on “high-rent streets” when choosing a place to eat, whether it’s gelato or dinner. The more expensive it is for the business to operate, the more likely you’ll be disappointed by the experience.

Hunt a few streets off the main drag, away from the big points of interest. Avoid places with big signs in English that advertise “we speak English” and “no frozen food” or places with preprinted menus in five languages.

“You want a small handwritten menu in one language,” Steves said. “Then you want to see that it’s got a boisterous local crowd. … If it feels good, go in and sit down.”

When in doubt, go regional and seasonal

If you don’t speak Italian, it can be intimidating to scan a menu board or crack open a wine list at a restaurant. There may be words you do know (such as ragu and chianti) and exponentially more you don’t. The trick is not to get bogged down by the language barrier. Instead, Steves recommends asking your server for what’s good from nearby.

“In Italy, the passion is to eat with the season and eat what’s local,” Steves said. That goes for both your food order and drink order. Often, the best pairings come from dishes and drinks made from the same region. If a place is known for its pork, there’s a winemaker in the area that’s figured out the best balance of flavors to pair with it.

“It’s a celebration in Italy,” Steves said. “It’s more than just food; it’s a pride thing.”

You could also come prepared. “You should have a kind of hit list of things you want to try while you’re in [a particular] region,” Steves said. “You do polenta in the Veneto, and you do pizza in Naples, and you do wild boar in Umbria. … If you’re going to try wild boar, do it in places where they do it well.”

Order with a sense of adventure

After decades of hosting tour groups on excursions, Steves knows it’s easy for Americans to fall into habits when it comes to ordering food in Italy.

“I know from my experience as a tour guide, a lot of people go to Italy, and all they get is spaghetti Bolognese, spaghetti Bolognese,” he said. “Always pizza, pizza, pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, tiramisu, tiramisu and house wine.”

Break the mold. You may have favorite dishes you’d like to revisit, but “have a little spirit of adventure,” Steves said, arguing that it’s important for travelers to branch out to get the most out of travel. You don’t have to order something that sounds unappetizing to you; rather, Steves encourages asking for recommendations and to “try something that you’ve never thought about before.”

“I had zucchini flower pizza the last time I was in Venice, and it was really the best pizza I had in my whole trip,” he said. “It looked like a big bouquet of zucchini flowers on the pizza, and it was wonderful.”

He added: “And I wouldn’t have ordered it had I not asked the waiter what would be a memorable, special thing to order today.”

Eat with strangers

One of Steves’s best tips for dining in Italy has nothing to do with the food, but the company (and it applies no matter where you’re traveling). “When I’m on the road, it’s nice to freshen up the conversation by finding an excuse to eat with new people,” he said.

This isn’t a slight against your travel partner or group. Even if you love sharing meals with them, “it’s the same person over and over and over again,” Steves said. “You’ll both have a more fun conversation if you just team up with a couple of other travelers, or some locals you’ve met, or get to know the people at the next table.”

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: $21.29

Return this item for free.

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Other Sellers on Amazon

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Rick Steves Italy (Travel Guide) Paperback – Folded Map, November 15, 2022

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Fully updated, comprehensive coverage for planning a multi-week trip to Italy
• Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites
• Top sights and hidden gems, from the Colosseum and Michelangelo's David to corner trattorias and that perfect scoop of gelato
• How to connect with local culture: Walk in Caesar's footsteps through the ruins of the Forum, discover the relaxed rhythms of sunny Cinque Terre, or chat with fans about the latest soccer match ( calcio , to locals)
• Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight
• The best places to eat, sleep, and experience la dolce far niente
• Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums
• Vital trip-planning tools, like how to link destinations, build your itinerary, and get from place to place
• Detailed maps, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go
• Over 1,000 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down
• Coverage of Venice, Padua, the Dolomites, Lake Country, Milan, the Italian Riviera, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Hill Towns of Central Italy, Siena, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and much more
• Covid-related travel info and resources for a smooth trip
• Print length 1280 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Rick Steves
• Publication date November 15, 2022
• Dimensions 4.55 x 2.25 x 7.9 inches
• ISBN-10 164171459X
• ISBN-13 978-1641714594
• See all details

Frequently bought together

More items to explore

From the brand

What sets Rick Steves apart from other travel guides?

A personal and experienced take - Rick Steves has spent over 40 years traveling Europe and he shares his favorite spots and essential travel strategies with you.

Are these books updated for current travel?

Rick and his team fan out across Europe personally checking and updating each listing in his guidebooks. These are the most accurate guides to Europe!

Why should I use a Rick Steves guidebook?

Rick will point you toward worthwhile experiences and help avoid expensive mistakes. A Rick Steves book is like having a tour guide in your pocket!

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rick Steves; 27th edition (November 15, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1280 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 164171459X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1641714594
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.37 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.55 x 2.25 x 7.9 inches
• #1 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides
• #1 in general Italy Travel Guides
• #1 in Travel Dining Reference

Videos for this product

Click to play video

HONEST review of Rick Steves Italy..

The Guglietti's

Why I am taking this with me on my trip!

About the author

Rick steves.

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 100 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and ricksteves.com. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Start Selling with Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Rick Steves' Tour Guide Reveals The Best Packing Tip For Anyone Heading To Italy

Packing for a trip to Italy is a bit different from packing for a trip anywhere else. At least, that's true according to Sarah Murdoch's experience. Murdoch knows the boot-shaped country incredibly well as both a travel YouTuber and a tour guide and writer for European travel expert Rick Steves. She even co-authored one of Steves' books on Sicily and spends weeks, if not months, out of the year showing visitors around the country.

From her many adventures in Italy, Murdoch has become a pro at packing for its Mediterranean climate. And if you thought that meant throwing your comfiest sneakers and trusty cargo pants in a bag and calling it a day, the tour guide would argue otherwise. In an interview with Italy Magazine , Murdoch offered a tip for fitting in with the locals: Pack nice clothes and a few stylish accessories. She explained, "Italians in general dress a lot more formally every day. Even if it's jeans — they wear Armani jeans, or they'll wear stilettos with the jeans!"

If high heels don't sound practical for hours of sightseeing, the travel expert suggests embracing layers instead, such as throwing a nice shirt over a sleeveless top or upgrading a simple outfit with a scarf. "Those are things that don't weigh anything, but small details like that make a world of difference, especially in a country where la bella figura is such an important concept," she revealed, adding that your outfit could even influence how others treat you.

Look good while packing light

Adopting Italy's fashion-forward culture doesn't have to mean packing your entire wardrobe. Even Sarah Murdoch only relies on a backpack when traveling. She told Italy Magazine, "I try to convince people to travel with a backpack even if they think they're too old for it or haven't traveled with one for years."

So how does she fit all her stylish outfits into one small carry-on? She sticks to lightweight items and selects multiple garments that go well together. The travel writer told the magazine that she often starts with a color scheme and includes versatile neutrals in her Italy capsule wardrobe . She may also choose a scarf to center her outfits around, since scarves are a staple item in Italian style. "Beyond that, I also bring jewelry with me because I'm in Italy a lot and here you should accessorize," she noted.

Murdoch demonstrated just how much she fits in her backpack in a YouTube video following a three-week trip to Sicily. She brought along three pairs of shoes, four pairs of pants, a scarf, a lightly padded jacket, four tank tops, two short-sleeved tops, a few long-sleeved tops, a cardigan, a sheer knitted sweater, two dresses, and undergarments.

Other ways to fit in with the locals in Italy

Your perfectly layered outfit might fool the locals into thinking you're from Italy, but some common mistakes can instantly give away your tourist status. And while it's okay to be an outsider, following the local way of life can enrich your travel experience and help you connect more deeply with authentic Italian culture.

One way to take after the locals, besides dressing like them, is to sip on coffee the way they do. Order a cappuccino in the morning, but in the afternoon or following dinner, stick with an espresso instead. Speaking of edible treats, enjoy an ​​aperitivo — typically a drink and snack — in the early evening. Then, to avoid eating like a tourist in Italy , wait until about 8:30 or later to eat dinner.

Finally, be open to a more relaxed pace while exploring the country. Italy is known for being a slow, easygoing destination, and if you're not from there, you might be surprised at how things work. Follow the locals' lead and take your time, whether you're eating a meal or strolling around the city. Linger at a few spots rather than packing your itinerary with a dozen. And don't be frustrated when the shops close up for the afternoon siesta. From fashion to food rituals, getting to know the local norms is part of the fun of traveling to Italy.

• Tour Account ›
• Travel Forum ›
• Travel Forum

We're looking for recommendations for a time of year to visit Italy. Of course we're looking for good weather and maybe "Crowd Relief". We visited Barcelona a couple of years ago in January. Great weather and very manageable traveling in Spain.

September and October.

I like going in May.

Mid April until the end of May, and mid Sept. until the end of Oct.

April-May or mid-September-October are my favorite times.

Agree with September and October but more late September. Early September can still be uncomfortably warm in cities like Rome. April is great for beating crowds as long as you are avoiding the weeks surrounding Easter. We went in April one year and it rained a lot. Short but strong bursts of rain every day. But we were prepared and didn't let it ruin our trip.

My trip last year was mid-October to early November. The weather was quite pleasant, and only had to deal with rain during two days in November in Venice and Milan, plus a bit of drizzle one morning in October in Sorrento that was barely worth noting.

I've also travelled in Italy late May. Also had some rain to deal with during this trip, including a downpour in Venice during a gondola ride, and one day in Rome. I dont think I've ever been so wet in my life than after that gondola ride! My shoes took 3 days to dry.

Foul weather can happen any time of the year so be prepared with a light rain jacket and an extra pair of shoes. Umbrella sellers pop outta the woodwork any time the weather turns bad, and the prices are reasonable. I would say that for fewer crowds that late October was much better than May, with November even better (plus the hotel prices drop in November).

TC said it perfectly, IMHO. Of course just where in Italy makes a significant difference. Sicily to the Dolomites is a long way, south to north.

We just returned from Paris, Switzerland & Italy--we were there from February 25-March 14. From a 'crowd relief' standpoint, it was fantastic, except on the weekends, when places like Musee D'Orsay in Paris and the areas near the Uffizi and Il Duomo in Florence were very busy, more than I like for sure.

It was the not-unexpected weather that took a little getting used to, however. Paris averaged about 40-45 F, but dang, it seemed colder than 20 in Chicago. Biting wind. Not all the time, however. When the wind died down, it was fine. Lucerne, Switzerland, even at 40 degrees was great because it was sunny and the sun just seemed warmer at that altitude. Florence (we got there March 4) was windy, with a little rain. But on those days when the sun came out, it was like immediate spring, even though the temps were still no higher than the low 50's. Then in Salerno, south of Naples, it pretty much was spring, 50's for the most part, and we even got up to 60 while on the Amalfi Coast and at Pompei. Absolutely glorious weather. Still chilly at night, though, down near 40.

I did prepare clothing-wise, though. I can't stand being too hot, so most of the time, I utilized one of those ultra-light down jackets (mine was made by Marmot) that when traveling compresses down into a ball the size of a toiletries case--I wore a fleece on the trains. Even when it was cold, that down jacket over a golf shirt was all I needed. Never wore the gloves I brought, but did wear my knit hat quite often to keep my ears warm.

I will also say that we took trains all the way from Paris-->Lucerne-->Milan-->Florence-->Salerno, and never once was our train filled to capacity. Granted, on the non-regional lines we had reservations, but we really enjoyed having extra space for our bags, and to stretch out. Made traveling by rail an absolute pleasure. Don't know how that would be in the high season, however.

Bottom line? I will take cold over too many tourists any day of the week. If I were doing it again (and probably will at some point), I think about 3-4 weeks later than we traveled, right around the 1st of April, would be optimum, even for northern Italy. You may pay a tad more for hotel & air, but will still have the run of the places for the most part. Weekends will still be busy. Can't get around that, and with the Euro & dollar pretty much even, there definitely will be more folks traveling to Europe until that status changes.

See also http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/timing-your-trip .

We usually hit Italy from mid-Sept to beginning Oct. Last year, we went the first week of Sept. Rome and Amalfi coast was really hot - as in, having to retreat to the room for a few hours in the afternoon and most days taking 2 showers. Weather was much more tolerable when we hit Venice mid-Sept, it was much more tolerable. I do realize Venice if farther North...but add another vote for mid-Sept to early Oct! Guess it depends on your tolerance to heat.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

Rick Steves' Genius Tips For Traveling Through Europe With Kids

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Traveling with kids to Europe can create long-lasting memories and bring the family closer together, but it can also be tricky for youngsters to connect with the culture in the same way you do. Luckily, travel expert, author, and TV host Rick Steves has a few tips to make the trip more enjoyable for everyone via his website . His first suggestion is to start bridging cultural connections well before you actually go abroad.

For example, if your family is visiting Italy in the near future, show them pictures of the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Piazza del Popolo. To bring history to life, Steves has a video library called Classroom Europe with an array of three to five-minute segments on destinations and points of interest. You could also watch kid's movies set in the region you're visiting, like "Luca" for Italy or "Ratatouille" for France.

Of course, let's not forget about food. Take the time to visit new restaurants or learn to cook a few of the country's staples at your home. While you can't introduce your kids to everything before the big trip — and where's the fun in that? — it doesn't hurt to ease them into international travel with a few foreign dishes. You could also see if there are local events related to your destination, like a St. Patrick's Day festival for Ireland .

Read more: How To Create Your Own Travel Capsule Wardrobe To Make Packing Easier

Help Kids Interpret Their Experience

Once abroad, purchase a journal or sketchbook at your first stop, according to Rick Steves' Europe. Not only will this help your kids enjoy the vacation , it will be something sentimental to revisit in the future. Use the journal to have your kids write down their thoughts, favorite smells or tastes, and cultural observations, says Steves. Invite them to get creative and draw a favorite landmark. You could also collect airplane boarding passes, train stubs, entrance tickets to museums and galleries, maps, and wristbands and glue them inside the journal. Perhaps stop inside photo booths for some silly family snapshots and add them to the collection.

That said, you could also print a few coloring pages of iconic landmarks from  Supercoloring.com , a free database of over 10,000 printable designs. Then, be sure to visit the locations the kids are coloring in. Continuing with the Italy theme, you could bring a Kids' Travel Guide with fun facts about the country or an Italian Picture Dictionary Coloring Book  with different phrases so they can master a few basics, like hello, goodbye, please, and thank you. In other words, anything to encourage children to connect the dots.

Give Them Breaks Between Tours

Museum after museum, gallery after gallery, it can be tough for kids to be immersed in "serious" activities all day. Therefore, be sure to incorporate plenty of breaks and let them partake in their favorite activities from home. In fact, on warm afternoons, you'll often find European families with children hanging out in the local town square or plaza, as per Rick Steves' Europe. This is a great opportunity to bring your kids for playtime and interactions with the locals. Look up parks, playgrounds, toy stores, theme parks , and kids' museums in the area to pique their interest.

If your kids say they are bored during the trip, don't fret, says Steves via Rick Steves' Europe. Even if they are homesick, chances are, they'll look back on this adventure with fondness. In fact, years from now, they might recall more about the trip than you realize and shock you with their knowledge about a place and culture. Think of your family trip as an investment; put in the time now, and you'll see the returns later in the form of your child's appreciation for this big, beautiful world.

Read the original article on Explore .