Italy

Milan, Como, Cernobbio, Bellagio, Venice, Florence

price varies

Optimum Seasons:  Spring and Fall (way too hot and humid in the summer)

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No country in this world compares to Italy.  The beauty, the food, the gorgeous men, the history, the shopping, the nature, the art, and so on.  Of course, I am saying this having only been to a handful of countries in my life.  But I don't care.  I'm pretty certain nothing comes close!  If you have the patience to forgive their transit system and their inefficiency as a people compared to Americans (you will acquire the patience if you don't have it intrinsically), this is the best place on earth and every human alive has to save their money and take a trip here at least once.  

So basically, I went here for a destination wedding in Lake Como.  I was based in Milan for the week (you will find the cheapest round trip flights to Milan...Venice and Florence are generally more expensive).  You can see any northern Italian city via mass transit within a 3 hour drive or ride from Milan.  So it's a great starting point.  And contrary to popular and ignorant belief, Milan is truly a beautiful city.....

Milan

You must stay in a hotel in Milan's center.  My husband and I stayed at the much recommended and affordable Starhotels E.c.ho. right across Milan's Centrale Station (if you have Starwood points, book through them). This made travel to other cities super easy and efficient.  If we weren't within close proximity to the main station, we would have to take a taxi or subway to the main station and then ride several hours to another city.  This would have been very exhausting.  Plus, you would have to pay for the cab ride which is expensive in Milan (make sure you download the Mytaxi app which I should have done).  By staying in Milan's center, you should easily be within an hour walking distance from all the must see attractions: 

1)  the iconic Duomo:  hit the roof to get impressive views of Milan

2)  Navigli:  take a stroll along the canal where you'll find plenty of cute shops

3)  Galleria Vittoria Emanuele: across the Duomo and a beautiful landmark with high end shops

4)  The Last Supper: Da Vinci's famous mural

5)  La Scala:  A beautiful opera house.  Take a tour of the theater if you are able. 

6)  Bosco Verticale:  one of the most famous residential buildings in the world

7)  Brera Design District:  get lost in this neighborhood full of cafes and awesome shops

8)  Parco Sempionecastello Sforzesco:  walk around the castle grounds and then the park

9)  La Rinascente:  luxury department store near the Duomo.  You can have lunch on the roof here which has views of Milan.

10)  via Monte Napoleone:  high end shopping at its finest

11)   10 Corso Como:  high end concept store.  

As far as dining is concerned.....you cannot fail anywhere in Italy.  I will not bother providing a list of restaurants.  You should just walk, find a nice restaurant, look at what people are eating, and make a decision as you go.  There's no point to map out places to dine and be overwhelmed with more on your itinerary, unless you are planning to stay in Milan for a week and have ample time to hit up some iconic restaurants.   Otherwise, everything in this country is delicious and easy on the stomach!  The cafes are to die for!  My only one recommendation is to not leave Milan without having a panzerotto from Luini's bakery (near Duomo).  

 

Florence

Aesthetically, Florence isn't all that.  It is a dark and gloomy city.  Very old.  Not a lot of color.  But for those who love art and history, this city is a must see.  It is home of the Renaissance.  And just an hour and a half away from Milan by train.  It is worth the day trip if you have enough time in Italy (but it really ranks all the way at the bottom of beautiful Italian cities for me, so if you have to skip a city, this is the one to skip!) 

Remember that trains operate like airplanes in Italy.  There are delays.  There are cancellations.  They get booked.  Prices fluctuate depending on when you purchase the ticket and what train-line you book with.  Best to book in advance so you get a better deal and know for certain you will get a spot on a train. 

From Stazione S. M. Novelle (the main train station), you can start walking towards Santa Maria Novella, then Piazza San Lorenzo, and then Piazza del Duomo where you will find the famous cathedral and Giotto bell tower.  After navigating the narrow and dark streets of Florence, you will be in complete awe as soon as you arrive at this spacious piazza with this exquisite and massive Church made of marble.  If you ask me, this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.  

Just south of Duomo is Piazza della Repubblica and  Piazza del Signoria which has a copy of Michaelangelo's "David" (the original was moved into a museum).  You will also find Palazzo Vecchio and Galleria degli Uffizi, one of the oldest, largest and best known art museums in the world.  I didn't have enough time to enter any of these iconic and historic buildings, but they are as beautiful, if not more, from the inside.  

Then head to Ponte Vecchio (the only remaining bridge after the bombings of World War II) which you will need to cross to get to the other side of the Arno River.  You have most likely seen friends' photos on this very famous bridge which overlooks the green and polluted river and a row of colorful buildings.  With its cute shops, Ponte Vecchio is unlike any bridge in the city.  

Now if you are only planning a day trip, you MUST cross Ponte Vecchio and go to Boboli Gardens in Palazzo Piti.  There are lots of sculptures in this park which used to be part of the Medici estate (a prominent and wealthy Italian family centuries ago).  Go to the very top where you should find Forte Belvardere (which I didn't) and experience magnificent views of all of Florence.  There is also an exquisite Italian rose garden at the very top!  

Head back to the train station and cross Ponte Santa Trinita.  Once off the bridge you will arrive onto via dei Tornabuoni, the Fifth Avenue of Florence.  But beware, store are only open between 10-1 pm and 4-7:30 pm.  Plan  your high end shopping wisely.  

Deepest Regrets in Florence:

I didn't have time to visit the Great Synagogue of Florence, go to the top of Piazzale Michelangela to get a view of all the city (which is breathtaking at night), or go inside any museum.  Also, I would have liked to stay into the evening but we had to return to Milan for other wedding related events. I basically was able to do all I did within 7 hours and on foot (no need to take a taxi anywhere here).  From the main station to Boboli Gardens (southern most point) is at most a 40 minute walk.  Just make sure to walk by every piazza and building I mentioned and use your navigation.  The city is so small you are bound to walk past them unknowingly anyway!!!

Cernobbio/Como

A little geography lesson here before I proceed.  Como is the main town on the southern most tip of Lake Como (which from top to bottom is a two hour drive).  If you arrive by train, you will have to go through the town of Como to get to any other town you are lodging in.  The town of Como itself has enough to see and make a day trip out of.  However, I highly recommend not doing a day trip and actually staying for two nights here (this town is the most convenient base to stay so you can explore the other towns on the lake by ferry or hydrofoil).  Como isn't the only charming town on the lake.  There are numerous others that are as beautiful, and with ample time, you can hit at least three of the small towns in one day via ferry service (takes two hours to get from Como to Bellagio with stops along the way).  

Beware that the transit system is delayed here.  And you won't really understand the ferry schedules unless you read Italian.  So be careful to plan your day accordingly because if you miss the ferry you would have to wait at least an hour for the next one.  And if you miss the hydrofoil (which is only 45 minutes to Bellagio from Como), you will have to wait several more hours to catch the next once.  Tips:  if you are pressed for time, pay a little more and take the hydrofoil.  But supposedly, the hydrofoil goes so fast that it creates mist and you are unable to appreciate the views around you.  Ferry is cheaper and super relaxing.  There are cafes on the ferry so you can grab a latte, sit down and enjoy.   You can find a schedule at any ferry stop (ask the front desk of your hotel or the locals where the closest stop is).  I also highly suggest taking a boat one way and a bus on the way back.  The bus is basically only 3 euros per person and it is an experience in and of itself to drive through the windy streets by the lake and see all the homes along the way.  Ask your hotel for the bus schedule at each town.  

The wedding I attended was located in the town of Cernobbio, just a ten minute yet $20 dollar taxi ride away from the train station in the town of Como.  Cernobbio is a super charming town and has two of the most popular villas on Lake Como:  Villa Erba and Villa d' Este (I took many videos but they all got erased from my phone....the pictures are in the gallery though).  If you have tons of money to blow, you should stay at Villa d' Este.  If you don't, dining here is enough and will get the job done.  You get to see the entire grounds of this exquisite estate for a fraction of the price.  And the restaurant on the lake is absolutely fantastic!  They may be getting stricter allowing people on the property who aren't staying there...so you may be disappointed once you arrive at the front gate and find that you cannot access the grounds.  Don't say I didn't tell you so.  Thank G-d we were fortunate enough to have lunch here and experience one of the greatest days of my life.  

We stayed at the super clean and modern Sheraton Lake Como (again, a Starwood hotel so book through them if you have points.  If not, get a deal through tripadvisor.com).  I highly recommend the breakfast here.  The showers are fantastic.  The rooms are wonderful.  The pool is great.  The location is perfect.  And the price is affordable. Although it's not as quaint and charming as the other hotels around Lake Como, you will leave feeling completely satisfied.  It was just a 20 minute walk to Villa d' Este from here and a 5 minute bus drive from the main train station in the town of Como (and a 5 minute walk from the bus stop).  And a 7 minute walk to the Cernobbio ferry dock.

Bellagio

Claimed to be one of the most beautiful towns in Europe, you would be a fool to stay at Como and not visit this enchanting cobble-stoned village with lake views .  It is small enough to walk the whole town in less than two to four hours (depending on how much you want to shop and whether you plan on dining).  Honestly, that is all I had time to do as we arrived here the very second it started pouring rain and the temperature dropped 10 degrees.  But here is a list of things you must do in Bellagio if you aren't pressed for time...and remember, if you've come all this way by ferry, you should definitely hop back on and go to the neighboring town of Varenna (it will be much longer to do this with a car or bus, so you should definitely inquire about a round trip to Varenna via boat) on the other side of the lake.  And don't worry, the town in the pouring rain is  still as charming as can be.  Zero regrets after my 4 hour round trip commute to get here.  Tip:  Travel here in May or June.  I here July and August are unbearable humid and muggy.   Also, you must visit Villa Serbelloni Park which I did not have the time to do nor did the weather permit.  

Venice

Aright.  I'm not gonna say much here.  Except that Venice is single handedly the most beautiful city in the world.  Finished.  No argument.  And to all the buffoons who ever suggested otherwise, I feel very sorry for your souls.  You must take a day trip here from Milan.  (If you are torn between Florence and Venice...you must do Venice.  If you are torn between Cinque Terre and Venice, you must do Venice.  If you are torn between Lake Como and Venice, you must do Venice.  If you have enough time to do all, make sure you do Venice first in case G-d intends for you to get a stomach virus later in the week).  It will be two hours and fifteen minutes by local train.  I couldn't find an express but they definitely do exist.  Also, make sure you book a round trip train ticket to Venezia Santa Lucia station (there are two Venice train stations and I booked one way to one and one way back from another....you can imagine the irreparable damage this did to my marriage).  

Venice is made up of 6 quarters:  Santa Marco, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio (home of the first Jewish Ghetto and the oldest synagogue in Europe), Dorsoduro and Castello.  You'll have enough time, if you are here the whole day, to walk through all and not tire yourself.  More than anything, you must walk the windy streets of Venice and just take in every inch of the city.  Also, there are vaparettos right outside the main train station ready to take you by boat to stops along the Grand Canal (the widest canal that divides Venice in half).  You will pay at most $15 per person round trip and each time you get on, you can use the ticket for up to 70 minutes after.  So if you saw everything you needed to within an hour, hop right back on and go on to the next quarter.  And if you are in a particularly unlawful and Italian mood (they don't seem to care much about rules and regulations here), two of you can swipe once and go through the turnstile together.  At least me and my husband got away with it!  And if you are feeling extra romantic, definitely pay a gondolier $100 cash for 25 minutes (will cost more after 7pm) and ride around the narrow canals of Venice.  And as far as dining is concerned, remember what I first said about Italy.  Just look at an outdoor cafe's menu, whether the food looks appetizing, whether the prices are within budget, and just sit down and enjoy your meal!!!

So here is a list of all the places to pin on your google maps and make sure you see while you are here:  

1)  Piazzo San Marco:  St Marks Basilica (oldest Church and byzantine),  Campanile (bell tower) and Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) are all located here, as well as very expensive cafes and high end shops.

2)  Riva degli Schiavoni is elegant street that runs south of Piazza San Marco along the Grand Canal.

3)  When leaving San Marco cross Accedemia bridge to see Santa Maria della Salute, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Gallerie dell'Accademia

4)  While you are on the vaporetto on the Grand Canal, keep your eyes wide open as not to miss Ca' d'Oro

5)  Definitely stop by the Jewish Ghetto, whether you are or not.  It is just beautiful to see.

For those who are staying for two or three days, you will have ample time to take a ferry and visit the charming islands of Murano and Burano off the main island.  

My deepest regret was not staying in Venice through the sunset and until nightfall.  But I was here on the most perfect and picturesque day in May and I couldn't have asked for a better way to end this most memorable trip of my life!!!

And if you have more time in Northern Italy:  People rave about Cinque Terre.  But I have also heard that it is not as vibrantly colored as it appears in pictures, that the commute is utter torture, and the hike isn't super easy.  The guide books don't tell you much about transportation to or within Cinque Terre (and it is three hours away from Milan including a train transfer).  I do not regret missing this city during this particular week, but if I don't go back to see it once in my life, I'll have died an unfulfilled person.  Also, Portafino and Stresa are said to be beautiful but neither should take more than 2 hours of your day.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions) to view pictures and the videos below to get a better idea.  Don't forget to add your feedback by clicking on the comments section!  And follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures!  Share with your friends if you appreciate this page.

 

MILAN

 

BELLAGIO

 

COMO/CERNOBBIO

 

VENICE

 

 

FLORENCE

London

London, UK

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How I wish I stayed here longer than 4 days!  I booked this trip alone, without my kids or my husband, for a wedding weekend.  I'm not gonna lie, I was rather disappointed that of all the European cities that are on my bucket list, I was going to visit this second!  My understanding was that London was always cloudy and rainy and that the people were dull.  I have no idea why I had this preconceived notion!  1)  There was not one minute of rain in the 4 days of June I was here.  On and off sun yes.  Mild temperatures yes.  Rain, not a drop!  2)  The first person I met was an employee in Gatwick airport (never fly to or from Gatwick if you are staying in Central London...Heathrow is the way to go...and they have a Chanel store where you get to buy for considerably cheaper than the states!).  He was every American late night comedian in one human being, but funnier!  Every British person I met after him had the same wit!  London is basically a city full of Ricky Gervaises at every corner!  Heaven on earth!  3)  London has the energy of New York, the architecture of grand European cities, and gardens and parks like no other! There are basically no garbage cans on the street nor are there vendors at every corner trying to sell you food.  The city is very clean!

I had to capitalize on my time here.  Basically, of the 4 days, 3 were just attending weekend events leading to the wedding.  I probably had 24 hours to navigate as much as London as I could!  What I recommend:  1)  Purchase a Bus Tour ticket from your hotel front desk.  There are certain passes that let you access all the lines (my regret is that I didn't know about this earlier, and just used this the last day I was there when I had to leave to the airport at 1pm).  I stayed at the Cumberland (modern hotel in a fantastic location and rather affordable) right next to Marble Arch and Hyde Park where there was a bus stop.  The Red Bus Tour takes you to all the big landmarks!  Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Eye, London Bridge, etc etc.  But there are other lines which will take you to Notting Hill and the other parts of Central London that are just as worthy of seeing (you don't even have to step off the bus.  Just sit on top floor and you'll get enough of an experience).

I walked the bulk of Hyde Park (much smaller than Central Park) in two hours at 6am in the morning.  This was the most peaceful and serene two hours of my life.  And on Sundays, they have the Serpentine race where local swimmers dive into the lake and swim laps.  It was extremely surreal watching people dive into the water with their speedos and swim caps at 7am in the morning. Definitely get a map of the park before you walk around so you don't miss the main points of interest.  Kensington Palace Garden and the Italian Gardens are a must!

Notting Hill is a very cute neighborhood!  There are rows of colorful homes, and Portobello Road is basically a charming flea market.  Totally skip if your short on time!  What you should definitely squeeze in if you love gardens (and London is all about its parks and gardens) is Regent Park.  Get a map and go to every corner.  I only had time for Queen Mary's Garden.  I didn't even know that they had a Zoo on the other side of the property.  And the first Zoo ever opened in the world!  If you are with children, I guess this is a place to consider!  If not, definitely skip!

For designer shopping, its' all about Old Bond Street.  And for us regular humans, Oxford gets the job done!  Or just walk the streets. Your jaw will drop at every corner from the architecture and the charm!  

My deepest regrets were not seeing more of London at night time, not experiencing fish and chips at a local pub and not going to Harrods department store!  

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Spain

Barcelona, Seville, Marbella - Spain

price varies

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

Gallery

Me and my husband went here on our honeymoon in the summer of 2009, back when direct flights to Europe were under $1000 each.  This was my first time ever going to Europe.  I wasn't an experienced enough traveller to know that going to Spain for a total of only seven days was a pretty dumb-as-hell idea.  We modeled our itinerary off a friend who did the same trip for her honeymoon!  We decided to go to Barcelona (the nicest city I have ever seen), Seville and Marbella.  

Our first stop was Barcelona.  We stayed at Condes de Barcelona for three days.  This was a hotel located on beautiful Passeig de Gracia.  We chose this hotel because of it's modern decor, rooftop pool, and location!  If I were to visit the city again, I'd stay in a hotel off La Rambla (the main pedestrian street and tourist attraction in Barcelona).  As soon as we arrived to our hotel, we both took a much needed 3 hour nap.  Then we began our day.  We walked down Passeig de Gracia towards La Rambla (about a 20 minute walk from our hotel).  We saw two of Gaudi's masterpieces on Passeig de Gracia:  "La Pedrera" and "Casa Batllo".  We opted not to get a tour of the inside (big mistake!) as we were pressed for time (not really, I was just young and dumb and cheap and lazy).  We got to La Rambla and went straight to "La Boqueria", a large outdoor public market.  The fruit and smoothies here were out of this world. They were so refreshing on an extremely hot and sunny day in June.  We walked all the way down La Rambla (probably a 30 minute walk total) and then explored the narrow Gothic streets off La Rambla and then walked back to the hotel.  Basically we did a huge lap that took roughly 4 hours just to get a feel for Barcelona and went back to our hotel for much needed sleep.  By the way, it stays light out until around 11 oclock.  I really was looking forward to seeing Barcelona at night but we were way too tired the first three days we stayed here.  BIGGEST REGRET EVER!

On day two in Barcelona, we decided to take a public bus to Park Guell, Gaudi's masterpiece.  I will spare you the details.  Just look at the pictures in the gallery.  My friend's album on facebook convinced me to go to Spain just because of this park.  It was the most unique park I've ever seen in my life.  And we also decided to walk to Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece "La Sagrada Familia" which was a couple blocks away from our hotel.  The church has been under construction since 1892 and it's not expected to be finished till 2030.  Unfortunately, again, I was too impatient and dumb to wait on a line and take a tour of the inside.  The details on this church are out o this world.   

On day three we decided to walk down La Rambla and then all the way down to the beach town of Barceloneta.  The mediterranean water is freezing!  We weren't able to dive in much but the beach is still super charming and it was a nice relaxing break from all the walking of the prior days.  

Also, you must note that if you are Kosher and are travelling to Spain, be prepared to starve.  There was a Maos felafel store on La Rambla that came in handy as did La Boqueria.  There were also some Italian restaurants.  But everything else is pork!  And the Italian food is good for nothing!

My deepest regrets in Barcelona:  not seeing the city at night.  And also, we didn't visit Mountjuic which is a huge draw for tourists.  This is a mountain at the end of La Rambla which was the site of the 1992 Summer Olympics.  You need to take a cable car up to the mountain which gives you commanding views of the city!  Also, for those who have extra time, it may be worth the train ride to the Salvador Dali Museum.  I'm not one to care too much about museums when there is a whole city to see before my eyes.  But I understand this is a great museum to see.  

The second leg of our trip was a day and night in Seville.  We had to take a flight (one hour at most) from Barcelona.  Had we opted for a train, we'd have been in transit for about 7-8 hours.  If we were in Spain for two weeks, I would have taken a train ride.  Seville is an extremely charming and medieval city with lots of Muslim and Islamic influence.  (Think Jerusalem meets Europe meets mosaic art meets home of flamenco dancing).   We stayed at Casas de la Juderia....the most unique hotel I have ever stayed at.  Basically, there is one long corridor (probably 1/6th of a mile long) that leads you to all these different sections of the hotel with different themes.  There are little gardens scattered all around the property and there is a pool on the rooftop as well. The hotel itself was enough to sightsee here as it gave you a very good idea of Seville.  

My whole day here was one deep regret.   Seville is a small enough city to see by foot.  But it was so excruciatingly hot that by 4pm, I was done with my dad and decided to go to sleep for the night (my husband later woke me up that same evening to tell me Michael Jackson had died).  What I was able to squeeze in:  we walked through the Jewish quarter to Seville Cathedral and then walked towards Tower de Oro and walked back to our hotel.  I didn't go to the top of the bell tower in the Seville Cathedral that has magnificent views of the city.  I didn't go to see bull fighting in an arena (home of bull fighting).  I didn't go to see a flamenco show (home of flamenco).  I didn't go across the Guadalquivir river.  I didn't see the gorgeous city at night.  And my deepest regret, I didn't see the gardens of the Alcazar palace!  Basically, this is a city I went to just to sleep and where my husband got a horrendous taste for how much sacrifices he'll have to make in the future of our marriage!  Seville is also known for its orange trees and gardens.  If we had enough time, I would have taken a train ride (30 minutes to an hour) to the city of Cordoba which also has beautiful gardens.  One thing I didn't like about Seville is that it felt extremely eerie and isolated.  Like I felt that if I died in this city, no one would ever know.  So definitely if you plan a trip to Spain, you must set a day for Seville and you must actually utilize your time here efficiently!  Sunblock and coffee will go a long way!

What better way to close our trip than the coastal and affluent town of Marbella. Located in Andalusia,  the same provence as Seville, and just a three hour train ride away, this was a much needed three days of relaxation.  To get to Marbella, we had to take a train to Malaga and then a 45 minute cab ride.  I forgot the name of the hotel we stayed out, but it was on the beach and had a sister hotel so we were able to access both pools.  There was so much I loved about Marbella.  It is like Spain's Cannes.  There is a pedestrian town with beautiful shops and lots of people watching (rich, attractive people watching).  There is a boardwalk along the beach.  Of course this is the Mediterranean and it's freezing so we didn't get in much swimming...but we saw a lot of naked Europeans sunbathing! Also, fortunately for me, Flamenco is still kind of big in Marbella.  So we saw a free show in our hotel on a Friday night.  And I have never been so awed and amazed by a performance (to think the best of Flamenco is in Seville and we missed it!) We also dined in Puerto Banus, a wealthy port town 20 minutes away, one night.  This was the perfect way to close the trip.  My only regret here was not going to Gibraltar, which is a British owned peninsula right across Morocco and probably a 45 minute drive from Marbella.  There is an international airport in neighboring Malaga and we were able to close out this trip with pure relaxation.  But if I were to do it all over again, I'd have made it a 10 day trip and squeezed in one other city!  Spain is full of wonders and natural beauty!  Hopefully we will make it back there one day!

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!