May 24, 2012
May 22, 2012
December 11, 2011
How to Tour Italy | Don't wait in line
Here is how you DON'T wait in line at the Uffizi or to see the David in Florence
1. Go to OrsanMichelle in Florence.
2. On the side between the statue of Saint John the Baptist and Doubting Thomas there is a little booth.
3. That booth sells tickets to all state run museums which include the Accademia (David) and the Uffizi.
4. Go there, walk up, buy your tickets for same day entrance.
5. Walk right by the people in line.
A. Go early so you can choose what day you want to get in.
B. Pick your time.
C. If you have time to kill do my Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini walk through Florence and enjoy some of the city's best Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini.
How to Tour Italy | Great Eats
Loved this. Super helpful blog. Grom is sensational and Trattoria Alfredo was delicious and incredibly nice to my mom, grandma, and I. Delicious, good location, decent prices.
Great Eats - Florence
Great Eats - Florence
1. Le Colonnine at Via de' Benci 6/R - a good spot for lunch very near Santa Croce. This is a well-priced spot with good pizza and crostini. Indoor and outdoor seating.
2. Rubaconte at Via Ghibellina 178/R - Not too far from the Bargello this place has great A/C for a little retreat from the Italy heat and some good pizza and pasta. Their Fagioli Uccelletto is very good. They are used to serving large groups from walking tours so they move pretty quickly if you're pressed for time. The Olio Piccante is very good here.
3. Bar Rum e Pere at Via Proconsolo 2/R - directly next door to the Bargello. Make this your cafe. It is very well priced for being so close to a great museum. It is really a little local joint tucked in to the center of Florence. You pay less the Euro 1,00 for a good espresso. The beer is cold, the wine isn't bad either. Stick to the bar here. The food is below average since it isn't make on premise, but bought and stacked into the cooler. They have a bathroom if you're in a jam; buy an espresso at least though.
4. Grom at Via di Campanile and the corner of Via Oche a very short walk from the Duomo - This is the third best gelato in Florence and I included it in my Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini walking tour (download it from iTunes and print it off for walking directions too). I like the granita here and the pistacchio.
5. Trattoria Alfredo at Via dei Leoni 14/R - A very short walk to the Uffizi, Piazza Signoria, the Bargello, and my favorite gelato in Florence Alfredo isn't too bad at all. The crostini are good, the chef's pasta of the day is always a good bet, and the service is good. They have good fruit salad here as well.
Labels:
Blogs,
Eating,
Favorite,
Florence,
Helpful,
Resources,
Restaurants,
Tour Guides
Helpful Links
Rick Steves' Helpful/Favorite Links
General Resources
- Google: The best Web search engine, and a good starting point for finding information on any topic (travel-related or otherwise)
- BBC: The best site for European news, from Britain's premier news agency; also try International Herald Tribune or European Times
- Rick Steves Graffiti Wall: Join our online message boards where travelers swap tips and tales
- Wikipedia: Exhaustive online encyclopedia edited by its users
Practicalities
- Countrycallingcodes.com: Instructions on how to dial any phone number in Europe (also see Howtocallabroad.com)
- Oanda.com: The best currency conversion tool on the Web
- Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory: Contact information for tourist offices throughout Europe
- US State Department: Foreign entry requirements (passports and visas), travel warnings, and more
- US Transportation Security Administration: The latest on rules and regulations for flights
- http://translation2.paralink.com: Helpful language translator; also try Yahoo Babelfish or Google Translate
- Weather.com: The latest weather predictions for anywhere in the world; also see Worldclimate.com
- What's On When: Dates and details on European festivals and cultural events; also see Time Out
- US Customs: What you can bring home from overseas
- Electronic Embassy: Lists foreign embassies in Washington, D.C.
- Travelguard: Short-term travel and medical insurance
Transportation
Air Travel
- Rick Steves' list of European budget airlines
- Skyscanner: Search engine for tracking down cheap flights within Europe
- Elizabeth Holmes: Personalized full-service travel agency
- Europe by Air: Budget flight passes to 150 cities
- Seat Guru: Guide to airline seating
- World Airport Guide: Arrival information for most of Europe's airports, including how to get into the city center
- Sleeping in Airports: Budget traveler's guide to the sleeping in airports
Buses and Metro Systems
- Eurolines: Europe's most extensive bus network
- Urban Rail: Metro info for major cities
- Bus Eireann: Ireland's national bus company
- National Express: Britain's largest coach company
- Citylink: Scotland's main bus company
Driving
- Auto Europe: Car rental
- Europe by Car: Car rental and leasing
Ferries and Boating
- A Ferry: Ferry connections throughout Europe; also try Your-A Guide to International Ferries
- Greek Ferries: Connections and schedules
- KD Line: Day trips on the Rhine River
Maps
- Via Michelin: Online maps for all of Europe, plus a reliable route planner with good estimates of time and distance for your journey; other good map sites include Google Maps, Maporama, Mappy, and Map 24
Rail
- Rick Steves' European Rail Guide: Helpful rail information
- Deutsche Bahn: German Rail timetable, ideal for checking train schedules for anywhere in Europe
- DB Navigator: Rail schedule app for mobile devices
- Rail Fan Europe: Links to every country's own national rail website
- Rick Steves' Chunnel information: Unbiased tips on crossing the Channel
- Eurostar: Information and online booking for the Eurostar
- The Man in Seat Sixty-One: Personal website on train travel, with detailed info on sleepers
- Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane: Rail schedules for Italy
- National Rail: Rail schedules in the UK
Accommodations
Camping
- Karmabum: Camping in Europe and other budget travel info
Castles, Villas, Farms, and Apartments
- Celtic Castles: Castle and manor accommodations in the UK
- Your Enchanted Italy: Villas and apartments throughout Italy; also try Italyvillas.com
- Agriturismo.com: Accommodations at over 550 farms throughout Italy
- Paradores de Tourismo: Luxurious, government-sponsored, historic inns in Spain
- Pousadas de Portugal: Elegant, government-sponsored, historic inns
- White Nights: Hotels and home stays in Russia; can also help with visas, tours, language classes, and Trans-Siberian Railroad tickets
Convents and Monasteries
- Santa Susanna: List of convents in Italy from the American Catholic Church
- Monastery Stays: Booking service for monasteries and convents in Italy
Home Exchanges & Home Stay Programs
- Servas: A non-profit home stay network
- Homeexchange.com: Home exchanges
- International Home Exchange Network : Home rentals and exchanges
- The Friendship Force: Network of hosts welcoming travelers
- Global Freeloaders: Travelers share their homes at no charge
- Couchsurfing Project: International network of free home stays
Hostels
- Hosteling International: HI's official website
- Hostel Bookers: Find hostels, B&Bs and budget hotels
- Hostels.com: Worldwide network of private hostels
- YMCA Europe: Inexpensive accommodation for YMCA members
Hotels
- For Rick's recommended hotels, see his latest travel guidebooks
Travel Savvy
Bookstores
- Rick's Travel Store: Rick Steves guidebooks and travel gear
- Moon: Excellent Moon guides to areas that Rick doesn't cover
- Lonely Planet: Guidebooks and forums
- Wide World Books: Seattle area travel bookstore
Email and Electronics
- Google Mail: Free web-accessible email account; also try Yahoo Mail or Hotmail
- Blogger: Free blog-hosting site
- Cybercaptive: Directory of cybercafes in more than 160 countries
- Roadnews: Tips for traveling with a laptop
- Voltage Valet: Electrical converters and transformers
Packing
- Rick's Packing Tips: Including Rick's Famous Packing List and our Women's Packing List
- OneBag: Another great site for learning how to pack light
Travel Forums
- Rick Steves Graffiti Wall: Share your best travel tips
- Rick Steves Travelers Helpline: Ask your travel question
- Independent Traveler: user-submitted travel reports and tips; also try Johnny Jet, Practical Nomad, Virtual Tourist, or Trip Advisor
- Travellers Point: Travel help, blog-hosting, find old travel buddies
- Eurotrip: Budget travel advice; also try Travelzine
Special Interest
Accessible Travel
- Mobility International: Resources for travelers with disabilities
- Access-able: Resource directory for disabled travelers; also try Emerging Horizons, Flying with Disability, and Gimp on the Go
- Wheelchair-Accessible Europe: Lists hotels in Europe offering wheelchair-accessible rooms
- Accessibleurope.com: Collection of European travel agents and tour operators who specialize in disabled travel
- Sagetraveling.com: Comprehensive Accessibility Information for the European Traveler
Backpacking
- Backpack Europe: Resources and tips for backpackers
Biking, Hiking, and Skiing
- Cicerone: Reliable guides for walkers, bikers, trekkers, and climbers
- Traildatabase: Links to hiking trails around the world
- Go Ski: Worldwide skiing information
Cooking Schools and Garden Tours
- Shaw Guides: Worldwide cooking school directory
- Gardenvisit.com: Worldwide garden tour directory
Family Travel
- Blog: DeliciousBaby: Debbie Dubrow shares her travel experiences and best travel advice on how to make travel with kids fun
Living Abroad
- Transitions Abroad: Living, working and studying overseas
- Escape Artist: Articles and forums on ex-pat life
- Vocalist: Busking (being a street musician) in Europe
Religious Travel
- Papal Audience: Tickets to see the Pope at the Vatican
- Santiago de Compostela: The Spanish pilgrimage route
- Sacred Destinations: Catalog of religious destinations worldwide
Seniors
- AARP Destinations: Travel guide for seniors and slow walkers
- Smarter Travel: Seniors on the Go column
- Road Scholar: Non-profit organization providing educational travel for those 55 and older
Students
- International Student Travel Confederation: Student and youth ID cards and resources
- STA Travel: Student and youth travel
- Council on International Education Exchange: Work and study abroad programs for students and teachers
- Semester at Sea: Study abroad on a ship
- IIE Passport: Study-abroad programs
Socially Responsible Travel
- Global Volunteers: Volunteer work overseas; also try Volunteers for Peace and Civil Service International
Tour Guides
- Greece: Faye Georgiou (fayegeorgiou@yahoo.gr) is the local guide for Rick Steves' tours in Athens
- Italy: Valeria Biasi, Rick Steves guide in Verona, operates aguideinverona.com
- Portugal: Cristina Quental, a local guide in Lisbon recommended in Rick Steves Portugal, operates lisbontourguides.com
- Spain: LeTango.com: Rick Steves guide Carlos Galvin leads private tours of his home city and area: Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, and Toledo
- Turkey: SRM Travel: Rick Steves Turkey guides Lale Surmen & Tankut Aran lead tours of their home country
- Turkey: Melitour: Mehlika Seval, a former Rick Steves Turkey guide, leads her own tours in Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia
Travel Journaling
- Globejotter Tours: Rick Steves tour guide Dave Fox leads small-group tours in Asia and Africa with a creative writing theme
Walking Tours
- Copenhagen: www.historytours.dk
Women's Travel
- Journeywoman: Travel advice for women
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)

