Barcelona/Amsterdam/Sicily/Rome Recommendations (1 Viewer)

[TripItUp]

We are heading to Europe in September for a wedding in Sicily and I'm looking for recommendations that are not so obvious...restaurants, things to do, things not to do etc.  This will be my third time in Rome, but I haven't been to the other cities.

Thanks!!

Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Sicily

Sicily

Sicily

Sicily

Rome

Rome

Rome

 

[Chemical X]

i think @jamny knows sicily well.  i could tackle rome, but need to know days of the week and what you might be interested in.  

 

[Short Corner]

Get the Roma pass on Rome.  Covers public transportation and a few attraction entries.

Amsterdam, The Greenhouse Effect has a great banana cake for 5€, Central Coffee has Space Cake for 6€.  Voyagers has the best pre-rolled for 10€ a pop.

Rick Steves has free audio walking tours for both.

 

[wikkidpissah]

where's the wedding? i know Sicily pretty good

 

[facook]

We are heading to Europe in September for a wedding in Sicily and I'm looking for recommendations that are not so obvious...restaurants, things to do, things not to do etc.  This will be my third time in Rome, but I haven't been to the other cities.

Thanks!!

Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Sicily

Sicily

Sicily

Sicily

Rome

Rome

Rome

100% Do a tour of the Sacre Familia in Barcelona.  Coolest man-made thing I've ever seen, and it's not even close to being complete yet.

 

[Ilov80s]

Barcelona, as noted the Sagrada Familia is amazing- there is no church like it, maybe no building like it in the world.

How into food are you? Barcelona has some of the best restaurants in the world but you might need to start making reservations now for some of them. There are also so many great tapas places, craft beer is huge there. Just look at all these amazing places to eat and drink.

 

[Scoresman]

My usual recommendation for Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House.  A bit somber, but incredibly moving and a memorable trip through history.  But you have to make reservations well in advance to avoid waiting hours in line.  You may also have to deal with really annoying tourists who do things like take instagram pouty face selfies in Anne Frank's room, but then you get to see the staff unapologetically put people like that in their place.  They are very strict about behavior there.  

 

[Ilov80s]

Also we saw an authentic Flamenco performance in this tiny upstairs of a bar. It was really cool and I would totally recommend finding something like that.

 

[jamny]

Where in Sicily?

 

[kutta]

Visit Savoca, Sicily. First, it's where my family is from. Second, it's where the Italian scenes in the Godfather were filmed - you can have a drink at Bar Vitelli. And, it's a fantastic little town.

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/sicily/savoca.html

 

[Waingro]

Also we saw an authentic Flamenco performance in this tiny upstairs of a bar. It was really cool and I would totally recommend finding something like that.

Good call. I highly recommend catching a Flamenco show as well if time permits. 

The one I saw was across the street (alley) from the Picasso museum entrance.  

 

[Keerock]

 

Going to Rome/Florence in August... I'll piggy-back on suggestions for the OP  

 

[Chemical X]

 

Going to Rome/Florence in August... I'll piggy-back on suggestions for the OP  

This is my wheel house, been there a lot the last 2 years.  Have an itinerary?

 

[Keerock]

 

Going to Rome/Florence in August... I'll piggy-back on suggestions for the OP  

This is my wheel house, been there a lot the last 2 years.  Have an itinerary?

Currently scheduled to be there with my wife and 3 boys (24, 22, 18) from Aug 22-30. Currently booked to stay very near the Vatican, but that may change based on what we can find on AirBnB across the river near the Spanish Steps.  We will take a couple days to travel to up to Florence (or possible Venice)... no plans or reservations around that yet.  We have a foodie tour and a Vatican tour on the agenda... not sure of the days or specific tour info as this is being arranged for us, not by us.

 

[Chemical X]

Currently scheduled to be there with my wife and 3 boys (24, 22, 18) from Aug 22-30. Currently booked to stay very near the Vatican, but that may change based on what we can find on AirBnB across the river near the Spanish Steps.  We will take a couple days to travel to up to Florence (or possible Venice)... no plans or reservations around that yet.  We have a foodie tour and a Vatican tour on the agenda... not sure of the days or specific tour info as this is being arranged for us, not by us.

If you check Mad Cow's thread, a lot of good Italy info is there.  If you are in Rome on a Friday, I highly suggest the evening Vatican museum tour.  It is only Friday evening.  Also, the Necropolis is something I push hard here.  Other FBGs have vouched for me.  You basically go under the Vatican.  If you are taking a train from Rome to Florence, private line Italo has some great deals (3 for 2s, etc.).  They run a private line on the same tracks as TrenItalia.  The fast train is only 1.30h.  I don't AirBnB, but I have stayed at some hotels in Rome and Florence.  Recommend the Hotel Ponte Sisto in Rome.  Right across from trastevere nightlife bar scene which is insane.  We have used guides in both cities.  Wonder if you have time to go from Rome to Pompeii?  In Florence, a trip to the Mercato Centrale food court is a must.  They have a website.  Watch pickpockets there, but the sights and sounds and food are to die for.  Let me know what days of the week you are floating around as well.  If you need restaurant info too.

 

[PlayaHata]

If you check Mad Cow's thread, a lot of good Italy info is there.  If you are in Rome on a Friday, I highly suggest the evening Vatican museum tour.  It is only Friday evening.  Also, the Necropolis is something I push hard here.  Other FBGs have vouched for me.  You basically go under the Vatican.  If you are taking a train from Rome to Florence, private line Italo has some great deals (3 for 2s, etc.).  They run a private line on the same tracks as TrenItalia.  The fast train is only 1.30h.  I don't AirBnB, but I have stayed at some hotels in Rome and Florence.  Recommend the Hotel Ponte Sisto in Rome.  Right across from trastevere nightlife bar scene which is insane.  We have used guides in both cities.  Wonder if you have time to go from Rome to Pompeii?  In Florence, a trip to the Mercato Centrale food court is a must.  They have a website.  Watch pickpockets there, but the sights and sounds and food are to die for.  Let me know what days of the week you are floating around as well.  If you need restaurant info too.

I will vouch for the Vatican Necropolis tour  .  So glad I learned about that here on FBG.  That's another one you need to reserve well in advance since the tour groups are small and they only do a handful each day.

 

[Chemical X]

I will vouch for the Vatican Necropolis tour  .  So glad I learned about that here on FBG.  That's another one you need to reserve well in advance since the tour groups are small and they only do a handful each day.

The Necropolis and Friday Vatican at night are extreme highlights.

 

[TripItUp]

Where in Sicily?

Good question, We get in on Wednesday and have wedding activities Friday and Saturday in Eastern Sicily centered around this hotel.

We plan on leaving Sicily Sunday for Rome...but we are flexible...if we need more time in Sicily we can add a day.  I know very little about Sicily.

 

[jamny]

Good question, We get in on Wednesday and have wedding activities Friday and Saturday in Eastern Sicily centered around this hotel.

We plan on leaving Sicily Sunday for Rome...but we are flexible...if we need more time in Sicily we can add a day.  I know very little about Sicily.

Wow, that place looks awesome. Definitely bookmarking it if we ever go back. Not sure I would want to leave the grounds. Looking forward to hearing what you thought about it.

I would say your options are Catania or Taormina. You're probably coming in at the airport in Catania so you could spend time there then. I've never been there out side of the airport but it's supposed to be a nice bustling port city. Taormina is beautiful and would be great for a day trip, even half a day. Both are like 4-6 hours away so it might be best to do some Etna tours instead and check out some small towns in the area. All depends on what your looking to do. Siracusa is also an option if you are staying longer.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Good question, We get in on Wednesday and have wedding activities Friday and Saturday in Eastern Sicily centered around this hotel.

We plan on leaving Sicily Sunday for Rome...but we are flexible...if we need more time in Sicily we can add a day.  I know very little about Sicily.

i HATE opera, but seeing one here is one of the great Euro experiences to be had, and they run til the end of October. There's also a restaurant in a monastery near Taormina (the island's leading tourist trap) which makes an excellent twofer. Going up nearby Etna is great but not something to plan on - the summit is fogged in most days. Def a thing if it's clear, though. Following the lava path down to Catania is hilarious, because they they keep building around it. The holiday beaches below Taormina (Naxos et al) are a good place to hang w real Siciianos - my Nona was from that area is how i know - but they may be closed up by then. The old city of Siracusa is as captivating as the new part is boring and a great place to see the evidence of how many times Sicily has been conquered cuz all the influences are there. My favorite Sicilian spots are in the S & W but no time for that for you. Siracusa & Noto (a great food town) is a far better head than Messina or Palermo from where you are. Hope that helps. 

 

[jamny]

i HATE opera, but seeing one here is one of the great Euro experiences to be had, and they run til the end of October. There's also a restaurant in a monastery near Taormina (the island's leading tourist trap) which makes an excellent twofer. Going up nearby Etna is great but not something to plan on - the summit is fogged in most days. Def a thing if it's clear, though. Following the lava path down to Catania is hilarious, because they they keep building around it. The holiday beaches below Taormina are a good place to hang w real Siciianos - my Nona was from that area is how i know - but they may be closed up by then. The old city of Siracusa is as captivating as the new part is boring and a great place to see the evidence of how many times Sicily has been conquered cuz all the influences are there. My favorite Sicilian spots are in the S & W but no time for that for you. Siracusa & Noto (a great food town) is a far better head than Messina or Palermo from where you are. Hope that helps. 

I hope to go back one day and check out more of the SE of the island.

 

[tri-man 47]

100% Do a tour of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  Coolest man-made thing I've ever seen, and it's not even close to being complete yet.

100% agree!  When you first step inside it's just stunning.  But pre-book your entry time!  And you probably don't need to take the extra time and cost of climbing up one of the towers.

You can also enjoy free walking/viewing of the National Palace (with great views from the top of the steps), La Rambla, and the Gothic Quarter.  All are very distinctive.

Watch for pickpockets!!!

 

[facook]

100% agree!  When you first step inside it's just stunning.  But pre-book your entry time!  And you probably don't need to take the extra time and cost of climbing up one of the towers.

You can also enjoy free walking/viewing of the National Palace (with great views from the top of the steps), La Rambla, and the Gothic Quarter.  All are very distinctive.

Watch for pickpockets!!!

Great point on prebooking the Sacre.  Otherwise you'll just be looking from outside.

Wife an I were on a work reward trip to Barcelona a couple of years ago, which is the extent of my experience there.  Day 1, group tour of the Sacre, and then bussing across town to Guell (or somewhere).  As we passed one end of Las Ramblas, our guide pics up his mic and in a beautiful thick Spanish accent: "Dees ees Las Ramblas.....down dees street are thow-sands....and thow-sands.....of peek-pockaits....."  And drops the mic.  Wife and I still use this line weekly.