When a lot of people think Italy, they think romance. The country often brings images to mind of canoodling in cobblestone streets or falling in love with a passionate local. But in my opinion, Italy is one of the best places to vacation with friends. Screw the romance, ditch your partner, call your friends and head off to Italy for one of the best goddamn trips of your life. When’s the last time you did something with friends, anyway? With work, life, marriage, kids, poodles, etc., it’s all too often that our friendships get put on the back-burner for all of these other relationships and responsibilities. And while it might seem like, “yeah, duh, that’s adult life,” the truth is that it’s not really great for our relationships or our mental health. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my husband. We’ve been going at it for 9 years strong and I am still completely and totally in love with him and I love being around him. But I’ll ditch him in a nanosecond for a coffee with one of my dear friends because I need that time to just be that version of myself, to connect in a different way, to, ya know, complain about my husband and his weird inability to clean up his fingernail clippings in the bathroom (gag!). Venting saves lives, people.
So why is Italy so great for friend travel? Well, one reason is that there’s a ton happening in a fairly small country which gives you the opportunity to do a lot of cool shit in a short amount of time. It’s totally feasible to travel from tip to tip in 10 days. That means you can cover everything from the Alps to some of the best beaches in Europe. And, it’s a great place for luxury on a budget! There’s wine tasting, great food, the whole shebang, and it costs a fraction of what it costs in like California or other places. Plus, you’re free from the confines of expectations abroad. Let your hair down, get weird, and just enjoy the people you love (you know, the ones who have been there through all of your breakups, births, bad hair decisions, and drunken stupidity).
Getting Around
There are a number of ways to get around on your trip once you land in Italy. You can rent a car, which I’d personally recommend, or you can take the train. The train gives you less flexibility (there are also frequent strikes where the train just doesn’t run) but it might reduce some of the stress of parking and figuring out how to interpret foreign signs etc.
Sample Itinerary (In this order)
Milan
Fly into Milan, spend a day or two resting, shopping, and lazily wandering around this gorgeous city. Pop some prosecco, then pack your shit and start the best friend trip of your life.
Turin
I’ve read that Turin was the original capital of a unified Italy and it’s the only city that can really lay claim to being “royal.” But the reason it should really kick off your trip is it’s one of the food capitals of Italy. What better way to start your vacation than by eating some of the best food in the world, drinking some of the best coffee in one of the many historic cafe’s, or having a cocktail and snacks in the city that invented the aperitivo. A mini-meal designed for snacks and a cocktail? That’s my kind of city.
Where to Eat:
Dai Saletta: This is an authentic trattoria in the middle of the city. The restaurant is famous for traditional dishes such as tajarin or brasato al barolo. The wine list is filled with bottles from small local producers selected with care. Dai Saletta, Via Belfiore 37, Turin, Italy, +39 011 6687867
Baratti & Milano: A bakery, cafe, restaurant, ice cream shop and bar all in one and it’s an ideal choice for an authentic piemontese lunch or an afternoon coffee and cake stop. Open daily for lunch until 2.30 p.m., diners are encouraged to go for the ‘barattino’ – a daily changing menu consisting of one primo, secondo and two side dishes of the chef’s choosing. The menu is short and consists mainly of mainstay local dishes, therefore you can’t make a wrong choice. Baratti & Milano, Piazza Castello 29, Galleria Subalpina, Turin, Italy, +39 114 407 138
AL GATTO NERO: It initially opened in 1927 and became a more formal restaurant in the 1950s. Fun fact: It’s still owned by the founding family. The restaurant still boasts a delicious traditional menu: Red tuna bottarga on soft potatoes, parpadelle ragu that has been slow-cooked in Barbaresco red wine and rich meat dishes. Al Gatto Nero was awarded two Michelin stars in the 1960s but unfortunately lost them in the 1980s (although the food quality reportedly hasn’t changed).
MAGORABIN: In old Torino dialect, the ‘magorabin’ is a bogeyman that forces children to finish their meals and I love that this is the name of the restaurant. The menu boasts a Michelin star and is inventive and elegant. There are four curated tasting menus – land, water, air and fire – but also à la carte options, and there is a huge wine cellar.
For a Vegan Dinner Option:
Vintage 1977: For only 24 euros you can enjoy a three-course vegan dinner that includes a vegetable appetizers, a gluten-free, vegan pasta course, and a sorbetto for dessert. http://vintage1997.com
Where to Get a Coffee:
Orso Laboratorio del Caffè at Via Claudio Luigi Berthollet, 30h, 10125 Torino TO, Italy.
Bar Pino at Via Mogadiscio, 16, 10146 Torino.
Caffè Torino in piazza San Carlo 204
Best Aperitivo:
Caffe Mulassano in Piazza Castello, 15.
Lobelix in Piazza Savoia 4.
Arancia di Mezzanotte in Piazza Emanuele Filiberto 11
Where to Stay: I typically recommend Airbnb if you’re traveling with a group of friends. It’s cheaper and more fun to stay together in a big place. Plus, it’s perfect for pre-gaming with a bottle of wine and if you’re like me and need tea or coffee while you’re getting ready in the morning. Example of a cute loft: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18153080. One caveat with Airbnb is that it can make apartments unbearably expensive for locals to rent or buy in their own city because big companies buy up property to rent out. So I prefer to do a little internet stalking to make sure the apartment is owned by a local human so that it benefits the locals and the local economy.
Florence
Florence is the place to go for wine tasting, cooking classes, and art galore. It’s a nice way to fall in love with your friends all over again. I’d consider it your “culture pit-stop” on your tour of Italy. Keep in mind that Florence is not always ideal during peak travel months (July-August) because the center is rather small and the tourists are many. However, if you step outside of the center you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quiet it can be.
Wine Tasting
I’d recommend either a day trip to Trebbio or doing a DIY wine walk around Florence (download the PDF here).
Cooking Classes
I can’t recommend a cooking class enough. Italian pros can do things with food that is borderline magic and there’s something about learning a skill together as a group that is always a great time. Some of my favorite memories in Italy revolve around me learning (or trying to learn) how to cook. Here are some classes I’d try:
Juls’ Kitchen (She’s a bit outside of Florence but if you’ve rented a car it won’t be an issue).
Art Museums and City Tours
I won’t list a ton of tours or museums for a reason: Tourist burnout is real. Sometimes we try to pack as much stuff into one experience as possible and what happens is the entire trip starts to feel exhausting and all of your memories will blur together. When you’re traveling in a group, this is how people get grumpy and you have a crap trip instead of an amazing one. Therefore, I’ve limited the sight-seeing to a minimum (trust me on this).
UFFIZI: The Uffizi is THE art museum of the city and one of the most important in the world. It houses an epic collection of Italian Renaissance art, featuring works by Botticelli, Titian, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Stepping inside is a wild ride for your eyes. It’s hard to believe that so much priceless beauty exists in one place. I’d recommend going early in the day or purchasing tickets online to skip the lines. Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122, Florence, Italy.
Accademia Gallery: If you want to see The David in all of his glory, this is the museum for you. Get ready for his giant…hands. Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze, Italia. Tel. +39 055 0987100
Florence Tours:
If you’re interested in the history of Florence (it’s pretty damn cool), I’d recommend doing a day tour. You can find a ton of companies in Florence but here are a few I’ve personally heard of or done a tour with:
Additionally, if you’d like to hire a private tour guide to take you around the city, I’d highly recommend my dear friend, Lucy, a licensed tour guide. I’ve known her for years and she’s fun, charming, and extremely knowledgeable about all things Florence. Tell her I sent you for a discount. You can contact her for rates and availability on her Instagram page.
Restaurants To Try
My girl at Girl in Florence has THE list of restaurants in Florence.
I’ Giuggiolo is where my husband and I had our first real date and it is still one of my fave restaurants for Florentine fare. It’s where a lot of the locals go in the Campo neighborhood where we lived for a while. Viale Augusto Righi 3 A/D, 50137, Firenze,
Due Fratellini is a must for a delicious panini while shopping. I dream about their sandwiches (note, they’re small so order two and a glass of wine). Via Dei Cimatori 38/r, 50122, Florence, Italy
A fellow blogger friend, Curious Appetite, has some amazing food tours that you should also check out.
Drinks:
Again, Georgette has THE list of where to get a drink in the city.
Where to Stay
Palazzo Belfiore is my favorite place in the city, hands down. The apartments are gorgeous, it’s in my fave neighborhood, and it’s run by the most helpful and sweetest Florentine man, Federico.
Airbnb or Flipkey. Again, apartments are my go-to when I’m traveling in a group. In addition to just being cheaper most of the time, and cozy, I like that I can wash my clothes and not have to pack a week of dirty panties and socks into my bag because ew. Seriously.
Naples
Pizza
Naples boasts the best pizza in the world but nobody seems to know just why it’s so delicious. Is it the water? The old ovens? The skill of the Neopolitan chefs? Nobody can say but one thing for sure is that for whatever reason the pizza really is better and pretty incredible. Once you have a good pizza in Naples, nothing else will ever measure up.
Tips on eating pizza in Italy: You’ll notice that many people use a knife and fork to eat their pizza. Also, you order one entire pizza per person. It might sound like a lot, but because the crust is so thin and the ingredients are so good you’ll be surprised by how much you can eat. I’m a tiny human and can easily down one pizza alone.
Sorbillo: This pizzeria has a reputation for being one of the best in Naples. You can find it on Via Dei Tribunali, 32, 80138, Napoli, Italia. Expect a long wait so I’d highly recommend you stop for aperitivo before heading over.
Da Michele: Loved by both locals and Italian tourists alike, Da Michele has been around for multiple generations. At this point, pizza runs in the families veins which ensures a delicious experience. As with Sorbilla, it has a reputation, which means you’ll have to wait. Via Cesare Sersale, 1 80139 – Napoli.
What To Do In Naples
Wander the streets, take scenic pictures of laundry hanging above the alleys, eat pizza, drink coffee (they tend to use a different roast in the south), and binge on Sfogliatelle (a pastry). Basically, just relax, eat and drink. Naples is a great place to observe humans because the culture is vibrant and thoroughly entertaining. Feeling mobile and adventurous? Go visit Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, or take a ferry to Capri. But if I were you, I’d just dine, walk, and chill.
Ponza-The Most Beautiful Italian Island You’ve Never Heard Of
Finish off your amazing bonding buddy trip with some much needed R&R in Ponza. It’s not far from Naples, is affordable, and there are very few tourists with the exception of Beyonce and Rihanna who I’ve heard visit the island regularly.
Where To Stay
As always, I recommend an Airbnb. I just personally like that I can make food if I want to, it’s cheaper and you can wash your clothes. If you’d prefer a hotel, my friend recommends Grand Hotel Santa Domitilla. It’s about $100 dollars per night, per person, but it’s pretty damn luxurious and totally worth the price for a few days if your group can swing it. It posts a cave pool, spa, a gorgeous cocktail/pool area, and a seaside view.
What To Do
Not a damn thing. Relax. You deserve it.
Any cities you think should be on the list for an epic friend trip? Did I miss your fave restaurant or cafe in one of these cities? Put it in the comments below and I’ll add it.
