Travel Facts

Mumbai India Travel Guide and Facts

2020-01-31T17:30:00.000+05:30

Mumbai India Travel Guide and Facts

(Image: Gateway of India, Mumbai)

(Image: Taj Hotel, Mumbai)

Mumbai India Travel Guide and Facts. Mumbai is a very interesting city because it's probably the most cosmopolitan of Indian cities and you've got people from all the way from India coming here to work and now there are lot of international expats as well. It is the financial capital of India.

This is the wealthiest city in India. There are more millionaires and billionaires here than any other city in central Asia. Let's find out more.

Mumbai airport

Mumbai is served by Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport it's brand new, only opened in 2014. It's clean, modern, spacious, full of great amenities and not too far out of town, only about 30 kilometres.
The easiest way to get from the airport into central Mumbai is a prepaid taxi. Just go downstairs from arrivals and you'll find the prepaid taxi desk. Tell the folks where you're going. They'll quote you a price but never pay more than 450 to 600 rupees for your journey. They'll give you a paper coupon with a taxi registration number written on it. Head outside, find that taxi and jump in the journey to Mumbai city centre. It can take from 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. Don't pay anything extra when you arrive at your destination. Because any fees or tolls are covered in the price you negotiated back at the airport.

Railways

(Image: local trains)

The railways are the nervous system of India, a byproduct of British colonialism. The very first railways in India started here in Mumbai. After she gained her independence India embraced optimise and expanded her railway system to extraordinary proportions and Mumbai with its extensive network covering the city is a great way to experience. Most people get around town using the suburban rail network otherwise known as locals.

Railway Indian

It is incredibly cheap to travel by train in India especially second-class but I strongly recommend that you splurge on a first-class ticket. This isn't about elitism, this isn't about snobbery, it's about survival as anybody here and I'll tell you the same thing. The second-class carriages are designed for the seasoned Mumbai commuter who is used to the jabbing and jostling and jam packing that happens day in and day out.

As a tourist you can buy the aptly named tourist ticket across 275 rupees or around 2 pounds 50 and allows you to travel in first-class on all three suburban lines all day. It's a good idea to figure out where the first-class compartment is before the train arrives. Lest you get caught swimming upstream when the train actually pulls in, the easiest way to figure out where the first-class compartment will be is to look for the walls and pillars that are painted with red and yellow diagonal stripes. Avoid using local trains during rush hour first-class or otherwise.

(Image: Rush hour crowd)

Rush-hour is around 8:30 a.m. To 10:30 a.m. For trains heading to awards south Mumbai and 5:30 p.m. To 8:30 p.m. For trains in the opposite direction if you have to travel during rush hour then avoid at all costs standing anywhere near the train doors otherwise you will be swarmed by a stampede of every-man-for-himself trying to get off the train while you are trying to get on.

CST

Image: Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)

If you're anywhere near Mumbai Central station or Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) as it's known, don't just run to your platform. Come outside and look at the building that mixture of traditional Indian architecture and Victorian Gothic revival is absolutely stunning and it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So give yourself a few minutes and just take a look.

Crossing the road in Mumbai can be exciting. There's a crosswalk in traffic lights but those seem merely suggestions and not the law.

Taxis

Taxis are cheap and plentiful. 10 pounds will get you from one end of the city to the other with no problem. The black and yellow cabs can often not always but often be a little on the older side and if you do decide to take a taxi new or old, insist on a metered journey using the meter inside the cab as opposed to a pre-negotiated fare which can often suddenly inflate at the end of your journey. Obviously most of the taxi drivers here are super honest but the less scrupulous ones tend to cluster around train stations and airports looking for a johnny sucker and janey tourists.

Uber

Another great way to get around Mumbai is Uber which is surprisingly prevalent in the city. There's a few options, Uber black which is your regular car air-conditioned comfortable usually with you in about 10 minutes. Or Uber wi-fi which is exactly as it sounds, a car equipped with wi-fi and in this city which doesn't have a whole lot of open wi-fi spots can be really actually very helpful.

Food
Mumbai is packed with cuisine that you are gonna fall in love with whatever you eat. You will never run out of new things to try as you explore the city. There are thousand types of food varieties. Some of the food varieties are so delicious that you can't just eat them once. When you taste one particular cuisine you crave for even more of it always.
Thali

A really great way to experience a whole bunch of different Indian flavors is with Thali which for one of a better comparison is like Indian tapas. You get a whole bunch of different Indian flavors and this is little mini dishes on this beautiful layout and the idea is to combine salt sweet bitter sour astringent spicy all in a one. It is really delicious. It's beautiful as well and this could be all vegetarian or all non vegetarian or mixture of both and you can't go wrong with this.

Food nearby

Around every corner in Mumbai you are assaulted by a new smell some awful but some incredible and almost invariably the incredible smells come from the street food. Mumbai is known for it's street food, mouthwatering street food. It's absolutely delicious.

Here you may look at Mumbai street food and think oh maybe I shouldn't try but trust me just do it. You will be rewarded with cheap amazingly delicious food. A few things to remember to really make the most out of your Mumbai street food experience, when you see a crowd gathered around a stall get in line. There is no better endorsement than popularity. Also, make sure that the snack that you're enjoying is cooked right in front of you and that they're using bottled or filtered water.

Lets find out what we should be eating, how we should eat it, where we should go to find the best eats in Mumbai. You get local Maharashtrian snacks in Mumbai. Maharashtra is the state to which Mumbai belongs to.

Poha and Upma
Poha is made with rice flakes. When you're having it with the peanuts and the curry leaves there's a nice textural contrast. If you come to the stall selling Poha or Upma around 8:30 am or 9:00 am there's a queue of people who come to have breakfast.

(Image: Poha)

(Image: Upma)

Tea

(Image: Cutting tea)

People also come at the stall (tea stall) for tea or chai. Tea stalls are found almost in every corner of the city on streets. Tea is loved in Mumbai. There's a lot milk in the tea and and they also put ginger and cardamom is called a masala chai. It is also called the cutting chai. It's hot tea but it cools you down.

Vada Pav

It was discovered in the 1970s. There is little crockett which is like mashed potato spiced covered with gram flour and deep fried and that's put into the bun pav (bread) with a bite of the green chilli and then you follow it up with some cutting chai and this is what keeps Mumbai on the go. And it's really cheap if you put the two of them together it's about 20 rupees. It's very filling and you should always choose a shop where there's a big crowd and where people are frying things constantly and it's everything's made fresh on the counter like. Like tea stalls Vada pav stalls are also in abundance in Mumbai. On every lane or inner road you will surely find one vada pav stall or shop. Mumbai can't live without vada pav, its that famous. It is like a necessity.

Money

India uses the rupee and generally comes in notes between 1 and 2000 rupees. Coins come between 1 and 10 rupees and ATMs are widely available now. Credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted in Mumbai especially in restaurants and in some of the chain stores.

But if you want to hit the streets in indulgence for that amazing street food cash is king. By western standards Mumbai is incredibly cheap. You can eat like a king for under 5 US Dollars but hotel bars and restaurants will charge you five to ten times what a local restaurant or bar will charge you.

For more on what things cost, let's do the rundown. A cup of coffee will cost you around a 100 rupees. A beer will cost you 110 rupees and for the most reliable indicator of a nation's cost the good old big Mac. The local, the Chicken Maharaja Mac is a 110 rupees or just over 1 pound.

Now on to tipping. It's actually relatively simple here if you're at a sit-down restaurant, tip 5 to 10 percent unless a service charge has been added to your bill. And a quick note on that. The service charge goes to the restaurant and its staff and the service tax goes to the government.

If you feel like doing some shopping, there are markets like Crawford market it's okay to haggle but only if you're serious about buying something.

BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex)

Bandra Kurla complex which is like the new central business district and and you've got all the swank restaurants over there all the new openings are over there. It's a completely different world that's new Mumbai. This is modern Mumbai and this is what Mumbai was.

Mumbai

Mumbai is a very interesting city because it's probably the most cosmopolitan of Indian cities and you've got people from all the way from India coming here to work and now there are lot of international expats as well. There are different parts of Mumbai in which different communities live like some people from Gujarat or from South India.

This is the wealthiest city in India. There are more millionaires and billionaires here than any other city in central Asia. It has the highest GDP of any city in central southern or western Asia.

Population

Mumbai is one of the most densely populated places on earth. 22 million people crammed into a space half the size of London. So getting around can sometimes be an adventure but it is doable. It is really cheap and sometimes it can be a lot of fun.

Poverty

If you take a look around among that wealth and that opulence there is poverty. You can walk through a slum and in the next minute into a Bentley dealership. The divide between rich and poor has never felt greater than here in Mumbai and yet somehow in spite of this economic inequality the city works the collective cacophony that's generated by the ebb and flow 22 million people crisps crossing the city.

Spirit of Mumbai

It can seem intimidating but I've noticed something and I think that you will too. Everywhere you go people have been so friendly no matter where you are. People will greet you with smiles and salutations. It's a wonderful feeling and I think that something Mumbai can be incredibly proud of. This city grabs you by all your senses and doesn't let you go until the moment you step on the air plane at the end of your trip.

Mumbai may feel overwhelming at first but in a few days that you spend here you will know that it is never unsafe here, surely you take the same precautions as you would in any other city.

It's hot, it is chaotic, it is noisy but those are all wonderful things. It's everything a city should be
Thank you for reading Mumbai India Travel Guide and Facts.

Venice Italy Travel Tips And Things To Know

2020-01-29T13:39:00.001+05:30

Venice Italy Travel Tips And Things To Know

Venice Italy Travel Tips And Things To Know. In this blog, we'll cover all you need to know before travelling to Venice like what's the best time to visit, how to get around the city and use public transportation, best apps to use in Venice and other useful information.
#Venice #Italybestplaces #Venicecanals

Here are 17 essential tips:

17. The map of Venice

Venice is located in the Venetian Lagoon. The city of Venice lies in the center of the lagoon and is connected to the mainland by a road and train cosway. The train station of Santa Lucia and parking lots are located northwest. This is usually your gateway to Venice.
Close to the station is the Venetian ghetto, one of the first Jewish ghettos in the world.
Venice Grand Canal
The main waterway in Venice which runs through the city is called Grand Canal. Here you can find the famous Venetian palazzos, churches and the impressive Rialto Bridge.
Saint Mark's Square, the center of Venice, home to Basilica di San Marco, the Campanile bell tower and Doges Palace is located Southeast of Rialto Bridge. If you continue further East you will find Venetian Arsenal, an ancient shipyard and armory and now one of the main venues of the Venetian Biennale. Islands the Venetian lagoon include Murano, famous for Venetian or Murano glass, colorful island of Burano, Torcello, San Michelle cemetery island, and others.

The famous Venice International Film Festival takes place on Lido which separates the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. To get a better sense of the distance: a 1.3-mile long walk from Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark's Square takes about 30 minutes.

16. Weather and Climate

Venice has Mediterranean climate with four seasons and the temperatures range from 32 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to 95 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, however, due to the nearby sea the temperatures are usually not too low even in the winter. The air is usually humid year-round, rain is difficult to predict and the weather can change within a few hours.
Spring offers moderate temperatures with lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s, summers are hot and humid ranging from 60s to 90s. Weather in the fall is again more pleasant with temperatures ranging between the 40s and low 70s and the winter months are not extremely cold usually between 30s and low 50s.

When Venice floods
Unfortunately, Venice is sometimes flooded. In fact, this happens so often that the phenomenon has its own name: Acqua Alta or high water in English. The risk of Acqua Alta gets higher in winter so make sure to check the weather forecast even when you're in Venice.

15. Best time to visit

Best time to visit Venice is between April and June in the spring and September and October in the fall when the weather is cooler but still pleasant to walk outside and the herds of tourists are gone. However, Venice is a popular destination year-round and there can be a lot of tourists visiting practically at any given day. And since Venice is known to hold special events such as the carnival in winter or the Venice International Film Festival in late summer, if you are not planning to be there for these events make sure to check that you are not travelling on those dates since your accommodation will likely cost more.

14. Venice entry fee

From May 2019 Venice has introduced an entry fee for daily visitors. The entry fee for 2019 is fixed at 3 EUR and will eventually cost between 3 and 10 EUR, depending on the season. However, if you're staying in Venice overnight you will be excluded from paying the entry fee as you are already paying the tourist city tax with your hotel.

13. CURRENCY

The currency used in Venice is Euro, used in most European countries, including Italy. €1 is worth approx. $1.13. While most hotels, stores, and restaurants in Venice accept major credit cards, it is wise to always have some Euros in your wallet.

12. General information

Venice is an extraordinary city but with its uniqueness come all sorts of things one should know before travelling there. Unless you're staying in a luxury hotel where your baggage is handled by someone else don't bring heavy baggage as you will probably have to cross a few bridges before arriving at your hotel. You can also leave your baggage in certain areas such as the train station.

Don't feed the pigeons. While pigeons are almost a symbol of Venice’s St Mark’s Square, it is illegal to feed them.

It is also illegal to eat on the walls canals or stairs as well as to swim in the canals. If you want to swim Venice has its own beach on the outer side of lido.

Public toilets will cost you money, usually between €1 and €1.5. If you visit bars restaurants or museums, toilets are usually free for the guests.
Exploring Venice can sometimes seem like walking in the labyrinth. However, don't panic. There are a lot of signs around town to get you unlost.
Drinking water: tap water in Venice is perfectly safe to drink. Additionally, drinking water is available for free at numerous water fountains spread out across Venice where you can fill up your water bottle and even save some money that way.

11. Safety

Venice is generally a very safe destination, so you normally shouldn’t be worried about specific areas to avoid or staying inside at night. However, typical for all major tourist destinations, pay attention to pickpockets, especially in the crowded areas close to major attractions. For emergency services dial 112.

10. Where to stay

While staying anywhere in Venice is an interesting experience, there are areas which will make your stay even more exciting. The best places to stay are: The San Marco district, stretching from St Mark’s Square to the Accademia bridge. This way you will be located right in the the historic center of Venice.

Castello, where you will find many luxury hotels and nice bars and restaurants. San Polo district, located close to the Rialto Bridge, and home to shops and bars selling the famous ciccetti, a Venetian version of Spanish tapas.
Dorsoduro if you want to stay in the area with fashion boutiques and close to university or Canareggio, located close to the train station and the Jewish Ghetto. But Venice is not too big and as long as you are staying in centro storico or the historic center in English, major attractions are just minutes away. The average price for a hotel in Venice is $115. Of course, you can get your accommodation for less than that. If you want to save on accommodation, you can consider staying on the mainland, however, you will have to travel to Venice every day instead of being located close to the major attractions.

9. Transportation

Venice has two airports: Marco Polo, the main airport, located in the Venetian lagoon and Treviso airport, mostly used by low-fare airlines such as Ryanair. To get to Venice from Marco Polo, you can choose between the following options: Either airport bus or local bus usually departing every 30 minutes. A water bus which will take you directly to Venice. While train is an option, we do not recommend it, as you have to take a short bus ride to the station.

You can also take a taxi or transfer which will cost you about 50 EUR, but, since Venice has no roads, they can only drop you off at Piazzale Roma, next to Santa Lucia train station. However, if you take a water taxi, departing from the same location as the water bus, you can arrive directly to your destination in Venice, which is very convenient, but also quite expensive, anywhere between 100 and 150 EUR.

Renting a car is more or less useless since you can’t drive in Venice, unless, of course, you are planning to travel to other places to Italy as well. Treviso airport is located 25 miles from Venice. You can either take an ATVO bus which takes 70 minutes and drops you off at Piazzale Roma or Brazi bus that drops you off at Tronchetto.
Arriving by train in Venice
In case you are arriving to Venice by train, you will arrive to Santa Lucia train station, which is conveniently located on the outskirts of the historic centre.

Arriving by car in Venice

If you are arriving to Venice by car, you will have to leave your car in one of the garages on the mainland or on the island, close Santa Lucia station. Parking price is between 20 and 30 EUR per day or even less if you want to leave your car further inland and take a short bus ride to Venice.

Getting around the city

The only transportation is Venice is on water. It is even illegal to use bikes in Venice. So be prepared to walk a lot. However, walking in Venice is rewarding since you can discover something exciting almost around every corner.
Venice has a good public water transportation system called Vaporetto. There are several lines, and numerous stations. One-way ticket for 75 minutes costs 7.50 EUR, the 24-hour ticket is 20 and 48-hour Vaporetto ticket is 30 EUR. You can always get a water taxi. The cost of water taxi in Venice is 13 EUR for the initial charge plus 1.80 EUR per minute.
Venice Canals and Gondolas
And, of course, Venice is best known for gondolas, an iconic rowing boat that has been used for centuries. While gondolas offer a wonderful romantic experience, they are certainly not cheap. A 40-minute ride costs anywhere from 80 EUR during the day and over 100 EUR during the night. If you want to share a ride and save some money, there’s an app that offers that service.

8. Best apps to use in Venice

Here is the list of useful apps to use: Wi-Fi map or Wi-Fi finder which helps you find Wi-Fi throughout Venice. Venice guide and offline city map offers in-depth travel content and popular attractions. Use Google Maps or Apple maps for walking. Due to narrow streets and tall houses, they do not operate great, but you will certainly know which area you are in. Google Maps also lets you download your map which is a great option if you don't want to use your roaming . However, many people prefer to use paper map in Venice. AVM Venezia Official App is great for public transportation info including a trip planner and timetables.

Google Maps and Moovit also offer Vaporetto information. hi!tide Venezia, to check timings and heights of water in Venice in case of aqua alta. Il meteo, the Italian weather app, available in English. Or, of course, any other good weather app. Kishare, an app that connects travellers who want to share gondolas, lagoon tours, and water taxis in Venice. AppTaxi, where you can book a water taxi. WC Venice that helps you find public toilets in Venice. It also lets you find drinking fountains. Trip advisor and Yelp for restaurant, hotel, museum, or tour reviews.

7. Venice is crowded

With limited space and narrow streets, Venice can get very crowded, especially during summer. So be prepared to wait in lines in restaurants, attractions, etc.

6. City tours

Walking tours of Venice are organized by professional tour guides who known great deal about the city’s rich history, legends, etc. A great way to discover Venice. Some providers even offer free walking tours of Venice, however, at the end of the tour it is recommended to give a donation of your choice to the tour guides.

5. For international travellers

If you’re coming from outside Europe, or the UK, you will probably need a special European power adaptor to charge your phone and other devices. This is what the European power plug looks like.

We recommend purchasing a power adaptor before travelling to Venice. In fact, it is worth buying the adaptor for the entire world so you can use in in other countries too. You can purchase the prepaid SIM card to access internet on your phone with one of the carriers like TIM or Vodafone in one of their stores in Venice, however, be prepared to show your passport and fill out the documentation, as is required by the Italian law. If you are from the US you can consider using Google Fi. Alternatively, you can consider renting Pocket WiFi.

4. Food and drinks

Venice offers some great restaurants. We suggest using Yelp or TripAdvisor to find a nearby place with good reviews. Try to avoid sitting down in the restaurants next to major attractions, many times you can find a much better price/quality ratio restaurants a street or two away from the main locations.

Same with bars. For instance, a cappuccino just around the corner from St Marks Square cost us only 1.50 EUR. There are also some great fast food pasta places, like Dal Moro’s where you can get a delicious “Pasta to go” for just 7 EUR. Tipping in Venice is not mandatory, however, most places will charge you a cover charge for sitting down or what is is called coperto in Italian, usually a couple of Euros per person and in some cases also the service charge on top, usually around 10% of the bill. You can also buy something to eat or drink in a grocery store. You can use Google Maps or a similar app to locate one near you. Or you can even buy fresh fruits at a local street market.

3. Venice city pass

Venice offers a city pass called Venezia Unica where you can save some money if you are planning to visit several museums and other attractions and want to skip the line at some locations. With Venezia Unica city pass you also don’t need any printed tickets and can use your phone instead. Venezia Unica works with the AVM Venezia Official App that we described before. You can even choose a city pass that combines attractions and public transportation.

2. Famous events in Venice

Venice is home to several world-famous events. The Venetian Carnival takes place every year 40 days before Easter. Venetian Carnival has a long tradition and is probably one the world’s most extravagant masquerades. The Biennale is a prominent international art exhibition organized once every two years held over the course of several months. In addition to the Biennale of Art, Venice hosts the Biennale of Architecture, and other similar events. The Venice International Film Festival is one of the most recognized film festivals in the world, attracting celebrities from all around the globe.

1. Best views of Venice

For the best views of Venice, visit at least one of the following locations: Campanile di San Marco, located on St Marks Square, with the highest observation deck in Venice. The ticket costs 8 EUR. San Giorgio Maggiore, a small island, located opposite St Marks Square. T Fondaco dei Tedeschi Rooftop Terace On top of Rialto Bridge and Ponte dell'Accademia, The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo Skyline Rooftop Bar, with great panoramic city views. And other interesting locations.

There are lot many things to explore in Venice. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the World. Please make sure to read and to do some research on Venice Italy Travel Tips And Things To Know.

Italy Best Places To Visit

2020-01-28T17:26:00.001+05:30

Italy Best Places To Visit

Italy Best Places To Visit. Located in Southern Europe, this boot-shaped country is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations for a number of reasons that include art treasures, trendy fashion, stunning landscapes, passionate people and top-class cuisine. Italy offers so much to see and do that it would take a lifetime to explore.

Here's a look at the best places to visit in Italy:

10. Naples

One of the busiest metropolitan cities in the country, Naples is the capital of the Campania region in Southern Italy. The city of Naples offers a treasure trove of art works and historic sites as well as a vibrant atmosphere of shops, restaurants and nightlife venues. Many favorite Italian foods originated from here such as pizza, spaghetti and parmigiana. These dishes are taken seriously in Naples and usually feature fresh, locally grown ingredients.

As it is nearby famous sites like the Bay of Naples and Pompeii, Naples presents an ideal base to stay while exploring the area.

9. Italian Lake District

The Italian Lake District stretches across Northern Italy. The southern ends of most of the lakes are relatively flat but the northern ends are mountainous as the lakes reach deep into the Alps. Popular with tourists for over 100 years, the Italian Lakes combine good weather with attractive scenery. Garda is the largest lake, and offers stunning scenery, especially in its mountainous northern stretches. Como is equally stunning, with forested slopes rising directly from the water’s edge. Further west, Maggiore is less popular yet just as beautiful, with several popular family resorts.

8. Sicily

The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is an autonomous region of Italy that also includes several smaller isles. It is separated from the mainland region of Calabria by the 2 mile Straits of Messina. Home to every great Mediterranean civilization, Sicily is rich in art and history; from Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples to Palermo’s Baroque churches. The island’s most striking geological feature is Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano.

7. Cinque Terre

Meaning “Five Lands,” Cinque Terre comprises the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso and Corniglia. Located in Italy’s northwestern coastal region of Liguria, the villages of Cinque Terre feature some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes that include steep cliff sides and wine terraces dating back to hundreds of years. Among its many gems, Cinque Terre boasts a centuries-old complex of hiking paths that offer some of Italy’s most stunning coastal views. The Blue Trail is a paved trail connecting all five of the villages and is suitable for all ages.

6. Milan

Nearly destroyed from heavy bombing during WWII, Milan has since reconstructed and now shines as one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. Widely regarded as a mega fashion center teeming in designer shops, Milan also attracts many to its surviving world famous treasures like Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Last Supper, the La Scala Opera House, the Castello Sforzesco and one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. Nonetheless, Milan sometimes appears less Italian compared to the country’s predominantly historic cities and more of a glamorous city with modern architecture.

5. Amalfi Coast

Situated in Italy’s southwestern region of Campania, the Amalfi Coast is known for its extraordinary beauty that makes it one of Italy’s top tourist destinations. Stretching 30 miles along the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast is prized for its picturesque coastline that features shimmering bays, craggy cliffs, lemon tree gardens, multicolored villas and ritzy resorts. One of the most romantic and posh towns along the Amalfi Coast is Positano with its beautiful pebbled beaches, pastel houses and scenic mountains. One of the larger towns, Amalfi, features lovely plazas lined with restaurants while the town of Ravello is favored for its beautiful villas of gardens and art works.

4. Pompeii

One of Italy’s most visited tourist destinations, Pompeii is a famous Roman city which was buried under several feet of volcanic ash for nearly 1,700 years after the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Excavation of Pompeii began in 1748, and the site is yet to be totally unearthed. The site is located near the modern city of Naples. A tour of Pompeii offers a fascinating insight into the everyday life of the ancient Roman world. Visitors can walk along the ancient streets to see the remains of bakeries, brothels and baths.

3. Venice

One of the most beautiful destinations in Europe, Venice is a unique city in that is built upon a lagoon surrounded by the Adriatic Sea. Located in northeastern Italy, Venice is an archipelago of 118 islands all connected by hundreds of beautiful bridges and scenic canals. Of the canals, the Grand Canal is most famous and divides the city into two sections. Picturesque waterways and historic architecture make Venice one of the most romantic cities in the world. Venice is often crowded but well worth visiting to see its magnificent landmarks like Saint Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doge’s Palace and Rialto Bridge. One of the most popular things to do is to take a gondola ride along one of its many canals.

Also read, Venice Italy Travel Tips And Things To Know

2. Tuscany

Italy’s most famous region, Tuscany conjures images of beautiful rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees. The many pleasures of Tuscany include tasting wine in Chianti, simply relaxing in hill towns such as San Gimignano or exploring Renaissance art in Florence. The medieval city of Siena also holds excellent works of art while its historic center is one of the most popular places to visit in Italy. Elba, the largest of several Tuscan islands, offers great beaches while Pisa is world-famous for its Leaning Tower.

1. Rome

Formerly the capital of the Roman Empire, Rome today is the government seat and capital city of Italy. Located in the country’s central region of Lazio, Rome is a vast and complex city that is both historic and modern at the same time. Best known for housing ancient Roman structures and the Vatican City, Rome has endured for more than 2,500 years as an important center for culture, power and religion. From ancient romantic plazas to stunning cathedrals and Renaissance architecture, there is so much to see and do in Rome, that it could take months or even years to see it all.

There is so much to explore in Italy. Italy is truly beautiful. This is just a small effort to put some best places together. However, there are many other places which could not be included here. We have seen Italy best places to visit. I hope you like them.