travel – Page 10 – The Wknd Travel

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

My friends and I parted ways after visiting France and Italy. They all left Milan and flew back to Manila while I stayed for 4 more days and flew to my next destination – Barcelona, Spain. I was supposed to fly to either Copenhagen (again) or Berlin but I decided to fly to Spain (with Vueling on flight VY 6333) to spend some time with friends. I met with Nico, a friend who I met in Prague in 2019, and spent the last 4 days of this trip in the bustling city of Barcelona. I also met with my Barcelona-based friends who I met in Komodo, Indonesia back in 2017.

I intentionally did not go all out in exploring Barcelona. I had a hectic schedule around France and Italy in the last 2 weeks; I decided to just take it slow, be lazy and enjoy the city without any pressure of seeing everything. I missed a lot of spots; I did not go inside the beautiful museums and buildings. At least I have a reason to go back to the city in the future. For now, allow me to share some details plus photos I took during these 4 days in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Barcelona (the city) is the capital of Barcelona province and the autonomous community of Catalonia. This port city and commercial center is the 2^nd most populous city next to the capital Madrid. The city is known for its iconic structures such as La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – all designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, the city is also known for its world-class cuisine, lively night scene, distinct history and culture and of course, its outstanding football team – FC Barcelona.

Paella – one of the best known Spanish dish. Had this in Vinitus – one of my best meals in BCN 😋

Accommodation

I noticed that Barcelona has cheaper accommodation prices compared to Florence, Milan and Paris but I still decided to stay in a hostel. I booked my 4 nights with Yeah Hostel Barcelona – a multi-awarded large hostel in the middle of the city in Eixample area.

I booked my stay with Agoda and paid ₱5,589.42 – that is ₱1,397.36 per night in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. I recently wrote about my solid and memorable hostel experience with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Going Around Barcelona

Going around the city of Barcelona is easy and convenient. The important and famous places to visit are all connected by the city’s wide metro / subway network. These places are also connected by a more extensive local bus network. The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants, locally known as Sants Estación. This station connects Barcelona to the rest of the country and internationally.

I purchased the T-casual Individual Ticket for €11.35 and got 10 single journey trips of up to 75 minutes each within Zone 1 (city center area). I ended up only using 4 trips out of the 10 allowed because I walked around the city most of the time. Barcelona is a walkable city; its sidewalks and streets are pedestrian friendly.

Places Visited in Barcelona

As mentioned above, I did not bother to go around and visit as many places as I can. I still saw a few ones in these 4 days.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – The Sagrada Família is the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the church started construction back in the 1882 and is still under construction as of writing. According to the latest reports, it is set to be completed in 2026. Entry tickets cost €26 per person.

Park Güell – Park Güell is a park located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The park houses unique masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudí. It also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Park entry tickets cost €10 per person.

La Pedrera-Casa Milà – Casa Milà is a private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí for the Milà Family. The building is also one of Gaudí’s last masterpieces. Entry tickets to the building cost €25 per person.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is masterpiece made by Antoni Gaudí for Lluís Sala Sánchez. A few decades after, the property was bought by the Batlló Family. The house was passed on to several owners and has been refurbished a few times to what it is now. Entry tickets to the building cost from €29 per person

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – Commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral, this church is famous for its gothic and neo-gothic architectural style. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

Plaça de Catalunya – Known as Catalonia Square in English, Plaça de Catalunya is a large public square in the center of Barcelona. It is often regarded as the centermost part of the city. It is also the final stop of the Aerobus from BCN Airport.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the city’s historic old center. It is one of the oldest surviving parts of Barcelona that has some historical landmarks in it. These landmarks include the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, the Roman and Medieval walls and a whole lot more. This is the place where you will see small pedestrian streets with higher walls and balconies.

La Rambla – La Rambla is a pedestrian-only tree-lined street that spans 1.2-kilometers from Plaça de Catalunya. The street is full of cafes, restaurants and shops which tourists love to visit.

Passeig de Gràcia – Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s famous shopping street that leads to Gràcia. Think of a brand and this brand will most likely have a store or branch along this street. It is the shopaholic’s place-to-be.

Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia – Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia is a small public square in Gràcia that houses the iconic Clock Tower. This small square is mostly visited by locals and is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants.

Ciutadella Park – Ciutadella Park is a 31-hectare public park found in the middle of the city. It is a famous picnic and leisure place among the locals and is the city’s largest green space.

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is a famous church known for its Catalan Gothic-style of architecture. It is uniquely-designed, not found in most medieval large structures.

Arc de Triomf – Arc de Triomf is a triumphal arch built by Spanish architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in the 1880s. The arch leads to Ciutadella Park.

La Barceloneta – La Barceloneta is the seaside neighborhood of Barcelona. It is area full of restaurants, bars, hotels and even clubs; it is a famous destination every summer.

Missed Places

I stayed in Barcelona for 4 full lazy days and I have not been to many places. I have seen the usual ones but I have not explored them deeply. For one, I have not been inside the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. I also have not been to FC Barcelona’s home turf and one of the biggest stadiums in Europe – Spotify Camp Nou.

I also missed out going to the beautiful mountain range of Montserrat and the Benedictine Monastery found on top of the mountain. These missed places are enough to convince me that I need to go back and explore Barcelona more in the future.

And that’s a wrap! This ends my quick 4-day stay in Barcelona. I know I did not go and explore that much but I still had a great time with friends.

Have you visited the city in the past? Did you like it? It has a different but more youthful vibe than the other cities I have been – I still like it! Which places did you enjoy most? If you have not been, which specific place are you looking forward to seeing? Share you thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s N9 in Europe post. n case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano, Lake Como and Milan on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital

After going around Paris, Rome and Florence for almost 2 weeks, we headed to the capital of Italy’s Lombardy Region – Milan! We took Flixbus from Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station to Milan San Donato Station and only paid €8.99 per person. We found the travel experience to be comfortable, quick and affordable. We stayed in Milan for 4 full days, enjoyed the city and even took a day trip out to the nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano. Know more about our adventures in today’s post about the beautiful city of Milan.

Before exploring Milan, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany Region!

Milan

Milan (Italian: Milano) is the capital of the Lombardy Region in the northern part of the country. It is the country’s financial, business and fashion capital. It is the home of the country’s stock exchange – Borsa Italiana. The city is also the home of many headquarters and offices of both national and international companies. The city is one of the world’s fashion capitals with many luxurious brands headquartered in the Italian metropolis; it also hosts the world-famous semi-annual Milan Fashion Week.

Milan is an important Italian city – it is the center of business, trade, finance, fashion and all other aspects.

Accommodation

Milan, like Florence and Rome, is a popular tourist destination to local and international visitors. The city’s profile and popularity led to surging accommodation costs anywhere in the city. The city’s accommodation options are far more expensive than Rome and Florence’s options.

My friend and I were travelling on a budget. We decided to go for a hostel and booked 4 nights at YellowSquare Milan. We stayed in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory and paid €109.24 each (charged ₱6,644.92 by our local credit card) – the most we paid in an accommodation during our trip to Italy. We had a great stay with YellowSquare.

I recently wrote about YellowSquare Milan and our hostel experience for 4 nights; I hope you can check out YellowSquare Milan’s Hostel of the Day feature here.

Going Around Milan

Going around Milan is easy. The main and important parts of the city are connected by an extensive metro and bus network. The city’s main train stations are Milano Centrale and Milan Porta Garibaldi. The city’s main bus stations for intercity travel are Milan Lampugnano Bus Station in the north and Milan San Donato Bus Station in the south.

My friend and I purchased 10 single-journey tickets (carnet) each and used these tickets during our 4-day in Milan. These tickets are sold from €18 to €20 per 10 tickets, depending on the price the tabaccheria has.

Citywalkers Milan Free Tour

You might have noticed that I am a fan of free (tip-based) city walking tours. I consider this as the best way to learn about a city while not spending too much on private guides and tours. During our visit to Milan, my friend and I joined the 10:00am Citywalkers Milan Free Tour in English.

Our tour guide, Marco, shared the history of the city, its landmarks and the stories behind them for almost 3 hours. He literally walked us through the University of Milan, the Duomo Cathedral, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, the Theatre and Square Alla Scala, the Merchant’s Square and the Business Square.

Lugano & Lake Como Day Tour

My friend and I took advantage of our stay in Milan and decided to go on a day tour to Lugano and Lake Como. We joined Citywonders’ 10.5-hour day tour that explored Lugano (in Switzerland), Bellagio and Como (in Italy) and traversed Lake Como by ferry and local boat. We paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each for the guided tour and all modes of transportation – lunch and snacks not included.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts; I hope you can check out our Lugano and Lake Como Day Tour Photoblog here.

Places Visited in Milan

Like any other city, Milan has a long list of places to visit and check out while in the city. However, my friend and I decided to relax during this leg of the trip and just went to the usual ones. We spent a considerable amount of time shopping and looking for stuff to bring home since Milan was the last stop of my friend’s trip. We still visited a few notable places within the city.

Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) – Duomo di Milano is a cathedral in the center of Milan dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The cathedral took 6 centuries to finish and has witnessed different rulers and leaders throughout the period.

Today, this Duomo is the most famous landmark in Milan. Millions of people visit the cathedral every year. The cathedral can be accessed for a fee from its interiors to the rooftop. My friend and I decided not to go inside the Duomo but basically went to the place everyday during our stay in the city.

Cathedral Square (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The cathedral square is the largest public square in Milan bounded by the Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is also the famous meeting spot / area in Milan.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping arcade and gallery in all of Italy. Named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the galleria opened in 1877 and is shaped like a cross covered by glass dome and roofing. The shopping arcade also houses luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and the likes.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – Dubbed as the Golden Rectangle of Fashion in Milan, Quadrilatero d’Oro is Milan’s main shopping district. Think of a worldwide fashion brand and you will certainly find it here. My friend and I walked around the shopping district for days and we still have not been to all shops. Milan is the place to go for shopping.

The Last Supper Museum (Italian: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano) – One of the most interesting places we went to in Milan is the Last Supper Museum. The museum houses the Last Supper Mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the last 15^th century.

People go inside the museum and the mural area by groups. Each group is given around 30 minutes to look at the mural. Tickets to the museum cost €15 per person and are pre-booked online. Tickets usually sell out fast; it is best to book tickets months before your intended visit.

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie – Right beside the Last Supper Museum is the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Last Supper Mural is part of the heritage-listed church complex since the 1400s.

Merchant’s Square (Italian: Piazza Meranti) – The Merchant’s Square is an important hub of commerce and politics in Milan since the Middle Ages. It is the place for trade and business for most locals during that time.

Serravalle Designer Outlet Day Trip

While in Milan, my friend and I decided to check out one of the biggest designer outlets in the country – Serravalle Designer Outlet. Located a little over an hour away from Milan in the commune of Serravalle Scrivia, this village-type outlet has over 180 specialty stores offering designer-branded items at big discounts.

We took the timed Autostradale Viaggi shuttle bus from Milan to the outlet and back for €20 (November 2022 price) per person. We only went to selected stores and did not have the chance to go around everything. We managed to find some good stuff for ourselves and our families back here in the Philippines. It was a successful day at the outlet village.

Missed Places

As mentioned in the start of this blog, we took our time going around the city and focused more on getting stuff to bring back to the Philippines. We had to miss some notable places to visit like Sforzesco Castle, Teatro alla Scala (from the inside), Pinacoteca Di Brera, Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and Navigli Lombardi. These places are already enough to lure us back to Milan in the future.

Milan may not be everyone’s favorite city but it surely has its own charm. Yes, it is the best shopping destination in Italy but it offers more beyond that image. The city has interesting museums and landmarks that are unique in the world.

Have you been to Milan? How did you find the city? Which places were your favorites and which places did you regret going to? Feel free to share your Milan adventures and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Milan or anything mentioned above? You may also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining me in today’s run-through of our time in Milan last year. Milan was my friend Leng’s final European city on this trip. We spent most of our time just enjoying the city’s vibe and the cold weather, going around supermarkets for food finds and shopping for our friends and loved ones back home. We will surely go back to Milan to explore more.

In case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano and Lake Como on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to my last destination on this trip – Barcelona, Spain!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City

After spending almost 2 weeks around Paris and Rome, my friend and I moved to a new Italian city where the Renaissance period started – Florence (Italian: Firenze). We explored the Tuscan capital and the nearby cities (and towns) for 4 full days and 4 nights.

Allow me to share with you what we did on these 4 full days and know why this beautiful city became our favorite of all the cities we visited in this trip.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris and Rome. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2 & Rome Part 3!

Florence

Florence (Italian: Firenze) is a city located in the center of Italy. It is the capital of the Tuscan Region and is known for its architecture, culture and iconic monuments and buildings. The city is known as the Cradle of Renaissance. The Florentines had a strong influence in the world’s transition from the Middle Ages to the period of rebirth or renaissance. Influential people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Dante Alighieri all came from Florence.

Accommodation

Florence is a popular Italian destination to millions of people from all over the world. This popularity led to high accommodation costs – even higher than Rome’s. My friend and I were travelling on a budget and decided to book with a high-rated but affordable shared accommodation.

We booked our 4-night stay with a recently-opened, lively and social hostel named YellowSquare Florence. We got a bed each in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room and were able to rest well after long walks during the day.

I wrote about our YellowSquare Florence hostel experience and posted it in the recent Hostel of the Day Feature. I hope you can check that out.

Going Around Florence

Going around Florence is easy. Most of the spots to visit are all within the city center. The best way to explore the city center is by foot. There are no trains or trams within the center; the nearest tram stop to the city center is Unità on the Tram Line 2 Vespucci.

The city’s main train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (Italian: Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Stazione di Santa Maria Novella), is 1 stop away from Unità. It is 10 minutes away by foot (850 meters) from the Duomo, 13 minutes away by foot (1.1 kilometers) from the Accademia Gallery and 15 minutes away by foot (1.3 kilometers) from the Uffizi Gallery.

La Bussola Free Walking Tours

To get to know the city and its history more, my friend and I joined 2 free (tip-based) walking tours with a local company called La Bussola. We joined the morning Medici Free Tour with Katerina; we learned about the Medici Family, how they came into power and how Florence developed under their rule. We also joined the afternoon Genius Free Tour with Giachomo; we learned about the Florence icons named Dante, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Da Vinci and Galileo and how they influenced the people and the society during their time.

We had fun in these 2 tours. We knew a lot about the city and its influences and we even got local food recommendations. We encourage you to join these free tours during your visit to Florence. Please check out their website and book your tour slots with them.

Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour

During our stay in Florence, my friend and I went on a day tour to check out a few places in the Tuscan Region. We joined Sightseeing Experience’ Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour; we visited Pisa, the Pietraserena Wine Estate, San Gimignano and Siena. We paid €71.10 each for this 11.5-hour tour.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts. Check out the Tuscany Experience Classic Tour post here.

Places Visited in Florence

There are a lot of museums and places to visit in Florence. We spent 3 full days (not including the Tuscany Experience Day Tour) around the city and we still have not been to all. We chose the places we wanted to visit and took our time in each place.

Gallery of the Academy of Florence (Italian: Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze) – The Accademia Gallery is famous for Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the statue of David. Aside from this, the gallery also has paintings and sculptures of other great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Del Sarto. Another section that stood out to me is Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery.

Entry tickets cost €16 (including online convenience fee) per person during our visit. These have been increased to €17 as per my recent check. Tip: Book your tickets in advance and get the earliest timeslot to have the statue of David to yourself.

Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery

The Church of Orsanmichele – This church is one of the oldest in Florence. It was built by the guilds in the kitchen garden of Saint Michele Monastery.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian: Duomo di Firenze) – This cathedral is the city’s cathedral built in the 1200s to the 1400s and is one of the largest in the world. Designed by di Cambio, this Catholic church is known for its striking green, pink and white marble panels. A part of the cathedral is open to the public and is free to visit.

Cathedral Plaza (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The is a vibrant retail area outside the cathedral. Shops, restaurants and cafes mainly comprise this plaza.

The Bargello – Also known as Palazzo del Popolo, this old building was once the office of the city’s captain. It also served as barracks and a prison. The building has been converted to an art museum. Museum tickets cost €11 per person.

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence (Italian: Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze) – Dubbed as the Pantheon of Florence, this gothic minor cathedral has 16 chapels, tombs and funerary monuments of famous people such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Bartolini and Vasari. Entry tickets cost €8 per person.

Piazza Santa Croce – This plaza is in front of the Basilica of the Holy Cross. During our visit last November 2022, this plaza hosted Florence’ Christmas Market.

Republic Square (Italian: Piazza della Repubblica) – Piazza della Repubblica is one of the city squares in Florence. It is believed to be the site of the city’s forum back in the days.

Palazzo Vecchio – Also known as Palazzo della Signoria, this building was and is still Florence’ town hall. A part of this medieval building was converted into a museum.

Signoria Square (Italian: Piazza della Signoria) – This square, located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, is the city’s main political square since the 14^th century. The square has notable sculptures and figures that are believed to be contradictory to what has happened in the area. These include the following: a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune and Giambologna’s Statue of Cosimo I.

Loggia dei Lanzi – Found on the corner of Piazza della Signoria and beside Palazzo Vecchiio, this building is a public art gallery that houses statues such as Perseus and Medusa and The Rape of the Sabine Women.

Via del Neri – Via del Neri is a famous small street near Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio that is full of cafes, shops, galeterias and restaurants.

Uffizi Gallery (Italian: Galleria degli Uffizi) – The Uffizi Gallery is a gallery and museum that houses artworks from the Renaissance period. It has masterpieces of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafaello, Botticelli, Giotto and a lot more.

Some notable artworks include ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Annunciation’ and ‘Adoration of the Magi‘ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Medusa’ by Caravaggio, ‘Doni Tondo’ by Michelangelo, ‘Laocoön’ by Baccio Bandinelli and ‘The Venus of Urbino’ by Titian.

We bought our tickets on site and paid €12 each. Tickets are also available for purchase online.

Arno River – The Arno River divides Florence into 2 parts. The river originates from the Apennine Mountains and flows to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the old times, the river became an important instrument for trade. It also became the transit or passageway for wood and all other materials needed during the Renaissance period.

Ponte Vecchio – This is a medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River during the 1300s. This bridge was used to be occupied by shops of farmers, butchers and businessmen. In the present time, the bridge is still occupied by shops selling artworks, jewelry and souvenirs.

Pitti Palace (Italian: Palazzo Pitti) – Previously owned by Florentine banker Lucca Pitti, the palace was bought by the Medici Family in 1549 and became the official residence of the family. This palace is located at the southern banks of the Arno River.

My friend and I only visited the palace from the outside. We did not have time to go in and explore the museum. Entry tickets cost €17 per person if purchased online.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit (Italian: Basilica di Santo Spirito) – This basilica is a Catholic church found in the Oltarno Quarter, south of the Arno River.

We missed one spot which we did not have time to visit – Michelangelo Square (Italian: Piazzale Michelangelo). It is a square that offers a beautiful and stunning panoramic view of Florence. I hope we can go back to visit this place in the future.

Have you been to Florence in Italy? If yes, which one is your favorite place to visit and why? If you have not been, which are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your experiences or plans in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Florence easily became our favorite. The city is so beautiful and is something that should not be missed. We stayed for 4 full days and we still have not been to all places. We hope that people visit and stay in the city longer than most people usually do.

Thanks for joining me in sharing our Florence experience with you. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles and Rome before we visited Florence. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to Milan!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Arrival, Colosseum Tour & Trastevere Food Tour [Part 1 of 3]

My friends and I have always wanted to go to Italy. Last November 2022, we finally got the chance to visit this beautiful country. We spent 2 weeks around the key Italian cities of Rome, Florence and Milan. After exploring Paris for 5 days, my friend and I took an Air France flight to our first Italian destination – Rome, Italy. We explored this historic city for 6 days and 5 nights.

Allow me to share with you what happened, which places we visited and what tours we took on our first few days around the wonderful city of Rome, Italy.

Accommodation

Rome is one of the few key cities in Europe that is budget traveler-friendly. The city has affordable and reasonable accommodation rates far from the expensive per night rates in Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. There are hostels available for less than €20 per night. These hostels even offer better and more-valued experiences than those from the other expensive cities.

My friend and I stayed at The RomeHello for 5 nights. We had a pleasant and memorable hostel experience with this high-rated and affordable hostel. We believe the hostel ticked all the boxes – cheap and reasonable rates, a central location, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, fun activities, tours and experiences and a traveler-friendly vibe. I wrote about our RomeHello experience in the latest Hostel of the Day feature; I hope you can check it out here.

Going Around Rome

Going around Rome is easy. If you do not mind walking all day, you can practically visit all popular sights by foot. Another way to visit these spots is by taking the Metro Line A. This underground metro has stations dedicated to and near the popular Roman attractions.

Unlike in Paris where we used the Navigo card, my friend and I only bought single journey train tickets during our Rome visit. The one-way BIT Metro Ticket costs €1,50 valid for 100 minutes after the first stamp. This ticket is valid for 1 metro or train ride only. Take note that there are other available metro tickets such as the Metro Card, the Rome Travel Card and the 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour passes. We planned our itinerary well so we do not have to purchase these passes.

Day 1 – Arrival

My friend and I arrived Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) at 4:40pm onboard Air France flight AF 1304 from Paris, France. We got our luggage after disembarkation and took the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. This 30-ish minute train ride cost €14 per person. From Roma Termini, we walked to The RomeHello, checked-in and took a rest.

We went out for dinner and caught up with our college friends in a famous local restaurant near Roma Termini – La Famiglia. I got a whole pizza for myself and paired with a classic Aperol spritz. After dinner, we walked towards Gelateria La Romana and got authentic gelato for dessert. After dessert, we walked back to the hostel and called it a night.

Day 2 – Palatine Hill, Roman Forum & Colosseum Tour + Piazza Navona

We started our 2^nd day in Rome with a quick train ride from Repubblica Station to Vittorio Emanuele Station on Metro Line A. We then walked to a local place called Caffè Antica Roma for breakfast. We ordered maritozzo (a traditional sweet pastry filled with whipped cream), pistachio croissant and cappuccino.

After breakfast, we walked to our tour meet-up place. We got an English guided tour around Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum (including Gladiator Gate and Colosseum Arena) with Enjoy Rome Tours for only €42 (at that time) per person. We visited the following places during the guided tour:

Arch of Constantine (Italian: Arco di Costantino) – This arch was built to commemorate Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge that led to his takeover of the Western Roman Empire.

Palatine Hill (Italian: Monte Palatino) – Palatine Hill is believed to be the birthplace of Rome. Known as the centermost and most famous of the seven hills, this hill used to be Ancient Rome’s most sought-after neighborhood. High-profile businessmen, politicians and elites used to live in this hill.

Roman Forum (Italian: Foro Romano) – Situated between the Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, the Roman Forum was the place for trade, ceremonies and public engagements.

Colosseum (Italian: Colosseo) – The Colosseum is a world-famous amphitheater that used to host gladiator wars and public events. This elliptical structure is located east of the Roman Forum near the Palatine Hill.

Our 3-hour guided tour included a pass through a Gladiator Gate and a brief visit to the Colosseum Arena where the gladiator matches take place. It also included a visit to the higher areas of the Colosseum. The tour ended inside the Colosseum.

After the tour, we took an Uber to a local Roman restaurant named Osteria da Fortunata to have lunch. We ordered their house-special carbonara (with handmade noodles) and paired it with limoncello.

After lunch, we walked towards Piazza Navona – a large public square in the heart of Rome. We saw several fountain masterpieces such as the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Italian: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), the Fountain of the Moor (Italian: Fontana del Moro) and the Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno). We also saw the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone in the public square.

We dropped by Cremi Gelateria Artigianale and got gelato for dessert. After spending a few minutes in Piazza Navona, we passed by Piazza Venezia and saw the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument (Italian: Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II). We continued our walk back to The RomeHello and joined the evening carbonara cooking class.

Day 3 Part 1 – Trastevere Food Tour

Our 3^rd day in Rome was as hectic as our 2^nd day. We started our day with The RomeHello’s €7 buffet breakfast. After this, we took a FreeNow ride to Tiber Island (Italian: Isola Tiberina) for our tour’s meeting place.

We joined Free Rome Food Tour’s tip-based Trastevere Food Tour. Trastevere is an old but beautiful neighborhood found on the opposite bank of the river Tiber. Centuries ago, this area, characterized by narrow streets, cobblestone pavements and ancient houses, used to be the place where the working classes lived. At present, it is now a neighborhood famous for its cafes, wine bars, restaurants and craft shops.

We met our guide and tour group in front of The Basilica of St. Bartholomew (Italian: Basilica di San Bartolomeo all’Isola) and started the walking food tour at 11:00 am. We were told to prepare at least €10 each for all the food and snacks we will have during the tour.

Allow me to share the places we visited and the local delicacies we tried.

Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti – This is a family-run patisserie that sells sweet bread, cookies, tarts and pastries. Signora Stefania and her family bakes these treats daily in their large oven. We bought some cookies and tried them during the tour.

Supplì Roma – Supplì Roma is a fast-food shop that cooks traditional Italian dishes daily. They are famous for their pastas, pizzas and more importantly their supplì. Supplì is an Italian fried snack ball made of a rice and tomato sauce wrapped in egg and breadcrumbs. We tried the classic and cheese-flavored supplì.

Antica Caciara Trasteverina – It is a family-run cheese shop that sells locally-produced cheese and deli. They are also famous for selling locally-produced pecorino cheese. We tried their pecorino cheese and ended up buying at 100 grams of it.

Giselda Forno – We had our tour lunch break at Giselda Forno. We had pizza and pasta (I only had pasta) in this local café / bakery.

La Norcineria di Lacozzilli – After lunch, we headed to another cheese and deli shop named La Norcineria di Lacozzilli. We tried their porchetta – an Italian savory pork roast.

Bar San Calisto – Our food tour finished at this local bar. Bar San Calisto serves a must-try when in Trastevere – red wine gelato.

After the food tour, my friend and I went to Vatican City for something I will share in the next Rome blog post. This sums up our first few days around Rome. We have not been to a lot of places yet but we made sure that we enjoyed every single moment we have in every place.

This sums up our first 3.5 days around the beautiful city of Rome. Have you been to the city? If yes, which one is your favorite landmark and why? Share your answers and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Rome or anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s first blog post about Rome. Please stay tuned for parts 2 and 3. In case you missed it, I already shared details about our visit to Paris and Versailles in France; I hope you can also check them out.

Before you go, if you want to be updated on the latest travel itineraries, hostel posts and flight reports, please like and follow my Facebook page. You may also follow me on Instagram. Again, thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: AIR FRANCE AF 1304 – Paris CDG to Rome – Short Inter-European Hop to Italy’s Capital City [November 2022]

After spending 5 days around Paris (Days 1 and 2 + Days 3, 4 and 5), it was time for us to leave this beautiful city. My friend and I took an Uber from Le Village Montmartre to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and hopped on a short flight to another beautiful and famous city – Rome, Italy. We flew with Air France on their inter-European flight AF 1304 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport. Join me in today’s flight report as I run you through my first-ever Air France flight experience.

Air France

Air France is the flag carrier of France. Founded in 1933 from a merger of a few airlines, the airline is one of the biggest subsidiaries of the Air France-KLM Group. It operates most of its flights from its hubs in Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly Airports.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category..

The airline flies to over 90 countries and 200 destinations in the 6 habitable continents. It has a mixed fleet of narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline also operates a cargo division named Air France Cargo. The airline also has substantial shares in regional carrier HOP! (also known as Air France Hop) and low-cost carrier Transavia France.

Air France’ frequent flyer program is called Flying Blue. The airline is a founding member of one of the world’s biggest airline alliances (with 19 members) – SkyTeam. Aside from this alliance, the airline also has codeshare and interline agreements with over 50 airlines from all over the world.

Air France is a semi full-service carrier. The airline provides inflight snacks and drinks on their short, medium, and long-haul flights. Complimentary check-in baggage depends on fare bundle you purchase from the airline. Basic fares normally only include carry-on baggage allowance with check-in baggage available for a minimal fee (or complimentary in a higher fare bundle). The airline offers inflight entertainment in selected sectors but not on flights within Europe.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

My friend and I booked our flights 4 months before our intended trip; we paid €116,64 each for this one-way economy class flight. We were charged by our bank ₱6,854.74 each including foreign currency conversion fees.

This expensive ticket included 12 kilograms of carry-on baggage (1 backpack or luggage + 1 accessory bag), 23 kilograms of pre-booked check-in baggage, a randomly-assigned seat during check-in and inflight snacks. Unfortunately, the plane assigned to this flight did not feature personal entertainment screens.

This ticket was probably one of the most expensive one-way economy class tickets I have purchased to date. It is more expensive than my 2019 Brussels Airlines Brussels to Prague and Czech Airlines Prague to Copenhagen flights combined. It is even more expensive than my Vietnam Airlines Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh one-way business class flight last January 2023. It came with a hefty price but it was the best and most convenient option that fit our itinerary.

Travel Requirements

Italy has scrapped all pandemic-related requirements during our flight back in November 2022. The airline only required a valid ID for Schengen residents and passport for foreigners or visitors.

Before the Flight

30 hours before the flight, Air France sent an e-mail advising that our flight is already open for online check-in. We checked in for our flight and were assigned to exit row seats – 25B and 25C.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Air France flight AF 1304 was operated by a 24.7-year-old Airbus A321-200 aircraft. This aircraft, delivered to the airline in March 1998, has 212 seats in a 2-class configuration – business class and economy class. All seats had a 3-3 configuration with business class section having a blocked middle seat. The blocked middle seat business class configuration is typical in inter-European flights.

AP 1304 took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport at 3:06pm and landed at Rome–Fiumicino International Airport at 4:40pm. The quick and relatively uneventful flight only took 1 hour and 34 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

At the time of the flight, this Air France flight to Rome departed from Paris CDG Terminal 2F.

CHECK-IN

Airport check-in / bag drop for Air France flights open exactly 2 hours before the flight. All passengers can print their boarding passes and luggage tags using the check-in kiosks outside the bag drop area. After printing the boarding pass and tags, those with luggage can drop their bags in the automated bag drop machines. Our check-in and bag drop process only took 4 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we got some snacks then passed by final security. Airport authorities in the European Union ask all passengers to take out all laptops and 100-ml liquids from the bags and have them checked in using a separate tray. They are a bit strict compared to how security checks are made in the Philippines. We then walked to Gate F28 and waited for boarding to start.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 2:14pm. Business class passengers, Flying Blue and SkyTeam status holders boarded first. Economy class passengers boarded the plane last. The crew handed out face masks and sanitary wipes to passengers upon entering the aircraft.

The aircraft doors were closed at exactly 2:50pm. The whole boarding process took 36 minutes. It took longer than usual because all seats were booked. There were no empty seats.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

The aircraft used in this flight is equipped with 212 seats on an all-economy class 3-3 configuration. The cabin features a business class section but only with the typical blocked middle seat on a few rows. Each seat has 18 inches width and 32 inches of leg space.

Each seat features a foldable tray table, a small seat pocket with an aircraft safety card and a decent recline. Passengers have access to individual reading lights, air nozzles and attendant call buttons. Each row also has 2 USB charging ports which passengers can use during the flight. Short haul flights on economy do not feature headrests, pillows, and blankets.

I got seat 25B – a middle emergency exit row seat which cannot be reclined. I got a bigger than usual leg room; I had a pleasant seat experience in this short flight to Rome.

INFLIGHT SNACK

The cabin crew started the snack service 15 minutes after take-off. They offered sandwiches and a long list of drink options for passengers to choose from – beers, fruit juices, carbonated drinks, wine, coffee, tea, water, and spirits.

I got a ham sandwich and a can of Heineken beer. I applaud Air France for keeping the snack service even on such short inter-European flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

This Airbus A321 aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe Air France does not offer inflight entertainment options on their flights within Europe.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

I saw an icon in the aircraft saying that this Airbus A321 is equipped with on-board wi-fi service. I tried to connect during the flight but I did not see an active wi-fi option during the flight.

LAVATORY

The lavatory was busy throughout this full flight to Rome. I decided to skip it and used the toilet upon arrival at Rome–Fiumicino International Airport.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight from Paris to Rome was just alright. The crew did their job in assisting the passengers during boarding and meal service.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation and baggage claim process was quick and organized. We got off in a gate far at the far end of the terminal, walked towards baggage claim area and got our suitcases in no time.

Final Thoughts

It was an interesting experience with Air France. I will not say it is a great flight but a normal or usual inter-European flight.

Here are some points where I believe the airline excelled. First, check-in and bag drop process was quick and efficient. All passengers will check-in through the kiosks and print their boarding pass and luggage tags. After this, those with check-in luggage need to surrender their bags in the automated bag drop counters. The whole process finished in less than 5 minutes including a short queue.

Second, Air France provides a generous carry-on baggage allowance of 12 kilograms for a bag and a personal item. I believe they are the only airline that I have flown so far that allowed up to this generous allowance. Third, the airline provided masks and disinfectant wipes during boarding.

Lastly, the airline provided a snack service (sandwich and beverage of choice) on this 1.5-hour flight to Rome. I, kind of, expected it given Air France is a full-service airline but I did not think that the beverage list will be that extensive.

This flight also had some let downs. First, the fare was not cheap. I booked the ticket 4 months before the intended flight date but it was still more expensive than my 2019 Brussels Airlines and Czech Airlines tickets combined. It was even more expensive than my Vietnam Airlines business class ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. Maybe the fare was expensive because of high demand (the flight was full), soaring fuel prices (at that time) and inflation?

Second, the cabin cleanliness can be improved. The tray table, seat pocket and seat itself were all unacceptably dirty. Third, the aircraft does not feature wi-fi service even if there were signs showing that it is wi-fi equipped. Fourth, without the meal service, I felt like I was flying a low-cost carrier. I may not be used to how flights are within Europe but I felt like it was just so-so.

This sums up my first ever Air France inter-European flight. Will I fly them again in the future? For sure I will but only if the flight schedule fits my itinerary. Please note that this will only apply for flights within Europe. I am still keen on trying their medium and long-haul products.

Do you want to know the geeky details of this flight? Here you go!

Airline: Air France
Flight Date: 20 November 2022
Flight Number: AF 1304
Route: Paris, France (CDG) to Rome, Italy (FCO)
Duration: 1 hour and 34 minutes
Seat Number: 25B (middle emergency exit seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-200
Aircraft Registration: F-GTAE
Engines: 2 x CFM International CFM56 engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 24.7 years old
Delivered: March 1998

Have you tried Air France in their short, medium and long-haul routes? How was your experience? Share them in the comments section below. Do you have comments, suggestions, or questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to comment them below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me on this Air France flight report. I have a long list of flight reports and Europe blog contents coming up so I hope you can watch out for them. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.