Has anyone been to Italy just after Christmas/New Year time period? Are the sights closed? Interested in Rome, Florence & Milan mainly. Day trip to Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.

We were actually in Rome last year from the 26th-2nd for a New Year's Day parade with my daughter's school, so I can't speak to Christmas, but I do have some New Year's experience ...

From what I could tell, 12/26 (the day we arrived) is a holiday, not just Christmas Day. Between then and 1/1, everything appeared to be open as usual, and the city was decorated for Christmas - really well done. There are also several festivals going on around the outskirts of Rome in some of the small countryside towns.

New Year's Eve was absolutely nuts - never experienced anything like it. It wasn't like what we are used to here, with organized NYE parties and events. In Rome, every street was full of revelers. It felt like every resident of the city was in the street celebrating, joined by tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of people descending on Rome for the night. There were fireworks everywhere, and just general mayhem and and absolute carefree celebration. It was wild. It felt like most restaurants and bars were open NYE, and we actually had very little trouble walking up and getting a table for about 10 people.

New Year's Day, we had the parade, so it was hard to tell how shut down everything was, but it did feel like the city slept in and was moving pretty slowly.

Italians take their leisure time seriously ... I believe 12/25, 12/26, 1/1 and 1/8 (this date officially ends the Christmas holiday) are all national holidays, so most businesses and attractions are closed - they're not going to work on days they don't have to.

It was a cool experience - and I don't think you have to worry about a lack of things to do and see during the holiday season, at least in Rome.

You also mention Vernazza - while we've never been there in December/January, I can imagine it would likely be shut down more extensively than a place like Rome. Every business in the Cinque Terra is essentially family owned, or privately owned, so I bet you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of business owners opening up shop during that time of year.

But Vernazza is one of our absolute favorite places in the world! I would just recommend the summer for a trip to the Cinque Terra.

Good luck!

I'd skip Milan and add time in Tuscany if I were you.

I took the family to Naples (Pompei), Rome, Florence, and Venice for 2 weeks beginning Dec 26 a few years ago. Weather was perfect and New Years in Rome was great.

Similar trip planned.

Northern places like Lake Como all closed up? Want to hit the Parmagiano area and Ferrari and Lamborghini museums.

Venice ok in the winter?

What are lesser known places that are worth seeing? Capri? Sicily? Boot heel area?

If we're in Rome for Christmas and want to move on to another area (likely south), where is another good place for new years?

davido said:

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Similar trip planned.

Northern places like Lake Como all closed up? Want to hit the Parmagiano area and Ferrari and Lamborghini museums.

Venice ok in the winter?

What are lesser known places that are worth seeing? Capri? Sicily? Boot heel area?

If we're in Rome for Christmas and want to move on to another area (likely south), where is another good place for new years?

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We just didn't get that far north. I'm sure it's wonderful but you'd probably have to lack differently.

Venice was great that time of year. Cooler but not cold. I think we wore blue jeans and a pullover/light jacket. It did rain a little but not enough to disturb the trip.

I'm sure Rome for Christmas is great. Florence for New Years would be wonderful. That's the place very one in our family wants to return to. But I'm sure any place you go will be great for New Years.

I haven't done Capri but daughter has during her study abroad and loved it. We did Sicily (Taormina) for our honeymoon 30 years ago and it was amazing. Took day trips including to Agragento, Mount Etna, etc and had a great time. Had a driver for the day trips which made it easy peezy.

We've not been to the boot heel area (Puglia) and boot toe region (Calabria) but that is next on our list. Probably just the two of us for that.

Not much to see in Naples other than a day trip to Pompei (but I loved that part of the trip and think about it all the time). It's a day trip and you ride what feels like a cattle car to get there and back. But it's not a bad ride. If you go, make sure to look for the phalluses carved into the curbs designating you're in the red light area.

I've probably given you more info than you want but we just love Italy and can't wait to get back. I'm happy to discuss if you want to PM with me.