A couple who spent 25 days in Italy talk about what they definitely want to do in Italy

Venice is a really beautiful city, but there are lots of other tourists and the narrow streets and narrow canals can feel crowded after a while.

So my husband and I took a ferry to Lido, the barrier island that separates Venice from the open sea.

Here we rented bikes and rode along the beach with great views of the Adriatic before catching another ferry to Santa Maria del Mare.

Once we arrived, we rode our bikes to the fishing village of Perestrina and sampled some of the freshest seafood we’ve ever eaten.

If you have time to leave Venice’s city center and want a less touristy and authentic experience, we highly recommend visiting the surrounding islands.

As an avid hiker, I knew I had to make a trip to the Dolomites.

We rented a car on this trip, saw stunning deep blue lakes, and climbed the majestic mountains of northern Italy.

The hike to Lake Sorapis was a highlight for me, but it’s definitely a tough climb (I saw a woman with a sprained ankle being taken by helicopter from the top).

For beautiful lake views without having to climb the stairs, we recommend visiting Lake Braies, which is accessible by car.

Cinque Terre’s five coastal towns are colorful and charming, but they’re small and can get pretty crowded.

We took a small group boat tour to see the Cinque Terre and avoid the tourists.

Admittedly, this was one of the most expensive splurges of our trip, but we got out on the water and spent three hours observing the town.

Additionally, the boat was anchored in several locations, so we were able to get out and swim in the crystal clear Ligurian sea and explore some caves.

The boat captain seemed knowledgeable about the area and answered all of our questions. He served us snacks and prosecco for the last hour of the tour.

During our time in Italy, we saw many churches, but none as majestic as the Cathedral of Florence (also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore).

When we went, we thought the best way to see inside and jump the long lines was to climb the dome itself.

But be warned: there were a lot There were stairs and it was small inside.

Still, by climbing the dome, we were able to see the frescoes inside up close and get some of the most fascinating views of the city.

While in Florence, we signed up for a Tuscan cooking class.

Our chef showed us how to make different types of pasta from scratch and helped us make chicken cacciatore, salad, and homemade gelato.

I enjoyed learning to cook, but I also enjoyed the camaraderie of sharing travel experiences with other travelers.

We exchanged stories and suggestions for the rest of our trip and received recipes to try when we got home.

Rome is full of incredible ruins, but it can be difficult to observe them in solitude amidst the noise of cars and the flood of people.

To escape the hustle and bustle, my husband and I rented bikes and rode all the way down Rome’s oldest road, along the Via Appia.

At first, the road was full of people, but the more I rode my bike, the fewer tourists I saw.

We recommend visiting the Catacombs of St. Callistus and Villa di Massenzio.

Rome, Florence, and Venice are the powerhouses of Italy, but I wanted to experience Italian culture with fewer tourists.

So my husband and I planned day trips to smaller, less touristy towns like Siena, San Gimignano, Bracciano, and Orvieto.

My favorite memory from Italy is sitting in a cafe drinking an espresso or an Aperol spritz and watching the day go by.

Nothing could have prepared you for the enormity of Pompeii.

Exploring the ruins reminded me of how much damage Mount Vesuvius’ eruption actually caused.

I spent five hours exploring the vast city and felt like I had only just scratched the surface.

We recommend getting an audio guide and going at your own pace.

For most travelers, the Amalfi Coast is the ultimate place to relax and unwind.

For me, that meant waking up at 6 a.m., going to a small town in the middle of nowhere, and hiking up a mountainside on the Path of the Gods.

It was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done, with sweeping views of the sea and the towns of Praiano and Positano.

We also met a herd of goats guarded by adorable farm dogs.

be careful. This grueling hike ends with approximately 1,700 unforgiving steps descending into the city.

Capri is a major tourist attraction during peak season on the Amalfi Coast.

We avoided the crowds by leaving on the first ferry in the morning and returning on the last boat of the day.

Once we arrived, we went to the small town of Anacapri and took the chairlift to the highest point in Capri for some amazing views.

We also left time to hike the Instagram-famous Kruppstrasse to a small beach, enjoy cocktails, and swim in the ocean.

After almost a month of intense travel, I got to lie on the beach in one of the most beautiful places on earth.