In the UK, we have two weeks off at the beginning of April for Easter Break. I decided to take this opportunity to travel throughout Italy with my friend Marina. The itinerary included Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Genova, and Milan. One thing I lacked was a realistic budget. Traveling is expensive but there are affordable places to stay and discounts for students. Also, I highly recommend booking early. This was a last-minute trip and prices would have been more affordable with more planning. Hostels are low-cost and a great way to meet new friends, especially if travelling alone. As well, most cities offered a pass to visit multiple attractions rather than spending a fixed rate at each place. 

Our first stop was Verona. We stayed in a room like an Airbnb with a little old Italian lady that spoke very little English. I communicated with her by translating our texts and hoping google translate was accurate. We were given a rusty old key and stayed in a private room with a shared living space. The place was called Arena B&B and for a double and single bed with an adjoining ensuite for two people, it cost us £123.40. Marina took the double bed, and I took the single. I know, what a gentleman. The first thing I did was sleep. My responsible self decided to go out clubbing the night before our flight and got a total of two hours of sleep on the short plane ride. Verona was warm and sunny which was a nice break from the ever-present overcast weather in the UK. My favourite thing we did in Verona was visit the Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheatre built to seat 20,000 people in 30 AD. As well, we visited Juliet’s house where I got up close and personal with Juliet and wrote her a letter for advice on a recent breakup. If travelling to Verona, I highly recommend purchasing a Verona card for €20. This gets you access to most of the monuments, museums, and churches for a fixed rate. 

Our next stop was Venice. This must be one of my favourite cities. I remember being on exchange here and absolutely loving it. I stayed at Generator Venice, a hostel on the island of Giudecca. To get there you must take the Vaporetto, Venice’s water taxi which charges €9.50 per ride. If visiting for a few days, you can purchase a Vaporetto pass which for three days cost €45. For three nights in Venice, the hostel cost €127. While in Venice, I met up with my friend Marie who I used to study with and we talked about our old friends, professors, and life in Venice. We stopped for pizza at Pizza al Volo, a place we used to grab a slice after a night out drinking. 

Next, we went to Florence. I stayed in Foresteria Sociale Florence Center which was an open-concept hostel. My room had no door…but breakfast was included. I stayed in a mixed dormitory for €112.57 for two nights. In Florence, we waited in line for five hours to see a naked man. Yes, the famous David. I have never waited in line for five hours for anything in my life. Luckily, there were two of us so we were able to take shifts to get food, water, coffee, etc. The million-dollar question…was it worth it. Honestly, I had nothing else planned for the day and the statue was magnificent so I would say David was worth it but if you can afford it, I highly recommend skip-the-line tickets. 

We stayed in Pisa for one night at Safestay Pisa Centrale for €56.96 in a private room for two with a bunk bed. We had to pay extra for luggage storage and breakfast. Online we purchased a pass for the leaning tower, cemetery, museum, and baptistry for about €27. The leaning tower was of course the main attraction and we had to take a stereotypical picture of holding it up…cringe. The walk up was 296 steps, and the panoramic views were very worth it. 

In Genova, I stayed at my favourite hostel of the trip, Ostello Bello Genova. It was the most expensive, but prices fluctuate based on the date you stay. For three nights it cost me €171.09. I stayed in a dormitory with four bunk beds. The people were welcoming and friendly. I met a girl from Germany, and we toured the city and went to the Royal Palace Museum which only cost €2 and our tickets also gave us access to the museum Gallerie Naionali Di Palazzo Spinola Genova. The hostel had a kitchen, bar, laundry, and terrace. The kitchen had free food for guests to make a home cooked meal including pasta, rice, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and zucchini. I was able to save on two dinners out by cooking at the hostel. On Friday night, they hosted a karaoke night that lasted until 1 AM. After that, we got invited to go to a nightclub. So, we walked the streets of Genova that were suspiciously empty to this club and stayed out until 4:30 AM. Myself and a fellow non-binary escorted two very drunk girls home. Told you I was a gentleman. This was one of my favourite nights of the trip. 

Our last stop was Milan. I stayed at QUO Milano, a hostel about a thirty minute walk from the city centre. For three nights it cost €127.70, breakfast was not included. For the cathedral, terrace by stairs, and Museum del Duomo di Milano, the ticket costs €11. Unfortunately, the cathedral was under construction, but it was still a spectacular structure. Since we were in Milan we also went into Versace, Gucci, and Giorgio Armani for “inspiration”. 

Overall, northern Italy was a great trip and staying in hostels was an ideal way to travel to meet new people and save on costs.