Euro Trip: Part - 4: Italy

We flew from Zurich to Rome on October 11th, reaching Italy around 3:00 p.m.
A pre-booked taxi took us from the airport to our Airbnb — located not in Rome itself, but in Castel Gandolfo, beside Lake Albano.

The stay was intentionally remote.
Quiet, elevated, and away from the intensity of the city.

That first day, we did nothing else.
Complete rest — a necessary reset after Switzerland.

Day One: Vatican City and the Colosseum

We started early and took an Uber to Vatican City, for which we had pre-booked tickets via Klook.

Vatican City is exactly what it claims to be:
a country within a city.

Security checks were similar to an airport.
Queues were long, but fast-moving and well-managed.

Inside, the scale is overwhelming:

• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Vast interiors
• Sculptures, paintings, symmetry everywhere

Even without religious context, the craftsmanship commands respect.
It isn’t about belief — it’s about human effort accumulated over centuries.

We had pizza at a nearby café inside the Vatican complex, which served as lunch.

By noon, we headed to the Colosseum.
Our guide was patient and exceptionally detailed, explaining not just the structure but the intent behind it.

One thought stayed with me:
Centuries ago, large-scale entertainment existed not just for pleasure — but to distract people from governance, instability, and power struggles.

Some patterns don’t change.

Rome was noticeably warmer than the rest of Europe we had visited.
For the Colosseum, passports were mandatory for entry — something to remember.

After dinner at a local restaurant, we returned to our stay.
Taxis took time to arrive — availability was less predictable than in Paris or Switzerland.

Day Two: cancelled plans, better outcomes

Originally, we had booked a Pisa day trip, involving a round-trip train journey.

However, while we were still in Switzerland, we received an email informing us that train services were cancelled due to a strike. Since our return to India was scheduled for the next day, we chose not to take the risk.

I cancelled the tickets and got refunded.

Instead, we leaned into a slower alternative.

We booked a pasta-making and wine experience in Frascati, not far from our stay.
We reached Frascati by Uber and spent the session:

• Making pasta from scratch
• Eating what we prepared ourselves
• Exploring underground tunnels used during World War II

It was immersive, personal, and unhurried — a better use of the day than rushing toward Pisa.

By noon, we returned to our stay.

In the evening, we walked downhill to Lake Albano.
No taxis were available, so we stayed by the lake, had food, walked around, and absorbed the quiet.

The return was unexpected:
No taxis again.

So we walked uphill back to our stay — about 25 minutes, slow but steady.

It was tiring, yes — but also strangely grounding.

That walk felt more Italian than any monument.

Tips:

A few things became very clear during our Italy stay:

Stay location matters

• Staying closer to the city centre helps.
• Since our Airbnb stay was in Castel Gandolfo, taxis were not always immediately available, especially in the evenings.
• If convenience and flexibility matter, staying closer to Rome’s core reduces friction.

Airport travel needs buffer time

• Routes to the airport can have heavy traffic, especially during peak hours.
• Plan early departures and keep generous buffer time — Rome traffic is unpredictable.

Weather awareness

• Italy felt noticeably warmer than the rest of Europe we visited.
• Light clothing, hydration, and sun protection make a difference, especially during long outdoor tours.

Strikes are real — plan for them

• Transport strikes can happen without much notice, especially rail strikes.
• When booking tours or intercity travel, always choose options with:
  • free cancellation
  • no-show refunds
• In our case, Klook provided a full refund after we raised a request and attached proof of train cancellations.

Flexibility is not optional in Italy — it’s part of the experience.

Expenses

Italy turned out to be relatively less expensive compared to most of Western Europe.

• Flight (Zurich → Rome): ~₹38,000
• Accommodation: ~₹38,000
• Tours & taxis: ~₹75,000
• Other expenses: ~₹15,000

Total (approx.): ₹1.66 lakh INR

For the depth of history and experience, Italy delivered excellent value.

End of the Europe trip: different places, different favourites

By the end of the Europe journey, something interesting became clear.

Each of us carried back a different Europe.

• I personally liked Iceland the most — raw, silent, vast, and honest.
• My wife liked Switzerland — order, scenery, balance, and comfort.
• The kids loved Paris, mainly because of Disneyland, which for them defined the trip.

That itself says a lot about travel — the same route, the same days, but completely different emotional takeaways.

We managed to see two Wonders of the World:

• The Eiffel Tower
• The Colosseum

We missed the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but that felt okay.
Travel isn’t about ticking everything — it’s about what stays.

Cost reality

The entire Europe trip cost us around ₹10 lakh for four family members.

Our initial budget was ₹8 lakh, but it overshot — mainly because of Switzerland. Switzerland is expensive, and once you start using trains, mountain excursions, and intercity travel, costs rise quickly.

That said, it was worth the experience.

Not everything in travel has to be optimised for cost. Some places justify their price by how seamlessly they work, how accessible they make nature, and how much effort they remove from the journey.