🇮🇹 10 Days in Italy – Tips I Learned from Xiaohongshu!

Just got back from Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome — and Florence was my absolute favorite! ✨🏆 We stayed at an Airbnb right next to the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). Highly recommend staying in a central area — it might be a bit pricier, but you save time and stress on transport, and everything you need is within walking distance 🚶‍♀️🍝. 🏛️ Duomo Tips: The ticket system is confusing — do your research! There are 3 types: Basic Entry (Cathedral) Dome Climb (Cupola) Bell Tower (Campanile) 🕒 The timed entry for the basic ticket is for the cathedral itself. For the dome and bell tower, it’s your climb start time. Pro tip: All tickets include access to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and Baptistery — you can visit these before or after your slot! I bought a 4:30 PM basic ticket for my family and a 6 PM bell tower ticket for myself (no one else wanted to climb 😆). We visited the museum and baptistery in the morning (no lines!), walked around Ponte Vecchio, then returned to a near-empty cathedral line by 4 PM. 🎒 Backpacks must be stored — even tiny ones! I climbed the bell tower at 6 PM — golden hour views, cooler temps, less crowd. Yes, there’s wire mesh, but you can still take great photos! Highly recommend 🌇. 🖼️ Uffizi Gallery: Early bird ticket = €19 (available until ~8:45 AM). I arrived at 8:50 AM and still got it — no big crowd, no online fee. Walked right in! 🍝 Food Highlights: Trattoria Zà Zà: Went for the T-bone steak but loved the lobster pasta even more! Al dente perfection 🦞❤️. Their tiramisu was also incredible — better than other hyped spots. Book online if going after 7:30 PM — it gets packed! Central Market (Mercato Centrale): The lampredotto (tripe sandwich) is a must-try — load it with chili sauce! 🌶️ Also try the truffle-topped baguette on the upper food court — life-changing 😭✨. Florence is pure magic — street musicians, puppet shows, opera flash mobs... every corner feels like art. I can’t wait to go back! 🎭❤️ #Florence #ItalyTravel #TravelTips #ArtLover #FoodieGuide #Duomo #UffiziGallery #XiaohongshuInspired