You guys, I visited the Praiano and Positano on the Amalfi Coast a couple weekends ago and it was everything I imagined plus more. We explored amazing little coastal cities, ate all the margharita pizza and gelato our stomachs could handle, and laid on the beach while soaking up some Italian sun. It was one of my favorite weekend trips I’ve taken, and I’m so excited to share each and every little detail to help you plan your own trip! Get ready, because this is going to be a long and super detailed post.

Transportation
Okay, so what a lot of people don’t know is that it’s not simple to actually get to the Amalfi Coast. We stayed in a town called “Praiano” on the coast. It’s the town in between Positano and Amalfi, and about 45 miles from the Naples airport. To arrive at our destination we took a flight to Naples, took a bus to Sorrento, took a bus to Praiano, then we waited for our Airbnb host to pick us up at the bus station since the roads are so steep! It was quite the adventure, but well worth it. When you arrive to the Naples airport, head to the tourist desk and they will tell you exactly which bus to catch and when the next one is departing! The journey to the coast wasn’t simple, but it also wasn’t horrible. It just takes time and patience. But believe me, it is 100% worth it. So, if you’re looking to plan a trip to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to put all of this into consideration. We landed in Naples around 11:30 am and made it to our Airbnb around 3:30 pm to give you an idea on time. Taxis are also an option, but quite expensive.

Side note: Get ready for a wild ride on the bus once you hit the coast. The big buses seem like they are going to fly off the cliff every time you turn a corner, but somehow don’t!! If you’re afraid of heights, don’t look down!

Where We Stayed
We stayed in a darling little town called Praiano, which is right in between Positano and Amalfi - which makes it a great place to stay so you can visit all three cities. Praiano is much quieter and doesn’t have as many crowds, while Positano and Amalfi are more lively and have many more tourists! If you like a slower pace, Praiano is perfect. Either way, you can travel to each city by bus for only 1.40 euro one way.

This was the adorable street our Airbnb was on! (I’m sorry I didn’t get any photos of our apartment. I was way too excited to stop and take any before we got settled in)!

Dinner at La Moressa (Praiano)
After resting a bit and freshening up, we decided to grab dinner at La Moressa. It was nearby and our Airbnb host recommended it. The restaurants esthetic was impeccable and the food lived up to the high praise as well. We each ordered a pizza along with splitting a delicious appetizer, and a bottle of wine.

Explore Praiano
The second day, we allowed ourselves to sleep in because it was supposed to be rainy all morning. Once we got ready, we set out to enjoy a day exploring Praino. It’s a darling little town that has hidden gems all over. So we had a lot of fun walking around and letting ourselves get lost.

Marina Di Praia
Marina Di Praia is a beautiful beach in Praiano that is situated in between the cliffs. It’s small and secluded, but it’s a must see if you’re ever on the Amalfi Coast! It was a gloomy day when we went, but it was still absolutely stunning!

There is the coolest walkway that takes you underneath the cliffs!

Lunch on the Beach
There are a few super cute and quaint restaurants near the water and we were dying to try one out! We settled on a little restaurant that had a patio facing the water so we could have a view as well. I forget the name of the restaurant (I know I’m so sorry) but it was on the left as soon as you walk down the road that leads to the beach! The woman who served us was so sweet, and the elderly woman who cooked our meals was the cutest Italian woman I’ve ever met. Be sure to have cash on you, because a lot of these little restaurants don’t take card!

More Exploring
After lunch we were energized and ready to do some more exploring around Praiano. We came across the cutest old lighthouse that is now an art studio for THE most amazing Italian artist. We were able to walk in and look at all of his peices which was so interesting.

All over the Amalfi Coast you’ll find these darling stores filled with hand-painted ceramics. They are great for gifts for loved ones, or to just wander around to look at all the beautiful colors and paintings!

As we were walking back to our Airbnb, we were stopped by this GORGEOUS double rainbow. It had been drizzling on and off all day so to come across this amazing portrait was truly incredible.

Once we got to Positano we headed straight for the picturesque beach that I’ve dreamt of seeing for years. Have you ever visited a place and worried that it wouldn’t meet your expectations? That was my fear for Positano. But I can assure you, it met all of my expectations plus so much more. It was THE most magical place I have ever visited and I hope everyone gets to experience its beauty once in their life.

Discovering the Streets of Positano
Once seeing Positano for myself, I realized there is so much more to this vertical town than the picturesque beach. It is filled with winding streets that go up and down the cliff-side, each housing so many boutiques, restaurants, gifts shops, and leather stores. We spent so much time simply wandering around and letting ourselves get lost with every corner we turned. Bring your walking shoes and be ready for a workout when visiting Positano. These streets are STEEP, and many are made up of steps.

Sunset on the Beach
We had eaten a big lunch earlier, so we weren’t super hungry for dinner. We decided on getting olives, crackers, and cheese (along with some wine) to snack on while we enjoyed the sunset on the beach. If you’re ever in Positano, this is a must. The beach totally clears out at night and it’s extremely peaceful. It was the perfect ending to our fun-filled day in my dream destination!

I just had the most magical weekend in Split, Croatia, and I’m super excited to share all about it because I had so many questions about where I was, where I stayed, and everything I did! Croatia was never actually on my bucket list until I moved to Italy. My friend showed me photos from Split, and we decided then and there we had to see it for ourselves! The mountains, the ocean, the beautiful coastal towns, all are aspects of Croatia that I’ve fallen in love with. Split is the second biggest city in Croatia, and the largest city in the Dalmatia region. With it situated in the middle of beautiful mountains and bright blue water, the locals have taken it upon themselves to nickname Split “The most beautiful city in the world” and I can’t disagree! We had about 2 days here, and it was a good amount of time to see a majority of the city!

Where We Stayed
For this trip, we decided to get an Airbnb. Stefani found the most adorable apartment for only $42 a night, so we immediately jumped on it! It fit two people perfectly, and had a darling sun room off the living space that made for the perfect breakfast nook! Our host was amazing, and responded promptly if we ever had questions/concerns. I highly recommend this Airbnb! Keep in mind that we went during the off season, so the price will most likely go up during the summer!

To book this Airbnb go here: www.airbnb.com/rooms/25860197?guests=1&adults=1

The Riva
We arrived in Split in the late afternoon on Friday, so we went straight to our Airbnb to freshen up so we could set out and explore. Our first stop was The Riva. The Riva is a stunning waterfront promenade that has created a hub for both locals and tourists! Since our Airbnb was at such a great location, we were able to get to The Riva in about 5 minutes. We decided to sit down and dangle our feet over the water to relax and take it all in!

Dinner at Olive Tree
Of course we had to eat, so might as well enjoy a tasty dinner at a gorgeous waterfront restaurant am I right?! We came across the Olive Tree. It had a beautiful outside patio with a relaxing ambiance, so we grabbed a table. We started off with a yummy drink and ordered the delicious baby beef bites. (It doesn’t sound very appetizing but I swear it’s so good)!

GNO at Bar Basta
We heard that Split has great nightlife and bars, so we wanted to check it out. We stumbled upon this restaurant/bar that was right on the water so we thought we’d give it a shot. We both ordered Moscow Mules and they were great! If you want a cute, eclectic bar on the water, this is the place for you!

Marjan Forest Park
The first order of business was finding a look out to get an incredible view of Split. Our Airbnb host was extremely helpful and told us how to reach the Marjan Forest Park look out. It was only about a 10 minute walk away from our Airbnb so it was absolutely perfect. There are other great views throughout the city, however this was the closest one to us!

Sweater:

Jeans:

Sneakers:

There were other hiking/walking trails that led you to other lookout points, so we took advantage and started to explore. The trails are easily navigatable, so don’t worry about bringing actual hiking shoes. Tennis shoes work just fine!

Cafe Vidilica
After walking and exploring a couple trails, we wanted to grab a snack/drink at the Café on top of the lookout. You can have a glass of wine while looking out at the city of Split, and it’s gorgeous! Definitely take some time to grab a bite because the view is spectacular.

Boat Ride on the Adriatic
After our break at Cafe Vidilica, we wanted to go back
to the Promenade to enjoy the beautiful weather. (The forecast for the weekend was rainy and high 50’s, and it ended up being clear and 65 degrees)!

Old Town Split/Underground Market
Once the boat ride was completed, we wanted to explore “Old Town”. Here you find Ancient Greek ruins from when it was built for the Roman emperor in AD 305. Split was founded as the Greek Colony of Aspálathos (Aσπάλαθος) in the 3rd or 2nd century BC! So as you explore Old Town, you’re easily able to detect the Roman architecture.

The Palace of Diocletian

The underground market is simply what it sounds like! It’s an amazing, unique, market that runs underground underneath Old Town. It has several booths selling everything from art to beautiful jewelry! It’s the perfect place to grab souvenirs for loved ones.

Live Music at The Macallan
To conclude the night we went back to the Palace of Diocletian to enjoy some live music. It wasn’t overly crowded, and the guitarist/singer was amazing! The restaurant is inside, however they have pillows sat up on the steps around the square so you can enjoy a drink and some music outside! It was a great way to end our night and I highly recommend it.

Dress:

And there you have it! The most perfect weekend Croatian Vacation! (I love how that rhymes). If Croatia wasn’t on your bucket list, I really hope it is now. It’s a beautiful country with so much to see, and so much to do. If I could give one word of advice, go when the weather warm, to be able to fully take advantage of everything Croatia has to offer. As always, if you have any travel questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message, I’m always happy to help. Happy traveling friends!

Xoxo,
​Emma Kay

Rome was one of the main cities on my bucket list since moving to Italy, and it was so exciting finally getting to explore the eternal city. You read about Rome in your history textbook, but it truly doesn’t register how amazing the ancient ruins are until you’re walking around, taking in the sites. I was able to spend a little over 2 days here, and it was a sufficient amount of time to see and do all of the classic Rome site-seeing! I've created this itinerary to be an aid while planning a trip!

Roman Food Tour with Foodies in Rome

The first to-do on our list was a Roman food tour. This was one of my favorite aspects of our weekend because we truly got to experience the delicious cuisine of Rome in a relaxed setting. It’s especially enjoyable because it’s a private tour. Dominique was a wonderful guide! She explained the history and significance of every restaurant and bite you take! I cannot recommend this tour enough. To book the same tour go here: foodiesinrome.com/tours-page/

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

When you take a trip to Rome, Vatican City is obviously a must. Vatican City is an independent city-state and a short bus ride from the main attractions of Rome. It’s home to the Pope and is the headquarters to the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican museums house ancient art and sculptures that millions of tourists visit every year. You can walk around the museum on your own, or purchase the audio guide. Many tourists were in small groups with in-person guides as well. However, it all depends on your taste and what you want to get out of your visit. Personally, audio guides are my favorite! If I could give you one tip, try to visit the museum during the week, or early in the morning. We went on a Saturday afternoon and there were times where we were shoulder to shoulder with other visitors. It was obviously still amazing, but if you can beat the crowd, that's what I recommend! You can buy tickets online to secure a spot, but I recommend buying tickets once you're there because there is an online booking fee. But for peace of mind you can buy tickets online here: www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/scegli-la-visita/musei-e-collezioni/musei-vaticani-e-cappella-sistina/visita-libera-musei-vaticani-e-cappella-sistina.html

Gelato in Ponte

After our walk through the museum, Stefani and I wanted to explore and stumble upon whatever came our way. We ended up in Ponte, which is an amazing area of Rome. It has beautiful cafe’s, boutiques, and of course gelato shops! Just about any gelato shop you walk into will be delicious, so don’t hesitate on choosing one at random!

Trevi Fountain

Oh, the iconic Trevi Fountain. If you’re anywhere around my age, you grew up watching Lizzie McGuire. And that means you’ve dreamt of seeing the spot Lizzie Met Paolo in the Lizzie McGuire movie. (Lol) It’s just as magical in person, so be sure to close your eyes, make a wish, and throw a penny into the fountain! Make sure to hold the coin in your right hand and toss it over your left shoulder! (I’m still waiting on mine to come true, but I’m hopeful)!

Spanish Steps

As we were wandering around we stumbled onto the Spanish Steps. We were wanting to see them at some point, but were worried we would run out of time, so this was a pleasant surprise! The view is unreal, and since the sun had set the lights of the city were sparkling and we could hear a woman singing opera at a restaurant nearby. It was such a picturesque moment, so we sat, turned on some music, and were able to soak in this incredible moment!

Gregory’s Jazz Club

If you love jazz music, Gregory’s Jazz Club is the perfect place for you to unwind and have an amazing cocktail after a long day of sightseeing! The staff is incredibly friendly, and the drinks are seriously delicious. To sit upstairs and listen/watch the band, you have to purchase tickets. However, we stayed downstairs at the bar and could hear the music perfectly. Plus, they have a television screening the band while they perform! If you ever find yourself in Rome, this jazz club is a must. Take a look at their website here: www.gregorysjazz.com/en/

This was definitely the fanciest vodka sour I’ve ever had, lol!

The bartender was so extremely friendly that he wanted to make us our own signature cocktails! He made these up on the spot and they were absolutely delicious. So, if you like a nice cocktail, this is your place!

Tour the Coliseum

When in Rome, touring the Coliseum is an absolute must. I mean come on, it’s the Coliseum! We had seen it a few times the day prior, but we were so excited to get a peek at the inside of this historical monument. So I’m not going to lie, I knew very little Roman history before this trip, so I was going into this tour practically blind. The tour guide was extremely helpful and informative; walking us through every aspect of the Coliseum's history. Tourists are able to walk through the Coliseum without a guide, however for your first time especially I recommend going with a tour guide, you learn so much more!

Roman Forum

For centuries, the Roman forum was a center for every day Roman life. Today, it is a sprawling ruin of Roman architectural buildings and fragments. It’s a short 3-5 minute walk from the Coliseum, so you can scratch both of these sites off your list in one day! Visiting the Coliseum and the Roman Forum takes a good chunk of time, so make sure to allow a whole morning/afternoon to visit these. I found priority entrance tickets to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, that also comes with an audio guide for only 18 EUR! colosseum.tickets-rome.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-9_jx-u-4QIVC853Ch0-dQmZEAAYAiAAEgIcuvD_BwE

Basilica of The Holy Cross in Jerusalem

This church is often overlooked by tourists, but definitely should be at the top of everyone’s to-do list. This church houses what is believed to be the relics, one of the nails, and a fragment of the cross from Jesus’s crucifixion. It is said that St. Helen brought these to Rome after her pilgrimage. Seeing these historical pieces was something I can’t put into words!

Photos of the relics, nail, and cross, wasn’t allowed, so you will have to take a trip to Rome to see it for yourself!

Rome in two days is hectic and super busy, but believe me it is doable! I hope this itinerary was helpful, and if you ever have any questions about accommodations, activities, tickets, etc, don't hesitate to ask! Happy traveling!

Xoxo,
Emma Kay