Europe/Italy over Easter?

[lil_geek]

Are we going to run into issues with things being closed? The trip we are looking at will have us in Venic on good Friday and the Amalfi Coast on Easter Sunday

[AmyE]

Hmmm...well, yes, a lot of things will be closed, especially shops and many restaurants (but that certainly doesn't mean everything will be closed, esp in the most popular tourist areas!)

For the major tourist sites, you should check the internet to see what their hours will be. Most public transportation will be on Sunday/holiday schedules, too.

[Mrs. M.]

It will be very busy. A lot of Europeans use the Easter break to travel.

[tlew12778]

Good Friday is not a holiday here. I mean, it is a religious holiday but it is not considered a work holiday. So things will be open just like on any other day. Venice, in particular, relies so much on tourism that nothing closes really, not even in August, which is supposedly their busiest month.

You will find things closed on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Easter Monday IS a work holiday.

I have never been to the Amalfi coast but my guess is that the smaller towns will pretty much be shut down on Sunday and Monday (family owned businesses and whatnot).

[Sashi]

Hi girls,

I can't seem to find where the other Italy thread went! :(

That being said, I have a question. We originally talked about going to Italy for 2.5 weeks the beginning of May. Originally when my DH called out travel agent yesterday he told her 14 nights/15 days including travel. I said 2.5 weeks and somehow it got translated as such. So her original itinerary was:

Venice 3 nights (city tour)
Florence 3 nights (city tour)
Rome 4 nights (city tour)
Amalfi (Positano) 4 nights (Day trip to Pompeii and day trip to Capri)
Train in between cities

I emailed her back and said, he was mistaken, we wanted 2.5 weeks so adding 2/3 nights would be great (INCLUDING TRAVEL!). She came back with this:

Venice 3 nights (city tour)
Florence 3 nights (city tour)
Tuscany 3 nights (with car)
Rome 4 nights (city tour)
Amalfi (Positano) 4 nights (Day trip to Pompeii and day trip to Capri)
train in between cities

No talk about travel, etc. I love the 17 night itinerary, who wouldn't, but I need to maximize the weekends and minimize the vacation days I need to use at work so I have to ask for actual dates. I'm getting so frustrated.

First, my question is whether you think this itinerary is ok? Either one. Is there a way to add some time in Tuscany on the 14 night trip? Will I regret not spending the extra 3 nights in Italy? We plan on starting to try around that time for children so this will be the last time for Europe for a while. I just don't know what to do. I feel like the travel agent (a friend) is being a moron by not giving me more information to make a decision.

[scubasam]

You will find things closed on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Easter Monday IS a work holiday.

Is this true of most European countries or just Italy?

I'm traveling to the UK on Easter Sunday and will be there for a few days before heading to Poland. Can I expect for things to be closed in London on Easter Monday? I've been there several times but never over Easter.

[LeslieandPaul]

We were in Switzerland and Paris over Easter weekend last year. We were in Zurich on Easter Sunday and it seemed like everything was closed except the train station and restaurants. We were in Paris on Easter Sunday and it seemed like a lot was open (even the Eiffel Tower) and on Easter Monday everything was open (we went to the Louvre and Notre Dame)

[tlew12778]

Is this true of most European countries or just Italy?

I'm traveling to the UK on Easter Sunday and will be there for a few days before heading to Poland. Can I expect for things to be closed in London on Easter Monday? I've been there several times but never over Easter.

I just looked in my agenda and it appears to be a bank holiday for the UK. So my guess is that many places will be closed although, you never know. Best to ask someone from London really. Try PMing quatercentury since she lives there.

[am_81]

We were in Switzerland and Paris over Easter weekend last year. We were in Zurich on Easter Sunday and it seemed like everything was closed except the train station and restaurants. We were in Paris on Easter Sunday and it seemed like a lot was open (even the Eiffel Tower) and on Easter Monday everything was open (we went to the Louvre and Notre Dame)

In the case of Zurich, most everything is shut down on Sundays anyway, so it being Easter might not have had a whole lot to do with it. I do know that Good Friday and Easter Monday is typically celebrated there; maybe not "officially," but all the big corporate companies give their employees those days off.

[Asha]

I'm traveling to the UK on Easter Sunday and will be there for a few days before heading to Poland. Can I expect for things to be closed in London on Easter Monday? I've been there several times but never over Easter.

many years ago i was in england for easter sunday and easter monday. we still went around and did the touristy stuff. not everything will be closed. also, if you want, you can celebrate easter sunday service in a beatiful cathedral/church.

[LeslieandPaul]

In the case of Zurich, most everything is shut down on Sundays anyway, so it being Easter might not have had a whole lot to do with it. I do know that Good Friday and Easter Monday is typically celebrated there; maybe not "officially," but all the big corporate companies give their employees those days off.

Oops, meant to say we were in Zurich on Good Friday.

[scubasam]

I just looked in my agenda and it appears to be a bank holiday for the UK. So my guess is that many places will be closed although, you never know. Best to ask someone from London really. Try PMing quatercentury since she lives there.

Thanks. I have friends & family in London so I'll certainly ask them too but it's at least good to know about the banks.

also, if you want, you can celebrate easter sunday service in a beatiful cathedral/church.

I so wish I was going to be there in time to do this! That would be amazing! I fly from the US on Sunday and don't arrive until Monday a.m.

[tlew12778]

Oh a bank holiday means national holiday there. Not only for the banks. Sorry I didn't clear that up before.

[scubasam]

Duh...I should've known that.....pg brain...sorry. LOL! Thanks for the clarification! ;)