I went to Italy for the first time and left with 5 regrets

• I took my first trip to Italy in October 2022, visiting Venice, Rome, and Milan.
• I made some mistakes when booking and planning my six-day trip that made it less fulfilling.
• I got caught being an annoying tourist and regretted visiting hot spots like the Colosseum in Rome.

I thought visiting in October would help me avoid crowds. I was wrong.

As a first-time tourist, I should have researched etiquette before my trip.

I never would have guessed this was considered rude since sitting on steps in a public space is normal in my home city, New York. So in the future, when visiting new countries, I’ll always research etiquette rules beforehand.

If I could do it again, I’d be more aimless.

In Rome and Venice, I had a rigid schedule. I booked tours and planned every hour of my day to cover as many sights as possible. Every place I ventured to was one I’d seen repeatedly in films and on Instagram. Seeing these famous places in person was fascinating, but I felt like I was missing out on a sense of wonder.

When I got to Milan, I dropped the agenda and walked around the city in hopes of discovering something on my own.

It paid off. I stumbled upon a 15th-century castle I’d never seen on social media — Castello Sforzesco. Walking through the gate, I felt like I’d stepped into a fairy tale. Brick walls and towers lush with overgrown vines surrounded me.

Exploring the grounds of this castle was more fulfilling than the gondola ride in Venice or the Colosseum tour in Rome. And I think that’s because I wasn’t expecting it.

Next time I go to Italy, I’ll make time to find more surprises.