best trip plan for italy

• 2024 TRAVEL UPDATE
• Work with us
• Beyond Bologna
• Regions of Italy
• Travel books
• Best group tours
• Itineraries
• Accommodation guide
• Italian phrases for travel
• Rocket Italian review: 2024 update
• Ultimate Italy Travel Planner
• City Planners
• Essential Guides
• Italy themed gift ideas
• Trip planning services

How to plan an Italy trip

Want to know how to plan an Italy trip? You’ve come to the right place. Italy trip planning is one of our favorite things to do. So much so that we set up this website.

We wrote this article to take you step by step through planning your trip. From deciding when to go and how much it will cost to what to take and how to use your mobile phone, it’s all here to remove the overwhelm and make your trip planning easier. Even if you choose to hire a travel agent to assist with your bookings, it is a good idea to walk through these steps as it will help the agent build the best trip for you.

You can see an overview of the steps you need to follow in the article contents below. Follow our guide and you’ll be on your way to planning your own trip or choosing the right tour for you and your travel companions.

Article contents

Step 1 – Decide when you want to go and your budget

When to go to italy.

There is no bad time to visit Italy but there may be one that suits you better. Depending on your interests and the places you want to see you need to be aware of seasonal differences that you need to know about:

• Summer – June to August: peak tourist season, weather is hot and prices higher. Many Italians are on vacation and the coastal areas are very busy especially in mid August
• Fall / Autumn – September to November: September remains hot and busy in most of the major tourist centers. By October the weather is cooling and ferry services on the coast and lakes stop running. At this time grape harvest is in full swing. November is generally quite wet but there is lots of sunshine between the showers.
• Winter – December to February: As the weather cools so do the crowds. Attractions are much less busy and the lead up to Christmas is magical with lights and decorations in shop windows. In January and February restaurants in many coastal areas are closed. February’s Carnevale in Venice is generally one of the most expensive times to visit the city
• Spring – March to May: In March and April wildflowers bloom and the countryside is awash with color. Easter is a popular holiday for Europeans to visit Italian cities especially Rome, Florence and Venice.

NOTE: peak season in the most visited destinations is May – October.

Our favorite time to visit Italy in the shoulder months. In April and May and October and November the weather is generally sunny and mild, the crowds are manageable and you can find great value deals on your flight and accommodation.

Although we are past the worst of the pandemic and travel restrictions, things can change quickly – you can check our article Can you travel to Italy plus current situation.  We update this regularly with the latest travel news.  

READ: Our full article on the best time to visit Italy

How much will it cost?

This will depend on your expectations, interests and travel style. You can travel very cheaply in Italy if you visit lesser-known regional areas and avoid the big cities. Even in the big cities it is possible to find free attractions and budget accommodation if you know where to look.

If you want to see the main sights and enjoy experiences such as cooking classes, private boat cruises and wine tours then the sky is really the limit when it comes to cost.

Most travelers fall somewhere in the middle however and a reasonable daily budget per person for food, transport and activities is around €100 on top of flights and accommodation.

READ: Our full article on Budgeting for your trip to Italy.

Expert Assistance

Need some help planning your trip?

Book in for a trip consultation with our expert Italy travel planners ready to help you build your dream vacation in Italy whether that be a classic first timer trip or an off the beaten path adventure

Step 2 – Do some preliminary research and preparation

Where to research your trip to italy.

From online news and magazines, blogs, Instagram, Facebook groups (check out Italy Travel Planning ) and even podcasts like ours – there are thousands of resources online. I am sure you’ve already seen quite a few of them already. Sometimes endless options can be overwhelming so we recommend collecting ideas in an online folder or scrapbook and organizing them into destinations that you really want to see.

You’ll probably want to “do it all” but really have a think about your interests and what will best suit you and your travel style. Once you have some ideas, it’s best to consult a structured resource to check your assumptions and thoughts.

Traditional guidebooks definitely have their place for planning a trip to Italy. Well researched and structured, they’ll give you in depth information on destinations and sights to see as well as practical tips to help you plan. Even after 30+ trips to Italy we still consult guidebooks for new destinations we want to visit. You can find our favorite Italy guidebooks here .

Italy travel planners

We noticed that even guidebooks can provide too much information in the planning process so we created one page travel planners for the top places to visit in Italy. Our planners tell you the top sights, best viewpoints, must have experiences and our favorite places to eat (including best gelato stops) in each place.

You can print them off or keep them on your phone and there’s a link to an online map so you can map out your days. We have guides for Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast and Sorrento. Our goal is always to simplify the trip planning process and we know you will find them useful.

DISCOVER: Our Digital travel guides and planners .

Group tour itineraries

Tour companies – like ours ! – put a lot of effort into designing tours that cover the main sights and even lesser known regions. They know the times it takes to get around and how long you can stay in each place to get a taste or feel for the destination.

We often check itineraries of places we would like to visit as an input into our own planning.  Here are some recommended tour companies and itineraries to investigate.

Private tours

If you want maximum flexibility and comfort, consider a private driving tour . From the moment you land, to when you depart, you’ll have a personal driver with local knowledge making sure your trip is exactly what you imagined.

Passports and visas

At this stage of your planning it is a good idea to check the validity of your passport and if you require a visa. Citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand may enter Italy and stay up to 90 days without a visa within an 180 day period. You must have 6 months validity on your passport when you enter Italy. Go and check this now as it can take several months for new passports to be processed.

All other nationalities should check this Italian government site that will walk you through whether a visa is required for your visit.

Citizens of the European Union can travel with photo identification.

Please note – this information is subject to change and it is always best to check with your local foreign office for the latest advice on travel to Italy.

• United States –  click here
• Australia –  click here
• United Kingdom –  click here
• Canada –  click here

READ: Can you travel to Italy plus current situation .

Step 3 – Confirm your itinerary

Itinerary planning is where many people get stuck. We understand. There are so many amazing places to see in Italy that deciding where to go and how much time to spend there can be hard. As a general rule, we like to spend a minimum of three nights in each place to minimize time spent traveling and also enjoy each place as much as possible. So if you have a 10 day trip then 3 main stops would be a good baseline to start with.

Where to go

From your research, you probably have an idea of where you want to go. You may want to visit the popular cities and regions on your first trip however each city and region in Italy offers something special.

Most popular cities

Most popular regions.

On our site, you can also browse Italy’s lesser-known cities and regions on the destinations page or visit our article on hidden gems in Italy for inspiration.

Itinerary suggestions

As a general rule, for a 3-5 day trip we suggest choosing one destination – a city or region. If you have a week to 10 days then you can plan 1-3 places in either the north OR south of Italy. In a two week trip you could cover 3-4 places and see both north and south.

Try not to squeeze too much in. It’s easy to underestimate transit times and getting in and out of airports and train stations. Plus you want to have plenty of time to enjoy yourself and soak up every last moment.

Suggested itineraries

If it is your first trip to Italy, like many first-time visitors you may choose to start your journey in Rome and visit Florence and Venice. This 10 day Italy itinerary covers that route. It includes detailed instructions on how to make the most of your time in Italy.

Want our FREE Italy trip planning checklist? >> Click here .

Alternative 10 day itinerary suggestions

Most people travel to Italy for 10 to 14 days so we built some itinerary suggestions to cater for that time frame that cover both northern and southern Italy.

Group Tours

Packaged group tours of Italy are a popular way to travel and avoid the stress of planning your own trip. They are also a great option if you would like some company along the way. Here is a quick summary of popular tour companies:

• Untold Italy small group tours – we run exclusive small group tours for food and wine-loving travelers wanting to get off the beaten path to see hidden Italy beyond the major cities and tourist areas. We lead groups of 14 people on journeys of discovery to experience the regions of Sicily, Puglia, Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, Bologna and surrounds, Capri and the Cilento coasts > learn more
• Trafalgar – popular and well respected brand appealing to the 50+ age group. Travel is by coach and the focus is on culture and history. Expect group sizes of 40-45 passengers and 4 star hotels. Trafalgar also include interesting local experiences such as wine tastings and unique stays in their itineraries. Check out their popular Best of Italy tour
• Intrepid Travel – small group tours with an average of 10 travelers with plenty of free time built in for exploring. Their popular Italy Real Food Adventure is an 8 day itinerary that showcases their travel style well
• Peregrine – Intrepid’s premium brand offers some interesting hiking tours of the Italian Lakes and Amalfi Coast
• Tourradar – is a market place for group packaged tours where you can browse hundreds of package tours by different operators, and by date. You then filter by your interests and age group and read detailed reviews. You can browse fully organized tours to independent self-drive or train itineraries

READ: Our full article on the Best package tours for Italy .

When should you start booking your trip?

Italy is one of the most visited destinations in the world, so in our opinion, it is never too early to start the booking process. Book accommodation as soon as possible, and at least 6-12 months in advance especially for peak times in July and August.  We prefer to pay the higher rate for flexible bookings on both Booking.com and Plum Guide .

Day tour and attractions also sell out months in advance at peak times. In 2020 our preferred booking site GetYourGuide refunded all tours canceled due to the pandemic and stand by their policy of allowing cancelations with a full refund up to 24 hours before your activity starts.

Flight bookings will depend on where you are flying from. For long haul flights the best deals are generally found 6-12 months in advance while deals pop up regularly for travel within Europe.

Rail bookings can be made up to 4 months in advance on high speed intercity and standard intercity trains.

Step 4 – Book your flights, inbound travel & insurance

Flights to italy.

It is easy to fly direct (or with a single stop) into Italy from most places in the world. Rome Fiumicino [Leonardo da Vinci](FCO) international airport is the main hub for air traffic but you can also easily fly into Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Venice Marco Polo (VCE) airports from major hubs around the world.

There are many other airports throughout the country that can be accessed within Italy and Europe. Pisa is useful for trips to Tuscany and the Cinque Terre and you will need to fly into both Sicily and Sardinia.

To source the best flight deals to Italy we use a combination of Skyscanner ,  CheapoAir  and  Google flights .

• Skyscanner  – portal where you can view cheapest days and routes to fly and set alerts for price drops
• CheapoAir – uncovers the best deals on first and business class flights around the world
• Google flights  – great for checking schedules and airline routes

Secure the best deals by setting up alerts on Skyscanner for the month you wish to travel and wait for price drops. It’s good to have a price that you wish to pay in mind but be prepared to be flexible on dates and stopovers. It is often cheaper to fly into Milan rather than Rome and that city is a useful entry point for northern Italy itineraries.

TIP: always use an incognito browser window to search for flight deals. Prices are amended up for users known to be searching for specific dates and times.

Inbound rail from within Europe

Major Italian cities – Milan, Rome, Florence and Venice – have fantastic fast speed train links from other capitals and major cities in Europe. The website  Seat 61  is a great resource for planning train travel within Europe.

Bus travel to Italy

If you’re on a tight budget and traveling within Europe, then you might want to consider coming to Italy by bus. Low cost operator  Flixbus covers 3,000 destinations in 39 countries.

You can compare schedules and prices using Omio – a useful site for booking a combination of train, bus and air travel within Europe.

Organize travel insurance

Once you have booked your flights or tour, we recommend organizing travel insurance straight away. The main reason you should purchase insurance is to cover health costs and emergency repatriation to your home country should you fall ill. Since 2020 you need to check whether there is cover provided for issues relating to covid19 however general health cover is recommended regardless.

Cover for cancelation, delays and loss of belongings is a bonus and again they may not apply under pandemic conditions. You need to read all the terms and conditions of your cover including any exclusions before you commit to buy.

Policy costs vary by your country of residence, what is covered, age, existing conditions and the insurer. You can visit Worldnomads for a quick quote. We use this company for our family travels and find the cost, coverage and claims process to be good to excellent.

Another option if you are in the United States is Safety Wing’s Nomad Insurance . Unfortunately neither option provides policies for those aged over 69. In this case you can try Travel Insurance Master – a service that allows you to compare quotes and insurance policies.

Step 5 – Book accommodation and transport

Accommodation.

Choosing where to stay at each stop is an important part of itinerary planning. Italy has many different options for tourists and you can expect the usual range of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation as well as apartments and villas.

If you plan to spend any time in the country, consider staying at an agriturismo or farm stay. This is accommodation offered by Italian farmers who earn additional income by providing rooms and meals. Very popular in Italy and Europe, prices ranges from budget to luxurious. You can find agriturismi (plural) with swimming pools, hammams, restaurants and wine cellars. We always try to build them into our itinerary. 

LISTEN: Find out about farm stays in Italy in this podcast episode .

How much will accommodation cost?

Here is a rough guide to average prices for a double room. This will vary with prices higher in popular areas at peak times

Upscale / Luxury – €210+ [USD $240+] per night Midrange / Boutique – €120-260 [USD $135-295] per night Budget / B&B – €70-130 [USD $80-150] per night Ultra budget / Hostel or shared room in AirBnB – €30-45 [USD $30-40] per night

Best accommodation sites

Our favorite sites for booking lodging are Booking.com and Plum Guide – between them, you’ll find a huge range of options from hotels and resorts to bed and breakfast, apartments and farm stay accommodation.

Plum Guide is particularly useful for longer stays in apartments and villas and if you’re traveling as a family and need some extra space. Use the code “Untold5” for a 5% discount here .

Other sites we use and recommend

• BookingsForYou – beautiful villas and apartments in Tuscany, Italian Lakes and Puglia – 5% for readers when you mention our site or code – UntoldItaly – when booking
• VRBO – has some great options for long stay villas and apartments, particularly on the Amalfi Coast
• Agriturismo.it – great for finding smaller farm stays but the booking engine is terrible. You can usually find the same properties on Booking.com
• Airbnb – we have used Airbnb on many occasions in Italy but are now finding better value and booking conditions on Booking.com and VRBO

LISTEN: To more accommodation options and what to look for in this podcast episode .

Further reading:

• Where to stay in Rome – a district by district guide to the best areas to stay
• Best places to stay in Florence – neighborhoods and areas best suited to your trip
• Where to stay in Venice – a neighborhood and area guide
• Where to stay in Milan – best areas, places and hotels

READ: Our Italy accommodation guide .

Transport while in Italy

As a general rule, if you are traveling between cities and major towns then the best way to travel around Italy is by train. If you want to explore the countryside and small villages you will need to rent a car.

When you are mapping out distances to travel between destinations use Google maps or Rome2Rio .

Train travel in Italy

Trains in Italy are modern and efficient. Fast speed services link the major cities and regional trains connect smaller towns and villages. Two major train networks operate throughout Italy – Italo and Trenitalia .

You should book in advance for high speed intercity services where seats are allocated. If you purchase non-flexible tickets you can make significant savings with advance bookings. They are not required on regional services.

READ: Our Complete guide to train travel in Italy .

Recommended train booking sites – Omio and The Trainline

You can book directly with the Italian operators or an easier way is with:

Omio – compare train times and prices across both Trenitalia and Italo schedules and keep your ticket details on their handy app. Click here to search for rail tickets on Omio

The Trainline is a similar service to Omio offering schedules, pricing and booking for train companies in Italy and Europe. They also have a useful app and great instructions in English. Click here to search for rail tickets on The Trainline

High speed train intercity travel times on popular routes

Rome to Florence – 1 hour 30 minutes Rome to Naples – 1 hour 15 minutes Rome to Milan – 3 hours Rome to Venice – 4 hours Florence to Venice – 2 hours Florence to Milan – 2 hours

Car rental in Italy

One of the best ways to see the smaller towns and countryside in Italy is to rent a car and take to the open road. Driving in Italy is quite straightforward. You just need to do some forward planning and use your common sense. Here are some tips to

• You are required to carry an International Drivers Permit – these can be arranged in your home country at minimal cost
• Standard transmission on cars is manual or stick shift. If you want to rent an automatic car expect to pay extra, if you can find one available
• Rent the smallest car you can to fit you and your luggage – roads are often narrow and you don’t want to get stuck!
• Heavy fines apply if you enter ZTL zones or historic districts where driving is not allowed

We use both Car Rental by booking.com  and AutoEurope to find the best car rental deals in Italy including one way options. They both search international and local providers so you get a wide variety of choice and there is 24/7 support if you need it. AutoEurope is usually your best option if you want a one way rental.

Click here to search for car rentals in Italy with Car Rental by booking.com .

READ: Our guide to Renting a car in Italy .

Internal flights

If you want to visit the islands of Sicily or Sardinia, or travel very long distances, flying makes the most sense.

Check on Skyscanner  or  Google flights  for routes and prices. Remember to set alerts for those routes you want to fly and book early for flights in the summer months.

READ: Our guide to all transportation in Italy .

Step 6 – Book Attractions, tours and activities

Major attractions.

The major cities of Italy – Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan – are some of the busiest cities for tourists in the world. And most visitors want to spend time at their famous attractions

We strongly advise you to prebook advance skip-the-line tickets for the following attractions – the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery and Doge’s Palace. Otherwise, you could spend precious vacation hours standing in lines to enter these sites. Note – in winter months booking in advance is not as necessary.

We have given you the official booking sites and an alternative for approved ticket partners should you have trouble using the official site – unfortunately, that happens a lot! The direct sites are usually cheaper but the partner sites are generally more user friendly. Always check the terms and conditions of your purchase, particularly in relation to changes and refunds. GetYourGuide has a very easy cancelation policy which in many cases allows cancelation with refunds up to 24 hours prior to departure.

• Colosseum – official ticket site OR buy Colosseum tickets on Get Your Guide
• Vatican Museums – official ticket site OR buy Vatican Museum tickets on Get Your Guide
• Omnia pass – Colosseum + Vatican + one other museum + hop on, hop off bus – click here for details
• Uffizi Gallery – official ticket site OR buy Uffizi tickets on Get Your Guide
• ‘David’ statue [Accademia Gallery] – official ticket site OR buy Accademia tickets on Get Your Guide
• Duomo roof climb – official ticket site OR buy Dome climb tickets on Get Your Guide
• Doge’s Palace  – official ticket site OR buy Doge’s palace tickets on Get Your Guide
• San Marco basilica  – official skip the line tickets OR buy a tour of San Marco including tickets on Get Your Guide
• ‘Last Supper’ painting – official ticket site OR buy Last Supper tickets on Get Your Guide
• Duomo rooftop  – official ticket site OR buy Duomo tickets on Get Your Guide

READ: Our full review of Get Your Guide .

If you want to learn about the sites you are visiting then we recommend a group day tour. We prefer small group or private tours where you learn about the culture and history of the places you are visiting. It’s so much more fun than reading plaques and you are also able to ask questions.

So make sure to build in a couple of tours when you are planning a trip to Italy.

Our favorite small group tour companies are Take Walks (formerly Walks of Italy) and Liv Tours  and we prefer With Locals for private tours. Both offer very well designed and engaging tours of the major sights in Italy as well as interesting food and cultural tours.

• Take Walks have a longstanding reputation for excellent service, groups under 20 people and guaranteed departures. So if you are the only person booked on a tour it will still go ahead. We recently enjoyed our Colosseum at night tour and day trip to Tuscany with them
• Liv Tours – family run Italian company offering true small group tours of 6 people or less. All of their tours use expert guides who will help you fall in love with Italian history, culture, and food. Tours include a popular golf cart tour of Rome’s highlights and their fascinating Women’s history tours
• With Locals offer great value private tours. You choose from a series of set itineraries and guides in cities across Italy. There are tours focused on history, food, culture and other themes or they can be customized them for your group. We tried their 10 Tastes of Naples recently and it was lots of fun. They also have great options for families
• Eating Europe – food tour specialists who will ensure you discover the best local dishes

Save 5% on Liv Tours with code – ‘untold italy’ >> click here to browse tours

• Rome: A 3 Day Itinerary
• The best tours in Rome
• Unmissable day trips from Florence
• Day trip from Rome to Pompeii
• Best tours of the Vatican
• Tickets and tours for the Colosseum
• Rome’s best food tours

Activities and experiences

Seeing the sights of Italy is always a treat but you’ll also love immersing yourself in Italian culture. These days you can choose from a wide range of experiences and activities. From food and wine tours, to football matches, concerts and exploring the countryside by vintage car, there are memorable experiences to suit you.

Recommended experiences

• Cooking class with Nonna Nerina near Rome – Grandma Nerina teaches you how to make fresh pasta and welcomes you into her home. If you can’t wait until you get to Italy to do this she also does online classes
•   Capri boat trip –  small group on a private boat means a slower pace and more time to see the island. You can read what to expect on this day trip here

Our favorite companies for searching for interesting and unique things to do in Italy are:

• Cookly – cooking class and food and wine experiences like truffle hunting from small operators across Italy
• Get Your Guide – has the biggest listing of tours and experiences

Step 7 – Get ready for departure

Organize your money and credit card.

The local currency in Italy is the € Euro.

You do not need to carry too much cash when you are there. Credit and debit cards VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted while American Express and Diners Club are not as popular. You may want to consider a foreign currency card like the Wise Mastercard where you can convert Euros easily and cheaply from your US dollar, Australian dollar or Canadian dollar accounts (plus many other currencies)

Be aware of foreign currency charges and ATM withdrawal fees applied to your account when you are abroad. You may want to review the cards you are taking with you prior to your trip. We recommend that you take two – one as a back up for emergencies. And inform your bank before you go. Sometimes they can be overzealous and place a block on your card if they see unusual activity.

Book airport transfers

Planning your arrival in Italy is recommended. Most of the airports are a fair way out from the city center – and in the case of Venice, in the middle of a lagoon!

Compare different transfer services on Suntransfers – a company that specializes in transfer options from major airports. They have options to suit all budgets and prices for coach, mini bus, private car and limo services.

Rome – transfers from Fiumicino airport

Taxis are fine to take in Rome. There is a set rate into the center of €48 and the ride takes around 45 minutes. Or, if you would prefer to be met at the airport you can pre-book a transfer. A transfer is the best option if you are traveling with more than 2 people and have several items of luggage. We recommend:

• Welcome Pickups – available 24/7, a private car transfer means you are met at the arrivals hall and will take between 30 minutes and one hour door-to-door.
• Suntransfers – offers a wide range of vehicles for groups of all sizes. Transfers can be canceled up to 48 hours in advance with no penalty.

Another popular way to transfer into Rome is to take the Leonardo Express train . This non-stop service between Fiumicino and Rome Termini (the main station) takes 32 minutes. Trains depart every half hour from 6:08 to 23:23, and the cost is €14. You can purchase tickets at the station on the day. Unless you are staying close to Termini you will then need to get a taxi to your accommodation.

The cheapest transfer option – this bus goes direct from the airport to Termini – €6-7 one way.

READ: Our full article on Rome airport transfers .

Venice transfers

The water bus company Alilaguna runs shuttles every 15 -30 minutes in peak season to and from the airport and the islands on the lagoon. This bus stops at San Marco and Rialto as well as some other secondary stops. The fare is €8 one way €15 return and the journey takes 1½ hours – you can book online here

A private boat transfer or shared transfer in a water taxi is the fastest (and most glamorous) way to transfer to your accommodation in Venice. Journey times and prices depend on the number of people in your party and exclusivity. A direct private transfer to the airport takes around 45 minutes.

• Private transfer – around €200 for 6 people – book here
• Shared water taxi transfer – around €32 per person – book here

You can also take a taxi (cost €25) or express airport bus to Piazzale Roma (cost €8) and then take a vaporetto (water bus) or walk your hotel/accommodation. A one way trip on the ferry costs €7 per person and is valid for 60 minutes.

READ: Our full article on Venice airport transfers .

Florence transfers from Florence airport

Florence airport is very close to the city center and a 15 minute taxi ride away. There is also an airport bus that takes around 20 minutes.   A 20 minute tram ride takes you to the main Santa Maria Novella train station and costs €1.50.

Florence transfers from Pisa airport

Many people fly to Pisa to reach Florence as it is a larger airport. If you arrive during the day take the PisaMover train to Pisa Centrale train station – journey time 5 minutes. Then take a train to Florence. Starts at 6.00 am and the last train departs at midnight and it costs €5.00.

On our last visit we arranged a transfer with Suntransfers as we arrived too late for the last train. There is also a coach transfer option.

Amalfi Coast or Sorrento transfers from Naples airport or train station

We recommend organizing a private transfer for this journey. The train, ferry and bus via Sorrento can take 4 hours while a car service is around 1.5 hours. You can compare different services on Suntransfers – a site specializing in ground transportation.

You may find sites or groups where specific drivers are recommended. We do not recommend booking a driver this way for safety reasons – how do you know that the person recommending the driver is reputable, let alone the driver? And also for practical reasons – small operators may not have capacity or availability.

Plan how to access the internet

Consider how you will access the internet on your trip. You may be happy to disconnect and use paper or offline maps however many of us need internet access.

Italy has high speed internet and there are many options to stay connected depending on your needs. If you use minimal data and are happy to use offline maps and guides then you should be able to get by using wifi at your hotel or accommodation. Do not expect wifi to be available in restaurants and cafes because in Italy restaurants are for eating.

If you plan to use wifi make sure to turn off international data roaming before your trip to avoid unpleasant bill surprises.

Paid internet options

• Use your provider’s roaming plan – usually very expensive and slow speeds if coming from outside Europe
• Local SIM – purchase a tourist SIM before your depart or when you arrive that has enough data for map navigation and research. Italian provider TIM comes highly recommended and there are outlets at the airports and train stations
• Portable wifi device – connect multiple devices to high speed internet for reasonable prices. We use and recommend Solis Wifi (Get 10% off with our code – UNTOLDM )

READ: Our full guide to Cellphones and getting online in Italy (SIMs, wifi and more) .

Packing for your Italy trip

The key to packing for Italy is to pack the minimum that you need. Many people like to take carry-on luggage only for their trips. This is a great way to travel as you will find it much easier managing trains, cobblestones and stairs that are a feature of travel in Italy.

But, most of us find that a challenge, so try to stick to a medium bag per person plus one carry on item. Large suitcases are not a good idea. You will also thank yourself if you consider your footwear carefully. Three comfortable pairs will see you through most trips.

Note – We have a complete packing guide coming soon.

LISTEN: to packing strategies in this podcast episode .

Must have items for your trip

• Luggage – get the size right with our guide to the best luggage for Italy
• Untold Italy travel planners – one page checklists of the must see sights, restaurants and gelato bars in Italy’s most popular places
• Collapsible water bottle – stay hydrated and fill up at free water fountains all over Italy
• Camera – for your vacation snaps. We recommend lightweight mirrorless models like these ones
• Packing cubes – these make packing, organizing your luggage and unpacking so easy. We love them!
• Power cube – don’t bring lots of bulky converters. This one has 3 USB ports
• Battery pack – keep all your devices charged
• Plug adapter – you will need one!
• Face masks – for your safety and you may be required to wear one indoors
• Hand sanitizer wipes – to keep germs at bay

READ: Our Complete packing guide for Italy .

Get started and plan your Italy trip now!

We hope you now have more confidence to start planning your trip to Italy. This will no doubt be a trip that you’ll remember and cherish for years to come. And, like many of us, you may find it sparks a passion to return to bella Italia again and again.

Latest Italy Travel Podcasts and Articles

Can you travel to italy – latest travel information [may 2024], how to travel by train in italy, visiting italy in may – reasons to go and what to expect, episode #216: 10 reasons we love italy’s umbria region, visiting italy in april – reasons to go and what to expect, episode #215: discover regional italy without a car, episode #210: travel smart to italy – your guide to new regulations and important dates, how to use your cellphone in italy, planning a trip to italy.

We love travel in Italy and sharing our knowledge. Read our Italy trip planning guide or join our FREE Italy travel planning community . Our 140,000+ members are happy to answer questions about your itinerary, how to get from place to place, the best places to stay and fun things to do.

Sign up for our news and podcast updates where we share mini guides, tips, exclusive deals and more and we'll send you our Italy Trip Planning Checklist to say grazie ! >> click here to subscribe

7 Days in Italy: 12 Amazing One Week Itineraries for Italy

Need some destination inspiration for a trip to Italy? Here’s my guide to spending one week in Italy, with 12 sample itineraries.

One week in Italy might not seem like much time. But, with some advance planning and ambition, you can definitely have a bucket list adventure.

There’s nowhere more romantic (or popular) than Italy. The word “Italy” conjures visions of crumbling Roman ruins, rolling cypress-studded landscapes, and secret canals.

Italy is rich in history, culture, and food. Italy’s beautiful towns boast some of the world’s best churches , palaces, museums, and historic landmarks .

I’ve been to Italy many times. Italy always blows my socks off (except maybe in the uber crowded high season). I love it and am already making a return trip next month.

There’s so many things to do and see in Italy and so little time, at least for most of us. How to choose between the myriad options?

To help you get started prioritizing and give you some destination inspiration, I’ve picked my top 11 itineraries for spending one perfect week in Italy.

Some of these itineraries include Italy’s most popular cities and sites. Others give you more off the beaten path options and hidden gems in Italy.

You can pick a sample itinerary to match your own interests — whether you want a glamorous city, historical and cultural options, outdoor scenery, or beaches.

You can also combine itineraries for a 2 week (or longer) stay in Italy. And I suggest possible combinations.

Of course, you can always adjust and tweak these itineraries to suit your needs. When you’ve settled on an itinerary (or two), be sure to read my must know tips for visiting Italy .

12 Ways To Spend 1 Week in Italy

I’m a rather obsessed itinerary planner and I can personally vouch for these particular one week in Italy itineraries.

For each 1 week in Italy itinerary, I also give you options for extending your trip, if you want to expand a 7 day itinerary into a 10 day itinerary for Italy or combine these sample open week itineraries.

There are essentially two ways to structure a 1 week in Italy trip.

You can move around 2-3 times for a fast paced trip that checks off Italy bucket list items. Or, you choose a single base or region for a week and take day trips from there.

These sample 7 day Italy itineraries offer both options. I’d be excited to take any of these trips again.

I’ve written more than 100 blog posts about Italy. I’ve linked some of them to the relevant Italy itinerary to help you along.

Here are my picks for the best ways to spend one week in Italy:

• 1 Week Italian Renaissance Tour
• 1 Week in Tuscany
• 1 Week in Italy’s Major Cities
• 1 Week in Rome + Day Trips
• 1 Week in Venice + Day Trips
• 1 Week in the Italian Lake District Itinerary
• 1 Week Dolomites Itinerary
• 1 Week in Rome + Amalfi Coast
• 1 Week in Northern Italy Venice to Milan
• 1 Week in Rome + Umbria
• 1 Week Milan to Rome
• 1 Week in Sicily

1. One Week Italian Renaissance Tour: Florence, Tuscany, and Venice

Tuscany has some of the world’s best cathedrals, art galleries, museums. It’s celebrated for its Medieval and Renaissance art.

Tuscany is even regarded as the birthplace of one of mankind’s greatest adventures, the Italian Renaissance.

Florence is an overwhelmingly beautiful city, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” With the best Medieval and Renaissance art in Europe, Florence is a veritable art lovers paradise.

Florence has some of Europe’s best museums — the Uffizi Gallery , the Bargello Museum , and the Galleria dell’Accademia . And some of Italy’s most opulent palaces — the Pitti Palace and Palazzo Vecchio .

If you want to see these lovelies, you need to book them in advance. Here’s my guide to what attractions you need to pre-book in Florence .

READ : Florence Art Bucket List

Venice had its own Renaissance, distinct from Renaissance hotspots like Florence. Venice’s artists produced images that were less religious, more libertine, and more creative.

Venetian artists painted female nudes and erotic scenes, without the censure other artists like Michelangelo received.

READ : A Nutshell History of Venice

Siena is one of the best cities to visit in Tuscany for its rustic beauty, tasty food, and luscious chianti. Siena Cathedral is one of Europe’s most beautiful churches. Click here to book a ticket.

The greatest artists of the Renaissance contributed master works to the cathedral, including Donatello, Pinturicchio, Duccio, Ghiberti, Pisano, and Michelangelo .

Pisa and Lucca are also great for Renaissance art and architecture. You’ll want to discover the monuments on the magnificent UNESCO-listed Field of Miracles , which is so much more than just the famous Leaning Tower . Lucca is a town of a 100 churches.

READ : Tips for Visiting Pisa

In Arezzo, you can see Piero della Francesca’s greatest masterpiece . It’s the Legend of the Cross frescos in the Cappella Maggiore of the Church of San Francesco.

Padua is home to one of Italy’s must see wonders, the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. Wallpapered with exquisite frescos by Giotto, the chapel is one of the world’s greatest art works.

It’s currently a candidate for the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Here’s how to spend one week in Italy immersing yourself in the Italian Renaissance:

• Day 1 : Arrive in and explore Florence
• Day 2 : Explore Florence
• Day 3 : Day trip to Siena
• Day 4 : Day trip to Pisa and Lucca or to Arrezo
• Day 5 : Drive to and explore Venice
• Day 6 : Explore Venice
• Day 7 : Day trip to Padua

For this itinerary, you’ll only have two bases: Florence (4 nights) and Venice (3 nights).

If you have more time in Italy, itinerary # 9 has the perfect one week itinerary for taking a road trip from Venice to Milan . If you want a nature break, you could head to the Dolomites with itinerary #7.

Need more information about this one week Italian Renaissance road trip? Check out these Tuscany and Venice travel guides for specific details.

• Best Art in Tuscany
• 10 Day Itinerary for Tuscany
• 3 day itinerary for Florence
• Best museums in Florence
• Hidden gems in Florence
• Michelangelo Trail in Florence
• Piero della Francesco Trail in Italy
• Andrea del Verrocchio’s Art in Florence
• 1 Day Itinerary for Siena
• Must See Sites in Pisa
• 2 Day Itinerary for Venice
• Guide To Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel

2. One Week in Tuscany Idyll

There’s nowhere more romantic in Italy than the stunning region of Tuscany. Tuscany is like a painting.

With its cypress-lined roads, golden wheat fields, and medieval hilltop towns, Tuscany offers the quintessential Italian village experience, complete with fine wine and delectable food.

I’ve discussed Florence and Siena above.

But this Tuscany itinerary also takes you to some of Italy’s most beautiful small towns — Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano, Lucca, and Pisa.

In these quaint towns, you’ll find showstopper public squares, stunning churches, and cobbled lanes.

San Gimignano is the romantic glamor girl of Tuscany. Nicknamed the “Medieval Manhattan,” San Gimignano is famous for its “Bella Torres” or “Beautiful Towers.” 

Here’s how to spend one week in Tuscany:

• Day 1 : Arrive and explore Florence
• Day 3 : Day trip to Arrezo or Cortona
• Day 4 : Drive to and explore Siena
• Day 5 : Day trip to San Gimignano
• Day 6 : Drive to Lucca and explore
• Day 7 : Day trip To Pisa from Lucca

For this 1 week in Tuscany itinerary, your overnight bases will be Florence (3 nights), Siena (2 nights), and Lucca (2 nights). If you want more details on this itinerary, check out my comprehensive one week in Tuscany itinerary .

More time in Italy? If you want to extend your Tuscany road trip and move at a more leisurely pace, check out my 10 day itinerary for Tuscany .

It covers all the destinations on this shorter 1 week Tuscany itinerary, and more, with much more detail.

Or, head south to Umbria and follow itinerary #10. If you’re ready for a city break, head to Rome and follow itinerary #4.

Need more information on Tuscany? Check out these other articles:

• Must see sites in Florence
• Best day trips from Florence
• Guide to the Medici Palaces
• Guide to the Uffizi Gallery
• Best things to do in San Gimignano

3. One Week in Italy’s Major Cities | Greatest Hits

Are you a city person? If you want to explore Italy’s greatest hits, this fun one week itinerary takes you to the “big three” — Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Endlessly inspiring and ethereal, Rome is the magical mecca of carbs and ancient architecture. It’s a grand showcase of Western civilization, full of Imperial pomp and circumstance.

Rome has spent centuries accumulating layers of beauty, history, and romance — just waiting for its admirers to arrive.

READ : History of Ancient Rome

Begin with the Imperial tour of Rome, which includes the iconic Colosseum , Palatine Hill , and the Roman Forum . Be sure to book skip the line tickets in advance!

Then, take a stroll through the historic center of Rome . There, you’ll find the stunning Piazza Navona the Pantheon , beautiful churches, and the Trevi Fountain.

Next, move on to visiting the Vatican Museums , the unparalleled world class museums in Rome , and Rome’s opulent palaces .

To see the Vatican you MUST book a skip the line ticket or wait hours in line. You can check out my guide to Vatican tours to see which appeal.

I’ve already discussed Florence above. Your last major city stop, Venice, is the most unique city in the world. I’ve written a one day in Venice itinerary that you can follow.

It’s an almost physical and mystical experience when you see Venice for the first time. The glimmering watery streets are right is front of you.

Venice defies logic; it’s a city that almost shouldn’t exist. Venice is a mind boggling maze of canals, lacy palaces, and artistic treasures.

READ: Must see sites along Venice’s Grand Canal

Here’s how to spend one week in Italy’s major cities:

• Day 1 : Arrive and explore Rome
• Day 2 : Explore Rome
• Day 3 : Drive or high speed train to Florence
• Day 4 : Explore Florence
• Day 5 : Day trip to Siena or to Pisa & Lucca
• Day 6 : Drive or high speed train To Venice
• Day 7 : Explore Venice

More time in Italy?

From Venice you can follow itinerary #9 and road trip from Venice to Milan. Alternatively, you can head to the Italian Lake District (itinerary #6) or the Dolomites (itinerary #7).

Need more information about this one week city-based Italy itinerary?

Check out these city travel guides:

• 3 day itinerary for Rome
• Hidden gems in Rome
• Best museums in Rome
• Archaeological sites in Rome
• Guide to the Borghese Gallery
• Masterpieces of the Vatican
• Rome’s secret palace museums
• 2 day itinerary for Venice

4. One Week Rome City Break + Day Trips

One of my favorite vacations in Italy was just spending 8 days in Rome. I didn’t move my base from the beautiful Trastevere neighborhood.

I just explored Rome at slower pace and took plenty of easy day trips. You don’t need a car. You can book a day tour or just hop on the train.

I’ve discussed Rome above. But on this Rome itinerary , you’ll also visit some of beautiful towns near Rome.

Tivoli is a charming small town just a half hour from Rome. It’s home to two amazing UNESCO sites: Hadrian’s Villa (Roman ruins) and Ville d’Este (a Renaissance mansion with incredible gardens and fountains).

You should definitely book a day trip tour to see them.

Pompeii is Italy’s most famous archaeological site, a living museum. In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city in 60 feet of ash. The city was entombed and preserved for many centuries.

Beginning in 1748, archaeologists began painstakingly excavating the ruins. The ruins are a remarkable evocation of everyday Roman life, which you can see on a guided tour from Rome to get all the history.

Charming Orvieto, the capitol of Umbria, is an easy day trip from Rome. It’s set high above a volcanic outcropping and chock full of medieval buildings.

Nothing much has changed in this rustic fairytale town in 500 years. Orvieto’s piece de resistance is its magnificent cathedral.

Here’s how to spend 1 week in Rome:

• Day 1 : Explore Rome
• Day 3 : Explore Rome and Vatican City
• Day 4 : Day Trip To Tivoli
• Day 5 : Day Trip to Pompeii
• Day 6 : Day Trip to Orvieto
• Day 7 : Explore more of Rome and/or half day trip to Ostia Antica

Want more information about this trip? Here are some of my other articles:

• 3 Day Rome Itinerary
• Hidden Gems in Rome
• Guide to the Vatican Pinacoteca
• Guide to Rome’s Palace Museums
• Historic Landmarks in Italy

5. One Week in Venice + Day Trips

Another one week itinerary where you don’t have to move bases is just to stay in Venice. You can enjoy the city at your leisure and take day trips from there by car, train, or ferry.

You could also base yourself in Verona the entire time and day trip to Venice and other destinations. Verona is less crowded and less expensive than Venice.

Venice is one of the world’s most beautiful and captivating cities, a natural movie set. No other place looks quite like it. Venice is a medieval city built on water that shouldn’t exist in real life. It’s a mind boggling maze of architectural and artistic treasures.

There are so many thing to do and see in Venice. You can take a gondola rid e , ogle the opulent palaces , take in some world class museums, or stroll the stunning floating city .

From Venice, you have so many day trip options. You can tour the Venetian lagoon islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello .

You can day trip to Padua to admire Giotto’s groundbreaking frescos at the Scrovegni Chapel. If you want less crowded canals, head to nearby Treviso. Treviso is an elegant little canal town, only a 30 minute train ride from Venice.

Fair Verona is for romantics and medievalists. It’s a pretty Italian town full of red and peach colored medieval buildings and Roman ruins.

Verona was made famous by Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet . Once you’ve made the obligatory pilgrimmage to Juliet’s Balcony, you’ll also want to tour the doughty Roman Arena in the Piazza Bra.

Ravenna was once the epicenter of the Western World, when the Byzantine Empire made Ravenna its capitol.

The Byzantine rulers blanketed Ravenna’s churches with gorgeous mosaics. This artistic legacy rivals Venice or Istanbul, making Ravenna a UNESCO site worth visiting .

Here’s how to spend one week in Venice:

• Day 1 : Explore Venice
• Day 2 : Explore Venice
• Day 3 : Day trip to Venetian lagoon islands
• Day 4 : Day trip to Padua
• Day 5 : Day trip to Verona
• Day 6 : Day Trip to Ravenna
• Day 7 : Day Trip to Bologna or another day in Venice

More time in Italy? Head to the Dolomites with itinerary #6 or road trip to Milan with itinerary #9.

Need more information about this area of Italy?

Check out these Venice travel guides and resources:

• 1 day itinerary for Venice
• Top Attractions in Ve nice
• History of Venice in a nutshell
• Guide to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum
• Guide to the Galleria Accademia
• Guide to the Scrovegni Chapel
• 7 day itinerary Venice to Milan
• Guide to the mosaics of Ravenna

6. One Week Italian Lake District Itinerary

Northern Italy is home to the seductively beautiful Lake District, set in the shadow of the Alps. Though just an hour north of Milan, this area feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Italy’s second city.

In this romantic region, 19th century villas are covered in vines and set amid stunted palm trees. It’s a bliss-y area made for nature lovers.

You have several lakes to choose from and they all have their charms —Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore.

Lake Como offering a heady mix of scenery, opulent palazzi, and relaxing vistas. Lake Maggiore doesn’t have quite the panache of Lake Como, but still has a faded elegance.

Lake Orta is smaller and less developed, a hidden gem of quietude without the crowds. It’s a favorite escape of the Milanese, who’ve nicknamed it Cinderella.

Here’s a breakdown of how to spend one week in the Italian Lake District:

• Day 1 : Arrive in and explore Milan
• Day 2 : Explore Lake Como, base in Varenna
• Day 3 : Explore Lake Como, ferry to Bellagio
• Day 4 : Explore Lake Maggiore, base in Stresa
• Day 5 : Explore Lake Maggiore
• Day 6 : Explore Lake Orta, stay in Villa Crespi
• Day 7. Explore Lake Orta

From the Lake District, head east to Venice. Here’s my two day itinerary for Venice .

Alternatively, head back to Milan and follow itinerary #11, which takes you on an amazing road trip from Milan to Rome.

Want more information about this itinerary? Check out these Milan travel guides:

• 1 day itinerary for Milan
• Top attractions in Milan
• Leonardo da Vinci trail in Milan
• Guide to the Brera Museum
• How to see Leonardo’s Last Supper Fresco
• Top art to see in Milan

7. One Week Dolomites Itinerary

Italy’s dramatic rocky rooftop is the Dolomites. This region of Italy offers some of the best mountain thrills in Europe.

The Dolomites feature flower speckled meadows, turquoise lakes, jagged gray cliffs, and spectacular driving routes.

Here, the region doesn’t even seem like Italy. It’s more Austrian and German in a felt-hat-with-feathers way. You can tour by car or go on a hiking tour .

The city of Bolzano is the gateway to the Dolomites. There’s yogurt and yodeling for breakfast. The Dolomites are especially beautiful in the fall.

And more hiking than you can imagine. Probably the most stunning hike is Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike.

• Day 1 : Arrive and explore Trento
• Day 2 : Day trip to Rovereto and Lago di Tenno
• Day 3 : Drive to Bressanone, stop at Lago di Carezzo en route
• Day 4 : Day trip to Secede
• Day 5 : Drive to Lago di Braies, overnight in Misurina
• Day 6 : Explore Lake Misurina
• Day 7 : Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike

This Dolomites itinerary has three bases: Trento (2 nights), Bressanone (2 nights), and Misurina (3 nights).

The nearest airport is Venice Treviso and Venice Marco Polo.

If you want to visit Venice before the Dolomites, here’s my two day itinerary for Venice . After leaving Venice, you’ll head to Trento, a very underrated city in Italy. Trento is frescoed and surrounded by mountains.

More time in Italy? Head to the Italian Lake District. Lake Garda is about 3 hours away. See itinerary #6.

8. One Week in Rome (or Naples) and the Amalfi Coast

This 1 week in Italy itinerary begins in Rome. From Rome, it’s over 3 hours to the drool-worthy Amalfi Coast. If you’ve been to Rome and would rather skip the drive or train ride, you can spend you first two days in Naples instead.

Like Rome, Naples is a big city that can be chaotic. But Naples’ historic center is rich and will give you a taste of the quintessentially Neapolitan lifestyle.

Naples’ finest attractions are its treasure chest Archaeological Museum and the Capodimonte Museum .

With its stunning scenery, hill towns, and historic ruins, the Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s most scenic rides.

From Sorrento to Salerno, the vistas will leave your mouth gaping and your camera’s memory card full. Villas cling to cliffs and sandy coves beckon below.

Over the centuries, the spectacular scenery has been a siren call for the rich and famous, luring Roman emperor Tiberius, Richard Wagner, Sophia Loren, Gore Vidal, and others to the Amalfi Coast’s special brand of la dolce vita .

Wedged on a ledge over the sea, the serene cliff top town of Sorrento makes a perfect springboard for visiting the Amalfi Coast.

From Sorrento, you can book day trips to Pompeii , Positano , Capri , and even Naples.

There’s a saying that Positano “bites deep,” it’s so dreamy. Positano is the star of the Amalfi Coast. Strolling the town comes complete with sherbet colored cliffside homes, stunning beaches, and tiny cobbled lanes.

Rugged mountainous Capri is one of the world’s most glamorous island. Capri was made famous as the vacation hideaway of Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius.

Today, it’s crowded. But even with the crowds, it’s drop dead gorgeous, set on a glittering blue sea and you should definitely book a guided boat tour to see it .

Pompeii is an ancient Roman town, which was stopped in its tracks by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Once buried under ash, the well preserved ruins of Pompeii offer you the best look anywhere at what life in Rome was like 2,000 years ago.

Here’s how to spend one week in Rome and the Amalfi Coast:

• Day 3 : Explore Rome
• Day 4 : Day Trip to Tivoli (Hadian’s Villa & Villa d’Este)
• Day 5 : Train or drive to Sorrento, explore Sorento
• Day 6 : Day Trip to Positano
• Day 7 : Day Trip to Pompeii or Capri

Need more information for this one week Italy itinerary?

Check out these guides:

• 5 day itinerary for Rome
• Guide to Palatine Hill
• Guide to the Roman Forum
• Guide to the Colosseum
• Guide to Hadrian’s Villa
• Guide to Villa d’Este
• Guide to the Amalfi Coast

9. One Week in Northern Italy: Venice to Milan

This one week road trip from Venice to Milan in northern Italy is a popular tourist route.

It’s only a 3 hour drive from Venice to Milan.

But this route is dense with amazing must see medieval villages, ornate palazzos, Roman ruins, and secret hidden gems of the Renaissance. There’s plenty of great destinations to explore along the way.

This northern Italy road trip begins in Venice, the starting point for your road trip.

It assumes you’ve explored the heady attractions of the world’s most romantic floating city, and are embarking to explore more of Italy.

From Venice, you can explore Verona , a town for romantics, and visit Mantua , a town for Renaissance lovers. You’ll also stop in Brescia and Bergamo before landing in Milan.

Here’s how to spend one week on a road trip from Venice to Milan:

• Day 1 : Leave Venice, stop in Padua and Vicenza, overnight in Verona
• Day 2 : Explore Verona, overnight in Verona
• Day 3 : From Verona, day trip to Mantua
• Day 4 : Drive to Brescia, stopping in Sirmione on the way, overnight in Brescia
• Day 5 : Explore Brescia, overnight in Brescia
• Day 6 : Drive to Bergamo, explore Bergamo, overnight in Milan
• Day 7 : Explore Milan

Need more information for this one week Italy itinerary? Check out these guides:

• Guide To the Must See Sites of Mantua
• Guide To Mantua’s Te Palace
• Most Beautiful Towns in Italy
• 1 Day itinerary for Milan
• Best Art in Milan

10. One Week in Rome + Umbria

I’ve covered Rome above and you’ll be there two days on this particular one week Italy itinerary.

Beautiful Umbria is quite similar To Tuscany. It’s just as sublimely picturesque, but less crowded. You can enjoy Italy’s scenic medieval hill towns and countryside.

Charming Orvieto is one of Italy’s most striking hill towns. Less than 90 minutes from Rome, Orvieto sits majestically atop a big chunk of volcanic stone amid cypress-dotted plains.

As I mentioned above, Orvieto’s walking highlights are its colorful-inside-and-out cathedral and pretty cobbled old town.

The stunning hill town of Assisi is a destination for art lovers. Because Assisi was the home and final resting place of St. Francis, it’s also a pilgrimage destination that you’ll want to tour . In fact, the 13th century Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of Italy’s best known churches.

The tiny towns of Umbria — Spello, Spoleto, Perugia, and Gubbio — are utterly charming. This is where you’ll really get a taste of real Umbrian culture.

Here’s how to spend one week exploring Rome and Umbria:

• Day 3 : Drive to Orvieto, stop en route in Civita di Bagnoregio
• Day 4 : Explore Orvieto
• Day 5 : Drive to Assisi and explore, overnight in Assisi
• Day 6 : Day trip to Spello and Spoleto
• Day 7 : Day trip to Perugia and/or Gubbio

In this one week Italy route, you’ll start in Rome. For a base, you’ll be in Rome (2 nights) Orvieto (2 nights), and Assisi (3 nights). For more details, check out my comprehensive one week in Umbria itinerary .

More time? Head north to Tuscany with itinerary #2.

11. One Week Milan to Rome Itinerary

The journey from Milan to Rome is a popular tourist route. It’s only a 6 hour drive from Milan to Rome.

But this well-traveled road trip route is dense with amazing must see medieval villages, ornate palazzos, Roman ruins, and sublime treasures of the Renaissance.

You start with Italy’s exciting northern capital of Milan and end in Rome, Italy’s ancient southern capital of Rome. Along the way, you’ll visit some of Italy’s most beautiful towns in northern Italy. You’ll experience a near overdose of art, from Ancient Rome to treasures of the Renaissance in Florence.

With this itinerary, you’ll get to visit Bologna. Nicknamed La Grassa , or the Big Fat, for its delicious food, Bologna just oozes medieval charm. And you should definitely take a food tour in Bologna .

Bologna is a bit of a hidden gem in Italy. But it shouldn’t be. Bologna is a historic city filled with striking architecture, beautiful piazzas, a swathe of palaces and towers, and gourmet restaurants. Eat, eat, and eat more!

Situated atop three hills, Siena is Italy’s ultimate rustic hill town.

Its thriving historic center , with movie set lanes cascading every which way, offers Italy’s best medieval city experience.

Here’s how you can spend one week on a road trip from Milan to Rome .

• Day 1 : Explore Milan
• Day 2 : Pick up car drive to Bologna and explore
• Day 3 : Drive to Florence and explore
• Day 4 : Explore Florence and optional half day trip to Pisa
• Day 5 : Stop in Siena en route Rome
• Day 6 : Explore Rome
• Day 7 : Explore Rome

In this busy 7 day Milan to Rome travel itinerary, you’ll have three bases: Milan (1 night), Bologna (1 night), Florence (2 nights), and Rome (3 nights).

More time in Italy? Spend more time in Bologna, one of Italy’s most underrated cities.

Or, head to the Amalfi Coast with itinerary #8.

Need more information for this Milan to Rome road trip? Check out these travel guides and resources:

• 1 day in Siena itinerary

12. One Week In Sicily Itinerary

Want to head to the beautiful island of Sicily? I was just there for 2 weeks and it’s divine.

Sicily is rich in history, culture, and food. It’s one of Italy’s most exotic regions, pure passion set amid wild beauty. You can enjoy diverse landscapes — rocky volcanic coastlines, pristine beaches, and clifftop villages.

Sicily will also dazzle you with ancient ruins, UNESCO sites, artistic treasures, Baroque architecture, and Italy’s most exotic street markets. 

One week in Sicily isn’t enough time to experience the island fully. Given the distances to be traveled, imperfect roads, and plethora of attractions, you should probably stick to one part of the island.

I’ve written 5 sample itineraries for spending 1 week in Sicily by geography or theme:

• Eastern Sicily Itinerary
• Western Sicily Itinerary
• Northern Sicily Itinerary
• Sampler Sicily Itinerary
• Archaeological Sicily Itinerary

These one week Italy itineraries take you to Sicily’s premiere destinations — the exciting capital of Palermo, the mosaicked churches of Monreale and Cefalu, the clifftop town of Taormina, the sensation old world town of Syracuse, and the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto.

For details and destination inspiration, check out my 1 week in Sicily itineraries . Or, check out some of my detailed travel guides covering the must visit sites and towns in Sicily:

• 2 days in Palermo itinerary
• 2 days in Syracuse itinerary
• 2 days in Trapani itinerary
• 1 day in Catania itinerary
• 1 day in Taormina itinerary
• Guide to the Valley of the Temples
• Guide to Villa Romana del Casale
• Guide to Monreale Cathedral
• Guide to the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel

I hope you’ve enjoyed my one week Italy itineraries. If so, pin it for later.

12 thoughts on “7 Days in Italy: 12 Amazing One Week Itineraries for Italy”

I loved the itineraries…now I’m even more overwhelmed! My daughter and I want to spend 30 days in Italy (including Sicily). Any info on where to stay (location/safety)?

I feel like Italy is pretty safe, if you take the usual precautions of staying in good neighborhoods and not being out late at night. 30 days in Italy? That’s amazing. Sicily is definitely on my bucket list.

Thank you so much these are great ideas for first time travellers!

We fly into rome and leave rome after a week what would you suggest for one week, would love to see venace Florence or Milan!

I really wanted to see the different towns through Italy without having it to rushed happy to use the trains but accomodation wise I would have no idea where to book each night!

Thank you so much these ar very helpful!!

You’re welcome! You could actually use Rome as your home base for the entire week and day trip to other places either by high speed train or guided tour. Here’s my guide to the best day trips from Rome: https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/day-trips-from-rome . Or you could split your time between Rome and Florence. Florence is much closer than Milan or Venice. I have lots of articles on all those cities.

Great info thank you! Looking for a Rome – Venice – Amalfi itinerary…. Any suggestions or is it possible in a week? Thanks CD

You can do it, but you’ll be rushed. I’d probably start in Venice and only spend one day there if you only have 7 days in Italy. I do have a 1 day and 2 day itinerary for Venice and a 3 days in Rome itinerary.

ITALY It’s Beautiful city in Europe

Ha! Yes it is.

By far these iterinaries were great. Were heading to Europe for 3 weeks. Were going back to Rome for 2 or 3 days then explore northern part of Italy. We would like to spend 6 days or so then would like to see Switzerland then France. Any suggestions on these places. We are traveling with our 13 year old daughter. Thank you in advance Dennis

Thank you Dennis! I hope you have a fantastic time in Europe. If you use the search function on my blog page, you will find loads of itineraries for Rome and must see sites, museums, and ruins. I also have many articles on France. I haven’t been to Switzerland in a couple decades, so nothing on that country unfortunately.

Hi We are flying into Naples in September and headed to the Amalfi Coast. We have 7 nights and need to be in Venice on the 8th day. I know this will be a rushed tripped. I would love to include Bologna.Any suggestions on an itinerary?

Here are my sample itineraries for spending 5 days on the Amalfi Coast. https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/5-days-in-the-amalfi-coast-itineraries . You could take the high speed train from Naples to Bologna, spend a day there, and then head to Venice.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Last Updated on April 14, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

How to plan a trip to Italy

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• how-to-plan-a-trip-to-italy

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

written by Joanne Owen

updated 05.02.2024

Joanne is a Pembrokeshire-born writer with a passion for the nature, cultures and histories of the Caribbean region, especially Dominica. Also passionate about inspiring a love of adventure in young people, she’s the author of several books for children and young adults, hosts international writing workshops, and has written articles on the Caribbean and inspirational community initiatives for Rough Guides. Follow her @JoanneOwen on Twitter and @joanneowenwrites on Instagram.

​Radiating vitality from its natty north to its stylish southern heel, there are plenty of reasons Italy attracts a remarkable range of traveller types. Given its fabulous food, sun-soaked coastline, picture-perfect panoramas, and all those extraordinary ancient sites, it’s no wonder Italy sparks a desire to return. But how do you plan a perfect trip to Italy? There’s simply too much to see — and fall in love with — during a single trip, and planning a stay in Italy can be overwhelming.

Step 1 – Best time to go and budget

Step 2 - decide where to go in italy, step 3 - pre-book accommodation and attractions, step 4 – get ready for departure, step 5 - plan your italy itinerary, step 6 - leave time to seize the day, take a trip designed by local travel experts.

The question "how to plan a trip to Italy" is often related to weather and budget, so let's dive into this first.

• Best time to visit Italy

When it comes to visiting Italy timing is everything. The best time to visit largely depends on your preferences and what you hope to experience. If you seek pleasant weather, manageable crowds, and cost-effective travel, spring ( April and May ) and fall ( September and October ) are the best times to visit Italy . Since these are known as the shoulder months, you're likely to enjoy a milder climate, fewer tourists, and more affordable accommodations. Conversely, peak season, from June to August , sees a spike in temperature, crowded tourist spots, and higher prices. However, there are a few key times to avoid, such as Easter Week and around Christmas when Italy becomes very busy and prices soar.

Remember though, the best time to visit Italy is when it suits your schedule and your interests  

How much will it cost?

When it comes to costs, it varies greatly depending on where you go, when you go, how you travel, and your personal preferences. Here are some average costs to guide your budgeting process.

• Lodging : A budget hotel for two people ranges from $50 to $150. For a mid-range hotel, expect $150-$350. Luxury hotels can start at $350 and go up from there.
• Food : Estimate around $25-$50 per person for city tours and add in your meals, you're looking at approximately $75-$100 per person/per day.
• Travel : For intercity travel, train fares vary from $15 to $60 depending on distance.
• Attractions : Prices for tourist spots can vary, but averaged out, expect to spend around $15-$25/day on entrance fees to museums, historical sites, etc.

Remember, these are just averages. You could spend less if you're traveling off-peak, cooking your own meals, or staying in more budget accommodations . You could also spend more if you're splurging on gourmet meals, staying in luxury hotels, or traveling extensively between cities.

Remember, similar to the best time to visit, the cost also depends on your personal preferences and style of travel

Riomaggiore of Cinque Terre, Italy © Shutterstock

That’s why we’ve created this guide to planning a trip to Italy - to help you make the most of your time in this perennial stunner. These simple steps will help you decide where and when to go, and where to stay. Crucially, we’ll also show you how you’ll stay connected while you’re away.

Best cities to visit

When it comes to cities in Italy, the options are boundless, each offering its own unique charm, history, cultures, and cuisines. Here are a few you might want to consider:

• Rome : Known as the 'Eternal City'. Rome's attractions include the iconic Colosseum , Palatino, Roman Forum , and Pantheon. Don't forget to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome. For a real taste of Rome, visit Trastevere neighbourhood, known for its bohemian flare and delectable food.
• Venice : One of the most picturesque cities in the world, Venice is renowned for its charming canals, historic monuments, and ornate architecture. A gondola ride through its narrow canals or a walk through its labyrinth of winding streets is a must.
• Florence : Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is an art lover's paradise. Be sure to visit the Uffizi Gallery and Florence's famous Duomo. The city is also known for its leather markets and rich cuisine.
• Naples : For the pizza lovers, Naples, the birthplace of pizza, is a must-visit. Excursions to the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and down the scenic Amalfi Coast , are also highlights of the region.

Remember, this is just a taste of all that Italy. The country is littered with charming towns and bustling cities each holding its own unique attractions.

Best areas to visit

While Italy's cities are charming and packed with history, the northern regions of the country also offer stunning landscapes, charming towns, and unique experiences.

• Tuscany : Known for its stunning landscapes, art, history, and viticulture. Visit medieval towns like Siena, Pisa, and San Gimignano, and be sure to tour the vineyards for some of the best wine tastings you'll ever experience!
• Amalfi Coast : One of Italy's most breathtaking coastal regions. It's famous for its colorful towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, which are precariously perched on cliffs overlooking the sea.
• Cinque Terre : A string of five centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. Its hiking trails and stunning views are a real treat for the eyes.
• Lake Como : Luxury, beauty, and tranquility all come together in Lake Como. The lake is surrounded by mountains and dotted with beautiful villas and resort villages.

These regions offer a unique experience, you can enjoy an urban experience in the morning and immerse yourself in the beautiful countryside or relax by a lake in the afternoon. Each region has its own distinct flavor and culture worth experiencing.

View of Montalcino town, Tuscany, Italy © Shutterstock

Best wine yards to visit

Italy, renowned for its world-class vineyards, offers a plethora of options for wine connoisseurs and novices alike. Here are some of the best regions to explore:

• Tuscany : Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. 
• Sicily : Sicily's Marsala wines are world-famous. The region's hot climate, fertile soil, and hilly terrain offer perfect conditions for producing a variety of wines.
• Veneto : Known for its Prosecco and Soave wines. The region offers splendid views over terraced vineyards, unique to the region.
• Barbagia, Sardinia : For a truly authentic experience, consider exploring the vineyards of Sardinia, the island's climate and rugged terrain make for some distinctive wines. 

When at these wineries, don't forget to pair the wines with some local cheeses and indulge in wine tours . Each vineyard has its unique methods of cultivation, fermentation, and aging wines that provide you an insight into the intricate and fascinating process of winemaking.

Best lakes to visit

Italy is famous for its picturesque lakes with awe-inspiring landscapes. Here are the ones worth a visit, including the breathtaking Dolomites.

• Lake Como : Surrounded by mountains and studded with charming villages and villas, Lake Como is a must-visit for its beauty and tranquillity. Celebrity spotting (such as George Clooney!) is also a fun activity on Como.
• Lake Garda : Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda, is home to charming medieval towns, thermal bath towns, vineyards, and the family-friendly Gardaland amusement park. The lake has a more rustic feel compared to Como. 
• Lake Maggiore : Visit the stunning Isole Borromee with their ornate palaces and lavish gardens. Also, it's less crowded than Como and Garda, making it a peaceful retreat. 

While each lake has its own unique charm, they all offer activities such as swimming, boating, and hiking along with exceptional hospitality. Choose a lakeside villa or hotel for maximum views and comfort.

Varenna old town in Como lake © Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock

Major attractions

Italy bursts with world-renowned historical sites and cultural landmarks. While you might not cover it all, ensure your Italy itinerary includes these major ones:

• Colosseum (Rome) : The iconic symbol of Imperial Rome, it's one of the best-preserved monuments of the Ancient world and provides an unparalleled insight into the life and times of ancient Rome.
• Vatican Museums (Vatican City) : Housing an extensive collection of art, sculpture, and cultural artifacts, the Vatican Museums are a triumph of human imagination and creativity. Also, visit the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo's masterpiece ceiling.
• Pompeii (Naples) : Visit the ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time since the catastrophic Vesuvius eruption of AD 79.
• Leaning Tower of Pisa ( Pisa ) : The famous leaning bell tower is a marvel of medieval engineering popularly known for its unintended tilt.
• The Venice Canals (Venice) : A gondola ride through these famous canals is an essential experience when visiting Venice.

Your experience isn't confined to these major landmarks. Italy is rich with cultural and historical splendors and even a short stroll down any street might lead you to a smaller, yet remarkable gem. [Insert images of the listed attractions].

Remember to pre-book your entrance tickets where possible to bypass lengthy lines and ensure a smooth visit.

Accommodation

Accommodation forms a crucial part of your travel planning. Italy offers a wide range of options from high-rise luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels, and authentic agriturismo farm-stays. The choice depends on your budget, preferred location, and the kind of experience you seek.

• City Hotels : Major cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice offer a multitude of options in various budgets. Websites like Booking.com are excellent for comparing rates and amenities, as well as for finding deals on hotels, bed and breakfasts, and apartments [Add screenshot of Booking.com interface].
• Bed and Breakfasts/Hostels : A comfortable and cost-effective choice, especially for solo travelers or those on a tight budget. Be ready for a homely, quaint experience and a chance to mingle with other travelers.
• Agriturismo or Farm Stays : Offered by Italian farmers as a way to supplement their income, these are very popular in Italy and range from budget to luxury. Besides providing accommodations, some also offer meals made from fresh farm produce. A unique way to enjoy Italy’s countryside [Insert image of an agriturismo].
• Apartments/Vacation Rentals : Ideal for family trips or a larger group of travelers. Websites like Airbnb and Plum Guide offer an extensive list, often cheaper than hotels and give you the freedom to cook your own meals if you wish [Add screenshot of Airbnb interface].

Remember to always check reviews before booking and take advantage of the flexible cancellation policies offered by many services. At some popular tourist locations, bookings can fill up quickly, so it’s wise to reserve your accommodation well in advance.

Check the best hotels in Italy here .

Aerial view Italy's famous medieval San Gimignano hill town © Shutterstock

Related articles from the blog

Italy tours

Italy's rich history and diverse landscapes make it a dream destination for (day) tours. They provide an excellent way to learn about the culture and history of the places you are visiting. Here are our top picks:

• Food tours : Delve into Italy's culinary delights with a food tour. Savor traditional dishes and learn about regional cuisines. These tours often include visits to local markets, cooking demonstrations, and tastings at renowned eateries.
• Senior tours : Tailored for comfort and accessibility, senior tours in Italy offer a blend of leisure and cultural immersion. These tours prioritize ease of travel, with guided visits to historical sites and scenic landscapes, ensuring a fulfilling experience without physical strain.
• Train tours : Experience the scenic beauty of Italy from the comfort of a train. These tours combine the romance of rail travel with the convenience of guided visits to iconic cities and hidden gems, all while traversing Italy's picturesque countryside.
• Wine tours : Explore Italy's renowned vineyards on a wine tour. Learn about wine-making traditions, visit esteemed wineries, and taste world-class wines. These tours often include guided tastings and insights into local viticulture, perfect for enthusiasts and novices alike.

Consider building a couple of these tours when planning your trip to Italy . Remember, tours using guidebooks fill up quickly during peak tourist seasons, so it's wise to book in advance. Of course, self-guided tours using our guide books or apps are another good option for those who prefer a self-paced experience.

Activities and experiences

Immersing yourself in Italian culture is part of the attraction. Here are some recommended experiences that vary from culinary tours to exploring the countryside:

• Road tripping: Explore Italy's diverse regions with a road trip adventure. Journey along the Amalfi Coast for stunning coastal views or through Tuscany’s vineyard-covered hills. Road trips offer the freedom to discover Italy’s hidden gems and picturesque landscapes at your own pace.
• Art and architecture exploration: Immerse yourself in Italy’s rich artistic heritage. Wander through world-famous museums, gaze at Renaissance masterpieces, and delve into ancient Roman ruins. This activity offers a deep dive into Italy's profound cultural and historical impact.
• Cycling adventures: Cycle through Italy’s scenic countryside, quaint villages, and along beautiful coastlines. Suitable for all skill levels, cycling adventures are an active way to engage with Italy’s landscapes and local culture.
• Boat excursions: Experience Italy from its captivating waterways. Glide in a Venetian gondola or cruise around the islands of Capri and Sicily. Boat excursions provide a unique perspective of Italy’s coastal beauty and maritime charm.
• Hiking: Traverse Italy's varied terrains on foot. Hike through the majestic Dolomites, the scenic trails of Cinque Terre, or historic pilgrimage routes. Hiking offers a perfect combination of natural splendor and cultural discovery.

Remember that while it's essential to have a well-planned travel itinerary, also leave room for spontaneity. This could be as simple as enjoying a cup of espresso in a quiet corner café or an unexpected detour into a local market. These unplanned moments often turn out to be the highlights of your trip.

View over the famous Village of Limone sul Garda, Italy © Shutterstock

Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower in Florence © Shutterstock

Get a credit card and budgetize

Getting a credit card that offers travel rewards can be highly beneficial for your trip to Italy. Look for cards with no foreign transaction fees, and good cash back or points systems. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Italy, while American Express and Diners Club may not be as popular.

In terms of budgeting, set up a daily budget covering all essential aspects like food, accommodation, travel, and activities. Decide what you want to splurge on and where to save. If you're on a tight budget, cooking your own meals and choosing more budget-friendly accommodation can help significantly reduce expenses.

Also, be aware of foreign currency charges and ATM withdrawal fees in Italy. Consider getting a foreign currency card like the Wise Mastercard where you can convert Euros easily and cheaply from your US, Australian or Canadian dollar accounts.

Lastly, ensure you keep some funds aside for unexpected expenses. Planning a budget beforehand ensures your trip runs smoothly, and you can enjoy your dream Italian vacation without the stress of unexpected costs.

Look for airport transfers

Arranging airport transfers in advance can save you time and stress upon arrival in Italy. Most Italian airports are located quite a distance from the city center, and public transportation might not always be convenient, especially if you're carrying heavy luggage or traveling in a group.

Consider car rental deals or comparing different transfer services like Suntransfers or Welcome Pickups . They offer several options from budget to luxury that suit different needs, including coach, mini bus, private cars, and limo services. The service ensures that someone will be waiting for you at arrivals, and will take you directly to your accommodation in the quickest and easiest way.

For example, to transfer from Rome’s Fiumicino airport into the city center, taxis offer a set rate of €$50 and the ride takes around 45 minutes. Or, if you're a group traveling with multiple items of luggage, a pre-booked transfer can be a better option

Stay connected

Once you've figured out your transportation and lodging for your trip to Italy, don't overlook another essential aspect: staying connected while abroad — conveniently and without spending a fortune.

Even if you've decided to avoid work emails during your vacation (which is great), having access to affordable data will definitely enhance your experience.

For starters, it'll make navigation a breeze and keep you connected with people back home. You'll likely also want to share live updates and photos of your journey. To do this, you need immediate data access.

You're probably already aware of these advantages, but may be concerned about the cost — nobody wants to spend excessively to stay connected while traveling. Fortunately, with an international SIM card or eSIM from SIMCorner , a trusted partner of Rough Guides, you don’t have to worry about high costs.

Thanks to partnerships with top telecom providers worldwide, SIMCorner offers products for every type of traveler, especially those heading to Italy.

For those tired of hidden fees and reluctant to commit long-term, SIMCorner's data plans and services are contract-free. This means you can use your SIM card or eSIM as needed, and put it on hold when not in use. It's that simple.

If you plan a trip to Italy, make sure to check the Old Town of San Leo © Shutterstock

How many days do you need in Italy?

The ideal length of a trip to Italy greatly depends on your travel desires and time constraints. For a decent first visit, aim for at least 7 to 10 days, which will let you cover the country's major cities such as Rome , Florence, and Venice with a day or two for exploring smaller towns.

If you're happy to move fast though, Italy's highlights could be covered on a 10-day whirlwind tour. This would give you a couple of days in Venice and Florence, a day each in Bologna, Pisa and Naples, and around three days in Rome.

If your time is limited to only 3-5 days, it's advised to choose one region or city to explore deeply, rather than rush through several destinations.

On the other hand, with a longer stay of around two weeks, you have the opportunity to see both the north and the south, and perhaps even squeeze in a visit to Sicily or Sardinia.

Keep in mind, these durations are just general guidelines. Elongating the stay will allow a deeper connection with the country, its culture, and its people. Your travel duration should cater to your interests, be it history, cuisine, art, or simply relaxation. Remember, Italy is a country filled with endless wonders and even a lifetime might not be enough to explore them all.

How to spend 5 days in Italy

If you only have five days in Italy , you may want to focus your trip on one or two destinations. For example, you could split your trip between Rome and Florence, spending three days in Rome and two in Florence. Here's how:

Day 1-3: Rome Immerse yourself in the history of the Eternal City. Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Also, take a walk through St. Peter's Square, or take a tour of the Vatican Museums. Roam around Trastevere for an authentic Italian dinner.

Day 4-5: Florence Hop on a high-speed train to Florence. Enjoy Renaissance art at Uffizi Gallery, marvel at the view from Piazzale Michelangelo, and visit the Florence Cathedral. Dedicate half a day for a trip to Pisa or a Tuscan wine tour.

Remember, this plan for Italy travel planning offers a taste of Italy's rich culture and history within a short timeframe. Modify it as per your preferences. If you're more interested in slow-paced vacations, consider focusing just on Rome, exploring the city thoroughly, and embracing the local lifestyle.

Titus Arch and the Roman Colosseum in Rome, Italy as seen from the Palatine Hill © Shutterstock

How to spend 7 days in Italy

7 days in Italy is a wonderful amount of time to get a taste of Italy's treasures. For first-time visitors, a common itinerary is the classic trio of Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Day 1-3: Rome Spend the first few days exploring Rome's iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Visit the Vatican City, marvelling at Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.

Day 4-5: Florence Take a train to Florence. Spend a day exploring the city’s art history in Uffizi Gallery, climb the Duomo, and take a sunset stroll across the Ponte Vecchio.

Day 6-7: Venice Board a train to Venice. Visit St. Mark’s Square to see the Doge’s Palace, tour the Bell Tower, or visit the Rialto Market. Don’t forget to take a traditional gondola ride through the canals, for an authentic Venetian affair.

Remember, while it’s a whirlwind tour, this example itinerary offers an introduction to three utterly different and equally enchanting Italian cities. Be flexible with the plan and adjust it according to your interests and energy levels. Travelling should also include enjoying a gelato on a city square, sipping a cup of rich Italian espresso at a streetside café, and taking leisurely strolls soaking in the city’s atmosphere. 

How to spend 10 days in Italy

With 10 days in Italy you have more time to delve deeper into Italy's rich offerings. In addition to the must-see cities of Rome, Venice, and Florence, 10 days provide a sufficient window to explore additional cities, like:

• Rome (3 days) : Start by immersing yourself in the Eternal City's historical grandeur - from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, to St. Peter's Square and the Vatican.
• Florence (2 days) : Head to the birthplace of the Renaissance, visit the Uffizi Gallery, Florence's iconic Duomo and savor Tuscan delights.
• Pisa (1 day) : Visit the remarkable Leaning Tower of Pisa and explore the surrounding area's historical sights.
• Venice (2 days) : Discover the unique city on water with its famous canals and gondolas. Visit St. Mark's Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
• Milan (2 days) : Conclude in Milan, Italy's fashion capital. Don't miss the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci and visit the majestic Duomo.

These select destinations give you a comprehensive flavor of Italy’s diverse culture, history, and landscapes. And you'll still have some downtime for savoring the food, wine, and the Italian way of life. [Add corresponding pictures of the city's main attractions here]

Remember, regardless of how detailed your pre-planned itinerary is, leave room for the unexpected to fully experience La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life)!

How to spend 14 days in Italy

With 14 days in Italy at your disposal, you can cover more ground and enjoy a more relaxed pace. This could allow you to explore beyond the traditional Rome-Florence-Venice triangle, and immerse yourself in Italy's enchanting landscapes, rich history, and vibrant local cultures. Here's a suggested itinerary with train itineraries:

• Rome (4 days) : Spend 4 days soaking in Rome's ancient sites and vibrant café culture.
• Florence (3 days) : Discover this cradle of the Renaissance, its art treasures, and its delightful food scene.
• Cinque Terre (2 days) : Experience the quaint colorful seaside villages perched along the rugged Italian Riviera coast.
• Pisa (1 day) : Visit the iconic Leaning Tower and nearby attractions.
• Venice (2 days) : Explore Venice's romantic canals, historic landmarks, and charming cafes.
• Milan (2 days) : End in Milan to witness its modern side – towering skyscrapers, international fashion scene, and iconic Milan Cathedral.

In this itinerary, along with Italy's cosmopolitan cities you also experience its hidden gems and its rustic, authentic charm. Whether you're strolling Rome's ancient streets or tasting fresh seafood in Cinque Terre, these two weeks will provide a taste of Italy's diversity, history, and irresistible allure.

Remember, a slower schedule can often result in a richer experience. Balance your itinerary with rest and relaxation, and allow time to savour Italy's culinary delights, and just people-watch in beautiful piazzas. Leave room for some spontaneity, and you'll find your travel memories are all the richer! 

You can't plan a trip to Italy, without adding Venice © Shutterstock

Don't overplan

One of the top mistakes people make while planning a trip to Italy is trying to fit in too much. While it's important to have an itinerary , don't fill every minute of your day with activities. Italy is best enjoyed at a slower pace, taking time to stroll through its cobblestone streets, sip an espresso at a sidewalk cafe, or linger over a delicious meal at a local trattoria.

It's also essential to be flexible. Perhaps you discover a picturesque spot perfect for a picnic that wasn't in your original plan, or you come across a charming street market that you would love to explore. Having some wiggle room in your itinerary allows you to seize these unexpected opportunities.

Finally, keep in mind that winding lanes and Google Maps often don’t mix. Allow extra time for getting lost - it’s part of the charm of traveling in Italy! You are on vacation after all, take time to enjoy, relax and let Italy slowly reveal itself to you.

Remember, the goal of the trip is to enjoy and experience Italy, not tick off a list of sites.

Plan some free days

In addition to structured activities and tours, you should always account for a few free days in your itineraries. These can be used for a wide variety of unscripted adventures such as:

• Exploring neighborhoods : Navigate through the winding streets of intriguing districts like Trastevere in Rome or Navigli in Milan.
• Enjoying local cuisine : Delve deeper into Italy's culinary scene. Maybe attend a cooking class or explore local markets to sample regional specialties.
• People watching : There's nothing quite like spending an afternoon relaxing in a beautiful piazza, eating gelato, and watching the world go by. This can easily turn into a highlight of your trip!

These free days give you the chance to dive deep into Italian life and culture, catch your breath, and savor the moments of your journey. They also give you the buffer needed if an attraction was unexpectedly closed or weather was harsh on a day with outdoor activities planned.

Remember, sometimes the most memorable moments emerge when there is no agenda at all!

Vernazza in Cinque Terre ©Shutterstock

Planning your Italy trip? Let our local experts help

Take a trip designed by local travel experts speaks to the heart of an authentic Italian adventure. Here's why choosing a trip curated by local experts elevates your Italian experience:

• Personalized itineraries: Our local travel experts craft itineraries that align with your interests and preferences. Whether you're an art aficionado, a food lover, or an outdoor enthusiast, your trip will be tailored to your passions, ensuring a deeply personal and fulfilling experience.
• Insider knowledge: Local experts possess invaluable insider knowledge. They guide you to hidden gems and authentic experiences that typical tourists might miss. This means dining at off-the-beaten-path trattorias, exploring lesser-known historical sites, and engaging in local traditions.
• Efficient planning: Navigating a foreign country can be daunting. Local experts streamline your trip, handling logistics like transportation, accommodations, and bookings. This efficient planning removes stress, allowing you to focus on enjoying your journey.
• Cultural immersion: A trip designed by locals immerses you in Italian culture. You gain insights into the local way of life, participate in traditional activities, and engage with the community. This cultural immersion fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of Italy.
• Support and safety:** Traveling with the backing of local experts ensures you have support throughout your trip. They provide valuable advice, assist in case of emergencies, and ensure your safety, offering peace of mind as you explore.

In essence, a trip designed by local travel experts transforms your Italian vacation into an unforgettable, authentic, and hassle-free experience, enriching your journey beyond the ordinary.

Travel advice for Italy

To make the most of your Italy trip, here are a few tried-and-tested tips:

• Avoid peak season : Beginner travelers might want to avoid July and August, when Italy tends to get hot, crowded, and expensive.
• Public transportation : Train travel is highly efficient and cost-effective in Italy. Enjoy the scenery and save on car rental and parking fees.
• Water : It's safe to drink tap water in Italy, saving you money on bottled water.
• Tipping : Service charge is generally included in your restaurant bill, so tipping isn’t necessary but appreciated. A tip of one to three Euros or rounding off the bill is common.
• Dress code for churches : When visiting the numerous beautiful churches in Italy, it's appreciated to cover your shoulders and knees.
• Eat like a Local : Trying local food is half the fun of travel. Enjoy hearty Italian meals and make sure to try regional dishes.
• Safety : Italy is generally safe, but pickpocketing remains an issue. As always, it’s important to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions, particularly in crowded areas.

Remember, travel destinations are about breaking away from the hustle of everyday life, discovering new cultures, cuisines, and people, and creating lasting memories. [Images depicting local food, people at a public transport station, and some safety signs should be spread throughout this section].

Enjoy your trip and say "Ciao" to Italy on our behalf. Buon Viaggio (Safe Travels)!

• Sponsored content
• Inspiration
• Local Guides
• Travel Advice
• Travel Tips

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Italy

• Eating and drinking in Italy
• How to get to Italy
• Getting around Italy: Transportation Tips
• Shopping tips for Italy
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Italy
• Travel Tips Italy for planning and on the go
• How to spend 7 days In Italy - 8 unique itineraries
• The Best 10-Day Italy Travel Itinerary
• How To Spend 14 Days In Italy - 5 Unique Itineraries
• How to get from Rome to Florence

Find even more inspiration for 35 here

Ready to travel and discover italy, get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Itineraries
• Travel advice

Plan Your Trip to Italy: 10 Top Itineraries

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Jan 31, 2022

Italy may not be a very big country, but it packs plenty of attractions into a small space. Even the most energetic tourist can't expect to see it all at once. You can see the very top highlights in one trip, or you can choose one region to explore in more depth.

When planning your Italy itinerary, remember that time you spend traveling from place to place is time you won't have to explore the fascinating corners of the places you stop. That's where Italy's fast and efficient (and on time) train network will help you.

But trains are not the best way to see and experience one of Italy's greatest charms–its small towns and villages, often perched on hilltops amid rolling landscapes of green fields and poppy-painted meadows. These breathe history, and in their atmospheric streets, you'll have a better chance to meet and interact with the country's greatest treasure–its people.

But there are plenty of options. In these itineraries, you'll find the most famous sights: the Tower of Pisa, the Grand Canal , the Colosseum , and others, but you'll also find suggestions for trips that take you into the very heart of Italy , and to places your friends have never seen. Plan your trip to Italy and discover the best places to visit with these top itineraries.

1. Venice, Florence & Rome by Train

2. the hill towns of tuscany by car, 3. milan to venice by train, 4. florence, prato, pistoia, lucca & pisa by train or bus, 5. driving tour of sicily, 6. the italian riviera by train and boat, 7. lake garda & the dolomite road driving tour, 8. driving tour through emilia-romagna from bologna to florence, 9. driving tour of sardinia, 10. driving tour of the aosta valley.

You could easily find enough attractions to spend a week in each of these cities, but you can see the highlights of all three in a well-planned week. The total travel time between Venice and Rome is only three and a half hours, so you can make the maximum use of your time. Of course, you'll want to see the main sights, but do allow some time to stroll through a neighborhood or two and sit in a café to soak up the atmosphere.

For example, after you've ridden the length of the Grand Canal and toured St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace , cross Rialto Bridge into the rabbit warren of narrow lanes in San Polo . Here, you'll find mask makers, tiny shops, and artisan studios, as well as churches filled with art and squares where neighborhood children play soccer.

In Rome, after the Colosseum and St. Peter's , explore the streets of the former ghetto of Trastevere , south of the Vatican . In Florence , follow your tours of the Pitti Palace art museums and gardens with a stroll through the Oltrarno neighborhood.

Longer is better, of course, and with a day or two to spare, you can either see more of each of the "Big Three," or you could make a stopover to see Bologna or hilltop Siena . The main train lines between the major cities go right through both. You don't need to stay overnight in either of these, as you can check your luggage at the train station while you tour. To make the most of your time, reserve tickets in advance to big attractions and museums, such as the Uffizi . This itinerary can be followed in either direction.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Venice

The hilltop towns in Tuscany are legendary for their beauty, their history, and the sheer romance of their settings. Many still retain the walls and castles that were their defense in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and the art in their churches reflects Tuscany's wealth and power.

A car is the best and sometimes the only way to see many of these towns and the remote abbeys that are also part of Tuscany's heritage. You could easily spend a week exploring the Tuscan countryside and lingering to savor its village life, but you can see a good deal in four or five days.

Begin southwest of Florence in Volterra , whose historic center retains tower houses from the 12th and 13th centuries and which is still famous for its alabaster carving. San Gimignano is a short distance to the north, and one of the best-known of the Tuscan hill towns, mainly for its tall towers and the views across the surrounding countryside.

Colle di Val d'Elsa's old upper town still has some of its 13th-century walls, and the Palazzo Pretorio houses artifacts from a nearby Etruscan cemetery in its Museo Archeológico. Heading south, the little town of Monteriggioni sits inside a complete set of perfectly preserved 13th-century walls with 14 square towers; it's a favorite day trip from Siena .

Siena is worth a day or two stop, filled with medieval and Renaissance buildings and one of Tuscany's finest cathedrals. You'll find more Etruscan artifacts in the Museo Archeologico of Asciano , a fortified hill town south of Siena. The large Olivetan monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore was founded in 1313 and remains an active monastic community.

Montalcino is not very big, but it seems to have stepped out of the Middle Ages intact, inside walls built by the Sienese in 1361. Walk the well-preserved walls, visit rooms inside the fortress, and savor views of the Tuscan countryside from the castle.

Just to the south is the Benedictine Abbey of Sant'Ántimo , dating from at least 813, with a Romanesque church. Walled Montepulciano , one of the best known hill towns, shows Renaissance "modernization" to medieval architecture, reflecting the continuing power of its leading families even after other small towns here had declined.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Volterra

Although you can travel from Milan to Venice by train in two and a half hours, the same train route provides a made-to-order tour of some of northern Italy's most important art and historic attractions. The train line connects major Roman strongholds, centers of medieval and Renaissance culture, religious landmarks, and great centers of learning.

To spend a full day exploring each of these, with time to see the highlights of both Venice and Milan, you should plan at least 10 days, but you can pick from among the stops for a shorter trip. It's easy to see any of these cities without spending the night–you can check baggage at any train station.

Brescia , your first stop, preserves much of its Roman past, with parts of a temple, theater, and its forum still standing, and an exceptionally fine civic museum that includes a Roman villa with mosaic floors . If time allows, a stopover in Desenzano di Garda is a good chance to tour Lake Garda on the boats that leave regularly from the center of town. Highlights on the lake are nearby Sirmione , with a charming little castle and a Roman spa, and Malcesine, with a stone castle and beautiful views of the steep northern shores.

Verona's highlights include one of Italy's finest Roman arenas and a riverside castle–and of course Juliet's house (although the story is pure fiction). Vicenza's claim to fame–and a UNESCO designation–is the architecture of Andrea Palladio . Along with his masterpiece, Basilica Palladiana, are the Teatro Olimpico and the villa La Rotonda.

In Padua (Padova on the station signs), the attractions you shouldn't miss are the Shrine of St. Anthony and Giotto's incomparable frescoes in the Cappella degli Scrovegni (reserve ahead to be sure of admission). If you have time here or in Venice, make a side trip along the Brenta Canal to see the elegant villas and gardens. Leave extra time for Venice if you can, to savor La Dolce Vita at its best.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Milan

While you could spend a week just seeing all the Renaissance wonders of Florence , you can easily add Pisa and two or three other Tuscan towns in a week's vacation. Handily, they are strung like beads along a route you can follow by train or bus. Because the regional trains don't require seat reservations, you can buy your ticket at the station in Florence and travel any time you wish (be sure to stamp it in the machine on the platform before you board). These towns are only 15 to 45 minutes apart.

After at least two days in Florence, you can see the highlights of Prato and Pistoia easily in the same day. Prato's cathedral is illuminated by two 15th-century fresco cycles that show Filippo Lippi at the height of his artistry.

When you see Pistoia's medieval churches, you may wonder why it's not better known to tourists, but it remains blissfully serene, and you can tour its magnificent 13th-century Cattedrale di San Zeno almost in solitude. Don't miss the silver altar in the adjoining Cappella di San Iácopo or Andrea della Robbia's glazed terra-cotta relief above the central doorway. Across the piazza is a 14th-century baptistery faced with white and green marble.

Lucca , where you will want to stop over for at least a night, will charm you with its medieval towers, beautiful 12th-century church facades, Puccini music (he was born here), and the encircling walls. The tops of these walls are now a city park where locals stroll or ride their bicycles. Climb to the top of the Guinigi Tower for views down into an oval piazza that was once the interior of a Roman amphitheater.

You don't need anyone to tell you what is the main attraction in Pisa, but after you've climbed the Leaning Tower (reserve a timed entrance in advance), be sure to tour the magnificent cathedral and the baptistery, all located in the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Florence

You can see some of the main cities of Sicily –Messina, Taormina, Catania, Syracuse, Trapani, and Palermo–by train, and several others by local bus. But you are tied to schedules more in tune to commuting locals than to tourists, and you'll have trouble getting to the historic sites in the countryside.

A driving tour around the perimeter of the island with stops to tour the major attractions could fill two weeks; you can compress it into a shorter time by skipping some places and seeing just the main features at each.

You'll want a day or two for Palermo and Monreale , where you won't need a car (or want to drive), before heading west to ancient Greek Segesta, with its theater and unfinished temple. Just beyond is the historic port of Trapani on its promontory, and hilltop Erice.

Continuing south along the coast, Marsala and Mazara del Vallo are worth seeing on the way to Selinunte , where you'll find one of the largest of all remaining Greek temples . One of the three most perfect temples in the ancient Greek world is farther along the south coast, at the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento .

From Agrigento, you can either continue along the coast or travel a loop of mountain roads inland to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Villa Romana del Casale in Enna , whose more than 3,500 square meters of mosaics place it high among the best-preserved villas anywhere in the Roman Empire.

Head back south and jump forward more than a millennium to Baroque Ragusa and Modica, before reaching Syracuse . In the archaeological area are one of the world's largest and best preserved Greek theaters, one of Italy's largest Roman amphitheaters , extensive catacombs, and an ancient quarry.

Stop in Catania to see its magnificent Baroque architecture. From pretty Taormina , you can drive up continental Europe's largest active volcano, Mt. Etna . Messina , the closest point to the Italian mainland, is usually overlooked, but it's worth seeing before heading back to Palermo along the scenic north coast, by way of Cefalu .

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Sicily

The Mediterranean coast from Sanremo to Portovenere is not just beautiful. It is studded with charming seaside resorts, fishing villages, historic attractions, and artistic treasures, all of them easy to reach by train or boat. If you are traveling with more than a backpack, you may need to choose several bases and backtrack a bit to explore, but that's no problem if you are on a rail pass.

The whole area around Portofino , for example, is easy to reach by boat from a base in Santa Margherita , and the Cinque Terre is easily explored from Portovenere or Sestri Levante. There are no left luggage facilities at any station between Genoa and La Spezia.

Begin near the French border in Sanremo, known as the flower center of the Riviera, where roses, jasmine, carnations, mimosa, and other fragrant flowers bloom on terraces. Rent a bicycle to reach some of the Riviera's best and least crowded beaches between Sanremo and San Lorenzo; most are free.

Genoa is perhaps Italy's most overlooked city, its streets lined with glorious palaces, and its churches and museums filled with priceless art treasures. You can take a ferry from here to the postcard harbor of Portofino and then a local boat to Santa Margherita to stroll its beachside promenade and bask in its gracious old-world atmosphere.

Sestri Levante makes a good base for exploring the Cinque Terre , or choose one of the five towns and hop between them by boat or train. The towns, along with Portovenere, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site . You can move on to Portovenere by train, but by far the most scenic way to arrive is by boat from one of the Cinque Terre towns, traveling beneath the magnificent cliffs and into one of Italy's prettiest harbors. Linger here to climb the narrow lanes, past 12th-century houses, to the citadel high above the town.

• Read More: Visiting the 5 Towns of the Cinque Terre: The Essential Guide

An itinerary for drivers who don't mind winding, steep mountain roads, this is a trip that largely avoids Autostrada traffic, traveling instead through small mountain villages in breathtaking settings. The route combines lovely lake scenery and Garda's holiday atmosphere with the breathtaking mountain views along the UNESCO World Heritage Strada Dolomiti, the Dolomite Road.

Begin in Verona , driving northwest to Peschiera, on the southern shore of Lake Garda , and make a side trip to chic little Sirmione , on a narrow peninsula jutting into the lake. A small but terribly picturesque castle guards its entrance, and at the end of its single street, you can take a tiny train to the ruins of a magnificent Roman villa overlooking the lake.

Return to Peschiera and drive up the east side of Lake Garda, stopping in lively little towns on the way, to Malcecsine . Pause here to climb its medieval streets to the castle and admire the soaring cliffs across the lake. Continue to Riva , worth an overnight stop to savor the lake's holiday vibe. Leave the lake, heading north to Arco, with its hilltop gardens, and continue along the verdant valley to Trento .

Pick up the Autostrada as far as Bolzano , a good stopping point to see the famed Ice Man and tour Castle Roncollo to see some of the finest surviving medieval court frescoes. You'll begin to notice the Germanic influences here, and as you climb through the Alpine villages of the Strada Dolomiti to Cortina d'Ampezzo .

More Alpine villages await on the trip south through the Cadore Valley to Vittorio Veneto , where you'll begin to notice the influence of this region's history as part of the Venetian Republic. Windows and doors around its pretty market square take on the graceful curves seen in the palazzi of Venice.

Conigliano is a charming town with a hilltop castle and excellent restaurants. From Conigliano, continue south past Treviso , where you can either go south to Venice or west through the walled towns of Castelfranco and Citadella to Vicenza . Stop here to tour at least one of Andrea Palladio's magnificent villas before returning to Verona.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions around Lake Garda

Few driving tours in Italy promise as much variety in a week as the scenic route from Bologna to Florence , along the Adriatic coast and over the Apennine mountains . A week allows a day or two for the medieval towers and beautiful churches of Bologna and time at the end for the Renaissance wonders of Florence. In between these are Roman sites, Europe's finest assemblage of Byzantine mosaics, miles of Adriatic beaches, a fishing village, castles, and the tiny independent republic of San Marino.

Head east from Bologna and stop in Faenza , known for its ceramics. Learn about this craft and see examples by Picasso and Matisse at the Museo delle Ceramiche before moving on to Ravenna . The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes eight churches, each lined with dazzling Byzantine mosaics , so a stopover in Ravenna means you won't have the sensory overload of trying to see them all in the same day.

Farther south along the coast is Cesenatico , whose old fishing harbor, surrounded by seafood restaurants, holds a floating museum of historic boats. Rimini's Roman past is well explained in historic signage as you walk its main street past excavations; the forum; the grand Porta Augusto; and the five-arched bridge, Ponte Tiberini. If the season is right, pause at one of Rimini's famed Adriatic beaches.

Head inland to nearby San Marino , leaving the car to ride the convenient shuttle to its historic center to see the frequent changing of the guard and its three mountaintop castles. Follow the old road, parallel to the Autostrada, through Cesena to Forli , a walled town where the Abbazia di San Mercuriale ( Abbey of San Mercuriale) in the main piazza is worth seeing for its stone carving. From here, follow SS67 over the Apennines to Florence.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Bologna

Sardinia may be a part of Italy, but you'll soon feel as though you were in an entirely different country; it even has its own distinct cuisine. Spend at least a day in the capital city of Cagliari for a tour of the main sights, so you'll have some background in Sardinia's unique history and prehistory. To understand the strange nuraghe – the enigmatic stone towers that pepper the entire island–visit the museum in the citadel.

Drive north from Cagliari to see the best of these, Nuraghe su Nuraxi , then head west to Oristano to see the Phoenician/Carthaginian/Roman ruins of Tharros . Continue north to the beautiful town of Bosa , under its castle, and follow the scenic coastal drive to Alghero to walk its walls and stroll its atmospheric stone streets. Take a boat to the impressive sea caves of Grotta di Nettuno before traveling on through Sassari to castle-topped Castelsardo .

Follow the north coast to the fantastic rock formations of Santa Teresa di Gallura and take the ferry to the pink beaches of the Arcipelago di la Maddalena before reaching the Costa Smeralda . Arzachena is a good base here, perhaps at a country inn in the rock-studded mountains above town, as you explore the trendy resort villages and the outstanding prehistoric sites.

A drive south along the east coast brings you to Sardinia's wild and sparsely settled mountains, where a motorway will bring you to Nuoro . This is a good center for a day exploring the precipitous mountain roads to remote towns of the Barbagia . On the way back to Cagliari stop at Nuraghe Losa and the mysterious well of Santa Cristina .

You can do this route in eight days if you leave out some of the prehistoric sites, but 10 gives you more leisure to enjoy Sardinia's unique culture, along with giving you more time to spend in Cagliari with a side trip to the Phoenician city of Nora .

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Sardinia

From the royal splendor of Turin , the former Savoy capital, to the natural splendor of Europe's highest peaks, this route follows a valley that has been a major trade route since Roman times. You'll see a Roman theater in Aosta, a string of medieval castles, and the two most famous mountains in the Alps.

Although you could drive from Turin to Mont Blanc (Monte Blanco) in six hours, you should allow three days in addition to your time in Turin. While here, tour the Savoys' Royal Palace , and ride the elevator to the top of the Mole, where you can visit the outstanding cinema museum.

Head north from Turin on the E612 and E25 as far as Chatillion, then drive north to Breuil-Cervinia , at the foot of the Matterhorn . On the way, stop at Lago Blu for one of the best views of the mountain's dramatic south face. A cable car takes you from the village to higher viewpoints.

Back in Chatillion, SS 26 follows the river past a succession of villages. Each seems to have its own castle; the first you'll see is the impressive Castello Fénis , a pentagonal fortified manor with towers and battlements, surrounded by crenelated walls. Medieval frescoes decorate the balconies around the courtyard and chapel.

The valley's largest town is Aosta , an ancient Roman post that shows off its past in the well-preserved 1 st -century Arch of Augustus , Roman Theater , towers , and catacombs . The monastic complex of Sant'Orso and the cathedral's mosaics are also worth seeing. From Aosta, you can take a cable car to the 1800-meter summit of Pila for views of the valley and the Alps.

For a glimpse of later history, stop at Sarre Royal Castle , built in the early 18th century and later the hunting lodge of King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II. A side trip into the Gran Paradiso National Park follows a scenic road from Aymavilles through meadows of wildflowers to the village of Cogne. Here, you'll find a botanical garden of Alpine flora, and hiking trails into the park.

Courmayeur is one of Europe's top ski resorts , a chic ensemble of chalets, boutiques, and cafés, with an interesting Alpine Museum and a 14 th -century church. Outside of ski season, the main attraction is the Skyway Monte Bianco , a set of 360-degree rotating cableways linking three stations ascending Mont Blanc, the highest at 3,466 meters.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

More to See in Italy: While you're touring, you can follow your own special interests with our pages on the Most Beautiful Gardens in Italy and Top-Rated Beach Destinations in Italy . If you are traveling to Italy in winter, see our list of the Top Ski Resorts in Italy .

More on Italy

The Best Italy Itinerary for First Timers: Gladiators, Gondolas & Gold

Discover the Best Cities in Italy

I’ve been to Italy many times and each time, the food tastes better, the sights get more impressive and I fall in love just a little bit more. Since Europe’s boot is quite a large country, I thought in today’s post I would share a classic itinerary focused on Italy’s most famous cities and beautiful places.

This is the route I followed on my first grand tour of Italy and what I think any first timer to Italy would love. It includes Italy’s trifecta of important cities: Rome , Milan and  Florence with lots of beauty and romance thrown in!

Click the links to jump directly to each section

Planning a Trip to Italy

Italy itinerary 7 days.

• Italy Itinerary 10 days
• Italy Itinerary 12 days
• 2 Weeks in Italy

3 Weeks in Italy

Keep reading for the perfect Italy itinerary for first time visitors below!

Or save this article to read later by pinning it ⇟

10 Day Italy Itinerary

Days: 1-3: rome.

Rome is my favorite city in Italy. I know a lot of people visit the first time are overwhelmed by the noise, the chaos and the inefficiency but I love the history of the Roman Empire and it is a beautiful capital to me!

From the Vatican enclave and St. Peter’s Basilica to the crumbling Colosseum and bright Sistine Chapel – there is SO much to see and do in Rome. After all, this was once the cradle of civilization itself.

I took Latin for many years in school; did you know that Romans called outsiders “Barbarians” because they didn’t speak Latin or Greek and therefore everything sounded like “bar bar bar” Ha.

Top Sights & Attractions in Rome:

• Colosseum & Roman Forum
• Borghese Gallery & Gardens
• Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps

Don’t Miss:  the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica (even if you’re not religious!). Get a Roma Pass if you have 3 days to save both headache and cash.

Where to Stay in Rome

Some people do in Rome in 1 day and are happy to get out of the exhilarating, but exhausting city. Personally, I recommend 3 nights to truly explore, especially if you like grand architecture, culture and/or are religious.

Rome is sprawling but visitors will want to concentrate themselves in the Ancient city center, where classical sights like the Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon are located. Religious pilgrims will look to the Vatican City neighborhood, west of the Tiber. If you just want to shop and stroll, stay in North Rome by the Spanish steps and trendy boutique area.

Recommended Hotel: Hotel Artemide  

We love this hotel's location, minutes from Termini, Rome's main train station, and Viz Nazionale, a main thoroughfare. It's walking distance to all the top sights – Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Colosseum, you name it and the rooms are clean, comfortable and nicely modernized.

Book:  Booking.com ,  Hotels.com

Check prices:   TripAdvisor

Days 4-5: Florence

Florence is the birthplace of Renaissance art and is the perfect city for art lovers. Everything Florentines touch is fabulous – from food to fashion to gelato!

Top Sights & Attractions in Florence:

• Michelangelo's famous David statue at the Accademia
• the Uffizi Gallery for Renaissance art. Buy a Firenze Card to skip the insane lines
• The Duomo is beautiful too!

Don’t Miss:  Florence is known for its gold and leather production so if you like to shop, this is a great place to pick up some high quality items.

Where to Stay in Florence

I recommend at minimum 2 nights. Luckily, accommodation in Florence can be good value if you’re traveling off season, since there’s lots of competition among hotels. I’d recommend staying in the center of town

Recommended Hotel: c-hotels Diplomat  

A great location to explore Florence, with all of the major attractions in walking distance. Rooms are comfortable but basic and there are lots of restaurants and stores in the vicinity!

Book:   Booking.com ,  Hotels.com

Day Trip to Pisa

Another great day trip is to add Pisa, if you have more than 10 days in Italy; say 2 weeks. I loved this touristy town with its leaning tower and it’s so close to Florence that it’d be a shame to miss it!

Days 6-7: Venice

Rick Steves calls Venice a “puddle of elegant decay” and… I can’t help but agree.

The first time I visited Venice, I was a teenager and I loved the city of a hundred islands, each connected by fancy bridges and romantic gondolas. The second and third time I visited… Venice was a nightmare – jam packed with tourists hoards and locals eager to make their annual salary from just 3 short months.

Love it or hate it, Venice is a must see. In the Middle Ages, Venetians were clever merchants bridging trade from West to East and a wealthy, powerful city state throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, few Italians live in the actual old city, as it’s incredibly expensive and slowly sinking. 

Top Sights & Attractions in Venice:

• Cruise the Grand Canal at sunset
• Be serenaded on a gondola ride
• Visit the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica in the main square
• See lovebirds at Rialto Bridge

Don’t Miss:  a day trip to the glass makers  in Burano (or just a short glass demonstration) and a ride on a water taxi!

Where to Stay in Venice

I recommend 2 nights especially if it’s your first visit to Venice. The city is best explored in the early morning and evenings after the tour buses and day trippers have left.

I’m warning you now the city is a shock to the wallet. But, it’s the only place like it in the world, so just pay the premium and enjoy it! If you can, splurge on a romantic 5 star hotel for the experience of a lifetime.

Recommended Hotel: Paladio Hotel & Spa  

Paladio is the sister hotel to Bauer Palazzo, the luxurious 5 star hotel along Venice's Grand Canal where George and Amal Clooney were married. This sister property, right across the water on Giudecca island , makes for a still dramatic but more affordable stay.

It was designed by a great Renaissance architect and the stunning gardens and huge rooms filled with elegant antiques give it an Old World charm.

With excellent customer service and a quieter location from Venice's city center, Palladio Hotel is a beautiful oasis away from all the noise. As a bonus, the hotel provides free water taxi service to and from its sister hotel on the Grand Canal.

Check rates:  TripAdvisor

Days 8-10: Milan

Milan is Italy’s industrious second city and the capital of Lombardy.

Known for its banking houses and glamorous fashion, Milan is a slick, commercial powerhouse in the north of Italy and one of the main reasons for post World War II Italy’s revival.

Every country has its own tale of town cities. In Italy, there’s the government and religious center in Rome while finance and capitalism take hold in Milan. A great Italian saying I loved goes something like “people go to Milan to sin and to Rome to ask for forgiveness”!

Top Sights & Attractions in Milan:

• See the Duomo (Europe's 4th largest Church) and Piazza del Duomo
• Walk through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
• Visit the Museo del Novocento
• Listen to an opera at the world famous La Scala opera house
• Explore the old fortress of the Dukes of Milan, Sforza Castle

Don’t Miss:  the rooftop of the Duomo where you can daydream high above the city among the church’s spires. Just beware tickets are a nightmare – I recommend buying in advance or getting a guided tour.

Where to Stay in Milan

I recommend 3 days, 2 nights. Although the city is large, the metro station is quite good so you can get almost anywhere around town in 30 minutes thanks to easy subway access.

Recommended Hotel: Glam Hotel  

Centrally located, hip and affordable, Glam Milano is located right in the heart of the city opposite Central Station and the subway.

The excellent location makes it a great base for day trips or to explore all Milan. Rooms are newly renovated, modern and quiet with some that overlook the grand square.

I will say the service here isn't great. When we booked, dinner came with our room (oddly enough) but we tried it one night and it was terrible – just skip it. There are lots of great restaurants around the hotel.

Go to Da Oscar for incredible pasta and especially pasta carbonara. It's a cozy restaurant, filled with locals, about 20 minutes from the hotel. Best meal we had in Milan and the portions are huge!

Book rooms:  Booking.com ,  Hotels.com

Days 11-14: Lake Como & Cinque Terre

Day Trips from Milan

If you have 14 days in Italy and can explore more, I would definitely recommend adding on the idyllic Italian Lakes region or the picturesque Italian fishing villages. I’ve done both and they’re very different.

Choose Lake Como and Lake Maggiore if you want to swim and shop; choose Cinque Terre if you want to hike, eat and sunbathe. Or add short trips to both if you can’t decide!

Lake Como is part of the Italian Lakes district near the Alps mountains. Both Como and Lake Maggiore are romantic throwbacks to the aristocratic old days. Idyllic, relaxing and glamorous!

Cinque Terre is the name of five picturesque fishing villages that line Italy’s northern coast. These are some of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen and worth even a quick day trip (but better if you can stay overnight). I have a whole series about visiting Cinque Terre  here .

For Americans visiting Italy, there are 2 easy points of entry via flight: Rome or Milan. I would recommend booking an open jaw, arriving in 1 city and departing from the other to maximize the time you have.

There is so much to see and do in Italy that it would be a waste to backtrack just for an airport. I’ve written the sample Italy itinerary above starting from Rome but either works.

How much time to spend in Italy?

The itinerary I suggested is flexible, whether you have a tight 7 days or a leisurely 3 weeks.

Personally, I would recommend at least 10 days in Italy to explore leisurely but even better if you have 2 weeks! If you have 14 days in Italy, you can fit in some spectacular day trips.

For example, a day trip from Milan to Lake Como, the Italian Lakes region or Cinque Terre. Have more time? Add a day trip from Florence to Pisa and a day trip from Venice to the glass making islands of Murano and Burano.

For travelers who have been to Italy before and want to explore it’s small towns, I really loved my trip to Northern Italy . Italy was a nation of city states for much of its history so regional differences throughout the country can be quite distinct!

Northern Italy is known for excellent local cuisine so I have written a follow up post focusing on charming medieval towns and incredible Italian cuisine here .

If I have the chance to explore more of Italy, I’d love to head down South and explore Positano, the Amalfi Coast and all the way to Sicily and Puglia! Also on my Italy bucket list? A road trip through the hill towns, spas and wine producers of Tuscany.

Below are some summary suggestions for various Italy itineraries.

A classic itinerary to explore Italy’s rich history, museums and romance.

Italy in 12 Days

The ultimate trip to Italy covering all of the country’s best sights, cities and attractions.

Italy Itinerary 14 Days

A leisurely Italian vacation focused on beautiful places, lakes and the sea.

If you have 3 weeks in Italy, why not extend your time in the North?

Check out the medieval town of Bergamo , with it’s Old City stacked on top of its modern day center or Parma , known for its cheese and prosciutto. Northern Italians know how to make the best food in Italy!

Other great additions to add to your Italy itinerary are Bologna , Varenna and Ravenna if you have more time.

Are you planning a trip to Italy? Let me know any questions in the comments below!

Visiting Italy – Trip Planning Checklist

There's so much to see and do in Italy that you can visit again and again and still discover new sights. I recommend concentrating on the big 4 cities (Rome, Venice, Milan & Florence) if it's your first time and then coming back to explore either Northern Italy or Southern Italy in more depth.

Go |  Flight prices from the US to Italy are highly seasonal. You can set a fare alert here to be notified of discounts. Every fall & winter, I've seen great deals to Milan. One word of caution: avoid Alitalia at all costs!

Getting Around | A convenient way to explore Italy is via high speed train . You can search train schedules and book online here . Buy your tickets in advance to save on fares. Make sure to validate your ticket on the platform!

It also helps to speak a little Italian. Brush up on your Italian language skills with Rosetta Stone . You can take 10% off with promo code  CJBT10 .

Stay | Book hotels in advance to save, or check here for last minute deals . Many hotels in Italy are older so don't be surprised if even 5 star accommodation feels slightly dated. Opt for a room with a view instead of breakfast, as Italians don't eat breakfast in the same way Americans do and you'll probably be disappointed with their offering.

Alternatively, groups or budget travelers can check out Airbnb . 

Protect | Lastly, be sure to visit Italy with  travel insurance . Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, your phone gets stolen, or a flight delay leaves you with nothing but the clothes on your back, travel insurance will help when you need it most.

A rail strike occurred during our trip, unexpectedly shutting down transportation for an entire day. Get a quote for your Italy trip here .

  You Might Also Enjoy:  

Italy Vacation Planning Articles

The First Timer's Guide to Italy: A Classic Itinerary

THIS is the Best Time to Visit Italy

What to Wear in Italy: A Packing Checklist

Northern Italy

The Most Beautiful Places in Northern Italy (that are still a secret!)

Headed to Northern Italy? Here's the Perfect 7 Day Itinerary

Exploring Bologna: Travel Guide

Quick Guides to: Bologna Day Trips & The Best Bologna Restaurants

Visiting Parma : The Center of Parma Ham & Cheese

7 Reasons to Explore Medieval Bergamo

Visiting Ravenna's Mosaics

Test Driving Fast Cars & Touring Car Museums in Italy's Motor Valley

Cinque Terre

Plan Your Trip:  Travel Guide

How to Choose Which Village to Stay

A Blissful 3 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary

The Best Cinque Terre Airbnbs for Large Groups

Quick Guides:  The Best Restaurants &  Popular Hiking Trails

Inspiration: Photo Diary of the 5 Villages

The Italian Lakes

Exploring Lake Como: Travel Guide & Where to Stay

Quick Guides to: Varenna , Bellagio & Villa del Babianello

Visiting Lake Maggiore

Quick Guides to: Isola Bella  & Villa Taranto

Discovering Hidden Lake Orta

Follow me @Sher She Goes on

Youtube | Tiktok | Instagram

You may also enjoy:

Japanese vegetarian food, how to see the best of heidelberg …, pulling the plug: our digital detox in …, a michelin-magnificent lunch at the cliff house …, 36 comments.

I think this is a great round-up of what to see in Italy. I did it in three weeks and hit most of what you mentioned here but there’s still so much to see! Guess I’ll just have to go back!

• Pingback: When in Rome: How to make the most of your visit - Globe Guide
• Pingback: 6 of the Best Towns in Puglia Italy. A Guide to Central Puglia

Fantastic post, great detail, and absolutely stunning photographs! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and for the Italy inspiration.

Hello, I’m after a quick feedback on this itinerary for 3 weeks in Italy, still in planning stages, nothing booked yet other than flights into Venice and out of Rome.

We will be travelling late this year with 4 kids (2 teens, 2 younger); we have exactly 19 days. We have never been to Italy before and would like a balance between seeing as much as possible without madly rushing around. We will be getting to and from places with public transport only.

Here is what the plan looks like so far:

Day1: Venice (arrive pm)

Day 2: Venice

Day 3: Venice

Day 4: Verona all day, arrive Florence in evening

Day 5: Florence

Day 6: Florence

Day 7: Florence

Day 8: Maranello Ferrari museum day trip (this is a must)

Day 9: Tuscany hilltop villages – ? hiring a private driver for the day or an organised tour

Day 10: Pisa day trip

Day 11: Massive Cinque Terre day trip from Florence

Day 12: Early am train to Naples, spend afternoon in Pompeii; private shuttle to Positano

Day 13: Positano

Day 14: Positano

Day 15: Travel to Naples, archaeology museum, train to Rome in evening

Day 16: Rome

Day 17: Rome

Day 18: Rome

Day 19: Rome

(fly out early day 20)

What do you think? Am I cramming too much into this trip? Is it doable or would it be too stressful? I would have loved to also go to Lake Como, specifically Bellaggio, but have sadly cut this out… what would you change around in terms of time allocation and feasibility?

Thank you so much for any feedback/ideas.

Hi Beatrix – It’s an ambitious itinerary but similar to what I did for my first trip to Italy. I’ve been back to Italy several times, focusing on more local regions so I think it makes sense to cover a lot of ground on your first trip and then get an idea of any areas you’d love to revisit.

If you were thinking about cutting out areas, I would suggest skipping your Tuscany day trip since you have about 5 heavy travel days in a row. Maybe swap the tuscany day trip with your cinque terre day, so that on day 11 you have a day of relaxation in Florence before your trip down south.

Lake Como is lovely (I have a lot of posts on just northern italy since I went back to spend longer there) so you can save that for your next trip and fly into Milan, since I noticed you’re not covering Milan on this trip.

• Pingback: What To Do In Rome In 2 Days - Rudderless
• Pingback: This Cinque Terre Itinerary Will Guide You to the Best of Paradise
• Pingback: A Definitive Guide to the Best of Cinque Terre - Just in Time for Summer
• Pingback: Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Cinque Terre
• Pingback: 9 Cinque Terre Restaurants You Need to Eat At
• Pingback: 25 Photos That Show the Unique Beauty of Cinque Terre
• Pingback: What to Wear in Italy
• Pingback: 7 Days in Northern Italy Itinerary: Pastels, Prosciutto & Parmigiana
• Pingback: THIS is the Best Time to Visit Italy (for an EPIC vacation!)
• Pingback: How to Experience the Best of Bellagio in 24 Hours
• Pingback: Lake Maggiore: What No One Tells You About Visiting the Eden of Italy
• Pingback: Is Villa Taranto Italy's Prettiest Garden?
• Pingback: 10 Tasty Things to Do in Bologna (Italy's Foodie Capital!)
• Pingback: 6 Easy Day Trips from Bologna (by train!)
• Pingback: THIS Is The Best Place to Stay in Lake Como
• Pingback: 13 Restaurants that Prove Bologna is a Foodie's Paradise
• Pingback: The Best Things to Do in Parma: Prosciutto, Parmigiano, Perfetto!
• Pingback: Mosaics & Mausoleums: 5 Reasons You'll Love Ravenna, Italy
• Pingback: Lake Orta: The Hidden Gem of the Italian Lakes District
• Pingback: 10 Reasons Villa del Balbianello Will Take Your Breath Away
• Pingback: We're Convinced: Varenna, Italy Is the Most Photogenic Place on Earth
• Pingback: 7 Reasons to Explore the Medieval Town of Bergamo, Italy
• Pingback: Hands Down, This is Where You Should Stay in Cinque Terre

Ciao, We will be in Italy 15 nights, the 2 first week of April 2019, we are arriving in Rome and returning home from Venise. So far we have booked 3 nights in Rome and 3 nights in Venise, we are still working the time in between. We want to see Florence, Tuscany and Cinque Terre. Should we ?: 1- drive from Rome,visit Tuscany area, Cinque Terre then Florence, leaving the car in Florence and then taking the train to Venise, OR 2- take the train from Rome to Florence, spending 3 nights, renting a car to visit the Tuscany area, going to Cinque Terre and driving to Venice. We are thinking 1 or 2 days in Cinque Terre. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thank you

Hi Johanne – you’re hitting up some of the best places in Italy! Both options sound great. There’s not much space for cars or parking in CT though.

• Pingback: 5 Reasons You Need to Visit Lake Como At Least Once in Your Lifetime
• Pingback: What To Do In Rome In 2 Days - Rudderless Travel

Hi! I love the info. We will be going to Italy next year and spending 12 days (not counting travel days). We are flying in and out of Rome because we once again got a great deal. My husband and I did Rome this year (with one day trip to Florence) and loved it. This time we are going with friends that never been to Italy. We definitely want to spend time in Rome because they never been and we liked it. But would love to venture out a bit. Do you have any suggestion of itineraries in and out of Rome. I don’t want to get too crazy and add too much stuff/travel within cities.

I love your content! super helpful! Do you have any on Hawaii?

Hi Carolina – ah thanks for the nice comment! unfortunately, not yet but hoping to soon :)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

9 tips for beginners visiting Italy for the first time

Planning your first vacation to Italy ? Not only is this beautiful country one of the top culinary destinations in the world, but it's also home to some seriously iconic tourist attractions to boot. With over 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites, three active volcanoes and over 1,500 lakes, you'll never get bored. And if you are, well, there's always pizza!

When organizing a vacation to Italy, there are a few things you should know in order to have a safe and enjoyable getaway. First-time travelers take note: these are some of the things you consider for your Italian adventure.

1. Figure out what kind of trip you want to have

Italy's got it all: 4,600 miles of coastline lined with hundreds of gorgeous beaches , numerous tourist attractions, lively cities, charming villages and sprawling vineyards. From low-cost to luxury, Italy has accommodation, restaurants and activities to fit every budget, whether it's renting a yacht off the coast of Capri, staying in an affordable hostel in Rome or enjoying a Sicilian farmhouse getaway.

Consider your interests, as well as some of the things Italy is famous for, like gastronomy (you could build a trip around dining out or cooking classes), art (Italy has some of the top museums in the world) or exploring a wine region (drive through the hills of Prosecco or Tuscany's wine country).

Related: How to have a budget vacation in Italy

Or, think about destinations. For each week you have of vacation , you can comfortably squeeze in two destinations (maybe more if you're a very active traveler).

• If you love art and tourist attractions, consider Rome and Florence.
• If you love fashion but also want to relax, consider Milan and one of the northern lakes.
• If you want pizza, cityscape and coastal charm, consider Nap les and the Amalfi coast.
• If you want to dig into Italy's food and wine scene, consider a road trip through Tuscany or Piedmont.
• If you love skiing , consider a visit to Milan and the Italian Alps.
• If you're looking for romance, consider exploring Verona and Venice.
• If you need a beach vacation, consider exploring an island like Sardinia or Sicily.
• If you have 10 days or more and want to enjoy the most typical tourist circuit, consider a trip to the big three: Rome, Florence and Venice -- some of the country's most popular spots for visitors.

Note that while you can find various price points around the country for lodging, dining and activities, typically, costs are lower in southern Italy than in northern Italy.

Related: Northern or southern Italy: Which is right for your vacation?

2. Pick the right season

In general, Italy has wonderful weather. Many areas of the country see lots of sunshine and temperatures are mild even in winter, though summers can be steamy. Depending on what you plan to do, make sure to consider the season. Beach visits are best in the summer, though months like May and September see fewer crowds and still have great weather.

Related: These are the best times to visit Italy

Avoid larger, crowded cities like Rome in the heart of summer, unless you're prepared for extreme heat. Harvest season/autumn is the ideal time to visit the wine region, and southern Italy can be mild throughout the winter. Many deals can be found in the low season, but know that winter in the north can be cold and rainy.

If you do go to Italy between March and October, bring sunblock and a hat -- don't underestimate those Mediterranean rays.

3. Do your research when it comes to tourism

Although Covid-19 has put a dampener on tourism, during busier times, attractions like the Vatican may see up to 30,000 visitors per day. That means you may have to wait a long time in line to buy a ticket and enter. Add Rome's scorching sunshine to the mix and you may end up sunburned, exhausted from queuing all day and never get the chance to step foot in the Sistine Chapel.

If visiting big-name tourist attractions is important to you, buy tickets online. Skip-the-line tickets or guided tours may also be worth the price: evaluate your options and decide.

City passes are another alternative. The Milan city pass offers things like discounts on popular attractions, free Milan public transport and a free drink at a local Milanese bar. The Rome tourist card has fast-track entry benefits and free access to the Vatican and the Colosseum. Florence's city pass includes skip-the-line entry to Galleria degli Uffizi and Galleria dell'Accademia, plus tickets for the hop-on, hop-off bus tour.

So, think about what you want to do and see, do the maths and purchase ahead.

4. But don't forget about local spots too

Visiting Italy's most famous attractions should hold a firm spot on your bucket list. That being said, plan to take some time to get off the tourist track a bit. Consider exploring more local neighborhoods or visiting a small village or a less-popular spot like Lake Maggiore instead of Lake Como. Seeing all the big-name hotspots is a must, but experiencing the beauty of true Italian culture and cuisine may be even better.

Related: 5 of Italy's best-hidden gem cities

5. Take the train

The Freeciarossa runs between some of Italy's best destinations. These high-speed trains from company Trenitalia are affordable, fast and comfortable. Traveling up to about 180 miles per hour, trains are one of the best and quickest ways to get from A to B. And, you won't have to deal with learning the Italian rules of the road or the hassle of car rental agencies. Taking the train is easy: You can purchase tickets easily online ahead of time or last minute depending on your travel style. You can visit spots like Milan, Rome , Florence, Venice, Turin and Naples on the Frecciarossa trains.

6. Don't discount the islands

Italy's island culture goes beyond just the beach. And, there are over 450 of them! Sicily has a whole sub-culture of its own, and far-flung spots like the Tremiti islands or the Aeolian islands will ensure you get sufficiently off-the-beaten-path . If it's luxury you desire, Sardinia's Costa Smeralda is a hotspot and nothing looks sexier on an Instagram feed than Capri.

Related: Which of the Italian islands is best for your vacation ?

7. Familiarize yourself with the language and culture

You might get lucky when it comes to a larger city like Rome, where many locals speak English.

Southern Italy or smaller villages are a different story. Luckily, Italians are a friendly bunch and will do their best to communicate with you despite any language barriers. Come prepared with a few key phrases and your favorite translation app downloaded.

Italy is old, and so are its streets. Many are made of cobblestone. While locals (Milan, here's looking at you) may jog by in designer stilettos, you should wear comfortable footwear. Make sure to dress modesty, especially when visiting churches. You won't be allowed into spots like Vatican City if your knees and shoulders aren't covered.

While mealtimes aren't quite as late as Spain's, Italians tend to eat slightly later. Expect lunch around 1:00 p.m., and dinners around 8:30 p.m. or 9:00 p.m.

8. Money-saving tips

While it's normal to make a tourist faux pas or two (especially on your first trip), here are some things you should avoid:

• Tipping at restaurants if it's already included on your bill (many spots add in a 10% service charge).
• Heavily tipping taxi drivers (rounding up to the nearest euro is normal).

Save even more money with the following:

• Take advantage of apertivo hours in northern Italy. These are happy hours that offer free buffet food for a few hours pre-dinner time in the early evening. Order a drink or two to gain access to the snacks.
• Stand at the bar to drink your espresso. Table seating at breakfast has an additional charge, and even more if you want to eat outside.
• Beware of the "coperto." This is a service charge for simply eating at the restaurant , usually a euro or two per person.
• Don't eat or drink in the main city square. These spots are usually overpriced tourist traps.

Related: 7 underrated regions in Italy for food and wine

9. Be alert for travel scams

Watch out for those trying to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists with scams :

• Pickpockets;
• Gladiators: If you take a photo of or with them, they'll expect a tip;
• Taxi scams: Insist the meter be turned on, or make sure you're aware of any flat-rate pricing;
• Unauthorized tour guides or ticket helpers at train stations; and
• Anyone who approaches you with lavender, flowers or a pizza box. Just walk the other way.

Bottom line

Armed with these tips and tricks, planning a trip to Italy will be easy. You can sit back, relax and enjoy all the delights Italy has to offer, knowing that you've picked the right destinations, will skip the line to see those bucket-list tourist attractions, avoid scams and save a little money on meals.

Pack your bags

Subscribe to my newsletter to get updates in your inbox!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

10 Day Trip to Italy: The Perfect Itinerary You Should Steal

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy or book through one of these links, I may earn a small commission .

Are you in the midst of planning your dream trip to Italy? Then get ready for beautiful villages, ancient ruins, delicious fresh food and wine, and amazing espresso. There’s a lot to see over a 10 day trip to Italy, and this itinerary will make sure you get the most out of your time.

Italy is one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited, and my sixth country.  I’ll never forget looking out the plane window as we descended into Rome. We were treated to stunning views of the Italian coastline, with little white boats dotting the intensely blue sea.

My husband and I are still talking about this trip because it was so mind-blowingly awesome, with some of our favorite memories together.  We reminisce on photos all the time, and pine to return to Italy as soon as we can. There is still so much in this country that we’ve yet to see.

With so much to explore in Italy, it can be difficult to condense the many worthy sights into one trip.  However, this classic 10 day Italy itinerary will help any first-timer experience the best that Italy has to offer.  Let’s get into it!

The Perfect 10 Day Italy Trip Itinerary

Here is a quick overview of this itinerary, which will take you through three regions of Italy, all with their own unique character. By the end of this trip, you’ll have gotten to experience the ancient city of Rome, the Ligurian Sea views of Cinque Terre, and the rolling hills and Renaissance history of Tuscany.

• Rome – 4 Days
• Cinque Terre – 3 Days
• Florence – 3 Days

Additionally, this 10 day Italy trip itinerary assumes you will be getting around Italy mostly by train, since a car is largely impractical in these destinations. This itinerary is detailed, but lengthy. Therefore, I’ve created the below table of contents so you can skip ahead.

Table of Contents

• Day 1: Rome – Settle In
• Day 2: Rome – Walking Tour
• Day 3: Rome – The Vatican
• Day 4: Rome – Ancient Sites
• Day 5: Cinque Terre – Settle In
• Day 6: Cinque Terre – Vernazza & Monterosso al Mare
• Day 7: Cinque Terre – High Trail to Manarola
• Day 8: Florence – Settle in & Food Tour
• Day 9: Florence – Explore the City
• Day 10: Florence – Chianti Classico Day Trip
• Fly Home: Head to FLR Airport

Best Time to Visit Italy

10 day italy trip stop #1: rome, day 1: rome.

This will be your arrival day in Rome, aka The Eternal City. We took a red-eye flight the night before in order to arrive by noon on our first day. This gave us the full day to settle in, and start working through our jet lag.

Arrival in Rome

You will arrive into Fiumicino (FCO), or Leonardo da Vinci Airport. First, you’ll need to clear customs, which could take a while depending on the day. Then you can proceed to picking up any checked bags, though we personally prefer carry-on only.

After that, I recommend finding an ATM, as having cash on hand is useful in Italy. We took out about €200 to start. I do not recommend bringing USD (or other currency) to convert on arrival, as currency exchange counters are notorious for unfavorable rates.

Leonardo Express

Next, it’s time to navigate to the Rome city center via the Leonardo Express :

• First you will need to buy your tickets, which cost €14 per person. Purchase them online here , or at a kiosk in the airport. Note that the kiosks often have lines and can be slow.
• To find the train platform, follow well-marked airport signs with a train icon or that say “stazione” or “TRENI”.
• Take the Leonardo Express to Termini Station in Rome (Roma Termini). The train leaves approximately every 15 minutes, and the ride takes about 32 minutes. 

Once you arrive into Termini Station, take the metro from there to your lodging. We booked an Airbnb near the Spanish Steps, so we took Line A to the Spagna stop (click here for maps).

The metro is very easy to use, as trains run frequently and tickets can be purchased in any metro station, tobacco shops, or newsstand kiosks. One way tickets cost €1.50 each, and there are also various multi-use passes available, explained here .

By now, you should be navigating to your lodging, whether that means taking the metro, bus, walking, or grabbing a taxi.  As we walked from Spagna, I’ll never forget the sweltering heat and buildings shaded in sunburnt yellows, oranges, and reds emerging all around me. The beautiful fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps was looking very inviting.

Once you get settled in, you may want to pick up a few simple grocery items to have on hand.  This is very helpful with staying on budget during your trip, even if just breakfast or lunch.  We were able to find a small grocery store that was only about a five minute walk from our place.

If possible, I recommend staying somewhere with a terrace and Nespresso machine.  These items were instrumental in taking my Rome experience to the next level.

Head Out for Food

One thing you can do your first night is grab dinner, and perhaps go for an evening walk.  We were exhausted from our long travel day, so chose not to veer too far from our lodging. However, we did find some adorable street dining just a few streets over from the Spanish Steps for cacio e pepe, which is essentially Italian mac and cheese.

Travel Savvy Tip

Take advantage of your jetlag.  If you find yourself restless in the wee hours of the morning, set out for an early walk.  Getting up early your first day helps get your sleep back on schedule sooner.

One of the best things my husband and I ever did was go out for a morning 6 am walk in Rome.  There is nothing like seeing the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain when they are completely deserted, save for a few photographers.  We were lucky to be staying within a ten minute walk of both places.

Day 2: Rome

It’s time to hit the ground running for your first full day in Rome.  First of all, read my previous jet lag tip and consider heading out for an early walk.  It’s magical to see Rome’s most iconic sights before they become super crowded.

Visit a Cafe

Next, eat some breakfast at your place or head to a café.  Or do both.  I’m pretty sure we ate an espresso or cappuccino along with a cornetto (Italian croissant) every day, regardless of any other breakfast we had.  Did I mention you might gain weight while you’re in Italy?

After you’ve fueled up some, head out for a morning sightseeing walk.  This could be a guided tour or simply self-guided.  A guided tour like this one will help you get a better understanding of your surroundings, while self-guided is free and will give you more freedom and flexibility.

If you prefer to explore on your own, here is a beautiful route I’ve mapped out that will show you the highlights of Rome (link to Part 1 and Part 2 ).  This walk is one of our best memories, and didn’t cost a dime! Bring your camera and expect to spend two to four hours exploring, depending on your pace.

Here is a list of some of the amazing sights you’ll see:

• Begin at Piazza Barberini
• Climb up the Spanish Steps
• Check out the view over Piazza del Popolo from Terrazza del Pincio
• Stroll charming Via Margutta
• Explore the Pantheon
• View the fountains in Piazza Navona
• Check out the markets stalls in Campo de’ Fiori
• View the River Tiber from 15th century bridge Ponte Sisto
• Take a selfie after throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain

After your walk, take an afternoon rest at your lodging and eat some lunch. 

You’ll run into fresh water fountains (nasoni) all around Rome.  These are the result of aqueducts built by the ancient Romans. 

The water is fresh from the mountains near Rome and is tested regularly, so it’s perfectly safe to drink!  We carried a water bottle around with us as we explored, and constantly filled up when we’d run into a fountain.

Borghese Gallery

At 5 pm, check out the Borghese Gallery, which has an impressive collection of sculptures and paintings housed in a 17th century villa. Reservations are required, and the museum is open every day except Monday from 9 am to 7 pm.  Tickets for a two-hour time slot cost €15 and can be purchased here .

Finish off your day with pizza. We ate ours at Da Francesco , which is a cozy space in an awesome location near Piazza Navona. We loved the opportunity to see the fountains of this gorgeous piazza lit up at night when we were done.

Day 3: Rome

By day 3 of your 10 day trip to Italy, hopefully your jetlag is improving. Mine and my husband’s was pretty bad, and it took about three or four days to stop waking up full of energy at 2 am. I was thankful for the great espresso all around me!

Tour The Vatican

The Vatican is an absolute must on any 10 day Italy itinerary. I knew next to nothing about it before our trip, but during our visit I learned a ton about how the Vatican was once a seat of power that greatly influenced western civilization.

Of the 110 acres and 1,400 rooms, here are some of the highlights you will see:

• Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• St.  Peter’s Square
• Gallery of the Maps (my favorite)

You can easily reach Vatican City from Rome via the metro.  You will need to take Line A to the Ottaviano stop. Many tour groups meet nearby the station, or you can simply walk five minutes to the Vatican Museums.

In summer, the Vatican can see as many as 20,000 visitors per day.  Therefore, it’s imperative to book your tickets in advance, so you do not have to wait in a very long line outside.  Tickets can be purchased here for €17 .

The Vatican is also enormous. A guided tour will help you cut through the crowds and focus your attention so you understand what you’re looking at. We did this 4-hour tour that, while tiring, did our visit justice and allowed us to see the Sistine Chapel before the worst of the crowds.

As The Vatican is a religious site, you must dress appropriately, or your entrance could be denied. If you cover your shoulders and knees and avoid wearing controversial graphic tees, you should be fine.

Additionally, the Vatican is closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, which is a free day. While this will save you money, the crowds will be terrible and could dampen your experience. All that body heat in tight rooms can make things feel very stuffy and claustrophobic.

Our Vatican tour took a lot out of us and we were still jetlagged, so we had a low key afternoon on Day 3. This left us nice and refreshed to go back out for dinner around 7 pm.

Do note that many restaurants prefer you make reservations. However, you can often make them at the last minute and walk-ins are sometimes still accepted. In Rome, dinner is generally served between 7 pm and 11 pm.

Be careful not to accidentally end up at a tourist trap, which are generally found near popular tourist sites and tend to have blown-up menus showing pictures of food at the entrance.  These spots are not only inauthentic, but also overpriced. Moving even one street over from a major tourist spot can mean better dining options.

We enjoyed dining in the Piazza Navona neighborhood so much the first night, that we had to return the next evening. This time we chose Saltimbocca, which had beautiful street dining and served authentic pasta and seafood dishes.

If you are trying to save money and aren’t especially particular about wine, then always order a caraffa of the house wine.  There is usually a red and white selection, and they are always good!  I didn’t have a single bad glass of wine throughout our 10 day Italy trip.

Day 4: Rome

Ancient Rome

Spend your last day exploring different aspects of ancient Rome.  Plan to spend a total of two to four hours at the following:

• Colosseum: Once a site of gladiator fights and other public displays
• Roman Forum: Center of public life in ancient Rome
• Palatine Hill: Site of ancient aristocratic settlements

All three of these sites are covered under one €16 ticket, which can be bought here . You will need to reserve a time slot when booking your ticket, and a €2 presale fee will also apply.

In peak summer season, it’s best to arrive early in the morning for cooler air and smaller crowds. All of these sights are outdoors, and the hot midday sun can turn wandering through fascinating ruins into a chore.

After a few hours of sightseeing, take a gelato break – the colosseum is virtually surrounded by gelaterias.

Capitoline Museums

In the evening, if you have energy left from your Rome adventures, head back out to the Capitoline Museums.  Sitting on top of the Capitoline Hill, this museum features an expansive collection of paintings and sculptures, many of which came from the city of Rome. The museum is open every day until 7:30 pm, and tickets to the various exhibitions can be purchased here . 

Full disclosure, we actually skipped this sight because we were exhausted from 3 days of wandering around Rome. We were ready for some wine, and were super excited for our dinner reservations.

Atmospheric Dinner

Hands down, the place my husband and I remember the most from our 10 day Italy trip is Old Bear. This rustic spot is located on a quiet street, and has the perfect ambiance for your last evening in Rome. We were glad to have made reservations the night before, since many people were waiting a long time in the street for a table to open up.

I will never forget my delicious pumpkin lasagna – and I’m not even a lasagna person! Unfortunately, I have no photos because I was face first in my food.

There are a few money saving tricks for sightseeing in Rome. The first is considering whether the Roma Pass may be worth it for you. There are options for 48 and 72 hour periods, and could save you money depending on how many included sights you wish to see, and how often you’ll use public transportation.

Additionally, some museums do a free day each month.  Check their respective websites to see if any dates fall during your trip.  That said, free days also bring big crowds and long waits, which might not be ideal if you’re tight on time.

10 Day Italy Trip Stop #2: Cinque Terre

Day 5: Cinque Terre

The next iconic stop on your 10 day Italy trip is Liguria, home to the colorful Cinque Terre villages that seemingly pop out from the vineyard covered hillsides. To reach Cinque Terre from Rome, take the train from Roma Termini station to La Spezia Centrale. La Spezia is a larger town located south of Cinque Terre, and the jumping point for all five villages (listed out below from south to north):

• Riomaggiore
• Monterosso al Mare

From La Spezia Centrale, hop on the Cinque Terre Express (€4) to the village you are staying in. We picked Corniglia, which is the middle village and third stop.  If you also choose Corniglia, be aware that reaching this particular village additionally requires climbing over 300 steps or grabbing a shuttle bus (€1.50).

Once you’re settled, do some exploring around your village before finding dinner.  These five towns are tiny and easy to quickly see on foot, though some are more hilly than others.  This post provides more info about each village and advice on choosing where to stay.

Just keep in mind that no matter where you base yourself, you’ll still be able to easily visit the other four villages with a quick train ride.

Trains in Italy are often late.  Therefore, I recommend not purchasing tickets with tight connections.

In this instance, you could purchase your journey from Roma Termini to your Cinque Terre village on the Trenitalia website in one transaction. However, these connections are often twenty minutes or less, which isn’t ideal if your first train gets delayed.

As it is not more expensive to book each leg of the trip separately, I suggest waiting to purchase your Cinque Terre ticket until you arrive in La Spezia. These tickets are very easy to purchase at the ticket counter or machines right on site.

Day 6: Cinque Terre

The five villages of Cinque Terre are connected by hiking paths that offer some incredible views over the Ligurian Sea. You’d be hard pressed to find something like this anywhere else; therefore, it’s crucial to get out on the trails at least a little bit.

If you get tired or decide not to hike after all, the train will be there for you to fall back on, but the views are not nearly as good!

Hike to Vernazza

Today you will hike the Blue Path, or Cinque Terre’s most famous coastal trail, from Corniglia to Vernazza, and then finally onto Monterosso al Mare.  I suggest getting an early start, as the trails can get crowded by mid-afternoon. Note that this particular trail requires purchasing a pass for 7 euros, which you can buy online or right at the trailhead when it opens around 9 am.

If you aren’t staying in Corniglia, you will first need to take the train there in order to begin your hike (just prepare for those stairs, or grab the shuttle from the train station).  You could also hike in the other direction, starting in Monterosso al Mare. However, then you’ll miss the striking beach views when descending into Monterosso, as well as the chance to jump in the water at the end!

The first leg of the hike between Corniglia and Vernazza will take around 1.5 hours.  Be sure to take in the amazing views of Vernazza from the trail as you approach the village.  Once in Vernazza, take a break from hiking to do some exploring:

• Eat gelato at Gelateria Vernazza (the best gelato we ate in Cinque Terre)
• Grab a snack, such as a fried seafood cone
• Stroll around the harbor
• Pop into the Santa Margherita di Antiochia Church, which dates back to the 14th century
• Take the tunnel to Vernazza’s secluded rock beach

Hike to Monterosso al Mare

Next, continue your hike on the Blue Trail to Monterosso al Mare, which should take another 1.5 hours.  Monterosso al Mare is flatter than the other four villages, which makes it easier to explore.  It’s also known for having the nicest beach of the five villages. 

When you arrive, you’ll likely be exhausted and covered in sweat. Therefore, you must reward yourself with an aperol spritz and snack on the water, like we did at Nuovo Bar Eden.

Next it’s time to jump into the Ligurian Sea, after staring longingly at it from the trails all day. For €30, you can rent two chairs and an umbrella at Bagno Eden . 

This was definitely one of the highlights of my Cinque Terre experience, and I was glad we thought ahead and brought swimwear with us. When we were finally dry, Aaron and I took the train back to Corniglia to get ready for dinner.

You may need to purchase a Cinque Terre Card . If you plan to hike the Blue Trail, then you will at least need a Trekking Card (€7.50) for each day you plan to use that trail. The Trekking Card will also cover any shuttle buses.

You may also save money by purchasing the Treno Card instead of the Trekking Card. The price will depend on whether you need it for one (€16), two (€29) or three days (€41).

The Treno Card covers the Blue Path, unlimited train travel, and shuttle buses. It is worth purchasing for at least one day if you plan to hike the Blue Trail, take the train at least twice, and use a shuttle bus one time. Either card can be purchased online here .

Dinner in Riomaggiore

At the moment, the trail that leads to Riomaggiore from Manarola is closed due to landslides. Instead of hiking, you can give your legs a rest and take the train to Riomaggiore for dinner.

An excellent restaurant to check out is Bar e Vini a Pié de Ma .  I recommend making a reservation to ensure you get to experience this restaurant’s beautiful cliffside terrace.  There was so much ambiance during sunset, so we took our time sipping wine and ordering every course available.

Day 7: Cinque Terre

There is only one more village left to visit: Manarola. To reach it, you will hike in the opposite direction from Corniglia on a quiet, scenic trail.

Hike to Manarola

Today you’ll hike from Corniglia to Manarola via Volastra (trail #587 to #586 to #506).  This is a higher trail that will have you going up, up, up at the beginning, and then back down seemingly endless stairs at the end.  This hike takes around 2 to 2.5 hours to complete.

While the hike begins with a long climb up many stone steps, it eventually levels out and becomes quite shady and pleasant.  You are then rewarded with incredible sea views as you pass through charming vineyards. 

Once in Manarola, join the queue for lunch at Nessun Dorma to experience their famous views and meat and cheese platters. While on the waterfront path to the restaurant, be sure to turn around to take in the view of Manarola across the harbor. It is postcard perfect!

To be honest, my husband and I did not linger long in Manarola.  It was the busiest of the five villages, and being that it was the middle of the day, the crowds were bad.  If you wish to avoid crowds, it’s best to visit Manarola in the evening when the day trippers have left.

Dinner in Corniglia

For a memorable seafood dinner on your last night, make a reservation at A Cantina da Mananan in Corniglia.  This cozy space can only seat about 20 people at a time, so the tables will fill up.

Be prepared for plenty of ambiance, as well as plates featuring local fresh catches. We particularly enjoyed the taglierini ai frutti di mare.

10 Day Italy Trip Stop #3: Florence

Day 8: florence.

It’s time for the last leg of your 10 day Italy trip: Florence . This Tuscan city is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and today it continues to attract lovers of food, art, and architecture.

Florence is easily reached from Cinque Terre via train.  You will first need to grab the Cinque Terre Express from your village to La Spezia. From La Spezia, catch your next train to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, either directly or with one connection. Purchase your train tickets online in advance on Trenitalia or simply right at the gate.

Upon arrival, I highly recommend joining an evening food tour in Florence’s Oltrarno neighborhood. This was one of the best experiences of our entire 10 day Italy trip, and it also provided a nice intro to Florence. By the end of the tour, we were essentially served a full meal paired with delicious Italian wines.

We were grateful to receive some restaurant recommendations from our guide. Plus, my husband and I even returned to a few places from the tour the next day.

On the Oltrarno side of town, be sure to take note of the small wine windows on the facades of some buildings.  These were used during the Renaissance era for families to sell wine directly out of their homes.

Citizens would show up to the windows with their empty bottles, which the family would then fill for them.

Day 9: Florence

Explore florence.

On your first full day in Florence, hit the ground running with your sightseeing. It’s easy to explore the city center’s compact area in one busy day, whether on your own or with a guided tour .

Here are the top must-do’s in Florence:

• Accademia Gallery: This museum houses Michelangelo’s larger-than-life statue of David, along with several of his other unfinished sculptures.  In addition, you can also find an impressive collection of paintings and musical instruments. Purchase tickets online for €12.
• Ponte Vecchio: Cross this medieval bridge over the Arno River to the lesser-visited Oltrarno neighborhood. Ponte Vecchio has been lined with shops since the 13th century, and they help to give the bridge its unique appearance. The bridge is totally free to visit.
• Piazza del Duomo: This striking piazza tends to be teeming with tourists admiring the colorful marble facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore.  This beautiful cathedral is famous for its imposing dome, created by Filippo Brunelleschi. The cathedral is free to visit, though you may need to wait in line. If you wish to climb the dome, visit the bell tower, or check out the museum, tickets can be purchased online here .
• Uffizi Gallery: This museum is housed in a Renaissance era building with stunning frescoed ceilings. Here, you can see several centuries worth of Renaissance art and other treasures, including significant works like Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Tickets cost €20 and can be purchased online here .

While admission to some of the above places can be purchased on-site, I do not recommend doing this during busy tourist seasons. This largely encompasses the months of June through August, when long waits will eat up your day while you overheat in line.

Even worse – time slots could potentially fill up, meaning you miss the chance to visit entirely. For these reasons, it is best to book ahead online whenever possible.

Dinner in Florence

If you eat meat, you’re in luck because Florence restaurants typically include plenty of it on their menus. This evening, I recommend dining at a place known for Florence’s most famous dish: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, or Florentine Steak.

These steaks are huge cuts served on a bone, and are best shared with at least one other person. The cuts are also quite thick, but only cooked for a couple minutes on each side. This means you can expect your meat to be served rare/medium rare, or quite pink in the middle.

At the recommendation of our food tour guide, we dined at Trattoria 4 Leoni , a classy restaurant tucked into a tiny, quaint square in Oltrarno.

Be sure to save room for gelato after dinner across the square at Gelateria Della Passera. Alternatively, our scoops from Perché no!… were our favorite in Florence, and just a ten minute walk back across the Arno River.

Day 10: Florence

Piazza michelangelo.

Start your last day in Florence with a morning stroll to Oltrarno for some of the best scenery in town at Piazza Michelangelo.  This small park requires an uphill climb, but rewards you with panoramic views over all of Florence. From this perspective, you can appreciate just how giant the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore truly is, as it protrudes over the skyline.

If you can muster the energy, I highly recommend visiting Piazza Michelangelo at sunrise.  My husband and I woke up at 5:30 am to make the half hour journey, but it was so worth it.  There were few other people there with us, and the sunrise lighting was incredible.

Day Trip to Chianti Classico

On day two of your Florence stay, you could choose to remain in the city center and see additional sights that you missed on day one. However, I personally recommend getting out of town with a day trip to Chianti Classico.

A day trip to this wine region will give you a taste of the green rolling hills (and *ahem* great wine) that this region is known for.  Plus, some of the region’s great wineries can be found just forty minutes south of Florence. You could either rent a car to explore on your own, or join this small group tour .

This day trip is perfect for those seeking a change of pace from the crowds of Florence. Plus, you will get to experience the delicious red wines of Chianti Classico and admire some of Italy’s most gorgeous scenery. If exploring on your own, check out my post here for ideas on what to do in Chianti Classico .

Keep a lookout for the black rooster on each bottle of Chianti Classico wine. This symbol denotes wines that are authentically from this region and follow the correct blend of grapes.

Sigh…it had to end sometime. By now, you’ve done and seen so much during your 10 day Italy trip. Therefore, it’s time to head home and give your wallet and legs a break.

Make your way to the Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR or Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola).  There are several ways you could get there, whether by car, bus, or tram.

If you rented a car near the airport to visit Chianti Classico, then it will be really easy to drop the car off and shuttle from there. Otherwise, a taxi or the tram are the next easiest options.

The tram is the most cost effective, as tickets are €1.50 each way. To reach the airport, you will need to take Line T2 ( schedule here ) from the Unità tram stop in the Florence city center. The ride takes about twenty minutes, and trams run frequently, making several stops along the way.

It is also possible to grab the “Vola in Bus” as a direct shuttle to the Florence airport. Connections are available hourly between 10:00 am to 8:00 pm ( schedule here ) from the BUSITALIA Bus Station Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17 (near the Santa Maria Novella train station). The journey costs €6, which can be paid in cash on the bus, and takes about twenty minutes.

You may be wondering when the best time is to do this 10 day Italy itinerary. While that will be personal for everyone, there are some months that are more ideal than others. 

For example, we did our 10 day Italy trip in mid-August, when the weather was sweltering and the crowds were thick. This is not the preferred month to visit Italy, but our dates were fixed since we were in Europe for a wedding.

Here is a brief rundown of what you can expect Italy to be like during different times of the year:

June to August

This is Italy’s busiest tourist season, with the highest prices and biggest crowds. Summer in Italy also tends to be very hot and dry, which can be great for the beach, but less ideal for lots of walking and sightseeing.

May or September

These two months are shoulder season. While still popular times to visit due to pleasantly warm weather, the crowds are not as bad as peak season. If you do not want to visit during the chilly low season, but fear battling terrible summer crowds, May and September are a happy medium.

October to April

These months are low season in Italy. They typically bring a little more rain and cooler temperatures, though the weather is generally still comfortable for walking around and exploring. For example, the average high in Rome for January and February is in the mid 50’s ( ° F). If you are trying to save money, or want to avoid long waits and have more sights to yourself, then low season is for you.

Are you excited yet? I certainly hope so, because this 10 day itinerary will ensure you have the perfect Italy trip. With friendly people, delicious wine and espresso, and fresh food everywhere, what’s not to love?  And don’t even get me started on the scenery…

With that said, I hope you have the magical experience that my husband and I had! This 10 day Italy itinerary will definitely have you on your way with planning a trip to remember.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fearlessly Italy

Planning a Trip to Italy – Our Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Are you planning a trip to Italy and don’t know where to start? We’ve made a list of the most essential tips on how to plan a trip to Italy with both a foreign (my husband) and a local’s (myself) insight.

We touched on the most important details you shouldn’t neglect in your Italy trip planner and gave you the necessary tools to plan your holiday on your own.

Even though Italy is a very popular travel destination, proper trip planning is necessary to avoid unwanted surprises. Do you need a visa to travel to Italy? Do you have a favorite type of accommodation? When is the best time to visit Italy and where would you like to go?

We are going to give you handy tips on how to say basic sentences in Italian, we will give you some itinerary-planning suggestions, and even list some of the most popular food stores in Italy where to buy your groceries if you are renting an apartment.

From getting around to deciding where to stay and what to pack, here is all you need to plan a perfect trip to Italy. For more detailed information about the cost breakdown, how to get to Italy, how to get around with local public transport, and important numbers to know in case of emergency , check out our complete Italy travel guide .

Table of Contents

How many days in Italy is enough?

The ideal amount of time to set when you planning a trip to Italy is 2 weeks . If you are visiting for the first time, two weeks is a perfect time to explore the most famous cities and also include some day trips.

If you have already seen the biggest tourist draws and want to go offbeat, 2 weeks still is an ideal time to set for Italy. Alternatively, you can also opt for 10 days in Italy and stick to the most famous destinations and mainly big cities to reach by train.

What is the best way to plan a trip to Italy?

The best way to plan a trip to Italy is to make a list with all the necessary steps ahead of time. While things like packing can be done right before leaving, other things need to be planned in advance. This is what you need to plan and book ahead when organizing your Italy vacation.

• International flights. This is especially necessary if you have fixed holidays and can’t play too much with the dates.
• Travel documents. You need to make sure your passport has 6 months of validity and you need to check your visa requirements in advance.
• Hotels. Especially in the high seasons and in smaller towns with limited options.
• Tours and tickets. Even if you don’t want to book a private tour, purchasing a skip-the-line ticket to crowded attractions will save you plenty of time.
• Restaurants. It’s better to book your table ahead on important days like Christmas for lunch and dinner, New Year’s Eve “cenone” dinner, or lunch on Easter Sunday because many Italians go to eat out and restaurants are very crowded.
• Domestic travel. Whether you are taking a domestic flight, a train, or an extra-urban bus, I highly recommend booking your tickets early to avoid finding all sold out.
• Itinerary planning. This is pretty much one of the very first things to plan so that you know which flights or trains to book, where you will need a hotel, and what landmarks you will want to visit.

How to plan a trip to Italy – All you need to know step-by-step

Research the best time to travel to italy.

When planning a trip to Italy, the first thing you should consider is when it’s the best time to travel also depending on when your holidays are. Every season is a good time to visit Italy .

Do you want to enjoy the beach? How about Sardinia, Sicily, or Puglia in the summer?

July and August are hot and very crowded, but if you can make it in June before the mass tourism starts or September after the crowds are gone, you will love it. If you are planning your trip in the summer, keep in mind that you will find quite a few mosquitoes in many regions of Italy .

If you are a practicing Catholic or love ancient history, then Rome is your ideal destination. If you are a Renaissance art lover, you can’t miss Florence , while if you are hiking and skiing passionate, you will certainly enjoy Trentino Alto Adige’s Dolomites in both summer and winter.

Even though winter is cold (and in northern Italy very cold), this is a great season if you are a ski lover, or even to visit more southern regions where the weather is definitely milder. If you want to celebrate and experience the Christmas vibe, December in Italy is a magical time. To attend some Carnival parties, you should travel to Italy in February .

Weather-wise, spring and fall are probably the best seasons to plan a trip to Italy. In spring, flowers are blossoming, the colors are bright and the scents are intoxicating. Plus, the weather is lovely and even if sometimes it does rain, it makes for a very pleasant walk. Both March and April are great months to visit Italy. April is usually when we celebrate Easter in Italy and big cities can get very crowded.

Autumn is a good season because it’s not too hot anymore and not cold yet, so easy to walk around. During fall, too, it can rain, but the colors of the falling leaves and day and evening lights are very romantic.

Check if you need a visa

When planning a trip to Italy, check out the visa requirements. Several nationalities can get an Italian visa on arrival, while others need to apply in their home country for an Italy/Schengen visa. If you were granted a Schengen visa and you enter the area from another EU country, you can then travel to Italy, too.

The conditions to be granted a visa to Italy go from the type of visa you are applying for, the duration of your stay and your nationality. Nationalities like the US, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan don’t need to apply for a visa for up to 90 days’ stay. They only need to show their passport with at least 3 months’ validity to the border police at the airport.

To make sure if you need to apply for a visa and what documents are required, answer a couple of questions on the Foreign Ministry’s official website and you will get all the information you need.

Find the best flights to Italy

There are several websites where you can check for the best flight deals to Italy. The portal I normally use is Skyscanner because it compares different airlines and other comparison websites, so you will have a broader view.

You can also check the prices and promotions in different Italian cities, so depending on where it’s more convenient, you can start planning your Italy itinerary. On top of that, Skyscanner allows you to receive price alerts for the flights you are looking for directly in your email.

Alternatively, you can check the single airline websites such as ITA, Delta, American Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Iberia, Tap, and many others that land in Italy. Some of the low-cost you can take from other European countries are EasyJet, Ryanair, and WizzAir.

I found that they are actually low-cost when you travel only with small hand luggage. But if you start adding checked-in luggage and services, their fares are not much different from the ordinary airlines. Whichever airline you are booking your ticket with, make sure you check the TSA liquid rules .

How to get around Italy – Using extra-urban public transport

Italy has a great and very widespread railway system , so if you are traveling independently, you can totally rely on Trenitalia or Italo Treno. After each major city, I mentioned the transport you can book to get to your next stop but the Italy railway is great for reaching also smaller towns and even tiny villages. The perfect way of traveling around Italy for two weeks.

So if you are in Rome and want to visit nearby towns like Bracciano or Viterbo, you can easily take the train, or reach the towns of Terni, Perugia, Orvieto. Or even if you are in Sardinia, the railway really reaches improbable tiny villages.

For train routes, prices and connections, you can check the websites of Trenitalia , Italo Treno , and Omio (formerly GoEuro).

If you are visiting cities and towns within the railway network, you are covered. But if you are planning on getting off the train route, relying solely on the buses might not be as straightforward. In this case, I suggest renting a car, a great option for an Italy road trip.

Decide when to rent a car in Italy

If you want to visit also other places without sticking only to the major cities, the easiest and best way to travel in Italy is by renting a car. For example, if it’s not your first trip to Italy and you want to go off the beaten path to explore some gorgeous and famous countryside, your own car becomes essential.

For example, in Sardinia, you totally need to rent a car . The trains get you only this far, stopping mainly in Cagliari , Orist ano, Sassari and Olbia, several smaller villages but most of the archaeological sites , as well as the beaches, are impossible to reach with public transport. There are some buses but very few.

The same goes for regions like Umbria and Tuscany. They boast fantastic countryside, but you will need a car to get there. In general, southern and central Italy requires a car, while in the north you will have a more widespread public service. Even though in mountain areas solely relying on the buses will prevent you from seeing many places and you won’t be free to manage your time.

Please note that in order to drive in Italy, you need an international license that you can get in your home country.

Click here to see prices, cars, and deals.

Decide what to pack, essential when planning a trip to Italy

You can decide what to pack for Italy when you know in which season you are taking your trip. For example, since Spring is a very popular season, what to wear in Italy in May? While the weather is lovely this time of the year, it can sometimes be tricky as temperatures change all of a sudden.

My advice would be to wear different layers so that you can cover quickly if you stay out all day until evening when it’s usually colder. So if you are planning a 2-week trip to Italy in Spring, make sure you pack some pretty flexible clothes and are ready for the warm and crisp weather.

On the other hand, what to wear in Italy in September ? The beginning of the Fall in Italy is pretty nice as the summer heat is mostly gone and the winter cold has not arrived yet. Mostly, you can wear summer clothes with a jacket, a light jumper, and a light scarf for the evening. You might find some showers, too, so make sure you pack an umbrella. Better if small so you can carry it around easily.

If you are wondering what to pack for Italy for the winter, it’s pretty straightforward: definitely warm clothes, a jacket, a coat, warm trousers, socks, and everything you are comfortable with. Quite straightforward is also packing for a summer Italy trip: shorts, T-shirts, sandals or summer runners, and obviously a bikini if you are going to the beach!

Avoid annoying online surcharges and nasty surprises by weighing your suitcase with one of the best digital luggage scales .

Sadly, on public transport in Rome, you need to be careful about the pickpockets as it’s still a problem both on the buses and on the metro. This is why, for your peace of mind, you can buy anti-theft clothes. Clever Travel Companion has a great choice of models, colors, and clothes such as scarves, boxers, leggings, tops, t-shirts, women’s underpants and more. Click here to check models and prices.

Tailor your own Italy itinerary

A major point of your Italy trip planner will be designing the perfect itinerary. This depends on many factors, if it’s your first time in Italy and you want to visit the most popular landmarks, whether you prefer the beach or the mountain, or maybe relaxing on a quiet hill surrounded by nature and silence. And obviously how much time you have, if you are staying two, three weeks, or ten days in Italy.

Here are some examples of itineraries:

• Two-week classic itinerary. Perfect for those who are planning their first trip to Italy and want to see classics like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Check out our classic Italy itinerary suggestions where we include also Cinque Terre and Naples plus some other detours if you have more than 2 weeks.

Check out our tailored Rome itineraries and travel services!

• Italian islands. This is great if you have been to Italy already and want to go a bit off the beaten path. You can visit Sardinia and Sicily, and enjoy fantastic food and beautiful landscapes. Sardinia is wilder and home to countless archaeological sites. In Sicily, you can explore its Greek past in places like Valle dei Templi near Agrigento, beautiful Baroque and Norman cities like Catania, or the wonderful capital, Palermo, known as Italy’s most “Arab”. If it’s summertime, both islands will spoil you wonderfully with their beaches. Check out our guide to the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia .

Do you need help to plan your trip to Sardinia? Check out our customized itineraries and travel services!

• Northern Italy itinerary. Are you a sport, mountain, and adrenaline junkie? Then northern Italy is for you. Go hiking, trekking, climbing, and skiing in the Italian Alps and the Dolomites and be surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, wild nature, and wonderful snow-capped peaks. Do you prefer to explore the northern historical cities? Head to the beautiful Turin , Milan , Trento , Venice, Verona , Bolzano , or smaller towns like Merano and Bressanone.
• Southern Italy itinerary. The south of Italy will make for a different type of adventure but by no means less exciting. Regions like Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata and Campania are rich in culture, traditions, and great food. Some of the places not to miss in the south are Naples and Caserta in Campania, Bari, Lecce, Alberobello and Ostuni in Puglia, Matera, Maratea and Craco in Basilicata, Reggio Calabria, Tropea and Scilla in Calabria. If you are left with some days, the step from Calabria to Sicily is pretty short!
• Central Italy countryside. This trip is all about relaxing and enjoying the nature of the Apennine soft rolling hills. Regions like Abruzzo , Umbria, Tuscany, Lazio, and Marche are fantastic either if it’s not your first time in Italy and you want to discover some more offbeat places or if you are taking a holiday to just unplug from everything. If that’s the case, there is no better accommodation solution than an agriturismo . These are usually farms where the owners turn part of it into bungalows or rooms and the food is mainly produced in-house. You can find luxury agriturismi (plural) or more simple ones, so you can choose depending on your budget. For this type of experience, you will definitely need to rent a car.

Set your budget: average cost of a trip to Italy

As far as your trip to Italy costs go, much depends on where you are going. Rome will be more expensive than smaller villages in Sardinia for example, Tuscany is more expensive than Umbria, with Venice probably being the most expensive destination in your Italy trip planner.

Some of the costs you will have to face in Italy are:

• Accommodation. In cities like Rome and Florence, you will likely spend more on your accommodation, especially if you want to stay close to the city center, where a budget hotel can be some 80/100 euros per night. An agriturismo can charge you from 140 to 200 for two nights, while a hotel in a smaller town can cost as low as 40 euros per night.
• Food. Eating out in Italy is not that expensive. Even in places like Rome, Florence and Turin, you can find great restaurants with pretty affordable fares. Food-wise too, among the cities, Venice is likely to be the most expensive. In some restaurants, you will spend some 15/20 euros, wine included. Smaller towns and villages will be even cheaper and some lunches can cost you as little as 10 euros per person or even less if you are eating street food or in local markets.
• Transport. The public transport in Italy is not too expensive and in big cities, you can either purchase a tourist pass that includes transport or a daily/weekly ticket, depending on how long you are staying in a destination, which will save you a lot instead of using a single ticket every time. For extra-urban trips, traveling by train in Italy is your best bet. If you book in advance, you can find some pretty cheap fares, like 26 euros Milan-Rome. If you book the day before the high-speed trains Freccia Rossa or Frecciargento, expect to pay more, even 80/90 euros. The regional trains are usually slower as they stop at every station and are cheaper. Taxis are pretty expensive, including the taxis in Rome , so wherever you can, do use public transport. You can even check the fees of Uber in Italy if it’s more convenient.
• Landmarks. These vary a lot depending on the place and attraction. Usually, when there are city cards or passes, it’s convenient to buy them. First of all, you will have free access to some attractions and discounts on others. Secondly, often also public transport is included, so you’ll be saving money and time as you won’t have to look for a seller or newsagent every time you run out of tickets.
• Groceries. If you are renting an apartment and want to have some meals in the house, you will likely go grocery shopping. I suggest farmers’ markets for fresh fruits and veggies if you have any nearby, or stores like Conad/Leclerc, Carrefour, Esselunga and Pam. Some of the discount/cheap food chains are Lidl, Aldi (not very common yet), In’s, Todis, Tuodì, Eurospin, MD. One of my favorite store chains is NaturaSì as all their products are organic, even though it’s pretty expensive.

Find the right accommodation in Italy

One of the first things to consider when planning a trip to Italy is to book your ideal accommodation. If you are in a place for the first time, you might want to stay downtown close to the main attractions. If you’ve been already and are more confident in the area, you can look for more affordable accommodation, not in the city center.

When you are in a major city, you have a wider choice of hotels and also public transport to stay connected with the different areas. In smaller towns, usually, prices are lower, so staying in the city center can be easier.

There are several websites where you can compare hotel prices, check out guests’ reviews and search for several options before booking. To read users’ reviews and feedback, I use TripAdvisor .

However, when I want to book, I always use Booking and so far they never let me down. I find them reliable and accommodation options safe. Obviously, before booking, also here I check former guests’ reviews and never book those without reviews.

READ MORE: Check out our extensive guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Rome .

Book your tours and tickets ahead

Booking your guided tours and entrance tickets ahead is necessary if you are visiting crowded attractions such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums in Rome, or Santa Maria del Fiore complex and the Uffizi in Florence, all among the most famous Italian museums .

This is especially true in the highest seasons, so from April through the summer and then again around Christmas.

Websites like Get Your Guide and Civitatis allow you to book both tours and skip-the-line tickets, while companies like Walks , Devour Tours , and Eating Europe offer guided tours, which usually come with fast-track entrances to the main attractions so you skip the queue anyway.

If you are looking for semi-private or private experiences, LivTours runs very exclusive tours across Italy.

Find where to eat

As Italian food is famous the world over and one of the reasons many tourists travel to Italy , I suggest you try traditional dishes and authentic restaurants instead of tourist traps and foreign fast-foods like McDonald’s, Burger King or KFC.

Every region in Italy has its own specialties and dishes, so I totally recommend you try some authentic recipes and local produce. For example, if you are in Rome, some of the famous dishes are bucatini amatriciana , spaghetti carbonara, tonnarelli cacio e pepe if you are vegetarian, or coda alla vaccinara oxtail.

In Sardinia, Sicily and Puglia, you might want to try some seafood dishes, while in the Liguria region they make delicious pesto pasta. If you are in Naples, I suggest you don’t miss their pizza, and in Turin , you might want to try their garlic-rich Bagna Cauda and Vitel Tonné veal dish.

As a general rule, I suggest you don’t stick to the restaurants right in front of the tourist landmark as they often offer “tourist meals”. Go a bit further and ask the locals, even your hotel reception, for a better address.

Check out the dos and don’ts of eating in Italy

Where to find WiFi and Sim Card in Italy

One of the things that can make your Italy trip cost soar is the phone and internet. While in Italy, I suggest you use a local Sim Card. You can buy a pre-paid Sim from any of the providers and top it up on the go.

Vodafone is the company with wider coverage, maybe a tad more expensive than others, but not too much. And certainly not enough to prefer others with little coverage, especially if you are going to the countryside or more offbeat areas.

Tim is the main network provider, so it does have decent coverage but is a little expensive. Wind and Tre are probably the cheapest options but their coverage is good mainly in the big cities and decreases sensibly in other areas. At least this has been my experience some time ago because since I switched to Vodafone years ago, I never looked back.

You can just pop in any of their stores and they will give you all the plan and price info.

Learn some Italian phrases

In the major cities and close to tourist landmarks, you will find most people able to speak English. But if you stray off the city center or you head to offbeat destinations, you might want to learn some Italian phrases to get by at least in the most basic situations like ordering food in the restaurant or asking for directions.

Some of the Italian words and expressions you might want to learn are:

• Buongiorno – Good morning
• Buonasera – Good evening
• Buonanotte – Goodnight
• Arrivederci – Goodbye
• Grazie – Thank you
• Sì/No – Yes/No
• Quanto costa? – How much is it?
• Come stai? (informal)/ Come sta? (formal) – How are you?
• Scusa/scusi/mi dispiace – I’m sorry
• Non lo so – I don’t know
• Permesso – Excuse me
• Colazione – Breakfast
• Pranzo – Lunch
• Cena – Dinner
• Sono vegetariano/vegano – I’m vegetarian/vegan
• Sono intollerante al glutine – I’m gluten-intolerant
• Sono allergico a X – I’m allergic to [whatever ingredient/food]
• Posso avere il menu per favore? – Can I have the menu, please?
• Posso avere il conto per favore? – Can I have the bill, please?
• Posso avere un bicchiere d’acqua per favore? – Can I have a glass of water, please?
• Dov’è il bagno? – Where is the toilet?
• Che strada devo prendere per raggiungere X? – How do I get to X?
• Dritto – Straight
• Destra – Right
• Sinistra – Left
• Dov’è il rifornitore di benzina più vicino? – Where is the closest petrol station?
• Dov’è la stazione ferroviaria/dei treni? – Where is the train station?
• Dov’è la stazione degli autobus? – Where is the bus station?
• Questo treno/autobus ferma a X? – Does this train/bus stop at [your destination]?
• Biglietto – Ticket
• Bancomat – ATM
• Polizia/Carabinieri – Police
• Parla inglese? – Can you speak English?
• Mi può aiutare per favore? – Can you help me, please?

Even though smartphones have made things easier, it would be useful to carry with you a small dictionary or glossary in case of need. Some examples are the Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook and Dictionary or DK Eyewitness Travel Phrase Book .

Do you need more tips to learn Italian? Check out our guides:

• The days of the week in Italian
• Gelato flavors in Italian
• The colors in Italian
• Pizza toppings in Italian
• Hello in Italian
• Goodbye in Italian
• Shoes in Italian
• How to order food in Italian restaurants
• Foods and drinks in Italian
• House wine in Italian

Look for the best guidebooks for planning a trip to Italy

Here, too, while you can find a lot of information online, including this blog with many articles about Italy, travel tips, and travel guides, you can also carry a hard copy guidebook.

Some of the most popular guidebooks are Lonely Planet , Fodor’s , Frommer’s , DK and Rick Steves .

If you are traveling to Rome and spending some time there, you might want to check out our website entirely focused on the Italian capital, Rome Actually , and our Tasting Rome By Neighborhood food book where we suggest where to eat and what to see in five of Rome’s most exciting neighborhoods.

Peruse the best Italy tour packages

If you don’t feel like planning a trip to Italy and want to enjoy your holiday as relaxed as possible delegating all the logistics to an expert tour guide, a full Italy tour package is your best bet.

Whether you are looking for a one-week Italy itinerary, a 10-day Italy vacation package for two, or for the whole family, many companies offer them.

G Adventures’ Ultimate Italy Tour takes you to the most popular destinations going beyond the Rome Florence Venice itinerary and visiting also the Cinque Terre, Lake Como and Montepulciano in the Tuscany countryside. Click here for more details and rates

Their Highlights of Italy Tour is shorter and in a week you will see the most important places and their main landmarks such as The Last Supper in Milan, the Pantheon in Rome, and the Leaning Tower in Pisa, among others. Click here for more details and rates

If one of the main reasons that brought you to Italy is food, then you might enjoy one of the day tours organized by Eating Italy Food Tours that alongside introducing you to the diversity of Italian cuisine, is a great opportunity to tuck into local delicacies in the best eateries, from exclusive deli stores to popular restaurants. Click here for more details and rates

SAVE IT FOR LATER? PIN IT TO YOUR BOARD!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Things to Do

Best Beaches

Best Museums

Dolomites Guide

Where to Go Hiking

Where to Go Skiing

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Best Destinations

Top Cities to Visit

Must-Try Foods

Two-Week Itinerary

Two Weeks in Italy: The Perfect Itinerary

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

Ah, Italia! It's one of the world's favorite destinations in Europe. And one where you could go in a hundred tempting directions. So how do you design a dream vacation there? By focusing on places that capture essential elements of Italy: the magnificent architecture, the people and their romantic nature, the culture, the singular food, and wine.

You can do it in just two weeks with the following once-in-a-lifetime travel itinerary: three or four days in Rome, a week in the hill towns and countryside of Tuscany or Umbria, and three or so days in romantic Venice.

As for booking your plane tickets, hotel and tickets to sought-after tourist attractions, you should do this well in advance from home. Allow up to six months in advance: For example, you're likely to find better prices and availability in mid-winter for a trip you plan to take in June.

If you like warm weather but want to avoid the high tourist season, the optimal times to visit Italy are May–June and September–October. Also, prices tend to be lower in these months than at the height of summer. Try to book your apartment or hotel room when you book your plane ticket. If you plan on visiting a major attraction like the Uffizi Gallery in Venice, which has 10,000 visitors a day, book that early, too.

Traveling between destinations is best by car or train. If you choose to drive , check with your car rental company for the optimal time to book, but earlier is always better for Italy. Traveling by train in easy; just buy the tickets for your next destination when you arrive in a place so that you're all set when it's time to leave. Traveling inside cities can be done by public transportation or taxi. In the countryside, you'll likely need a car to shop and explore.

Start in Rome: Day 1

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

Rome is a fantastic starting point for this trip. For one thing, you can easily fly there from most places and you may not need (or want) a car. Plan to spend at least three or four days in Rome. Consider consulting a three-day Rome travel itinerary for ideas.

Choose a hotel that's near public transportation. Use our guide to  places to stay in Rome , which includes recommendations, from budget-conscious to luxurious accommodations. If this is your first visit, you might want to choose a small hotel or bed-and-breakfast offering personalized service. A favorite is the ​Daphne Inn, which is especially good for your first visit to Rome. The helpful, English-speaking staff will map out your days, make restaurant recommendations and even give you a cell phone so you can call them if you get lost or need advice. 

On your first day, take some time to just wander around, get used to Rome and recover from your jet lag. Choose an area near your hotel and just wander—don't worry about seeing all the tourist sites. For an overview of Rome, you can hop aboard bus number 110 (the touristic circuit) at Termini Station.

Rome: Days 2–3

Plan to spend one day touring ancient Roman archaeological sites.

Allot another day for the Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori, Pantheon, Trevi fountain and Spanish steps (all free) and for visiting museums. You might want to walk through some interesting districts such as Trestevere , the Jewish quarter and the up-and-coming Testaccio , where you can dine on authentic Roman food. 

Rome: Day 4

 You'll also need one more day if you want to visit  Vatican City , including the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and Castel Saint Angelo. If you want to see the Pope, go on Wednesday and get tickets far in advance. You can even  request an audience with the Pope .

Tuscany or Umbria: Days 5–11

For the next part of your vacation, you'll rent a vacation house or an  agriturismo   (renovated farmhouse) in Tuscany or Umbria , where you can visit some great Renaissance and medieval towns, drive through beautiful countryside and experience Italian life as more than just a tourist in a hotel. Here are some resources to help you plan this leg of the journey and make reservations for a place to stay, learn how to get around and figure out what to visit.

By staying in a house for a week, you can usually save money, shop and eat where the locals do and spend time relaxing. Look for a house with a washing machine, so that you can pack light and wash clothes in the middle of the trip. You'll enjoy shopping at Italian farmers' markets and specialty food shops, and you'll be able to cook what you buy and eat at home.

You'll need to arrange your house a few months before you go. You can choose a house in a small village, in a city or out in the countryside in an agriturismo (renovated ​farmhouse). If there are certain cities you want to visit, be sure the house is within easy driving distance so you can get there and back in one day. In Tuscany, Le Torri vacation apartments are in a prime location between Florence and Siena. If you want to visit both Tuscany and Umbria, the holiday houses at Il Fontanaro Organic Farm in Umbria near the border of Tuscany make a good choice.

Italy's train system is inexpensive and fairly efficient. Consider taking the train from Rome to a city near where you have arranged your lodging. Then pick up your rental car, which you have also pre-arranged, and drive to your house. Consider booking a car through  Auto Europe  because there are no hidden (extra) charges. If you're renting a vacation apartment in a town, you may not need a car.

Most house rentals run from Saturday afternoon to the following Saturday morning. Since Italian shops are generally closed on Sundays, you will want to do a little shopping when you arrive to stock up for the weekend and at least have bottles of water and wine. Then spend a little time walking in your neighborhood.

Sightseeing

Tuscany and Umbria are both beautiful and fairly compact, so you will be able to visit a number of places easily. If you want to visit Florence or some of the other larger cities, save yourself a little trouble by driving to a nearby train station, parking and taking the train into Florence.

Popular Tuscan destinations include Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, Lucca, the wine towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino, the Chianti wine region, and Cortona (made famous by "Under the Tuscan Sun").

In Umbria, you can visit Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, Spoleto, and other medieval hill towns as well as Lake Trasimeno and a few Roman ruins.

Venice: Days 12–14

After a week in your rented country house, drop off your car, and take the train to Venice. This city on Italy's eastern, Adriatic shores is a treasure, with much to see and do.

In Venice, you'll get around by walking or taking a  vaporetto , a large passenger boat that functions like a city bus. 

You'll want to spend at least two or three days here. Months before you leave, take a look at a  Venice sestiere map and guide  to choose the neighborhood where you want to stay. If you stay longer than two or three days, you may want to rent an apartment for a week in a sestiere ,  or local neighborhood. 

While in Venice, visit  San Marco square , the  Rialto Bridge , and the Grand Canal. Give yourself some time to get away from the tourists and wander the back streets and small canals to get a real feel for Venetian life. Before lunch, stop in a bar and order some cicchetti (little Venetian snacks) and a glass of wine. Try a ride in a  gondola .

From Venice, you can fly back to Rome or take the train to Milan and fly home from Malpensa Airport, after spending a night or two in Milan, Lake Como or Lake Garda. From here, it's easy to fly back home to the United States.

Learn to Cook on Your Italian Vacation

The Top 23 Things to Do in Italy

Siena Guide: Planning Your Trip

How to Travel from Rome to the Cinque Terre by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

The 14 Best Day Trips from Rome

Tuscany Guide: Planning Your Trip

The 15 Best Destinations in Italy

Where to Go on Italy's Mediterranean Coast

Your Trip to Florence: The Complete Guide

Where to Go in 2021: 10 Future Trips You Can Start Planning Now

Your Trip to the Amalfi Coast: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Rome: The Complete Guide

Top 6 Tourist Attractions in Italy

Traveling by Train in Europe: Where, Why, and How

Liberation Day Observances in Italy

How to Travel From Rome to Naples by Train, Plane, Bus, or Car

• Work with us
• Favorite travel blogs
• netherlands
• switzerland
• family travel
• food and wine
• trip planning resources
• accommodation guides
• travel gear guides
• itineraries
• packing guides
• travel gifts
• health and safety

How to plan a trip to Italy – a step by step guide

This article may contain compensated links. See our full disclosure here

Welcome! My name is Katy and ever since I first visited 20 years ago I have been plotting my next trip to Italy. From its historic cities to the mountains, lakes and coast, I fell in love with this beautiful country and want to help you do the same.

Planning a trip to Italy is one of my favorite things to do (I’ve been there more than 25 times!) so we created this guide to help you plan and book your trip with ease. We hope you find our step by step guide on how to plan a trip to Italy useful. 

What's in this article

When to go to Italy

Passports and visas, itineraries and planning, travel booking timelines, accommodation in italy, tickets, tours and attractions, airport and ground transfers, money and budget, internet access, travel insurance, packing for your trip, travel with kids in italy, italy trip planning done.

The best time to visit Italy is when it suits you and your schedule. However, you should be aware of a few seasonal variations:

• Italy is one of the world’s most popular destinations and is very busy (and more expensive) at peak periods – from May to September
• Summers can be very hot (especially in the south) and winters cold with ski resorts open in the northern alpine regions
• August is the busiest month with Italians and people from all over Europe on vacation. Coastal and lake areas are very busy with visitors
• Easter is a major holiday in Italy – expect demand for rail travel and accommodation to increase

For this reason we like to visit Italy in the shoulder months – April/May and September/October when the weather is sunny and mild, crowds are manageable and you can find great value flight and accommodation deals.

How to get there

Flying direct (or with a single stop) to Italy from most places in the world is easy. Most visitors fly into Rome Fiumicino [Leonardo da Vinci](FCO) international airport but you can also easily fly into Milan Malpensa  (MXP) or Venice Marco Polo  (VCE) airports from major hubs around the world.

There are many other airports throughout the country that can be accessed within Italy and Europe.

FREE ITALY TRIP PLANNING CHECKLIST:  CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. NOW

Best flight deals to Italy

We use a combination of Skyscanner , CheapoAir and Google flights to source the best flight deals for Italy.

• Skyscanner – portal where you can view cheapest days and routes to fly and set alerts for price drops
• CheapoAir – uncovers the best deals on first class flights around the world
• Google flights – great for checking schedules and airline routes

To find the best deals, set up alerts on Skyscanner for the month you wish to travel and wait for price drops. Be prepared to be a little flexible on dates and stopovers. It is often cheaper to fly into Milan rather than Rome but that is most useful for northern Italy itineraries.

Tip – always use an incognito browser window to search for flight deals. Prices are amended up for users known to be searching for specific dates and times

Arriving by train from other cities in Europe

If you are traveling within Europe, train travel is easy with links to major Italian cities – Milan, Rome, Florence and Venice – from other capitals in Europe. Read our guide to train travel in Italy or Seat 61 is another great resource for planning train travel within Europe.

Bus travel to Italy

If you’re on a tight budget and traveling within Europe, then you might want to consider coming to Italy by bus. Low cost operator Flixbus covers 1,200 destinations in 26 countries.

Train and bus bookings

Omio is a useful site for booking a combination of train, bus and air travel within Europe

READ:  Best booking sites for travel to Italy

Citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand can enter Italy and stay up to 90 days without a visa within an 180 day period. You must have 6 months validity on your passport.

All other nationalities should check this Italian government site that will walk you through whether a visa is required for your visit.

European Union and UK citizens can travel with photo identification. 

Please note – this information is subject to change and it is always best to check with your local foreign office for the latest advice on travel to Italy.

• United States – click here
• Australia – click here
• United Kingdom – click here
• Canada – click here

Where to go

Probably the hardest decision you need to make is which places you would like to visit. This is a very difficult task for many of us and it is a challenge for me to this day.

The most popular places to visit in Italy are listed below.

• Major cities – Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and Naples
• Tuscany – large region known for hilltop towns, wineries and beautiful countryside
• Cinque Terre – 5 spectacular villages that hug the sides of cliffs on the Italian Riviera
• Amalfi Coast – picturesque coastal region near Naples – Sorrento, Positano, Capri
• Northern Italian lakes – scenic lakes close to alpine mountain ranges

As a general rule, for a 3-5 day trip choose one destination – a city or area. If you have a week to 10 days then 1-3 places in either the north OR south of Italy. For a 2 week trip you could cover 3-4 places and see both north and south.

Try not to pack too much in. It’s easy to underestimate transit times and getting in and out of airports and train stations.

Suggested itineraries

Planning your Italy itinerary is one of the most important job in the trip planning process. For their first trip to Italy, many people will choose to start their journey in Rome and visit Florence and Venice. This 10 day Italy itinerary covers that route and includes detailed instructions on how to make the most of your time in Italy. 

Alternative 10 day itineraries

• Rome + Amalfi Coast – Rome [4 nights], Amalfi Coast/Naples/Pompeii/Capri [5 nights]
• Rome + Florence and Tuscany – Rome [4 nights], Florence [3 nights], Siena [2 nights]
• Venice, Milan, Lake Como + Florence  – Venice [3 nights], Milan [1 night], Lake Como [2 nights], Florence [2 nights]
• READ: Sample Northern and Southern Italy itineraries
• Sicily – deserves 2 weeks! – click for highlights and hidden gems

City itineraries

Rome – a 5 day itinerary that can be adapted for more or less days – click here to read Florence – suggestions for 1,2 and 3 days in the Renaissance city – click to read Venice  – things to do and itineraries for 1,2 or 3 days in the lagoon city – read here Milan – explore Milan, fashion forward, fun and the most modern of all the Italian cities – click to read

Recommended group package tours in Italy

Package tours of Italy can be a fantastic way to avoid the stress of planning your own trip. They are also great if you would like some company along the way. Here is a quick summary of popular tours in Italy by well known brands. 

One of the most popular tour companies on the planet, Trafalgar has a broad range of itineraries to choose from in Italy. Appealing to the 50+ age group, travel is mainly by coach and you can expect an emphasis on culture and history. Trafalgar has worked hard to include local experiences such as wine tastings and unique stays into its itineraries as well as time to discover destinations at leisure.

Tour group sizes are between 40-45 passengers and the general standard of hotels is 4 star.

Top Italy tours by  Trafalgar

• Best of Italy – 13 day itinerary visiting Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Venice and more – more information
• Great Italian cities – classic itinerary covering Rome, Florence and Venice in 10 days – click for details
• Best of the Italian lakes – Como, Maggiore, Garda – which will be your favorite? – click here for details

Intrepid Travel

We like the tours offered by Intrepid Travel because they strike the balance between showing you highlights of a destination and allowing time for exploration on your own. Their premium brand Peregrine has some interesting hiking tours of the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast.

Group sizes average around 10 so you get personal attention when you need it. We also love that Intrepid has a commitment to responsible travel and leads the way in promoting animal welfare.

Top tours of Italy by Intrepid and Peregrine

• Best of Italy – 15 days covering Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre and more – click here for details
• Cinque Terre walking tour – 8 days walking the spectacular coastal villages – more information
• Italy real food adventure – 8 days of feasting in Venice, Tuscany and Rome – more details

Even as independent travelers we like to browse Tourradar – a market place for tours where you can browse hundreds of package tours by different operators, and by date. Then filter by your interests and age group and read detailed reviews.

There are various levels of support offered from fully organized tours to independent self drive or train itineraries.

BROWSE: All Italy tours on Tourradar

Top tours in Italy found on Tourradar

• Highlights of Italy – 8 day train tour through Milan, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome – click for more info
• 3 Nights Venice, 2 Nights Florence & 5 Nights Rome – a self guided tour – click here for details
• Self guided walking tour of Tuscany – 8 days of fresh air, wine and views – click here for details

Recommended guidebooks

We plan trips using a wide variety of sources. If you can, choose an Italy travel guide that is relevant for the region you are visiting as they are usually more detailed and useful. 

Our favourite general guidebooks for Italy are:

Lonely Planet – Our favorite practical guide, Lonely Planet, regularly updates guides for Italy | Florence and Tuscany | Venice and the Veneto | Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast | Italian Lakes | Sicily | Southern Italy

Rick Steves – America’s foremost authority on travel in Europe produces excellent practical guides and itineraries for Italy | Rome | Florence | Venice | Cinque Terre

DK Eyewitness Guides – we love the illustrations and cultural and historical insight in these guides. They are perfect for those of us who respond best to visual cues.

When should you book your travel, accommodation and tours in Italy?

As soon as possible is the straightforward answer when it comes to popular hotels, accommodation and tours especially for peak times in July and August. If you can, try to book 6-12 months in advance for popular areas such as the Amalfi Coast in summer.

Flight bookings will depend on where you are flying from. For long haul flights the best deals are generally found 6-12 months in advance while deals pop up regularly for travel within Europe.

Rail bookings can be made up to 4 months in advance on high speed intercity and standard intercity trains.

FREE ITALY TRIP PLANNING CHECKLIST:  CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS NOW

Choosing where to stay is an important part of planning your itinerary. Italy is well set up for tourists and you can expect the usual range of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation as well as apartments and villas.

If you plan to spend any time in the country, consider staying at an agriturismo or farm stay – offered by Italian farmers who earn additional income by providing rooms and meals. This accommodation is very popular in Italy and ranges from budget to luxurious.

We’ve stayed in agriturismi (plural) with swimming pools, hammams and wine cellars and always try to build them into our itinerary. An added bonus is that the food served is farm fresh and generally excellent.

Accommodation costs

Here is a rough guide to help you plan your accommodation budget. Prices are average for a double room though this will vary with prices higher in popular areas at peak times

Upscale / Luxury – €200+ [USD $230+] per night Midrange / Boutique – €110-250 [USD $125-285] per night Budget / B&B – €60-120 [USD $70-140] per night Ultra budget / Hostel or shared room in AirBnB – €20-35 [USD $25-40] per night

Best accommodation sites

Our favorite site for booking lodging is Booking.com because it has a huge range of options from hotels and resorts to bed and breakfast, apartments and farm stay accommodation.

You can easily compare prices and amenities and take advantage of their generous cancelation policies to find the right accommodation for you. We’ve also found their concierge service helpful and get better deals because we use them regularly.

Other sites we use and recommend

• Plum Guide – visits and reviews the best Airbnb properties and provides detailed information on each one. Get 5% off with code – UNTOLD5
• VRBO – the best site for long stay villas and apartments – click here to browse VRBO
• AirBnB – for longer stays in apartments and villas – first time users can claim free credit here
• Tripadvisor – mainly to read reviews but you can sometimes find good deals on there too

Our guides on where to stay in Italy

We created these guides with specific recommendations of where to stay in the major tourist areas in Italy in response to questions from our readers and in our Italy Travel Planning Facebook Group .

• Florence – district and accommodation guide > click here
• Milan – district and accommodation guide > click here
• Amalfi Coast – towns and accommodation guide > click here
• Rome – accommodation near the Pantheon > click here ; near the Colosseum > click here and in Trastevere > click here ; accommodation near the Vatican City > click here
• Venice – coming soon

We also created a guide on how to find the right accommodation for your trip that includes a printable checklist > click here to access the article.

How to get around Italy

As a general rule, if you are traveling between cities and major towns then the best way to travel around Italy is by train. If you want to explore the countryside and small villages you will need to rent a car.

When you are mapping out distances to travel between destinations use Google maps or Rome2Rio is another useful site.

Train travel in Italy

The train system in Italy is modern and efficient with fast speed services linking the major cities and regional trains connecting smaller towns and villages. Two major train networks operate throughout Italy – Italo and TrenItalia .

Advance bookings are advised for high speed intercity services where seats are allocated. You can save money booking in advance if you purchase non-flexible tickets. You can book directly with these operators or an easier way is with:

Omio and Trainline compare train times and prices across both Trenitalia and Italo schedules and keep your ticket details on their handy app

SEARCH: rail tickets on Omio

High speed train intercity travel times on popular routes

• Rome to Florence – 1 hour 30 minutes
• Rome to Naples – 1 hour 15 minutes
• Rome to Milan – 3 hours
• Rome to Venice – 4 hours
• Florence to Venice – 2 hours
• Florence to Milan – 2 hours

READ: Guide to buying train tickets in Italy

Driving in Italy

With a bit of forward planning and common sense, renting a car and exploring the back roads of Italy is easy. We wrote a full guide to driving in Italy but here are our top tips:

• You are required to carry an International Drivers Permit – these can be arranged in your home country at minimal cost
• Standard transmission on cars is manual or stick shift. If you want to rent an automatic car expect to pay extra, if you can find one available
• Rent the smallest car you can to fit you and your luggage – roads are often narrow and you don’t want to get stuck!
• Heavy fines apply if you enter ZTL zones – historic districts where driving is not allowed

We use Car Rental by Booking.com  to find the best car rental deals in Italy including one way options. They search both international and local providers so you get a wide variety of choice and there is 24/7 support if you need it. 

SEARCH: car rental in Italy with Car Rental by Booking.com .

Internal flights

If you want to travel very long distances or to visit the islands of Sicily or Sardinia, flying makes the most sense.

Check on Skyscanner or Google Flights for routes and prices. Remember to set alerts for those routes you want to fly and book early for flights in the summer months.

We source and book tickets and tours via GetYourGuide  and  Viator .  They are tour and ticket aggregators so there is lots to choose from. I like the fact you can read reviews, book everything in the one place and keep your tickets and vouchers on their apps too. You can also pay in your own currency and with international credit cards which can be a challenge when using Italian websites.

We prefer GetYourGuide – you can read our review of GetYourGuide to find out why here

Tickets for major attractions

Rome, Florence and Venice are some of the busiest cities for tourists in the world thanks to their famous attractions – the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery and Doge’s Palace.

We have given you the official booking sites and an alternative for approved ticket partners should you have trouble using the official site – unfortunately that happens a lot! The direct sites are usually cheaper but the partner sites are generally more user friendly.

• Colosseum – official ticket site OR buy Colosseum tickets on Get Your Guide
• Vatican Museums – official ticket site OR buy Vatican Museum tickets on Get Your Guide
• Omnia pass – Colosseum + Vatican + one other museum + hop on, hop off bus – click here for details
• Uffizi Gallery – official ticket site OR buy Uffizi tickets on Get Your Guide
• ‘David’ statue [Accademia Gallery] – official ticket site OR buy Accademia tickets on Get Your Guide
• Doge’s Palace – official ticket site OR buy Doge’s palace tickets on Get Your Guide
• San Marco basilica – official skip the line tickets OR buy a tour of San Marco including tickets on Get Your Guide
• ‘Last Supper’ painting – official ticket site OR buy Last Supper tickets on Get Your Guide
• Duomo rooftop – official ticket site OR buy Duomo tickets on Get Your Guide

Day tours in Italy

We love doing guided tours . Not those huge group ones where you follow the flag waving guide around in a herd trying to keep up. No, we especially like small group and food tours where you learn and discover all about the culture and history of the places we visit. Plus it’s so much more fun than reading plaques and you get to ask questions.

So make sure to build in a couple of tours when you are planning a trip to Italy.

Our favorite small group tour companies are Take Walks (formerly Walks of Italy) and Liv Tours . Both offer very well designed and engaging tours of the major sights in Italy as well as interesting food and cultural tours.

• Take Walks have a longstanding reputation for excellent service, groups under 20 people and guaranteed departures. So if you are the only person booked on a tour it will still go ahead. We recently enjoyed our Colosseum at night tour and day trip to Tuscany with them 
• We highly recommend the fun team at Liv Tours .  They offer interesting very small group (6 people or less) and private tours throughout Italy including late and early entry to the Colosseum and Vatican. Get 5% off their tours with code – UNTOLDITALY

Other Recommended Day Tours by destination

• Rome in day – tour includes Vatican and Colosseum – great if you have limited time > click for details
• Colosseum virtual reality tour – brings the arena to life with 3D effects and sound > more information
• Rome by night – discover the beauty of the Eternal City after dark on this 2 hour tour > click for details
• Vespa tour – pretend you’re Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday on this vintage vespa tour > more details  

READ: Our guide to the best day tours in Rome

• Uffizi Gallery + Palazzo Vecchio – 3 hour combined tour of the city’s must see sights > more information
• Florence Dome Climb – climb the famous dome for spectacular views of Florence > more details
• A day in Tuscany – full day tour to San Gimignano and Siena from Florence > click for more info

READ: Our guide to the best day trips from Florence

• Doge’s Palace and Basilica tour – 2 hour tour of the major attractions in Venice > more information
• Burano, Murano and Torcello – half day outer islands of the lagoon escorted tour > click for details
• Street food tour – discover Venetian cicchetti and visit the famous Rialto market > click for details

Naples, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast

• Boat trip from Sorrento to Capri – one of the highlights of my life! Full day tour > click for details
• Pompeii and Amalfi Coast tour from Naples – full day tour if you are short on time > more info
• Amalfi Coast – small group tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello from Sorrento > more information

READ: How to take a boat tour to magical Capri

Recommended experiences in Italy

Sightseeing, soaking up the atmosphere and visiting major monuments (plus eating!) will take up most of your time on your trip to Italy. However, if you have a little more time, we recommend seeking out unique Italian experiences that are sure to be the highlight of your trip.

Food festivals are so much fun. We stumbled on a sagra (food festival) near Lake Como and had a great time tasting all the local dishes. On another trip we managed to be in Florence during the finale of the  Gelato Festival (how did that happen I wonder?) and were able to taste some incredible flavours.

You can check this site for information on food festival dates in Italy.

Wine tastings and tours are popular activities in Tuscany and there is a great selection to choose from on Viator – click here to view  

If you want to recreate the delicious dishes you tasted on your trip, why not take a cooking class . We learned so much from our class and market tour in Florence and enjoy making fresh pasta at home. 

>> Click the links to browse cooking classes in Rome , Florence and Amalfi Coast

For those who love football or soccer there could be no greater thrill than watching a football match in an Italian stadium. You’ll need to book tickets well in advance and we found the best site to do just that – click here to book Italian Serie A tickets.

No matter where you fly into Italy you will need to transfer from the airport to your accommodation and vice versa. Most of the airports are a fair way out from the city center – and in the case of Venice, in the middle of a lagoon! So preplanning your arrival is advised.

You can compare different transfer services on Suntransfers – a company that specializes in transfer options from major airports. They have options to suit all budgets and prices for coach, mini bus, private car and limo services. Welcome Pickups is a similar option with great service we use regularly.

Rome – transfers from Fiumicino airport

Taxis are fine, there is a set rate into Rome of €50 and the ride takes around 45 minutes. Or, if you’re like me, and need some comfort when you arrive you can pre-book a transfer on Suntransfers or Welcome Pickups

This would also be the best option if you are traveling with more than 2 people and have several items of luggage.

A popular way to get into Rome is the Leonardo Express train – a non-stop service between Fiumicino and Rome Termini (the main station). Trains depart every half hour from 6:23 to 23:23, and the trip takes 32 minutes. The cost is €14. Unless you are saying close by you will then need to get a taxi to your accommodation.

The cheapest transfer option – this bus goes direct from the airport to Termini – €7 one way 

READ: Rome airport transfers : How to get from the airport to the city center in Rome

Venice transfers

The water bus company Alilaguna runs regular shuttles (every 15 -30 minutes in peak season) to and from the islands on the lagoon and the airport stopping at San Marco and Rialto (main stops). The fare is €15 one way or €27 return and the journey takes 1½ hours – you can book online here  

For a glamorous arrival hire a private boat transfer or shared transfer in a water taxi – journey times and prices increase depending on number of people and exclusivity. A direct private transfer to the airport takes around 45 minutes.

• Private transfer – around €200 for 6 people – book here  
• Shared water taxi transfer – around €32 per person – book here  

You can also take a taxi or express airport bus to Piazzale Roma and then take a vaporetto (ferry) or walk your hotel/accommodation. A one way trip on the ferry costs €10 per person and is valid for 60 minutes.

The taxi will cost around €30 and the bus will cost around €10 and take around half an hour – for advance bus bookings (recommended in summer) go here  

 READ: Venice airport transfers: How to get to and from Venice from the airport

Florence transfers from Florence airport

Florence airport is very close to the city center and a 15 minute taxi ride or 20 minute tram ride away. There is also an airport bus that takes around 20 minutes – more information

Florence transfers from Pisa airport

Many people fly to Pisa to reach Florence as it is a larger airport. If you arrive during the day take the PisaMover train to Pisa Centrale train station – journey time 5 minutes. Then take a train to Florence. The last train departs at 21.30

On our last visit we arranged a transfer with Suntransfers as we arrived too late for the last train. There is also a coach transfer option.

Amalfi Coast transfers from Naples airport or train station

We recommend hiring a driver. The train, ferry and bus via Sorrento can take 4 hours while a car service is around 1.5 hours. You can compare different services on Suntransfers – a site specializing in ground transportation. 

You may find sites or groups where specific drivers are recommended. I do NOT recommend booking a driver this way for safety reasons – how do you know that the person recommending the driver is reputable, let alone the driver? And also for practical reasons – small operators may not have capacity or availability.

 READ: How to get from Naples to Sorrento

The local currency in Italy is the € Euro.

There is no need to carry too much cash when you are in Italy. Credit and debit cards VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted while American Express is not as popular.

Be aware of foreign currency charges and ATM withdrawal fees applied to your account when you are abroad. You may want to review the cards you are taking with you prior to your trip. We always take two – one as a back up for emergencies. 

Expected costs

Apart from major transport, accommodation and activity costs (eg custom tours and experiences) expect to spend around €30 – 50 per person per day on food and snacks. We allocate another €50 per adult for tours, tickets, day travel and other items. This is a generous budget and it is possible to travel much more cheaply in Italy.

Note – a tourist tax is collected at hotels and accommodation throughout Italy. The rate depends on the city, class of hotel and number of nights you are staying.

Have a good think about how much internet access you will need on your trip. Some people are happy to disconnect and use paper or offline maps while others need that online connection.

Italy has high speed internet and there are many options to stay connected depending on your needs. If you use minimal data and are happy using offline maps and guides then you should be able to get by using wifi at your accommodation. It would be unusual to find accommodation that did not offer wifi. You still need to check though.

Do not expect wifi connections to be available in restaurants and cafes – in Italy restaurants are for eating.

Make sure to turn off international data roaming before your trip to avoid unpleasant surprises when you return.

If you have an unlocked phone you can purchase a tourist SIM before your depart or when you arrive that has enough data for map navigation and research – will not extend to streaming movies or any other heavy upload or download activity. I haven’t used it myself but this local SIM from Italian provider TIM comes highly recommended. 

READ: Our full guide to getting online in Italy (SIMs, wifi and more)

Portable wifi device

If, like me, you need to be online and connected throughout the day, you should consider renting or buying a portable wifi device like the Skyroam Solis . It connects to the local network in Italy and many countries around the world. You then buy day passes for $US 9 per day that give you unlimited data.

I’ve been testing out Skyroam and it offers fast speeds – at least 4G. You can connect up to 5 devices and it also acts as a battery charger. The battery itself lasts a day.

You just need to set it up before you depart on your trip and learn how to use it as it is not as straightforward as I would like. Even so, I like having my usual SIM in my phone and the data running separately.

Learn more about Skyroam Solis plus get 10% off with my code – UNTOLDM

It is a very good idea to purch travel insurance for Italy. Even if your home country has a health care agreement in place with the Italian government. These agreements do not cover emergency repatriation or trip cancelation so make sure you are covered well before you depart. 

READ: more information about travel insurance for your trip to Italy

What to pack will depend on the season and places you visit in Italy. We created a full packing guide with printable checklist that you can access on this page . It covers everything from seasonal capsule outfits to tech items and beauty need.

Absolute must have items for your trip

• Collapsible water bottle – stay hydrated and fill up at free water fountains all over Italy
• Camera – for your vacation snaps – I use an Olympus Pen – it’s lightweight and takes great photos
• Packing cubes – these make packing and unpacking so easy.I love them!
• Power cube – don’t bring lots of bulky converters. This one has 3 USB ports
• Battery pack – keep your phone and/or camera charged
• Converter – you will need one!

We think Italy is one of the best places in the world to travel with kids. Children are welcomed and enjoyed wherever you go. There are not too many challenges that you would not experience at home.

Probably the hardest thing we find is that we fend off many kind offers of sweets and treats on a daily basis from well meaning grandmas/nonnas on our trips. There is a limit to how much chocolate a 4 year old can eat!

Restaurants will feed your kids first so you can enjoy your meal later. It’s such a brilliant move, I have no idea why this doesn’t happen in most countries. At any venue you can always order a plain pasta with red sauce beloved by children world wide.

Kids travel at greatly reduced prices on Italian trains. Children under 4 ride free, no ticket required. Those under 15 can travel on the child rate on national trains and the child fare applies to children under 12 on regional trains.

If you are visiting museums and attractions such as the Vatican Museums and Uffizi Gallery we recommend hiring a guide that specializes in bringing these places alive for kids.

Our twins have been all over Italy with us. Their favorite city to visit is Venice – you can read our popular guide to Venice with kids here .

We hope you now feel confident to plan your Italy trip and are counting down the days until you leave. If you haven’t already done so we’d love you to join our Italy Travel Planning Facebook group where you can ask lots of questions and get advice on your planned itinerary.

We also have a regular newsletter with inspiration, tips and deals for your trip to Italy. You can sign up here  and we’ll send you our FREE Italy trip planning checklist .

Disclaimer –  Untold Morsels assists our readers with carefully chosen product and services recommendations that help make travel easier and more fun. If you click through and make a purchase on many of these items we may earn a commission. All opinions are our own – please read our  disclosure  page for more information.

The creator, writer and photographer behind Untold Morsels , Katy has been travelling and tasting the world since she was a teenager.

Now the proud mum of twins, she hopes they grow up to share her passions of great food, wine and travel. Favourite destination: Italy

• Meet the Team
• Work With Us
• Itineraries
• Italy Travel Guide
• Hawaii Travel Guide
• Travel Tips

Planning a Trip to Italy? Here’s Your 10-day Italy Itinerary

The only thing that’s probably holding you back from traveling to Italy is the daunting task of creating your Italy itinerary. We understand. That’s why we’ve taken the work out of it for you by creating a perfect 10-day Italy itinerary that you can follow or use to plan your own trip.

You’re probably wondering all the typical travel things, like when is the best time to go to Italy , what destinations to visit while you’re there, and how to get around.

It can all be very overwhelming, but don’t worry, our Italy trip planner will clear up all those questions and help you plan the best way to see Italy in 10 days. If you have other questions about Italy, check out this guide with additional tips for traveling in Italy .  Make sure to put these famous foods on your list of things you must try.

You can see a lot in just 10-14 days in Italy without being overwhelmed. It’s not a large country, but there will be a lot of travel to get from place to place. It’s a good thing Italy has a wonderful train system!

If your trip takes you all over Europe, not just to Italy, check out our 2 week itinerary for Europe , which can easily be expanded to one month or more.

Table of Contents

Getting Around in Italy

The best way to get around on your Italy itinerary is to rent a car and drive . I always book through DiscoverCars.com for the best deals. It’s not too difficult driving around in Italy, but you should be prepared for a few things:

• You need an International Driver’s License, which is just a translation of your U.S. or other country license. You can get this at the AAA office, or online.
• Most cars in Italy are manual (stick-shift). You can rent automatics, but there aren’t a lot of them so you have to book in advance.
• The roads are sometimes very narrow and not paved. It’s best to rent a very small car that can easily manuever the roads and parking spots.

Here's more to help you plan

12 Best Cities in Italy: Popular Attractions and Must-See Sights

9 Things to Know When Traveling to Italy

Guide to the Best Wine Regions in Italy

21 of the Best Cities to Visit in Europe

How to Plan a Vacation in Italy

Best time to go to italy.

The first step in planning an Italy vacation is deciding when to go. As with most places, there is a “best” time to go to Italy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go whenever the mood strikes you.

It really is a year-round travel destination. We’ve been there in all 4 seasons and always have a great time.

If I had to pick one perfect time to go to Italy, it would be late autumn (end of September to November), because it is the height of grape and olive harvest season in Italy, and there’s nothing better than seeing the rolling hillsides covered in ripe bunches of grapes, and the olive trees laden with green fruits.

• Spring (March to May) is a great time to visit, as the temperatures are lower and so is the tourist traffic, which leads to lower prices and shorter lines to get in to popular attractions. May is the rainiest month in Italy, but it’s not enough to ruin your trip.
• In autumn (late September – November), the leaves are changing color and the resulting scenery is nothing short of amazing, plus the harvest is on!
• Summer in Italy gets very hot and humid. It’s also a very busy high season, so you’ll constantly be fighting crowds and you’ll pay more for accommodations. Try to avoid traveling in July and August. Even June can be extremely hot – 100+ degrees F.
• In winter, December to February, there are definitely less tourists, but the weather isn’t prime for that dream Italian vacation.

Getting to Italy

Many top airlines fly to Italy. However, it’s not so easy to find direct flights from the U.S. to Italian cities. The easiest cities to fly into from international destinations are Rome, Bologna, and Milan.

If you don’t mind making a stopover in Frankfurt or Amsterdam, you can fly to just about anywhere you want within Italy. If you want to try to add a free stopover flight on your way to Italy, try it using Skyscanner .

Something to consider, which will help maximize your time in the country, is to fly into one city and out of another, such as flying into Rome and out of Milan. Doing this will save time and money.

Best Places to Visit in Italy

First-time visitors would do best to hit up the most popular sights that are easy to get to via train or a quick domestic flight. Then once you’ve explored the top destinations, you can dig deeper into the more off-the-beaten path locations.

A road trip can be a very rewarding way to see a lot of the country.  Here is a list of places to visit in Italy that you should definitely include in any 10-day Italy itinerary.

If you’re not keen to travel on your own, there are many tour agencies that provide tours to these cities. However, it is very easy to travel around Italy via train, so organizing your own trip is recommended.

How to Spend 10 Days in Italy

If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll have no problem planning your own Italy travel itinerary and getting around on your own. There is a small language barrier to deal with in some places, but it’s nothing a savvy traveler can’t handle.

In most large cities, the majority of people you will come in contact with will speak English. Now for your 10-day trip to Italy, which includes Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Bologna, and Venice.

Note: Your tour starts on the day after you arrive, unless you fly in quite early, otherwise you won’t have enough time to see everything in Rome. You need 2 full days to do it.

Day 1-2: Rome

Visiting Rome is like stepping back in time.  With so many amazing attractions to see throughout the city, it’s easy to see everything without much fuss. With a good map and a little energy, you can easily walk the entire old city of Rome and see all of the iconic landmarks listed below.

• The Roman Forum: Check out the ruins of the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Vesta and other ruins of a powerful, historical time gone by.
• The Colosseum: You can pay for a guided tour, or just walk around yourself, especially if you’ve done some research ahead of time or have a book along with you.
• Trevi Fountain: This is an absolutely must see, tucked away in a small piazza and crowded with people vying for a chance at a good photo. If you toss a coin into the fountain over your left shoulder using your right hand, you’ll come back to Rome someday.
• The Spanish Steps: Located at the Piazza di Spagna, this steep set of steps climbs up to the Trinita dei Monti church at the top and is surrounded by upscale shopping, tourists lounging on the steps and a wonderful Italian vibe.
• Plaza Navona: You must stop here for photos and for an overpriced drink at one of the cafes, for some of the best people watching in the world.
• The Vatican Museums: If you’re an art and/or architecture lover, you can’t miss a journey through the  ancient Roman sculptures and paintings at the Vatican. You’ll see the Gallery of the Maps, Raphael’s Rooms, the stunning Creation of Adam by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel , plus St. Peter’s Basilica (if you have time).

Tours & Tickets

You will need tickets for a few of the things on the list. In Rome, I never recommend just walking up to the attraction without tickets, because you could stand in line for hours.

Plan ahead and purchase tickets before you go. The most important ones to secure tickets for are the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel . 

You can book tickets directly through the attraction’s website, or you can use the links below to book our recommended tours through Viator :

• Skip the Line: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour – Skip the entrance line to the Colosseum and see the first and second levels with a guide (plus ability to add the underground tour), plus tour of the Roman Forum, the House of the Vestal Virgins and a walk along Via Sacre.
• Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica Tour – “Skip the line” with this tour means using a special entrance to bypass even the fast-track line.
• Rome Food Tour – One of my favorite things about Rome is the food culture. Discover all the great food on a guided food tour. You can read about the tour we took  here .

What to Eat in Rome

Rome has many food specialties, some that differ from other areas of Italy. If you want to get a real immersion in Rome, you must try these specialties:

• Cacio e Pepe – Cacio e Pepe is a very simple pasta dish that literally means “cheese and pepper”.  The pasta noodles are covered in Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese, butter, and ground black pepper.
• Carbonara – Carbonara is made with egg, hard cheese, guanciale, and black pepper.
• Bucatini all’amatriciana – All’amatriciana is a pasta sauce with black pepper, red pepper, guanciale, Pecorino cheese, and tomato.
• Suppli – A fried ball of rice with a filling of tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. You can find really delicious variations at Supplizio.
• Gelato – You will find a gelato stand on nearly every block. Look for ones that aren’t puffed up into a large dome.
• Pizza al Taglio – This pizza is baked in large rectangular pies and cut into squares. You can find it at street food stalls or quick stop shops all over Rome.

Where to Stay in Rome

The best location in Rome depends on what you want to accomplish during your stay, but it’s always best to be centrally located so you can walk to all of the main attractions.

I really like the area around the Spanish Steps. It’s easy to find in case you forget your map or lose your bearings. Two great choices in the affordable luxury range are  The Inn at the Spanish Steps  (with a gorgeous roof-top pool) and  Il Palazzetto .

We also really enjoyed staying at  Nerva Boutique Hotel  in the popular Rione i Monti area.

• Il Plazzetto ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• The Inn at the Spanish Steps ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Nerva Boutique Hotel ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Airbnb: Lovely and cosy apartment at Pantheon Square | Book a stay

Transfer from Rome to Siena.

The best way to get from Rome to Siena is either to drive or take the train. It’s a 3-hour journey, no matter how you go. If you have a car, you’ll be able to get around within the region easier, but it’s not absolutely necessary to have a car, if you’re planning to go on pre-arranged day trips.

There isn’t a direct train, but you just make one short change in Chiusi and head to Siena, the most well-connected city in the center of Tuscany.

From here you can get to surrounding towns, like Montepulciano and Greve in Chianti, so it’s the perfect base for tourists, no matter what you want to see.

There are tons of restaurants, cafes, hotels, and wineries right inside Siena to explore, if you don’t want to venture far.

What to See in Siena

• Piazza del Campo – Huge and gorgeous medieval square
• Duomo di Siena – Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral
• Pubblico Palace & Mangia Tower – Gothic-style town hall building and tower
• Fonte Gaia – Lovely historic fountain

If you want to taste some wine in Tuscany, it’s best to get outside of Siena and visit the wineries and vineyards. If you have a car, we recommend checking out our list of the top wineries to visit in Tuscany .

If you’d rather stay within Siena, you can visit one of the enotecas in Siena, like Enoteca Emporio Mediterraneo or Vineria Tirabusciò Siena .

We also highly recommend doing a Tuscany cooking class in Siena.

You don’t need tickets to see any of the things listed above, but if you want to get outside Siena and explore Tuscany without a car, you’ll need to book some tours.

Below are some of the tours we recommend:

• Small-Group Brunello di Montalcino Wine-Tasting Trip from Siena – visit 3 wineries, plus lunch at a family-run winery.
• Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Tuscany from Siena – This 1-hour hot air balloon flight from Siena takes you above Tuscany to get a breathtaking view of the low-rolling hills, some clad in grape vines, others crowned by a rustic ancient villa.
• San Gimignano, Chianti and Montepulciano Tour – Visit San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, and Montalcino on a day trip from Siena, and discover medieval architecture, wine, and stunning views of Tuscany. 

What to Eat in Tuscany

Food and wine are synonymous with Tuscany. You can’t have one with out the other. There are many fantastic dishes, both pasta and not, that you must try.

Many of these you’ll find on almost every traditional menu in Tuscany.

• Ribollita – a vegetable and bread soup
• Fagioli con salsiccia – Baked Cannallini beans with sausage
• Tagliatelle al tartufo – a wide pasta covered in a truffle sauce. Truffles are abundant in Tuscany!
• Tagliatelle al Ragu di Cinghale – Tagliatelle with wild boar ragu
• Pici – a pasta made from flour and water rather than flour and eggs
• Pecorino – Sheep’s milk cheese from Pienza

Where to Stay in Siena 

You won’t find any of the top chain hotels in Siena. The accommodations here are rustic Italian charm. You can expect either a very ornate building, or very minimalist decor.

There are two options – stay inside Siena in a hotel or apartment, or stay just on the outskirts of Siena in a farmhouse stay. If you have a car, I encourage staying outside the city center. 

Grand Hotel Continental Siena  – a Sienese palace steeped in history. The Grand Hotel Continental is part of Starhotels Collezione, Starhotels exceptional luxury hotel group and is the old town’s only 5* hotel and has a privileged position near Siena’s most important attractions. |  Trip Advisor reviews  |  Book here  

Aia Mattonata Relais  – Located in a restored, historic farmhouse outside Siena, overlooking the countryside and the city, and provided with a salted-water, panoramic swimming pool.  |  Trip Advisor reviews  |  Book here

Airbnb: Appartamento Palazzo Casini Piccolomini | Take a look

Transfer to Florence:  If you have a car, the drive will be about 1 hour 15 minutes. 

You can take the 131R train from Siena to Florence in the same amount of time. One of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Florence is known for its art.

The architecturally rich buildings of Florence house some of the world’s most treasured art. So if you’re a museum lover or art history buff, you’ll want to consider how many days to spend in Florence to cover all the top sights .

While 2-3 days is enough for most visitors, to get to all the museums and day trips, you’ll need 5-7.

Spend your time in Florence visiting the sights and museums below. They can be done in this order to make for the most efficient walking route.

• Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore – This vast cathedral towers over the city with its Renaissance dome and Gothic architecture. Entrance is free (tickets needed for the dome).
• Uffizi Gallery – This gallery contains some of the world’s best Renaissance paintings & masterpieces, by the likes of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
• Accademia Gallery – This gallery houses some of the most important works of the Renaissance, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Botticelli and Michelangelo’s David statue. Make sure you secure tickets in advance as this is one of the most popular museums in the world.
• Mercato Centrale – This food market is packed with great eating and drinking options. You can peruse the fresh foods and vegetables on the lower floor, then head upstairs to the food court to pick what you want to eat. This is a great place to have lunch.
• Basilica of Santa Croce – A very pretty church, also the final resting place of Michelangelo and Galileo. The memorial to the 19 th century playwright Giovanni Battista Niccolini inside the church is rumored to be the inspiration for the Statue of Liberty. Tickets are 8 Euros and can be purchased here .
• Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio – The first is a bridge, the second is the town hall, which is just around the corner from the bridge in Piazza della Signoria. The Piazza is a great place to hang out for a while, because there are sculpture and statues all around, like an open-air art gallery.

You only need to purchase tickets in advance for the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, and Accademia Gallery. These are where the long lines are in Florence. 

You can book tickets directly through the attraction’s website, or you can use the links below to book our recommended tours through Viator , which are more expensive because they also include a guided tour:

• Best of Florence Walking Tour with Skip-the-Line at Michelangelo’s ‘David’
• Tickets for Uffizi Gallery: Guided Tour + Skip The Line
• The Duomo Complex and Its Hidden Terraces

What to Eat in Florence

One of the most iconic meals you can have in Florence is a Florentine steak, but there are so many other specialties from this area that you should also be on the lookout for.

• Bistecca Fiorentina – a huge T-bone steak that comes from the local Chianina cattle
• Affettati Misti – A very traditional starter in Florence, this is a plate of cold cuts like lardo, finocchiona, sbriciolona, and prosciutto crudo.
• Appa al pomodoro  – a tomato that is thickened with bread and made with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and basil.
• Penne strascicate – A Bolognese-type sauce made with vegetables, tomatoes, red wine, and olive oil.
• Ravioli gnudi  – Gnocchi made with spinach, ricotta, eggs and parmesan.

Where to Stay in Florence 

There is no shortage of amazing, luxury hotels in Florence. You could easily spend half your budget on a couple of nights here. 

Firenze Number Nine Hotel and Spa  is a smaller boutique hotel in a fantastic location, as is the modern and unique  Hotel Garibaldi Blu  (where we stayed last time we were there).

If you want to splurge, stay at the  Grand Hotel Minerva  – perfect location and it has a gorgeous rooftop pool.

• Firenze Number Nine ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Hotel Garibaldi Blu ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Grand Hotel Minerva  ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Airbnb: Casina BP – historical centre | Take a look

Transfer to Bologna. If you’re driving, it’s about an hour and a half drive to Bologna on the A1. The route has tolls. If you’re taking the train, it’s a quick 35-minute ride on the FR9520 to Bologna Central Station.

For me, Bologna is all about the food . If you love Italian food and want to spend a day learning more about the wonderful DOC products near Bologna, I highly recommend you spend your day in Bologna on this tour .

If you’re not into the food tour, spend your time in Bologna visiting the sights and museums below.

• Piazza Maggiore – this is the center of the action in Bologna and a good place to start exploring.
• Basilica di San Petronio – this gothic basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city Saint Petronius. It’s hard to miss, in the center of Piazza Maggiore.
• Fountain of Neptune, Bologna – Next to Piazza Maggiore is the Piazza Neptune, with the monumental fountain of Neptune in the middle.
• Two Towers – One is leaning – Asinelli – and Garisenda. These are great to use as a landmark in city to orient yourself. You can also climb to the top of them for great views.
• Bologna’s porticos – The porticoes, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, make the architecture of Bologna unique. You can find them all over the city, starting in Piazza Maggiore.
• FICO World Eataly – Just outside the city and easy to reach by train is the Eataly World – a whole warehouse dedicated to food in Italy, with demonstrations, food stalls, and cooking classes. 8-10€ entrance fee.

What to Eat in Bologna

Bologna is home to some really fantastic foods that you don’t typically find elsewhere in Italy – at least in the same form. Tortellino, for instance, is very much a Bologna dish, make with fresh egg pasta. There are also many DOP products made nearby.

• Tortellino – This dish is the star of the show in Bologna. It’s basically tortellini (both big and small), filled with meat and cheese, served in a light broth.
• Tagliatelle al Ragù – Another very popular dish in Bologna, this dish is made with wide egg noodles and slow-cooked meat with tomato, milk, butter, white wine, carrots, celery and onion.
• Parmigiano-Reggiano – This hard, aged cheese is a DOP product that can only be made in Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and parts of the provinces of Mantua and Bologna.
• Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – True DOP balsamic must be aged for a minimum of 12 years. Over that time, it ages in a series of five barrels called a battaria.
• DOP Prosciutto – Pancetta, pork cheek, and disossato are all DOP products made only in this region.
• Mortadella – the original sausage from Bologna .

Where to Stay in Bologna

It’s a good idea to stay in the center of the historic district in Bologna, so you’re walking distance to the main attractions.

• Hotel Al Cappello Rosso  –  One of Bologna’s oldest boutique hotels, yet with modern facilities and very unique design, next to Piazza Maggiore ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Grand Hotel Majestic  – Bologna’s oldest hotel. Ornate only beings to describe this opulent hotel. Close walking distance to the main square and the Two Towers ⇒ Read reviews on  Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Airbnb: Bologna Altana Deluxe | Take a look

Transfer to Venice. If you’re driving, it’s a 2-hour drive on the A13 to Venice. The route has tolls. If you’re taking the train, it’s an hour and a half on the FR9414 to Santa Lucia train station in central Venice.

I often think Venice is singlehandedly responsible for Italy’s romantic allure, with its winding waterways and canals, arched bridges and amazing architecture.

Since no cars are allowed in the city, it’s an escape from the normal hustle and bustle of blaring horns and angry traffic snarls. Instead, you wander through the narrow cobblestone streets on foot or glide around the waterways on a gondola.

⇒ See our  infographic guide to visiting Venice .

Here’s what to see in Venice.

• St. Mark’s Square – The most iconic square in Venice , it’s also home to St. Mark’s Basilica and it is a true sight to behold. It’s very touristy, so I wouldn’t recommend eating in the square, but you can always stop for an overpriced drink.
• Doge’s Palace – This Venetian Gothic style palace is now a huge museum with floors worth of incredible things to see.
• Bridge of Sighs   – According to local lore, if you kiss beneath this bridge at sunset, you’ll enjoy eternal love.
• Peggy Guggenheim Collection  features masterpieces by Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Jackson Pollock.
• Murano and Burano – There’s an island in the Venetian Lagoon called Murano, where glass has been made for more than 700 years. Definitely worth a visit.

You will need tickets for a few of the things on the list. Venice is very crowded, almost year round, so it’s not recommended to arrive without tickets to the main attractions, because you could stand in line for hours. Plan ahead and purchase tickets before you go.

The most important ones to secure tickets for are St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, plus a trip out to islands, if you want to do that.

You can book tickets directly through the attraction’s website, or you can use the links below:

• Legendary Venice St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace – This tour affords you skip-the-line tickets to both of these popular attractions.
• Murano & Burano Islands Half Day Guided Tour by Private Water Taxi – You can visit these islands by yourself taking the water taxi, but it can be very difficult to get on and off the taxi when there are a lot of people waiting. It’s much easier to do a private tour.
• The 10 Tastings of Venice With Locals: Private Food Tour – Explore food and wine along with facts about Venice.
• Venice Gondola Ride and Serenade – Book ahead to make sure you don’t have to wait in long lines to take the ride you’ve been wanting to take forever.

What to Eat in Venice

Venice is known for their cicchetti bars. Ciccetti are small snacks or side dishes that are served at the bar in between meals, or even replacing a meal when you’re out with friends. Be sure to grab some cicchetti and an Aperol spritz while visiting Venice.

• Aperol or Venetian Spritz – A spritz is made with 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol or Select, 1 part soda, and an orange wedge for garnish.
• Cicchetti – small bites that are typically served in bars alongside a spritz or a small glass of wine.
• Baccala Mantecato – This spread is made from cod, which is soaked and whipped into an airy and light spread that is served on a slice of bread.
• Nero di Seppia – Squid ink pasta
• Sarde in Saor – Fresh sardine fillets marinated in vinegar and served with cooked white onions, and sometimes raisins and pine nuts.

Where to Stay in Venice

The choices of where to stay in Venice are vast, but we can narrow down where to stay in the city to two areas. When you look up hotels on Booking.com, you’re looking at Venice city center.

We narrow that down to the areas around Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square. Below are the only two places you need to know. The first is an apartment-style rental and the 2nd is a hotel.

• Ai Patrizi di Venezia –  If you’re staying for 3+ nights, I highly recommend this apartment. It’s in the perfect location, is incredibly comfortable and clean, and has a kitchenette. We sometimes prefer an apartment to a hotel so we’re not being bothered by housekeeping. This place is a gem.  |  Read Reviews  or  Book a Stay
• Hotel Londra Palace –  If you’d rather stay in a hotel because you like the extra amenities, then Hotel Londra Palace is a great choice. It’s in a very good location, only 5 min walk from St. Mark’s Square, with free wifi and a restaurant. Some rooms have a balcony and an incredible view.  |  Read Reviews  or  Book a Stay
• Airbnb: Beautiful 2 bedroom very near Rialto Bridge | Take a look

Unfortunately, now it’s time to fly back home. If you booked a multi-city flight, you can return home from the Venice airport. If not, you will have to fly or take the train back to Rome in order to fly back home.

How to Get Around in Italy

The best way to travel around Italy is by train. You can save money on train travel in Italy with a Eurail pass specifically for Italy. The passes allow you to travel for a specific number of days within a month – from three to eight. See all Italy Eurail passes here .

These passes are meant for non-European passengers only. Order it in advance of your trip and it’s delivered right to your door, so you’re ready to travel when you get there.

Some trains require reservations (high-speed and overnight). So be sure to thoroughly check your preferred trains for rules. As long as there is a train linking each of your chosen cities, you’ll be able to easily travel around the country, and in all of the cities listed here the train drops you off right in the center of the city.

Driving in Italy

If you’re planning on renting a car in Italy, make sure you obtain an International Driving License before you go. 

In the United States , you can get one of these at AAA offices as well as from the National Automobile Club, for a small fee. It’s good for 1 year. Italian law requires drivers that don’t have a European Union driving license to show their home country license as well as an International Driving Permit if (or when) they’re pulled over.

The rental car company may not require one to rent, but it’s up to you to have the correct paperwork.

Tipping in Italy

If you’re from the United States, Canada , or another country where tipping is customary, you should be aware that tipping in Italy is not compulsory.

A service charge is often added to the bill, which can be from 10-12%, and it will be noted as a service charge. There can also be fees added for various services, like sitting in on a dining terrace, or getting bread or water for the table.

Be Prepared For Travel Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:

🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home

• Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
• Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner )
• Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
• Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)

There are many ways to experience and enjoy your Italy vacation, now that you know how to plan a trip to Italy. But if the task overwhelms you, rest assured that this 10-day trip to Italy will take you to some of the top places to visit in Italy, and will prepare you for a second visit.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

8 Best Day Trips from Bologna Italy

How to Spend A Long Weekend in Valtellina, Italy

Like this post? Why not save it to your Pinterest board for later!

Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Travel Resources

How to Spend 2 Weeks in Italy (Itinerary for 14 Perfect Days!)

Planning your first trip to Italy may feel overwhelming–but this (repeatedly) tried-and-tested itinerary for 2 weeks in Italy will have you relaxing into la dolce vita in no time!

For those who are new here, we are Kate and Jeremy Storm, travel bloggers and Italy travel addicts who have cumulatively spent more than a year each, over the course of many trips, exploring Italy in-depth.

After more trips (and plates of pasta) than we can count , our desire to return to Italy just keeps growing: there will always be more villages to explore, natural beauty to marvel at, and, of course, pasta and wine to enjoy.

Helping travelers plan their Italy itineraries is one of our passions, and we have repeatedly tested this guide to 14 days in Italy on friends, family, and ourselves many times over the course of several years!

So far, we have personally made our way to 14 of Italy’s 20 regions, from the imposing Dolomites of South Tyrol to the beaches of Sicily.

We’ve also “lived” for 2 months in Rome, and one month each in Florence and Bologna , enjoying a slower pace of Italy travel.

Suffice it to say that after all the time we’ve spent in Italy, we have some opinions about how to make your first trip to Italy truly unforgettable… and this Italy itinerary is what we suggest.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

For first-time visitors, 2 weeks in Italy is the perfect amount of time to hit the country’s most famous and classic spots, see which ones you love, and (if you’re anything like us) fall head-over-heels in love with the country to the point that you’ll leave planning your next trip back.

This is the 2 week Italy itinerary we recommend to first-time visitors, including our friends and family, and we won’t be straying off the beaten path much here.

These first 14 days in Italy will be all about the classics–follow this trip and you’ll be spending a lot of time watching postcards come to life!

(And yes, this is a fairly long Italy blog post–feel free to use the table of contents below this paragraph to jump around as needed.)

Table of Contents

After Planning Your 2 Week Italy Itinerary…

How we structured this itinerary for 14 days in italy, the perfect itinerary for 2 weeks in italy, more (or less) than 2 weeks in italy, getting around italy, when to visit italy for 2 weeks, what to pack for italy, your 2 week italy itinerary map.

… we’d love to help continue to plan your trip to Italy in more detail here on Our Escape Clause!

We have been writing about Italy travel since 2016, and have amassed a collection of 100+ Italy blog posts available for free on this website, covering everything from the best hidden gems in Rome to what a coperto is (and why you should expect to pay one).

Cities like Rome and Venice are among our absolute favorites in the world, and we write about them extensively–but if you’re interested in getting off the beaten path in Italy, we have lots of options for that, too, from enjoying the mosaics of Ravenna to taking a road trip in Puglia .

One of my favorite things to write is detailed itineraries (like this one!), and we have suggestions for  Rome ,  Florence ,  Venice ,  Cinque Terre , the  Amalfi Coast ,  Milan ,  Naples , and more (and in the cases of some cities, several versions depending on how long you have to explore!).

I’ll link relevant blog posts throughout this 2 week Italy itinerary, but of course, I could never hope to include links to them all!

Head to  our Italy archives  to view all of our Italy blog posts in order, or if you’re looking for details on a particular destination, the search bar at the top right of the page (or at the top of the pop-out menu on mobile) is a great tool to use.

You also may want to check out the comment section at the bottom of this post–over the years, dozens of travelers have refined their own Italy itineraries there!

We structured this 2 week Italy itinerary as a point-to-point trip covering Rome, Florence, the Tuscan countryside, Cinque Terre, and Venice.

In this way, you’ll have a chance to experience many of the most popular places to visit in Italy over the course of 2 weeks, without doubling back or over-stuffing your schedule.

While some travelers like to include Milan, Lake Como, and/or the Amalfi Coast over the course of 2 weeks, we have found that with roughly 14 days (and often some jet lag) to work with, less is more.

We’ve opted for Venice over Milan and Lake Como due to personal preference, and opted for Cinque Terre over the Amalfi Coast due to geographic convenience and the ease with which it can be seen over a short period of time.

However, ultimately, the destinations that appeal to you most should be at the top of your Italy bucket list, and this itinerary for Italy in 2 weeks can be adjusted accordingly.

Days 1-4 in Italy: Rome

Rome’s highlights rank among the most famous sights in the world: who hasn’t dreamed of seeing the Colosseum in person, of walking across St. Peter’s Square, and of admiring the masterpiece that is the Sistine Chapel?

Three full days in Rome (excluding travel days) will give you plenty of time to see the best of what Rome has to offer, while also leaving plenty of time in your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary for all of the other destinations along the way.

If you happen to be lucky enough to have an extra couple of days in Italy, though–say 15 or 16 days, or perhaps less jetlag to contend with than some visitors–we highly recommend extending your time in Rome before adding time to any other destination on this 2 week Italy itinerary.

It’s simply impossible to run out of incredible things to do in Rome, which is why we have happily spent months there!

(It’s also worth pointing out that if you do have a bit of extra time in your schedule, booking an organized day trip to the Amalfi Coast is doable, if a long, day that is popular with ambitious travelers!).

Top Things to Do in Rome

Tour the colosseum + palatine hill..

Strolling through the center of Ancient Rome for the first time is an unforgettable experience!

Definitely don’t miss it during your first trip to Italy: you can buy skip-the-line tickets here (highly recommend for people visiting during summer/high season), or book the tour we enjoyed here .

Visit Vatican City.

The magnificent Sistine Chapel, the iconic St. Peter’s Basilica, the lovely St. Peter’s Square: for being such a tiny country, visiting Vatican City has a lot to offer!

We recommend using skip-the-line passes here as well, you can purchase them here .

We wrote a full guide to visiting Vatican City , so won’t repeat ourselves too much here, but in short, plan ahead, cover your shoulders, and touring the Vatican Museums on Friday night is worth it if you have the chance.

Stroll through Centro Storico.

The Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, Campo de Fiori: what do all of these famous things to do in Italy have in common with each other?

They’re all within walking distance of each other in Rome’s Centro Storico!

We also recommend seeking out a few of Rome’s hidden gems as you explore, including easy-to-access spots like Galleria Sciarra and Galleria Spada .

One of the best things about visiting Rome is just how much beauty is hidden in plain sight.

Things to Consider When Visiting Rome

Rome has two major downsides for a tourist: crowds and heat.

You can beat the bulk of both by traveling in the shoulder season (we personally think that October is the perfect month to visit Italy, and Rome is remarkably uncrowded in winter ), and/or waking up extra early to enjoy the city before everyone else gets out of bed.

For example, some of the best photos of the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, and Spanish Steps that we’ve taken were snapped around dawn!

That being said–there are a million ways to get off the beaten path in Rome no matter when you visit!

While touristic hotspots like the Colosseum and Spanish Steps are nearly always crowded, fascinating places like the Capuchin Crypt, the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, plus the neighborhoods of Testaccio, Ostiense, and Monti in general, are just a few of the many great places to enjoy Rome without dense crowds.

Where to Stay in Rome

La Cornice Guesthouse  — We loved this little guesthouse! It was extremely clean and comfortable, and VERY affordable for Rome.

La Cornice is set slightly outside the main tourist areas, but an easy 5-minute walk to the metro and a 20-minute ride got us to the Colosseum and other major sights.

Our favorite part of La Cornice? Eating a nearby Joseph Ristorante for lunch, which we not only enjoyed during this trip but have returned to repeatedly in the years after.

Check rates & book your stay at La Cornice Guesthouse!

Hotel Condotti  — Located just around the corner from the Spanish Steps (and consequently the Piazza di Spagna metro station), you couldn’t ask for a better location in Rome!

Well-reviewed and boasting exceptionally clean rooms, Hotel Condotti is the perfect choice for a traveler with a midrange budget (or even a luxury traveler–this hotel also holds some impressive-looking suites!) who would like to be within walking distance of the best that Centro Storico has to offer.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Condotti!

Pantheon Inn  — If you’re looking for a building with classic Italian charm in the heart of Rome, this is it.

Located right behind the Pantheon and within reach, the Pantheon Inn offers a quiet, peaceful escape in the middle of bustling Rome.

You will need to walk a bit to the metro stop–but since the walk will take you through the heart of the beautiful Centro Storico, we doubt you’ll mind.

Check rates & book your stay at the Pantheon Inn!

Days 5-7 in Italy: Cinque Terre

No first trip to Italy would be complete without a visit to this beautiful coastline!

After leaving Rome, head north to Cinque Terre for coastal views, hiking, adorable fishing villages, and plenty of fresh seafood.

We recommend traveling from Rome to Cinque Terre (specifically Monterosso al Mare) via train , which should take about 4-6 hours depending on the route.

Since all 5 of the Cinque Terre villages are easily connected by train (or ferry during the summer!), feel free to stay in whichever one appeals the most, or even in nearby Levanto or La Spezia to save a tiny bit of cash.

Top Things to Do in Cinque Terre

Hike between the villages..

Sadly, many of the hikes at Cinque Terre have been closed for landslides–but the magnificent Blue Path trail between Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza (which is highly recommended!) and between Vernazza and Corniglia are open and ready for visitors!

We recommend stopping by one of the visitor centers for the latest information on available hikes.

Watch the sunset from Manarola.

Arguably the most famous of Cinque Terre’s villages due to its postcard-worthy view, Manarola is the perfect place to watch the sun sink behind the sea (preferably with a glass of local wine in hand).

Eat all the pesto and seafood.

Pesto is local to the Ligurian coast, and that makes Cinque Terre one of the best places to indulge in it in all of Italy!

Pesto happens to be one of my favorite foods, so I may be slightly biased, but in my opinion, it’s an unforgettable part of visiting Cinque Terre.

As the villages of Cinque Terre are fishing villages at their heart, the seafood here is also absolutely delicious.

Things to Consider When Visiting Cinque Terre

While it would be tempting to bring a car to Cinque Terre to have access to your own transportation and a more direct way to get to Cinque Terre from Rome and to Florence after your visit, the roads do not make for an easy drive.

Parking can also be a challenge around the villages–if possible, we’d recommend relying on the train, ferry, or the famous trail to get around Cinque Terre .

Keep an eye on closures to both the trains and the trails between the villages, however.

Strikes can happen that will shut down the train (which happened to us way back in May 2016!), and the trails can sometimes be washed out and therefore closed.

The trails also often close during the offseason, so if you’re planning a winter trip to Italy, don’t count on being able to hike between all the villages.

Why Cinque Terre instead of the Amalfi Coast?

I addressed this above, but it’s understandably a popular question when planning a trip to Italy for 2 weeks, and I wanted to expand on it here!

Italy’s Amalfi Coast is truly a marvel, but it makes less geographic sense for this itinerary than Cinque Terre.

Visiting the Amalfi Coast would require traveling south from Rome when the bulk of this 2 weeks in Italy itinerary focuses on the northern half of the country.

If you have your heart set on visiting the Amalfi Coast, you can certainly swap it out for Cinque Terre, but bear in mind that the travel times involved would be cumbersome, especially if you don’t want to cut days from the rest of the destinations on your Italy itinerary.

Cinque Terre also has the benefit of being smaller than the Amalfi Coast, making it easy to explore most or all of the villages over a short amount of time.

If you absolutely don’t want to cut any destinations and are determined to visit both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, handing the reins to the experts and booking and organized day trip to the Amalfi Coast from here is your best bet ( this one gets rave reviews ).

Where to Stay in Cinque Terre

Of the 5 villages of Cinque Terre, the only one we would recommend not staying in is Corniglia, as it’s the most difficult to get in and out of.

Other than that, all the villages have their perks–Monterosso al Mare has the biggest beach, Manarola has the most Instagram-famous viewpoint, and Vernazza and Riomaggiore are simply drop-dead gorgeous.

Bear in mind that many properties in Cinque Terre can involve a climb to reach them, so if mobility is a concern, be sure to double-check the location.

Most properties will offer porters to carry your luggage for you for a small fee, so if clamoring through town with your luggage doesn’t sound like fun, be sure to ask your hotel about their services!

Here are a few very well-reviewed properties to consider during your time in Cinque Terre:

Luciano Guesthouse (Riomaggiore)  — This is where we stayed during our most recent visit to Cinque Terre, and we can’t recommend it enough!

The property was clean and lovely, and the customer service offered by Francesco and his wife during our stay was absolutely top-notch. We would be thrilled to stay again!

Check rates & book your stay at Luciano Guesthouse!

Scorci di Mare (Riomaggiore) — Want to stay a 3-minute walk from the beach and see the sea from your window?

If so, the popular Scorci di Mare is the perfect spot for you!

Check rates & book your stay at Scorci di Mare!

Da Baranin (Manarola) — Cinque Terre is expensive, there’s no getting around it.

For a budget option, consider Da Baranin–you’ll need to climb up and down a steep hill as a trade-off, but you’ll get to stay in Manarola for a very affordable price tag!

Check rates & book your stay at Da Baranin!

Days 8-11 in Italy: Florence + the Tuscan Countryside

Tuscany is one of our favorite regions in Italy–and not just because we could spend a lifetime eating and drinking there (though we could).

The towns are beautiful and distinct, Florence is a dream of a city, the history is interesting, and the golden tinge to the light that you see in pictures of Tuscany isn’t photoshop–it just really looks like that.

While there’s no such thing as too much time in Tuscany, 3 days in Tuscany will give you a chance to explore the best of Florence in about 1.5-2 days, and also give you time to visit at least one other Tuscan city or small town, and/or head out wine tasting.

Pisa is a popular choice that is close to Florence, but unless you’re truly dying to see the leaning tower, we’d recommend Siena, Lucca , or Montepulciano instead.

If you’re looking for small-town day trips from Florence , San Gimignano, Volterra , Arezzo , and Montefioralle (near Greve in Chianti) are all stunning, and though it is in Umbria rather than Tuscany, we adored our visit to the village of Orvieto as well.

If you’re hoping to enjoy some wine tasting and town-hopping, this is an excellent opportunity to get a lot of value out of a guided tour: this wildly popular day trip from Florence is a fantastic way to taste a variety of what Tuscany has to offer (literally and figuratively).

Top Things to Do in Florence

Visit some of the best renaissance art on the planet..

The Uffizi Gallery (home of the Birth of Venus) and the Galleria dell’Accademia (home of Michelangelo’s David) are both home to undisputed world treasures that deserve to be admired during your 2 weeks in Italy.

We definitely recommend booking skip-the-line tickets to both galleries to avoid waiting in their very long lines (we once showed up to the Uffizi without pre-booked tickets and ended up giving up on visiting after nearly an hour of waiting).

You can purchase skip-the-line tickets to the Galleria dell’ Accademia here and to the Uffizi here .

Try your hand at a cooking class.

We may be a bit biased, given how much we adore Tuscan food, but if you want to take a cooking class during your 14 days in Italy, we recommend doing it here.

We adored our day taking this cooking class and years later, we still talk about it being one of our favorite days spent in Tuscany!

From the views of the countryside to the beautiful farmhouse the class is hosted in, to the sublime food, it is truly an experience to remember.

Seek out the best views of the city.

From the ever-popular viewpoints of Piazzale Michelangelo and the cupola of the Duomo to lesser-known spots like the Rose Garden and Palazzo Vecchio, there’s no doubt that Florence is a city that deserves to be admired from all angles.

We’ve rounded up the best views of Florence here –personally, we have a soft spot for the view from the top of Palazzo Vecchio.

Take a day trip to the Tuscan countryside.

Wine, plus incredible Tuscan food, plus rolling countryside, plus stunning villages–a day trip to some of Tuscany’s remarkable villages and wineries is bound to be a day that you’ll never forget.

This incredibly popular day trip is a fabulous option!

Things to Consider When Visiting Florence and Tuscan y’s Countryside

Three days in Tuscany gives you a couple of options as far as lodging: you can either stay in Florence the whole time and take day trips out, you can stay in a smaller city the whole time and simply take a day trip to Florence, or you can split it up–two nights in one city, and one in another.

Personally, we’d recommend sticking with one place to stay–this Italy itinerary is already fast-paced, so there’s no reason to take up extra time moving hotels in Tuscany.

We’ve visited Tuscany many times with both structures , and love both for different reasons .

You truly can’t go wrong with either option–I’d stay in Florence if you’re more of a city person, and in a surrounding Tuscan town if you’re more interested in the countryside.

If you stay in the countryside, you will definitely want to rent a car for this portion of your Italy itinerary.

Where to Stay in Florence

B&B Le Stanze del Duomo  — Though Florence hotels can be a bit pricey and stretch the definition of “budget”, B&B Le Stanze’s beautiful rooms and impeccable location in Florence will be sure to have you swooning!

Check rates & book your stay at B&B Le Stanze del Duomo!

Hotel Silla — Located just a hop, skip, and jump from the Arno River, we loved our stay at Hotel Silla!

The hotel itself is lovely and quiet, the included breakfast a nice touch, and the location perfect: you have easy access on foot to all that Florence has to offer, without having to worry about crowds or noise.

We’d be happy to check in again!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Silla!

Hotel Lungarno  — Nestled right against the Arno River and home to one of the best views of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence (not to mention some of the best views of the rest of Florence from their top deck), Hotel Lungarno is our personal “if we ever  really  want to splurge” hotel in Florence.

You can’t go wrong using Hotel Lungarno as your base during your Italy vacation!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Lungarno!

Days 12-14 in Italy: Venice

Canals, canals, and more canals: Venice is simply a ridiculously beautiful place, and despite its somewhat controversial reputation, we absolutely adore it (yes, even during the summer !).

Definitely make sure that you climb St. Mark’s Campanile for an amazing view of the city, check out Libreria Acqua Alta (one of our favorite bookstores in the world!), walk across the Rialto Bridge, and spend ridiculous amounts of time wandering aimlessly around the small streets and lesser-known canals–that is truly Venice at its best.

If you have good weather while in Venice, also consider a day trip out to Murano or Burano for another view of Venetian life!

We’ve written extensively about Venice, in large part because we adore the city and know that unfortunately, not everyone walks away with the same impression.

We recommend taking a look at our suggested 2 day Venice itinerary and guide to the best hidden gems in Venice as you plan your trip here!

Top Things to Do in Venice

Tour the doge’s palace + st. mark’s basilica..

Venice has a truly fascinating history–for a city that is now known mostly for its beauty, flooding, and risks of sinking, it can be hard to recall that once upon a time, there was a true and powerful Venetian Empire.

Learning about the history of Venice’s government (it included  many  councils) and how it acquired its wealth is a fabulous way to get to know the city on a deeper level–and the buildings themselves are incredibly impressive, too.

We recommend taking a tour here if at all possible–it truly adds so much context.

This tour of the Doge’s Palace + St. Mark’s Basilica is very popular and a great option!

Stroll through Venice’s beautiful sestieri.

Venice is divided into six districts, or sestieri, and each sestiere has its own distinct flavor and beauty.

San Marco and San Polo are the most popular (read: crowded), and while they are absolutely gorgeous, we recommend making time for a walk through some of the others as well.

Castello, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro , and San Croce all have a lot of beauty, canals, and quiet streets to offer.

Hit the water and enjoy Venice’s canals.

While the gondolas are (deservedly) famous, there are indeed ways to experience Venice’s canals on any budget.

Whether you want to splurge on a private gondola ride, opt for the mid-range shared gondola option, or stick to a budget and tour the Grand Canal via Vaporetto , there’s a canal option open to you!

Our guide to gondola rides in Venice will help you know what to expect, or, if you want to find a way to enjoy a gondola ride for just 2 Euro (not a typo!), here’s how to find a traghetto .

Things to Consider When Visiting Venice

Especially if you’re visiting during the summer, Venice will be both crowded and expensive.

It’s still absolutely worth it to go, but like in Rome, consider early wake-up calls to get the most out of your experience.

Some of our best memories of Venice are of walking through the city before the shops even start opening–and we’ve often found that we get our best photos of Venice then, too.

Keep in mind that if you want to take an iconic gondola ride, you’ll be paying a pretty penny–80 Euro/gondola worth.

After enjoying more than one gondola ride in Venice, we can confirm that they are worth it to the right traveler–but you can absolutely have a fabulous trip to Venice without one, too.

Where to Stay in Venice

Hotel Casa Boccassini  — This cute hotel easily met our needs during our first trip to Venice!

The room was simple but clean, and the shared bathroom was a fair trade in exchange for their competitive prices in a great location in Cannaregio.

The bathroom was clean and we had a sink in our room, both of which always make shared bathroom situations much easier.

The courtyard of the hotel was beautiful!

The hotel was a simple and beautiful 10-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge and just a 5-minute walk from the Vaporetto to the airport.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Casa Boccassini!

Hotel Lisbona  — We decided to check into Hotel Lisbona for one reason: we wanted to stay on a canal!

If you’re looking to stay right on a canal in Venice without paying luxury prices, we can heartily recommend Hotel Lisbona.

The building is beautiful and definitely has that oh-wow-I’m-in-Venice effect (especially when you look out the windows), the customer service is great, and the included breakfast is tasty.

The central location (it’s around a 5-minute walk to Piazza San Marco) couldn’t be better.

The downside? The room we stayed in was  tiny –but to be staying right on a Venetian canal in such an amazing location, we definitely considered the trade-off worth it.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Lisbona!

Hotel Danieli  — If you’re looking for a true luxury experience for your 2 days in Venice–the kind of hotel stay that you’ll remember for the rest of your life–look no further than the iconic Hotel Danieli, located inside 3 former palazzos along the Riva degli Schiavoni.

Every detail has been looked after here, and everything from the furniture to the breakfast to the location (mere steps from the Bridge of Sighs) to the truly stunning lobby will ensure you have an absolutely unforgettable trip to Venice.

Even if you don’t check in, consider dropping by the bar to see the beautiful lobby for yourself!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Danieli!

Italy has an endless amount of places to see, and no 2 weeks in Italy itinerary could dream of covering the whole country.

If you’re visiting over the summer (or over the winter and you like to ski) and find yourself with more time in Italy, consider heading to the South Tyrol region to experience the Dolomites (also known as the Italian Alps).

You could also head to Lake Como and stop off at Milan along the way, or stay further east after leaving Venice and hit up the stunning Verona .

Bologna , which is known as one of Italy’s great foodie cities, is another wonderful choice, and also includes the option of a day trip to the microstate of San Marino .

And, while Bologna is the most famous place to visit in Emilia-Romagna, we’d be remiss not to point out Ravenna (home to absolutely incredible UNESCO-recognized mosaics) and Parma (the origin of parmigiano-reggiano and a delightful city) as well.

South of Rome, you could head to the incredible Amalfi Coast or the stunning island of Capri , and stop off for a day along the way to eat pizza in Naples .

Further south, the stunning beaches and towns of Puglia make for a memorable summer trip to Italy.

Even with all that, you’re still barely scratching the surface of Italy (and of course, every single one of the destinations included in this 2 week Italy itinerary could easily take up more time as well)–but that’s ultimately a good thing.

If there’s one thing that we’re certain of after more than a year of exploring, it’s that there is always a reason to plan another vacation in Italy.

With One Week in Italy

If you only have roughly one week to spend in Italy, we–heartbreaking though it is–recommend cutting at least one of the destinations suggested on this 2 week Italy itinerary. 

Personally, we’d first cut Cinque Terre (especially if you’re visiting outside the summer season), leaving the trifecta of Rome-Florence-Venice intact.

We go into this further in our guide to spending a week in Italy , as well as provide other suggestions on how to make the most of a short Italy itinerary.

If you need to cut a second destination, let geography be your guide, and trim off whichever destination will take the most time to reach based on your travel plans.

I know it’s incredibly hard to cut destinations, but rushing to a new place almost every day will eat up way too much time that should be spent experiencing Italy.

And ultimately, any given two, or even one, of the destinations covered in this Italy itinerary, could make for a magnificent trip.

With 3 Weeks in Italy

If you have an extra week to tack onto this 2 week Italy itinerary, lucky you!

You’re in for a real treat with a whole 3 weeks in Italy.

Our personal recommendation would be to use that extra week to add on Naples, Pompeii , and the Amalfi Coast.

If you’re a fast-paced traveler, you could cover those destinations in 4-5 days and spend the remaining time sampling Milan and Lake Como ( the town of Bellagio is just as picturesque as the pictures imply).

With that, you’ll cover the vast majority of the country’s best-known sights on your trip to Italy!

Alternatively, if you’re more of a slow, immersive traveler, use the extra week to really dig into one of the regions already included on this Italy itinerary.

Tuscany or Rome would be our pick (and you can technically take a very long day trip to Pompeii or Naples from Rome if you want to try to get the best of both worlds).

Within each of the destinations outlined in this 2 weeks in Italy itinerary, walking will likely be your most common method of getting around, and also half the fun of traveling Italy!

You’ll probably want to mix in some public transportation as well, particularly in Rome, but strolling through destinations like Venice and Florence is by far the best way to explore them.

Getting between destinations, however, is a different story–here’s a quick outline of transportation within Italy.

Trains rule on-the-ground travel in Italy: if you’re not going to rent a car, it’s likely you’ll be getting around Italy by train.

Every train we have taken in Italy has been comfortable and pleasant, but keep in mind that strikes can occasionally interfere with travel.

We definitely recommend booking your train tickets in advance if you’re traveling on Italy’s high-speed trains, as these tickets can increase in price as the dates get closer.

If you’re traveling on the regional train, you don’t need to worry about booking ahead, as the prices are fixed. 

We typically travel Italy by train with Trenitalia, Italy’s national company, but Italo (a private company) is also excellent for some routes.

In Lombardy (where Milan and Lake Como are located), you’ll also see Trenord-branded trains.

You can check prices and compare rates, schedules, and more on Omio to ensure you’re getting the best deal on train (or bus) travel in Italy.

We use Omio regularly throughout Europe and have always had good experiences with it.

If you do happen to buy a train ticket at the station (for a day trip, perhaps), keep in mind that paper train tickets  must  be validated before boarding the train in Italy, and failing to do so could result in a hefty fine, being thrown off the train at the next stop, and an enormous headache.

As far as we’re concerned, that’s another reason to book online, as showing the tickets on your phone to the conductor is just fine.

Shop train tickets for your 2 week Italy trip today!

Renting a car to drive through Italy is a popular option, especially in places like Tuscany, but there are a few things you’ll want to consider before you do.

Keep in mind that cars are restricted from driving into the historical centers of most cities, including Florence and Venice, and failure to adhere to these rules (even accidentally) can result in strict fines that you sometimes find out about through the mail months after the fact (my dad and a good friend have both been fined for driving in Italy via a summons after returning home).

For that reason, as well as issues with extremely limited parking in cities, we recommend limiting car rental when possible to time spent in smaller villages and towns.

While we love taking road trips in Italy , this itinerary for 14 days in Italy doesn’t require one, with the possible exception of renting a car for a couple of days to explore smaller villages in Tuscany.

If you do want to rent a car in Tuscany, know that an international driver’s permit is required for renting a car in Italy and must be obtained in your home country before arriving.

Sometimes car rental companies ask for it, sometimes they don’t (same with the police), but in our opinion, it’s not worth taking the risk–add this to your list of things to take care of being starting your 2 week Italy trip if you plan on renting a car.

Also, keep insurance in mind!

Thanks to Italy’s (somewhat deserved) reputation for less-than-cautious drivers, some travel insurance companies will not cover you while driving in Italy, or charge an extra fee to do so. Be sure to double-check before you book.

If renting a car is the right choice for you, we recommend browsing Discover Cars , and aggregate for finding rental cars in Europe (and beyond, though they’re most popular in Europe).

Discover Cars will search both local and international brands that have available cars for your dates, and allow you to compare prices, reviews, and inclusions side-by-side.

Shop rental cars for your Italy vacation today!

Bus travel in Italy is much less common than in some other European countries, mostly because of their well-developed train system.

You can find some buses available, however, especially among smaller cities and villages (we’ve used local buses in South Tyrol several times), as well as throughout certain parts of southern Italy.

If you’re having trouble deciding how to get around a certain destination.

In addition to trains, you can also browse some long-distance buses via Omio .

If you’re hoping to be careful of your budget during your 2 week Italy trip, we recommend looking into flights for the Rome to Venice (or vice versa) leg of this itinerary.

Trains are a comfortable, romantic, and easy way to travel, and they also often cost more than budget flights do!

There’s no such thing as a bad time to spend 2 weeks in Italy, but some seasons are definitely more convenient to travel in than others.

Summer is the most popular season and will bring warm weather, lots of sunshine, and lots of tourists.

Prices will be at their highest, but the beaches will be at their best–if you’re hoping to swim at Cinque Terre, you’ll want to plan a summer trip.

Winter is the offseason and will bring colder temperatures, rain, and gray skies.

Prices will be at their lowest, and crowds will be as small as they ever get.

The Christmas season can bring increased crowds, but also the benefit of experiencing Christmas decor and markets (though fair warning–these have nothing on the Christmas markets in Austria and Germany! Check out Bolzano for something close.).

Personally, our favorite times to travel to Italy are the spring and especially the fall.

T he crowds are less than in the summer, spring brings beautiful blooms, and fall brings the olive harvest (after tasting fresh olive oil in Tuscany, I don’t know how we ever lived without it).

The weather is a bit riskier during the spring and fall than during the summer, but we have never had much of an issue with it.

T he occasional rainy or cool day is worth it to us for the tradeoff of not being hot and crowded, and October is our personal favorite month to visit Italy.

Ultimately, though, whenever you have a chance to plan a 14 day Italy trip, take advantage of it: every month of the year brings distinct upsides and challenges, but each and every one of them is worth the trade-off.

Planning a packing list for 2 weeks in Italy can be a challenge of its own!

We have a full Italy packing list here, but to get you started here are a few things to be sure to bring on your trip to Italy.

These days, we prefer just to leave valuables in our Pacsafe during the day.

Option C: Hope you get lucky with the weather (but fair warning, we’ve never been avoided rain entirely during a trip to Italy!).

Bring a small pack of tissues, toss them in your day bag, and you won’t have to worry about it.

I’ve been using it for more than 5 years now and am now working on my second volume, and I absolutely adore it!

I use them on all boats and the occasional bus, and if things get really bad, take some Non-Drowsy Dramamine as well.

Before heading off for your 2 weeks in Italy, be sure to read through our complete Italy packing list !

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

148 thoughts on “How to Spend 2 Weeks in Italy (Itinerary for 14 Perfect Days!)”

I’m in Veneto, and so am biased about what I write about Italy. You covered some great places like CInque Terre and beautiful Toscana. I totally agree about heading to see the Alps, the Dolomiti is a must too. Beautiful photos to accompany the post too!

Thanks, Lisa! We’re hoping to make it back to see even more of Italy in 2018–maybe we’ll make it to more of Veneto this time!

Do the 3 chimney hike, you will not be disappointed!

Italy, why can’t I quit you… I have been reading about how dreary Italy can be in the winters. I think you are right that fall would be the best time to visit. I loved how clear all of your photography was.

Thanks, guys! I know what you mean–we can’t quit Italy, either.

I went in October 1-14, 2021, we had one evening of rain in Venice but we went to a concerto and the rain was over when we came out of the concert!!! I had the best trip ever!!!!!! My daughter planned it and she did an excellent job, Naples to Rome to Florence to Tuscany to Venice to Cortina to Venice train to Naples to Mt. Vesuvius to Pompeii to Verti to Amalfi Coast. It was an amazing trip and I want to go back too.

How many days did you stay in each of these places on your trip to Italy?

What was your itinerary day to day. What method of transportation? Thanks!

Could you please share more details? would love to do this itinerary Summer of 2023!

A great article for first timer to Italy. I have sent this to my partner and I hope he reads it, I have dreamed of coming to Italy since I was a young girl. My parents went to Italy and always spoke of Venice and Muranos Island and of course glassware. Your photos are spectacular.

Hope you get to make that trip happen soon, Nicole! Italy is as amazing as advertised. 😀

Italy is such a cool destination and this is the perfect guide to plan a trip in two weeks. I have been to Rome once and your pictures of Trivi Fountain is amazing as during my visit it was mainly crowded. Did you explore the islands near Venice too ?

No chance to go to the islands, sadly–the weather didn’t cooperate with us too well in Venice. Hopefully next time! We’d especially love to go to Burano.

I was actually wondering where you were off next, after reading your Rome post 🙂 although not a big fan of Italy overall, I am a huge fan of Tuscany… I only got to spend 2 days in Florence a few years back, so it is definitely on my travel list! Love your pics!

Florence is definitely worth a return visit–the food alone would be, in our opinion! 😉

I visited Italy for the first time last year, travelling to Rome and it was magical. The amount of culture is unbelievable, I would love to travel to Florence or Naples next time!

I hope you get that return trip, Lottie! Italy never gets dull, that’s for sure.

Your pictures are really enticing. A trip to Italy would be incomplete without taking up a culinary class or 2 in Tuscany. Cinque Terre looks particularly interesting too. Will get back to you for travel-planning. 🙂 Cheers!!

You’re totally right, Aditi–our cooking class in Tuscany was one of our highlights of our month there this year! Food in general is such a big part of traveling in Italy, it really adds something to the whole experience.

I agree with you that one cant get enough of Italy…and this time I really mean it! So much cosy villages and site to explore…and not to mention the food! I have been to Italy many times before living in the country next to so I think you have chosen a great destinations for a two weeks itinerary for a first-timer! I hope to visit the northern and souther part of Italy this summer!

Oh, it must be so much fun to live in Italy! I’m sure it comes with its challenges as well, like any destination, but if we could pick somewhere to live for a year, Italy would be VERY high on the list!

Eat, Pray, love put Italy on my map. And, I am so glad it did. I really enjoyed my time in Italy. And, without knowing I almost followed your first-time visitor itinerary. The country is so beautiful that one time is not enough. I am aching to go back. Maybe this year it will happen.

Hope you get to go back, Archana! No such thing as too many trips to Italy, right?!

A nice itinerary that you have suggested. Did all these except for cinque Terre. Wish someone had advised me then to do that. I hope to go back to Italy again to see this. Cheers

Agreed–we hope we get to go again soon, too! 🙂

Curious, how did you decide the order of your destinations? We’re doing 15 days in Italy and flying into Rome. We’re trying to visit Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Tuscany then Amalfi Coast before returning to Rome for our flight home. Any advice on the best order?

We actually put this itinerary together based on a couple of months worth of travel in Italy, so we didn’t follow these steps exactly in order (though we’ve visited all of these destinations, some more than once!).For your trip, assuming you’re flying out of Rome as well, I’d personally probably structure it as: Rome to Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre to Florence/Tuscany, Florence/Tuscany to Venice, and Venice to the Amalfi Coast (you’ll need to stop by Rome again) before returning home.

No matter what way you do it, you’re going to have a lot of travel time in there–you’re covering quite a bit of the country.Honestly, I’m tempted to say you should skip either Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast (the Amalfi Coast would make more sense to cut geographically, hence why it didn’t make this itinerary) and slow the pace a bit, but I know that’s much easier said than done–when you have a limited number of days, you want to see it all!

Not sure how you’re planning on getting around, but I’d consider saving some time and flying from Venice back to Rome–budget airlines (including Ryanair) fly in/out of both those cities, and if you plan in advance, you may be able to get very low fares. Also consider booking any train tickets you need in advance–fares go up dramatically the closer your dates get.

Hope you guys have an amazing trip! Italy is absolutely incredible. ?

Hi Jeremy and Kate, Warm greetings from India. I discovered your blogsite recently and this is really amazing 🙂 I wanted a favor from you guys, I will be travelling to Italy soon, for some office work in mid march. I will stay at Siena for 14 days. Can you please please please recommend me a travel plan or at least help me with details of rail travel? I intend to see Rome on one weekend, Venice and Milan on other weekend. I intend to travel Florence and Pisa during weekdays, when we get time off. I wish to hear from you guys… Love from India <3

Hi, Akshay! That’s not a service that we offer, but I can say that we used Trenitalia for our train tickets and were very satisfied with them. I recommend booking as soon as you know your dates, because prices do get more expensive over time. I think seeing Venice and Milan in a single weekend will likely be too much–unless you’re dying to see Milan in particular, I’d recommend skipping it and heading right to Venice. Good luck!! Hope you have an incredible trip.

We leave for our first Italy trip next week! I am so excited! When we were first planning our trip we were trying to pack too much into 14 days. We settled on flying into Venice for two days, heading to Modena for two days, traveling to the Umbria region for 5 and ending in Rome where we fly out.

Oh, that is so exciting! It’s definitely tempting to try to stuff too many destinations into too few days, but your trip sounds wonderful. I hope it helps you fall in love with Italy!!

Hello- We are traveling to Italy for first time in August 2018. Flying in to Venice and staying for 3 nights. Then to Florence for 4 nights, and on to Rome for 6. Flying back to US from Rome. Question– Should we decrease time in Rome to add 1-2 nights in Naples or Sorrento to see Amalfi Coast? We will do day trip from Rome –> Naples –> Pompeii, but just curious if we should try to squeeze in Amalfi Coast. Thank you!

Hi Vicki! It’s hard to say without knowing your general travel style (how badly do you want to see the beach?), but our recommendation would be to stick with Rome for 6 nights, or to add on an additional night onto Florence and potentially use that as a day trip to Cinque Terre (you’ll need a car to do that, but it’s a shorter drive than Rome –> Sorrento). Good luck with your planning–your trip sounds fabulous!

Thanks so much Kate! The attraction to Amalfi Coast is b/c we have heard how beautiful it is- but it does does sound far for a day trip from Rome. I keep reading about Cinque Terre but we are not big hikers (knee issues…!). Would Cinque Terre be worth a day trip (train?) on the way to Florence from Venice? Thank you so much for your help! Vicki

A day in Cinque Terre on the way to Florence, perhaps… but you’d need a whole day, and likely need to spend a night. There’s no direct train from Florence to Levanto (the larger village near the Cinque Terre villages), unfortunately, so traveling by train between the two without a car is harder than it appears looking at a map. Travel from Venice to Cinque Terre will likely take an entire day as well, but you could add one Cinque Terre day in between two travel days if you’d like! 🙂

Kate, Thank you so much– this has been enormously helpful! I think we’ve decided to take the train from Venice to Florence, spend 4 full days in Florence and just explore that beautiful area. We know we need at least two full days in Florence, but welcome any/all suggestions about surrounding area day trips. Grazie!!

Hi Vicki! Some of our favorite Florence towns include San Gimignano, Volterra, and Lucca–all great day trips. 🙂 Siena is also popular. If you have a car, there are natural hot springs in Tuscany that are supposed to be beautiful, but we haven’t made it there ourselves yet. Our “Romantic Things to Do in Tuscany” post has some great ideas as well–you don’t necessarily need to be traveling with a partner for them, either! 😉

Vicki- who are you booking with. This is the exact trip myhusband wants but couldn’t find it. flying to venice for 3 nights, florence for 4 nights, then Rome.

I’m not sure what Vicki is planning, but if you guys are planning the trip yourselves, I’d fly to Venice, take the train to Florence, and then the train to Rome before flying home. I’m not sure of any group tours that follow that route, though I’m sure they exist!

Hi Kate, in your scenariou do you fly back home from Venice or Rome back home

It’s up to you and how the flights work to/from your destination.

In a perfect world, it’s easiest to fly into Rome and out of Venice.

However, if flights are much more expensive that way vs booking a round trip ticket, you can also take the high-speed train from Venice back to Rome to fly out. The fastest trains on that route take just under 4 hours, but you’d need to book those tickets in advance.

This post is a great guide for traveling through Italy. My friends and I traveled to Italy on a rented car and visited some of these places. I advise everyone to visit here!

Thanks, Dylan! So glad you guys had a great time.

Parking can also be a challenge around the villages–if possible, we’d recommend relying on the train or Cinque Terre’s famous trail to get between the villages. And it is very good, because in Ukraine it is big problem!^(

Yes, absolutely, but it can be convenient to drive to La Spezia and take the train into the 5 villages from there. 🙂 Easier than taking the train all the way from Florence for sure!

This is amazing blog! My husband and I are traveling to Italy for our honeymoon in June. Could you guys shed some light on car rental and driving in Italy? Is it driver friendly with interpretable directions? My husband wants to bring a GPS – is this too ridiculous? Thank you!! Also, have you been to Capri?

Hey Natalie! Congrats on your wedding–we got married 5 years ago this June. 🙂 🙂 Italy is reasonably simple to drive in when you consider the quality of the roads (decent) and navigation (decent). That being said, drivers are aggressive and driving in cities is a headache–at the very least, I’d ditch the car in major cities. Depending on your itinerary, I doubt you’ll need a car for your whole trip–I’d consider where it would be more of a hindrance than a help (basically any large city and any surrounding smaller cities/towns that you can connect to by train) and go from there.

I am so happy I came across your blog! We leave 9/8/18 from California and arrive in Rome on Sun. 9/9 @ 6pm My initial thought was to take the fast train to Venice on Mon. 9/10 and then work our way down to Florence, CT, Rome.. but now i am wondering if i should fly to Venice on 9/10 after a good nights rest instead of train to save time.. its the same price! Or do you suggest head straight to CT from Rome, then on to Florence, Venice and fly back to Rome to finish our trip there?? I saw you suggested above to go to CT from Rome..

I am trying to not overwhelm ourselves as i really don’t want to spend all my time on a train or stressed out.. But i feel like these are the 4 places we want to see this time around.. (i had to talk myself out of Amalfi, Lake Garda, etc.!.. i want to see it all!) Also, this will be our honeymoon! We will be there for a total of 13 nights.

Hey Amanda! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!

September is the perfect time for a honeymoon in Italy, it’s one of our favorite months here. 🙂 I definitely understand the difficulty of cutting things down, lol–there’s never enough time!

As far as starting in Rome or Venice, it’s mostly personal preference. I wrote the itinerary this way for two reasons: 1) most people fly into Rome, and 2) If I had to choose, I think Venice makes a better last destination than first. They’re both crowded and touristy, of course, but seeing the best of Rome requires a lot of effort and activities–the Colosseum, touring the Vatican, etc.

Venice definitely has some great sights, but you could also spend a couple of days strolling aimlessly around the city while eating endless gelatos and still come away feeling like you “saw Venice”–in other words, it’s not as demanding as Rome IMO.

Plus… after flying all the way from California, I’m guessing you’ll be ready to see Italy once you get here, not jump on another train/plane! But ultimately, it’s your call–I don’t think either direction would be a mistake.

I do definitely recommend flying over train travel for the Rome to Venice route, as it’ll definitely save you time–anything that saves you time and stress on a honeymoon is a good idea. 🙂

Hi there, I am taking my wife for 2 weeks coming up next month. We are staying in Cortona, Italy in Tuscancy and making day excursions to Florence, Pisa and other towns within a day of Cortona. For the second week, would it be better to start off in Venice and make our way to Rome and/or Cinque Terre or do I see about a last minute cruise from Venice through the Mediterranean. Downside would be that we wouldn’t see as much of Italy. We don’t want to be on the go 24-7 but we do want to experience Italy. Your comments are appreciated!

Both of those options sound amazing, so it’ll really just be down to personal preference!

I don’t know the cruise itinerary, but I would imagine that the cruise will focus more on natural beauty + beaches, and a a trip to Rome would be more focused on history (with still a sprinkling of beaches in that week if you hit up Cinque Terre).

If this is your first trip to Italy, I personally would forgo the cruise to focus on Italy itself, but there is definitely no right or wrong answer to that!

Great advice and itineraries, thanks so much! We’re planning an 8-10 day trip to Italy during the last 2 weeks of August and are thinking Venice, Florence and Rome (not necessarily in that order). I’m wondering if it would be a better plan to split the time between Venice and Florence and plan to see Rome during a trip during a shoulder season (we also have 2 weeks available to travel after Christmas ). Your thoughts on whether to cut the itinerary to 2 vs 3 cities during the hotter “touristy” time of year? Thanks!

That’s a tough question! Knowing you have another opportunity to travel after Christmas, I would probably lean toward cutting one city and sticking to two–it’ll be a more relaxing trip that way, and there’s more than enough to do in any two of those cities to keep you entertained for 8-10 days. I know it’s a hard call, though!

Hello, it was nice reading your and other people’s ideas. We are going to be 71 and 72 this coming April-May when I am planning our trip to Italy. I have been before and love the trains and agree with all. But, dealing with luggage on trains is not the easiest especially as we get older. I need to book lodging before the flights and we have enough miles. If we take the train, are there taxis at all the stations to get us and luggage to where we stay? And, any idea how much or if they take credit cards like I know they do in NYC? He suggested driving for that reason, but I think finding parking with the lodging, or at the sights, would be the worse problem. Do you agree? I was thinking of mid May, but have read that May is pricey. Do you think late April is warm? I don’t want to lug jackets. My idea for 2 weeks: fly to Rome, 3 days; to Assisi, Perugio, Siena- find a place in either area for a day or 2; Florence, 3 days;Pisa 1 day; Cinque Terre/LaSpezia, 2 days; Venice -maybe drive thru Verona, 2 days.

Hi Roberta! Yes, I can definitely see how the luggage on and off trains can be difficult. There are taxis at most of the stations, but they don’t tend to take credit cards. Uber is available in Rome, but no other city on your itinerary. I would say that driving is definitely more trouble than it is worth for larger cities like Florence, Rome, and Venice–you could consider driving to Cinque Terre, but you’ll likely just be leaving the car at the hotel the whole time.

I’m not sure what your budget is, but some hotels will also offer an airport (and possibly train station?) pick up service–for a fee, of course, but they would be able to help with the luggage.

Late April is a bit unpredictable with the weather–it may already be getting warm in Rome, but Venice will almost certainly still be jacket weather. You never know, though! We were in central Italy during late April this year (Bologna/Emila-Romagna) and we still wanted light jackets until around the beginning of May.

Hope this helps! 🙂

Hey! Came across your blog and this is super helpful. Even reading through all the comments.

My wife and I are flying into and out of Rome in September and have 14 days in Italy. We were thinking after arriving in Rome hopping on a train to Venice and staying there for about 3 and a half days then taking the high speed train to Naples and spending some time in Sorrento and that area for about 4 days and ending in a Rome for about 4-5 days. I’m not counting the days where it’s mostly traveling.

Do you think this is feasible? Should we add a city worth seeing or is it too spread out to really enjoy it? We want to make the best of it since we may not get back there soon but I also don’t want us running around so much that it becomes in enjoyable.

I appreciate your feedback!

It is feasible! You’ll be tired, but it looks like you have enough time to work with. If you have your heart set on those destinations, I’d look at a budget flight instead of a train for Rome/Venice and back–round trip fares can be quite inexpensive on discount airlines like Ryanair, and I know they have lots of flights between both cities.

With a 14 day trip, I would personally be tempted to trim a day from each of those destinations and add in another city (Florence/Tuscany would be my personal first pick), but you certainly don’t need to, and you guys know your pace best.

If you’re 100% sure on dates, I’d check on flight and train prices *now*–the high-speed trains that go between multiple regions of Italy (ie, the Rome–>Venice and Venice–>Naples trains) can be pricey, and the prices do increase as the dates get closer. With regional trains that stay in one area (just Lazio or just Veneto, for example), the prices are fixed and you can just buy whenever. 🙂

Have fun!! September is a magical time to be in Italy, I’m sure your trip will be wonderful.

Hi I Loved your itinerary, am thinking of something similar in October for my family. Could I ask what your final budget was for travel and accommodation / tickets etc please? Many thanks Carly

We put this itinerary together based on several months traveling in Italy, so it’s hard to extrapolate out what we would have spent. Speaking generally, I would say 140 Euros/couple/day, adding additional funds for kids, is a comfortable midrange budget in Italy, though you can easily do it on a far smaller or far bigger budget as well. If you plan to rent a car in Italy, that will eat into costs and you may want to budget extra for that.

Your travel blog is perfection! We are looking to surprise our daughters with a trip next summer and you have covered everything on our wish list.

Thanks, Jodi! That sounds like so much fun–I would have been thrilled to have my parents surprise me with an Italy trip! 😀

Hello I am in the process of planning a summer trip to Italy with our kids. We are flying into Venice ( award travel) and was planning to stay 2 nights, then stay 5 nights in Tuscany and then head to Positano for 5 nights. Will fly home from Naples or Rome. On our first trip to Italy we did Florence, Cinque and Rome. I was dreaming of a farmhouse/villa stay in Tuscany but so far they are all a Saturday to Saturday stay. We arrive in Venice on a Monday and was planning Tuscany for a Wednesday arrival for 5 nights. Wondering if we should skip Positano and go somewhere for 5 nights before Tuscany? Or should we fly from Venice to Naples , visit Amalfi area and then head back to Tuscany? Or maybe you know a place that doesn’t require a week stay in Tuscany? Is there a Tuscan town you recommend for a good home base? Trying to make the best use of our time. I am getting confused 🙂 Our kids are teens. Appreciate your thoughts!

Hi Sally! It all depends on what you’re looking for–Positano is beautiful, but if you’d rather stick to a closer geographic area, Verona and Emilia-Romagna (possibly based in Verona) would be good options between the two. For beaches, there’s always Elba in Tuscany (though that can be a little harder to get to). I don’t know of any Tuscan villas offhand that aren’t only Saturday-Saturday, but I would guess that VRBO and maybe Airbnb would be your best bets for that. We use VRBO for our multi-generational family trips to Tuscany. 🙂 Tuscany is one of our favorite places, so I’d have a hard time saying you can go wrong with a base there! Siena and Lucca are both great options if you’re wanting something smaller than Florence, but you’ll definitely need a car for day trips if you’re wanting to explore the region (and especially if you’re staying outside the city center).

I enjoyed reading your blogs very much. My family and i will have only 5 days in Italy, as a side trip from Germany. Where would you recommend that we must visit, as a first timer to Italy? Also, are there flights/trains that go directly to Florence?

Ahh, that’s a hard one! The answer is, of course, wherever you are most invested in going–but in my personal opinion, I’d pick Tuscany. It’s easy to navigate, incredibly beautiful, and very classically “Italian” for first-time visitors. It’s also one of our favorite places in the world, so I’m a bit biased. 🙂 There are flights and trains that go directly to Florence, but on that timeline and coming all the way from Germany, I’d definitely fly. If you’re open to budget airlines, be sure to check Pisa–it’s about 20-30 minutes outside of Florence, and most of the budget airlines fly there instead of directly to Florence.

We are heading to Italy (first time for me) next fall with 2 other couples and are just now starting to research. Your blog is amazing and really is helping us formulate our trip. Have you ever cruised the coast of Italy ( i want to see as much as possible going for 2 weeks) and know we cant see it all but wondered how a cruise (small less then 300 people) might help us see all those amazing sights on the water – 7 day then heading into shore and seeing the other parts of Italy.

We haven’t had the chance to cruise the coast of Italy (yet), but it’s actually on our list of Italy trips we hope to take one day.

If your goal is to see as much as of Italy as possible, I would say the benefits of the cruise depend on where exactly it goes and what your priorities are. I’d check and see how much land time there is vs cruising time, etc. It’ll definitely cut into your time in Italy itself, but it would also undoubtedly be a beautiful and unforgettable experience in its own right. The coast of Italy is incredibly gorgeous!

Did you take the picture of the Tuscan countryside that is right before the “Cars” section of this blog? If so, where is that at?

Yes we did!

It was taken at a winery outside of San Gimignano–those are the towers of San Gimignano that you can see in the far distance. Unfortunately, I didn’t note the name of the winery at the time, but there are similar views all throughout the area!

Kate, My husband and I are planning to go back to Italy next October.our past trips were Florence, Tuscany and a Rome. This time we’re going to Umbria area and the Amalfi coast probably 14 days total. My question is what order do you suggest? Last trip we felt like we should have done Rome first then Tuscany, Rome was hustle bustle and Tuscany was laid back and relaxing..we felt we should have stayed in Tuscany last. What place would you suggest starting and ending with.

If you’re looking to start with hustle and bustle and then end with somewhere relaxing, I’d recommend starting with the Amalfi Coast and then heading onto Umbria! As a bonus, you’ll then be near the coast a tiny bit earlier in the season, so hopefully some of the warm weather will hold out for you (and it very well might–we’re in Rome right now, and even though we’re into the second half of October, it’s 80F and sunny out!).

Hi, Thank you for sharing this itinerary – so helpful as we have never travelled to Italy and are planning our first trip later this year. We would also like to visit Pompeii. How long would you spend there and where would you stay to include this stop. Thanks so much

I’m actually working on a Pompeii/Mount Vesuvius guide that should be published sometime this month, so be sure to check back for more detail, but here’s the short version–it depends on how much time you have.

If you only have right around 2 weeks in Italy and don’t want to cut any other destinations, you can do Pompeii as a day trip from Rome. However, the only way to feasibly do that well (especially on a first trip to Italy) is to book an all-day tour, and it’s about 6 hours of driving roundtrip.

Alternatively, you can stay in Naples and visit independently. Naples feels very different from the rest of this Italy itinerary, which focuses on north and central Italy instead of the south of the country, but it is a lovely city with some fascinating things to do, the world’s best pizza, and easy access to Pompeii. It’s considered “dirty” by many, but it doesn’t personally bother us a bit, and we don’t think time there is wasted.

For Pompeii itself, you really only need one day, and with some solid planning, a base in Naples, and an alarm clock, you can squeeze in a visit to the crater of Mount Vesuvius or Herculaneum that day as well.

If you wanted to visit via Naples and keep most of this itinerary structure, add on a stop after Rome. You could then double back to Cinque Terre or simply swap Cinque Terre for the Amalfi Coast, which is very close to Pompeii and Naples, before heading up to Florence + Venice.

Hi. I am visiting Italy in April and would like to go to the Dolomites. I will be staying at Peschiera del Garda for 5 nights. Will I be able to visit the Dolomites from this place? Will Dolomites be accessible in early May?

We haven’t been to Peschiera del Garda, but there are plenty of day trips to the Dolomites sold that leave from there, so you should be safe. 🙂 The Dolomites are pretty accessible–depending on altitude you may still see some snow in early May and certainly some colder temperatures, but you should be able to access the mountains to experience some beautiful views (I’m assuming you’re not planning on doing any intense hiking since you’re basing yourself near Lake Como).

Hi! I am trying to plan a trip to Italy for May. We want to go to Venice, but have also heard that there are new laws for tourists and how expensive it is during this time of year. I know it is so overly visited by tourists, and just wanted to ask you if you think it is worth it. It would be at the end of our trip, and only 2 days. If not, we may stay south. Thanks!

It’s an interesting question, Hannah. We’ve personally only visited Venice in the late fall, so we haven’t experienced the summer crowds ourselves–but we know they are intense.

If you have always wanted to see Venice, I do think it’s worth it–no matter how many cities call themselves “the Venice of X place”, there truly is only one Venice. It’s an incredibly unique and beautiful city.

However, you will definitely pay for the privilege–it’s expensive, and there will be crowds in May, especially if you go toward the end of the month.

I’d recommend pricing out hotels and activities for your dates, adding up the estimated cost, and asking if you think that number–including the cost of getting to/from Venice–is justified based on how much you want to see it.

If you don’t mind crowds, have always wanted to see the city, and don’t mind the cost (much)–go.

If you’d prefer to visit somewhere less congested and Venice is somewhere you’re considering visiting just because it’s an obvious choice and not because you’re excited to see it specifically, look at staying further south.

This is WONDERFUL! My fiance and I are planning a two week trip to Italy from the States. Any chance you have a rough estimate on how much to budget for all of this? Thanks so much!

Thank you, Marissa! Plane tickets will be incredibly dependent on where you are flying from in the USA–Las Vegas, Orlando, NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, and sometimes Boston are all places to check for budget airline flights if you’re looking to save cash and those are an option for you. To help with budgeting on the ground, we put together this post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/trip-to-italy-cost/

Hopefully that helps give you a general idea!

That’s a really informative article Kate!

I need some advice from you. I am planning to visit Italy on my honeymoon in late November. I know it’s not an ideal season for sightseeing and getting around, but would you recommend including Catania or Malta in the itinerary during that time of the year? With some quick research I noted that these locations offer warmer weather, but I never saw these places covered in any itineraries available online. Would you be aware of any reason for that?

Thanks in advance!

Late November will really be too late in the year for any swimming, but Sicily and Malta will still be beautiful.

Catania is not generally considered to be a great place to sightsee in Sicily–Taormina, Siracusa, and even Palermo are all more popular. We skipped Catania ourselves for this reason, so I can’t offer any personal advice there. We did love Palermo, which is Sicily’s other major airport hub.

The best way to find itineraries for Malta would be to search for those itineraries alone–it’s not usually combined with Italy (not sure if that’s what you were searching?). It is a lovely place, and if you’re content to sightsee on land and skip some of the more summery activities, I think a November trip could be fun.

Other than weather, etc, if you want to include either Catania or Malta in your trip, the other two things I’d check on are flights (many budget flights to/from beach destinations are seasonal and won’t be running in November), and for Malta, whether anything you want to do is closed for the season.

Also, I’m not sure if you’re looking for a particular kind of trip, but depending on how late in November you go, you may be able to check out some Christmas markets in Italy and/or Malta, so keep an eye out for those!

Congratulations on your marriage–hope you have a wonderful trip!

Great article thank you so much! We just really don’t have interest in Venice (I know it’s weird) but would you suggest we could easily sub in Milan/Como for Venice?

You can! Milan and Venice can be reached in roughly the same amount of time from Florence, give or take depending on your train route. If you’re looking for other places in northern Italy to consider, you might like to take a look at Verona or Bologna as well. 🙂

This is a great and detailed article to aid in starting up creating one’s itinerary! I doubt 2 weeks would be even close to being enough if I wanted to see most of Italy in one go, especially since I am dying to see Milan, Lake Garda and Amalfi Coast!

– Laura

I’ve finally come to the conclusion that no amount of time is enough for Italy! I don’t think we’ll ever be done going back. 🙂 We still need to make it to Lake Garda (and Lake Como, and Lago di Braies, and Lago di Sorapis…) ourselves.

Thank you for the information. Q: If we ignore the time to travel, cost and all other extranal factors. Which is a better place to see Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast?

Q: What other place in a differnt country in europe can I travel from Italy for a three day trip?

Have a good say!!

For your first question, personally we slightly prefer Cinque Terre, but it really just comes down to personal preference at that point! Both are phenomenal, neither is objectively better.

You can go just about anywhere in Europe for 3 days from Italy, as there are budget flights from all the major cities to just about anywhere on the continent! If you are looking for something geographically close and/or you don’t want to take a plane, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, France, etc, are easy to reach from the north, San Marino is accessible from Emilia-Romagna and the surrounding area, and Malta, Spain, and Croatia are accessible by ferry, just to give you a few ideas!

Very engaging and informative read! Enjoyed your blog. In process of planning trip to Italy in mid November. Flying in at Milan and out from Rome. 1N(Night) Milan 3N Dolomites 2N Venice 3N Cinque Terre 3N Florence/Tuscany 2N Rome 2N Naples

Love for mountains and offbeat places (less crowded) places. On a budget trip, depending on public transport.

(1) If you can suggest base location /or (BnB or Hostel) for Dolomites and Naples (2) Any other location, where exploring around would not be straight forward as will be dependent on public transport (3) Is the itinerary good mix of days and routes? If you think by any ways can swap days / location..please do recommend

Thanks so much, Niket! That trip sounds amazing, if a little fast-paced for our tastes. 🙂

For the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Bolzano are two of the “bigger” cities (and I use bigger loosely) that people use for a base. There are plenty of small towns as well, but keep in mind that in November there could be snow, etc, to contend with the higher you go, and public transportation options will be fewer and a bit more complicated.

For Naples, the biggest thing to keep in mind is the hills! The further you stay from Piazza del Plebiscito, the more hills you’ll climb. We stayed in the budget hotel linked in this post on our first visit to Naples and liked it well enough (the nearby escalators to get down the hill definitely helped): https://www.ourescapeclause.com/one-day-in-naples-itinerary/

As for the route, I personally would cut Cinque Terre and/or the Dolomites, as in mid-November the weather isn’t likely to be great and you have a lot of places that you’re covering. I’d be tempted to give over another night to Venice and another two nights to Rome in exchange, but that’s entirely personal preference!

I’d also recommend not counting too much on getting to see a particular hike, etc, in the Dolomites. It’s very likely that it will be cold, rainy, and maybe even snowy by mid-November, though undoubtedly still beautiful!

Thanks for the great ideas and tips. We’re a family of 4 thinking of a 2-week trip to Italy next summer and your itinerary could be a possibility (in reverse, as we’d start in Venice). Can you suggest any good self-catering or apartment rental options for the itinerary? Or trustworthy websites to try? Thank you in advance!

Hi Dee! Depends on what you’re looking for, size of group, etc, but for self-catering apartments we generally book through Booking.com or Airbnb. For villas/large groups, we’ve found excellent properties through VRBO. We highly recommend a country villa for a couple of nights in Tuscany if it fits your group and budget!

Hi Kate, very helpful blog indeed, thanks. I am struggling to work out the perfect itinerary because I need to visit Bologna for business. My plan ( which can be tweaked ) is to fly into ROME March 2 arriving 7 am and fly out March 16 at 11 am. I need to arrive Bologna 11th evening, and leave 14th evening or 15th morning. I can move my dates 1-2 days before or after. I am very keen on Amalfi coast, tuscany ( since i love tuscan wine ); florence, rome and Venice. Cinque terre is captivating in the pics too. I can skip pisa/ lucca. Would love to hear your comments, thanks

Personally, I’d strongly recommend cutting a couple of destinations from your list. While technically you can make it work (especially using day trips), that will be a very exhausting trip and the coastal destinations won’t be at their best in March. At most, I’d pick 3 destinations in addition to Bologna to visit.

You could potentially do something like this, give or take:

Rome Florence + Tuscan countryside (as one stop, you can day trip to the countryside from Florence or visa versa) Bologna 11-14 Venice OR Amalfi Coast with your remaining days (Venice would probably be easier).

That’s my suggestion, but ultimately it’s your call! I’ve certainly squeezed extra destinations I couldn’t bear to leave out before. 🙂

Hi Karen, Thanks for your advice. I will now consider the following, feel free to let me know if this is doable. day 1-3 Venice day 4-7 Florence ( 2 days in city; 1 day trip siena/ san gimignano/ chianti; 1 day trip hiking in cinque terre ) day 8-10 roma day 11-14 bologna for business What do you think? Tony

That sounds very doable and like a great trip!

We are in the planning stages of our 2+ week adventure of Italy. Travel is slated for May of 2021 which will include my wife, 2 daughters and I. We plan to fly into Milan or Venice depending flight tickets. We will rent a car and go for it. We want to drive along the entire coast of Italy with possible multi day stops in some of the bigger cities. Plan to stay in hostels, BnB and occasional hotels. For sure spend a 3 days in Silicy. Thoughts?

Hi Daniel! Sounds like quite the odyssey you guys have planned!

My first thought is that I hope that “+” on the 2+ weeks is pretty flexible if you want to drive the whole coast of Italy! That’s an extremely ambitious plan if you want to stop and see much along the way and also fit in 3 days in Sicily.

If your time frame is set at around 2 weeks in Italy, I’d consider road-tripping one portion of the country (since you mentioned flying into Venice or Milan, maybe driving from there to a few stops in Tuscany and/or Emilia-Romagna/Veneto/Lombardy along the way depending on what you want to see and then flying to Sicily to close out your trip.

If you have your heart set on driving the whole thing, I’d either try to extend your time or accept you’ll spend a lot of time in the car, finding and paying for parking, walking from parking lots into the towns and villages you’re visiting, and generally getting from place to place. Driving in Italy isn’t impossible by a long shot and we’ve done it plenty, but by the time you add in all the logistics, Google maps estimates tend to fall a bit short of how long it actually takes to get to each place!

Your blog is so incredibly helpful, thank you! Planning my 1st trip to Italy with my teen girl who’s graduating. Will us two females traveling alone feel safe? I want to not hassle with buses and need some tour guides, private cars. Etc over buses. I can probably do train but needs to be easy cause I get lost easy LOL. I will need everything bought ahead of time and planned out to the T so I won’t be stressed. I want to go about 20 nights but want to see allot then.

Sorry clicked send before I asked my question LOL. Can you please help me itinerary order. I want to spend 20 nights total. 2 in Rome, 2 in Lake Como, 4 in Florence Tuscany area (please list 2 towns for me to stay in there), 2 in Dolomite area, then 1 night in these places venice, Almfia coast, postitano, sorrento, Vernannza, riomaggiore, portofino, bolzano, and Bari. Am I missing any must see places? Is this doable? Also one last place is I want to see at least one place in Croatia. I don’t know which is better dubernick or split and how to fit it in? Maybe fly out of there? Help please thanks so much!

Hi Becky! Sounds like some amazing destinations you have on your list!

In Tuscany, if you want to stay in two places I’d personally probably do Florence + Siena or Lucca if you don’t want to drive, or Florence + a country house/apartment near Montepulciano or Siena if you do plan to drive!

Your wish list sounds amazing but honestly, with 20 nights that’s probably going to be a bit too much. I’d probably cut Bari altogether, and choose two coastal destinations max (Amalfi Coast area with Positano/Sorrento, or Cinque Terre with Riomaggiore/Vernazza, or Portofino, or Croatia).

For choosing between Split and Dubrovnik if you do decide to do Croatia, we have a whole post on that–search “Split or Dubrovnik” in the top righthand corner of the site and it’ll come up. 🙂

I haven’t personally taken a whole trip in Italy alone, but I have many friends who travel solo as women in Italy and love it, and I’ve never had any big problems going out alone, etc. Italy is very used to tourists and generally feels very safe to travel.

Hope that you guys have a wonderful trip, and happy graduation to your daughter!

Hello – planning to go in January for 30th bday. How do you feel about this choice of month?

Thanks, Haylee

It all depends on what you’re looking for!

You’ll need a coat, and gray/rainy days are worth preparing for, but on the other hand, prices will be lower (in a normal year, who knows what will happen this year), the crowds MUCH lighter, and all the sights still beautiful.

We sure wouldn’t turn down a January trip to Italy!

Thanks Kate Storm , Your article is so incredibly helpful. Verona, Liguria, Sicily, Abruzzo, Milan the best places you can live in Italy. I like u r article.

Thank you for your very informative article.I am interested in staying in Puglia.Could you recommend a small authentic village on the coast with access to public transport.What would your ideal itinerary for the Puglia region be.Thanks again

Hi Frances! Sadly our planned 2020 trip to Puglia got cancelled, so I can’t offer any personal recommendations there yet. Hope that changes soon!

Kate, I can’t get enough of your articles!! We are a family of 4 (2 teen boys), traveling to Italy for the first time! We will be flying into Venice the morning of June 2 2022 and out of Rome June 16. I would love your opinion on our proposed itinerary- trying to keep everyone happy and see a lot without cramming in too much! We will likely be hitting the “high points” when it comes to museums and churches. Right now, we’re looking at… 2-6 Venice 6-8 Cinque Terre 8-11 Tuscany/Florence 11-15 Rome 16 fly home Would you allocate it any differently traveling with two teen boys (14 and 17)? And/or add in any day trips? Thank you so much!

Aw, thank you for making my day, Rachel! Truly my favorite part of my job is knowing I help people plan their trips. 🙂

Your itinerary looks great! I’d consider moving one day from Venice (I adore it, but it’s a small city) to either Cinque Terre or to Florence/Tuscany.

A second full day in Cinque Terre would allow you to either spend some time at the beach or hike more, while an additional day in Florence/Tuscany would give you a chance to spend 2 full days in Florence (here’s our suggested itinerary for that: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-days-in-florence-itinerary/ ) as well as take a day trip out to the countryside.

There are some wonderful day trip options from Rome that you may want to look into since you have 4 full days there (here’s a post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-rome-italy/ ) but you can easily keep yourselves busy in the city as well!

Hope you guys have an amazing time! June is a beautiful month to be in Italy. 🙂

Hello, We are planning to travel to a Italy for 3 weeks (the end of March – beginning of April). Do you have any extra insight for traveling with children? Ages: 13 yrs, 8 yrs, 1yr old. I want an easy, mellow trip but still want to hit the major sights. What should we add or take away from your itinerary?

Hi! Unfortunately, we don’t have any experience traveling in Italy with children that young, but generally speaking, the itinerary should work as long as you’re willing to cut down the number of activities in each destination (so fewer museums, basically). I’d definitely recommend skip-the-line tickets everywhere you go! I know that Rome has a popular children’s museum, as well, and several of the popular hikes in Cinque Terre are doable with your 8 and 13-year-old.

Your blog is amazing, Kate! I am booking a surprise trip for my partner and we are set to visit Italy for 14 days in April 2022. He is a huge history and art buff, I am definitely planning on including Rome, Florence/Tuscany and Venice from your 2 week itinerary. In your opinion would adding in Naples in place of Cinque Terre be stretching it too thin?

Thanks in Advance! Dani

Thanks so much, Dani!

A surprise trip to Italy–that’s one lucky partner you have! LOL.

Yes, you can absolutely swap Naples for Cinque Terre, and I’m sure an art/history buff would love it. A fast train (not regional train) from Rome will probably be your most efficient way of getting there.

Fair warning, since I’m not sure of your travel style, Naples is definitely a bit less manicured than the other cities on your list. I adore it and highly recommend a visit, but just got in expecting a bit more grit (and the best pizza of your life).

Day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Amalfi Coast are very doable from Naples as well.

Amazing post! I have always been fascinated by Italy and its historic colosseum. However, I never got a chance to visit there due to my hectic work schedule and other commitments. But, I will be getting some time off during Christmas. And while I was looking for an interesting travel itinerary, I stumbled upon your blog. It does give me some amazing suggestions that will help me to experience the best that Italy has to offer.

Hello…we are looking to go in 2023 to Italy and were considering this itinerary…We need to make sure we are in Florence/Tuscany on June 18…Is this a bit agressive? Would you consider something different and what is the best way to get around…Car or Train? You also noted day trips from these different places…would Naples be one?

Travel to Venice 1 Venice 2 Venice 3 Travel to Lake Como to Milan 4 Milan 5 Travel to Cinque Terre 6 Cinque Terre 7 Cinque Terre 8 Cinque Terre 9 Travel to Florence 10 Florence/Tuscany 11 Florence/Tuscany 12 Florence/Tuscany 13 Travel to Rome 14 Rome 15 Rome 16 Rome 17 Travel Home 18

That looks like a wonderful itinerary, and very reasonable for the most part!

The only exception is that you have “travel to Lake Como to Milan” in one day… doing a quick stopover at Lake Como would be difficult, I’d choose either Lake Como or Milan to visit.

You may also want to move one day from Cinque Terre to either Tuscany or Milan/Lake Como, but that’s a personal preference.

You can easily use the train for all of these places except possibly some of the smaller Tuscan towns, if you plan to visit them. For that, you could either rent a car for a couple of days or book a day tour!

For Naples, you can take a day trip from Rome, but it’s fairly long. If you plan to visit Pompeii and/or the Amalfi Coast as part of that, plan for a VERY long day and absolutely book a tour! We have a very reputable one listed in our Rome day trips guide: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-rome-italy/

Hi! Thank you for sharing this wonderful itinerary. We are leaving San Francisco 5/25 and arriving in Rome on May on 5/26 and flying out of Venice on 6/9. I’m hoping we are getting in and out just before the big summer rush and heat! We were considering adding one extra day in Rome and I was wondering what the logic is for going to C/T before Florence? On the map it appears going Rome/Florence/CT/Venice might make the most sense, but I’m sure there is a reason I am not seeing. Would also love to hear your recommendations for the three full days in Florence for a family of 4 including a 15 and 18 year old! Thanks!

That’s an excellent time to be in Italy, you guys are going to have an incredible time. 🙂

The logic for going to Cinque Terre before Florence is two-fold. First, if you travel by train instead of by car (which I highly recommend for this itinerary), you can travel from Rome to Cinque Terre along the coast without switching trains, and you won’t go through Florence or need to double back at all. You’ll also have some beautiful views of the coast along the way!

The second is simply to break up what you’re seeing on the trip. While Florence and Rome are two very different cities, they’re the most similar of the 4 destinations on this itinerary, and going to Cinque Terre in between them gives you an opportunity to mix things up instead of condensing more art museums/churches/cobblestone streets (all things I adore, just to be clear!) into one portion of the trip and risk getting burned out.

For the 3 days in Florence, I would recommend more-or-less following our 2 day Florence itinerary (which I’m going to be updating with a bit more detail in the next few weeks, as we just got back from our latest trip!), and then taking a day trip into the Tuscan countryside with the 3rd day, whether that’s by booking a tour or going independently.

Here’s the itinerary: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-days-in-florence-itinerary/

For day trips, many popular tours include Siena, a small town like San Gimignano, and a winery visit. If you’d like something a bit different due to having teens with you, other options include Lucca (you can also add a stop in Pisa if you like), Volterra, Arezzo, Bologna… the sky is the limit! We have a full guide to day trips from Florence here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-florence-italy/

Hello! I am so happy I found your blog! Such great hints and tips for each of the areas you are recommending. We are heading to Italy for a wedding in Volterra. Flying into Florence and renting a car. After the wedding we are staying and for a week and ultimately ending up in Milan. What are your thoughts on breaking up the trip? Some of the places of interest from your blogs: Livorno, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre (?), Rapallo or a beach, Genoa (?), Milan, Lake Como

I feel like we definitely have too many places we want to see be for such a short time. Would love your input, given we will have a car. 4 adults

Thank you so much! Back to google!

What a beautiful place for a wedding! Volterra is incredible (here’s our post on the town if you haven’t seen it: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/volterra-italy/ )

As for where to go the week after the wedding, you’re right that your dream list is a bit long, but which areas you pick are totally up to you!

Personally, I’d recommend doing either Lucca + Pisa + Cinque Terre or Milan + Lake Como + *maybe* one other Tuscan town/city before leaving the area after the wedding.

Lucca makes a great base in Tuscany (here’s our post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-lucca-italy/ ) and also has the benefit of being within a quick ride of Pisa for a day trip. You can realisitically day trip to Cinque Terre from Lucca more easily than from Florence, too, or move to the beach and stay a couple of days.

I love that area, so that’s what I would do if it were my trip. 🙂

However, Lombardy is also stunning! In addition to Milan and Lake Como, with a full week you could also add a visit to Verona, Bergamo, or even Venice. However, I’d be tempted to split the difference and do about 2 days in Milan, 2-3 days in the Como area, and stay in Tuscany after the wedding to explore a different Tuscan city before heading to Lombardy.

Hope that helps! You have the benefit of your wish list being pretty well grouped geographically, which gives you more flexibility. 🙂

Hello! Wow your blog is so incredibly helpful. My husband and I are planning a ~2 week trip to Italy at the end of July/early August (I know… it’s soon!), and we’re looking at doing basically this itinerary. I’m curious though – this is a 14 day itinerary but I believe only 9 days are accounted for in your post. 2 days in Rome, 2 days in Cinque Terre, 3 days in Florence/Tuscany, and lastly 2 days in Venice. Is that right? Am I missing something? My husband is really interested in seeing the Dolomites. Is that something you think we could throw in there with that 9 day itinerary? Thanks so much! Really appreciated your recommendations.

Yes, it’s because the way I laid out this itinerary doesn’t include the days you’re actually traveling between destinations, these are the full days you’re in each area. 🙂 I know it’s a bit confusing, which is why I switched to a day-by-day layout on future itineraries!

It would be hard to squeeze the Dolomites (or any 5th destination) into a 2-week trip without being extremely rushed, especially because the Dolomites really need more than a day. If he has his heart set on seeing them, I’d consider swapping one of these destinations for the mountains!

Fantastic descovery is your site as Ive just decided last minute to go to Italy. Im under a particular schedule going there since Im going for 6 weeks but two of those will have to be remote work. So after two weeks of travel one week of remote work. Have 100 questions for you but if there would be just one, what would be the places you would stop for about a week,considering most my days will be working.

for sure will have more questions for you as I was thinking of using one of those week to go travel in a near by country etc.

Ah, that’s a delightful problem to have but a very hard question to answer!

Really, any city or reasonably-sized town that appeals to you is a great option. If you need to use video or send large files, I’d opt for a city and keep an eye on wifi speeds. If you don’t need particularly fast wifi, just about anywhere (other than perhaps some very rural places) will do.

We’ve worked for a month at a time from Rome, Florence, and Bologna, and for a week from many, many places including Naples, Palermo, Otranto, Verona, Venice… basically, the sky is the limit!

Personally, we find quiet neighborhoods in medium-to-large cities generally excellent to work from–plenty of convenience and infrastructure, as well as lots to see on your times off.

I just found your blog today & I’m actually obsessed with all the info you’ve posted! I’m trying to jump start my exploration of the world with my boyfriend so I’m currently trying to plan our Italy trip for 2024! It will be both of our first times & I’ve just been hooked onto reading this 2 week guide… I wanted to ask though as first timers, what would the best itinerary breakdown of each city be for us? As far as how many days in each city & what to do in order to check it off our first timer list? Also if you had to choose between Sept/October to travel to Italy which one would you choose?! I love love love this blog of yours & will continue to reach for it as I plan future trips for my boyfriend & I! (:

Thank you so much, Tori!

The itinerary here, as written, is great for first-timers, but where you start and finish can be swapped depending on whether Rome or Venice is easiest to fly in and out of based on where you’re coming from.

September and October are two of my absolute favorite months to visit Italy, so it’s hard to choose!

September will be warmer and a bit more crowded, and depending on the year and which week in September you may even enjoy some late-summer style weather. That’s great for visiting places like Cinque Terre.

October is cooler, with a higher risk of rain (especially later in the month), but the food is delicious, many of the harvests start, there are fewer crowds, and many perfect weather days. I often say Tuscany is the perfect October destination.

You really can’t go wrong with either month!

Hi Kate, So happy I stumbled upon your blog – most helpful of everything I’ve found online so far! Would love guidance on planning our trip for March 11-25, 2023. This will be the first time in Italy for my husband and near-adult kids – ages 16 and 18. I was in Rome, Florence, Siena and San Gimignano for about ten days, 25yrs ago and have been dreaming of going back ever since!!

The challenge is that we have to spend about 3 days in Paris as part of this 2-wk trip, and i don’t know how best to organize that. I’d like to go to Rome and Florence for sure; everything else is open. We’ll be flying to/from Florida and don’t know if we should go to Paris first, last… or if it’s just unrealistic to try to do all of it. Maybe we should do 5 days in Paris and the rest in just Rome and Florence? Also, ideally, we’d be in Paris for all or part of a weekend, which makes it even more challenging! (Meeting French cousins there and they have to work during the week.)

Here’s a bit about us: we have lots of energy and are willing to get up early and stay out late and take trains and planes at odd times :). We’re good travelers and are flexible, and yet this shouldn’t be a wild ride – it should have an easy pace but be full of sights, sounds, tastes, and discovery. Cities and small quaint charming towns are superb; we can probably skip coastal towns on this trip since we live near the beach in FL 🙂 If you disagree, do speak up! Happy to take trains and walk a lot, and use the discounted airline you mentioned, as long as it’s safe (!).

I haven’t looked at the rest of your blogs yet; wondering if you also have recs for olive oil and/or a balsamic tastings/tours and if there’s a guide or an app for being gluten free in Italy!

Thanks SO much in advance for any advice you can offer! Much appreciated!

Happy to help! You guys seem to be the perfect candidates for a busy trip, which is a great thing. 🙂

If you want to squeeze it all in, I’d recommend either starting in Paris or ending in Rome, or vice versa. If you can find good open-jaw tickets to these cities, your plan is ambitious but doable.

Assuming you start in Paris, I’d plan about 3-4 days there.

Your long travel day will be between Paris and Florence–you can either fly, or take a high-speed train to Milan followed by one to Florence (book early to ensure the best prices and direct routes). Both will be a long day, but the train is more fun. 🙂 We use Omio to plan our long train routes.

In Florence/Tuscany, you can allot 5-6 days. I’d plan to spend at least 2 full days in the city, and then more in smaller towns. You can either take day trips from Florence (by train, car, or tour), or head to southern Tuscany for a few days.

Southern Tuscany is where you’ll find the Val d’Orcia, as well as gorgeous towns like Montepulciano: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-montepulciano-italy/

If you want to take a day trip to Florence but are looking for a different (but still convenient) home base, Siena (as you know) and/or Lucca are amazing cities: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-lucca-italy/

From there, you can wrap up with a few days in Rome, which will give you time to see the major sites. We have lots of Rome posts, but here’s an example of what you can see with 2 days there: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-days-in-rome-itinerary/

Olive oil tours will be at their peak in the late fall (when the harvest is), so it doesn’t overlap with your trip. Traditional balsamic vinegar hails from Modena, which is out of the way for you. However–a good enoteca will be able to offer you delicious tastings of both, and you’ll find those all across Italy (you’ll be spoiled for choice in Tuscany in particular).

As far as being gluten-free goes, that is not my area of expertise, but I can recommend checking out the guides and translation cards from Jodi at Legal Nomads–she’s a longtime foodie and travel writer who has traveled the world with celiac.

Have an amazing trip!

Hi Kate, I am planning for the first ever european trip for my wife (40) and son (14). I have travelled in other countries of europe for business purpose. I have decided for a two weeks trip to Italy in 2nd half of May 2023. The following is a very very high level itinerary. I am yet to drill down. I have 13 full days. Day 1 – Arrival in Rome @ 2 pm. Take a walk in the evening. Day 2 – Colosseum, Roman Forum etc. Day 3 – Vatican City Day 4 – Travel to Florence Day 5 – Florence Day 6 – Florence Day 7 – Florence Day 8 – Cinque Terre Day 9 – Cinque Terre Day 10 – Cinque Terre/Camogli??? Day 11 – Travel to Venice Day 12 – Venice Day 13 – Venice Day 14 – Venice Day 15 – Travel to Rome and take a departure flight @ 4pm

I am not sure if I should cut down somethings and include any other spots. Can you please review the itinerary and suggest amendments?

Sounds like the workings of a great trip!

I’d consider moving one of your Florence days to Rome unless you’re planning to use the third day in Florence to take a day trip to the Tuscan countryside/smaller towns. You could also move your third day in Venice to Rome instead. Rome is definitely the biggest city of what’s on your list!

If you want to see the Riviera beyond Cinque Terre, I’d look into Portovenere–it’s sometimes called the “sixth town” of Cinque Terre, is easily accessible by ferry, and is much less crowded due to being a bit harder to access than the others.

I’d recommend booking your trains from Cinque Terre to Venice and Venice to Rome well in advance, as you’ll definitely want to take the high-speed trains for those routes.

Hope you have a fantastic first trip to Italy!

Thanks Kate for such a quick response! After doing some more research, I changed the sequence of the travel so that it is easier to fly out of Rome. Some people suggest to remove CT and increase the days for other 3 big cities. I am confused. 🙂 What do you suggest? Day 1 – Fly in to Rome @ 2pm. Travel to Venice by train. Day 2,3 – Venice (Yet to plan detailed itinerary) Day 4 – Travel to Florence Day 5,6,7 – Florence and nearby areas (Yet to plan detailed itinerary) Day 8 – Travel to Cinque Terre Day 9,10,11 – Cinque Terre (Yet to plan detailed itinerary) Day 12 – Travel to Rome Day 13, 14 – Rome ( 1 day colosseum etc. and 1 day vatican city) Day 15 – Travel back from Rome to India

I definitely agree that it’s a good idea to move some of your Cinque Terre time to Rome!

While you definitely can enjoy 3 full days in Cinque Terre, with your schedule, 1-2 is plenty. Better to have another day in the Eternal City. 🙂

Hi, Kate: We are traveling to Italy in May and June. Your site has been invaluable in our planning. My first of what I’m sure will be many questions is what train stations in Venice (to travel to Florence) and Florence (to travel to Rome) do we want to use? We are staying as close to the center of those cities as possible.

Hi Elizabeth,

I’m so glad to hear that!

In Venice, you’ll want to use Venezia Santa Lucia (which is right on the Grand Canal).

For Florence (both to and from), you’ll want Firenze Santa Maria Novella (which is a 10-minute walk from the Duomo).

Those are the “main” train stations in each city, so most ticket-booking options should suggest them to you automatically!

I have never been to Italy but am going in July so found your blog really helpful! My daughter will be doing an abroad program in Siena so I will fly over with her 12 days early. Is it a stretch to want to visit Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Venice and Lake Como within this time frame when she has to be in Florence on day 12? It would mean flying to Rome and going north from there to hit everything but would have to circle back to Siena. I’d love your two cents on where to fly into- thinking maybe even Switzerland since wanting to see Lake Como. Thank you!

Your daughter is going to have such a wonderful time!

All of the places you mentioned are fantastic, but yes, that’s really too much to fit into 12 days (since you mention your daughter needs to be in Florence on day 12, I’m assuming this is more or less an 11 day trip).

If it were me, I’d focus on Venice, Rome, and Florence.

Flying into Venice would probably be most convenient, though Rome would work as well.

Taking the high-speed train from Venice to Rome (you’ll want to book those tickets in advance) and then traveling from Rome to Florence by train after sightseeing down south will likely make the most sense.

As far as Cinque Terre goes, a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre isn’t ideal, but it can be done and in your case may be a way to squeeze in a taste of the coast. We go into more detail on how to do that well here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/florence-to-cinque-terre/

I hope that helps a bit and that you guys have a magnificent time in Italy!

HI Kate! your blog was very helpful. I would love to have your opinion on my upcoming trip. I am taking a transatlantic cruise from NYC to Rome; arriving in Civitavecchia on 10 May 2024. I am lucky and don’t have a time frame. Since Italians take their time… I’m going to embrace that after years of a stressful job, I’m traveling solo as at 37. I want to be loose with my plans, do you think buying tickets for places like the Colosseum just a few days in advance is risky? I was planning on my travel day to purchase tickets for those things. I also have a general route planned and I would love your opinion one this. Since I disembark in Civitavecchia I was going to spend 4 nights in Rome (this is the only things I have booked). -4 night in Rome -2/3 nights in Naples/ Amalfi Coast (I also would like to go further south but not sure where.) -Travel Day to Florence I might stay a night in Assisi or Siena -3/4 nights in Florence with a day trip to Pisa and Lucca -2 nights in Cinque Terre -I think I should go to Genoa or Milan after – I also want to spend a night in the Tuscan country side (Under the Tuscan Sun like) -1 night in Bologna -1 night in Bolozno/ Ortisei for the Seceda -2 nights in Venice I would really like to experience some real Italian life and this trip is really a scouting trip for a possible move to Italy.

Sounds like a wonderful trip!

In May, booking a few days in advance for most places (including the Colosseum) should be just fine in mid-May. There are a few attractions in Italy (climbing to the top of the Duomo’s cupola in Florence and visiting The Last Supper in Milan are two of them) that require planning further in advance year-round, but for travelers who are flexible with their plans, most things are doable a few days in advance.

All of the places you have mentioned are wonderful, but I do think you’ll find there are too many of them! Since you’re going to be booking as you go, I’d just stay open to extending your stays and visiting fewer places.

I’m not sure if you have a timeline for your trip, but after weeks of traveling it’s safe to say continuing to change hotels every night to every other night will stop being appealing. Plus, traveling more slowly is one of the biggest benefits of traveling for longer–it’s worth slowing down for.

We are going to Italy in September/October for about 2-3 weeks. Will visit Rome, Florence, Tuscany and Umbria areas. At the end of our trip we would like to visit Assisi, montepulciano , perugia. Our concern is how to get around in those areas. We don’t really want to rent a car but will if that is our only option, what is your suggestion on this?

It’s doable, but takes a bit of finagling!

The train stations for each of those places are outside the city center (1-3 miles away or so), so you’ll need to take a bus or taxi from the train station to the historic center.

I have been reviewing your site for the last few weeks and my fiancé and I have decided on two weeks in Italy. We’re thinking of flying into Rome and flying home from Venice.

We have never taken such a huge trip before and I’m curious if it makes sense to book the flights and have the book ends planned and then start doing booking of the meat of travel afterwards? Or should we have everything planned and booked before we even book the flights?

Hi Jessica!

Personally, we always opt to book the flights first and then fill in the rest of the trip from there. Flight deals and times can impact your starting and ending points, and possibly even shuffle your trip around by a day here or there.

Everything else–with rare exceptions like festivals, very trendy hotels, etc–is much more flexible compared to flights.

Just going over your blog and absorbing everything! I have a trip planned that has us arriving in Milan on April 29th and leaving out of Rome on May 19th so I’m planning on working our way from top to bottom.

Rough plan currently is Milan -> Venice -> Bologna -> Florence -> Cinque Terre? -> Naples -> Amalfi Coast? -> Rome With some day trips mixed in there, most likely to Siena, Pompeii, maybe Lucca/Pisa or somewhere else.

Would you recommend going to Cinque Terre which we would do closer to the start of May or go to Amalfi Coast which would be closer to mid May? Since you mentioned a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre is not the easiest, would it make sense to go to the Amalfi Coast instead so I don’t have to backtrack through Florence to get down to Rome or Naples? I’m also concerned about the weather as Cinque Terre is more north and it will be earlier in the month vs Amalfi Coast being more south and more mid month.

What would your itinerary look like with roughly 3 weeks that works top to bottom?

For both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast in May, you’ll really be gambling with the weather–it might be gorgeous swimming weather, it might be rainy and chilly (happened to us on our May trip that covered both places a few years ago–you’ll notice I’m wearing long sleeves and jeans in some Cinque Terre photos), or anywhere in between.

Weather aside, since we can’t control that, prices will probably be a bit lower in early May than mid-May, and the Amalfi Coast is the more expensive destination of the two overall–if cost is a factor, that’s something to keep in mind.

If you’re open to trimming Cinque Terre, it will certainly streamline your itinerary by cutting a transition, so I’d consider it if you’re not married to the idea of visiting two coastal destinations.

A few other day trip ideas you might consider if you have time: Parma or Ravenna from Bologna, Lake Como from Milan, and Montepulciano and/or some of the other Tuscan hill towns from Florence.

Your route is very similar to what we’d cover if trying to hit the highlights in 3 weeks, I’d just make sure to cut anywhere that feels like an obligation in order to give more time to the places you’re most excited for (any one of those cities would be an amazing place to spend a week or more).

Happy planning!

Thanks for the info! I’ve done some more research and currently have the following plan

Day 1 – Milan – Arrive late at night Day 2 – Milan – half day and then train to Venice. Half day in Venice Day 3 – Venice – Full Day Day 4 – Venice – Check out of hotel and explore Venice until ready to leave for Bologna. Night in Bologna Day 5 – Day trip to Modena and Parma Day 6 – Check out of hotel. Day in Bologna until ready to leave for Florence Day 7 – Florence – Full day Day 8 – Florence – Full day Day 9 – Florence – Sienna or Pisa/Luca day trip or Chianti wine tour. Day 10 – Florence – Sienna or Pisa/Luca day trip or Chianti wine tour. Day 11 – Train from Florence to Naples or Sorrento and then day trip from Sorrento to Naples. Day 12 -Sorrento – Day trip to Pompeii? Day 13 – Sorrento – Day trip to Capri? Day 14 – Amalfi Coast Day 15 – Amalfi Coast Day 16 – Amalfi Coast Day 17 – Rome half day? Or full day or arrive late night and just have 3 days in rome? Day 18 – Rome Day 19 – Rome Day 20 -Rome Day 21 -Half Day in Rome fly home

I’d like to do a wine tour of the Chianti region but I’m not sure if it’s something I should try to do with a Siena, San gimignano, and Chianti tour or dedicate a full day to it and have Siena/San gimignano as it’s own day. If I dedicate a full day to it I would have to take a day from Bologna, Rome or Amalfi coast. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think we have too much time in the Amalfi coast? I’m thinking of using Sorrento as a base for a few days as I’d like to visit Pompeii, Naples and Capri and then a few days stay possibly in Ravello. Or maybe take Day 17 away from Rome and give it to Florence. That would leave us with 3 and a half days in Rome.

Love to hear all your thoughts on my above plan and what changes you would make or places that you would switch out.

These are the places that I’ve wrote down that I don’t think are worth visiting this trip Assis Lake Como Cinque Terre Padova Vicenza Verona

and these are the places that I’m still thinking about Orvieto Arezzo

Do you think Orvieto or Arezzo are worth swapping out for Siena or Lucca/Pisa.

I’d actually recommend taking any extra time to smooth out the very beginning of the itinerary–day 2 in particular isn’t going to leave a lot of room for sightseeing, in between checking into/out of two hotels, transiting to a new city, etc. Depending on which city interests you more, I’d consider adding a day to either Milan or Venice. As it stands, you probably won’t do more than a few hours of actual sightseeing in Milan–up to you if that’s the pace you’re looking for!

I do think you can get away with 3 full days in Rome–more is always lovely, but 3 is a solid start.

Same with the Amalfi Coast–you can certainly have a wonderful time there with the extra day, but I wouldn’t say you need it. Sorrento is an excellent base and you can easily see a lot of the region from there.

Siena, Orvieto, Arezzo, and Lucca are all wonderful. Pisa is fun, but I wouldn’t call it an absolute must-do unless you’re dying to see the leaning tower–of the five, it’d be the one I’d prioritize least. Other than that, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

As far as whether to visit the Chianti region as an entirely separate day or combine with Siena/San Gimignano, I’d say that depends on how much of a wine fan you are. Personally, we enjoy wine tastings but one in a day (especially the way they pour in Tuscany!) is plenty for us, and we prefer to mix in sightseeing. If you’re visiting Tuscany for wine in particular and are very interested in learning about the various varietals, etc., though, you might consider separating them out.

Thanks so much Kate!

I was not overly interested in Milan other than the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio which is why I was only planning on spending the afternoon there before heading off to Venice. I didn’t want to skip over Milan entirely but I feel like our time is better spent in other locations.

Do you think it makes sense to split our time in Naples and Sorrento? Stay in Naples for say 2 days to explore Naples and Pompeii and then move onto Sorrento for 3 or 4 days to explore Capri and the AC? Or would you recommend sticking in one place the whole time? I have heard there is not as much to do in the town of Sorrento and by not having to do day trips to Naples and Pompeii from Sorrento could save some money on transportation?

Honestly we’re not much wine fans but I thought it was something we should try while we are there. Sounds like mixing all 3 locations into a tour in one day is the way to go!

If you think the time we have in AC is enough without adding more and 3 days in Rome is enough then it looks like I have an extra day to allocate somewhere. I’ll have to do some more thinking on where to place that extra day. Thanks for all your help so far!

Anytime, Edmond!

Sounds like a solid plan for Milan.

Personally I love both Naples and Sorrento, though they’re very different–just depends on what you’re looking for. You can day trip to Pompeii pretty easily from either, so I wouldn’t let that sway your decision. But the pizza, views, archaeological museum, underground, etc, in Naples are well worth your time if you can fit it in!

Great work on the site, it’s been super helpful.

Was wondering if you could gife me your opinion on an issue I am facing. My nieces wedding is in September so we are planning 16 days and wanted your thoughts if this is doable.

We are arriving before the wedding and have to end in Florence.

Arrive Rome – 3 nights Assisi – 1 night Bologna – 2 nights Venice – 3 nights Modena – 2 nights Florence – 5 nights

Would love your thoughts and thanks in advance!

Hi Michael,

Thank you so much!

The first thing that jumps out is that you have Bologna and Modena separated–I would definitely combine those! Modena is only a 15-25 minute train ride or so from Bologna, and virtually every train to it is going to require passing back through Bologna regardless.

Personally, I’d probably base yourself in either Bologna or Modena for one 3 or 4 night period, and take a day trip to the city you’re not staying in. It’ll be much more efficient and if you only stay 3 days, buy you an extra night to add to another city of your choice.

Bologna is the traditional choice for where to stay between those two: it’s bigger, there’s more to do, and as the capital and transportation hub of the Emilia-Romagna region, it’s easy to navigate to and from. However, Modena is beautiful and offers the benefits of being a more affordable and less crowded place to stay.

Other than that, your route looks wonderful and is very doable by train, so navigation should be very convenient. 🙂

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

More From Forbes

Travel to italy like an insider with the best local experts.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

A trip to Italy is too special to get wrong. Here's how to do it right. (San Gimignano, Tuscany)

I absolutely love Italy, for many different reasons. But I hate the way in which many Americans go about planning trips there. Survey after survey shows it is the number one dream destination for U.S. leisure travelers, but the way those travelers get their information and advice gives me nightmares.

Throughout the years I’ve heard people say over and over that “I was told to do this in Italy,” or “I was told not to do this in Italy.” By who? “A friend.” I have close friends who recently planned their entire 12-day trip on the basis of another couple they knew who gave them advice—after their first visit. I’ve heard of many people who skipped Rome because “we heard it was too busy, just another big city.” Or passed on Venice, one of the world’s most magical destinations, because, “I heard it was touristy.”

There are American tourists who say you should skip Venice. They are wrong.

It goes on and on, but suffice to say, I have been to Italy in the neighborhood of two dozen times, summer and winter, for food, wine, skiing, golf, hiking, cycling and more food, from north to south and east to west and islands too, and I know a lot about Italian cuisine, but I still ask real experts for advice every time I go. I specifically ask for advice on where to eat, what to see, and who to choose as guides. And by experts, I mean people how live in Italy, specialize in particular areas of travel, and know their subject matter.

“We get multiple guests a year who want to wing it,” says Cherrye Moore, owner of My Bella Vita travel. Moore moved to Calabria two decades ago after falling in love with the region on a visit, and opened a bed and breakfast, learning about what her visitors were looking for. Her company now specializes in planning trips—especially foodie and ancestry trips—to the area in Southern Italy where many Italian Americans trace their heritage. “They say, ‘My neighbor just showed up in their family’s hometown and it went great for them,’ or, ‘Our friends went to Italy last year and said we don't need a driver.’ It’s true that you can rent a car and drive to your family’s hometown, but that experience is vastly different from having a dedicated driver and a heritage specialist who has done research on your family’s history, who has already identified the home your grandfather was born in, and who has arranged meetings with locals upon your arrival.”

Amazon Prime Video s Best New Show Arrives With A Perfect 100 Critic Score

Apple s iphone 16 pro design revealed in new leak, charlotte shooting 4 officers killed while serving warrant.

Anyone can tour the Vatican, but only the right guides can get you a private visit.

I just got back from an exploration of Turin followed by a weeklong hiking trip in surrounding Piemonte, Italy’s most prestigious wine region, which included multiple winery visits. For restaurants and guides and sightseeing in Turin I used an Italian-based travel specialist that is the choice of many of the best luxury travel agents/advisors in this country (the best travel agents are savvy enough to know what they do not know and regularly rely on local experts). For the hiking trip, I used an Italy-based active travel specialist that does nothing else, and does it with a food-centric spin. It was another fantastic Italy trip, one amazing day after another, featuring many meals, wineries and experiences I never would have found by myself, especially by asking random friends or watching You Tube influencer videos by people with far less Italy experience than myself.

“We don’t focus on stars or diamonds, we focus on really special one-of-a-kind experiences and lodging that lets you discover our Italy,” said Heather Dowd, who lives in Turin and along with her Italian husband Beppe Salerno. They run Tourissimo , the active travel company we used. We had several friends hiking with us who were on either their very first or second trip to Italy, and when we reviewed our experiences at the end for the trip, one place we stayed, an 18 th century castle turned boutique hotel, was the overwhelming favorite. It did not have whirlpool tubs or Frette linens, it did not have a concierge or room service, but it had excellent food and beautiful gardens in which we had an epic dinner. It had cooking classes, a great location, a fun aperitivo evening cocktail session, and most of all, incredible charm..

Everyone wants the perfect meal in Italy, but not everyone knows where the locals go to find it.

It was exactly what my first timers dreamed Italy would be like, and it was a place we never would have found online. It was perfect, and even in Italy not every place is, but the reality is that Heather and Beppe and their guides spend a lot of time behind the scenes visiting small hotels and vetting them, way more time than the people who rate their stays on booking websites. One of my friends was so impressed he is already planning an extended family hiking trip to Sicily with Tourissimo next year.

If you want to have an insider experience in Italy, and see the places locals go, you need a local insider to help you out.

“Our goal is for guests to experience Calabria like we do, so we’ve built experiences that aren’t available online,” said My Bella Vita’s Moore. “Nowhere else can you find a multi-course lunch hosted at Zia Pina’s or a picnic prepared and delivered by Signora Francesca. Lunch in the home of our friend, Chef Massimo, isn’t available on Google. When creating or reviewing experiences I always think of my sister in Texas. If she were visiting, would I take her here? If that answer is yes, I know we have a winner.” That is exactly the standard by which I’d like my Italy travels to be judged.

A trip to Italy is a beautiful, special, and almost sacred experience, so don’t screw it up by taking bad advice. I do not know every local specialist—and I hope to keep finding more—but I know several experts I would recommend for different kinds of travel. Or use a good travel advisor, something I recommend for all travel (Read my article Why You Need A Travel Agent More Than Ever here at Forbes ), and communicate with them to ensure they are on the same page in terms of sourcing these kinds of local experts. If they are good, they will already be familiar with several of these companies.

Active Travel

All of Tourissimo's cycling and hiking trips in Italy emphasize food and wine, which is how it ... [+] should be.

Italy has long been the dream destination of cyclists, with Tuscany atop the Bucket List for global road riding destinations. But for the past few years the fastest growing sector of cycling has been “gravel grinding,” and with hundreds of miles of its stunning unpaved “white roads,” Tuscany has also emerged as the world’s top travel spot for gravel lovers. There are also plenty of other amazing places to ride in Italy, including Piemonte, Sardinia, Puglia, the Lakes region, and many other areas. World class hiking abounds, especially the stunning Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage Site of beauty unmatched by most other mountain regions on earth. Beyond this there are the Alps in the east, the Cinque Terre, Sardinia, and many other great options.

Italy is so well known for cycling and hiking that every major active travel company in the world runs trips there. But for my last two active trips, one hiking and one biking, I chose a tour operator that is actually based there, founded by an Italian with a passion for cycling and food. Tourissimo may be Italian, but they cater to the American market, and founder Beppe Salerno worked for am American cycling company as a guide before realizing he could do the real Italy better himself—to me, the perfect startup rationale. Over the years since, Tourissimo has grown its library of offerings, with both with an array of scheduled group trips and private custom options. While they do mostly road riding, they are notably one of the only tour operators scheduling gravel trips, and can also arrange custom mountain biking itineraries, with years of expertise in cycling and hiking.

Superstar Chef Mary Sue Milliken has led about galf a dozen Chef's Cycling Tours in Italy for ... [+] Tourissimo.

In addition, Tourissimo has also been a pioneer in “Active Culinary Travel,” a hot new category I have written about here at Forbes (and for other magazines and newspapers). They offer an annual series of six group rides (and a hike) each hosted by an acclaimed chef like Mary Sue Milliken, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author (five!) and co-host of the popular PBS cooking show Two Hot Tamales . She is also an avid cyclist and has led the Tourissimo Chef Bike Tours for several years, along with other big names. These trips are a unique option for serious foodies who also ride, while the other trips cater to just about anyone. Otherwise they offer several styles of trips, from Bici Basics for new riders to Ambitious Tours for the more hard core.

Tourissimo puts a focus on local, choosing small and often historic hotels that they have curated and vetted (like the castle I just stayed at in Piemonte), places that you would never be able to distinguish from hundreds of other non-chain options online. Same for restaurants, wineries, and all the other ways they take you behind the scenes and into their real Italy. Their Mission Statement? “We don't want to be the biggest adventure travel company. We want to design and run the best tours in Italy. We strive to be the most authentic and the most beneficial to local communities.” Fantastico!

Bellagio on Lake Como is one of the most famous destinations in Italy — and the perfect place for a ... [+] food-centric bike tour!

Bike It! Bellagio offers another insider biking experience on a much different scale, providing a great one-day experience for visitors to Italy’s most famous lake town. This bike shop on Lake Como is run by a former pro racer and his wife. They rent bikes (road, mountain and e-bikes) out, but also offer one-day guided tours with multiple food and drink stops. Given that the owner grew up here and knows everyone, it’s not surprising that the food and drink spots are insider picks. The shop sits near the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo climb, the most famous in the Giro di Lombardia, a race more than a century old, and several days a week the shop offers guided group rides with a climb of the pass, on road or e-bikes—Bianchi bikes of course!

There are scheduled tours Monday through Saturday, as well as wide range of customizable private tours. These are often taken by families with mixed ages, but for more aggressive riders they offer longer road tours, mountain biking and gravel riding, along with a wide range of less demanding e-bike tours, including some even more focused on food and wine. They also offer a handful of multi-day tours and can put these together as custom on demand, usually for groups, including an iconic coast to coast traverse of Italy. If you are a guest of one of the many stunning (and pricey) ultra-luxury hotels around Bellagio, and ask the concierge to arrange a bike tour, they are likely going to call this shop anyway (and mark it up) so just do it yourself.

Luxury Travel in Italy

From planning your entire itinerary with flights, hotels, and transfers to just booking the best tours, guides and VIP access (often to non-public highlights), it pays to use a top local specialist.

Last year I attended the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, which has been called “the Oscars of the travel industry.” Virtuoso is the leading global luxury travel consortium, and many of the best travel advisors on earth belong, So does just about every top hotel, resort, safari lodge, cruise line, and luxury tour operator. Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch was explaining the many advantages of using a travel advisor (I wholeheartedly agree) and something he said really stuck with me. He explained that with all of the new online tour booking companies, it was easier than ever to book a tour or guide in just about any destination on earth, but harder than ever to judge the quality. The caveat was that, “you can book a guide, but you can’t book my guide.”

One of Italy's greatest hidden gems, Turin was the nation's first capital and a Winter Olympic host. ... [+] It's worth getting a good guide if you visit.

The Vatican is the Vatican and the Colosseum is the Colosseum, so when you opt for a guided tour, what really matters and makes it a good, bad or great experience is the guide—and their special access, like a tour of the Vatican when no one else is there.

For my recent trip to Turin, I called Imago Artis Travel , an Italy-based luxury travel specialist. They are what is known in the travel industry as a destination management company or DMC, the same companies luxury travel agents call to arrange local details for their clients. There are great DMCs all over the world, and local knowledge is valuable everywhere, but many of them do not deal directly with travelers, while in Italy the best ones do.

I wanted a private day tour of Turin and its surrounding attractions for my wife and I, most importantly the Reggia di Venaria Reale, aka the “Italian Versailles” (one of two places in Italy with this lofty but accurate nickname). The guide they got for me was a licensed guide, and lifelong resident of Turin, and spoke excellent English, which was all good, but she was also an architect, which was great in a city where so much is driven by architecture. That’s not so easy to find on global tour aggregator website. Imago Artis also gave me a list of their favorite restaurant recommendations, which were spot on, then made my reservations for me. At a minimum this eliminates the language barrier of calling or the technology barrier of booking through often tricky (or non-functional) Italian restaurant reservation websites, but in many cases it also gets you a better table and instant VIP treatment—which definitely does not happen when I book myself.

Italy is rich in world-class crafts, and companies like Imago Artis can take you behind the scenes ... [+] to meet the makers.

Imago Artis Travel is a Virtuoso member, which means when you book through them, if you book your luxury hotel, you get extras like room upgrades, late checkout, spa credits etc., one of the big advantages of working with Virtuoso travel advisors. If you have a bigger budget than I do, they can handle all sorts of luxury transport, private jets, helicopters, boat charters, and also offer VIP Meet and Greet services at just about every airport in Italy. They can even arrange private security details. On a more accessible luxury level, they specialize in exclusive experiences, unlocking historic buildings and art collections not open to the public, and taking you behind the scenes with many artisans of Italy, from custom shoemakers to sculptors to jewelry designers. They know food, they know the guides, and I especially like their mission statement, “Our mission is simple: Getting You to the Heart of Italy.” That’s what it is all about.

Another top luxury DMC that is also a member of Virtuoso that I have used in the past with great success is IC Bellagio . They offer a similar array of luxury services and are very well connected, but they also specialize in Villa rentals as well as 5-Star hotels. Differentiating villas in Italy may be the single biggest challenge, more so than restaurants, with so many options and so few valid reviews. IC Bellagio has also boldly acknowledged the overtourism problems some of the most popular parts of Italy face, and are pushing “Slow Season Travel,” which varies in each of the country’s 20 regions but is something they are expert in. Last winter I went to Venice in the off-season, and it was spectacular, and I just traveled in a slow season to Piemonte. It was much, much better than fighting the crowds.

Skiing in Italy is awesome, and it's the best place in the world to stay in mountain rifugios — but ... [+] you need help for the perfect trip.

Skiing in Italy remains a bit under the radar for Europe, especially compared to France and Switzerland. Well, let the crowds go to other countries, because Italy has two different major ski regions, both of which have hosted the Winter Olympics, and the Games are returning to Milan and Cortina in 2026. The interconnected Dolomiti SuperSki lift and trail network in the Dolomites is arguably the largest “ski resort” in the world, and inarguably one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes on the planet. The towns are charming, the food is great, there are spectacular hotels from non-chain independent hidden gems to world-class luxury (Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Relais & Chateaux, etc.) and it’s cheaper than much of the rest of Europe. Did I mention the food?

I first went to the Dolomites to go hiking, and was so wowed I thought, “I have to come back and ski here.” I came back the next winter and skied, and the following year I got a group of friends together and went back. I have skied all over the U.S., and all over the world and never had the same compulsion to return to the same place immediately. That’s how good skiing in Italy is ( read much more in my Italy skiing piece here at Forbes ).

I’ve only used one company for ski travel in Italy and see no reason to switch gears, especially since the local logistics (a great guide/instructor, transfers, the best on-mountain meals and staying a couple of nights in the region’s unique on-mountain rifugios) is very hard to organize on your own. The company is Dolomite Mountains , a specialist in both resort ski vacations and backcountry touring trips (using skins and alpine touring or AT gear). They too are a U.S. facing company with mainly American clientele.

Like many active travel companies, they offer both group trip scheduled departure options and private custom trips to fit whatever you want. The group option is called the Dolomites Ski Safari and is a 7-day trip mixing stays in amazing rifugios with in-town hotels (4 and 5-stars on the Italian system) and includes all breakfasts and dinners, a full-time guide, ski pass, luggage transfers and more. Custom options include the same kind of trip for your own group, or anything you want, and while its name suggests local expertise—quite true—Dolomite Mountains also handles ski trips in the rest of Italy, like Courmayeur, and connected border regions of France, Switzerland and Austria, as many lift systems here know no national boundaries (ski with your passport!). They are also a Virtuoso member.

Calabria & Southern Italy

Many Italian Americans trace their ancestry to Southern Italy's Calabria, and if you want to visit, ... [+] make sure you do it right.

My Bella Vita travel focuses on this area, including both small group trips and custom privates. Their specialties include “Heritage Tours” for those interested in their ancestry, and a food focus for the rest of us. For instance, Taste of the South is a 12-day gastronomic journey through Calabria, Basilicata and Naples—the birthplace of pizza! Food & Wine of Calabria is an 11-daty trip and just what it sounds like.

These are some of the scheduled small group tours offered, but the rest of their business is private trip planning and custom options.

“Italy is deceivingly large, and travelers think two weeks is enough time to see everything. It isn’t,” insists Moore. “You can’t even experience all of Calabria in two weeks. Our team collectively spends about six months a year scouting new hotels, restaurants, and experiences in Calabria and we are constantly re-evaluating and tweaking our recommendations.”

There are some other Italy specialists I have not personally experienced, but that come highly recommended by some of my other experts:

My Bella Vita’s Cherrye Moore says, “ In Sicily, I recommend Lucia Davies of Sicily Tour , one of a trio of British expats who have lived in Siracusa, Sicily for decades.” A family-owned tour-guiding company based in Siracusa, they have nearly 40 years of experience on the island and create trips fostering cultural exchange between Italy and English-speaking visitors, specializing in small group and custom tours.

Food & Wine

Life is too short to go to Italy and not eat well.

Beppe and Heather Dowd of Tourissimo recommend Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures , a company that has also earned kudos from other travel industry folks I know. Owner Francesca Montillo grew up in Southern Italy where her father was greengrocer. An Italian-American cookbook author, she launched the company a decade ago, and she personally leads the tours. She does numerous scheduled tours to different regions each year, and also offers custom private itineraries.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

I spent 6 days in Italy after dreaming of visiting my whole life. 8 moments made it worth the wait.

• Italy is a European country I always dreamed of visiting. In 2022, that dream came true.
• I spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan — and some moments felt magical.
• From an art sculpture Airbnb to a gondola ride, here's what I'll never forget about my trip.

Growing up with my half-Italian family in a Manhattan suburb, I always dreamed of going to Italy.

While eating my grandmother's famous spaghetti and meatball dinners and listening to her stories about what it's like to explore the popular vacation destination, I remember longing for Italian experiences of my own.

My dream finally came true in October 2022, when I — at the age of 26 — spent six days exploring Venice, Rome , and Milan for the first time while backpacking through Europe .

Nearly two years after my Italian adventure, I'm still thinking about eight moments that made the long-awaited trip everything I hoped it would be.

I visited Italy during a two-week train trip through Europe. To get to the country, I took an overnight train from Vienna to Venice.

Then I traveled by train to Rome and Milan. I spent two days exploring each city.

While taking trains between cities, I remember looking out the windows and being stunned by the Italian countryside.

I found the rolling hills to be one of the most picturesque views I'd ever seen from a train. The scene looked like something straight out of my dreams.

My first stop in Italy was Venice.

Venice is a 1,200-year-old city made up of islands connected by bridges on the northwestern edge of the Adriatic Sea, according to Britannica .

I'd heard of Venice's canals and car-free streets, but I'll never forget the moment I saw the city myself for the first time.

I felt like I'd just stepped into a storybook with colorful buildings lining the canals.

After wandering the streets of Venice, I took a gondola tour to see the city from a different perspective.

Being in a narrow canal allowed me to see homes from inches away, and the moment I spotted their foundations immersed in the water felt surreal to me.

For my stay in Venice, I booked an Airbnb stay at Castello de Roncade, a castle and winery just outside of the city.

I had another special moment while wandering the castle 's stunning grounds. They were filled with perfectly placed plants and sculptures that I thought looked enchanting.

My favorite part of the grounds was a massive tree I found alluring. It was a 250-year-old Lebanon Cedar tree, a representative for Castello de Roncade told me.

Looking up from underneath it made me feel tiny.

From Venice, I traveled to Rome — one of this summer's most popular tourist destinations.

The city of Rome is nearly 3,000 years old and known for its rich history and romantic vibes. And according to a recent study by Delta , it's one of the most-searched travel destinations for the summer of 2024.

During my stay, I slept in a livable art sculpture I found on Airbnb, and I thought it was the most unique accommodation I'd ever experienced.

My host, Alessandro, told me he built the livable sculpture on the roof of his villa using recycled materials like car windows, scrap wood, and pieces of broken tiles.

Before booking this Airbnb, I'd never even heard of a sculpture home. I imagined it would feel like sleeping in a giant piece of art, with quirky design elements in every corner. Turns out, I was right.

I'll never forget how amazing it felt to wake up inside this Airbnb with sunlight pouring in thanks to all the windows. I wish I could start every day with a moment like that.

While exploring the city on foot, I remember spotting two alluring street artists. Under the shade of a tree near the Roman Forum, I watched an artist paint a chapel across the street.

Seeing him in his own world in a public space among so many people was remarkable and inspiring to me.

A few minutes later, I spotted another artist sculpting dogs from sand.

I thought this was such a unique form of art and found it fascinating to watch.

The last stop of my trip was Milan.

The northern Italian city is known for being a world capital of fashion and finance, according to Britannica . But my favorite moment in this city had nothing to do with these things. 

My favorite moment here came from an aimless walk around the city when I stumbled upon a red brick castle that looked massive.

It was Castello Sforzesco, a 15th-century castle built by Francesco Sforza, a duke of Milan who founded the Sforza Dynasty, according to Britannica .

I thought the castle looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

And since I wasn't expecting to find it in urban Milan, happening upon it by chance made for a special memory.

Thanks to these unique moments, I don't think I'll ever forget my first trip to Italy.

And I can't wait to go back.

Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.

• Main content

Local Flavors: where to eat and drink in Florence

Apr 29, 2024 • 5 min read

Taste the best of Florence's flavors with this local's guide to where to eat and drink (pictured Il Vegetariano, a popular local lunch spot) © Angelo Zinna

Food is big business in Florence , to the extent that the city council introduced a law limiting the opening of new bars and restaurants in the UNESCO-listed city center.

This measure was in response to concerns about the excess of tourist-focused dining options there, exacerbated by the tripling of restaurants in just 10 years between 2005 and 2015.

In the center of the Renaissance city, there is approximately one dining establishment for every 31 residents. While the array of options seems endless, Italians, generally being creatures of habit, tend to gravitate towards familiar foods. Lengthy queues outside TikTok-promoted venues are met with disapproval, and terms like "traditional," "authentic," and "genuine" have been so overused when describing new restaurants that they've lost their meaning.

For Florentines, no culinary novelty will outshine a reputation built over the years. We stick to what we know and are generally skeptical of everything else. Here are my tried and trusted places to eat and drink.

The day starts with a shot of bitter espresso – the first of many – at the nearest cafe. In my case, that’s Bar Piccioli, a dimly lit, old-school patisserie in Borgo Ognissanti.

Italian breakfast is quick. Many foreigners who arrive in Italy for the first time are often surprised that a sweet pastry and espresso, typically enjoyed standing up at the bar, are what locals consume to kickstart their day. But pastries can go a long way if done right, and Claudio, Piccioli’s owner, has been serving exquisite cornetti (croissants) and other morning delicacies fresh out of the oven for decades.

The daily changing variety of crunchy croissants – filled with anything from zabaglione (egg and Marsala custard) to pistacchio – are a safe bet, but depending on when you visit you may also find maritozzi (brioche buns) filled with whipped cream, custard and pine nuts, shortbread, and seasonal specialties such as rice frittelle (fried bites), prepared in early spring. 

I would love to feature Circolo Rondinella in every category of my list. It’s a place where you can easily spend the whole day, from breakfast to dinner. There's something special about sitting, coffee in hand, on the faux grass in the outdoor area, which overlooks the Arno River and the 14th-century Torrino di Santa Rosa. Here, you'll often find groups of elderly men gathering daily for a glass of wine and engaging in lively games of briscola, peppered with good-natured swearing.

In terms of food, don’t expect anything especially refined here. Coffee is your standard espresso shot and lunch is a changing menu of seasonal pastas and main courses. That’s the draw of Rondinella – not trying hard to be special in a city where hundreds of restaurants and cafes compete for people’s attention.

Circoli , or social clubs, are a cornerstone of Tuscan culture and are found scattered throughout the region. These clubs typically revolve around a cultural activity. Circolo Rondinella served as the former headquarters for the local calcio storico historic football team, a fact evidenced by the collection of memorabilia on display. They've long been a place for members of the community to come together and build ties. Rondinella stands out as one of the few circoli still operating in central Florence. 

When you visit, remember to order at the bar and pay in cash.

These days, most restaurants offer at least a couple of plant-based dishes on their menu, but eating in meat-centric Tuscany can get a bit repetitive for vegetarians. Il Vegetariano stands out with a daily changing selection of a dozen meat-free specialties inspired by local recipes and prepared with ingredients sourced directly from Florence’s surroundings. Look out for creative dishes like potato and black cabbage gateau with parmesan fondue.

Il Vegetariano, found behind the hand-carved wooden sign marking the entrance, has been operating since the early 1980s. It pioneered vegetarian eating before it was cool in a city known for its T-bone steak. This is not just a good vegetarian restaurant — it’s a good restaurant overall, as the flow of regulars sitting amid quirky decor shows. Don’t forget to try the cakes.

If you love your wine with a bit of background music — vinyl spinning on the turntable— and haven’t yet fallen for Aperol’s aperitivo marketing, Vineria Sonora is your wine-filled, pre-dinner drinking spot. This funky enoteca (wine bar) on Via degli Alfani is known for its impressive selection of natural, organic and biodynamic wines from independent Italian producers, and its weekend DJ sets. Stop by to start your night with unique wines, from an orange Trebbiano from Tuscany to a sparkling Pinot Noir from Northern Italy.

By 9pm, after a few glasses of wine, you might find yourself ready for something more substantial. Just around the corner from Vineria Sonora is Trattoria Accadì , the perfect place to continue your evening. The trattoria has a cozy feel with dark wood furniture and a hand-written menu featuring Tuscan classics including fried artichokes and hearty, traditional stews such as peposo (with spiced beef) and ribollita (with seasonal vegetables). Plus, you’ll find a few unexpected Japanese touches in the old-school decor, a nod to the chef, Toshifumi Mitsubiki, whose passion for Italian cuisine led him to move to the opposite side of the world and open Accadì.

Late-night drinking happens on the south side of the Arno River and, more specifically, in Piazza Tasso, where Circolo Aurora serves its cocktails under Florence’s ancient city walls. Removed from the crowded Borgo San Frediano and Piazza Santo Spirito – where most bars in this part of the city are found – Circolo Aurora draws locals to its bar with regular live jazz nights and open mic sessions. Choose your drinks from a list in a vintage photo album with actual vintage photos, a touch that is very much in line with the nostalgia-inducing decor of the bar, comprising '80s action figures scattered around the room, old advertising posters and a vintage bike hanging from the wall. Since the pandemic, Florence’s live music scene has experienced a sharp decline, but Aurora keeps culture alive, especially during summer months when tables spill on the square and music can be heard flowing from the bar.

Here is more expert guidance to help you plan your trip to Florence

Find your way around the city with our guide to transportation Don't miss these top experiences Budget travelers can save some money with our tips

Explore related stories

May 1, 2024 • 6 min read

Heading to Washington, DC for a long weekend? Lucky you. Here are one insider’s tips on where to eat, where to stay, what do do and more.

Apr 30, 2024 • 6 min read

Apr 30, 2024 • 5 min read

Apr 29, 2024 • 7 min read

Apr 28, 2024 • 11 min read

May 1, 2024 • 9 min read

May 1, 2024 • 12 min read

May 1, 2024 • 7 min read

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

How to Plan a Trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast — Best Seaside Towns, Luxury Hotels, and Tastiest Restaurants Included

Italy’s Amalfi Coast is sprinkled with colorful seaside towns, and this guide will help you navigate them like an expert.

Recommended Stories

Pro-palestinian protests intensify across u.s. college campuses. here's where things stand..

Police in cities and towns across the country have been deployed in recent days to clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators from a growing number of encampments and occupied buildings on college and university campuses.

Are travel credit cards worth it?

Travel rewards can help make your dream vacation a reality — but they may not be the best option for everyone. Here’s how to decide and what to look for in a travel credit card.

Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Which is better for frequent Delta travelers?

You can save a lot of money when you fly Delta Air Lines with these co-branded cards. Here’s how to choose between the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve before your next trip.

Haun Ventures is riding the bitcoin high

Blockchain startups were red-hot when Katie Haun left Andreessen Horowitz in 2021 to launch her own crypto-focused venture firm. Despite having a massive arsenal of dry powder, Haun Ventures didn't rush to scoop up stakes in crypto and web3 on the cheap, and many observers wondered when the firm would pick up its deployment pace. While Haun Ventures says it wasn't exactly sitting on its hands (and capital) through crypto's downturn, the firm was perhaps more cautious than it initially intended.

Canelo Álvarez and Oscar De La Hoya erupt in heated exchange ahead of title bout with Jaime Munguía

Canelo Álvarez is set to defend his title against undefeated Jaime Munguía on Saturday in Las Vegas.

This 'very classy and durable' monogrammed tote makes a thoughtful Mother's Day gift, and it's down to $14

Skeptical over the price? 'It's dumbfounding how nice this is for the money,' says one of nearly 10,000 five-star fans.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch plans to travel with team to Denver for Game 1 after knee surgery

Chris Finch underwent surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee on Wednesday.

Reba McEntire, 69, relies on this wrinkle-smoothing 'holy grail' moisturizer for radiant skin

Her makeup artist swears by it for this clever foundation trick for dewy, glowing coverage.

'It's a very uncertain time': Columbia students share their perspectives on the campus protests

Amid final exams and upcoming graduations, Columbia students are grappling with fluctuating tensions on campus and the national attention these protests have received.

Martha Stewart's go-to Skechers sneakers are on rare sale at Amazon — save over $30

The domestic diva prioritizes comfort and support when it comes to shoes, and she says these affordable kicks deliver on both.

I Used AI To Help Plan My Honeymoon, Here's What Happened

I was struggling to finalize my honeymoon itinerary until this AI app helped me to fill in the missing pieces.

• AI travel planners are a game-changer for time-crunched travelers looking for customized recommendations and itineraries.
• The Guide AI app helped streamline the itinerary planning process, providing personalized suggestions based on user preferences.
• While AI is a great starting point for trip planning, travelers still need to finalize reservations and logistics on their own.

With all the technological advancements in recent years, the artificial intelligence (AI) craze has been the biggest change to take the world by storm. Between preparing meal plans, assisting with resumes, and even planning out your day, it seems there isn't anything that AI can't do. As I recently learned, people are even starting to use AI for trip planning .

There are several different AI travel planners available to the public, and I recently decided to dive in headfirst and utilize one for a pretty big adventure I had coming up — my honeymoon!

I Had Puglia, Italy In Mind For My Honeymoon, But Nothing Else

I knew the city i wanted to visit after my wedding but didn't have much in the way of an itinerary.

When my fiancé and I were discussing our future honeymoon, we considered all the beautiful cities in Italy and ultimately decided on the area of Puglia . After we agreed on the destination, we started looking at hotels and plane tickets. Those items were easy to book as we knew what kind of accommodations we wanted and what our budget was for airfare.

Everything after that point brought the planning process to a standstill.

Between my everyday life and wedding planning, I felt like I didn't have time to plan out all the various details affiliated with the honeymoon. My schedule didn't hold enough blank space to research the area's restaurants or plan out what our days would look like.

I was starting to get so frustrated at the lack of moving forward in the planning that I even considered canceling the trip altogether.

12 Things Couples Can Get For Free On Their Honeymoon (If They Literally Just Ask)

With all the chatter about ai, i decided to try it out for my trip, guide helped me to plug in the missing pieces of my itinerary in seconds.

I had obviously heard about the use of AI in everyday things, and also about AI use in airports throughout Europe . However, I didn't realize that it had expanded to trip planning until I was in the beginning stages of planning my honeymoon.

While I had heard of AI in the travel universe as far as the inclusion of robot wait staff in Japanese cafés or the use of it in fast food drive-thrus, the thought of it creating my entire itinerary from scratch seemed crazy.

Being that I already had our hotel and plane tickets secured, I figured that it wouldn't hurt to delve into the various AI applications and see what came out of them. At the end of the day, if I didn't like the result, I didn't have to use it for my honeymoon, right?

I decided to start with the Guide AI app and ended up not even needing to try anything else. After downloading it onto my phone, I plugged in what information I had and what kind of experience I wanted. I was even able to put in my budget and who I was traveling with.

The nice part about that was being able to share the proposed itinerary with my fiancé and getting feedback from him in real time!

10 Epic Honeymoon Spots Around The World For Adventurous Couples

My experience was incredible, and the honeymoon went off without issues, ai was able to provide me with sound recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and more.

Going provided me with an outline of things to do and restaurants to try while we were in Puglia. The recommendations were on par with the type of travel experience that I was looking for. Unfortunately, while an itinerary was created, I still had to follow up and do a bit more research to finalize it.

Going doesn't have the ability to make reservations for restaurants on your behalf, so that was something I needed to take on. The app also doesn't have the functionality that ties public transit to your locations.

Would I use AI to plan a trip again? Definitely.

It's really great for getting a solid base without the hours of research. However, it's important to note that it doesn't take everything off your plate. You will still need to make the reservations, look up transportation options, and even explore the menus of the proposed restaurants to confirm that it's something you would like.

Even with these challenges, and knowing that AI is constantly evolving and improving, I wouldn't hesitate to turn to it again in the future.